Friday, March 28, 2008

Chicago was fine!

I went and saw and enjoyed... It was a Cinderella experience (in every way but the prince...but then "it takes a mighty good man to be better than no man at all" and my prince was home coughing and being cared for by the other trained cinderella replacement...)

Took the Van Gelder to Chicago and met Renee at Union station. She had a 'satelite direction finding Mabel' and her voice got us to the hotel. We unloaded and checked in. It was a lovely afternoon with soup and later italian fare before going to "Wicked". I loved the show! We had much catching up to do. I knew some of her story and she knew a little of mine but we needed to add all the important factors. So we unloaded our stories and tried to get caught up to the present through each of our tragedies and sagas of heartache and pain. It is good to have a friend and an old friend listens well. We fell into bed and slept like babies in the nice beds there braced by a plethora of pillows!

Day 2 brought us to breakfast on Michigan Ave. followed by long hours of viewing in the Art museum. It was so fun to trek through and then see the special gallery shows of Winslow Homer and Edward Hopper. We went from there to an Irish Pub "Brannigans?" to eat a salad and later walked on back to the hotel. I have not walked that much since I was thinner. Wow my legs are stiff today...later we dressed for the theater and went to dinner (soup and dessert) at one of the fine dining experiences available in the Chicago Hilton. Then "Jersey Boys" was the treat of the night. This play was a musical story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Wow!! Very different from "Wicked" which is the story of Oz before Dorothy. I loved them both.

Today brought us to leaving. We had an elegant breakfast and long time just sharing and being then back up to the room until time to check out. She and "Mabel" delivered me to Union Station and then she and her little black rental car raced off to Crowne Point to be with Ronnie, Amy, Jack and new baby Sawyer who was born last Saturday. It truly was a delight for her to treat me with so many luxuries and beyond. I would love to visit her in S. Cal someday again. She has a house up in the hills with two boston bull terriers and a pool.

Now I am back in Madtown with Tisha and ready to figure out my next move with God's help. I need a miracle bad but this break helped me just breathe and laugh and be for a couple days without the intense stress I am normally under. Yippee for vacations of all types.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Things to be glad about today...

1.) Jesus being raised from the dead!
2.) Jack seems as if he is recovering...
3.) Suzanne is back to work and not throwing up...
4.) Ira is better says Ash
5.) I am in Madison and not still lying in my recliner groaning with aches and pains
6.) Easter is tomorrow and I will see my grandaughter and son and daughter in law as well as Mom/John and so forth
7.) I am going to Chicago on Holiday to see Wicked and Jersey Boys!
8.) 2 days with an old friend will be delightful and so needed right now!
9.) Demetrius is now with what could be an adoptive family where he will have a dad and they are Christians!
10.) I am still afloat somehow though I yet have no answers to the future.

Friday, March 14, 2008

I get more encouragement from those I know!

My daughters are exciting! Jamie is in love and Jessi is digging in to help her Amy and to advance the career. I wish I talked more to my daughter-in-laws but alas they are busy with kinder and such stuff. I thank God for blogs and my space to keep my finger on their pulse a bit. My grandkids are a kick and oh how I miss the ones afar off. Some days they all seem afar off believe me... My sons are being men and that takes most of their energy. Earning a living and relating to their wife and kids is full time work so I make every effort to be thankful when they reach out. I have friends but lately they all seem very preoccupied with survival or their passions. I applaud and move on to the daily life I live. It holds some promise of good days to come. Those promises are what I stand on...

My daughter in law has asked for a few of my fav's

I am thinking about celebrities I really enjoy on this particular Friday. My life is upside down right now and I am glad to think of other things...
I like Meg Ryan because she always looks great and love her funky hair and great facial expressions and I never hated a movie with her in it...
Meg reminds me of the reality of the unsophisticated me inside the whimsical me but of course she is eons younger than me...sigh.

I also like Goldie Hawn. She has been in some classic funny movies and I adore comedy as I think my whole life is a comedy series with small sections of pathos. She is so blonde in nature but has that irreverent edge to her.


Who else do I like? Oh I think Sandra Bullock is wonderful. She also waited for the right rock star to marry. What a woman!


Cruella D'evil comes to mind ...Glenn Close is it? Fantastic! What a woman!


Sophia Loren was my childhood idol and she was always a beauty with some sizzle that I adore.

Saturday, March 8, 2008

Golly Miss Molly

The snow date for Amberly's shower came and few attended. We did have fun however in the small group. Jenna and I spent our time and energy creating a wonderful atmosphere for celebrating Amberly and baby Christian to come.
Since that date she had had many contractions and rough moments but no arrival yet. I am sure she would like to hurry this boychild out into the real world. She has many fears and thoughts coming to her but when that boy is in her arms she will perhaps see God's design clearly. Jimmy is doing a pretty good job of encouraging her so Kudos to Jimmy!
This week held the best and worst of things. Mike and Jessica came Sunday with Eliana of course and we had a splendid 2 days due to the freezing rain that fell. The blow-up bed made it possible and I did get pretty good at recliner sleeping this past year so I took a night in my chair. It was fine! I was so tickled to hear Eliana crying herself to sleep "I want to sleep with my gramma!" but it only took a couple times and a few tears til she was in dreamland. It was a fun time. See the pictures! We all went to church for the first start up of the 2X per month evening alternative service. Jessica and Eliana were in the nursery watching Nemo and some other movie and I joined them at half-time. There were about 26 people attending and the coffeehouse atmosphere was kinda different.
I am trying to build a resume and think about what kind of job I really want. I may have to take what I can get but still I want to find what will work for me! I do want a job to be pleasant. I have had fun jobs and then again some were so boring and dull. I like to have a sense of purpose and fill a spot that keeps me thinking and involved. We shall see...I never had to have a resume before. I am old and have had this job for 10+ years. Whew! God is in charge but I am watching and listening so I don't miss the best and end up taking 2nd best.
Jack turned 78 on Friday but I had to come down to work in Madtown so we celebrated on Thursday night. Jenna and I took him to Perkins and after dinner he had Lemon Pie. He thinks it was free because they put a candle in it but no it still cost 2.95. I don't care but he was overheard telling one of the kids that on the phone. I just let it go as it seemed to tickle him so. He didn't get presents as we have a money crunch but dinner was good and we got him some butterscotch hard candies later.
Today Jenna brought him down for the day but he was bored and wanted to go home by evening. He misses his familiar things even though they bore him a bit too. Getting a balance is hard in our situation but we try. After they left Karah, Metrie and I had an art project and we went online and found an artist to copy. It was a kick!
They are now in bed. The house is nearly clean and only a few dishes await. My eyes are drooping. We had an afternoon hairdying session with highlights for myself, Suzanne and Karah. She is probably the only kid her age in school with highlights...and they look sweet! My hair is bad right now but I need a cut and cannot spring for it until I get money for the bills. No one will hire me until I look good so when the resume is done with cover letter then I will count change until I can afford the hairdo for job interviews. Wish me well!