Growing Older But Not Up!

Getting it Right

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:31:00 +0000

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. --Oprah Winfrey

In creating a new blog for our travels, The Vagabond News I came across this blog that I have sporadically written in for more than a few years. Sadly, it has been sorely neglected since we hit the road. I blame it on Facebook:). It's much easier to throw up a sentence or two and a picture to let people know what you are up to. Don't get me wrong, Facebook is great and I am so happy for some of the people it has brought into my life - family, new friends, old friends, old boyfriends, school friends... I love that I am once again in touch with people I thought I might never hear from again - it's a good thing.

But writing is part of who I am, even my second grade teacher knew that and told my mother I should write. But I haven't been doing enough of it lately. Each year I say I am going to... write another play, put together the poetry I wrote long ago (first I would have to go through storage and find it!) or try my hand at short stories. And every year lack of organization, procrastination (he has been an unwelcome house guest far too long!) and laziness win out.

So here we are on January 1st and I sit having coffee, while bread is rising, thinking of what, if any, my resolutions will be. In looking for a quote to start this blog I came across one that seems to fit perfectly for me... another chance to get it right, Thank you Oprah!

So 2012 is another chance to get it right. Not that there are a lot of things that are wrong in my life - I'm a damn fortunate woman with a wonderful husband, family and friends that are so much like family you would think we were all related somehow! I am indeed fortunate and grateful for all that I have in my life and for the life John and I have made for ourselves.

But, there are always things that can be done better, things to "get right"... relationships, finances, business, health, being a better person, hobbies. Everyone has their own list. And, if I get this "writing thing" right this year, you'll probably see many that are on my list right here on this blog. Don't worry, it won't be all serious and down, but we all have those days, right? It will be a place to share the good, the bad and probably the ugly, all in an attempt to... Get it right!

So no lists for me this year. They rarely work anyway. Just a simple hope to work towards getting it right.

Happy New Year dear reader, I hope that your 2012 is off to a great start and I wish for you a year filled with love, health and prosperity. Mine is off to a great start because today I got it right and I wrote more than a sentence or two on Facebook! I also get to spend time with those that I love on a breezy but sunny Houston day!

Bring it 2012! Let's get it right!

A lot can happen in 8 months...

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:48:00 +0000

Wow - I've been meaning to blog, but things got a little hectic in February and have remained so until now.

If you know me, then you know we found a truck and and RV and hit the road in mid-May. The months of March, April and half of May are quite a blur! Somehow the two of us managed to get rid of, pack up and store a 2000 sq ft house full of memories, treasures and stuff. Letting go of the STUFF was very freeing - unfortunately there is still STUFF in storage, but that's for another blog post!

We managed to get everything that we kept either in the RV or in a 10x10 storage unit and hit the road. First stop was San Francisco to visit our son and daughter-in-law for a few days and then we headed north to Crescent City, CA. We were in a beautiful campground nestled in the redwood trees and it was nice being in a beautiful setting while we got used to our new home, John worked and I finished preparations for the Summer Camp Season. We loved it so much that we stayed put for almost 3 weeks.

In early June we headed back to southern California for camps and bounced around to campgrounds in Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Acton and Lancaster. We really love the county campground in Simi Valley and wish they didn't have a 2 week in, 1 week out rule! Camp season went well and in the middle of camp season we were blessed with the arrival of our first grandchild, Ethan! What fun! We flew to NC in July to visit our daughter, son-in-law and new grandson for a week - boy was it hard to come back and focus on camps!

But focus, I did, and before we knew it camps were over and it was time to say sad goodbyes to family and friends on the west coast and head east! We took a little over a week to get from one coast to the other, making stops in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Tennessee.

We spent a week with the kids in North Carolina before heading to Sebastian, Florida for a short stay before leaving on a 7-night, 50th Anniversary Cruise for John's parents. We LOVED Pelican's Landing Resort in Sebastian and hope to go back again soon. It was cute, clean and on the Indian River with a great boat house to hang out in and watch the sunrise and the storms roll in and out!

A few days before the cruise we found out that our grandson had to have surgery while we would be on the cruise! Talk about not wanting to go! He craniosynostosis - his little skull had begun fusing together too early and he needed a craniectomy to correct it and allow his brain and skull to grow properly. We are so thankful that his pediatrician caught it early! He has to wear a cranial helmet until he turns 1 - a small price to pay! Mommy and Daddy convinced us to continue on the cruise - the surgery was at John Hopkins so it would have been a circus with all of us trying to be there. He came through the surgery with flying colors and although the helmet is uncomfortable at times he is doing great with it and is a healthy, happy little guy!

After the cruise we headed back to NC but enroute found out that John's mom had come down with H1N1 on the cruise! We were afraid to possibly take it back to the family in NC so we waited it out in South Carolina. We didn't get the flu but I managed to pick up the Norwalk Virus on the ship - not fun! We did take a side trip to Charleston one day and had a fabulous lunch at Poogan's Porch (the food is to die for - especially the biscuits!) and took a carriage ride so we still managed to get in some fun between working and being sick!

We finally made it back to NC and will be staying put until sometime in the Spring. We are having way too much fun being grandparents. It's nice to be in one place for awhile and not have to pack the RV for travel every week or two! But it will be fun to take a month or so to travel back to California and spend a week or so exploring different areas. It will be hard to leave North Carolina... but, I won't think about that right now!

I am getting lots of exercise and John and I are both losing some weight... slowly, but not depriving ourselves too much - trying to practice moderation!

More later on the fabulous cruise and some of the friends and family we have seen on our travels in a later blog.

Happy Trails!

Trucks and Trailers

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:30:00 +0000

We are in the process of finding a truck that will pull the RV that we don't have yet. - what the heck? Who knew it would be so hard to find the right truck and then, we still have to find the right RV!

I am, of course, more interested in the RV than the truck. I can feel my eyes glazing over when my poor husband starts talking about the V-10 engine, tow package, blah, blah. I don't even care what color it is... which is unusual because I always care about the car color - usually blue but sometimes red! So the dealer has found one that is pretty close to what we are looking for and it's some gold color - OK - fine - don't care if the price is right!

So I am trying to take a more active role in the purchase of the truck... trying.
What I really want is to get past the truck purchase and move on to the RV purchase. That really excites me!

Meanwhile - I have managed to get our clothes into one closet - the donation truck made out really well a few weeks ago and that was just round one. I've been going through other things for a yard sale. It's starting to feel very freeing to get rid of things... Although I think we are still going to need a huge storage unit:)

Happy Trails!

Diving into a new chapter!

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:32:00 +0000

On this historic day when our great country has sworn into office the very first African American President we are all full of hope. Hope for our country and for ourselves. As this country embarks down a new path, so do I...

My husband and I are have made the decision to become fulltime RV'ers! There! I've said it out loud!

It is a an interesting and scary leap to make. We are not minimalists - we like "stuff" and our house is filled with mementos and memories. Taking this leap and diving into this new lifestyle will also be a lesson in simplicity... and for that I am ready!

As I walk from room to room I see everything in a different light - what goes to storage and what goes to the yard sale/charity...what gets shipped to the kids and what makes its way into the RV?

Stay tuned... the new chapter begins February 2... room by room, box by box.. until we hit the road sometime this year with the dog and cat! I'm sure it will never be a dull moment!

Until next time...

Today is the first day of the rest of my life...

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:42:00 +0000

“There is a fallow time for the spirit when the soil is barren because of sheer exhaustion.” – Howard Thurman

I am exhausted.

I'm tired of the political rhetoric from both sides. This country will either flourish or fail under the upcoming leadership - for the sake of all of us I really do hope that it flourishes, but I can't help but have my doubts.

Some of my family and friends don't like what I write or don't understand what I write because they have quite different views. Frankly, my "right of center" views and beliefs embarrass them and some have even chosen to take it personally. That's OK - right now in this country we are all entitled to our own thoughts and opinions.

So - this blog will no longer be about things political... it will be about some of the things that 50+ women go through as they begin the second journey of their life. Some of the things many women are afraid to talk about: their feelings about spending the first half of their life caretaking and nurturing and trying to be whatever everyone else wanted/needed them to be, only to arrive at this point in their life pretty much used up, worn out and no longer needed; the guilt of not being the perfect mother or wife - no matter how hard they tried; and, hopefully, about what we can do to make the second half more meaningful for us, as well as those around us, but mainly for us.

The following excerpt from "The Second Journey" by Joan Anderson kind of sums up where I am at today.... not sure where I am going, but it should be an interesting journey... the first half sure was!

"Most of us, halfway to a hundred, confront a need for great self-awareness. We reach a point when the power of youth is gone, the possibility of failure first presents itself, and the dream of earlier times now seems shallow and pointless. And then we find ourselves asking the tough questions: What am I meant to do now? What really matters? Who am I?

For many years I had ignored these questions because I had too many responsibilities—too many other lives to consider. But all of a sudden, there were no more excuses. Old truths and ideals no longer served me. I was restless, unhappy, and full of an undefined ache, standing at a crossroad with no clear idea of what path to follow. I only knew that I needed a change. So I took a leap of faith, walked away from the mainstream of life and dove headlong into the unknown."

Rox

Happy Thanksgiving!

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:05:00 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Happy Veteran's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:17:00 +0000

Land of the Free... Because of the Brave!
Thank you to all the soldiers who have served
and continue to serve our great country.

Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 15:56:00 +0000

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
From Mouse the Cat and Hamlet the Dog!

Renewed commitment?

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:44:00 +0000

OK - so I haven't kept my vow of going to the gym or writing in my blog the past few weeks! Excuses abound - but mainly I am just tired. Tired of babying the neck and shoulder, tired of the pills and ready to move on.

Went for the final weigh in at the gym today for the Largest Loser contest and although I am not the largest loser I have lost 21 pounds (mainly through cutting calories)or 8.63% of my body weight since January 12! How much more would it have been if I had been more diligent about getting to the gym? Oh well... moving on.

Will get there 3 times this week, I will, I will , I will!

Going to Vegas to work and play next weekend (Thanks Mondo!) and will try to be good with the food. Hopefully all the walking will counteract all the eating!

Hope everyone is enjoying the warm LA weather!

Happy Trails,

Rox

Where have all the months gone?

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:53:00 +0000

Good Grief Charlie Brown! How can it possibly be the last week of March already?

The end of December and most of January had me trying to stay out of pain from Cervical Disc Disease (fancy name for disc gone bad in my neck!). February was spent trying to keep up with the drama classes I teach, rehearsing for my new play "The Divine Murders of the YaYa Sisterhood" (that's all of us in the photo - except Marilyn) and trying to get over the after-effects of pain pills and muscle relaxers. Finally have that straightened out... as long as my neck doesn't act up!

I have spent March celebrating my birthday with wonderful family and friends which has made turning 51 not such a bad thing! The celebration began on March 1st and, with the exception of on, I have celebrated every weekend! It ends this weekend with a trip to San Diego and and a visit with all of our children!

I continue my love/hate relationship with the gym. I actually do like going to the gym but due to lack of sleep and muscle relaxers just making me plain old tired I haven't been able to get into a routine. I have managed to lose 17 pounds since mid-January by watching what I eat but I MUST get back to the gym. I am somewhat limited now due to the neck thing - not supposed to lift weights at all... we'll see.

So - I vow to get to the gym 3 days a week! Let's see if I can do it! I will also blog about it and bore you to tears!

Happy Trails and Happy Spring! Rox

Merry Christmas to All!

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 15:33:00 +0000

It's Santa CLAWS!!

Where did December go? This month has flown by! We have been having winter-like weather here in the high desert - crisp and cool and I love it!

We are looking forward to a wonderful Christmas with our family and friends. We will miss our kids on the east coast this year - the couldn't make it west this year but they have had a busy year working and traveling and I know they will probably enjoy a quiet Christmas this year.

We were able to spend some time this month with good friends from the PTW years and our theater friends and that has been great. Having our other kids here with us has been great and we are glad to have our son home for Christmas - he has missed too many over the past 5+ years! I hope that you have a wonderful holiday and are with friends and family you love. Take care, be well and have a great week!

Happy Trails and Happy Holidays, Rox

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 20:56:00 +0000

Well, our neighborhood is starting to look like Christmas! Our house is another story but at least we got all the decorations out of the attic today - now they just have to be unpacked and put into place which will happen over the next several days.

Have you seen Amazon's new KINDLE yet? It's a new wireless reading device - quite a nifty little gadget. Check it out - pretty cool. A bit on the pricey side still but cool just the same.

Alexa and I finished our cake decorating class - Alexa is becoming a master of making the rose - me not so much, but I did OK. Check out our final cakes - the yellow and purple one is mine.

Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season. Be safe and Happy!

Until next time...

Happy Trails,
Rox

Arrr... Talk like a pirate

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:18:00 +0000

It's Talk Like a Pirate Day! Arrr!

My pirate name is:

My pirate name is:

Iron Anne Flint

A pirate's life isn't easy; it takes a tough person. That's okay with you, though, since you a tough person. Like the rock flint, you're hard and sharp. But, also like flint, you're easily chipped, and sparky. Arr!

Get your own pirate name from piratequiz.com.
part of the fidius.org network

Energy Vampires

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Thu, 12 Jul 2007 02:04:00 +0000

I hang out all day with vampires... energy vampires, otherwise known as kids. They can be energizing and draining all at the same time - what's up with that?

Camps are going well for the most part. Week 4 of 9 is almost done. next week we have our largest camp yet - 50 energy vampires...err, kids!

I do enjoy the summer - it's a lot of organizing and hard work but fun and very rewarding. I just wish the vampires would stop taking all my energy because it really makes me tired.

Enjoy your summer!

Happy Trails

Long Time, No Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Thu, 24 May 2007 17:09:00 +0000

OK - I have been lazy about blogging... but I have been busy!

Saturday will mark 2 months going to the gym, and YES, I am still going. I have managed to get to the gym 5 days a week most weeks. Actually I just looked at my log and I have made it 5 days a week 5 out of 8 weeks - not bad!
Here's a progress update of the last two months:
Weight Lost - 8 pounds (trying to make better food choices but I am no longer in to deprivation - so trying to master moderation - MOST days)
Evil Eliptical Machine - went from .90 miles in 15 minutes on the lowest resistance and incline to 1.5 miles on levels 4 of 10.
Treadmill - went from 1.80 miles in 35 minutes on flat level at 3 mph to 1.80 miles in 30 minutes at an incline of 5 (out of 10) at 4 mph.
I gave up the lifecycle - it was just too painful - if they only made them with a gel seat!
Weights - in brief:
Leg Press - from 3 sets of 12 at 100 lbs to 3 sets of 12 at 150 lbs
Vertical Row - from 3 sets of 12 at 30lbs to 3 sets of 12 at 60 lbs
Tricep Ext - from 1 set of 12 at 30 lbs to 3 sets of 12 at 30 lbs (my lower arms suck)
Crunches - from 3 sets of 12 to 3 sets of 25
There are many more things that I do (I generally spend 60-90 minutes there) but I won't bore you.
I'm happy with the progress and it hasn't been horribly painful. It's going to be difficult to keep up with it this summer but I will try.

What else have I been up to?
Enjoying having half of our herd home (Ben and Alexa)
We went to see "Wicked" last weekend (a Christmas present from dear friends) Fabulous show - if you haven't seen it - you should!
Worked a ConQuest convention in Sacramento in April.
Had great Murder Mystery audiences.
Played a 2-day gig of Jack and the Beanstalk at the Ventura County Ag Classic.
Went to Big Bear for a long weekend and got hooked on GeoCaching
The 13th season for Fairy Tales in the Park opened to huge audiences and great press!
I'm in rehearsal for the next Fairy Tale - "Witch Switch" - my friend Pat and I are having fun playing the witches - that's us in the photo!
Getting ready for Summer Camps
Looking forward to a Mexico cruise in a week!

Lots of things going on - getting ready for the busiest and most rewarding time of year - Camps - 28 of them this year! Woo hoo! Fortunately I am only teaching 11 of them - I have two other directors doing the rest and I get to spend 4 of the 9 weeks at home!

Hope you are doing great and looking forward to a fun and relaxing summer. Drop me a comment and let me know what you are up to!

Until next time,
Happy Trails

The Gym - Week 2

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 06:27:00 +0000

I made it a second week - all 5 days - hooray!

This week I have decided to post how much time, miles, repetitions I spent doing various things this week. Hopefully it will motivate me for next week since I am working so hard but haven't lost a pound! Here goes...

Evil Eliptical Machine - 54 minutes, 3.5 miles
Treadmill - 62 minutes, 3.76 miles
Bike with Evil seat - 30 minutes, 5.1 miles
Totals: 2 hours 43 minutes, 12.36 miles

Weights
Leg Press - 100 pounds - 108 times
Leg Extensions - 20/30 pounds - 108 times
Leg Curls - 20/30 pounds - 108 times
Calf Raises - 20# 108 times
Vertical Row - 30# - 72 times
Vertical Chest Press - 30# - 72 times
Tricep Extensions - 30# - 72 times
Other various arm exercises with 10 - 20 pound free weights - 564 times (good grief!)
Crunches of various descriptions (some using weights) - 228 times

Amazingly, I have a few sore muscles but not like last week. Whew!

I can't even imagine the number of reps and miles that Ben has logged this week - he runs circles around me - he is my inspiration!

Lest you think I spend all my time in the gym these days... I also taught 21 kids how to cook spaghetti and meatballs! In addition to the drama classes and manners classes I teach for kids, I have started teaching cooking classes for kids - it's lots of fun for me and the kids! Check out the photos from the first class I taught earlier this year in Camarillo -- www.kidscancooktoo.com.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Easter! We are looking forward to Easter with Ben and Jeongah and wish Miki and Sina could be here too. Unfortunately, they have a fun weekend planned learning to lay tile in their bathroom - ugh!

John and I go to Sacramento next weekend for Gabe's ConQuest convention - the kids are babysitting Hamlet and Mouse - hopefully they behave!

Take care - Happy Easter!

Rox

My life at the gym - Week 1

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 05:43:00 +0000

I went to the gym 5 days in a row last week. I still don't believe I did it but some of my muscles do... The week went like this (all the while trying to keep up with all the other hats I wear!):

Monday: 35 minutes on the treadmill and 1.8 miles; 20 minutes on the bike and 2.3 miles. Not bad. Feel pretty good.
Tuesday: 35 mintues on the treadmill and 1.95 miles; 15 minutes on the eliptical and .92 difficult miles, but I made it and my heart didn't stop beating! Evil machine!
Tuesday evening after standing in classes for 4 hours: why do my calves hurt so much? Ah, the eliptical machine. Made mental note to stretch more. Soaked in tub.
Wednesday: Bike: 1.4 miles in 10 minutes - ready for abs, back and weights for upper body. Ben is becoming my personal trainer and showed me all the excercises I need to be doing for abs, back and upper body. He, of course makes it look easy! He's good - he doesn't push but doesn't let me slack off either! Stretch! Abs and Weights: did 3 reps of 12 or 15 of most everything. Not bad. Why do my calves AND my hamstrings hurt now? Remember to stretch. Shopped all afternoon with the kids. Went home, soaked in tub, applied Tiger Balm. Stretched. Hobbled around all afternoon. Applied heat and more Tiger Balm (a miracle ointment - the patches are awesome if you can find them!). Applied more Tiger Balm and an Icy Hot patch to my lower back (like Shaq), took two Aleve, went to bed.
Thursday: My hands, feet and face DID NOT hurt - most everything else DID. Soaked in tub, applied more Tiger Balm. Reluctantly went to gym. Warmed up on the eliptical for 8 minutes for .63 miles and the bike for 10 minutes on rolling hills for 1.5 miles. The bikes have evil seats and my tailbone must be the skinnest part of my body because it is now raw. Ouch! Legs still hurt. Did ab and back work. Went home. Took 2 Aleve, applied heat and Tiger Balm. Stretched. Repeated several times before bed.
Friday: TGIF! Legs feel better today - still very stiff. Lots of stretching. Warmed up on treadmill for 10 minutes. Screw the bike until next week - my tailbone is still raw! Did ab, back and upper body work. Treated myself to new pants to work out in because I survived the week! Leg soreness was much better by Friday - a little soreness in my back and arms but not bad.
Saturday and Sunday: Legs are much better. New muscles in my arms that I didn't even knew I had are sore! Taking Saturday and Sunday off - Looking forward to Monday!

Growing Older But Not Up! -- ACT II

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 02:15:00 +0000

Oh my goodness - I turned 50 last week! Amazingly it didn't hurt too much!

Celebrations commenced on March 10 with a wonderful group of friends that John and I used to work with - 4 of us are March babies so we had an "Allotta Birthdays" celebrations which was great fun. On March 12 the baby of the family and his wifey came home after 5 years in the Army and 2 tours to Iraq - that in itself was cause for celebration! We wish they would stay forever but we know that won't happen so we will just enjoy the time we have them with us while Jeongah (Alexa) finishes her last few college courses and they gear up for the next stage of their life together (Ben has a milestone birthday this year too - he and Alexa both turn 25!

March 18 was double celebration day - the cast of our current murder mystery threw a surprise after show party with the help of my dear friend Loretta and then it was off to Casa de Logue for more celebrating with John, Loretta, my John, Ben, Jeongah and Claudia.

March 20th brought a package from Mom and Dad (John's parents - but mine too!) which included a hilarious book "Sex Kittens: Single Cats Seeking Same". Laughed until I cried.

On March 21 there was a pre-birthday dinner at Red Lobster.

March 22 (5-0 Day) there was just enough time for breakfast muffins as a gift arrived (a 2007 Alaska Iditarod (AWESOME) Fleece from John) which was just in time to take with me to the Ventura Harbor where the 4 of us (the kids and us) went on a whale watching tour! On the way there Ben and Jeongah gave be a beautiful picture book entitled "Gray Matter - Why It's Good To Be Old" which has some amazing photos of elephants with cool quotes to go along with them. There was also a cd that they put together for me called "Mom Mix" which has some great songs from over the past 50 years!

On the boat the sea was very rough and choppy - just the way I like it - and cold (my new Polartec fleece was AMAZING!). We didn't see the first whale but saw THOUSANDS of dolphin - Fabulous! The captain wished me a happy birthday over the loud speaker (thanks to Ben) as we docked back at the harbor then we went to Macaroni Grill (compliments of our cast and friends - thank you) and had a wonderful dinner and Ben arranged for them to bring me cake with a candle in it - the perfect ending to the meal!

When we arrived home there were two packages waiting - one was beautiful roses from the love of my life, John and the other was a YUMMY (and beautiful) Godiva basket from Mik and Sina. I am savoring that one bite at a time! The only thing that would have made the day more perfect is if they had been here!

Thanks to all my friends and family for helping to make this birthday a very wonderful and memorable one!

So... Act II, as I am referring to the second half of my life, promises to be just as exciting as the first half but (I hope) or at least that is my goal.

Some of the things that I hope to achieve in the next year include:

Getting Fit - I just joined a gym Monster Fitness (if you live in the AV check it out)! Losing weight would be a nice bonus but the focus is moving, keeping my bones strong and making my muscles stronger so I can keep up with Hamlet, hike with John and the kids...

Spending time enjoying my Family and Friends

Volunteering on the Iditiarod Trail next year - or at least getting to see the official start...

Attending at least ONE Jimmy Buffett concert...

Having a FUN and SUCCESSFUL year of camps this year - can't wait!

Challenging myself to do new things, have new adventures and LIVE!

Stay tuned.....

Congratulations Jeongah!

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 06:55:00 +0000

I should have posted this yesterday...

I'd like to introduce you to one of our newest LEGAL American Citizens... Mrs. Alexandra (Alexa) Jeongah Harrison!

Jeongah passed her citizenship test/interview and will have her ceremony in late February. We wish we could go to the ceremony and celebrate but we will just have to wait until she and Ben get here in March. Congratulations Alexa! We are so proud of you!

Here she is at the base of the Washington Monument with a picture of the man himself!

Thanks for Voting!

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 06:46:00 +0000

Thanks to all that voted for Hamlet at DogShow USA. He didn't get in the top 10 in his category but I know alot of folks who think he should have and that makes us all happy! Thanks!

Hamlet is continuing his education and has begun his intermediate class. He constantly amazes me in class. This week they had to sit, stay and come with distractions. His distractions were hand fulls of Pupperoni sticks between me and him. He LOVES these things and I had visions of him inhaling them as he made his way across the floor! He didn't even look at them and kept his eyes focused on me the whole time! It was amazing - I was so proud!

The heck with DogShow USA - he's already a star!

Rox

Vote For Hamlet

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Sat, 06 Jan 2007 22:37:00 +0000

Hamlet has been entered in Dog Show USA and you can vote for him! Be sure and make sure all 5 stars are GOLD when you vote so his rating goes us! Go here to Vote

http://contest.dogshowusa.com/portal/rate?id=35160&r=5

Hamlet says - THANKS!!

Happy New Year to All

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 18:19:00 +0000

AnimalLog January 2, 2007 -- Hamlet and I are glad to be home! We had a great time visiting with everyone in Kansas and Maryland and but we are glad to be back home where things are familiar. We spent the weekend eating and playing and sleeping. Daddy had to work some but we were glad when he and Mommy sat on the couch to watch TV so we could snuggle on the couch with them.

The weather here is still cool - 30's at night and 60's during the day - just the way we all like it!

Our last day or so of the trip was rough. I'm afraid Hamlet and I weren't very good and kept picking at each other. Actually, I picked at him more and got him in trouble a lot! I'm sorry I was so bad. I was very bored and tired of being in the car. We have made up though and are the best of friends... most of the time. I like going on car rides but I hope that the next one isn't so long! Happy New Year Everyone! Hope your 2007 is Puurrrrrfect! ---Mouse

Hi everyone, Mouse is right - we are all glad to be home! I just got back from a walk around the neighborhood and said hello to some of my friends I haven't seen in about a month. Later today I am going to the dog park and will get to play with some friends -that will be fun (I went the day that we got home but it was very muddy there so I didn't get to stay as long as I wanted to)! Next Monday I start my intermediate obedience training class (if Mommy doesn't have to go to jury duty) and I'll get to see Cody (a yorkie) and Zoey (a maltese) from my last class. They are both really small but I play gentle with them and they like me - sometimes I get to play with Cody at the dog park.

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and is looking forward to a wonderful 2007. Hope you enjoy the pictures of Baby and me - we had lots of fun playing in her big back yard (and in the house but we always got in trouble when we did that!)! Love and wet kisses to all -- Hamlet

Home Sweet Home...

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 02:46:00 +0000

We arrived home about 2:30pm today California time and all of us are glad to be out of the car. We had a great time with all the kids at Christmas and wish we all lived closer to each other... maybe one day. It's always fun and interesting to see the fine adults they have grown into - hard to believe the baby, Ben, will be 25 in six months... he turns a quarter of a century old while his old ma turns a half a century old... where has the time gone? We are so proud of all 4 of the kids!

The kids in Maryland have a beautiful new home and have done some wonderful things to it. They are on their way to becoming very successful young professionals (not sure where she got that ambition from but we are glad she did!). They are both working hard but seem to be able to find a little time to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

We are so glad to have Ben home safe and sound. The recent events in Iraq make us even more thankful that he isn't there right now. We really enjoyed our whirlwind tour of DC with Ben and Jeongah and they took some great pictures, both are very good photographers! The one on the right is my favorite place in DC - the World War II Memorial at night. John and I sat there while Ben and Jeongah went to the Lincoln Memorial, the Korean War Memorial and the Vietnam Memorial. It was quite beautiful, peaceful and touching. The other picture is the Washington Monument of course. We were lucky enough to get tickets to go up to the top - it was awesome!

Ben gets out of the Army in March and we are looking forward to having both of them here with us for a little while. His plan is to go back to the Middle East as a contractor... but I'm not going to think about that right now... I'll think about it tomorrow.

Hamlet and Mouse will have one more installment in the next few days but I just wanted to let everyone know we are home safe and sound and looking forward to a Bright and Shiny 2007!

Happy New Year to you all!

Hugs,
Rox

Way Out West in Texas....

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 02:09:00 +0000

AnimalLog - December 28, 2006 -- We are headed to Texas. The weather is going to be bad the way we had planned to go, through northern New Mexico and Arizona, so we decided to go down through Oklahoma and Texas - the southern route. Mommy and Daddy are not happy about it. This rental car (a Jeep Liberty) slid several times in the rain in Maryland so they don't want to chance it in the snow. We all really wanted to see some snow but it doesn't look like that will happen this trip. Hamlet and I are really bored and wish we were home already. I guess I will try and take a nap although it may be difficult because Hamlet is standing in the middle of the back seat right now watching cows. He is fascinated by them and there a lots of them on the road we are on now. Maybe he thinks they are big dogs. -- Mouse

I miss the dog park. I am so tired of being in the car. At least there are lots of cows to look at today. They are really lucky because they have a huge cow park to play in but I don't see them play very much -- they just stand around and lay around.
Mommy has found two ticks on me - yuck! One was on my forehead and the other one on the side of my face. I have never had ticks before - it's too hot for them were we live. It really hurt when Mom pulled them off. She said they are probably from the very first walk I went on in Maryland becasue they were so fat. I hope I don't have anymore. Mommy and Daddy said they are going to give me a flea and tick bath when I get home just to make sure. I don't think I want to live where ticks live. -- Hamlet

I saw a horse and it scared me! After that I kept my eyes open on the lookout for horses that might be following us. Thank goodness I didn't see anymore! I did see and oil well... they kind of look like horses moving in one place - it was pretty scary too. There are lots of scary things on this route. We have stopped for the night in a place called Van Horn, Texas. It was raining and getting dark so we decided to stop about 100 miles shy of where we had planned. It may be Saturday before we get home - oh well. -- Mouse

PS: Mom says it has been a bad day for cell phone reception so if you called today she will call you tomorrow when we go through bigger towns.

Back on the road again...

noreply@blogger.com (Explore. Dream. Discover.) — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 01:06:00 +0000

AnimalLog - December 26, 2006 -- We are on our way back to California and we are all very tired. We had a great time in Maryland with everyone and Christmas was great! I got a stuffed buffalo from Baby and a squeaky reindeer from Ben and Jeongah that squeaks really loud, Mommy and Daddy gave me a chew toy and Mouse gave me a... stuffed mouse! I had alot of fun playing with everything yesterday! I am sad that we had to leave today but Daddy has a big meeting for work next week that he has to get ready for so we need to get home. Mommy said that everyone was probably getting tired of me too. Daddy says I have too much energy -- I can't help it I just love to play! I guess Baby doesn't like to play as much as I do - I think she was ready for me to go home - I will miss her! I had alot of fun and I already miss everyone but it will be good to get home and see all my friends at the dog park. Ben and Jeongah will be coming to stay with us in March so I will be looking forward to that! I had a White Castle burger for lunch - boy was it good! I think I will take a nap now - more later! -- Hamlet

I miss Roya already. Hamlet and I have been asleep in the car most of the day today. We played alot with our new toys and family yesterday. I got a new feather from Ben and Jeongah and some kitty treat mix that Mommy and I are going to bake when we get home. I also got some mice and balls in my stocking. We are in Indiana now and it is sleeting and about 33 degrees. Brrrrr. Mommy said she will put my jacket on me tomorrow. We are going to stop in about two hours - I'm glad cause I'm really hungry! Have a good evening -- Mouse.