Summer into Fall

So many summer highs, too many, amazing moments galore...  I don't know where to begin, so just small blurbs...

``` 
I've just realized...I've been playing Survivor all of my life, as far back as I can recall.

We would go as a family to picnics where teams would be made, or partners, or individuals, all strangers, and we'd have competitions for all ages, all types of games; egg toss, drop the clothes pin in a bottle,  wheelbarrow races, gunny sack races, running races, all for prizes.

Then our family would also be invited out to Wagner's, Roberts', or Jim Dorfler's and we'd play games all afternoon, into the evening, competitions galore, again individual, partners and teams.  Candy hunting game, hang the laundry fastest, softball, golf the boll somewhere, egg toss, water balloon toss, and we'd have this mountain/hill of wrapped prizes for every time someone won something.  It was amazing!  It's no wonder that I love the TV program Survivor and haven't misseda single episode.

```
Sat at a Rolling Stones Tribute band show at the Belfry, watching senior citizen men's feet pumping up and down to the beats, shoulders twitching and bouncing a bit, me dancing with 3 great friends in the back to 3 tunes, including "Satisfaction".

```
Camped 9 nights in a tent with Bob, I should say, surviving it...  Rain interrupted some of our joys, but we slept well.  Didn't get to have the campfires we'd hoped for.  Went on a couple of amazing hikes, loved Bayfield to the max, views of Lake Superior were amazing, will return to Memorial Park in Washburn to camp again sometime.  Big Top Chautauqua was so cool too and the two shows we saw there were fabulous.  Can visualize Wroblewski family skiing there this winter.

```
Attended 8 football games, so realization hit, that's 8 committed weekends in our lives!  6 Badger games, 1 Packer game, and bonus Navy at Notre Dame.

```

Were able to see where the Wroblewski clan are settled as we cheer them all on with their big move in life, and watched Charley play soccer in the rain.  Had our annual friends weekend at Puckaway.  Visited in St. Paul and loved getting to see Ellery in his environment.  Had a sleepover with Mari and Kathy in a hotel in East Troy, with a bonus visit with Kay too.  Attended the Dark Songs up in Sturgeon Bay and enjoyed fine dining,   Grandparent's Day at the Roeder boys' school - loved every single moment.  I'm more involved in the Williams Bay Civic League, and am on the Chili Cook-Off Committee, so am finally getting to know some of the other women much better. 

```
Meanwhile:
36.  Save Me From Dangerous Men by S. A. Lelchuk (violent but good)
37.  Ask Again, Yes by by Mary Beth Keane (good, and again, a different kind of book)
38.  This is How it Always is by Laurie Frankel (loved! - Sharon G. recommended)
39.  It's. Nice. Outside. by Jim Kokoris (an AMAZING book, so emotional, loved it)
40.  The Mother-In-Law by Sally Hepworth (good)
41.  Before she Knew Him by Peter Swanson (may have to read more of this author :-)
42.  Daughter of Moloka'i by Alan Brennert (Racy Reader's selection)
43.  A House in the Sky by Amanda Lindhout and Sara Corbett (my pick for Racy Readers, a memoir that I couldn't put down)
44.  Evie Drake Starts Over by Lina Holmes (per Liz & Greg - a teary great read)
45.  The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger
46.  The Chain by Adrian McKinty (a real thriller that I couldn't put down)
47.  The Stranger Inside by Lisa Unger (very good, Sharon G. suggested)
48.  The Testaments by Margaret Atwood (loved it, different format, lots to think about)
49.  Tending Roses by Lisa Wingate

Louisville, Kentucky

Pat and my Whirlwind trip to Louisville, Kentucky, October 2019.  Parked at Brat Stop, Took Coach USA bus to O’Hare, flew American Airlines.  Great LYFT driver Kevin, full of helpful advice, took us to Springhill Suites Hotel.


Relaxed, settled in and made our plan for the evening...Ed Lee’s Whiskey Dry near 4th Street Live.  Dead in there, disappointed.  Walked to Ed Lee’s Milkwood restaurant.  Large glasses of wine, delicious food, loved it. 

Then walked to the Library bar at the Omni Hotel, but we were not comfy there, so walked home.  Early to bed and next morning I was informed that I snore lots, so ordering some essential oils soon to prevent that in my future.

Great free hotel breakfast, took the Everything Tour bus, wore hats and sang songs, too much bourbon, sights along the say, stops at Churchill Down, Louisville Slugger and Art Eatables candy shop.  Had many food samples on the bus and liked Jim Beam Maple the best.  Also stopped at expensive neighborhood and walked the block enjoying the large homes.  Beautiful f all trees.  Heard ghost stories, saw large GOLD statue of David and a Thinker too.

Back to hotel to rest, goofy bomb of an Uber trip to hole in the wall Haymarket Whiskey, but none of the bourbons struck our fancy.  Dinner at Mussel and Burgers, then walked next door to Jimmy Can’t Dance music night club venue.  Went early to get seats (7 pm) but music didn’t begin until 9 pm, so long wait.  Mike Hood on piano, joined by a harmonica player “Brother Alex” sitting in the audience.  We enjoyed it in the end and still made it home at a decent hour.  Next day was senior day at Churchill Downs in the millionaires room, very cool, no jeans, good food, bet from here and could walk right outside near finish line. Cold rainy day, nice people all around, and we won some, lost some.  Fun.  At our table we sat with two sisters, one named Patricia.  Lyft to Bluegrass Brewing Company for very fast bite at the bar, then next door to the Actor’s Theater for Dracula, after all it was Halloween.  I loved it, Not Pat’s thing but she liked the theater and acting.

Home for some wine, packing, and a football game.  Pat sleeps with the TV on and I snore, so there you go.  She is good at Lyft and I’m awful with both Lyft and Uber.  I need to do some homework on it.  Nice flight home.















• 
  

Eli

An outing with Eli for his 10th birthday.

Along with a wrapped gift, I offered to take him out to eat to any restaurant of his choice.  He chose Red Lobster.  I couldn't wait and I was actually going to order lobster and a salad for myself.  But when I arrived to pick him up, he changed his mind and wanted to go to a Chinese Buffet instead.  I was shocked and surprised and doubled checked with Raina and she said "yep, he loves Chinese".  So off we went.

It was a very nice place with awesome fresh choices galore, and because he's under 11 years old, his price was $3.95 and mine was $7.95 which included a soft drink with unlimited refills.  Well, we were both in heaven.  He was not used to going through a buffet line and filling his own plate, but he mastered that and went back for seconds and got his own soft serve ice cream to top it off.  On our way home he wanted to stop for donuts, so we did and he ate one in the car and brought some home for the family (minus poor mom who can't eat them).

I interviewed Eli, he's soft spoken these days as he grows up, and here's the results.

Favorite Color?  White
Favorite restaurant food?  Chinese buffet or seafood
What radio station does he enjoy?  99.1
Birthday celebration with friends?  Party with friends Chase, Mitchell and Conor.  Playing soccer, bonfire, sleeping in tent overnight.
Favorite book/s?  Harry Potter series, and I read them all
Favorite computer game right now?  Ark Survival Evolved
What are you looking forward to at the cottage?  Catching fish, minnows and crayfish.  Selling crayfish to fishermen.
Since you recently went to Madison, what were your favorites?  Geology Museum, Dinosaur Fossils, and I want to buy the capitol building.  There would be so many places to hide.
Favorite friend in old school in West Allis?  Jack
Favorite friend in new school?  Mitchell
Favorite subject in school?  Math
Worst subject in school?  Handwriting

A song came on the radio on our way home and he remembered it from when he was younger and we both sang along:  I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas ~~~  Lyrics to 'I Gotta Feeling' by Black Eyed Peas: Let's do it, let's do it, ... and do it, ... That tonight's gonna be a good night.

Gosh, I love this kid

And then while we ere up North, in the really deep water (2019):

Now it's summer 2020, times are very different.  I've been spending a few hours with only Eli on some days when Raina & Andy work.  The other boys go to daycare.

The first thing we do is play Nertz up to 50.  He beats me more than I beat him and I am not letting him win.

He made me an egg sandwich one day:

He loves to jump on the trampoline:

Here is a quote from a text his mom sent me last week:

Eli:  "I found a bunny, his name is Alfrado.  He ran and we watched him run and my eyes fell on a gigantic cucumber."

 

Other things we do is pick things from the garden, water the garden, wash green beans, write a letter to someone, check out the frog habitat, and drive somewhere for icecream.

33.  VOX by Christina Dalcher (wow, what a book)
34.  This is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel (I loved it)
35.  The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane

Chicago

23.  The Forgotten Road by Richard Paul Evans
24.  Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks (another love story)
25.  The Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman (Betty G. book club choice)
26.  The Huntress by Kate Quinn (another great WWII story)
27.  Tangerine by Christine Mangan (Pat P. recommended, but I didn't like it)
28.  Freefall by Jessica Barry (Pat P. recommended, and it was great - suspense)
29.  The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (Joanne's book club choice on Cheryl Holz's recommendation.)  I liked it, especially after seeing the movie from the library.
30.  Run Away by Harlan Coben
31.  Paris For One by Jojo Moyes
32.  Road Home by Richard Paul Evans

A whirlwind Chicago trip...

On our way driving to Chicago to hang out with Emma and Pat.  First stop, a bakery we’ve always wanted to try.  This is a spot that Bob’s friend Jim (from Glenview) stops at on his way to our house to go fishing.  The saying is “Jim provides the donuts, Bob provides the worms”.  We didn’t eat them all in the car😋.

Nice parking spot in front of Emma’s and we visited and planned our day.  Took Lyft to awesome Lincoln Park Farmer’s Market.  Could have filled our bags with goodies, but refrained because we didn’t want to carry stuff around.  We sat on this bench and took it all in.  Got our dog watching fix for sure. 

This is the view from the bench.  Lake Michigan is behind the trees.

Next we took Lyft to a huge REI? Store where we split up for a quick 45 minute shopping spree.

Then we walked to Yard House for lunch and sat outside, which was awesome!  I needed caffeine and Bob had a beer.  The Palasz girls had waters.  Food was delicious.

Lyft back to Emma’s for our car, a rest time and Bob and I parked and checked into our Airbnb.  It was great!  Dark inside, TV didn’t work, but we were met by host and everything else was perfect for us.  Bob took a 2-hour nap and I was in heaven just putzing and hanging out.

Sorry, I couldn’t figure out how to rotate the picture.Pat and Emma walked the .8 miles to our place and checked it out .  Declined a cocktail and snacks, we were all full yet from lunch.

Lyft to Las Fuentes for a Mexican supper.  Margaritas and fun foods for all.  Great gabbing time.

Next door was Kingston Mines where Emma had reserved a table.  BLUES music, crazy dive type venue, which we loved to the max, and fun people watching.  When we left, there was a long line to get in for the later shows.  Pat and Emma walked back to her place and B&B took Lyft back to our spot.  Comfy bed and quiet.

Met at St. Alphonsus Church for Sunday 10:30 Mass, beautiful and we could understand every single word spoken.  I loved it.

Walked to Diag Bar near Emma’s for a fun breakfast and we all shared a bottle of champagne and unlimited OJ.  Lots more fun chatting including traveling together in our future.

Next we head home, me borrowing Emma’s book “The New York Times 36 Hours in Europe”.  So now I show a dream below.

It was a great time.  Thanks Emma for the perfect agenda ideas.

April Showers (snow, dandelines) bring May Flowers -- or April Fool's Day!

I cannot drink wine and cook a meal.

I ache all over on my right side.  An MRI of my right shoulder didn't show anything torn or broken, but lots of other medical words.  What?  There has to be more!

But now I'm going to go for Physical Therapy for it, and asked if at the same time I could have PT for my sciatica which never goes away.  So starting 4/15/19 I begin...then I see ortho doc, Dr. Webber, again on May 29th as a followup.  Maybe dry needling this time, and another shot, but this time in the shoulder joint.  And the old age beat goes on...

A celebration in St. Paul.

 Raina, Ellery and Liz on their porch swing.

 Greg testing the guac, and yes, he's  40. Great appetizer spread.

Sarah holding another little guy at the party.  So cute.

19. At The Wolf's Table by Rosella Postorino (I do not recommend at all, unsatisfying novel)
20. Two Roads by Joseph Bruchac
21. Wolf Pack by C.J. Box (I could read this author again)
22. The Forgotten Road by Richard Paul Evans (love his writing)

A weekend with friends, this time a Friday-Saturday: 

Met at Wisconsin Cutlery, a knife sharpener in Madison, $4.00/knife and a wonderful store full of kitchen gadgets. 

Next door was a Penzey's spice shop, Bob and I bought a few small additions for our spice rack. 

On the other side of the knife sharpener, a great butcher shop, high priced meats, hanging (aged) cows and pigs, cut to order.  Bob bought a couple of expensive aged beef hamburgers and I bought some ring baloney.  Fun!

On to Cafe Hollander for brunch and gabbing and beverages.  Great food, ambience and our fun continues. 

Head out to HUGE shoe store, The Shoe Box, with a ton of shoes in all brands.  A few of us picked up a new pair.  Across the street was a discount building of shoes, crazy atmosphere.

Next, onward to Rookies at 10267 US-14, Mazomanie, WI, where we had some of the best free popcorn out there, and drinks.  $3 Old Fashioned happy hour drinks to start at 4:00 pm, but we didn't have time to wait, so a few of us splurged on a full priced one.
 

Our rooms were not ready at the hotel, so we head to Lucky's in Madison, where we had a section reserved for our bigger group joining us. Fun menu, great staff and service.  Some guys had to stop at a bakery along the way for some fresh donuts, for later.

Then we took a free bus across the street to the Kohl Center for the band concert.  Arrived just in time and met even more friends in our seats.  $25 ticket gave us more than our money's worth as the concert was amazing and touching too, Mike's last as he is retiring.

Bus back to Lucky's, and the bakery, and then on to the hotel where we checked in with 5 rooms instead of 3 because they couldn't accommodate our original request for room types.  Hung out in B&B's suite with snacks, donuts, beverages and much gabbing.

8 am to the pool (which was open 24 hours by the way) and hot tub time.  Free breakfast buffet at 9:30 with awesome service from staff. 

Checked out and sat in breakfast area to play cards for awhile.  And ooops, we all happened to have our Captain and diet cokes in our bags, and even limes.

Then on to EPIC for our first self guided tour of one of their areas.  Amazing place.  We all want to go back a few times to complete tours of the other 4 areas.

Next out to Marcine's for pizza and 2020 trip planning talks.  Best pizza ever and cheap too.  Fun and crazy place.

Homeward bound, and it's only Saturday!  So much fun had by all.  Lots of crazy group texting.

So ... this is why we hang out with the greatest friends in the world.  Never a dull (knife) moment!!

Green

Green is my favorite color and for now it is also Crosby's favorite color.

14. Harriet Tubman by Robin S. Doak (yes a "Junior" book, but I'd never heard of Harriet Tubman and her Civil War experiences).
15. My Grandmother asked me to tell you she's sorry by Fredrik Backman (Book Babes' choice - a fun read about life and imagination.)
16. Killer by Nature (Audible original with sound affects) by Katherine Kelly & Rob James-Collier
17. Walking on Water by Richard Paul Evans (final in the series and I love how this guy writes as it makes me think about life so much).
18.The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides (very interesting "what happened and who did it").
19.

Bob and I both enjoy St. Patrick's Day and the first song we danced to at our wedding was titled:  When Irish Eyes Were Smiling.  Our bridesmaids' dresses were the most beautiful green velvet ~~ at least I thought so.

After the kids were out of the house, we started going out on St. Pat's Day to fun places where they  served green beer and corned beef sandwiches.  Very fun.  Our kids joined us once in awhile and jolly times were had.  This year we plan to go to Brennan's in Sheboygan with friends.  Hopefully no one will recognize us. 

When the kids were young in Sheboygan, I always made as many green food items as possible on St. Pat's Day, from scrambled eggs to mashed potatoes and green milk.  Frowns were abound when it was time to eat, but I never stopped.  I guess I have some Irish in me after all, but no way will I ever drink a Guinness beer.

I went by myself to the Oscar winning movie Green Book on Saturday while Bob sat home all day watching a 12 hour car race.  It was a gorgeous day and I walked around Lake Geneva for awhile before the movie and had a Chicago style hot dog at a new spot downtown.  The movie was awesome.

Game weekend at our house with our whole family.  March Madness big weekend going on for Andy, Ellery walking around like a big kid and loving the pan cupboard.  Eli winning for playing most games this year for the kids, Henry second.  Barb winning for most games for adults and Sarah & Charley tied for second.  Favorite game for Eli was basketball against the dads at the park.  Hugh is amazing at Apples to Apples for Kids and Crosby a leader at the Disney Find It game and is the most polite of all.  Charley quiet, but playing nonetheless and was in the adult competition this year.  Sydney keeping up with the boys and loving Grandma's corn souffle and orange jello.  Henry loves running around playing outside especially if there's leftover pizza in a container on the porch.  Bob took over as hike leader in the afternoon (with candy in his pocket for troopers Hugh and Syd) and taking Ellery for a stroller ride so Greg & Liz could eat dinner with the rest of the gang.  Liz gave Bob advice on expanding/redesigning our garden.  Greg fixed Barb's problem on Apple TV.  Raina, Barb, Ed and Andy hung in there playing games until the end this year, getting silly and eating sandwiches and chips and pecan sandy torte to get us through the night.  Raina keeping us all in line when needed most and sadly still smiling throughout as we digest wonderful food items that she can't eat.  Sarah had a kinked neck after her firsts night's sleep here, so she walked around crooked on Saturday, but it didn't stop her from having fun anyway.  Liz and Greg made a yummy lunch, Raina and Andy made a delicious breakfast, and Sarah and Ed made breakfast the first morning with bagels and hard boiled eggs and fruit that everyone loved. Ed fixed a bathroom sink problem and he and Andy are our bartenders when needed most.  The adults all wanted Ellery to like them 💚 most, but he's a very busy guy.

 Ellery cooking with the pans

 Roulette

 Operation

 An addicting game on the computer

My team is "Edge of Extinction" in 1st place just for awhile

Greg wants more old memories of mine on here, yikes, racking my brain...maybe next time.  And I wonder why I never get comments on this blog, but I probably have some setting checked.

Birthday, Valentine's Day, 49th Anniversary ... Busy month

We went to Chuck's for Valentine's Day.

For my birthday, we stopped in at the
beginning of Hugh's 7-year old at
home birthday party.  10 other 7 year
old boy classmates and one girl.  It
was thrilling to see and so much crazy
fun.  Kudos to Andy and Raina for
gifting Hugh such a great experience
and memory.  After that Bob and I went
to Studio Winery for music and wine.
Then on to Anthony's for dinner (as Bob
said, "to get it over with" because I'd
been begging for a long time to go there).

For our anniversary we'd been celebrating
for days, Kewaunee all-inclusive extended
stay weekend, Romey's, toasting at Cruise
Inn, Mars and Stefana's.

Still Toasting

Leonard (Spike Kelroy) Dorothy/Dort (Dorfler) Kelroy, Me, Bob, LaVerne (Jacoby) Schneider and Michael Schneider.

Lee, Mary, Virginia, Carolyn, Pat, Barb, Bob, Paul, Richard, Eric and Tom.

I loved my dress and the girls dark green velvet dresses.

11. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (wonderful story, well written, long)
12. The Alice Network by Kate Quinn.  (I loved this book so much, could hardly put it down and took it with me everywhere I went.  Great writing and story.)
13. A Step of Faith by Richard Paul Evans (and "the walk" continues...)

Going to give this sloppy Joe recipe from Colleen Roeder a try, still working on the perfect one for us.

Barbecues

1 lb. lean hamburger
1 can Campbell’s Chicken Gumbo Soup
2 Tbs. Ketchup
2 tsp. Mustard
1 Tbs. Brown sugar
1 Tbs. Vinegar
Combine and simmer until the thickness you like.

 

February and *o*l*d* memories

It's been an amazing winter this year, and still going strong, very cold and lots of snow.  Several things had to be cancelled and rescheduled (annoying!) but keeping us all safe!  I had a good birthday and am very blessed to receive many texts, Facebook messages, calls and snail mail cards.  I participated as a server in the Chili Cook Off with the Civic League and it was fun. 

8. The Road to Grace by Richard Paul Evans (3rd in a series that I can't put down)
9. The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff (An awesome story, loved it so much!)
10.  The Sky Beneath my Feet by Lisa Samson (disappointed, but finished it anyway.)

As requested by Greg, here are some old memories:

My earliest memories until age 8 years old:

I first remember our apartment in Ivanhoe where I lived until I was 8.  I remember sleeping in a crib that was metal and was painted pink which I scraped off when I couldn't sleep, probably ate some of it, yuck!  Later we got bunk beds and I slept on the top and Pat the bottom.  We would goof around in there until Mom would threaten us with the "stick" to be quiet and go to sleep.  I think it was a yard stick.  I did get spanked when I lived in Ivanhoe.  (I wonder what I did to deserve it?)  We have these bunk beds in our house to this day, separated into twin beds for guests.

My grandmother (Ann Dorfler) lived across the street, with Aunt Nancy, Aunt Ellie, Uncle Jim and Uncle Don too.  I can remember that house clearly and have dreams to this day about it.  The bathroom scared me because it had 2 doors and I always thought someone was going to walk in on me.  We never slept overnight at Gram's.

I loved the swings at the school next door to Gram's and Pat and I would sing and swing for a long time, with no playmates.  The neighbor to the West of Gram (with a dirt floor home) had a family with the last name of Jarret.  We played with Davy Jarret often, he was the youngest of a large family.  I remember roller skating with those old skates that needed a key to tighten them over our shoes.  When mom (Dorothy Kelroy/Dort) whistled we came home immediately from wherever we were.  We were afraid of the people who lived below us, Dan & Gretchen Sife and they had a scary boxer dog.  They had a bar and Dan was a bartender and mom worked and helped there sometimes.

We went to Santa Maria Catholic School in Mundelein which required a big car pool to get us to and from.  I believe I disliked every other driver and child in our car pool.  But I ALWAYS said "thanks for the ride" and I still say that to this day, as mom instructed.  I hated school and was scared ALL of the time.  Too shy to make friends and the nuns were so strict.  I was often sick to my stomach going to school and at school.  But I didn't know better (like that public school may have been easier on me).  My mom was also afraid of the nuns.

"Barb in her school outfit.  Lunchbox."

There were often gatherings at Gram's of all the family, and they played cards and drank in the kitchen and some of the guys would walk to Wick's bar just up the street.  I was scared whenever the family got loud and boisterous.  We were mostly ignored at this time, "to be seen and not heard" was often my mom's quote about behaving.  In those days we only had books, dolls and coloring books to keep us busy.  No kid shows on TV to occupy us or any other electronics of course.  I remember that Pat sucked her thumb there a lot when sitting on the couch and I would rock back and forward to feel better.

Not until we were old enough were we invited to learn to play poker in my Gram's kitchen, For family meals, Pat and I were to sit at a small table next to the big one and Uncle Don sat at the end of the big table, always watching what we ate and telling us to eat this or that, things we didn't like.  He was mean to us until we grew up and he had a son of his own.  I remember loving Gram's corn on the cob and chicken meals.

Gram/Grandma Ann/Ann Delacey Dorfler

I remember our Christmas tree always had long icicles which was the best part, not the newer light weight ones, but heavy (maybe lead/bad for us I guess because they outlawed them eventually) and straight. We had one song stuck in our heads "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and we were on our best behavior to be good...."you better watch out, you better not cry, you better be good, I'm telling you why"...When we had the family Christmas party at Gram's, everyone dressed up, like suits for the men and dresses for the ladies.

At home we learned to set the table for supper.  Dishes, silverware, "salt & pepper, sugar & cream, bread & butter".  We drank lots of milk.  We usually didn't like most meals and liver was the worst.  Mom would put one piece of bacon on top of a piece of liver and we had to eat it.  Could NOT leave the table until we got it down.  We were given a spoonful of cod liver oil every morning also.  She also made boiled potatoes a lot and I don't know why she didn't just mash them to make them better.

I liked to watch boxing on TV with my Dad (Leonard/Spike Kelroy).  He would get paper and write scores, after each round, so I wanted to mimic him and do it also.

Pleasurable times were coloring with my aunts, for hours, being read to by Aunt Ellie, and learning to wrap gifts at Gram's with my aunts.  Also my mom would drive us around on Halloween to houses to trick or treat which was special. We played Chutes and Ladders often too and Go Fish and Crazy 8's.

I remember no vacations or trips to the beach or picnics before I was 8.  I remember watching aunts and uncles and mom play croquet at Gram's, fiercely, and then they taught me to play.  It was tough and no sympathy given as I learned to lose and lose.  I saw my Uncle Jim and Aunt Nancy cheat and kick their ball when no one was looking to get it in better position.  Fights would occur and loud yelling at each other.

During this time of my life, I had no peer pressures, no "play dates", no sleepovers or friends from school that I can remember except kids that mom and dad knew the parents of.  We had no gym class at Santa Maria, no regular Geography, Art or Science class either.  Lots of English, math, handwriting, spelling, religion, reading, and going to Mass often.

 We did have lots of fun playing with cap guns, and caps on the sidewalk, and pretending to be cowgirls when playing "Cowboys and Indians".

Over and out for now (Greg) and next time I'll be older than 8.

And another year begins quickly...

Hoping I can make it to 52 books this year!

Sadly Marydonna passed away on Friday January 4, 2019.  She had a knee replacement on April 30th and never went home after that.  So sad.

Bob, Gary and I flew out to California for the services.  They were wonderful and the speeches by Matt and Mark blew us away.  We met and hung out with family and met many people in their lives.

We had 2 extra days and we filled them with Gerald driving us to Malibu (ate at Duke's) and Santa Monica (pier - walking and people/beach watching).  Saw some of California that we would never have seen on our own and had lots of time to chat with Gerald.

The next day Bob and I went hiking in the North Etiwanda Preserve (mountain area) and then we three went to Matt's for an early dinner with all of the family including Marydonna's two brothers and their wives, Paul & Sue and Rob & Colleen.

It was special to see Gerald's home inside and out (where lemons and oranges grow and are ready to pick), and Matt's home inside and out, including his 5th wheel brand new RV.  We were also lucky to see Paul and Sue's home inside and out when they hosted a get together after the funeral.  (I drank too much and broke one of their dishes, sad to say.)

It was great to hear Mark joke around and see Theresa with her beautiful daughters and Matt - the chef in the family.  Loved getting to know Ryan, Janette and Kim much better also!

Bob, Gary and I stayed at a VRBO rental in Fontana, California for 5 nights.  Realized Gary likes bananas, coffee, orange juice and egg sandwiches.  It was a big house, so we had lots of room to spread around and have "me time" when needed. 

The weather was perfect and we made it home in one piece arriving at the end of a snow blizzard in Wisconsin, and the beginning of record breaking low temps with several days of cancellations. 

Anyway, it was a great trip for a sad reason, but which brought much laughter and joy for all.  Wished Mary was with us the ENTIRE time.

 You can see these mountains from everywhere around where we stayed and from Gerald and Matt's homes.  Bob enjoyed a longer hike, and I did a very short jaunt.

 On Santa Monica Pier.

 Tree in front of Gerald's home, on his driveway, with mountains off in the distance, blue skies and perfect temperatures!

And I begin to read in 2019...

1. The Brave by Nicholas Evans (My suggestion for Racy Readers)
2. The Walk by Richard Paul Evans (first in a series)
3. The Other Side of Lost by Jessi Kirby (YA book, and I loved it)
4. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris (very good book)
5. Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans (2nd in a series, love his writing)
6. Vitamin C and the Common Cold by Linus Pauling (read as homework from Tom Roghan)
7. Silent Child by by Sarah A. Denzil (an Audible book and THRILLER totally! I was lured in and caught).