Deciding to dance through the door of sadness and loss

Today is Sunday, November 1...it didn't start out as previous Sundays, where I would call Joyce up and talk to her for 30 minutes about what was going on in her world.

Mike and I have had the really sad and thankless chore of going to Albuqueque, NM and close up his mom's home. Joyce Deal was an amazingly strong, independent, stubborn as a mule, life long Democrat, kind and generous soul who crossed over on Oct 22, 2009. While her passing eased her pain - she left a hole in the heart of my man Mike. I saw him cry, for the first time in 12 years, the night the boys spread her ashes on Sandia Mountain. We flew home the next day... heavy in heart but thankful that her time in pain was so very short. and we are grateful for that.

It's cold and sunny out today, and I was able to spend a few minutes outside clearing yard debris and planting garlic. My chest cold limited my energy level and so I limited my time--there is so very much to do. I am hoping that next weekend will be at least dry. Tomatoes need to be pulled out of the ground, trumpet vine needs to be cut back, leaves need to be gathered up and put to the curb. The 8x8 needs to be readied for next spring's plantings.
I am tired of this chest cold, the hacking, sneezing and lost of my voice has really lost it's allure.

I LOVE the Fall - it's my favorite time of the year, my birthday, the trees are changing as one can denote from the attached images of our street. Even in the rain the trees remain colorful and happy! Yes, I took that picture while driving....ok, ok, I know if it's not so smart to use your phone to call or text, it must be equally disturbing to the on coming drivers to see someone aiming a Kodak! (I probably won't stop)

Welcome back, welcome back...

Can not believe it has been 18 months since my last posting...not quite sure why outside of the desire to do something, anything besides sit in front of a computer screen. Missed it, yes - so much so I remembered that I needed to change my email address to access the account before we stopped paying for the privilege at our old ISP.

It's the 28th of December 2008. Yesterday was the first day that I drove my car in two (2) weeks! We had a record 18 inches of snow here, and if it hadn't been for Mike, not sure how I would have gotten to work the few days that I had to go in...having the MAX makes life a bit easier, but just getting there was a nightmare at times. It snowed EVERY day for 12 days...sometimes just a short time, others for hours on end. I was so OVER it by day 3. Had I wanted to live where there was snow for much of any winter, I would have moved to Minot or northern New York State.

I'm trying to think of all that has happened in my world the past 18 months, and while I know that I went to my job most every day, I did buy a new car - Cha Cha, the ever cute VW Beetle seen above. I love this car. It makes me smile everytime I pull into the garage and see her sitting there, waiting for me. She is loaded with all of the accessories that I never had the $$ to purchase with a new car...she's zippy for sure. I sold my old car from the curb in less than 2 days.

Mother dropped her body last June. It was interesting to experience the feelings that surfaced in those hours directly following. I was neither happy or sad...I was however, acutely aware of how her passing affected Patricia and my nieces. I felt sadness for them...and then 4 or 5 weeks passed and I found that I needed to get some counseling to deal with my own grief. That was a shocker for sure...she really missed out on a amazig daughter! I was given Grandfather's diamond, finally and received a death benefit check that Dad purchased when I was born. The original benefit was for $500 - but had increased in value to a nice $3200 by the time I got it. Thank you God, that was a nice gift.

I continue to needlepoint (like a madwoman at times), read, tend to my garden and exercise. I really thought I wanted a dog, but until I retire that just seems like to much work. Mike continues to fly, he finished GFox U in August 2007, found a job and was laid off again after 8 months, but has been at Phoeson since last month and appears to find it rewarding and challenging.

Mike and I continue to work on getting ourselves into "retirement mode".... I hope to be unemployed by April 2010....need to get Cha Cha paid off! It grows dark and I'll need to fix dinner soon, hopefully I won't be idle from the blog going forward. Until then-adios.

Another word for freedom....

Wednesday, July 4th is tomorrow... a day off for me and scores of other people. However, the men and women of the US armed forces guarding our borders, shores and honor (?) will not be having a day of rest, nor hot dogs or ice cream with family or friends - their fireworks will be much louder and deadlier, and some may not see another July 4th. Lets also remember that millions of people are starving, livinig in poverty and have no voice - no freedom.

It's also my grand-nephews 4th birthday...HB2U - Ben !!!!

Yep, that's me and my guy. We took a flight around Mt St Helens on Saturday last. Then, having circled the crusty gray monolith twice, while marveling at the rough terrain, the 26 year old log jams, and the deep ravines from molten lava - we flew west into the setting sun up the Columbia River to Astoria and south to Seaside, OR before heading east and home. It was a great day to be aloft, although a bumpy ride over the Coastal range, it was great to be in the air again. I acquired yet another 20 min of flight time for my log book....I love flying, wish I did more of it.

Yes, I'm at work, and writing on my blog. It's lunchtime for me - my boss is out of the country, the stacks of folders and tasks to do are slowly receding. I am enjoying the quiet and solitude of the office and looking forward to being off.

To get back to my topic...freedom..seems the prez believes in it too...especially for his kiss ass buddies. As one of the late night comics noted...even Paris Hilton had to serve her time. I mean really, the man lied! Bill Clinton was up for impeachment for lying...it is just unbelievable that the man who is suppose to lead this country (well, now that I see those words - HA, I laugh!) and who has proven time and again that he is just the front man for those who are really running our nation - the power group from the former bush presidency - has not also been subject of a congressional inquiry. Amazing! simply amazing, he is such an idiot stick figure. He can not put two clear, concise, coherent sentences together, even when they are written down for him. It's embarrassing....and oh so wrong.

Enjoy your 4th, I'm sleeping in and taking a moment to remember how I got to where I am today.