~BABYSITTING~

We have had Charly since Wednesday. Her mommy and daddy went to Florida for a "Work" vacation and since Charly is only 4 months old she wasn't invited! Hooray for us. We have had such a fun time with this little one. What a good baby she is. I had just put her under the "play gym" and in about 10 minutes she had played herself right to sleep! I think this just might be the first time that she has EVER fallen asleep somewhere other than her crib or car seat. I hope her parents forgive me but, it was just TOO cute!

~WEE HOURS OF MORNING~

I have not had a lot of time to post lately. It's not that there hasn't been postable events in my life...just not a lot of time to post those events! At this very moment it is 5:15 in the morning, I have been up since 3:30...I am babysitting my granddaughter this weekend for Garett and Lisa while they are in Disneyworld. She Slept until 3:30, I fed her and she went right back to sleep but grandma stayed awake! Normally, I would be getting ready for work at that time anyway so it isn't unusual, the problem...My dogs! They think that they need to EAT! Crazy animals! I know it is my schedule but, DO THEY NEED TO BE ON MY SCHEDULE??? Poor Steve, he is just about ready to throw in the towel. He has NEVER been an early riser. The only 4:00 he ever sees in the one in the afternoon! Lately he has been introduced all to often to the one that comes when it is still DARK outside. He is NOT a fan!

I finally got my camera back from the hospital. The quick fix was not so quick. I now have to learn to use it again. All of my settings are skewed so, I will be working on those...meanwhile, here is a picture of ONE of the culprits...He is sleeping peacefully NOW...Empty bladder, full stomach, deer chased out of back yard...all is well in HIS world!

~...WHAT TO DO~

Just because you feel strong doesn't mean you are strong...

No, I can not lift and turn a 300 pound patient, even with help. Maybe with a lot of help but, not with a small amount of help. Sometimes I am thrown into a situation that requires strength beyond my ability! My brain tells me that "yes, for sure you can do it", my back, on the other hand fails miserably at about the half way point! I'm really getting to old for this "NURSE" thing...Did I really say that? You only hear that from me when my back hurts and I am looking at having to stay home from my ski day. That is a sacrifice. Skiing keeps me balanced on my "pole fence" of winter. One side death, the other insanity. It's a simple concept...Stay balanced and place one foot ahead of the other in a forward motion. Eventually you will walk smack dab into spring! This is why I have always referred to Thursdays as my "Mental Health Day".

I'm still a little torn, I could go and just do the groomers all day but, I know I would be tempted beyond my ability to resist and just HAVE to ski a few moguls...There is NEW POWDER out there this morning :)

~ALL SMILES~

Happy Charly!

She is getting so big and SO animated. It is such fun having her here with us every day. She even smiles when she sees grandma...Not so much when she see grandma with her camera. What is it with kids and cameras? As long a Charly is looking at someone else I can catch her smiles but, she doesn't like to smile at my camera. I guess I would be a little leery to if grandma suddenly looked as if she were growing something black from her eye!

I am excited for Valentines Day tomorrow. The grandkids will be over this afternoon and I have cookies ready to decorate!!! We will have such FUN!
Sorry in advance for the "sugar high" moms and dads...

~APPRENTICESHIP~

Apprenticeship. Isn't that what life is all about? We learn from those who have been there and hopefully take from their insight what is the best part of this world...Most of us learn from doting parents, older brothers or sisters or great friends we meet along the way but there are a select few of us who have the blessings of aunts and uncles who adore us, who, in so many ways would without pause step in and give of themselves as parents do.

My Uncle Carl passed away last weekend. He was 86. There was never a guy on earth that made a pair of jeans, a white tee and a mustache look SO good. Such a talented and sweet man. Those piercing blue eyes will be missed for now by those of us left behind but, Something tells me there is a big family reunion being planned even as I write this... Mom, Aunt Choral, Aunt Betty...Keep it simple and yes, I would love to bring a salad!

Susan, Diane, Y'Vonne & Don
Uncle Carl's & Aunt Betty's
Children... All together again!

I LOVE these guys!

~Lala Salama~

I got these pictures somehow by tweaking my camera lens that is broken... I broke it in Hawaii. I can't believe that I wasn't careful enough to get it there and back without an "incident". I got to babysit Rozzy the night we got home for an hour or so and of coarse, I had to get some pictures!

Hopefully, my camera will be a quick fix. I can't imagine being without it for very long. The little girls changed in just the week I was gone!

"Good night Rozzy or Lala Salama"...Learned that in Africa, it means: sleep in peace til morning comes :)

~KAILUA, KONA~

There is nothing better than getting out of the cold for a couple of weeks and enjoying the tropical temperatures of the islands. One of my favorite spots in the whole world is Kona Hawaii. It's a crazy little place with an eclectic crowd that could care less where you are from or what you do. They just give you the thumb and little finger wave, a big smile and let you know that you are welcome in their part of paradise.

Mike, Ann, Steve and I have spent many vacations in this part of the world...Hopefully, many more to come. We have all of our favorite places to go but, seem to find a new place every trip to add to the list. Soon we are going to have to spend a month just doing all the things we love to do. Darn it!!!

As you can see by a couple of the pictures there was a day that was rather "gray". I loved it for pictures but, it was rather disappointing for the beach bums in our group! I just kept thinking that even the rain was warm!


We spent many afternoons in the sun and surf enjoying every moment of it. Steve and Ann are not REAL beach bums...Ann is a red head and after about 5 minutes in the sun she is burned but, she finds a tree with shade and has a good book, slathers on #50 sun screen and is happy as a clam! Steve is just a good sport, he will try anything...Once!
















It was "HIGH TIDE" and the waves were really only for the natives to be surfing on but, we tried, failed and tried again. I couldn't even stand up to get out to the big ones, the LITTLE ones were knocking me over. Kona beaches are not known for their sand, they are very rocky so, if you find one you can actually boogie board on it's heavenly!


The water is unbelievably blue and as you watch the waves come in you can see the whales just beyond them as they blow. There are Spinner Dolphins and all kinds of fish that jump clear out of the water (scary) not to mention the Sea Turtles. Such a magical place.



We went whale watching but I promise we were not fishing for whales...It sort of looks like we were in these pictures! We were fishing for a 5-600lb. Marlin. No, we didn't catch one but we had a lot of fun trying!

It is always hard to believe how fast our time goes by while we are there. Before we realize it we are packing our bags and heading for the airport thinking to ourselves...Where did the time go. I suppose that if you lived there it wouldn't be all that, but, I sure would like to visit every month or so during the coldest part of our winter each year wouldn't you!


My favorite part?

EVERYTHING!!!