Mein Groben Schnabel

I have a bad habit of getting tooooo involved (sometimes).....like when it comes to one of my sister's.  We are all getting 'A Little Long In The Tooth', so to speak, and I don't have as many ailments as she....so, there's that.  And, her husband has a few aches & pains that need to be 'googled', so I can offer my two cents on his 'condition'.....I know she is very capable of taking care of her own affairs, but everything seems to be traveling in slow motion and it is like an itch I can't reach!  Sometimes I'm a Spiritual Forgetter....let me get back on track.  Amen.

Childhood Friendship

My Lauren called me Friday to give me a 'heads up' that she was bringing a friend by on Saturday, to see her old 'Tree House'.......'just to let you know, taotao, so you won't be sittin' around in your underware'.......(when Vicki & John bought these acres years ago, John built a huge tree house for Brittany & Lauren)......So, even tho it was a cold, build a roaring fire, stay home, kind of day, I did get dressed early, fix my hair & apply some make up........Vicki arrives for coffee, conversation, & to pick up Rileigh Shea. (Vicki was in on the surprise) A couple hours go by, there's a tap on the door & in walks Lauren with a young man behind her. Instantly, I saw the face of her best childhood friend, Garrett ! I was shocked to see his handsome face on a 6'4" frame. They were inseparable from around ages 4 to 8 or nine, when Garrett moved to Edmond.

They went out & climbed the ladder where they used to play in that old tree house.
I think John spent the nite with them up there right before Garrett moved away. I think both of them had only OSU gear in their closets...bwahahaha. I was afraid Lauren would NEVER outgrow that wardrobe! I've always secretly thought they could be a great romantic story........if not, @least their friendship has re-connected into something other than fb......they were on their way to a movie..............

Ashamed of Myself

So....I think one of my last posts was regarding Procrastination...............................

It is now eleven days into 2015.  I decided to re-start this Blog, however, I've been locked out of my account!   It has taken me several days to figure out my my email/password combination.  Now that I'm on a roll, I'll put on my Do Better hat and get this thing going.  I'm into facebook, but this blog is more intimate and personal.  My Vicki & grand daughters will appreciate this more....they like my personal silly 'stories'.

Dream, Dream, Dream....All You Have To Do, Is Dream

I think this title was actually a song from my era, the 1950's.  Ahhhhhh, the '40's and '50's!   Anyone growing up during this time frame, is absolutely blessed!  Beyond blessed!

Anyway, about dreams....they are absolutely wonderful, in my own humble opinion.   You can travel anywhere your sub-conscious takes you, and, I absolutely look forward to it, each and every night.


Last nite I went on a journey that was a little confusing.  However, it included my good friend Katy & her good friend, Richard.  It included Mike Schuminsky, Mr. Perez, and a group of women I can not identify.  I knew their names, however, the names did not match their bodies!  How strange is that?....very....and, most were quite out of character......I don't understand the meaning of that, but there has to be a message in there somewhere.


It was a compilation of work, deceit, secrecy, new beginnings, coming to terms, and endings.


Well, that kinda sums up life, doesn't it?

I'm grateful that my morals have had a tune up.     amen.

PROCRASTINATE: TO PUT OFF TO A LATER DATE

OK, I admit that I am probably one of the biggest procrastinators, however, I'm now trying to change all that.

I decided a few years ago that I would write a blog....to leave some of my thoughts, and personal excursions, for my grand daughters to find.

Well, it has been four or five years since this decision, and, not much has been posted!  So, now we are beginning 2012.  I'll put on my 'DO BETTER HAT'

We closed the year 2011 @G'ma Sara's & Papa's house.....as, we always do,  on Christmas Day!

Everyone brings a 'covered dish' to accent the meat dish.  Jeff & papa have the cooking task.  This year, we had brisket  & ham.  As usual, the meal and company, were delicious.  Everybody's 'covered dishes', were very tasty.


We play 'Dirty Santa', for all the 'adults', which is always great fun, (for most).....just sayin'...  The children 'draw names'...and every mama tells the other mama what to buy for their child, so no one ever gets disappointed!  Bwahahaahahah!


No Matter the process.......we all have a fantastic time!.....Good Bye 2011, and here's to 2012!

CHANGING MY TITLE

Today I've decided to change a word in the title of my blog....... from 'adventures', to 'perception'.

Currently, (currently means the past five years of my life)....there has been 'not much' in the adventure Department! However, I have come to realize, because my daughter, Vicki, reminds me,....that everything I bitch about, is only my perception. ....and, she is right, as usual.



Time to create an ADVENTURE!

New School Year, New Rule.......Nope, Old Rule...

OK, here we go again....Rileigh Shea is in kindergarten now that she is five and a half....Her first day was last friday...(why in the hell do we start school on friday?!) Anyway, it was a BIG DEAL! New Rule: She got to ride the bus, after all....even tho Lauren had to tag along to make sure she knew where to exit. The bus arrived @ Vicki's house forty five minutes later than it had in the previous ten years...So, what is up w/that?...Rileigh told Lauren that she had to change buss' @the middle school. CHANGE BUSS'? That's not right.... So, Vicki calls the school this morning, registering her complaint. Blah, blah, blah, that's the way it is...'we walk them thru the process the first two weeks', blah, blah.....Well, what about the THIRD week? They are five, and, their minds wander, says Vicki! No consoling information on the other end. So, we won't accept their stupid rationalization regarding the bus scheduling.

Old Rule: I still have my 'Rileigh Shea Martin' placard covering my passenger sun visor. I will pull into the school parking lot @2:45 tomorrow, instead of 10:45 (when she was a baby in pre-school), we will probably circle the new Police Department driveway.....(we did this almost everyday last year while the new department building was under construction).....then, on the way home, we will stop @Taco Mayo, for her to order (and, tao tao, let ME place the order) : 'A Bean Burrito: no onions, no cheese, no sauce....just beans........ to her 'best friend', Fernando. She treats him to a sonic 'lemonberry slush' @least once a week. Life is very good on our hill in Newcastle, America!

South Dakota, July, 2011

I just returned to Oklahoma, from an annual trip to South Dakota. This trip included a high school reunion, and a 'Fletcher family reunion' (Marge & Evert Fletcher)....It was a great reunion. Dick & Gloria Black were amongst us. Dick is a great 'Interviewer'... Gloria is a very compassionate lady.

I met cousins that I didn't know about. I re-met cousins that I forgot about. I interacted with cousins that I had not seen in years. It was just a wonderful interactment!

I enjoyed a road trip with my sister Sandy. I enjoyed a long visit w/Barbara & Edwin @their house.

Everything is Good!

My Uncle Dick and Aunt Gloria..................

I will tell you one thing....... These Two People are just Absolutely Amazing! I have not seen, nor connected with my Uncle Dick Black......EVER! However, we are family. I just absolutely love Gloria................she is so grounded! What A Treat To Meet and Interact with them! I absolutely loved the experience!

I Am Ashamed of Myself

I am absolutely ashamed of myself for not posting. My sister Barbara asked me for a picture of 'Mama's ashes ceremony' on Medicine Butte in Reliance, South Dakota, and the only one I had to offer, was this one on my website.

Well, she was able to do whatever she needed to do, in order to 'copy & paste', or whatever. Anyway, she retrieved the picture she wanted.

She is writing a book about her life.....and, I am anxious for her to finish it. Reason being, I don't REMEMBER much about 'our life' prior to my being 18 years old. By then, I was 'on my own'.

I asked for a copy of what she has written so far..... No, you have to wait for the finished product.....We are all so weird, aren't we? Barbara, what if I lose my mind tomorrow?..........I'll never know 'the end'.....but, yes, I do.

subconscious thoughts

I am amazed most mornings, coming out of my very restful sleep. My dreams are very fresh, and I really have to concentrate on all the experiences encountered prior to waking up, or they flee within five minutes. Guess I should have a paper & pencil @hand to capture my thoughts.

This morning was exceptional. Many truths about myself were revealed, sort of in a chronological order, but still all mixed together. Happenings and friends from childhood to my forties.

Some truths were harder to look at, than others, but the bottom line was positive, so I'm taking that as forgiveness.........from myself and from God. I woke up with a positive and very happy heart. It's a great way to start the day.

I should pick up the phone and re-connect with a quick hello to all the friends in my final dream of the nite............It only takes a few minutes and is worth its weight in gold.

A 'NI HAO KAI LAN' MOMENT

So, as usual, I pick Rileigh Shea up from pre K @exactly 10:45 each Monday thru Friday. If I need to run an errand afterwards, I take her with me...(we do enjoy each other's company, after all). Today, I just could not stand my hair another moment, so, I informed Rileigh that 'taotao' needed a haircut, then we would get a lunch of her choice. 'Good Idea, taotao, I like to go to your haircut place'. (of course she does, she loves 'WHIRLING THE CHAIRS AROUND' at a record speed).

We enter the salon.......... One post-teen lady is waiting ahead of us, the hairdresser is @the opened back door, visiting..........'Hi, have a seat, be with you in a minute' she hollers......So we sit, & we sit.

'Hi, are you a Chinese girl'? asks Rileigh of the girl next to us. The girl is not affected at all & says 'yes, I am Chinese'. Rileigh responds, 'I know, I can tell by your hair'. I just look her in the eyes and smile....she responds by telling me that she thinks Rileigh is a very bright and an outgoing child & is enjoying the interaction........

The Chinese girl gets her adorable cut, then it is our turn. A couple of men show up for a cut, and we are all lined up like crows on a telephone wire.....(rileigh in the chair next to me)....... She fidgets, and she fidgets. I ask her to calm down and just sit still for a little while. 'Taotao is almost done, honey, just be still for a little longer, okay?' 'Okay, taotao.' Then she jumps down, walks over to my chair...........'I wuv you, taotao'. 'I love you too, rileigh shea'. She stands there, just looking at me & then out of the blue, says: 'Okay, so now will you take your teeth out?'

I am thinking, (what did she just say?), and then I realize: she said what she said!, "taotao, will you take your teeth out"?

WHAT IN THE HELL DO YOU SAY TO THAT?

You say: 'well, I can't right now, honey. We are in a beauty shop, and there are too many people around'...................Then there was a LOUD ROAR. Amen.

Alzheimer's Scares Me To Death!

Let's see, today is 18 October 2010, and I am 71+ years old. So far, I don't have any REAL tell-tale signs of Alzheimer's. But then, every time I catch myself not remembering (IMMEDIATELY), how to do something, where I placed something, OR anything, something, my first thought is 'Oh My God!, I'm getting Alzheimer's! I am scared to death of it...........and why? Because of Mama. She was never diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She was diagnosed with dimentia, however, I don't see much difference. Well, maybe I do. She was VERY CLEAR on certain things. For instance, when all of us girls would visit her @once, she always knew our names, and our order of birth........ Everyone poo-poo's Alzheimer's off, by saying things like: 'well, who cares?, don't worry about it, you will be the lucky one, you're in a world of your own, and you don't know what is happening, anyway, so don't concern yourself!

So who do I concern? Vicki & John, and their family? ... maybe not! Vicki & John have always told me that if I am diagnosed with Alzheimer's, they will put me in a HOME. After I am settled in, they will paint a MURAL on my wall of the beach and ocean, put a well planted standing oscillating fan next to the painting & myself, & let me think I am receiving the Island breezes, and back on Guam. I told them that works for me! hahahahahaha

I bring this up, only because tonite I received a message from Twilla on fb, regarding her father, Bill Dinwiddie. He HAS Alzheimer's. She sent me a message that she showed him a picture of me from my fb page, and he recognized me immediately. I told her that it was because he loved me, and love does not have the same vision as the world. And, I believe that.

Homecoming Parade

Well, well, Homecoming parades in Newcastle, America are really something to behold! Now, I was raised in a very small farming town in South Dakota, during the 1950's. Our consolidated school did not have a football team, however, we had a fantastic, State Championship, Basketball team! Because of this, I KNOW ABOUT FLOATS! Newcastle, America, in 2010, does not know how to make an attractive Homecoming Float!

I delivered my granddaughter, lauren, to her 'float site', B/4 the parade............I was sorta surprised...no, scratch that.....shocked to see the floats that were about to enter the parade! They were barren, they were plain jane........ I could not believe what I was seeing.

So, I will contact lauren's Papa Martin , and ask him to help me next year. (Vicki says he has a trailer) I think we should make a decent appearance @the parade!

A Random Act of Kindness

My brother, Eddie, & his bride of 40+ years, came to visit me last week from the Houston, Texas area. They have been to my home here in Newcastle, America a few times, but never overnight. This time they stayed a couple nights.

While I was gone to pick up Rileigh Shea @her pre kindergarten class, Eddie, Diane, & my niece, Sindi ran down to Walmart and Eddie purchased a 47" HDTV for me. I was in absolute shock mode when I saw them carrying it in. What a wonderful, over the top gift!

So, this week, sindi took a picture of my old big screen TV & placed an add on Craigslist. I sold it the very next day for the asking price. Yesterday I purchased an Apple TV box, Sindi got me a wireless router, & we were streaming a Netflix movie within the hour......

This technology, of which I know nothing, is just marvelous! And so is my brother!

Talking Stories @Family Reunion

While sitting around my sister Barbara's dining room table last week, (@least three generations of us Stallman's), we had good memories to share. Barbara & Edwin's house is where we all gather when we go back to our roots. Everyone migrates to her extra long dining table. She always has a stack of plates, napkins, forks & an assortment of her latest baked goods, including her signature MUD CAKE....she IS a seasoned baker!

I'm telling my latest 'Rileigh Shea story: (a few weeks prior, Rileigh had asked me why I had brown spots on my arms & I had told her it is just something that happens when people get old).

So one day a few weeks later, Lauren, Rileigh Shea & I are driving to get snow cones, and she exclaims loudly 'OMG (just the letters, not the words) OMG! I have a Brown Spot on my arm! I said 'are you sure'? & she goes 'yes taotao, I am positive..............I sure hope my teeth don't start falling out'!............

Everyone had a good laugh, then Barbara took her turn. When her son Donn was a young child, he had been playing outside with some other little boys. There was a knock @the door. Barbara goes to the door & a little six or seven year old boy was standing there looking very serious. 'Mrs. Speck, Donnie called me a bad word'. 'Oh, he did'? said Barbara. 'Well, why don't you go tell Donnie his mama wants to see him'. The little boy runs off & shortly thereafter, Donn goes to his mother. 'Donnie, did you call that little boy a bad word'? 'Yes', says Donn. 'Well, what bad word did you say to him'? Donn hung his head, I said 'You are a sorry piece of shit & a rotten son of a bitch'!

Love That Video Camera, Vicki

Vicki has finally 'mastered' the operation of the video camera I got her for Christmas, and if nothing else, it gives us some great 'pee your pants laughing moments', usually @my expense!

We drove down to Chandler to visit her dads grave last week end. We took beautiful bouquet's of flowers to decorate his, Mary's & his folks' headstones. Vicki recorded all the King family headstones, and took some GREAT shots of me placing the flowers. I'm all bent over w/my ass in the air........OH MY GOD! what a sight for sore eyes! I don't bend my knees at all, & when I'm erect, my profile somewhat resembles a washtub with a ball on top & two short sticks @the bottom. Bwaahaaaaaa.

We laughed until we cried & lauren kept repeating: 'back it up mom, let's see it again'.......over & over. Maybe I will start that diet as soon as we return from our family reunion in S.D.

NO SILLY, IT IS YOU.............

Rileigh Shea is four, and she spends a lot of time with her 'taotao'. We love each other's company and have a great time together. I missed out on these early years with lauren because I was living on another planet..........not really, but Guam is soooo far away, it may as well have been.

Rileigh comes running into my office with a 'drawing'.............'look grandma, I made you something'. I look at her picture & see that it is a 'person'. 'Oh, Rileigh Shea, that is beautiful..........you did a great job drawing, is that you? 'No silly, it is you,..................... see, you are OLD & have FLUFFY ARMS!

I Bawled all the way home......

Yesterday, 5/21/10 was my four year olds 'SHOW'. It was the last day of Pre- School, and, I have been totally INVOLVED since day one. Vicki informed me (several times) that Rileigh Shea needed to be @location by 5:30! Parents were not allowed to go inside until 6:00 she said.

So, where in the hell did I get the idea that the program was @7pm? I don't know, maybe because it was held @7pm last year?

Anywayyy, I arrive @the church @5:30, walk miss rileigh shea to the door, & leave. I notice some 'grandma & grandpa's in the parking lot & think to myself 'why are they here soooooo early? Well, maybe they have traveled a long way..... no other thought enters my mind, and I go home.

I fiddle faddle wasting time, waiting for 6:45 to arrive....so I can head out. Time to go.......when I arrive @the church, everything seems normal. When I enter the building, I'm confused. It is 10 minutes to seven & people are mingling everywhere, EATING STUFF! I spot my son in law's parents, then my son in law & vicki, then I see Rileigh Shea eating chocolate covered strawberries on a squewar..... I am confused & thinking to myself...'why in the world are they letting this child eat B/4 her performance???'

I catch Vicki's eye.....'where have you been, Mother?' 'Didn't you know the program started @6:00? I thought I told you that....then the ugly cry starts on my face, I wave goodbye & just leave. It was awful.........next event, I will 'listen' better..........

Hey, Mr. President, maila fan boka: That's Chamorro for come eat

Found this in the Guam newspaper.......President Obama will be on island sometime during the first week of March. It made me laugh because when I built my retirement home, I wanted to make a sign to put in my kitchen that read 'Maila fan boka' my interpretation of 'come in & eat'. When I told Bob of my intentions, he corrected my Chamoru to say it right, just as the person in the next paragraph corrected the journalist in the PDN:

Who Chamoru you? Ask Juan Malimanga how to say it right. "Maila ta fan boka"..
Let President Obama try out Guam Ayuyu, Luta Fanihi, Tinian Hot Pepper, and Saipan Apigigi. Welcome to the Chamorro Islands!!

I still have my Continental Micronesia Airlines frequent flyer miles in my back pocket for another trip to Guam. I lived there eleven years and have been gone eleven years this month. I didn't realize until just now that I've been back eleven years. I read the Pacific Daily News online every day, and see many construction changes since my departure. Everyone is preparing for the Military buildup that will take place in the next year or so. The Marine bases are closing on Okinawa & Japan will pay millions of dollars to help the United States relocate on Guam.

Also, Continental Micronesia just opened a Guam to Fiji flight two or three times a week recently hmmmm mite be a cheap way to get to Fiji. Daydreams are so fun......