Every year I think that the next one has to be better.
I need to quit thinking that, since it doesn't happen.
I knew it was going to be a tough year when I found myself in the hospital having my gallbladder out on New Years Day.
I have said farewell to two cousins and one uncle this year. A father and daughter in one case. My daughter's bunny died. Our handsome, crazy Corgi was diagnosed with cancer. I have friends who lost family. And friends who lost their beloved pets.
On the other hand, work has been pretty good to me. I accomplished alot, which in my case means I helped a lot of people get into college. I got a lot of work done on the house. I spruced up the house and the yard (still need to get to the garage, but that's for next year!). My daughter is still my world and my dogs are still my best friends. I have met new people and reconnected with old friends. All my friendships remained steady and true.
The sun still shines. The moon still rises. The world still turns offering me choices. I guess it wasn't so bad after all.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Friday, November 05, 2010
What Happened to Fall???
Mid-way through the season of Fall and we Southern Californians are in the midst of a heat wave. Fall started out nicely - with the wonderful smell of the season, cool days, cooler nights, some rain. But something went wrong!
My cactus are confused and have started blooming again. The trees tried to change and are now stuck between changing colors and just dropping leaves. The lawn savored the cool, wet weather and now has started to dry up and whither as though it's summer.
The dogs were already getting their winter fur and are now hot and smelly!
I had unpacked and washed blankets and comforters only to be throwing them off when I hit the bed.
Actually have turned on the air conditioner to cool off the bedroom before I go to sleep.
I love San Diego weather. But wish the seasons would stick to the norm.
True, we don't have seasonal changes like other areas. We really only have 3 - Spring, Summer, Fall and a wetter, cooler Fall. I don't mind living where it doesn't snow - I can drive an hour and find some. Some of our trees actually do offer beautiful fall colors. Not as beautiful as the East Coast; we usually are raking ours up before they fully change. But that's why out west we call it 'Fall' and not 'Autumn'.
My cactus are confused and have started blooming again. The trees tried to change and are now stuck between changing colors and just dropping leaves. The lawn savored the cool, wet weather and now has started to dry up and whither as though it's summer.
The dogs were already getting their winter fur and are now hot and smelly!
I had unpacked and washed blankets and comforters only to be throwing them off when I hit the bed.
Actually have turned on the air conditioner to cool off the bedroom before I go to sleep.
I love San Diego weather. But wish the seasons would stick to the norm.
True, we don't have seasonal changes like other areas. We really only have 3 - Spring, Summer, Fall and a wetter, cooler Fall. I don't mind living where it doesn't snow - I can drive an hour and find some. Some of our trees actually do offer beautiful fall colors. Not as beautiful as the East Coast; we usually are raking ours up before they fully change. But that's why out west we call it 'Fall' and not 'Autumn'.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Post game thoughts....week 1
Another football season has finally started. And despite my hope that things would be different, the Chargers come out of the gate with a loss. A pathetic loss.
The first quarter was exciting - Chargers basically controlled the ball; got the first points on the board. But then, just like the weather, things changed. The boys still controlled the game in yards, 1st downs, but just couldn't hold the Chiefs back.
Special teams was, well, not special last night. Too bad Kassim didn't pass on his ability to pop the ball back into the playing field rather than letting it fall in the end zone. When your punter is out there tackling the reciever, something is wrong.
Rivers, as usual, came fully prepared - his game was ON. The miscommunication between him and his center, the receivers was just not working. It's no wonder he got frustrated with the team. Yes, he got angry, a bit pissy, but that's the passion we expect from our quarterback. And he had every right to be angry.
I could blame the weather, what appeared to be torential rains and wind, but this is football, for God's sake! Suck it up! Get some heavy duty cleats on and play!
Yes, we could have used VJ and McNeill, but there not there so no point in lingering on that topic. We have what we have, they just need to pull it together. Make some better play calls - use Tolbert more, let him and Mathews power the ball forward instead of relying on the lightening bug Sproles. Teams are on to him now. We've still got some tall receivers - Nanee, Gates - that could tower over the defenders. The Chargers need to use all their talent, like the Saints do. Other teams need to be confused as to who Rivers is going to hand it off to.
One game down, one loss. Fifteen to go. Let's buck up and move on to next week and make it happen!
The first quarter was exciting - Chargers basically controlled the ball; got the first points on the board. But then, just like the weather, things changed. The boys still controlled the game in yards, 1st downs, but just couldn't hold the Chiefs back.
Special teams was, well, not special last night. Too bad Kassim didn't pass on his ability to pop the ball back into the playing field rather than letting it fall in the end zone. When your punter is out there tackling the reciever, something is wrong.
Rivers, as usual, came fully prepared - his game was ON. The miscommunication between him and his center, the receivers was just not working. It's no wonder he got frustrated with the team. Yes, he got angry, a bit pissy, but that's the passion we expect from our quarterback. And he had every right to be angry.
I could blame the weather, what appeared to be torential rains and wind, but this is football, for God's sake! Suck it up! Get some heavy duty cleats on and play!
Yes, we could have used VJ and McNeill, but there not there so no point in lingering on that topic. We have what we have, they just need to pull it together. Make some better play calls - use Tolbert more, let him and Mathews power the ball forward instead of relying on the lightening bug Sproles. Teams are on to him now. We've still got some tall receivers - Nanee, Gates - that could tower over the defenders. The Chargers need to use all their talent, like the Saints do. Other teams need to be confused as to who Rivers is going to hand it off to.
One game down, one loss. Fifteen to go. Let's buck up and move on to next week and make it happen!
Sunday, September 05, 2010
End of the Line
My dad and his brother were always the life of the (family) party. Constantly trading quips and witticisms. You had to be sharp and quick to keep up with them. If one of them wasn't at a family gathering, it just wasn't the same.
My Uncle Bob died yesterday. 88 years young. He's probably taking bragging rights with my dad on how he outlived him by 10 years. Bob died 11 years and 3 days after my dad.
It was expected, to a certain extent. As it was with my dad.
But what really hit me, is how that generation is now gone. Uncle Bob was the last surviving member of his immediate family - his parents, his 2 sisters and 1 brother. And he joins his wife and youngest daughter. They are all toge
ther again - laughing, making jokes, re-telling family stories. And, I hope, looking over those they left behind.
Both of them would always joke that the only reason the whole family would get together would be for a wedding or a funeral. With this being the 2nd Wick family funeral this year, even they might have a hard time thinking it funny. But, they'd say, at least we all managed to get together more than once this year.
Thank you, Uncle Bob, for making us smile.
My Uncle Bob died yesterday. 88 years young. He's probably taking bragging rights with my dad on how he outlived him by 10 years. Bob died 11 years and 3 days after my dad.
It was expected, to a certain extent. As it was with my dad.
But what really hit me, is how that generation is now gone. Uncle Bob was the last surviving member of his immediate family - his parents, his 2 sisters and 1 brother. And he joins his wife and youngest daughter. They are all toge
ther again - laughing, making jokes, re-telling family stories. And, I hope, looking over those they left behind.Both of them would always joke that the only reason the whole family would get together would be for a wedding or a funeral. With this being the 2nd Wick family funeral this year, even they might have a hard time thinking it funny. But, they'd say, at least we all managed to get together more than once this year.
Thank you, Uncle Bob, for making us smile.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Car Karma
After dealing with the insurance company regarding my daughter's car, I have come to the realization that my family has bad car karma. Reason: strange accidents that are never our fault. Really.
When I was in high school, I remember driving with my mom in Point Loma. Near the Loma Theatre. Out of the blue we feel a jolt to the car and realize some guy on a motorcycle just ran into the side of the car. Turns out he had stolen the motorcycle, and his passenger was a runaway.
Back in the late 70's while I was away at college, my mom was headed to my gramma's house about 4 miles away. She was on a side street. Made a stop at the stop sign. Headed into the intersection only to be hit on the passenger side by a man who ran his stop sign. My mom was so shook up she got his information, then walked the mile or so to gramma's before she called my dad. Those that know my mom, know that walking was not her thing!
While in college, summer break rolled around and mom came to get me and my stuff in my dad's Dodge Dart (because the seat folded down and fit a lot more stuff!) and tote me back to San Diego. We were almost home - on the 805, right under the 163 overpass when a tractor tire falls off a flatbed truck. She couldn't maneuver into another lane because of traffic so she decided to just straddle it. Unfortunately, it was taller than the undercarriage. We heard a huge riiipppp but were still able to pull over. As we did, we watched the truck continue on its way. Luckily, we weren't hurt...and neither was my stuff!
My dad owned a '56 Tbird. A beauty - red fire engine paint job, hard-top convertible. His pride and joy. Next to me. I think. He would always let me or anyone he knew drive it. We were all terrified that something would happen so drives usually consisted of rounding a few blocks in the neighborhood. After driving it one time, I noticed a pinging, and told him. So he took his 'girl' out on the road. As he was coming back, up Aldine, a car made a left turn in front of him (which was illegal at the time. Since then it is now legal - go figure!), and slammed into him. The 'bird was a mess, front end, bumper, chrome damaged. But running. Couldn't say the same for the other car. The guy driving jumped out and ran as did his passenger. There were however, some good samaritans who managed to catch the driver and hold him til the police got there. In this case, another stolen car, fleeing from a hit and run committed a few minutes earlier on El Cajon Blvd. The one good thing: dad got an all new paint job, new chrome and the car looked better than ever!
Then...there are my accidents. Same car. One year apart. Same intersection. Same time (headed home from work at lunchtime). Different people. One insured. One not.
My current car...a 2007 Rav4. Had it 2 days. Driving home to Nor Cal through LA. Hit in stop and go traffic. I stopped. She go'd. No insurance. No license. Again.
The latest, which brought me to thinking about this, was having my daughter's Yaris hit while parked on the street. No biggee? Yeah...apparently, whatever hit her, got stuck and in getting away ripped the entire front (plastic of course) end off, bent the hood and shattered the window.
As for cars....I've had 3 Nissans (well, one was a Datsun; remember those?), 2 Chevys, 2 Fords, 4 Toyotas and 2 jeeps. The Chevy Blazer, the Ford pickups, the jeeps and 1 of the Toyotas (a truck) were owned with my ex-husband, so I'm not going to count them.
All 3 Nissans blew their engines at about 100,000 miles. As did my 1st Rav4. And no, it wasn't my fault. The Nissans all had timing chains/belts go out and the Rav 4 sprung an oil leak - that leaked for 300 miles while driving north to south. The Chevy Cavalier lasted long enough to actually sell! The 2 Toyotas we have now - keeping my fingers crossed and looking to St. Christopher for a little help.
When I was in high school, I remember driving with my mom in Point Loma. Near the Loma Theatre. Out of the blue we feel a jolt to the car and realize some guy on a motorcycle just ran into the side of the car. Turns out he had stolen the motorcycle, and his passenger was a runaway.
Back in the late 70's while I was away at college, my mom was headed to my gramma's house about 4 miles away. She was on a side street. Made a stop at the stop sign. Headed into the intersection only to be hit on the passenger side by a man who ran his stop sign. My mom was so shook up she got his information, then walked the mile or so to gramma's before she called my dad. Those that know my mom, know that walking was not her thing!
While in college, summer break rolled around and mom came to get me and my stuff in my dad's Dodge Dart (because the seat folded down and fit a lot more stuff!) and tote me back to San Diego. We were almost home - on the 805, right under the 163 overpass when a tractor tire falls off a flatbed truck. She couldn't maneuver into another lane because of traffic so she decided to just straddle it. Unfortunately, it was taller than the undercarriage. We heard a huge riiipppp but were still able to pull over. As we did, we watched the truck continue on its way. Luckily, we weren't hurt...and neither was my stuff!
My dad owned a '56 Tbird. A beauty - red fire engine paint job, hard-top convertible. His pride and joy. Next to me. I think. He would always let me or anyone he knew drive it. We were all terrified that something would happen so drives usually consisted of rounding a few blocks in the neighborhood. After driving it one time, I noticed a pinging, and told him. So he took his 'girl' out on the road. As he was coming back, up Aldine, a car made a left turn in front of him (which was illegal at the time. Since then it is now legal - go figure!), and slammed into him. The 'bird was a mess, front end, bumper, chrome damaged. But running. Couldn't say the same for the other car. The guy driving jumped out and ran as did his passenger. There were however, some good samaritans who managed to catch the driver and hold him til the police got there. In this case, another stolen car, fleeing from a hit and run committed a few minutes earlier on El Cajon Blvd. The one good thing: dad got an all new paint job, new chrome and the car looked better than ever!
Then...there are my accidents. Same car. One year apart. Same intersection. Same time (headed home from work at lunchtime). Different people. One insured. One not.
My current car...a 2007 Rav4. Had it 2 days. Driving home to Nor Cal through LA. Hit in stop and go traffic. I stopped. She go'd. No insurance. No license. Again.
The latest, which brought me to thinking about this, was having my daughter's Yaris hit while parked on the street. No biggee? Yeah...apparently, whatever hit her, got stuck and in getting away ripped the entire front (plastic of course) end off, bent the hood and shattered the window.
As for cars....I've had 3 Nissans (well, one was a Datsun; remember those?), 2 Chevys, 2 Fords, 4 Toyotas and 2 jeeps. The Chevy Blazer, the Ford pickups, the jeeps and 1 of the Toyotas (a truck) were owned with my ex-husband, so I'm not going to count them.
All 3 Nissans blew their engines at about 100,000 miles. As did my 1st Rav4. And no, it wasn't my fault. The Nissans all had timing chains/belts go out and the Rav 4 sprung an oil leak - that leaked for 300 miles while driving north to south. The Chevy Cavalier lasted long enough to actually sell! The 2 Toyotas we have now - keeping my fingers crossed and looking to St. Christopher for a little help.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Terror of Tiny Town
Cujo. Wessels. Twinkie. Boo. Bubba. Munchkin. Tweedledee. Pudgie. Chubbs. Wes.
Wesley.
Our 9 yr, 11 mo. old Corgi. We've given him many nicknames. But no matter what we call him, he still gives us that beautiful Corgi smile - "What's up? What do you want me to do for you?". All dogs give us their full love in such a short amount of time. They don't know time - but we do. And today it hit me how short it can be.
Sunday I took Wesley to Nate's Point, a dog park in San Diego's Balboa Park, for a romp with the Corgis and their humans. It had been years since he frolicked there due to his pre-existing condition of AIHA (Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia). Probably 40 furbabies were there, chasing, running, herding. Wes played a little, but was far more interested in walking from human to human to get petted. Such an attention whore!
But, that night, I noticed some lumps near his groin. And a redness. Not a rash. Just redness. Monday, I called the vet and made an appointment for today.
We went in, me hoping that they were nothing more than fat deposits and an allergy. I wish. Our Vet sent us to VCA, a Veterinary Specialty Hospital where Wes has gone for his AIHA. He now had lumps on all his lymph nodes, as well as in other odd places. The redness is more pronounced and has spread.
I have a day of waiting for the diagnostics - ultrasound, x-ray, blood panels - to determine if in fact it really is lymphoma (hey, I can hope!) and if anything else is going on. Bottom line, he'll get chemo...if he can handle it, and if it will continue his quality of life.
Interestingly, there is a philosophical difference in treating dog vs. human cancer. Human cancer - we go for the cure. Kill those f'ing demon cells. In the process, humans suffer through unimaginable side-effects. But it works. Sometimes.
With dogs (other animals), we go for time. Make them comfortable for as long as we can. Avoid the side effects that diminish their life. Never actually cure them, but extend their life and let them age gracefully.
So. I wait. Knowing Wes is in good hands. And probably enjoying the attention so much that he doesn't care about the tests. When I bring him home, he will be his happy self - herding the other dogs, making sure they remember that he is still in charge, and joyfully barking at the world "It's me! I'm home!".
I, on the other hand, will do all I can to hide my fear, my dread, my tears. And hope that he doesn't sense my worry.
Live in the moment. Dogs do. We should try.
Wesley.
Our 9 yr, 11 mo. old Corgi. We've given him many nicknames. But no matter what we call him, he still gives us that beautiful Corgi smile - "What's up? What do you want me to do for you?". All dogs give us their full love in such a short amount of time. They don't know time - but we do. And today it hit me how short it can be.
Sunday I took Wesley to Nate's Point, a dog park in San Diego's Balboa Park, for a romp with the Corgis and their humans. It had been years since he frolicked there due to his pre-existing condition of AIHA (Auto Immune Hemolytic Anemia). Probably 40 furbabies were there, chasing, running, herding. Wes played a little, but was far more interested in walking from human to human to get petted. Such an attention whore!
But, that night, I noticed some lumps near his groin. And a redness. Not a rash. Just redness. Monday, I called the vet and made an appointment for today.
We went in, me hoping that they were nothing more than fat deposits and an allergy. I wish. Our Vet sent us to VCA, a Veterinary Specialty Hospital where Wes has gone for his AIHA. He now had lumps on all his lymph nodes, as well as in other odd places. The redness is more pronounced and has spread.
I have a day of waiting for the diagnostics - ultrasound, x-ray, blood panels - to determine if in fact it really is lymphoma (hey, I can hope!) and if anything else is going on. Bottom line, he'll get chemo...if he can handle it, and if it will continue his quality of life.
Interestingly, there is a philosophical difference in treating dog vs. human cancer. Human cancer - we go for the cure. Kill those f'ing demon cells. In the process, humans suffer through unimaginable side-effects. But it works. Sometimes.
With dogs (other animals), we go for time. Make them comfortable for as long as we can. Avoid the side effects that diminish their life. Never actually cure them, but extend their life and let them age gracefully.
So. I wait. Knowing Wes is in good hands. And probably enjoying the attention so much that he doesn't care about the tests. When I bring him home, he will be his happy self - herding the other dogs, making sure they remember that he is still in charge, and joyfully barking at the world "It's me! I'm home!".
I, on the other hand, will do all I can to hide my fear, my dread, my tears. And hope that he doesn't sense my worry.
Live in the moment. Dogs do. We should try.
Ready, set....
I've had this blog for several years now. Never got around to actually starting it. No real excuse for it. However, now I think I have something to write about. And hopefully, that will lead to other choice entries that all fit into my own little Adventureland. Joyful moments, sad moments, angry moments, life-affirming moments, travel, and of course...my pets!
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