Merry Christmas!!!

It's Christmas Morning and I have soo many things tumbling in my head!!! So in the footsteps of my siblings...Pictures say alot more than words.

I get to wake up to a wonderful Soul...Kevin. He had coffee made and ready to open those presents.

My gifts were amazing and well though out. everything from spoiling me to items of practicality!
I do need to show you our FLORIDIAN 5ft Christmas Tree. This not me at all, but what is a girl to do when her 6 other Christmas Trees are in Virginia?

Still came out pretty good...Huh?!!

Don't forget the early Christmas delivery from last week...There's always something so wonderful and hilarious that happens that I get to the point I just pee my pants...

MAILED GIFTS!!!

My sister mailed me my gift (you saw the package in the tree pic) and I did wait to open it on Christmas; I didn't peek, never did...Stan and Mary!!

She gave me specific instructions not to use scissors and I didn't have too...

This is what I opened...

I couldn't stop laughing!!! Mary, you put a bow on a present that was sent in the mail and not just any mail...a soft pack envelope!!! Flat as a Pancake...

This was a "MOM" Moment by far...which I do miss terribly because these are sooo laughable moments.

Then I flipped over the wrapped present and then I found this...

Is it Fourth of July? Our family is soooo resourceful and patriotic too.

I Loved the Necklace and this was another pee moment...

You ask why? Ummmm, I LOVE IT, but knowing who it came from and the sarong caption coming from a "Jimmy Buffet" Fan Club that involves a drink at Happy Hour w/the various mix drink glasses...Mary your Mormon and avoid CAFFEINE, let alone liquor mixes!!!!

Seriously, this will be my Number 1 beachwear during the summer. You know I live in bathing suits and I think you're telling me to cover my butt too, since I'll be 42 now. I get it and I haven't worn a thong bikini in a year. Aren't proud of me? I knew when to stop when I gained that 10 pounds!!!

Stan, I know you were in the basement and finishing up the addition on your Birthday and your year was full of alot of flooding and redesigning the infrastructure. Wishing I was with you all and sending blessings for the new year.

Moments when I really Love my Siblings

It's the holidays and, as much as I try not to whine about not being with my siblings, I really do miss the whole experience of Christmas Eve Tradition with dinner and music, Mom and Dad, and all the children running around dressed up and celebrating my brother's B-day. He did have the "combined" present thing, but having his B-day on Dec 24th made it easy to set up for our family's holiday scheduling for celebrating in a special way.

I have been fortunate over the years to be able to partake and travel in when my career was a little more flexible, but this year...new job., so here I am remembering Holiday Past and knowing how much fun it is to be with them.

Well, just when my emotions are really mushy, which is so unlike me, my siblings make it easy for me to step back at let them have their own moments. We grew up always doing everything together and I realize it really is ok that we don't do EVERYTHING together.

Here are ten things that I am grateful that my siblings do without me:

10. Drive around daily in 15 passenger vans as their regular means of transportation...Gas Guzzlers!!!

9. Making an appointment for a date with your spouse!! They have to spend a week planning for a dinner out!!

8. Christmas shopping starts the day after Christmas for next year...and then making room to keep it hidden for the whole year.

7. Then they have to remember what they already bought as the year progresses...I am sure age is starting to creep in on this one!!

6. Birthdays!! OMG one every month, sometimes two...and they both manage to make it special for each one of them...WOWSERS!

5. Living 5 mins or next door to my parents all year round. This one is soo elastic. Yea, I wish I lived closer, but really all year round...not. My siblings are sooo good with being with my parents....Thank You Thank You Thank You...

4. Eating every single one of Mom's Sunday meals...Yea I wish I had some of the meals she cooks for you guys, but I also know some of the other dishes she cooks that may not be as flavorful...

3. Preparing for a family vacation and just getting to the spot...They have the start planning a year in advance, budget, and the packing is not in an hour...it's a two week process!!

2. Saving clothes all these years for the next little ones.. have you two packed the 12-15 yr old onesies yet?!!!

1. CUTTING DAD'S HAIR!!! no more needed on this explanation...

Miss you two and your families.

Love June

Disney Lives in My Family...my Thanksgiving

My Siblings are sooooo Disney!! Here are ten reason why I get to watch real dreams and "Tink" pass around fairy dust. Oh, by the way...there are more than one Tinker Bells:

1. My sister does whistle while she works - Some times her whistles is in the form of daydreaming about when she dreamed of her future dream family and realizes she is living it.

2. Christi makes homemade bread/dough every week!! Without the breadmaker or a Kitchenaid mixer. ( I love my KitchenAid)

3. Keith takes every Birthday off for his family!!! Since Andrew was 1!!! 16 yrs ago. Even when Mary tells him to save it...he figures it out and manages to give them their special day.

4. My mom, every Sunday, makes a meal for both sets of grandchildren. It is a huge feat when you're cooking for one family of 12 and another of 10!! It's like having a holiday every Sunday!! Definitely Fairy Dust rollin around here...

5. My sister still goes out once a week w/the girls. Keith is her Superhero!!!

6. Have you ever seen any of the children. Any one of them...Andrew, Chris, Cassie, Cayla, Natalie, Garrett, Luke, Mark, Kolbe, Jason, John Paul, Sophia, Caroline, Corrina, Felicity, Charlotte, Maria, and Maggie!!! They are all kind, generous, selfless, empathetic, giving, and soooo "just want to gobble them up!!!"

7. Christi entertains family groups every other day with other women w/children!! They, seriously, come over with more children during the week and they spend a few hours for play time and talk time...like every other day all while home schooling!!! She gets a little adult time too!! WOW.

8. Every one of them has a doggy that is amazing. I am being straight up dead serious!! Jack and Daisy (sounds like Disney names) are both mixed hound mutts, saved pound puppies, and has their very own personalities!! They are sooo laid back with all the kids. Daisy likes to be on top of rails and trees. Jack likes to be right next to any human and lets the little ones sit on him like a horse!!

9. Both of my sisters found their "Knight in Shining Armor"!! The kisses good bye in the morning, the "daddy's home" coming from every part of the house, the massive collection of house duties that both do on top of giving the children "daddy moments", and finally they both cuddle w/their wives at night while watching TV...Gooey, Huh?!

10. My Brother convinced my parents to move in next to him, knock down the middle fence, mows their lawn when he mows his, and niether of my siblings really uses grandma and grandpa as sitters. They get to be true grandparents. They grandkids get to knock on the door and hang out with grandma and grandpa anytime. Did I tell you Mary and Stan take turns on my Dad's haircut? It sound simple, but it really is a feat!!

Am I thankful?!! Absolutely. I am very fortunate that my siblings get to live their dreams. It's such a great thing to witness in these days and if it weren't for my parents generous, strong, and honest spirits, where would we have been? Thank goodness we never have to find out.

I am having a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

A Trip to the Gulf Coast, Brandenton, FL

Well, my readers, the renter has left a condo empty on Oct 31st. The owner created "predictive" anxiety and for two weeks we have been planning a trip to inspect the one-bdrm condo, three and a half hours away. We pack the car w/a ladder, cleaning products, rags, overnight clothes, blow-up mattress, and painting supplies. Imagine working yourself up to knowing you will be painting all weekend and cleaning just to turn around and drive back the very next day. YUCK. I like to paint and decorate,but not in a 24hr turnaround!! Talk about getting anxious.

We leave @7am, drive through Orlando, reminisce about Disney trips, and I fall asleep praying that we don't really have to paint. We drive around hoping not to run into his ex girlfriend and land at the condo...We turn the key and find the lights on, the fan running, and YEA!!!!!The place was immaculate. We don't have to paint. I prayed on this for three days...thank you, thank you. As we walk through the place, I realize I don't want to spend the night either because I don't want to shower or use the sink because it will leave water spots. We end up getting some minor scratches off the walls and buy a shower curtain to make it easier for a renter. Oh, the bathroom had a better TUB!!! Over sized and deep...Can I trade?

Based on the evaluation, we call the renter to give her deposit back, go eat lunch, drive to the beach...DRIVE to the BEACH... It was gorgeous. I wanted to go swimming. The water was warm and the sun was out, but wait, I don't have a place to rinse off. I don't want to deal with water spots!! we end up meeting up with friends to have a drink. I realize it's 5pm and we're driving home tonight!!!

How can I break this up...ALL YOU CAN EAT LOBSTER in Kississeme!!! Whew. ..home @ 11:30pm...in our own bed...stuffed and happy... Night Night

Thoughts on the 2008 Election!!!

I didn't stay up to watch the results...I just prayed before I went to sleep. I woke up and didn't run to the computer...I just prayed. I saw the results..I will continue prayers.

If Internet Questionaire wasn't enough...

It's called "Tagged"...Of course my crazy sister, but this time it's in a blog, not an email...
What was I doing 10 years ago?
1. Working at Bank of America...work-aholic
2. Living in California
3. Went Camping all the time w/my dog Gunter
4. Spent alot of time w/my godchildren
5. I was sooo fit

What are 5 things on my to do list today?
1. Laundry
2. Exercise
3. re-writing my future
4. Enjoy every moment of life
5. Start designing X-mas cards

What are my 5 favorite snacks?I can't really limit 5 but I'll try
1. Hostess Ho-Ho's
2. Sno-Caps!!!
3. Kettle Potato Chips
4. Cashews or Pistachios
5. I found these Cherry Cordial M&M's..a little extra bigger and Yum Yum

What are 5 things I would do if I were a millionaire?
1. Spoil my parents
2. Get really great family gifts for my siblings...like pay off their mortgages, so they can concentrate on the children's future
3. Get Kim and the kids taken care of
4. Pay off our debt
5. Invest wisely and create a trust

5 places I've lived:
1. Utica, New York
2. Dale City, VA
3. San Clemente, CA
4. Smith Mountain Lake, VA
5. St. Augustine, Fl

5 jobs that I've had:
1. Donut Girl...Bakery
2. Accounting Manager
3.Bank Manager
4. Corporate Facilitator
5. Underwriter

5 people I tag:
If there is five of you that read this...go for it!!!

Halloween...Dressing up

Did I ever tell you that I am such a dork!!! I was just thinking that every time I try to do something serious, it becomes a comedy. One year for Halloween I made this really "sexy" Angel costume. I sewed on white feathers on a strapless bra and had feathers on hot pants with a train of feathers to the back of my knees. I made a head piece with the white feathers and then I had angel wings on that were 4ft wing span. I slipped on my white go-go boots and voila...an all white, tanned "Angel".

Here's the "DORK"...I went to the Halloween house party, I started dancing, I started to shed...I got hot, took off the wings, and then someone shouted, "June your molting!!!" After that moment the "sexy" angel turned in a "molting bird"....

Since then, I don't even try to do sexy costumes...I go straight to something dorky...This year I am a "Krispy Kreme Donut" chocolate glazed w/sprinkles!!!!

Kid-Like Rules

I have these items that I try to live by because it keeps me young hearted. There are some who actually believe I'm immature, but it's more like seeing the world through the eyes of child as much as possible. While some of these also remind me of why I need to remind myself not to do certain things...

1. Eat dessert first
2. Hide of box of Ho-Ho's just for me
3. Play in the rain on a summer day or run through the water sprinklers
4. Call in sick once a year to surprise yourself. Don't plan it, just do it
5. Play w/children often
6. Play w/dogs or your favorite type of pet
7. Sleep outside in a sleeping bag w/no tent on a clear night and start counting the stars
8. Make smores or any desert w/children
9. Beach plop - beach plopping is walk along the surf, no planning and just find an awesome spot and just plop right there in the surf and enjoy the sun and waves.
10. Wake up and stay in your pajamas all day w/hot cocoa or tea
11.Ride a roller coaster once a year!!
12.Roll around on a great green big lawn or down a hill (rolling contest)
13.Dance in front of a mirror to the latest popstar!!! of course, like no one is watching
14. Sing to the top of your lungs to your favorite song with the window down while cruising.
15. Play with puppies, a whole litter at once and let them kiss you. Caution: if you really can't have a dog in your life...don't do this until you're ready because you'll take one home.
16. go on a picnic
17. fart outside and just let it rip in the wind.
18. laugh at yourself and be laughable...wear the most obnoxious, comfortable slippers out!!! I mean people wear Crocs, and think it's fashion, so it couldn't that bad
19. treat yourself to your favorite meal in your favorite restaurant with no holding back.
20. Make the biggest sundae ever, minimum three toppings, use half a container of whip cream with half a jar of Marciano cherries and two spoons to share with your best friend.

June Phrases...

Over the course of the years, I have come up with "slang words" that I only used around my friends or family. Every few years or so i come up with new phrases and this time I decided to put the out there, so every can use them if you want that is...but careful of the use of the word. I was never known to be lady-like. Blunt a little , maybe.



1. Mental...the phase in life known as menopause, but you never come out of it and you're "MENTAL"


2. ASS Gas!! self explanatory. By the way...can we fuel cars?!!!


3. Stale gated - odor in fabric, hair, etc...you know...when Febreeze/shampoo just doesn't work. the odor has been "gated"

4. Tufted pillow - my gut

5. No or low mode - laid back, who cares, let it go...

6. be an oak - have roots and enjoy the little things that mean alot.

by the way...If you hear me say I'm a better 20yr old then when I really was 20, it's not because I'm immature...It's because I really am enjoying my life now. I was such a serious person back then!!!

In case you forgot...

It's been seven years...I finally went to NYC for the first time in Oct, 2006 and coming from a rich family of soldiers and understanding the foundation of our country, I couldn't have gone w/o visiting the place where, for the second time since the we bacame a nation, was attacked on our continental land of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Ben Franklin etc... walked and fought for the United States of America. This time it wasn't World War II where we were brought into a platform of sending our troops to defend our freedom; It was our freedom that was taken from us. The freedom of flying w/o fear. The freedom to trust our own American borders. The freedom to believe the world is a better place than 100 years ago. I question this all the time.

so, just in case anyone forgot...this is for you. These pieces of horror still lie in the spot where 3,000 of our brothers and sisters died for someone else's, in another country, beliefs...

ROAD TRiP!!!!

Hardy...Here we come!!! I didn't realize how much I missed Smith Mountain Lake. It's been 2 months. WOW!! We sooo had beautiful weather and on top of it all, we got to share it with wonderful friends. Bryson and Kathy got hitched and had a wonderful lake reception to celebrate their unity. Did I mention that incredible sunset?!!! You can see for yourself.

Thanks Gang for sharing w/us. Next time..It's On!!

Full Moon Beach Night

So I hear that the full moon is rising, and this is what we decide to do in St. Augustine!!! Beach Party!!! It has been awhile since I've done this, so why not. Thanks Jim, Beth, Peter, Jackie, Abbie, Kevin, and Babycakes!!!! This was a blast.

Guess What?!!! Full Moon Rising is every month!!!

My Side of the Yard

I have figured out that grass is never greener, just it could a different kind of grass. After my last post, I wanted to post something more peppie. As I wrote, I am surrounded by alot of children and wonderful children, so I am not childless. With that thought, I realized I have been able to experience different things than my sister, brother, and my god sister. I know sometimes my life sounds exciting to them too and they can't pull away from their path that god paved for them. I have been really fortunate to have the grace to find ways to fulfill my heart in other ways and take advantages of all the positive things that are presented to me through a "different kind of yard".

1. I have lived in Vietnam, New York, Virginia, California, back to VA, and Florida.

2. I got to vacation in Illinois, Arizona, Nevada (Las Vegas, Lake Havasu, Lake Mead), Texas, Northern California, So. Cally from Va, Va. from Cally, Hawaii, South Carolina, North Carolina, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Bahamas, Mexico (this was sometimes monthly excursions to Baja), Ohio, Niagara Falls, Canada, and some of those places over five times in different spots!!!

3. When I had extra cash to spoil the kids, I splurged on them (of course it was when I was single) and it was always a highlight to be able to splurge on the kids and my family.

4. I got to go camping with Gunther (my ChowChow) on any weekend I wanted. We just jumped in the van and picked a beach. Sometimes we just drove up the Pacific Coast until I was tired a pulled into a beach campsite for the weekend. It was great!!! and peaceful. I really could have been granola and lived like a true "beach bum."

5. I can eat whatever I desire with no squeamish sounds like EEEEWWW! Actually I did love grossing the kids out as well as the parents!!

6. As much as I love all the children, I always have an out.

7. I quit saving money the "Future" planning of kids. I now plan for retirement.

8. My Insurance bill is pretty affordable and my auto insurance will always stay the same rate.

9. I don't need more than a one car garage or keep several cars around for when kids get driver's licenses.

10. I can live in a 1 or 2 bdrm place comfortably. (If my family visits, we'll rent a house for the week then, except at the lake...We're soooo prepared)

11. I traded a minivan in for a 4dr sedan.

12. My next trade will be the Accord for the two seater convertible. O.K. maybe a 4 seater. a two seater maybe tooo drastic.

13. I don't really have to worry about the "birds and the bees" conversation. I can just be a great support to the adults.

14. I don't have to call in sick for anyone, but myself. (I would prefer getting a day off to spend time at home with cuddly kids)

15. I don't have munchkins raiding my wallet!!!

Hope this pepped up my site!!!

Once in a Blue Moon

I have accepted my fate that I will not be able to have children, but every so often I really creve having children. I usually am able to get my fix through family and friends and their children because they have always made me very special to them. Kevin has twelve grandchildren, but moving to Fl has limited our time to see them and I am having the "Moment". I read about my sister and brother's children. I speak to my godchildren and I watch all these people grow into their own and miss them dearly.
I have never PMS'd, but it seems that my internal self PMS' over my non -child bearing body. I keep this to my self most of the time because, yes, I do crave having children still. I just allow my faith to heal those feelings and it passes for another 7 months to a year. Maybe menopause will fix this in a few years.

Where did this come from?

Well, the first moment Kevin goes back to Virginia to check on things, what do I do? I went to the Asian Market in Jacksonville and spent 2 hrs in that place with my saliva producing mouth, drooling over...the "weird food". I have always made Vietnamese food, but craving dried shrimp and off the wall veggies? Not really. So here I was stocking up and sauces, chili paste, steamed bun rolls, special rice flour to make stuff at home, rice noodles, fish sauce, and on and on. I sat in the car looking at my five bags of special "Groceries" and realized...they were mine: not my mom's, but MINE! I actually was throwing sesame balls(so delish!!) with sweet bean inside down my mouth while I was driving. I found Thai tea to drink on the way home too.

I am so glad I unloaded and put stuff away while Kevin was gone because there was some odor and it always goes away, but I think it's left over from the store and it got stuck in the plastic bags. The odor...fishy. It doesn't matter because when it's all prepared, it is sooo awesome to eat. I have no idea how I got to this point where I can shop and cook Vietnamese food. I feel lucky I have this knowledge.

I've hit these wierd MILE Stones!!!

O.k. i have just read my sister's blog about how great she feels about her recent exercise regiment for the last two months or so. I know how she feels when you found that perfect boost of energy and you want to exercise because it feels great. My dilemma? My last two months, I have felt very new things. Here's the list:

1. I Love my Victoria's Secret cotton seamless bikini underwear...
the cotton didn't shrink, my butt got bigger and it's no more seamless because my rolls roll off the edges!

2. When I go out to eat, I'd change into nice clothes to feel sexy...
I went home after work to change into something with elastic, so I can pound down the "all-you-can-eat" crab legs.

3. I have a belly piercing that use to make me feel "flat" tummied & enhanced my fit abs...
I took it to go because it was sticking out and catching on the covers at night.

4. My thighs touch!! Sorry if this offends anyone, but it does offend me when my thighs touch me too!!!

5. My wardrobe was a great mix of tanks, stylish T's, and half shirts...
I have only been wearing my babydolls and empire waist stuff.

6. My dress pants...
I have been sewing the buttons back on every two weeks because they keep popping off from my exploded lunch belly

7. I refuse to move the buttons over!!!!

8. I LOVE ribboned tie skirts and pants...

9. My coffee table use to have clothing catalogs like Victoria's Secret and Body Central...
Replaced by Land's End and L.L. Bean.

10. G0ing to a nude beach actually sounds enticing now...
Now I know why most of the frequent nude beach population average age is 60 and weight average is 150lbs for women.

Things we thought were Normal!!!

I just read a comment from my brother and realized that we really have an extended vocabulary than most. You see...before slang and added words in the dictionary, my mom made up words that we actually thought were "words". Among other things as well...so here's a few things that we thought were "just the way they were" and we found out that we actually were, well not normal. Seriously, thanks Mom and Dad for expanding our horizon because we sooo enjoy these quirky things.

1. "eesh" - a word we use for oops or ooooo!!!

2. Hi-Hello - they really are two separate words not to be used together

3. Clear noodles don't really go in everything like stuffing or steamed vegetables, but they are really good and fun to eat. Besides, not everyone knows where to get them or even use them. (I actually asked where the noodles were when I had my first Thanksgiving without my family).

4."Yo-Ying" - I still have yet to find out what language this is!! My mom use it to say "crazy" or "nuts". One of my Vietnamese friends says it means "men don't like it" in Vietnamese.

5. Who else out there pan fry Kielbasa w/soy sauce? Again...really delish!!!

6. Can't explain it, but just play rummy with my mom and you'll see there is another rule in there!!

7. We would have steamed shrimp and steaks when we went camping!!! This was normal in our world...Lucky for us!! How she did it? Still trying to figure that one out with a family of five.

8. We brought lunch to school...EGGROLLS!!

9. Live seafood in our bathtub or kitchen floor...Remember seeing our dinner in the tub or on the kitchen floor before eating it (lobster, blue crabs, fish, potatoes, etc...mom use to chop everything up on the floor...in Vietnamese squat position).

10. Cutting our own wood before the winter. Well, we didn't, but Dad did and still does. We had no clue this wasn't normal in suburbia America.

11. Our family would want to visit us and camp on our lawn instead of sleeping inside.

12. Everytime we had a summer barbecue, Mom and Dad went all out and we had oysters on the half, clams, blue crabs, and shrimp.

13. "Come ON!!!" What did this really mean Dad? It was used when he didn't like what we were doing, but if we had taken this literal..we should have kept doing it. Hee Hee.

14. I found out that not everyone had to hide their snacks from their Dad and siblings. Yea...I hid my food from them.

15. Nuc Nam - and no one else knew this stuff growing up... they were soooo missing out!!!

16. Chili paste is in all of our refrigerators like ketchup!!

17. Going to the arcade w/Dad for 6 straight hours on Saturdays...didn't everyone do this? He also use to hog one video game!!!

18. We had a dryer, but for some reason we also were the only ones with a clothes line in the backyard that was used all year round...even in 20 degrees weather.

19. Dad made sure he had air conditioned cars...he took one of us in them to roll down the windows.

20. We always go to pick our 1/2 gallon ice cream, every night...he picked his own too..every night.

Only A Mother/Grandmother...

It seems that my sister had to have ten children in order for my mom and Maggie's grandmother to put this together. Somehow, Maggie has been hitting a memory of hers that led her digging into photos of this picture me a little over a year old. Maggie is now 13 months old...What do all of you think? Does she look like her Aunt June? I only see the hairline and the fact that we both like our food!!! Go Maggie!! Yum Yum.

Preparing for the "Senior Years"

O.K. this subject has been on my mind since my Grandfather passed away...Executor's...I found out that an unnamed person amended a will and named their executor. Problem? The future executor has no clue!!!! When someone signs/creates their will they need to be sound mind and body. Right?! Well, if I were the unknowingly future executor I would have to argue that the person was crazy as a nut case and was clearly NOT of sound mind and body. And what rights does the future executor have? Shouldn't there be a document stating you even want this position. I mean, not to disregard the person's wishes, but that's just it...the executor is just "executing" all this stuff that has been predetermined and than what about the "undetermined"??? Poor sucker who just get this handed to them without discussion or even warning.

There outta be a law...for all those going through this process...please warn your named executor or give them a clue because it still is more than you ever think. Oh yea! Maybe the thinking stopped at some point and then we're back at, "of sound mind and body."

St. Augustine

Going to dinner with our friends turned out to be a "nature" lesson in wildlife in Florida. The restaurant is on a river with a dock walkway. After dinner the sun was setting and it turned out the lighting was awesome. We found a baby gator just hanging out waiting for us to feed it. We also saw these huge turtles (not sea turtles, since it was in the river), but they could have been baby sea turtles because they were huge!!Bull Frogs, snakes, etc...I will swimming in the ocean, by the way!!! I saw dolphins at the beach the next day. I'd rather hang with them. Now you know why I need to hang on the Smith Mountain Lake...fresh water lake with no gators involved!!!

The Answer!!!

The Answer is...keeping your childhood spirits!!! Find ways to celebrate imagination and dreams.

Living Through my Siblings

I just had a realization that I am living through my siblings and my best friend!!! I can't have children myself, but I am in hysterics listening to them raise the kids!! They always said they use to live vicariously through me, but guess what Kimmy, little sis and little bro>>>My turn to live vicariously through all of you. Love those Families!

Dating Requirements...

In my thirties I decided I need to take of myself and just be happy. I had the 10 items that I just couldn't comprimise. Now it's a decade later and when I was talking to a friend, he asked how I felt about dating again. Well, ten years ago, one of the things was I wouldn't date anyone younger than my brother (4 yrs difference), now it's no one older than my dad (20 yrs)!!! I'm dating him now!!! I now have one cardinal rule...No farting under the covers!!! Hang the rear over the edge and fan the covers.

Stuck in The Middle

So, I am having a generation gap moment!! This blogging stuff is new to me and my sister, who is only 2 yrs younger than me, does this well. A few months back, my friend added me to Facebook (It's like My Space, but you have to agree to have people you know on your "friends" list). I found out my boyfriend's grandkids are on and that's how we keep in touch from time to time. Well, that's where the generation gap came in...I THINK I'm IT!! The gap, that is. This morning, my friend emailed Kevin and told him to add his picture, so we spent the morning adding his friends and now he's playing with the website. I don't know how his grandkids are going to feel when they get his request to be added as friends because well...he's PaPa. I have been feeling like "THE GEN GAP" for awhile now. As Jackie, Kevin's granddaughter, puts it, I'm a NOLD (New, but Old). I guess that's cool, since she is letting me know I can hang with her too.

Home in Virginia

This is Smith Mountain Lake, VA on a normal summer evening. I moved here 4 yrs ago from California. I definitely moved here too soon, but I did meet wonderful people and my amazing Kevin. I finally found my calm.

Growing Within

Well, I did call this "Life in the 40's". Here I am. Divorced twice and better at being in my 20's than when I actually was 20 something. I was so serious growing up. I found out later that I was, very much so, still growing. I hid behind books, volunteer work, and being a tomboy to fit in and here I am now doing the same thing, but with pizzaz. I mean I literally I am more outgoing and available to everyone; I definitely don't hide. I had a funny reaction at my 20 yr reunion, a few years back. I either got, "You haven't changed a bit" or "You are so much more outgoing." I guess I didn't allow myself to be available. You know...to the world. As we all grow to accept ourselves, we learn it doesn't matter. Be happy with yourself and you can definitely give better to those around you. My sister with ten children...I use to be jealous because I wanted children so very badly, but you know she and my brother did give me children in my nephews and nieces. I also have the best sister-in-law and brother-in-law. Just watching them through all these years is beautiful. They love those children and it's easy to give to them.
Watching them taught me there is so much more to happiness when you find your own own. After that, it's easy to share to those around you.

My foundation of my life...CONFUSED!!!

My 92 yr old grandfather was amazing; Pearl Harbor Survivor, patriotic, an icon of what was really a pure American, and most of all, showed us the meaning of unconditional love. My grandmother is, well, interesting. Her world was revealed to me when I entered the real world I live in now. My mother was the best mom growing up and Dad and I joke that we grew up together. I had a very young grandmother (38 when I was born) and a young father, that lived the first two years of my life off and on in the "jungle". I only knew my American grandparents. As for my heritage, my American side of the family; Grandpa was Polish and Grandma was the typical melting pot. Yes, I grew up with Kielbasa and Soy Sauce.

Where do I go from here?

Well, life is never easy, but one can find humor in the little things. I am 41 and finally I hit the moment when it I even cared. They say a woman finds herself later in life and it is so very true. Even if I didn't lose my identity in raising children or in the men I had relationships, I am definitely a more secure human now. Unlike most women, I didn't have to wait till the kids leave home or the husband to complete their 10 yr. training for being married to contemplate "Who am I"; I did have to face "Where do I go from here?" I did learn quickly to live for the now and not for the "Ifs". If only...If they...If he...If GOD... "Ifs" leave you in lingering situations that doesn't get you to solutions to live your life. Find the most positive part of you use it to change the negative things that life sometimes give you. Change won't happen in specific time period, but it will happen faster when the "If" factor isn't in your way.