Finally a moment

Finally a moment to recall the last month and a half... 3 birthdays, Thanksgiving, births of cuz Jacob and niece Camille, preparing for our trip, and not doing this blog.
We decided not to do Christmas this year, that is the decorations et al. Presents will still come but we just don't have time to set up and take down. It is a slim year for gifts and shocking how many stores are closing, depressing.

Bill is landing tomorrow along with a major Alaskan weather storm - it's gonna get cold for California.

Today is going to be busy...farmer's market, Old Town for gifts, Matt's show tonight.
Tomorrow is wicked busy...50th anniversary of the Ladies Party, the extended family party, Fred's 90th surprise birthday party, and then picking up Bill.

Later - Kelly

Grilled Cheese party

So my younger sister is pregnant and due early December. Yes, that is 4 babies this year! She can't get enough grilled cheese sandwiches, so we through her a grilled cheese sandwich themed baby shower yesterday. I had some girls from work who make cakes on the side, design and make a grilled cheese sandwich cake! They did an awesome job in decorating, and the cake was outstanding!
Fun all around. Cheers Kate!

Little Babies

For the first time ever...Nick, Parker, Olivia, and Tessa were all at the beach house together for 2 hours. Nick is the big cuz and loving it. He held all of them, but not all at once.

The girls are still very small but gaining weight. They'll have it easier once they get some more pounds on them.

Parker is a hoot. He makes some funny sounds and actually reacts to different people by cooing and drooling.

Too Much Work...

I have been all consumed by work these days. Layoffs, and I'm doing them. Not good. I'm not sleeping well, hence the time of this post.

Discovered that we should get 2 shots to go to Egypt, Yellow Fever and Malaria. Visa are required for Egypt too. I'm behind in getting this done. Time to step up.

Booked our flights

I booked our flights on Emirate Airlines for the trip to Dubai. We'll also be doing a 10 day Eygptian tour returning to the USA in 2009. I am very excited and reading up on anything Dubai or Eygpt.

We're picking up Sassy's remains tomorrow. That'll bring a end to that part of our lives. We are not talking about getting another dog, something that I really am starting to miss. I miss her greating us with joy. I miss her following me around the house when she was hungry. I miss the looks of 'love me'. I just miss her!

sooner rather than later...Kel

Lemon bars and a nice breeze

Yep, I made them again but this time they are for Tim and his surprise retirement party. How can I be close in age to someone who is retiring!!! Face it Kel, you are.

The weather has been nice too. I like the time of year when the windows stay open, the house smells fresh. Plus it is much more relaxing today than yesterday. Yesterday was a hurricane Ike (Houston) footage and a horrible commuter head-on train crash near my friend Alexis' house. I'm sure we'll talk about it at Tim's

I'm off to Kathy's (she just lost her dog too) for a CAbi party...lady time.

Local excitement with helicopters and big rigs!

Yesterday morning helicopters continuously kept flying over my house really really early yesterday. My investigation was quickly halted when this showed up on the news...a big rig lost its brakes and plowed in a local restaurant parking lot. I can't believe that it did not hit the restaurant and squeaked by in the narrow passage adjacent to it. See here for further coverage: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26562274/

Other than that, this town is pretty quiet. My 90 year old neighbor forgot to hang up his phone, his son called so I went over and reminded him that he had to hang up the phone when he was done with it. That is about as exciting as it gets. I'm actually looking forward to getting out of her in 3 years, into a house that I can call my own again. Going 3 miles, getting into a school district zone that is not as coveted as this one is going to save me major bucks.

Hopefully this will be a great weekend - anything has to be better than last weekend.

Minus One

The world is minus one BIG heart. Sassy crossed the bridge from life to afterlife on Sunday August 31st. She was suffering, but in the end she just put her head down and closed her eyes.

She will be missed by many. You showed us unconditional love I hope we were as good to you as you were to us.

Good bye sweet girl, see you on the other side.

Sassy

The princess is really sick. None of us knew how much she has been suffering. She is such a trouper and she has a long haul in front of her. I took her to the vet as her hind legs / hips were acting up and she was walking funny and not able to do the squat and pee routine. Turns out she has 3 bad discs in her back and full of arthritis! And to boot, she has a massive urinary infection, kidney and pancreatic problems. She is doped up on steroids and antibiotics. When we went to see her she couldn't walk. It is soo sad, it is breaking our hearts. I'll put her down if I have too and it is looking like that is a decision I'll have to make soon.

I'll miss you.

Labor Day Weekend

Its a long weekend in the states. This weekend is especially special to me, as it is my grandmother's birthday weekend and there is an incredible art and craft fare at the beach house. We'll be going on Saturday for just the day as Sassy isn't allowed at the beach house and we are watching JT (John Travolta) for Bev and Alan. They are up at a family reunion until Tuesday. JT really misses them, and his friend Sassy isn't feeling well at all. Sorry JT!!

Princess Sassy

Our Pug, Sassy, had to visit the vet today. Not a great day. It started with her hip giving out as she squawted down to do her business and it just gave out. A few X-rays later, a narcotic shot, and a shot of and anti-inflammatory drug later...she is sitting her, right next to me, all drugged out and not able to move her back legs. Drugs should wear off by tomorrow morning, but if not it is back to the doctor for Plan B. Plan B is tbd at this point.

I didn't realize how attached I really am to her. Those big brown eyes staring up me. The kisses and looks of 'pet me!". When she goes, I'll miss her. Until then, its my job to keep her pain-free as possible.

Ciao

Why am I on the bricks?

So that was the first thought through my head as I was reeling from landing on my knees and wrists the other day. I still don't know what happened, but there I was. Earth passing through my line of site, glasses flying off my head...WHAM! Shooting pain in my knees and the palm of my hands. And the colors! The bruise on my palm took about 1 week to go away, but my knee is complete in the full bought of the bruise brown to green stage. What a sight.

Scary part is that I really don't know why or how that I ended up on the ground.

Phelps Phever (okay Momma Phelps)

I am loving the Olympics!!!

Michael Phelps is such an inspiration, but what I am reeling about is his mother. She is quite the woman. Abandoned by her husband, raised her 3 children alone, worked a full time job out of the house, put food on the table and still had time to get a Masters degree!

I can only hope to aspire to be a woman of that character.

Lazy days of summer

I have not started my car since Saturday morning. Sometimes I just get into the homebody mode, and this weekend I hit it big. I was able to get lots of the stupid piled up paperwork, filing, what-is-this?, and basic cleaning done. Oh and my boy was with me most of the time, that was the best part. As much as he is a teenager, he still needs a Mom and I'm lucky that he likes me still.

Won't see the twins until this up coming weekend. Oh well, I understand they finally slept at the same time for a period of time and their parents are doing well too.

Mom is on her way home from visiting her new grandson for a week. She called and said she is tired and ready to come back. I didn't appreciate the horror of LAX until I stopped traveling. I hate going down there but I'm off to get her.

I promise to be better at this blog. More my thoughts, which I need to get out. And add some pictures too!

Ciao - Kel

Olivia Jolene and Tessa Rae

Olivia came first at 5:38PM weighing in at 5lb 12oz and 18.5 inches long.
Then came Tessa at 5:56PM weighing in at 5lb 7oz and 18 inches long.

All are well. All are tired and hungry after this 48 hour ordeal.

WELCOME!!!!

Olivia and Tessa

My sister-in-law's water broke at 5:30am on Saturday Aug 9th. And her body is not going into labor, it has been 24+ hours. The girls must come today, possibly by C-section. I hope all goes well and I am looking forward to meeting my nieces. Nick will be home too!

Twins are on their way...

So my other brother is expecting twins and Karen is experiencing the beginnings of labor. Whoa...Parker last Saturday and possibly Olivia and Tess any day now. I am truly excited now. Just took a while for me to get there, but this doesn't mean I'm not going through my mid life crisis...I am!!!!

Meeting my Mother and my father's wife tomorrow for lunch and we are going to discuss my sister's baby shower...YES ANOTHER BABY THIS YEAR!!!!

I finalized Bill's car today, added the insurance to mine among other things. This car is fun.

I finished learning a few things about my new iPhone today without the 14 year old present. A much better environment for me to be dealt with. Anyhow, I'm still learning and loving.

Oh yeah and we had a 5.4 earthquake on Tuesday...really not that big of a deal up here and I lived through the 1994 Northridge quake (check that out!). I did have a picture on a table that fell funny - picture side up not down as expected so the movement really was more of a hula-hoop type round and round than the jolt of the up-down typical earthquakes we get.

Off to finish JAWS...on TV and I love that corny movie!!! Kel

Parker Samuel Moran

He arrived on Saturday 6:30PM in Northern California.
7 lb, 6 oz and 21 inches long.

He is anticipating the arrival of Tess and Olivia in a few weeks, along with another girl cousin in November/December.

WELCOME!!!

What a Wednesday!

I took the day off of work to deal with a lot of appointments.
- The ENT Dr. ended up giving me a 'nose wash' and stuck me full of steroids. I got a bruise from that shot! Finally slept last night so the stuff is wearing off but WOW, what a rush.
- The Dermo did the FBC and only 2 starred one mole, and nothing came off. Yipee for me as that is great.
- Got the call that Dad was in the hospital with pneumonia on the way to sign up Mom for LTC. He came home last night so all is well.
- Signed up Mom for LTC and paid the first installment.
Went back to work and all hell had broken loose! All was calm by Friday end of day. Weekend is here, off to the rental to do the final touch-ups, buy a few cheap rugs for the boy's room outside, and attend the ER historical society ice cream social. Monkey and manual jukeboxes - good times.

I've got visitors

We'll I knew if I got that map, that one day another blip would show up. I noticed one today. Someone is reading my thoughts....

I'm getting his car...

I've made a decision. I'm getting the car. Midlife crisis in the making, okay happening, and I'm just going with it.

My dad is in the hospital, pneumonia, but he is getting out soon. He's to young to have my 40 yr old brother be the Patriarch of the family. Got long term care for Mom yesterday. The statistic discussion was horrible. Facing one's death. One day I'll be there and not sure if I am ready for that just yet.

My family is having lots of babies this year. My baby is 14 years old. I'm ready to run to another country and have A LIFE!!!! This is where the car comes in. It is the start. And I don't feel bad that I am not going to be here for the babies. I'll be back when they are older and they'll appreciate the Aunt who bribes them with gifts.

Going to Dubai for New Years 2009 and the Pyramids to follow. That'll be awesome and expensive and I don't care. It'll be hell of a memory for me, my son, and my brother.

Rented my house this week too. RELIEF, big relief.

Seem to be living a different life than mine...

Every year the guys of the family go away for a looong weekend of skeetshooting, fishing, golfing, eating, and drinking. Since I got the big V8 Tahoe, Dad always borrows it, loads it up, and blows out the engine for me. Usually I get his POS car that he just needs to get rid of, but this year he's got my brother's car. My brother is in dubai for a year (see his blog on the side) so I get to drive it. It is this little spitfire of a car that is only a 4 cylindar but its got pick up! Boy it is fun and different than the family vehicle I'm stuck in for now.

I also stood in line for 4 hours to get an iPhone with my son. This thing is incredible! I am having too much fun and avoiding this blog. I'll get bored soon and keep this up.

I'm also hosting my first party in a long time this weekend down at the beachhouse. Should be nice, hope folks have a good time.

Later -

Sensitive Eyes

My eyes are my problem. My allergies are completely acting up with all the smoke and pollen in the air. I've been to the doctor too many times for this to happen again. What is happening is that my eyes start to itch, get bloodshot, and then if I'm really lucky, the whites turn red and my eyes may swell shut. The last time this happened (3 weekends ago!!) I was prescribed and NSAID, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug. I've reacted poorly before to NSAIDs, but this time, my eyes seemed to like it, and they cleared up after a few days. Well with my eyes going to town, I decided that I would try those drops again. Boy that hurt like hell a moment after I put them in. My eyes are swollen below the lid, the actual eye has got a yellow tint in the white now, and I've got one hell of a headache.
Now, I've banished myself to my bedroom. Taking anti-histamines, and my normal anti-allergy eye drops. Gotta go, can't see a thing.

Retirement will be nice

I've lived the life of a retiree this past week. Up just in the nick of time to get my Nick off to work, and then I water the plants, get on the treadmill, have a coffee and maybe take a shower by 11am. I can't wait until 2031 (at the latest!) when it'll be the daily grind. Possibly, no definitely, in other countries. I can not wait (Dubai for Xmas!!)!!

Off to work tomorrow...home projects mostly completed, still drinking more that I should...but I was on vacation so whatever.

I'm looking forward to returning to work, not so much as the job but the people. I work with some really eccentric, brilliant, too brilliant people. They are the worlds best. Did you hear me...THE WORLDS BEST. I learn so much from them, that is what is soooo great about my job!

Hope you all enjoyed the 4th as much as I did.

Cheers until tomorrow. - Kelly

Fireworks and water fights

I love fireworks. There it is. The boom, the colors, especially the choreographed music. I've seen them in my backyard growing up (that doesn't happen anymore!), the Arcadia park, Monrovia city sponsored, Rose Bowl, Mammoth, Bridgecrest (best and funniest show so far), Bern Switzerland and La Cresenta.

For the past couple of years, I've also been going to the parade in Sierra Madre, CA. Small town where everyone knows everyone. My brother has an office right on the route, so I'm in charge of the bagels, others bring bloody mary's, OJ, sweet rolls, fruit, etc. and we all claim a spot in the shade and just enjoy the company and the parade. Now every year the end of the parade is the Volunteer Fire Department's trucks full of water and a water fight between the SMFD and the parade watchers. This year there is a new Police Chief in town, and shockingly NO WATER FIGHT!!! WTF. That is what makes the entire parade worth while, especially when it is 95 degrees F in the shade and you've been downing the Bloody Marys.

Gotta lot on my plate today, gotta go.

Letting him go?

so I didn't sleep much last night. My child went to a family friendly concert in Hollywood last night. I let him go. It was a difficult choice to make, letting him go that is. Letting him go. Wow what a statement. He did call me when they were heading home as I asked him too. When I spoke with the adult who took them, I was shocked that they didn't seem worried about having 14 year olds with them out past midnight in Hollywood! YIKES. All is well, I just need to calm down.
I don't like this part of being a Mom, worrying. I wish that I had someone to talk about it with. That is a totally different topic not for this post, maybe for later.
Parade this morning, Fireworks tonight - it'll be a good day.

Hello www!

Well I guess I should start with, Hello. I'm Kelly and welcome to my blog. I plan on using my spot in the universe to talk about what is on my mind on any day of my life.

Come back and visit me soon. I'll try to keep up!