Sunday Stealing

 

 
1. Who is the hottest celebrity you can think of? I don't know about hot, but I like Tom Hanks.

2. Do you ever get so nervous that you can't even think? I have had moments like that, but not recently. Though I played piano for years, I hated recitals and I would feel sick to my stomach.

3. Do you sing when there is no music? Yes, Songs come to my mind. Sometimes I sing as I pray.

4.Who was the best political leader in history and why? I would day John F. Kennedy. I remember the day he was shot. My teacher was crying
and said we had to go home. Most moms stayed home but my mom worked. I think my aunt was there that day.  I remember my parents being sad
and they said he was a great man. I wish he would not have been shot so we could have seen how his political career played out. For the most
part, I have not been interested in politics.

5 If you could dance with anyone in the world right now, who would it be and what song would you dance to? My dad, and the song would be Sabor A Mi. Mom and dad would dance to that song and then when we were growing up, they played that song to teach us how to slow dance. We all danced to that at our weddings. We did not grow up listening to very much Spanish music, but Eydie Gorme made the song popular in the 60's. She was married to Steve Lawrence.

6 Finish this sentence your own way. There are two types of people in the world...
Honest and dishonest.

7 What have you saved since elementary school? I have my girl scout sash, a few papers that I wrote, a doll that I got when I was 8 and pictures. I have about 12 Trixie Belden Mystery books that I read and I am hoping my grand daughters can read them.

8 Have you ever won an award? I won the Betty Crocker Award in High School. I won some awards for my job performance.

9. Do you feel more connected to the sun or the moon? I need the sun to get vitamin D. I like to go out and look at a full moon and think of all that GOd has created.

10 Do flaws make people interesting to you? Reminds me that no one is perfect.

11 Who is your favorite historical figure? Jesus

12. White bread or wheat bread? I like the taste of sourdough but I mostly buy 100% whole wheat.

13. Do you usually do things fast or right? I was raised to do it right and I tend to take my time. I can go fast if need be.
14. Are you or have you ever been in a band? No.

15. Here are 4 statements about me. Only one of them is true. Which one is it?
I got a  4 year degree from UCI and then went on for my masters.
I have seen a baby at 18 weeks old.
I have been blogging for about 11 years.
I have already started decorating for fall.
(answer at the end)

16. Would you wear a thong bathing suit in public? No!

17. Have you thought about death today? No, but I talked to my grandson about it on Friday.

18. What is your favorite breakfast? Turn over eggs, bacon, home fried potatoes and coffee.

19. Are you the life of the party? No, I like to laugh and have fun, but I try not to make a scene.

20. If you hit an animal with your car would you get out to try and make sure it was okay? Yes for a pet. I ran over a squirrel once and it made me sad.
21. When do you get your most peaceful and satisfying sleep? When I know I don't have to get up early the next morning.

22. What thought gets you out of bed in the morning? Thank you Lord for another day and I hope I got a good night's sleep.
23. What are you a member of? The human race.

24. Name one place you refuse to ever go. To jail.

25. When (and if) people (or animals) go to heaven, do they become angels? I believe our pets go to heaven. But neither humans or pets become angels. They were created by
God to do His will and to help us. We were created to worship God.  


A baby 18 weeks old.  The rest of the story is below if you want to read it.

I got a call from my friend's mother saying something was a matter with her daughter and if I could come right over. She was in the bathroom and not looking good. She had been sick a few days with the stomach flu. I went to check on her and found that she had lost her baby. Her mom had me talk to a nurse and they told me to get her and the baby to the hospital right away. I know God shielded me from what I was doing so that I could do what I had to do. I had to hold the perfectly formed little girl that fit in my cupped hands.Then we were off to the hospital. They were expecting us at the hospital and I handed them the baby who was in a bag. I had to answer a lot of questions and I was super worried about my friend because she was so hot and not really alert. They finally took her temperature and it was 106. At that point they had me leave the room as doctors and nurses came in. Her mom called me to tell me she had gotten and infection and the high fever probably caused the death of the baby. My friend spent a week in the hospital. It was so sad. She eventually got pregnant again and had twins. I will never forget that day.
 


My other blog is at my website -  Susan's Garden of Friendship The link is to the right. Lots of inspirational pages too.

Saturday 9

 

 1) This Saturday, the treat's on Sam. Will you have buttered popcorn, caramel corn or cheese popcorn? Buttered!.........Okay, I will take some caramel too please!

2) This record represents the Supremes as they are seldom heard. Florence Ballard is singing lead, with background vocals provided by Mary Wilson,
 Barbara Martin and Diane Ross. That's right, "Diane." Her parents meant for her to be named "Diane," and that's what old friends and family still
call her, but the hospital mistakenly put her name down as "Diana." Motown execs thought "Diana Ross" had a better sound and the rest, as they say,
is history. Do you often make typos? Or are you careful and precise at the keyboard? Yes I do make typos, especially when I am in hurry.

3) Barbara Martin left the Supremes in 1962, before they reached stardom, because she was a new mom and wanted to stay home with her baby.
Have you ever found yourself in the difficult position of having to choose between your personal and professional lives?
Yes, I had to work and it was hard to go back after my maternity leave. Luckily I only worked part time. My husband and I had different shifts and so the kids had one of us around. But we didn't spend a lot of time together except for Sundays.

4) Florence Ballard's cousin, Hank, wrote the famous Chubby Checkers dance record, "The Twist." When did you last get on your feet and dance?
 It has been a long while since I went out dancing. I danced with one of my grands the other day here at home. This made me think of the time I was dancing with my aunt to The Twist. I must have been around 7.
 
5) Mary Wilson stayed with the group until it disbanded in 1977. She has said that one of her most memorable moments came in 1968, when the group performed
for Princess Margaret. Mary recalled that the Princess loudly asked if Mary's hair was real or a wig. Mary was shocked, expecting better behavior from a royal. Tell us a time when someone's behavior shocked you. I can think of a few things but would rather not repeat it. It is enough to deal with all the news when I watch it.

 
6) In 1961, when this song was released, the TV show Hazel premiered and was a top 5 hit for NBC. Oscar winner Shirley Booth played the title character,
 a very capable and lovable maid. If Crazy Sam could have a maid for just a few hours today, she'd love to have her refrigerator cleaned and kitchen cabinets
 organized. If you could have a pair of helping hands around your house this afternoon, what would you ask the maid to do? Dust! I hate to dust because aggravates my allergies.

7) Also in 1961, President John F. Kennedy appeared on the cover of Time as their Man of the Year. Are there any magazines in your home right now?
If so, who is on the cover? Westways by Triple A. The one I grabbed has a road sign that says ROAD TRIP on it. I will have to read it now. The craft group I am in has a virtual adventure each month. July was a visit to Charleston So Carolina. This month is was a trip to the Dallas State Fair. Next month we will be on Route 66 stopping at places along the way to try pies!

8) Ernest Hemingway died in 1961. Have you read any of his works? The Old Man and the Sea. I really enjoy James Michner books and have read several of his.

9) Random question: How many pancakes are in the perfect stack? Three.

 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

 1. The Hodgepodge lands on National Dog Day this year (August 26th). Do you own a dog? Did you have a dog when you were growing up, or maybe some other kind of pet? Would you say you're more of a dog person or a cat person? Neither is okay too : ) Our family had a red short hair doxie named Mandy Belle. We would all take turns letting her sleep with us. But she always wanted to be with my mom. I was about 16 here.

 Minnie is our 3 year old mini black long haired doxie. My son and his wife own her mom Rey. Minnie is our 3rd doxie. Our first was Missy, a red doxie that we had from 1977 - 1993. Our second doxie was black and her name was Reina. We had her from 2000-2010.

 

 

Missy Gonkers

 

Reina Wrinkles

 

Minnie Mouse

 

  2. Last time you felt 'dog tired'? Last week when I only had 3 hours of sleep.

3. It's said you can't teach an old dog new tricks. When did you last prove this true or prove it wrong? Can't think of anything at the moment.

4. A favorite book, television show, or movie featuring a dog. Why did you love it?
This movie came out in 1966. The movie was just super funny and we all need to laugh right? I need to show this movie to the grandkids next.

 

It was based on a book by the same title that came out in 1938.

5. Last time you had reason to (literally or figuratively) exclaim 'hot diggity dog'?
The last time my hubby cooked hot dogs with my grandson.

6.  Insert your own random thought here. As my mom would say, " Love, Love, Love"

My website, Susan's Garden of Friendship is on the link is to the right. 

Lots of inspirational pages too. I hope to see you there!

Tuesday 4

 

1. In New Jersey you put your groceries in a paper bag or plastic bag.  In Athens, Ohio where I went to university, you put them in a paper sack.
Is it bag , sack or something else where you live? It is a bag, usually plastic. Paper if you request it. I like to get the brown paper bags because I use them when I craft with the grands. The plastic one are used as trash liners.

2. NJ says  Stockings. Athens,  Ohio used to call them "hose" and in Britain they are tights. What about where you live? We use to wear nylons, but have not worn them in years. I do wear tights when it is really cold with certain dresses. Now there is leggings. Stocking is what we hang on the fireplace at Christmas.

3. Soda, Pop, Coke?  I use to say soda when I bought them. I  stopped drinking them about 10 years ago. One of the things not to drink when you have osteoporosis.

4. Shopping cart or trolley or? What do you call it? Shopping Cart. A trolley is what I rode when I was in San Francisco, July 2018.

 

 

Sunday Stealing

1. How old is the oldest expired thing in your refrigerator? The grapes I threw out today were about 2 weeks.
 
2. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done on a date?  I can't think of anything.

3. What animal most closely resembles your eating style? Racoon?

4. Have you ever sent someone a text you didn’t mean to? Yes I have.

5. If you could learn any language fluently, which would it be? Spanish

6. Would you rather be bald or covered head to toe with hair? bald

7. Do you think you’re brave? I think I am brave.

8. What horror fiction character scares you the most? I don't like horror fiction.

9. What food do you crave more than any other? Tacos

10. Which holiday would you erase from the calendars, if you could? Halloween
I like to celebrate fall, the Harvest season with pumpkins and scarecrows.

11. What’s the most clever word you know?su·per·ca·li·fra·gil·is·tic·ex·pi·a·li·do·cious! :)

12. Do you have a secret hunch about how you will die? Heart attack?

13. What do you collect that nobody knows about? My cousin knows everything I collect or use too.  I have several Willow Tree,  and most are gifts.
 
14. Have you ever eaten only candy for dinner? No

15. Have you ever taken anything illegally across a border? No
 
16. Have you ever blown your nose in anything other than a tissue? Yes

17. Are you a good time manager? Depends, If I have to be on time for something, yes. To get my projects done, no.
 
18. Has life been hard on you? I have had some hard times, but over all I think my life has been good.
 
19. What is the absolute worst song in the world? Grandma Got Runned Over by a Reindeer.
 
20. What is your culinary specialty? I make good soups and my family likes my tacos.
 

 1) This is the theme from Mike and Molly, a TV show that ran from 2010 to 2016. Were you a fan? I watched some of the reruns.

2) Molly was played by Melissa McCarthy. Today she's one of Hollywood's best-paid actresses, but when she began her career, she was barely scraping by. She recently recalled the time when, as a struggling actress, she was rejected at the ATM because it only gave out $20s and she didn't have even that much in her checking account. How often do you visit the ATM? Several times a week? Several times a month? Never? I have been there 3 times in the last 5 months.

3) When she was broke, Melissa couldn't afford blueberries and avocados.  Now she savors them. When you're a few bucks ahead, what do you splurge on? Crafts

4) Mike was played by Billy Gardell. He was working at a comedy club, cleaning the bathrooms and answering the phone. He used to crack jokes with other employees and finally one of his coworkers dared him to go onstage on "open mic night." A comedy career was born. Tell us about someone who pushed you to make the right move. My dad. He always gave me good advise. His last words to me were to remind me that I would be okay. I had my faith and my family. He would see me in heaven.

5) On the show, Mike's best friend was his fellow officer, Carl McMillan. Carl was not especially motivated and still lived with his grandmother, well into his 30s. How old were you when you moved out of the house for good? I was 18 and got married. Two days later I turned 19.

6) Mike's and Molly's mothers are different as night and day and frequently did not get along. Have you ever had in-law trouble? I got along well with my mother in law and somewhat with my father in law.

7) This week's song was written by Keb Mo. He switches among several different guitars when he works -- electric, acoustic and resonator. Can you play guitar? I use to be able to day a few chords.

8) In 2010, when this show premiered, Apple introduced the iPad. Do you use a tablet? No, I started out with a couple of desktops. I am on my third laptop.

9) This week's random question gives you an opportunity to brag: What's something you do better than most people? Be messy when I craft? 

 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Five years ago this month hubs and I relocated from New Jersey to the Palmetto State. What were you doing five years ago this month? Turning 60 at Disneyland. Moving into our home. Enjoying the grands.

 

2. What was the last 9-5 job you worked? Tell us about it. I retired from the US Postal Service in 2011 though I stopped working in the fall of 2010. I was a part time employee working 6 hours a day. I started there back in 1973 as a postal assistant. It was a 20 hour a week position for full time students. I remember my first Christmas there. There were 35 of us hand sorting Christmas cards. The trays were filled with red, green and red envelopes. When we were not in school, they could work us about 30 hours a week. It was a one year program so I stopped working in July of 1974, a few weeks before I got married. I was going to UC Irvine  back then and I enjoyed not working. In October of 1975 I got hired there to be a part time mail clerk, working Monday through Friday, 6-10pm. I had to pass a scheme test  which involved memorizing about 1000 city zip codes for southern California. I sorted business size mail-flats. I learned the major 3digit zips for most large cities in the US. I  graduated from UCI in 1977 and decided to stay at the USPS so I could start my family. I saw a lot of changes in my 36 years. Our office had 4 robots since we were a main processing center. In1986  I got hurt and got retrained in the Marketing Department. I averaged about 36 hours a week. Do you remember buying stamps in vending machines in PO office lobbies? Running that program for our district was my final job. Our district was #2 in the nation for revenue earned and Grand Central Station was #1. The machines were taken out in 2010 to prepare the way of the newer automated self service machines.  This is me in front of a vending machine in Skagway Alaska.

3. Plead the fifth, high five, take five, it's five o'clock somewhere, or the big 5-0...which number five phrase relates to your life in some way currently? Tell us how.  I would say high five.  I just turned 65, and I want to focus on  positive things. I want to tell my grands how good they are doing and how much I love them. I want to high five my hubby for doing most of the cooking. I want to high five my kids because they are all doing well, all being able to work these past few months. There are more things but mostly I want to raise my hands and give two high fives to my God.

4. During this season of spending so much time at home, what distractions get in the way of being your most productive? Or have you been extra productive since this whole thing started? The news is distracting to me so I try not to watch it to often. I was busy making mask the first couple of months of Covid. I have had plenty of time to do my Bible studies and crafts. My grands have been here since schools have closed. My ADD is my major distraction!

5. Give us a list here of your top five anything. The top 5 medical shows I am looking forward to seeing in the fall. Grey's Anatomy, The Good Doctor, Chicago Med, New Amsterdam and The Resident.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

 

 

Tuesday 4

 

Let's discuss time!

1. Are meals eaten at certain times in your home or are they more spontaneous?Hubby gets up around 6 and has his breakfast and feed the dog. I wake up between 8-9am and then I eat.  I get the coffee ready the night before.
We try to have dinner as a family around 6:15 when our daughter comes home from work. Grands are hungry all the time. I usually make them lunch around 12 noon. They get their own snacks and they make smoothies too.

 
2. If you attend religious services or club meetings, are they morning, afternoon or evening? Are there advantages/disadvantages to that time? Our church normally has 3 service times, 8:30am, 10:00am and 11:30.  Right now these are online only. For the past several weeks, they have added a Sunday outside service that is at 6:30 pm. This will continue through October. Hubby and I watch the 10:00am service. Once the weather cools off, we might go to the outside service. There is no meeting inside churches right now in California.

 
3.Are you in bed and up in the mornings at a regular time each day? Yes for the most part. I go to sleep around 1am and wake up between 8-9am.

 
4.Do you set apart specific times during the day or week to do certain things like study, shopping, laundry, visiting?  I study the Bible everyday but the time can vary. I am not a morning person so I usually read my Bible in the afternoon or evening. Laundry is usually done at night, no specific day. Shopping is done as needed. We have no set schedule now that we are retired. I started walking today, in the house for 30 minutes. It was 102 degrees with some humidity and I was not going out. it is almost 11pm and I type this ad it is 81 outside. It will be 107 tomorrow !

 

Sunday Stealing

1. What makes it easy to talk to someone? Listening, taking turns in speaking and laughing.

2. Have you ever had a great conversation with a complete stranger? Yes I did in the summer of 2007. I like to think she was my Angel

3. Do you like to argue? I use to, but not anymore. I will discuss as long as it is productive.

4. Some people like to talk about things, and some people like to do things. Which are you? I like to do things.

5. Who is easier to talk to – men or women? Depends on the person and the topic.

6. What is your favorite place? Disneyland.

7. What is your favorite place in your home? My craft room.

8. Would you most want to live in a city, a suburb or the country? I always wanted to live in the country, but I am a city girl.

9. What is special about the town you live in? It is where I raised my kids. It makes Ezekiel Bread and Monster beverages.

10. How much time do you spend in nature? Maybe an hour a day. I can see birds and butterflies in my backyard and that makes me happy.

 
11. Do you make up a dinner plan for the coming week? No My husband and I discuss  what we want based on what we have. My daughter brings in a lot of groceries since she and her kids live with us Monday - Friday during this Covid pandemic. Sometimes she will ask us to make  certain things for dinner. We eat a lot of chicken.

12. Do you make up a grocery shopping list and stick to it when shopping? Hubby and I both put a list together. My daughter will also call us and ask us what we need. She buys all the food for her kids for the week. She gets them what they like for breakfast, lunch and snacks.

13. What is one thing that you always buy, but never write down on a list? Bottled water.

14. Is there anything that you always think you are out of and come home with it to discover you already have a year’s supply on hand? No.

15. Do you get your groceries delivered? No.

Thankful Thursday

 

 

Today I a thankful for another year of life! Yesterday I turned 65 and my birthday dinner was so nice!  My grand daughter Jazzy turned 11. She was born on my birthday while we were in Hawaii, 2009.

 

We met up at Lucille's for dinner. Though the weather was still in the 90's, the outside seating was in the shade. A tall building next store blocked the hot sun. Hubby brought a water bottle fan and the kids were happy with that. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 There is no indoor eating in California, so restaurants are being creative with their seating. Tables are spaced a minimum of 6 feet apart. Everyone has to wear a mask until you are seated at your table. You have to wear your mask if you enter the building to use the bathroom. No one complains in our family because we are just happy to be out and together. The cool thing is you can see the smile in the eyes of people. We made sure to give and extra big tip to our server because she was the one running around in the heat with a mask.

I am thankful for my family.

I am thankful for friends, real life and on the net.

I am thankful for good food.

I am thankful for having creative things to do and keep me busy.

I am thankful for learning Zoom.

I am thankful for my Bibles I can study from or illustrate in.

I am thankful for my video dr. appointment I had yesterday.

I am thankful for a good's night sleep.

I am blessed!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hodgepodge Wednesday

 

 Happy Birthday to my Grand daughter Jazzy and me!

 Picture from last year.

 

 1. August 12th is National Middle Child Day...are you a middle child? If not, where in your family do you fall in terms of birth order? Do you hold true to the typical characteristics of oldest-middle-youngest-only child? (a quick list can be found here) Elaborate. I am the first born. Today I turned 65!!! I did live up to the first born position because I had to. 

Reliable, Conscientious, Structured, Cautious, Controlling Achievers. They also have an intense fear of failure and pressure to be perfect. Yes that was me. I even changed my major from being a nurse to Social Ecology. (Social/Biological)

 

Today I was suppose to be at Disneyland where I am totally a kid at heart.♥

2. Tell us about a time you felt like (or you actually were) in the middle of nowhere. On a plane over the Pacific half way to Hawaii.

3. What's something you're smack in the middle of currently? Reading the Bible, We just started the Psalms.

4. What's a food you love to eat that has something delicious in the middle? Tacos!!! My moms hard shelled tacos were my all tie favorite! She taught us all how to make them. They are made with ground hamburger meat and fresh potatoes. It is a comfort food and that is what I had for our anniversary dinner. Out favorite Mexican fast food place makes them with shredded beef or chicken.

5. Share a memory from your middle school days, or junior high if that's what your school dubbed kids somewhere between grades 6-8.
7-9th grade was Jr. High for me. I have a lot of good memories from back then. I really loved being in choir. I learned so many new songs and I still
remember most of them. The big all school  choir concert was a highlight. There were 4 Jr Highs in our district. All the choirs met up at
a high school. Each school choir had a couple of songs to sing. Then all 4 schools all sang the same few songs. One of the songs was The Impossible Dream.
Another song was On A Clear Day and finally You Will Never Walk Alone. Parents were invited to this event. It was such a special experience for me.
Because I was college bound, I needed to take Biology in 9th grade. I had to take Physical Science in 8th grade first. Sadly, 8th grade choir was
the same time as physical science. I was so sad but I felt I was doing the right things. If I could go back in time, I would have continued with choir. Here I am in my choir dress.

The Impossible Dream from the 1965 Broadway musical Man of La Mancha 

 On A Clear Day from the 1965 musical On A Clear Day You Can See Forever.
You'll Never Walk Alone! (Lyrics) (1945) (Rodgers & Hammerstein) (Carousel)

6. Insert your own random thought here. I can't believe that I am 65! My mind says early 40's but my body reminds me otherwise! I will try and look forward to the years ahead, whatever God gives me. I want to enjoy my days and focus my attention on my family. I want to keep teaching my grands the importance of learning Bible verses. I want to focus on the good things and not dwell on the what if's from the past or the future. It is okay to remember things from the past, but not let the past hold you back.