It is the busy time of the year!

Here it is, Monday, only 17 days until Christmas!  I will begin taking down the Christmas decorations  on the 24th as we are going to San Diego for 2 weeks.  Todd, Melinda and the kids will be here from the 20th until the evening of the 24th.  My grandson Tyler will be 21 on the 24th and they are coming to town to celebrate!

It is overcast today and I do think it looks like we are already in San Diego.

This is going to be a busy week what with hair, nail and doctors appointments.  On Thursday night Rosine will be with a group of people from the home and they will be coming here to start their trip to see Christmas lights.  We will be handing out cookies!  Yum yum!

Now it is Thursday and tonight the Van is bringing Rosine and her friends to see Christmas lights around the area and they will start with our house.  Hopefully I will take pictures....we are going to wear our Christmas Hats and we are going to  to be jolly. Penny, who is the activity directer is coming to the house 15 minutes before the group arrives.  The group will not be getting out of the van!

                           It is sunset and all the Christmas lights are on and ready to go!

                                       I know you don't know this....this hat is heavy!

                                                      Ho Ho Ho, here we go!

                                         The house looks good!

                                       T here is a Santa in our yard!

                                            I really think this is  Penny, the activity directer!        

                                                            We are Santa's Elves!

                                                   I can be an elf for an hour....then I am done!

                                    It is a good thing that Santa has a cell phone!

                                                 Here they are.....ho ho ho !

                                       I see Rosine back there...go get her Vicki!
                   

                                          Hi, mom....I am Santa's elf!

                                         Here is my mommy....isn't she cue!

                                                   MERRY CHRISTMAS!


Here  are a couple more picture of Chester trying to figure out what a bubble bath is!

This dog is so darned cute...I would love to take him home but I am alergic to him and he is too big for my lap!

Not only is he cute but he is so smart.  The last time I saw him he followed me into the bedroom as I was on the phone.  I sat down on the end of the bed and the next thing I knew , he was in my lap!  I just love him!

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE AND HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY!
                                                             
                                                                    S'

On the lighter side!

Well, Christmas is rapidly approaching and soon it will be over!  lol!

Today we are sitting at home watching the Chiefs and the Cardinals battle it out and right now the Cardinals are winning!  Go Cardinals!  Mark's mom and dad are here and the whole family is at the game!

Sorry Retha and Gene.....there is still one quarter left and we really need this win!  Oops!  Got to go ad see what is happening!  Oops!  Cardinals won!

This is the new addition to the Buettgenbach's family.   Chester is a little over one year old and he is a wonderful dog.  Not only is he sweet and loving but he thinks he is a lap dog!  He makes Kodi seem really old!

                     I just love this dog and he treats me so much better than does Kodi!

This is a picture of the counter in the kitchen!

This is the kitchen...I love the pictures that light up!

           This is in the living room!

The coffee table in the living room!

                                      This is the official greeter at Rosines House!

                                            Merry Christmas Everyone!

                                          Merry Christmas Everyone!


Be Careful Out There!
                 S'

I Don't Remember.........

I am feeling sad and depressed as I watch the verdict come in in New York....

I know that it has been a long time since I raised my kids and I know I have forgotten a lot and I know that technology has changed the world!

But here it is.....everything that I can remember that I did not teach my kids...
I don't remember teaching my kids not to wear hoodies that cover their faces as it may cause someone to think they are trouble makers!

I don't remember teaching my kids not to wear jeans and a white tee shirt and run through a crowded area as people will think that they have stolen something!

I don't remember teaching my kids that when life seems hopeless and you are depressed that you may be tempted to do something violent!

I don't remember teaching my kids that they will be stopped by the police while walking down the street minding their own business!

I don't remember teaching my kids that they will be stopped by the police and that they may even be taken to jail because of their color!

I don't remember teaching my kids that if you do something wrong that the police can shoot you dead even though you are not armed

Of course, I don't remember teaching my kids any of these things....I did not have to...because I am white!

How sad that young black men are treated like animals and the police forget that they have rights...the right to be innocent until proven guilty....12 shots into the unarmed Michael Brown and it was not disclosed until the verdict was read. The choking  of Eric Garner  right before our very eyes...how many eyes turned away because he was black?

About 20 years ago I took some tests to work in a military academy in Kansas.  The Priest who was testing me said this..."this test was an empathy test, you are the first person I have ever given this to who scored 100%!"  This is who I am !  I believe that if each and everyone of us could live a few days as a young black male that maybe we would not be so eager to focus on the rioting and focus directly on the real issue...unarmed people, regardless of their color should not be killed by police!  Open your eyes and stop blaming the victims!

S'

Coming home!

 Well I am trying something new. I am trying to dict well it looks like it worked put in the picture win. Vicky had to help me but it really was quite easy. Certainly easier than using the computer. Now we'll see what happens ate a little blog to see how it goes. We have had so many problems with the Internet and I have had problems with the dictation. Okay I'm sorry VICKI just told me I was talking to loud! So that's why I was sorry.

Today, we were in Puerto by Arthur am it was very nice. Everyone was complaining that it was too hot. We got off the ship and went to a few places to shop and then we went to a restaurant where they have Wi-Fi and we have a beer and chips.
We only have two days left on the cruise. Most days are seagulls. We have not gotten in our steps. We have grown in a routine but the routine has been eating resting and reading we are anxious to get home.

I'm going to try to post the picture it may be an old one but it will be a picture. That is if I can get it posted. So far this is working pretty well. I see Siri has made a few mistakes but oh well that's Siri for you!

San Pedro, California

Here we are and are we excited!  Having been born in San Diego, I always feel a strong draw to the Pacific Ocean.  Surprising enough, even though we lived only 6 miles from the ocean, it was not very often that we got to go there.  Once I was a teenager and could use public transportation I was able to go more often with my friends.  I can only remember almost drowning one time.  Of course I never told my mother about this event.  Vicki and I have made many trips to the beach where we walked in the water or on the sidewalks.  We do love to go to Pacific Beach and have lobster tacos!

We always have a lot of Mexican Food while on the coast.  It is so fun to be able to decide to go to the beach for lunch and in 15 minutes you are there.  We are so lucky to be going on this cruise and doing what we love to do!

San Pedro is a beautiful place and we will go to our favorite Starbucks!  lol!

This makes you want to at least go wading!

Let the cruise begin!


I am not making any promises about the blog as it all depends on the internet.  So far tonight it has not been good


This is the view from our room.            

This is me before I became a redhead again!

We are done...the internet is awful!

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!
                          S'

Mexico here we come!

Tomorrow we will be leaving for San Pedro.  We will be spending 2 nights there and will board the ship on Thursday, about noon. We are really looking forward to the trip and of course, the Mexico flair!

Now, it seems that everything is about the social media and as of recent items, the availability of the new iPhone 6.  It is amazing how focused people are on their phones....

Sandi is sporting an iPhone 4S and Irwin has a n iPhone 5....time for a new one!  They seem to be enjoying the old models!lol!  Things are not the same at Apple since Steve Jobs is gone.  I still have this sense of urgency when I pass an Apple Store!  "is there something in there calling to me?"

Vicki is out running around and I am waiting for Prism to come and hook up the T.V.

I am basically all packed....so much easier when you are driving instead of flying!  We will have a full day in San Pedro so maybe we can find something interesting!

I accidentally bought a new Vera Bradly purse.....I can't help but believe that it might disappear when my granddaughter comes to visit in December.  Molly loves green and so do I!

I am wondering if I should go outside and put the Christmas lights up.....no, I will not turn them on until Thanksgiving!

Now, I know you all think it is too early for Christmas but according to my son Todd, "it is never too early to decorate for Christmas"  To set all of your minds at ease....I won't turn the lights on until at least the 15 of November!  lol!

This picture was taken right before 9/11 in a little village in Washington!

I love Christmas and Santa even in August in Washington!

Am trying to post every other day!

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!

                     S'      

                                                                                                                               

I'm back!

Decided to start writing the blog again.  So here goes!

Today Vicki and I went to Starbucks....we were late and there was no one there that we knew.  I will say though, by the time I got to the counter, my drinks were sitting there waiting for me!  Now that is really good service!

Here we are doing what we do best!  eating and drinking!

We can't help it.....we are addicted to Starbucks!

Next stop was to see Rosine....There she was ....sleeping in her chair!  Not for long.....we shook her until she woke up and screamed at us!
On Sunday when we got there...there she was waiting for the Bronco game to start....she was not disappointed!



I am one happy camper......I have not had a beer in a long time and look at my new Broncos shirt!

Next we were off to meet Rita and Mary for lunch at the new Kneaders Restaurant!
I t is always so refreshing to have lunch with them!  We always enjoy talking about the latest Apple products.  Rita absolutely loves the new iPhone 6 but is most interested in the watch that will be coming out soon!



Rita and Mary ....their first visit to Kneader's!

This turkey sandwich was quite good....we were good and did not eat dessert!

Congratulations to Davin who has lost 21 pounds!  He used his Fitbit and logged all of his food on MYfittnesspal.com.  Good job Davin....hopefully your mother will follow your good example!

As some of you know.....we are leaving on Wednesday on a cruise to Mexico.  We will be gone for 10 days.....our first port on Friday will be San Diego.  Yes, it is true....Mary Lou will be meeting us for lunch.  We will also visit Cabo, La Paz, Loreto and of course, Puerto Vallarta!

I will write often but may not make it everyday!

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE!
                        S'