Holiday Hustle

Well, here we are in December. Welcome December, how's it going? On December 6th, my mom would have been 89. She left this hemisphere on June 6th. I think she wanted to be able to say, "I was 88 and a HALF when I went to the other side!". I miss her. a lot.
But I am successfully staying busy with typical stuff... well, maybe not typical for most, but for me. I am singing in the Stake Choir this year *I missed last year because of my operation* and so we have dress rehersal Sat. Dec. 5th at 8:00 a.m. ~ Come home, load the driveway with treasures gone bad an have a garage sale! Tomorrow is the performance... next weekend Stephanie and I will cater a wedding reception, the following weekend a family reunion with David's family and then Christmas in Napa!
Whew! Oh yeah, I am working at Cisco as a contractor and it is an interesting assignment...updating over 400 forms with new language and format. Tedious and time consumming but a job nevertheless!
David and I are still trying to find a home to purchase. Saw one on Thursday, which was pretty cool, but someone had put an offer on it that morning. Drat! Next....

It's been 5 months and who is counting?

This is how my life goes... I get all involved with writing a blog and really, really intend to keep it up and oops, life happens and I let it slide.

I am in such admiration to those who continually edit, add and share *you know who you are*!

Since June, I have been steadily taking care of the living trust that my parents left and trying to do the right thing. As a result, it is done and spoken for and I am now able to move ahead with our personal plans.

1. Buy a house, make it a home
2. Live in said house without eating beans and rice everyday...whew! that will be a relief for David!
3. Adjust to living with all my neighbors being 55 years or older! Not bad since I am on the slightly above but not on the downside of that age!
4. Paint, Paint, Paint till I see no more neutral colors!
5. Have an Open House.... maybe in 3 months!!!

Not a long list, but certainly multi layered! Oh yeah, I posted a picture finally... that's me in my Xb... crusin' for a brusin' !!!

The older generation

Today marks 13 days since my mom has passed away. Almost 2 weeks. My home is currently a museum in her honor. All of her artwork, personal possessions and remnants of her life are sitting on my couch or floor. I had the arduous task of going through her photos and mementos. In retrospect, it was very uplifting to see that she had saved things that should be passed down. A letter from America to Norway, written in 1868 ~ in Norwegian, to relatives that were concerned for Learfald Nelson's safety. He wrote to them to ease their worries and to tell them about a wonderful country of prosperity and possibility. To explain that the Lord was watching over him and his family. He bought a lot ~ 40 acres total ~ for $800.00. Cows were very expensive at $30 each and to really farm the land, he would have to sacrifice $180. for a pair of oxen. Why do I need to know that? Because it shows me that things have been overcome before my time. That my heritage is about surviving and thriving and building up something for someone to cherish. This was all on my father's side. People who knew I was coming even though they didn't know my name. They were hopeful that I would be a good steward over the precious land and THAT letter. He talked about being in the Lord's hands, save and secure. How happy he was that they practiced the Lutheran faith the same as in Norway. Quite a guy that Nelson.
I also found my grandfather's (on my mother's side) graduation from grammar school diploma and program from 1903. He used that somewhat limited education to provide for his family in any way he could. He was a very hard worker and a talented accountant. My grandmother was 3 years older than he and his family would not let him marry until he was 21. They met when he was 18 and he was smitten immediately. Before they married in October of 1915, he asked her what was more important, a ring or furniture for their new home. She opted for furniture. That Christmas, only 2 months later, she came down to have her morning coffee, and her cup was tilted on the saucer. She lifted it up and there was a ring. He always had her wishes and desires in his heart.

That is my heritage. That is my example.

Now, I am the older generation. I am next in line for the great beyond. I hope that my family will someday go through my photos *digital of course* and realize I want them to carry on, to bring to their families the eternity of love and to know that Learfeld Nelson did not fear his new adventure but rather embraced it for thier future. That Grandpa Lunkes loved his wife more than anything. And most important, they are creating a legacy as well.

Playing Catch....up

Howdy family and friends! I have had two, count 'em two requests for some updates on the blog. So, I succumb to my fan base!

Today is March 30th and it has been about 3 weeks since that last entry. I now am at a 80 lb. reduction in force (translated : fat) status and continue to be nice to my scale. This is utterly amazing to me. It has not been without it's challenges, but still the same, I liken it to 3 full bags of cat litter and a small bowling ball... hmmm not to appetizing but very visual. This journey is so interesting to me. I don't quite have the body image down, but everyone at work is commenting (really) so today I felt sort of ...well... slender. I am shopping for clothes on a limited basis, I just gave away 3 large black bags of clothes to Goodwill, because I know that this too shall pass and I can't justify spending a lot of $$ on something I will shrink from. I feel good. I am able to move more freely and I even put air in the tires of my bike in anticipation of a tour down on East Cliff Drive, waves crashing, salt air and me.

David and I planted "upside down" tomato plants Saturday and today they look very ill. Dry leaves and dark stems. Boo. We planted in these contraptions we bought online... "Topsy Turvey Tomato" bags. We had other incentives for purchasing them, other than the "fad" quota. We have terrible soil, bugs and gophers who truly believe that they were here first and claim all rights to any Terra. So, why not hang the plants from the rafters and water from above? Sounded good to me. I am nervous now though as I viewed and very new plants, choked for nourishment... So we watered again tonight and hopeful we can pull this one out. Of course there is always the "money back guarantee" from OSH on any plants you buy that don't make it. Tomorrow we plant "pickle" cucumbers, at least 8 hills! The directions say that you can harvest the cukes at 4 weeks and make sweet pickles or wait until 8 weeks and make dill ones! David was amazed that they are one in the same plant! City boys... I tell ya!

Update on Mom. Once again, she defies any limits people put on her! On February 15th, she fell. Diagnosis: Terminal brain hemorrhage on right side. Call Hospice. March 30th? - She is eating regular food vs. puree and thickened liquids. Favorite is still chocolate ice cream. Up and dressed for TV time with everyone else. Who knew? The only bad thing is she is still battling an eye infection that looks and according to her, is very painful. Itchy and red eyes that at times are swollen shut. Everyday I apply cool compresses, and the doctors continue to be baffled about what it is. The eye doc says, viral conjunctivitis gave her antibiotics which gave her a rash everywhere else, ugh! First, warm compresses and now cool ones. Only one physical visit from a doctor, so who knows? She is hanging in there and that is fine with me. I am reading "The Count of Monte Cristo" to her and she seems to enjoy the story. She at one time was a "reader" for Books for the Blind. She recorded several math books and a few English grammar ones. She started out as a "proof reader" in that she followed the reader as they were recording and if they made a mistake, she was to alert the technician, who would stop and start over again. These books have to be exact so there is no room for making it up on the spur... no spontaneity. She really wanted to be the main "reader", and when she finally made it, was so proud. She did have a wonderful speaking voice.

Well, I did finally get my date for departure from work. October 1. This may change as the projects are fulfilled and cleaned up. What is next? Don't know. My inclination is to run out and grab anything, but I was talking with a former HR boss and she really encouraged me to go back to school and pursue a RN license. I don't know. I just don't do school very well and memorization is a real stumbling block for me.. all that anatomy, biology, chemistry... this old gray matter has absorbed a lot, don't know if there is room for anything as complicated as that. We will see, but meantime, I am plugging away and trusting the Lord. Not a bad plan.

Journey of a 1000 miles

Well, as the story goes, there will be updates on the journey.
My updates are numbered but not dead.
Thus far, I have shed (losing is such an ambiguous word) 70 pounds of my former self. I am feeling more in tune with my relationship with food. I don’t hate the prospect of eating now, and that is a big step. I am able to eat a whole egg (with cheese no less!) and seems to be an earmark in my world. Earmarks… hmm.. getting bad press lately, but they do chronicle the way. Another first, is being able to climb 6 flights of stairs to my office every morning. I admit I was forced into the project about a month ago, when the power went out in the building and in order to get to my desk, I had to hike. But, like the whole journey thus far, it was a growing (and hopefully shrinking) experience. I still have issues with the protein count, but that is getting better.
My reference to death above should be tongue in cheek, but it actually hits closer to home than that. Early February, my mom took a fall in the living room of her place and upon ER analyses, and a CAT scan, we discovered she has a cerebral hemorrhage on the right side of her brain. Not good news. It is terminal, as most of life is. I was sort of in a dream state when they mentioned Hospice, and skilled care nursing homes. Sarah (owner of Maple House) insisted that she come back and her staff would take care of Mom. Angels have a way of visiting us when we need them.
So, now every day I go to Maple House and spend time with my bed ridden mother, trying to anticipate her needs. She is on a morphine gel applied to her wrists (minor stroke means she has trouble swallowing) every 4 hours. This seems to relieve any discomfort she might have. Her spirits are OK. I put my headset to her ear so she can talk to my brothers and aunt. We talk about dying. She said, "Well, if you know what is right and wrong and live your life the way you should, why would you be afraid of dying?" Good point mom. Still teaching after all these years. The other day, she asked me who the lady was sitting next to me. WHAT lady? Well, the lady that visits her and she is so nice… hmm. I asked her what she looked like, to which she said, "well my eyesight is not so good, and so I can’t tell". Ok. Little moments of shifting to the other side. Like birth, some of us come in with a bang and go out the same way. While others, take their time (see 36 hour labors) with their entrances and exits.
Other than that, the journey continues. Sightseeing has never been so good.

180 is a good degree of of change

Things can change and things usually do. I am in the middle of a visit to North Carolina for a first time intro to Rebekah, my newest grandbaby. She is most precious and of great value to everyone. She single handily changed Scott and Mary's life. Those are her parents and quite smitten with her as well. She pretty much rules the roost, which is not a bad thing as she doesn't have a hidden agenda *straight forward, feed me, change me, hold me and love me* doesn't get much easier than that. However her MO can change at a wink of her eye and so, change is good or not considering who is changing. I love the "rules" of first time parents, like myself, which start out with all good things intended but as the brood grows, get abandoned in the long run. Change is good.
I love all that encompasses with being a parent and the family dynamics of those close to you. Everyone has an opinion, and some feel more justified in expressing their "wise words". I guess the bottom line is your children are under your stewardship and anything you end of doing is what you think is best. I think it is best to give them Independence, love, and confidence. Those are my wise words, if anyone is listening! And I am NOT changing that tune!

Sibling mystery

I will never figure my sister out and I already have! How can one person spend their life capsulized by anger and thinking that nothing will be effected by that? Just wondering. When we were growing up, she was the Alpha child by a long shot. The rest of us just went along for the bumpy ride. I decided early on that by annoying everyone and teasing the living daylights out of the group, I would get some attention ~ negative was fine, just pay SOME attention over here... I guess I was hard to live with, but maturity found it's way to my MO and I changed. Not so for Chris. Her very distinctive handwriting on an envelope is always reason for concern. Do you really know what is going to be inside? Nay Nay, but you can almost guarantee you don't want to find out.... however curiosity always gets the better of you and BAM! there it is... cynical, backhanded comments and the subject matter is always - you guessed it - Chris.

Got the letter Thursday. Opened on the way to the house. Stared in disbelief at contents. Showed it to David *(always the calm head in the house). Filed it in the round container that has residual smells of rotten food and whala! all done. Reply? Don't think so.

Carlos 1996-2008

I am still reeling from the events of yesterday. Two days ago, Carlos, our most beautiful snow-shoe-Manx was complaining of not being able to use the cat box. We have been down this road before as seasoned cat owners and knew that we would be visiting the vet first thing in the morning. He was more uncomfortable than other incidents, and crying very loudly. I kept on trying to reassure him that we would take care of him and wanting to give him some cat-aspirin or something.... Wednesday, David took him at 7 a.m. (bless the vet) to the office whereas they announced that he was in need of surgery and had a blockage. Cost= $900.00. Reaction=oh no. After some deliberation, we decided that our budget and sensibilities were are risk too, and the final decision was to put Carlos to sleep.
I am sad, he was my warrior/survivor/companion for 12 years. I am mad that I was not prepared to be a good steward for his care.
Carlos was so wonderful in a lot of ways. He took on the role of "alarm clock" when I started working in San Jose and needed to get up at 4 a.m. His range of meows was matched by no other cat I know. His "Get up and feed me and oh yes, you can take a shower and get ready for work too, but first things first..... FEED ME!" was both appreciated (I never over slept) and despised (hence the water bottle sprayer on the night stand). He scoulded. He loved and took care of the other cats, always the grandpa ~ gentle, playful and stern all at the same time.
My little shop of horrors kitty was happy in Santa Cruz. His growing up in San Jose was less than wonderful, especially after he was taken from us by who knows what kind of diabolical person and tortured, found his way away from that and came home traumatized. It took me 3 years to get him to stand still for a petting. After we moved to Santa Cruz, he let out a collective sigh and decided that he was finally safe.
I will never forget him.

Shamed and caught up.

I am properly shamed into adding a post to the blog. Stephanie *wonderful daughter* is so faithful with her blog that as I was reading it I thought, "I don't remember her telling me this?!" But of course, IF I had kept up with her blog and she with mine, we would be in a whole new world of communication.

So, let me begin by bringing some of you up to snuff with the latest. On November 21, 2008 I underwent gastric bypass, also known as Duodual Switch, which is a fancy way of saying I now have use of 1/3 of my previous stomach capacity. Very interesting, at least to me, as this procedure has lead to a loss of about 55 pounds since said operation.

Fast forward to the changes involved with such a drastic decision. I never thought it would be the "easy way out", just that I had battled with this weight over the last 26 years and frankly I was tired of losing ..... the battle. I also considered the health issues of high blood pressure, pre-diabetics, and loss of energy. I felt I had a lot to live for and short circuiting it with added pounds wasn't in my best interest.

I was not totally prepared for the journey. I didn't know that I would come to "hate" food. You see, part of the program is consuming 60 grams of protein a day, 2 liters of fluid *water*, and exercising 4-5 times a week (when your body is ready for it). 60 grams of protein is like, A LOT of protein. Oatmeal, 1/2 cup = 4 grams. I can't eat a half cup!!! 1/2 Chicken breast = 8 grams. If I could take more than 4 bites it would be great! So, you get the picture??? Hence, I have resorted to protein drinks. Ah, yes, those wonderful grainy, gag if you will, liquids that give a bang for the buck. I found some online that claimed to have 50 grams in the bottle! Whoo Whoo... except I cracked one open last night and said, " Who let the cough medicine out, who??" It was thick and too sweet (even though it claimed to be sugar free) and had that ingredient the makes you twitch and cringe when you swallow, like cough medicine!!

When I do cook now, which is another reason I hate food, I think about how I used to cook and come up with all these intriguing flavors, textures, and combinations and present a good meal. Now, I have to think mono item on the plate, yes protein, and to heck with the sauces, spices, and side dishes. Poor David, he is used to something so different, but he doesn't complain at the single fish fillet of salmon, again. I am frustrated at my lack of inspiration. I take a bite and nothing tastes, well, like it should. I have heard from the support group I go to that this will change....none to quickly for me!

On to the exercise portion of this blog. Well, I always thought that if you weren't sitting in a chair 8 hours a day, yes, you were exercising. I thought I would join a gym, but money being tight I have to be more creative. Like, on Wednesday, I arrived a work to a totally blacked out building. Power outages bring new opportunities. I work on the 6th floor. So, even though I wouldn't be able to log on to the computer, I logged onto 6 flights of stairs for my exercise! Wow, was great until I got to the 5th floor in the stairwell and the door suddenly opened with a strange man on the other side! Yikes! I about fell the 5 floors down again. Not in the exercise program. After I regained my composure, I completed the last floor, totally out of breath. But with the light bulb going off in my head, I proceeded to "take the stairs" the next two days. Cheap, good exercise. And I thought that if on a particular day I didn't want to take the whole 6 floors, I could just get off and take the elevator the rest of the way! Pretty clever, hun?

Another benefit of the weight loss is fitting into the clothes I have in a more intended way. No more buttons straining against the bod. Pants that I can now breath in. You get the picture. Well, another downfall of the weight loss is NOT fitting into the clothes I have!! HEE HEE. I almost walked out of a pair of pants I had on last week. Belts. Suspenders. Maybe they are a way of life for me now. I decided not to invest in a new wardrobe until I was sufficiently down in weight. But I did take advantage of my local Target for one pair of cheap jeans. I figure that can carry me through without breaking the bank. I went to the "fat ladies" department on auto pilot. Checked out the sizes and thought, "OK, I have on a pair of 24's that are pretty lose, what number should I look for?". I ventured to the 20's and took a pair of 18's on a whim. Well, lo and behold, the 18's fit!! Ok, I am not into numbers on a regular basis, but I can't remember the last time I saw 18 except on the way up! It was a good feeling. Now for a delicate subject. We are talking the tatas... they go away, sort of making a full cirlce from age 11 to now. You worry you won't have any and then you have too much *I am talking first person now*, and then they go away again. At this point it is sort of a fold and roll process. Enough said. That is the one thing I believe plastic surgery is good for. Tatas. Not to make them bigger, but better.

So, you can see that the blog has resurfaced again, I have caught up with the latest and the latest.

I am looking forward to adding more, like the trip to North Carolina on Feb.13th to see our newest family member, Rebekah! I get to travel with Stephanie and Jimmy and Kaitlin. Kaitlin is so absolutely, wonderful! When I talked to her a couple of days ago, I told her that we get to fly together to see Rebekah. She was very excited too, and then she told me, "you know what I want to be when I grow up? I want to be a pilot, a teacher, a cheerleader, a firefighter......." I said, Katilin that is going to make you a very busy girl! What are you going to do when you are flying a plane and there is a fire? She giggled. Sweet. So sweet!