Way behind

Wow.  Since I've started this blog, I've never had such a lapse in updating it.

All I can say is that it is July and we were on the road for about 3 weeks.  I did take my laptop, but never seemed to have the time to do any posting.  
I don't know where to begin on explaining  what has happened this month.  But it was quite an experience and we did make it down to Mobile, Alabama and back in one piece.  We took Jay's truck and trailer.
 Talk about guzzeling gas! It seemed like we were stopping every couple of hours to get it!
 But we did get all of Rocky's stuff safely delivered to him - so he is happy.
 I had one bout of heatstroke that has never happened to me before, but I lived through it. (so I shouldn't complain)

And we had a good time babysitting the grandkids for 3 days while Chad & Staci took baby Gwen to Salt Lake for her surgery.  It all turned out well, but poor baby Gwen has to wear arm restraints and all this face apparatus for 6 weeks, then she will have another surgery and do it all again.  I guess it is best to get it done now so that she won't remember it.  But it has been tough for Staci & Chad - the feeding thing has especially been tough for Staci.

 The picture above is Gwen after the Surgery.

Well, I have felt like a slug, because I haven't been walking much at all.  So I'm trying to get back into it.

I did the walk around the river yesterday and Man! I'm feeling a little sore today.

But I am glad to be back home and getting into the swing of things.

Hopefully, I can do better at posting on this blog now!

What kind of a Grandma...am I???

  I just realized that I haven't put up any pics of our newest grandchild and it has been over a month!
So here are some pics of the baby and her mom and the rest of the kids! Aren't they adorable! (I'm not biased or anything)

I know I haven't been posting to this blog - like I usually do. I couldn't believe that it's been 2 weeks since my last post!  Summer hits and daylight is longer - so you spend more time outside....or I do anyways.
 I have to report that I have been walking a lot.....not doing much running since the last race. But I have been doing my 10 mile walk at least once a week and then a 3 or 4 miler everyother day.
I don't have any big races coming up on the horizon, but I have talked to some buddies about doing the Leavenworth 1/2 mara in October.......we'll see.....:)

    But now to go back to the pictures that I posted above.  I realized that I hadn't posted any pics of the grandkids, lately and especially baby Gwen!  Yeah, what kind of Grandma.......am I?!
I really adore these kids and of course, their parents.
Isn't our daughter Staci ....so beautiful?!  She is an amazing mom to these kids.  I just wish they lived closer - so I could see them more often. But I have to take what I can get.......:(

   We are going to go on a trip here soon to take Rocky (our son)'s stuff in a u-haul like trailer to Mobile, Alabama. (Yep, that's a lot of driving) But he is already down there - working and waiting for his stuff.
This will be an interesting adventure, I'm sure.....:)
 On the way back, we will stop in Idaho Falls, ID and watch the other 3 grandchildren (Weston, Analee, and Kallista) while Chad & Staci take baby Gwen to the hospital in SLC to have the operation on her lip.
  I feel so glad that we can help them in this way.
I'll have my laptop w/me, so I'll try to post an update.  

Well, that's all for now.

Sage and Sun - 5 miler

Yep, I did do the Ephrata Sage and Sun fun run. I chose the 5 miler, because I had done it in the past and thought I would have no problemo. But I was wrong - everyone else that ran the thing - ran the whole thing!  I know that I'm a walker/runner - I can not run the whole way. 

Well, for some reason this time - there were no walker/runners - just runner/runners.

That's okay, I guess.

It's just that my name will be last in the Ephrata newspaper - which is a little humilating. It brings back all those memories that I think I told here in my blog awhile back. 

It's a story about when I was young and in a long distance race and was the last one. My Dad loves to tell it and has told it in church a few times. He says, and I quote,"Marie was way behind everyone else and should have just quit the race, but no she did finish it and was given a standing ovation - just because she finished!"

I know he is emphasizing that I didn't quit and that's what is important - but much to my chagrin - I still feel the pangs of being the last one and everyone thinking I should have just dropped out of the race - because I was sooooooooooo far behind.

Well, I will get over it now, because I am 50 and I feel like I don't care about the ego thing anymore. There are plenty of people like me in the 1/2 maras that walk and run - and do it for their health.  I will just have to stick to those kind of races!  Because I'm not last in those kind of races!! (knock on wood)

I do have to say that is was nice of Roger Pugh.(who had a shirt on - that on the back said, "Don't let the fat guy beat ya!")  Anyways, Roger did run back after he finished the race and both him and his daughter ran to the finish line (again) with me!  They were nice to think of me........:)

Discombobulated....

DISCOMBOBULATED - having self-possession upset - thrown into confusion.

   I heard this word on the radio the other day and it really intrigued me.  I kept saying it over and over - I'm trying to add it to my vocabulary, but I never seem to find the right time to throw it in.  Oh, well...........
I thought of it again today on my walk and decided that when I get home - I will look up the definition.
Well, that's the definition (above).  But why don't they just say: confused, or bewildered, or disconcerted??
That's what I thought it meant.
 I guess I'm pretty close.

I'm really not feeling discombobulated, but then again, I'm sure I should be. There are so many things we should be feeling discombobulated about these days, right?!   The Oil still pouring out in the Gulf,  the War on terror still going on over seas, the uncertainty with the immigration problem, the mess with our Healthcare system, and........just give me another minute and I'll think of more............you get my point.

   Well, I really don't want to talk about all that stuff.  I just wanted to present the word ..'DISCOMBOBULATED'  to you.   I think it's a cool word. :)

Here's a pic of a pretty tree on my walk/jog. What a beautiful day it was today and I can say that I went 10 miles. I'm feeling it tonight, but it's not that bad.   I just felt like I was in heaven today.  Everything looked so beautiful to me.  Everything looked so green and the sky blue and the sun shining and............

need I say more?  I felt so blessed to just have the time to be able to do this today.

I listened to my wonderful tunes and it seemed that all my favorites just happened to play today.  Okay maybe I'm laying it on to thick, but I want to just enjoy how wonderful it all was.  Because we all know that life goes on and in order to have these wonderful moments - we have to have the ugly, sad and not-so wonderful moments. 

You've gotta take the good with the bad or you don't deserve the good.(what my Dad always says.)

The critters......

Well, I had a great walk yesterday - even though I got rained on a little bit. But I was surprised at all the critters that I encountered on my walk.
The first picture is of some ducks (or geese??) and their little ones following behind.  I couldn't get them all in the picture, but there was quite a bunch of them and all out floating on the river.  It was a beautiful sight, but for some reason doesn't look as good to me in this picture.
  Then when I was walking across the footbridge over to Confluence Park - I looked below me and saw at least 20 (I counted) big fat gophers or muskrats or whatever you call them.  You can't see them very well in this picture....but they were there.   I was surprised to see so many of them hanging together. It looked like they were having a family reunion or something.

  And I think you can tell by this last pic - Yes, it's a big snake - but it's just a bull snake.  I was close enough to see that it didn't have any rattlers on the tail.  I'm also surprised that I saw a snake this early- usually it's toward the end of the summer - when it's really hot.  Oh, well....................
    And the other day I saw a huge Eagle fly right over my head.
 Oh, and while I'm mentioning wildlife - I saw the cutest little owl on my walk around the farm here.  I thought it was a baby owl, but Jay says there are small owl species around here.
   So you never know what you will see if you just get out and walk.  Sometimes it is hard for me to get out there, but I'm always happy that I did and I always feel better afterwards.

Now I have another pic to post.  It is of Rocky Jay and me.  We took this before the Elma, WA 1/2 mara (that we didn't end up doing) a couple weeks ago. When we went to the race start - there was hardly anyone there and we realized that this was a very, very  small town race.  In fact we were worried that we were the only ones in it, because the other people that were there - were in the bike race part.  I've never been to a race that looked that badly organized - they even gave us a shirt from another race.  They didn't have their own shirts!  So we decided to go up the road and the guys could go golfing.

 That's okay - I'll learn to check out the reviews on the races next time I sign up.  This one didn't have any reviews - I should have known.

Couldn't help it either....

This is from one of the blogs I follow - The Neologist - (Sarah)
I got a kick out of it - so I thought I'd repost it.  :)

Stay motivated?

Wow.....I'm really finding it hard to stay motivated on this walking/jogging thing ,lately. 
You would think that I've been doing it long enough - that it would just be second nature
and I wouldn't have to keep struggling to make myself find time to do my 3 - 4 mile walks
every other day.(at least)
   But no, it's still hard to keep myself doing it.  I haven't felt the energy in me.
Yesterday I did go 3 miles on the treadmill - cause it rained all day.  And today I did get
up and go 4 miles around the farms.  But I'm in a gloom.......I've gotta shake it off.
  
I just read something good that I would like to put as a thought here today:

Life can be legitimately seen as a painful tragedy or a purposeful triumph.  Each of us must
choose.  I choose to see God at work blessing His children in wise and loving ways.  The
very fact that God has created a world in which everything can be seen in gloomy or glorious
ways seems to be evidence that He honors our agency.
-H.Wallace Goddard

So Yes, it's all in my attitude..........I can shake off the gloom.............

My black remote automobile key thingy.......

Yes, today started out so wonderful, but as we all know- things can change in a heartbeat.

I was finally getting the chance to take my long walk around the Columbia river that I try to do
at least once every 2 weeks.  And I was feeling much better than usual today - I just felt so happy
to be out in nature and enjoying the beautiful scenery all around me.
I think part of it was because I had been  babysitting for the week before and now I was free!
Free to do what I want!
I had walked for at least 3miles - (listening to my tunes and jogging every now and then)-
When I touched my right pocket and realized that it wasn't bulging w/my black remote automobile key thingy.   Usually I put my key in a special compartment in my jogging pants - where it doesn't come out.  But today I put it in the right pocket of the windbreaker that I was wearing.  I even covered it with some kleenix - thinking that there was no way it could come out.  I know......I know......I should never change my procedures when it comes to my walks/runs.
Well, all of a sudden everything changed - I was in a panic.  I retraced my steps (3 miles worth) and I asked everyone that I encountered on the path "did you see a black auto key remote thingy anywhere??"
No one had..........so then my mind automatically thought the worst - what if that shady-looking guy that I saw earlier - found it and went to the parking lot and stole my car!!
I do believe that if you think of the worst that could happen - then what happens isn't usually as bad as you thought.   Well, that did work for me today.
 I got back to my car (which is new and I've only had for a month BTW)  and I realized that I have this thing called  ONSTAR  that came free w/the vehicle for a year!
Talk about amazing......that's one benefit about living in this day and age.   I was able to call onstar on my phone and they just asked me a couple questions and 'Whoooola'!  I heard a click. :)   My car was unlocked.
 Oh, and I forgot to say that my other ring of keys was in my purse that was locked in the car.

I still am waiting for the right moment to tell Jay , since he is fixing our broken oven at the moment.  Maybe sometime when we can both laugh about it.  I feel like it is just too fresh of an incident to laugh about right now and I am still feeling guilty about losing the key remote.
  Isn't it funny how an incident like that can change the mood of your whole day?! 
No, I guess it's not that funny.

Baby Gwen

Yes, little baby Gwen did come! What a long day it was for my poor daughter.  She was induced (early, early in the morning) and had contractions on and off all day, but nothing big was happening. 
Then I guess all of a sudden at 4:30pm the baby started coming and she came within a 1/2 an hour. I guess when the baby comes that fast - they tend to get really bruised.  Yes, she looks bruised and she has a cleft lip.  Not a cleft palate, but a cleft lip - which did scare Staci at first, but I think she now realizes that it's not that bad.  The baby seems to be healthy in every other way.  She (the baby) will have to have surgery to fix the lip within the next couple of months, but the Dr. seems to think it's not that big a deal.
It's true that it is such a miracle that all things come in to play - so well orchestrated - to put together this little person.  So as I tell my daughter that it is not something that she did and she can't blame herself (as most of us tend to do) - I do understand why she is so emotional about it. Hey, it's a big event.  It's soooooo emotional anyway.
What a wonderful thing it is - to see your daughter and son-in-law  - be such great parents. They really are amazing and they show much love to each other.  What more could a Mother and Grandmother ask for??
I am faring okay with tending the other three, but of course, I won't be doing any walking/running until I go home.  That's okay - I feel good that I could help out. 
My 6 year old grandson is quite a funny little boy. Yesterday when his 2 sisters were bugging him - he said,
" Hummmmmmmmmmmm.......this makes me wonder how I'm going to handle another one."
I tried hard not to laugh, but it was so funny the way he said it.  Out of the mouth of babes..........:)

baby tomorrow??

Our daughter, Staci is getting induced tomorrow morning. She will be having a baby girl.

I just realized that it will be May 18th tomorrow - the anniversary of Mt St. Helen's blowing
it's top! And the 30th Anniversary at that!
Well, I just told her about it and of course, it doesn't really mean that much to her. She wasn't
even alive when that happened. 
But I can vividly remember that day. I was 8 months pregnant with her brother, Greg.
It was a Sunday and we were in church.  I remember the whole congregation walking outside
to look at the big black cloud that was climbing into the sky. 
We lived only 40 miles to the west of Mt. St. Helen's at the time and most of our family lived
at least 180 miles or so to the East of it.  It was funny that it didn't affect us as much as our family
and friends that lived in the Columbia Basin and the Yakima Valley. I guess the wind was blowing
it over their way.   Most of the ash came down on
them. Their day turned into night.  So they thought that if they were getting so much of this ash coming
down on them - we must be wiped off the map!!  My parents and other family members tried calling us
- but the lines were down.  At the end of the day, my mother finally got through to me and she was crying.
We didn't even think that it would have affected them that badly.  What a crazy time!

We did get  some ash come our way - two weeks later. It was enough for us to realize how bad it must
have been for all of our family and friends on the other side of the mountain.  What a pain it was to wash
that stuff off of everything.  I will never forget that time  and the years following. Even 2 to 3 years later -
we would see carloads of people (tourists) come through our little town of Toledo, Washington  with surgical masks on their faces.  And here we were walking around in this contaminated area with nothing over our faces!  How funny.......

The Be's..........

Be Grateful.
Be Smart.
Be Involved.
Be Clean.
Be True.
Be Positive.
Be Humble.
Be Still.
Be Prayerful.
(Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley)

I've always liked the above mentioned 'Be's. President Hinckley gave a Conference talk on them years ago and it was something quite witty that we all liked and remembered.
 He said that these 'B's will bring purpose into your life and give you direction to your energies. 
I have a little plaque in my bedroom with these Be's on it (that my sis-in-law gave me). 
It always makes me smile.
Well, I've tried to live by them, but I know I faulter daily.  It's a constant struggle. I guess that's what life is, huh?! 
Anyways, today I'm thinking of getting ready to go to Idaho Falls this weekend to be with my daughter and her family.  She is due and they will induce her  (this weekend) - because she has had a lot of false labor and is already dilated.  I love being a Grandma and sure enjoy being around those grandkids. (just wish I had more energy).

Today I walked 4 miles as I did yesterday and the day before.  I'm trying to keep it going, but I'm sure feeling slow and tired.  I haven't been doing much running or jogging.  I guess I'm kind of in a slump.
But now with the change of such beautiful weather - I intend to get out as much as possible.
( I don't know if that will work while I'm in Idaho Falls, tho).

"A person's a person - no matter how small" (- from Horton Hears a Who)

I read an article about Kids and how hard should we push them on learning a talent, sport, activity, etc.???
Many people responded with their ideas and what parents should do.

It made me immediately go back to my memories of trying to get my kids to play the piano. One child in particular who made my life miserable for that one year that I made him take piano lessons! I realize now that I really shouldn't have even forced him to take that one year.  But many parents will disagree with me. I was surprised to read from these parents that they thought it was the right thing to do - to force the children to do these things and they(our kids) will thank us later.  It didn't sound right to me.

 Here are a couple quotes that I wrote down from the parents' ideas that I liked:

"Respect a child's humanity and individualism, do not force anything that isn't required for their safety or health."
"We can try to help and direct them onto the right path for them.  They need the opportunity to explore activities and find what suits their likes and dislikes."

I know my daughter wishes that I taught her to sew, but she is taking a sewing class now and enjoying it very much.  So it's never too late.
Speaking of my daughter, she is due with our 4th grandchild (a girl) in a week or so.  But she is already having some false labor, so I'm thinking I may be going to Idaho Falls soon.

Rocky and I did the run around the river yesterday - and he did about 4 miles more than me, but I'm not as sore as he is today! yay!

Mobile,Alabama

Well, from what I have seen of Mobile, Alabama area the last few days - it's not that bad. We've been to almost every Apartment complex there is in this area and let me tell you! - there are quite a few.  I've lost track of how many we've seen and I'm definitely getting them all mixed up in my mind as to who said what and how much this and that cost and.....and........
Luckily, my son has a much better and younger mind and can remember more of the details. We've finally settled on one that is new and gives you much more bang for your bucks.  I really thought at first that he should stay closer to the university and medical center that he is working at , but I could quickly see that I was wrong.  Most all of the complexes around -made me think of the projects in bigger cities. I won't say what cities,but I'm sure you get the picture.  There was one really nice one, but of course, it was way too expensive.  So we narrowed it down to 3 places, but kept going back to the one and finally - after much debate - we agreed on the best place that had the best deal (in our minds).
 I really haven't had to go apartment hunting much in my life and I can tell you that I'm so thankful for that. I'm so glad that I haven't had to do that as much as our son has.  He really has lived in almost every type of place that you can imagine and he's had a couple of nice ones, too.
But I'm sure he will be so happy to one day have a home of his own - instead of  renting an apartment.
I hope that he will get that opportunity some day. 
We have one last day (tomorrow) and we hope to drive down to Pensacola, Florida. It's only a 45 minute drive from here.  I tell you - I could live in a place that is warm all year round and has palm trees. I know they have to worry about hurricanes, but I think I could deal.  Rocky is that way, too.  He lived in Boston during his medical school years and was tired of the very,very cold winters.

And I finally did get to go on the treadmill (4 miles) this morning.  Rocky is on it now. 

Thinking...

I've been thinking a lot today, because I've been crossing the country on Airplanes all day. I'm at the Memphis Airport right now waiting for my final flight to Mobile, Alabama.  I've never been there, but that's where our son, Rocky is going to live for the next 4 years.  He will be doing his Pathology residency there. So I'm going down to meet Rocky and help him find a place to live.  I'm sure he could do it on his own, but it's nice to have family support, right?!  And it's a fun trip for me - I think.....we'll see....:)

Well, I started this blog yesterday while I was traveling- but I got interrupted by a couple calls I got from my husband and son.
 All the thoughts that I was at the time thinking about have kind of lost their zip, but I hope I can articulate some of those thoughts here now.  I was at 4 airports yesterday and did a lot of people watching. Most everyone I smiled at - for some reason or another - didn't smile back. It just seemed like a grouchy day for all the people that I bumped into.(not literally bumped)
 Maybe I scare people with my smile, I don't know.
Anyways, I saw the news on a TV at the Memphis airport that showed a video of a man that helped a woman from getting stabbed and then got stabbed himself and nobody would help him.  One guy even took a picture of him and could clearly see that he was bleeding.(this was in NY) It took a long, long time before he got any help. He just lay there on the street bleeding. (Lots of people walking by.)
 Are we really getting so de-sensitized that we won't even stop and help anyone anymore?? Are people just afraid to get involved anymore? It's sad.
 I myself am afraid to pass by a bum in the street that wants money from me.  I have usually tried to give them some money, but then- others have told me that it just goes to the purchase of liquor and does them no good.  So then I have walked right by and tried to avoid eye contact - but I don't feel very good about that either. I think the mob mentality (of not caring about the little guy) is too alive and well out there.
We will never progress and prosper (like we should) if that's how we live our life. 
Well, that's my 2 cents for today.
 I know that realistically - all I can do is just try to be better myself.
I will continue to smile and be optimistic as much as possible - even if I meet a lot of sour pickle suckers out there!
And after thinking about it, I think I should try to keep giving that bum a few dollars whenever I can -  after all, we are all God's children.

Wenatchee 1/2 mara

Well,

here I am after the 1/2 mara in Wenatchee on Saturday. I feel like I did ok. My time was 2 hours 42 minutes.

I know it isn't my best, but I realized (after I started running) that I wasn't in as good a shape this time. I guess I haven't been training as good as I thought. It's one thing to walk/jog around on your own all the time, but when you get with actual competition - that's a whole other ballgame!!  I'm not as sore as I have been before, but on my walk today - I sure couldn't do any jogging/running! 

I ran into an old friend from High School (Toppenish). He and his wife had become avid runners. They were good and very experienced. He thought this was my first 1/2 mara and when I said it was my 8th - he seemed a little surprised. I know I don't look like a runner and there were plenty of serious runners at this marathon ( I noticed.)

He did give me some tips that helped when he passed me on the route. I know I hunch over a little when I run and he said something about that. I consciously tried to straighten up more and I'm sure that helped. Yes, thank - you , Joe, if you ever read this! Also, my breathing is kind of erratic - he showed me a way to breath out slowly and more rhythmatically as I'm running.  Anyways, they were good pointers - I'm always learning.

I noticed at this marathon - they had a couple of massage therapists working on people right after the race.  Boy, I was tempted. I might try that one of these times.  My friend Janene says that she usually schedules a massage after her races. Very interesting.......sounds good.

Well, life goes on and I know I need to find another race - to keep me going and motivated here this summer.

Spring

I think it's really here - Spring. Here's a picture of the little purple flowers on my walk today around the farm.
Even though we live in the desert and it's not that pretty (compared to my walk around the river in Wenatchee) - you still can find some beauty. This picture doesn't really do it justice.
 I just felt that great feeling this morning swell inside me that I haven't felt this year until today.  The feeling was 'YEA!'  it really feels like spring now.  It still was chilly on my walk, but not so bad and I know the weather is suppose to get warmer every day this week.  The 1/2 mara in Wenatchee this Saturday should be on a really nice day.  They say it's suppose to be in the 70's and sunny.  YAHOOOO!
   So I walked around the farm and some other farms in the area (twice). The distance was about 7 miles and on Sunday I did 4.  So I think that I'm feeling ready for Saturday. I don't know why I'm getting nervous about it - I've done this before.  I guess it's because I haven't been in a race since last fall. (and I've gained a few lbs. since then).  Oh, well.............

Humor

Yes, I'm thinking of Humor today. I'm thankful for the humor in my life.  I have a husband that always looks at the light side of things and tends to cheer me up quite a bit. (most the time)
My sons and daughter are always teasing and trying to be funny. (and most of the time they are funny).
   Sometimes they can go overboad - like some of Greg's April Fools Day jokes. (huh, Greg?!)

Anyways, today I'm going to think about all the funny stuff in my life.  We love a lot of silly shows.
The movie 'What about Bob' (with Bill Murray) comes to mind.  I don't know how many times we've watched that show. Then there's 'Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (with Steve Martin & John Candy)  and Back to School (Rodney Dangerfield). Oh, I guess I shouldn't start naming them all, but of course I just thought of Mel Brooks' 'Young Frankenstein' and 'Blazing Saddles' from the 70's. 
Also, we get a kick out of 'The Office'  and we are still watching (over and over) 'Seinfeld'  reruns.
 Does this prove that we like humor in our house?  I think so......

On a different note....I did walk 4 miles yesterday (in the howling wind) and 3 miles today (on the treadmill).

humor quote of the day:
    Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.  That way, when you criticize them you're a mile away and you have their shoes...  - Author unknown

11 and 1/2 miles

Yes, I did 11 and 1/2 miles today. I know because I have a new app on my I-phone called Runkeeper. It's pretty cool, but I'm not sure I like that it tells me every 5 minutes how fast I'm going and how far I've gone and what time it is. Oh, well............ This is helping me get ready for the 1/2 mara next week. It was a pretty day outside and I really loved feeling the sunshine on my face.
I think I'll add a recent picture of Jay and I - just for the fun of it.
This was at my nephew (Beau's) farewell.
This isn't one of our better photos - maybe it's because we are just getting older. (Boo...hoo...)
But it's also because I'm standing on a step above Jay and looking down.
Anyways,
I have a good quote by Eckhart Tolle that I'd like to add today:

People believe themselves to be dependent on what happens for their happiness. They don't realize that what happens is the most unstable thing in the universe. It changes constantly.  They look upon the present moment as either marred by something that has happened and shouldn't have or as deficient because of something that has not happened but should have.  And so they miss the deeper perfection that is inherent in life itself,
a perfection that lies beyond what is happening or not happening.  Accept the present moment and find the perfection that is untouched by time.

Happy Easter

What a beautiful Easter Sunday. I walked 4 miles this morning and even though it was cold - it wasn't as windy as it has been all week and the sun was shining.
I've been trying to walk at least 4 miles everyday. I have done it 3 days in a row now and I want to do it for the next 2 weeks. On April 17th I will be in the 1/2 marathon race in Wenatchee - so I want to be ready for that.
(Usually I walk every other day - maybe this change will help. (we'll see)

I want to mention my friend - Sylvia's blog here today. The link is:
http://sylvia-subjecttochangewithoutnotice.blogspot.com/
She speaks about Mary and Martha in the Bible. I've always loved this story-
Probably because I can relate to it so much. So many many times I have felt like Martha, too. But I know I have some Mary in me. I just have to remind myself of this often. I can easily get caught up in all the little things that don't matter as much.
Anyways, I'm sitting here listening to General Conference on TV and trying to make myself sit still. So many times I have had a hard time just sitting and listening - I usually hop up and do something(there is always something to do.) So I'm trying to make myself sit and listen. I guess I'd better get off this computer and put my full attention to what is being said. :)
Have a Happy Easter.

Songs

Well, I did 4 miles today and it was quite gloomy out. Infact, it looks like it's going to snow. But at least I had my tunes and I had a great walk because of that. I've downloaded a few new ones and I think I'll mention them - just because they are songs that make you smile. :
Hey, Soul Sister! (by Train)
Mockingbird (Carly Simon & James Taylor)
In My Life (The Beatles)
The Sound of Silence (Simon & Garfunkel)
Your're So Vain (Carly Simon)
Better Days (Goo Goo Dolls)
Trip around the Sun (Jimmy Buffet)
Okay, that's probably enough to mention. But I'm sure glad I have my I-phone to brighten up these gloomy days. Years ago when I use to walk - all I had was a radio-walkman type thing and you couldn't get the channels very good - then I graduated to a Tape-player walkman. Oh! those things are dinosaurs now. The quality and the availability of any song you want is so amazing to me. See it doesn't take much to make me happy. :)