Past and future

Time for the closing activities for school. Band concerts; choral groups; sports banquets; cheer and pom try-outs and banquets; Lancer dancers and Excalibur tryouts---well you get the picture. I was wanting to do something for Abigail and Kate to celebrate. Abs tried out and made Varsity cheer at Vista High School; Kate made Lancer Dancer at Carlsbad High School. As you can see I decided to make photo holders with their school colors. It wasn't till I wrote thier year of graduation down that I realized Abigail is in the race for graduation (junior) and Kate right behind her (sophomore). In a cliche---where has the time gone???? I know exactly what I was doing as I awaited the BIRTH of each of the girls. The joy was shared (I think) by my co workers at CIGNA peds in Chandler, AZ. So much has changed since then. I now live in Oceanside (NEVER liked the heat) and I am able to attend all these activities, without taking a SW flight. I can help when they need to "borrow" something for their plays; I can go to the boys (they weren't even a thought then) soccer games. But wait, I'm getting off track. As I look at both girls, of course they reflect their beautiful moms, but they also have developed into their own selves. Each of them have a poise beyond their age and a look so fresh and young...They have come a long way from family "shows" in the dining room, but every once in awhile I see them wanting to return where life was simpler. They accomplish this by watching "Pocahontas" together, holding hands and YES, Abbi still cries when Captain Smith leaves. Ahhh, the good old days. 2012 and 2013 USED TO sound futuristic. Not any more!!!

Janey Cutler - Britain's Got Talent 2010 - Auditions Week 4

I am certain America has talent...but why is it that Gr. Britain has the talent we all admire and want to be??? I have thought about that and I wonder if it is because we in the states are so all consumed with appearances, and therefore would never take the chance of "making a fool of our self" unless we were a size six, gorgeous hair style, and "drop dead outfit" on. Maybe it is time to let go of some of that nonsense and appreciate who we are...where we are (in age that is)

journal class

I love a class that I do that is fashioned after women in our lives. The "cut outs" unfold and the first page is my great grandmother. The second is my mom; the third is me and my three sisters; and the last is my family; husband and three kids as well as in laws. I love doing it and think you will enjoy seeing it. Let me know if you are interested. xo geo

Elvis and altered books

Our altered art group has decided to do books again. Each of us, (seven) have chosen a book and a theme and passed it to the first person. The book I received had "temptation" as it's theme. My mind went immediately to my Catholic education (elementary, high school and nursing school) where the nuns very strongly helped us to avoid all temptations. Be it clothes, movies, music, talk etc. Sr. Cunnugunda (yes, that IS her name) decided that Elvis was straight from the devil and put a call out to the entire eighth grade class, minus Janie and myself. She advised all of them NOT to go to the local theater to see Elvis that weekend or they would go straight to a HOT, BIG THEATER called hell. Of course Jane and myself went to see "Love Me Tender" where we learned about the phone call. We were aghast (what DOES that mean) that we had NOT gotten a phone call and decided if we were ALL there...what could she possibly do to us??? Well, somewhere between the phone call and "Stand---those who went to see Elvis..." our classmates lost their nerve. Of course Jane and I stood proud---just the two of us. Well we found out quickly what she could do to us---she told us to go put our boots on and clean the girls bathroom that the toilets had overflowed.

You know as nasty as that sounds I LOVED MY EIGHTH GRADE CLASS. I am still friends with Janie, and I have great stories to tell my unbelieving grand kids---and best of all---great material for "altered books". Can't wait for the next exchange tomorrow.

blogging---not for the weak

Last week I had a few minutes so I began surfing to some other sites. As I started out, I felt so proud to be in this rather elite group called "bloggers". Oh, I know, it's open to whoever wants another job to do...but there is a certain type of person who actually do blog. With a lot of help from my friends, in particular, Jackie B., I had a blog. It had a banner, a way to upload pictures, lots of ideas from my art work as well as family and I was good to go. Well, pride goeth before a fall....



As I continued my journey to other blogs I was struck immediately by the beauty of other blogs. Certainly their sense of design is befitting artists. That's not to mention the music that begins playing. If you don't like that song you can select another. Actually, I think you can download some of their songs to that thing everyone carries with head phones---especially when they exercise. Off to one side is a video showing all sorts of things. Maybe a recent trip to Europe to study art under the "masters". A new baby someone had on their way to teaching a workshop (they cancelled for the day but were there the next day). "How to" instructional video of theirs about how to make your own pottery. And any other thing under the sun.



Oh.........and the colors..........and the fonts...........anyway, in one short journey I was cut down to realizing I had miles to go. I am so for lacking in the technical aspects of all this that I marvel at people who seem to have both---R and L sides of their brains working. The only consolation in all this is---I know more than my mom----but then she is 86 and has no computer.

health care---did we need it???

I guess history was made yesterday when a national health care package was passed by a mere 7 votes. I'm seeing bits and pieces as to it's content...remember when our President PROMISED the open doors and "no secrets"? WHAT HAPPENED?? The whole country is confused---people responding in cheers or spitting; shouts of "well done" drowned out by nasty sneers and words that aren't even nice. If it is so good---why do I feel so bad??? All along I thought that the concept might be OK. Let's do it simply---give us what you got or you take what you gave us. I think we would see quickly the "holes" in this plan. If we took what they have, the pool would increase which would cause the cost to decrease because of the mere numbers. If government took what they gave us, I would believe more readily that "...they are the government and they want to be our friends" so much so they join what they formed. NOT LIKELY to happen either way so---I have huge misgivings as to who really will benefit?? It is pretty scary to me that the population has proclaimed their desire NOT to have health care, yet our elected officials think THEY know what we need. I say, start packing...it's our only weapon. Send all of you back to the common life---but don't worry---you have insurance. As for the spitting and misbehavior---a repeat of colonial days. Ben Franklin was known to club a few people with his cane while people who didn't agree with him, spit. Some things NEVER change.

birthdays

It was a cold and blustery day...isn't that the way Snoopy, lying on his doghouse would start his infamous novel? Actually it was a cold and blustery day---46 years ago when the Lichon couple became a "family". Our first born Michelle was welcomed into our world on March 21st, 1964, and we were different. No more selfishness as to who wins the argument...we had better things to do. Taking very seriously our new role as parents we set our steps forward as perfect parents raising that perfect child. I had been in nurse's training and had finished a pretty extensive course in the new born nursery. That extensive training left when it came to "my" newborn. I do remember the moment as tho' it was yesterday. Michelle learned with us and by the time (rather short time in her mind...hey, we were Catholic) her sister arrived we had relaxed some and didn't get up to see if she was breathing.

Flash forward to March 21, 2010. The Lichon family has grown. Wonderful son-in-laws; even more wonderful grand kids, gathered together at Michelle's favorite restaurant, "Rice n Beans". ( I don't even know the correct name of the restaurant, the kids started calling it that and it has stuck.)

We move around the table telling "...what is it you like about Michelle?" It was a gift to us hearing her kids tell about "Mommy". I know that is what it meant in our wedding ceremony---"...may you live to see your children's children"---and so we have. Happy Birthday first born---
thanks for being such a great teacher! We love
you.