R.S.V.P. & Thank you

R.S.V.P.
In planning this wedding shower for my besties daughter, I realize that good manners are not easily come by. When asked to respond by a specific date for the shower in which 40 were invited, 10 responded to me. 18 responded to the brides mother via text, facebook personal contact etc. The rest? Nothing at all. I am amazed at people's lack of courtesy in replying a timely manner for what is a catered tea and a firm number is needed. Second, responding to the brides mom rather than the person on the invitation. My bestie ended up calling some of these guests which defeats the purpose. I guess I will be sure next time I am invited to an event I take the time to respond appropriately.

THANK YOU
Another lost art in my opinion, is a thank you card for a gift given. Last Christmas we sent my nephew a camp stove. Not a cheap gift by any means, cost us $120.00! We never heard from he or his wife if they liked it or not. It really hurt our feelings as we spent more on him than anyone else and knew it was something they wanted for camping. Still, to this day since Christmas 08, not a word. So guess what? No gift this last Christmas for them we just sent a card. I love to invest in my nieces and nephews, but I will not continue to if I am not given at least a simple thank you.

So tell me, am I taking an unreasonable stance or do I have a leg to stand on here?

The Mountains

This was my view on the drive home from work yesterday. Not my exact view as I did not take this photo, but you get the general idea. Most days, the Sierra's are clouded over and you can't see them, forget they are there. In the summer when it is smoggy and hot, you never see them. But when it is a clear day they are so beautiful and majestic. Spring days are the best, the air is clear and they stand so tall and unimaginably beautiful and they beckon me.

I am a mountain girl. not necessarily a snow person but I love the mountains. The serenity and quiet in the hills just brings me peace and making me happy. I miss living in the mountains among all the wild things. I hate having neighbors so close you can practically hear everything that goes on in their homes and yards.

The central Sierra's are about a 45 minute drive from my home and I don't go up nearly enough. I have not been to Yosemite in many many years. Time to change that and get back to places that I love. All the little back roads, creeks and hidden places I have not seen in a long time. While I can not live up in the mountains right now, a visit is definitely in order.

that's all

Wordless Wednesday..with the words

Ok, I have not done a wordless Wednesday before, not sure I will do one again, who knows. But we had this conversation at Fellowship awhile ago and I got online and bought some Chicago style pizzas! The UPS dude thought I was kind of weird having pizza delivered but so what, I am weird so there you go!
If I can not go to Chicago, it is going to have to come to me.lol. I have found this to be pretty good but probably not as good as at the pizza place or delivered.

Beef...it is not for dinner Lou Malnati's is! lol

That's all

American..Hero??

I just read that Scott Roeder was found guilty of first degree murder in the killing of abortion doctor George Tiller. I also read in News Week there are some in the pro life community that hail Scott Roeder as an American Hero. Really? I Don't think so.

This is what I wonder, how can you justify a life for a life? He took a life in order to save a life, how is that morally ok? Who is gets to decide one life is worth more than another? He thinks Tiller is a murderer, what does that make him? Explain that to his wife and children that his life is worth less? And the woman who Dr. Tiller would be treating, will just have to travel farther, pay more but in the end, the will have their abortion so did Mr. Roeder really do anything other than kill a man in the name of murder.

Incidentally, I am pro life. As an adopted child from the late 60's I am thankful my birth mom chose to give me life and let me go. I do not judge nor have I ever been in a position where I had a decision to make about the fate of an unborn child. It has to be an excruciating choice.

Please, don't hate. This is just my little corner to say my thing. And I think there is a place to agree to disagree. But make no mistake, Scott Roeder is NO American hero, he is a murderer.

That's all

Stepping out

It could be fair to say I am not a great friend. I have a hard time maintaining relationships with women. Partly because I don't have kids, I lack that one big relational thing that 99% of women do. Now don't get me wrong, I love my friends kids. I ask about them, we talk about them I am invested in many of their lives. Yet that particular connection of pregnancy, child rearing etc. is not there. Most of the time women wear me out. Or should I say women who use me as a dumping ground for their stuff wear me out. I can no longer do it and I avoid those friends who are dumpers. A vent now and again, hey I do that too but dumpers... no thanks! And a big group of women gives me the hebejebes. All chatty and..whatever. I feel like I just don't fit, so I don't. I have even gone to church retreats and thought, what am I doing here with all these ladies..hmm.

So Imagine my surprise when I felt led to host a bridal shower for my dearest friends daughter! It will be most likely a large affair, and hopefully I can pull it off. I can organize pretty well, my friend and the bride will have a tremendous amount of input. But I can't believe I did it, this is WAY outside my comfort zone and I will have all these ladies to deal with...Yikes. Just not my cup of tea. But for my friend it will be worth it. She has been the best, easiest, least work of any friendship I have had in all my years. She is loyal and true and so is her daughter. So I am going to suck it up for two of the most awesome ladies I have ever met. I am sure I will learn something about myself it the process. And maybe I will find some new way to relate to and enjoy the company of women.

Wish me luck..

That's all.

Sweet Lemonade Award

Ok, So Sandy at Say What and Tracy at COFB both nice enough to pass along my first award to me..Does it count as two? lol. Thanks ladies, very sweet of you♥

1. I remember birth dates, anniversaries, kids birthdays of nearly everyone I know even kids from elementary school.

2. The best job I have ever had was teaching swimming lessons when I was a teenager. Only had 1 kid out of easily 100's of kids I taught that I could never get to pick it up.

3. I drive a forklift at work very regularly and stun most of the male truck drivers. Chauvinists!

4. Part of me wishes we had never returned to California from Oregon. I miss the river fishing and hunting with my husband.

5. I am still learning that I need to think before I speak. And sometimes, to not say anything at all is really is the best answer.

5.1 It took me 30 minutes to figure out how the bloody hell add the photo at the top of the post. Yeah I am a little slow at this blog stuff.

5.2 Because no one IRL knows that I have a blog, I think everyone I know at fellowship has been tagged for this, but here is two that I did not see. So with that, I pass this award on to these two lovelies!

Shana at Serendipity

Jeannette at And on today

Sparky

My youngest fur kid is 5 today. Sparky, he is the salt and pepper one on the left. I thought he would not make it past one! He chewed and chewed and destroyed to the point I could have killed him! I would say he is in to me 10,000 dollars in damage between the carpet, the chairs and the furniture! Boy that was a hard first year! He has turned out to be such a good boy.
He is definitely the breed standard. Playful, smart, loud and has his own yodel language to greet me when I come home. He is always happy see me. He knows the names of his toys and goes and gets them if you call them by name. His favorite is Bob, a wiener dog toy that squeaks. He loves to be in my lap at all times. He is mama's boy for sure!
I know pets are not people, but this little pet has been a joy and a fun part of my life. So happy birthday little buddy, there will be presents and ice tonight after diner! lol...