Reflection

I have spent the last hour reading the old posts from 2005. I realized how long Luis had been out of work and what a depressing time it was for me. I also realized how long it took me to wake up and do something about it. I wasted too many years of my life. Somebody shoot me if I ever do it again!

Celebrating Independence Day

We're having a small gathering here on the Fourth. You're invited, even if I haven't managed to call you yet.

Once again we'll be competing with the neighbors in a display of pyrotechnic might. I still haven't figured out why we can't all get together and have one giant celebration, but I guess if you can't join 'em, you beat 'em...with fireworks. Brian got some good ones. He thinks he may even have done better than the year Charles and Ryan picked out the fireworks.

This Independence Day, while the Obama administration puts its own rotten twist on the mess formerly owned by Bush, I'm contemplating how radical our founding fathers were to do what they did. They were so sick of their tyrannical government that they set aside pretty much everything else in their lives to fight it. Too many of us now take freedom for granted and never think about our government. Compared to other places in the world there's much to be thankful for. But as in the days of King George, if you understand the true meaning of the word liberty, there's a lot you should question.

Just Call Me Grandma

Gary's (step) son Chris drove up from FL with his two boys last week for a visit. It was complete chaos and worth every minute of it. The boys are totally adorable and the oldest one is a big con artist. I did manage to say no to him most of the time, but it was a struggle. Especially when He climbed into my lap and said "Gamma I love you" - followed by "Gamma can I have a cookie?". Fortunately for their Dad he hauled them back home before Gary or I could do any real damage. If you count the extended family I'm up to six kids and six grand kids, and who knows how many nieces and nephews. Pretty cool, ain't it?


Kyle



Chris (Jr) and Lea Anna



Chris and Kyle getting a Horsey Ride from Daniel

They Don't Always Exaggerate

Knowing Lea Anna's preoccupation with bobcats (which replaced her fear of panthers) and the other times she came running to me saying "Mommy I saw a baby snake" ended up being either a centipede or a humongous earthworm I didn't get all that excited when she again came running up to me this afternoon with tales of another baby snake hiding out under the landscape material in our front yard. So I ambled over and slowly peeled back the plastic only to find a baby copperhead in a strike pose peering at me with those evil little eyes. I freaked out and hacked it with a shovel into the next century. Obviously I didn't get bitten or I'd be at the ER right now getting pumped full of anti venom but the other side affect is that I have instantly developed a big dose of snake paranoia. Yikes!

On top of the mountain

We drove up to Stone Mountain for the evening to catch the laser show. Brian & the kids have lived in Georgia for more than five years and hadn't seen it yet. It's a must-see ; )

What's going on with me.

Yesterday I went to a paralegal/lawyer's office. They are going to fill out all the paper work by next Friday and give it to me so I can file for divorce a week from this Monday. Finally, I will be free! Luis is set to move out July 23rd. I will legally force him to leave. He has been nice about me kicking him out, however and agreed to go. But still, it sounds to good to be true so I am prepared to call the sheriff's office if he won't leave. Anyway, next month is my last month at school. Then I have externship, which is supposed to last six weeks, but I am going to see if I can do it in four, on account of my trip in September. I am excited about entering the workforce once again.The boys are fine, Hector is taking an art class this summer at El Camino, and both Hector and Ruben plan to take classes there in the fall. I am pretty sure Ruben passed his high school equivalency test but the official results won't be in until July 22nd. Anyway Hector is involved with a special program on campus that offers counseling, mentoring, and actually helps him get a job on campus. I am going to try and get Ruben involved with EOP&S, which offers similiar programs but they also have book vouchers. I applied for FAFSA for Hector and will do so with Ruben. So things are going good. Chela is doing well, and is set to return to Edison this fall. I told her today, however that the allowance fairy won't come until her room is clean. She generally keeps her room very messy, so much so that I don't want to go in there anymore. My only complaint against her. Well, I said this on Facebook, but I'll say it again here- Jazzmin, Hector,Ruben and I are all going to a Pirate festival tomorrow. They have costume contests, games and food. I am so looking forward to that to the point of today feeling so ordinary in comparison.

Happy Father's Day

Michelle & Brandon miss their daddy!

Sweet

I heart your heart : )

These obstacles are our lives.

I don't think I could completely cover on this blog the family goings on over the last several months if I tried. It would make me crazy. It feels like there has been one largely negative happening after another for some time. Each time I think that's gotta be it for a while something else happens. Having Brian here with me, and saying a lot of the same "I can't believe this is happening" "Oh no he didn't" or "What the hell is she thinking?" helps.

I'd have to think hard to come up with one of you I don't worry about. Some of you I seriously worry about. Whether I think you made a crappy choice or if you're in a position it's hard to get up from or even if you just plain don't take care of yourself. All to greater or lesser degrees, probably in proportion to the likelihood you can extricate yourself from your predicament. I've got this combination of worry and waiting...waiting for negative stuff to stop happening. It's making me tired.

So, will you do me a favor? Share what good is going on in your life. How come the next year is going to be good, or not so bad, for you?

NTHS Junior News Project for Class

This is Hector's 90s Current Event Project... I've been helping him (A LOT) with it this past week. It still needs bit of editing, but, so far, it came out pretty...amusing. I really wanted to share it with everybody...so enjoy.

The finished version will be just as entertaining... (Hector is putting the finishing touches on it right now. Since I've shown him how to edit video on PowerDirector, he's hving some fun with it.)



FUN FACT: I start my Video Production class at El Camino tomorrow. :-P

Angela & Me @ KC & the Sunshine Band

Fun show. Harry "KC" Wayne is 58 but still shaking his booty (not to mention his beer gut) all over the stage.

UPDATE:



Christopher got us after-show passes. We met some really friendly people but unfortunately Mr. Casey was not one of them. There was a long queue of people being filed in to have their picture taken with him - no chance or time for any personal conversation. He worked his ass off putting on the show and he had to have been exhausted, plus the AC in the reception area had very little effect (you can see the sweat on his shirt in the picture) because the doors were wide open. Not sure why he agreed to do these photos when he really didn't feel up to it.

ADMIN: How to post here SUPER-quick & SUPER-easy!

I have posted about blogging from your phone before but still I've been the only one who's done it. Sad, because you can blog from anywhere when you have a few seconds if you'll set it up - which is SUPER easy.

What you need: a phone that can send text - a.k.a. SMS - messages.

What you need to post pictures: a phone that can send (duh) picture - a.k.a. MMS - messages.

When you log into Blogger, look at the tabs (Posting, Settings, Template, etc.) and click on Settings. Then click on the button that says "Email & Mobile." At the bottom of that page you'll see a link that says "Add mobile device." You'll see a code pop up in a window. If you only want to post text and not pictures all you have to do is text that code to 256447 (BLOGGR). If you have a camera phone want to send pictures AND text from your phone to the blog - which would be WAY more fun for everyone! - send the code to go@blogger.com. You'll get a confirmation message back in a minute that will tell you you're all set - it's that easy.

One of the reasons I haven't posted much is because I got a new phone which at the time wasn't supported, and using my phone was how I squeezed posts in. Blogger has straightened that out and I've set up my phone, so I'm good to go now. Now what about YOU? Set it up now!

The Mother of All Pumpkins

Almost - it's in the works. My Atlantic pumpkins have finally sprouted. You know - the ones that produced the record of a 1300 + pounder and routinely grow 700 lb pumpkins. So of course once again I have dreams of pumpkin grandeur. I've been reading up on all things pumpkin and this is going to be my lucky year. I'm going to grow one as big as a Honda and when that's all done I'll have to drag out Gary's reciprocating (or maybe even the chain saw) saw to carve it.

Somebody Post Something Already!

I guess everyone is busy on Facebook, but I kinda like the format of this blog. I like to read what everyone is doing. Anyway, the big news for me is that it is both Ruben's Birthday today and the day I graduate. I am glad that I finally made it. Jazzmin's gonna post pictures, I think on Facebook, so watch for those. The other thing is that I am getting ready to make travel plans to come out there (Georgia/Tennessee) I probably want to do that before too long, because I saw cheap airfares on Expedia and they might be gone soon. BTW- I just got $100 to spend on my clothes and the graduation party. Apparently a guy from the city of Torrance nicked Luis' car and he got $1,200. Imagine that! for just a scratch! Well, today I am excited and I have to hurry up and get ready once Adrian is outta the shower- I forgot to get a gift bag for Ruben's gift. Bye for now.

Chicken Cheese Soup

I came across this recipe a while back, it's one of my favorites. You may recognize this as Mom's famous recipe.

Chicken Cheese Soup

1 cup shredded carrots
1/2 cup sliced green onions
3 TBSP butter
1/4 cup flour
2 cup milk
1-10 1/2 can chicken broth
1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 cup cooked cubed chicken
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Saute carrots and onions in butter until tender. Blend in flour. Add milk, broth, worcestershire sauce and pepper. Cook and stir until thickened. Stir in chicken and cheese over low heat until cheese melts. Serves 4.