5:36 am going to the races

Send good vibes for today please... thank you...

If you are wondering how the racing is going....

Today was the first day of racing and the boys raced [2] 45 minute grand prix's...

OMG the course was crazy -5 mile course- going up the steepest hills...

Kameron took a 10th in Intermediate - he rode the whole race without a back brake

Kieffer took a 9th place in Novice

 

Race #2 -

Kameron got a pretty good start and then halfway through he got a flat front tire - darn it

Kieffer was moving up to 3rd in his race - and then he seized the motor - having to push his bike up a hill to ride down to the pits! 

 

[ in all the years... that is the 2nd bike that did that - which is pretty good]

 

Both Kameron and Kieffer had a pretty good attitude about it, they came back to the pits, jumped on their other bikes, and then proceeded to finish the last lap - to get points - instead of a DNF [Did not finish]

No one should protest they changed bikes because they were both in last place by then...

 

Anyway, they had so much fun, just goofing off, playing tag with each other... at the finish line they were pumping their hands in the air like they had just won or something... 

 

even tho they were the last racers to finish by a mile...

 

the announcers thought it was funny anyway...

 

So we are going again in the morning [6am] and 36 degrees... 

"I love the sound of four stroke motorcycles in the morning!" 

[That was a play on words from Apocalypse Now Movie - "I love the smell of napalm in the morning" I use to be able to say "I love the smell of 2 stroke oil in the morning" but no one races 2 strokes hardly anymore so I had to use sound of Four stroke...

 

did you get all that? 

C'mon don't fall behind...  Keep up...!

 

Anyway Sunday is the last day of racing... then they combine Saturday and Sundays points for the overall place... 

 

Ill take pictures...

 

Oh.... Diane, your son made it here safe and sound... no worries...  he is a funny kid... I never know when he is serious!

 

Just like Kieffer - [Poker face while telling the tallest tales...]

 

Kieffer and Devin have been friends since the 6th grade! Then they moved... ;(   Waaaaa sniff sniff

 

[I have to say they are the best kind of friends to have... When Kieffer broke his arm and leg in that bad accident 4 years ago... they drove 2 hours to come and visit him...!  They are good people!]

 

Ok gotta go watch New York kill the Patriots... he he  then go to bed... 6am and 38 degrees are waiting for me Sunday morning...

<A href="http://www.sponsorhouse.com/Members/kendra1/?from=1" _fcksavedurl="http://www.sponsorhouse.com/Members/kendra1/?from=1" alt=""> 

You all come back now hear!

Hairspray? I dont' get what that means?

Hairspray ... you know the musical! 

Ellen you are from New York... what is the matter with you?

Hairspray... the BIG HIT on Broadway... the TOAST of the town right now... I guess your only into Hannah Montana!!! LOL

Ok now for the FIDM question... Hi Lisa Jo... Pssst...that was a legitimate question...

[Fashion Institute Design and Merchandising] She took classes at FIDM and UCLA... uh hum Phil... not USC... UCLA... okay!!!

[FIDM is the Parson's of the West Coast -the 'Project Runway' show...

You know Candice almost made it on that show when it first started but she didnt want to start her own line of clothing, she wants to do costume design... but its a bitch to get your foot in the door...

 the old... You need to have a SAG card but you can't get a SAG card till you work on some films, or Musicals or Whatever... the old catch 22...

Remember she worked at The Palm Springs Follies last year? No one in that musical is under 55!!!!

Anyway... so keep sending vibes for Candice...

Below is exactly what she did for the Follies...

Ad for Hairspray

*Costumers (2). Must have knowledge/experience with costuming. Sewing experience is a must for small fixes. maintaining costumes original look. Sending out costumes for wash. Distributing costumes to cast members and signing them out and in and hanging them back up. Will also help on stage costume changes.

 

Hairspray the South/West Tour...Crew positions

I just applied for this position.....  send some good vibes to be that they will ATLEAST set up an interview with me..... YEAH!!!

Candice needs some good vibes please...   [She went to FIDM for Costume Design]

Thank you...

Movie Review

Sam and I went to the movies tonight and watched 'Charlie Wilson's War' it was really good!

Funny and very interesting... we want to see it again when it comes out on DVD...  Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts are good but the guy who stole the show in my opinion - is the guy from Cold Mountain... I dont know his name off hand but he was hilarious in a dry humor kind of way...

We laughed out loud so many times...

The people actually clapped at the end of the movie!

[This is a good movie if your into politics and laughing at 'the system']

Big Hugs

Kendra

 

Panolin - THE BEST OIL FOR MX ;)

Panolin Oil... One of the boys sponsors wants to use Kameron and Kieffer in their 2008 catalog... Woo Hoo... That is so cool...  I have to send the 'action' or racing photos in by January 8th...

I guess its a good thing we are racing in a HUGE race the next four days at Glen Helen Raceway!

We are racing the Yamaha Amatuer/ Pro Championships...

Send some good vibes again...

It is going to be grueling... They have 2 [45 minute] races on Saturday... [That is where cardio workouts pay off... and believe me you can tell who does them and who doesnt at about 10 minutes into the race]

I went to WalMart [Hi Lisa Jo] and bought the boys cheap digital watches with a stop watch feature so they know how much longer they have in the race... We will put them on the crossbar pad on the handlebars...

Anyway... I gotta go wash gear... 

Sam has been changing fork seal oil on six bikes today...  The boys have practice Thursday and Friday and racing begins on Saturday and Sunday...

Sunday they hand out the #1 plates and Varsity jackets to the winners...

I know there will be a bunch on Pro's there getting ready for Supercross coming up on January 8th...

I can't wait for Supercross... I bought the tickets in July...  Woo Hoo...
In a special VIP section with food service...

 Ohhh yaaa!!!

 

 

December 25th

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Hope yours is a safe and happy one... 

Remember don't drink and drive!!!

We have had a few car accident deaths with drunken drivers here, so be careful!

the kids are still sleeping [9:44am] why couldn't they do that when they were little and I needed some sleep from being up half the night doing Santa stuff

[Hi Chrissie!]

I am going to start breakfast....  but I wanted to take a minute and say...

 

Merry Christmas... with Love Kendra & Family

Christmas Eve...

Whew what a day.... I am wiped out... so is Sam... he is snoring as I type this! Today was his BIG 5-0 Birthday!  I kept teasing him all day

"Honey! Your a half a century old!" 

"Thanks... I'll be sure to remind you of that on your 50th!" 

then later I would say

"Honey! Your two score and ten years old today!" 

"Ya... Thanks"

 

I woke up this morning and went to the gym... it gives me more energy for the day believe it or not...

After the boys and I went to the gym, we went to go pick up Sam's birthday cake and then buy his presents [fooseball table and a new ping pong table]

Then we came home and literally threw everything away in my formal living room... the couch, the chairs, the carpet, the padding,  everything... it is now the official game room for Sam!  We will put some tile down in the next month or so, and put up a dart board, and flat screen t.v. 

After ripping up all the carpet,  the boys and their friends helped put together the ping ping table and foosball table... took about 4 hours and I am not even kidding... then they asked to open their "big present" for Christmas Eve... I said go ahead... we bought them the playstation 3 Band something or other... Instead of guitar hero... it has a whole band in it... drums, guitar, microphone and game to play with it in the PS3... 

We had about 14 people over here, and people were playing fooseball, ping pong or watching the Band in the other room... they are so into that game!

Then we all had Prime Rib, mashed potatoes, green beans and salad for dinner...  after that we had cake... and played Apples to Apples [I highly recommend this board game for EVERYONE.... it is so much fun, no matter what kind of crowd... so easy to learn too... it will get you roaring with laughter]

After Candice and Mike left, then Rachel [Kameron's ex who I LOVE], and Kieffer's friend Aggie wrapped the last of my presents for me... Woo Hoo...

Kristofer is here spending the night... he always does on Christmas Eve...

 

I better get to bed... I am tired... hope you enjoy the pictures...

 

Mele Kalikimaka Everyone... I hope it is a nice one for all of you.... and remember family is like peanut brittle - it takes a lot of sugar to hold all the nuts together!

Kieffer is.....

Damn you guys are good with the vibe thing... because we got there and it was so windy... we didnt race... thank you!!!   A day off... woo hoo... so we went to breakfast and then came home and I went back to bed and just woke up...

Ahhh nice... so now I can say woo hoo 4 days off too ;)

 

I guess Ill start cooking for Sam's birthday and Christmas...

 

I make a stuffing to die for... seriously... 

 

{Pam and Candice I am speaking to the two of you... back me up here} 

 

See I CAN cook, I am a good cook... I just choose not to most of the time...

 

Anyway... I have about 5 gifts to wrap and then I am done wrapping... [I only wrapped about 10 gifts anyway and 3 of those go to Grampa - Marlo made a list of the things he needed so that made it easy for us - I bought him a Cal-King Comforter/Sheet set, Pillows and Old Spice]

 

Oh it just dawned on me, today was the day I was going to pick up Grampa in Riverside and bring him down here until Christmas morning.... Bummer...

Kieffer said he saw Grampa's Santa suit in the garage the other day... Ive gotta find a picture of him doing that for the kids to show you...

 

I guess I better go... I'm babbling...

 

Oh wait... Hold on... Kieffer says I make him have a bad boy image on my blog... I said No, you are a funny little smartass on my blog... he disagrees with me... so what is your image of Kieffer.... We are curious...

6 29 am

Going racing... I dont wanna... its cold... whaaaa....

 

Send good vibes please because it worked last week!

I'll tell ya about it on the flip side...

I hope we get race 1 and 2 so we can get outta there quickly...

No racing sunday Woo Hoo

but next week we race Thurs, Fri, Sat Sun...

Yamaha Amatuer Championship - Kieffer wants the #1 plate...

Wow, Sam will be 50! You gonna wear that maid outfit?

Wow, Sam will be 50! You gonna wear that maid outfit?

 

As I was writing an email back to Lisa Jo about her comment....

 

Kieffer comes in and starts reading the comment...

 

he says "Maid Outfit huh?" 

 

I start laughing wondering if I should explain that...

 

"Uh.... I dont have a maid outfit... its a joke" 

 

he looks at me without batting an eyelash

 

"I have one in my room... Do you want it" he says seriously 

 

"Uh.... Um... no... because... 1st off I don't want to know why you have one and secondly I have seen your tiny little girlfriends and it wouldn't fit... but thank you anyway..."

 

he turns and starts to leave

 

"Ok... but it was Lexi's... and she is 5'10...its a french maid outfit in case you change your mind"  

 

I am speechless... 

 

[why in the hell dont we have our own show on MTV... ]

 

 

Bah Humbug...

I am not into Christmas this year... Dont know why exactly... Maybe its because my kids are grown... I'm just a bah humbug this year... I feel bad too because Sam's birthday is Christmas Eve... he turns 50... Whoa..

 

I do not have a tree [OK I have a 2 foot fake tree behind the couch in the corner] I call it our Charlie Brown Christmas Tree... We do not have lights on the house outside, I did not put up the garland and lights on the stairway, I loved all the cards I got but I did not send one card to anyone....I am telling you.... the kids are not into it, and I am not into it either...

"Mom its fine seriously, we get so much all year round... dont even worry about it" Kieffer said... and that was all I needed to hear...

 

Hey... I have done my time for Christmas...  I swear I do not know how I survived it when the kids were little... The Christmas Programs, [being the Mom in the program - you know... 'I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus'... plus having to make the costumes for my kids - Kris was one of the wise men or kings or whatever it was] working in the 'Santa Shop' for the 8th grade fundraiser, going to the $500 a table charity events with Mrs. Bob Hope or Mrs. Sinatra as Chairperson, wrapping all the gifts for 5 kids, teachers, baby-sitters, car pooler family, and the partridge in a pear tree... oh and ofcourse Santa ALWAYS had his own paper with Santa's all over them...

Buying the 'Christmas clothes, Christmas jammies and ofcourse helping with all the toys that said 'some assembly required' which really means 'you need an engineering degree with some auto mechanic skills thrown in'

After being awakened at 4 in the morning to dress Grampa in his Santa suit... crawling back in bed afterwards... and then awakened by excited kids wanting to open gifts... I had 18 to 24 people here for dinner...

[One year I had an EXTREME HANGOVER too... that was not fun]

I always sent cards, had a Martha Stewart perfect dining room table with hand made name cards on it [because you cant put so in so next to so in so]

 

Anyway... I have earned the right to say 'Bah Humbug' this year... thats my story and I'm stickin to it...

 

Merry Christmas...

 

 

Grampa visit...

Thank you for asking about Grampa... I was getting to that when Kieffer got into that accident...

 

Long Story Short - Grampa's test results came back - he has bone cancer and prostate cancer - we have decided not to tell him...

I mean whats the point, its not as if he could fight it anyway. 

While we were there Marlo said she was having problems getting Grampa to take a shower

[he hadnt showered in 3 days], so Sam took him in the bathroom and made sure he had a good shower...

[that melted my heart- the great circle of life] he came out smelling like Grampa

I will never be able to smell Old Spice on someone and not think of Grampa -

 

The day before we arrived Candice and my neice Kristina put up a tree for Grampa and decorated his house for Christmas - it looked beautiful.  Marlo said he sat there in front of that tree with all the lights off for half an hour the night before....

We had a very nice visit with him... he says he wants to come to the High Desert house for New Years...  I hope he does... I don't think it will happen...  he doesn't seem to be able to eat real food... mostly chicken broth, soups, and ice cream... [Dr. said let him eat or drink whatever he wants] and he did have a few sips of wine yesterday!

 

I said "Dad, you have to take a shower okay?"

"Okay...   [pause]    Do we have any wine?" [change the subject and they will forget routine] Sam and I laughed

"Yes, Ill get you a glass but then you have to take a shower okay?"

"Okay" 

on the way to the shower, he makes a left into his bedroom and sits down... Sam starts laughing

"Uh... No Dad, Come on... your taking a shower! Nice try tho, your slick, you know that!"

Grampa had a grin on his face... he knew he was busted...

Once he was in the shower Sam said he LOVED it and it felt so good...

 

During our visit we all took turns laying on the bed with him, or on the couch flipping through old photo albums... One picture had Grampa and some lady Jitterbugging... Grampa says "Boy! She sure was a heffer!"

Everyone busted out laughing... I think he meant hoofer [as in she danced well]

 

Well anyway... we are going back in a few days to see him again... 

 

as Sam and I were falling asleep last night...

he said "Thank you for being so kind to my father all these years"  

"I love your father, Sam"

"I know you do"

"What the hell dont you have eyes"

 

Grampa visit...

 

We drove down to Grampa's yesterday.  [Kameron, Kieffer, Sam and myself] 

Kameron went in the back and laid down [I have an excursion and the 3rd seat is out right now], Kieffer laid down in the back seat and started snoring away...

 

_________________________________________________________

 

Stop the story for a moment...

 

As I was typing the story above, Kieffer calls me

 

"Mom, I've been in an accident and you need to come up here!"

"Ok, where are you?"

 "By Wal-Greens"

"Are you ok?"

"Yes"

"What happened?"

"This guy cut in front of me, didnt use a blinker and then starts yelling at me, just come up here please!"

 

So I get there and Kieffer is sitting in the beast waiting for the police to show up... I am talking to him and guess who happens to drive down the street... my husband... I was happy for that because I sure didnt want to make the call or tell him later... then the police officer shows up and I got to be honest I was a little worried my 6'4 mohawked baby might not get a fair deal [you know, looking like a troubled teen with that hair!]

Anyway there were 3 other people in a 2007 Camry - [from Arizona] the driver [about 50], his daughter about 22, and her husband I guess... Right after it happened the driver gets out and startsyelling at Kieffer "What the hell! Don't you have eyes?"   so Kieffer says "Ya I have eyes but I guess you don't know how to use a blinker!" then the daughter gets out and YELLS "I hope you have insurance because Owww my back is starting to hurt!" this chick was something else... finally the cop says "Do you want me to call you an ambulance to take you to the hospital?"  She says "No" and shuts up...

At first it looks like its Kieffer's fault but when you saw both cars and heard both stories... it was obvious it was the other guys fault!

Here is what happened - Kieffer is in the lane closest to the curb, the light is red so he starts to brake before the intersection, then the light turns green so Kieffer took his foot off the brake and starts going again... When he is almost through the intersection, this guy in the lane next to him on his left, sees Wal-greens and drives infront of Kieffer trying to go into what he thought was the Walgreens driveway to the parking lot but it wasnt - he cut in front of Kieffer into a bus area  [you know so buses can pull up to bus stops without blocking traffic in that lane...]

So the guy got an unsafe lane change ticket... I wanted to say "What the hell, don't you have eyes!!!" but I didn't

Kieffer's car the beast - broke the glass in an off-roading spot light - on the off roading brush grill in front of his beast - the 2007 Camry had about $4,000 worth of damage because the passenger side of the trunk was now smashed up to the back seat and rear window...

I was SO happy I didnt have to explain it to Sam later... The policeman was so cool to Kieffer... I was proud when Kieffer reached out and shook the policeman's hand before he interviewed him...  later the policeman took him aside and said "It wasn't your fault, don't worry, there was nothing you could do" Kieffer teared up a little after that... personally, I was just glad my hubby was there to hear it... but if he wasn't their violation code was on the accident report...

 

WHAT A DAY... Calgon take me away...

Friends in high places...

Hey I'll be your back up...Been there done that with family...
And by the way I have seen the LAUNDRY PILES..... hey I even stepped over them before.....LOL
lOVE YA kENDRA.... CALL IF YOU NEED HELP..... I'LL BACK YA ANYDAY!!!!!!

 

Woo Hoo... Hey everyone meet Diane... My 911 operator friend... 

 

 [Now if I could just get her hubby to cover up the crime scene... I'd be good to go...]

 

He is in law enforcement....  I'd tell you what he does but then I'd have to kill you too!

 

And yes she has seen my laundry pile... see I told ya... 911 operators don't lie...  They just back you at the crime scene against a sister in law...

 

Now I have backing on both sides of the law! 

 

Ellen's Italian Uncle's and Diane...

Oh my.... did I say that?

My Sunday...

 

Marta came, she cleaned, she conquered 1/3 of my laundry and she is coming back next Saturday and Sunday... Thank God...  I told you I am the world's worst housekeeper... I understand the concept of cooking and cleaning just not as it applies to me! I am a trophy wife... not a house wife! 

[Thats my story and I am stickin to it] 

 

Grampa is doing a little better... he keeps asking for my husband... [I think because all his daughters are there and he knows his son is not] we are going down there [2 hours away] on Tuesday... Candice drove there last night with Mike and they stayed at my SIL house...  I guess Sam's sister gave Mike a big hug and welcomed him to the family... I like his sister Tina... I can NOT stand his sister Becky... [crack head hooker - literally] she is Collin's bio-Mom, he refuses to even speak to his Mother... she cleans up for a while, acts like a bitch to everyone, acts like nothing ever happened, then she goes back to the streets and drugs and hooking... So we raised Collin for many years [We are Mom and Pop to him] she hates me so much... she was such a bitch to me during Sam's Mothers burial... Becky goes to one of the flower arrangements and takes a rose for everyone... then she went down the line of seats and gave everyone a rose to put on the casket except me! Sam's sister Tina handed me her rose... Sam gave me his rose... Then when all the seats were taken, she comes up to me like MOVE I wanna sit next to my brother and sister... so I stand up Sam's sister grabbed my hand and said "No Kendra stay here" I said "Tina, its okay" and I walked away [I wasn't going to cause a scene at my MIL's burial...] [Oh ya... the icing on the cake was she was hanging out with Kris's Mom - Sam's ex wife the whole time] Oooo if looks could kill I woulda been dead all day... I just pretended they were not there... [Jeepers ladies how about a little respect for the dead and for a woman who stepped up to the plate to raise your kids because you two dip shits couldn't do it]  I guess I got the last laugh as neither of them were invited to the big Italian dinner afterwards [Tina married an Italian fisherman in San Pedro - HBO did a story on them for Father's Day one year]  Kris had to tell his Mom to take Becky home and she wasnt invited to the dinner either...  That must have ticked her off, plus Kris rode with us for the 2 hour drive to the burial...

 

Anyway, Candice said Aunt Becky is staying at Tina's right now because of Grampa... Candice said she was polite and then ignored her while she was there... I am so looking forward to Grampa's funeral one day... Here we go again...

 

Sam probably won't say a word to his sister Becky... 12 years ago he went into a junk yard and carried Becky out and to the hospital...  He told his Mom that day "Mom, if she goes back to drugs, I am done with her, she is dead to me, I will not go through this shit again, and again, and again"

Guess what ...  she went back again and again and again...

You want to know something weird, she is in a movie, an extra walking by in a junk yard - In the Al Pacino movie HEAT - that was the junk yard she was living in...

 

During Tina's wedding 20 plus years ago... I allowed her to wear my Grandmothers pearl bracelet [before she was doing drugs - or so we thought anyway]  She sold it to a drug dealer and has NEVER once apologized for it... See that is the way Becky operates - She never says Sorry, never admits she hurt anyone, and acts like she owns the place, when your around her... She acts like a Queen Bee.... being a know it all...

 

Anyway... I am not looking forward to running into Becky at Grampa's on Tuesday... but if I do...

I have class, more class in my little finger than she could dream of having... 

I will say hello and go about my business

 

Either that or I'm gonna kill the bitch ina choke hold while banging her head against the floor...

 

Oh my.... did I say that?

9pm

We went racing and came home safe... Kameron took a 5th in Intermediate and Kieffer took a 3rd in Novice...

There was tons of traffic coming home... Holidays I guess...  We had to take my car [Excursion] to tow the trailer because the truck is leaking oil all over and has to go into the shop on Monday... Grrr....

Guess who is coming at 7am in the morning... My old housekeeper Marta... I will open the door, hug her and wait for her to drop dead of a heart attack...

OMG I just remembered a story about her...

She started working for us when Kieffer was a newborn... [September 1991]

One day she comes to me really worried

"Kendra, the baby is cold..."

I look at him, feel him... Kieffer was fine...

"No he is ok, why do you think the baby is cold?"

"Look" and she shows me his skin...

I start laughing

"Marta... the baby is not cold... the baby is white!" 

She thought because you could see through his skin the baby was cold... no the baby was white 

[you know how white babies skin is kinda translucent and Hispanic babies are not]

Anyway... I thought that was so funny...

 

6:41am

Going racing... I dont want to go its 38 degrees outside and will get colder as we get closer to the mountains and racing...

Ahhh Phooey.... Waaaa....

Kieffer is excited to go... 1st time back since surgery...

Send good vibes okay :)

Love ya...

Catch ya on the flip side later today

Thanks...

Thank you for all the support about Grampa... You know, deep down inside we all knew from what we witnessed at Thanksgiving...

I have decided I would rather see Grampa go now than later... his Alzheimer's is getting really bad... he asks you the same questions over and over and over again... It use to only be problems with present day things...

However, you could always start talking about WWII and his fighter pilot days and he could tell you everything... in sharp details... [There was one thing with Grampa... all his grandkids knew the day Pearl Harbor was bombed]  If one of the kids friends said something about WWII that was incorrect they would say "OMG, Don't let my Grampa hear you say that"

One time the kids and I were at a Luau in Hawaii and these ladies were talking about "That sunken ship with all the dead GI's from Pearl Harbor in it" and my kids say "The Arizona" and then the lady said "Ya I think that was the boat we took over there to see it"

We just looked at each other and thought OMG I am so glad Grampa isn't here right now...

Well anyway... lately Grampa can't seem to remember his WWII stuff anymore either... when we were at the high desert... family had brought up Howard and he was in WWII too... Grampa talked to him a little bit but it was obvious he just didnt remember anymore...

Howard was so sweet tho, he sent a drawing to Grampa of his old ship and sent along the nicest note with it... Howard even took the time to frame it for him... I'll bring it on Tuesday when we go visit Grampa...

Anyway... to me I'd rather see Grampa go now before he doesn't know who any of us are anymore... because that would break my heart more...

His funeral will be interesting at the church and let me tell you why... For whatever reason Grampa's Catholic Church has decided that you can not have the American flag draped across the casket any longer...  So a few years ago he made Sam promise that if they will not allow that flag inside the church... to hold his funeral on the steps and parking lot... and we will... and I will call the press ahead of time too...

What kind of Church will not allow the American Flag inside over a WWII veterans coffin? 

Especially one who Grampa served as usher every Sunday, and served the pancake breakfast once a month... who's son was alter boy of the year in? Grampa was a Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus at this church! He was the Boy Scout Troop Leader in this church and they better allow that flag over his coffin in that church...

 

I have some news to share that I wish I didn't...

Grampa has about 2 weeks to live...

 

As you know I picked Grampa up the week of Thanksgiving and we took him up to the high desert house... In the last couple of months, every time we would arrive at his house, Grampa has been in bed... sitting up reading the paper but lately always in bed... When Candice and I arrived to pick him up for Thanksgiving weekend he wasn't ready, still in  PJ's in bed [it was 2pm]

 

Grampa has a GREAT caretaker, her name is Marlo and she is from Brazil... Dad loves her because she sounds like his Mother with the Portuguese accent... [She lives at Grampa's full time]  I adore Marlo she is the cutest little thing youve ever seen... about 58 or 59 but looks like she is early 40's with an adorable little body and just cute as can be... One day Sam and I went to see Grampa, so Marlo ran to the bank while we were there... Anyway she was wearing blue camouflage pants, with cute heels and a shirt that said 'Mama Mia' and a little jacket... it was the cutest outfit on her I swear...

 

That day Grampa says "Some people think there is hanky panky going on but there isn't" 

Later I retold that comment to Sam and he said "I wish I would have heard him say that because I would have said WHY THE HELL NOT are you slippin Dad or what?"

 

Anyway, the whole time at the high desert house with 18 people up there... Grampa laid on the couch, THE WHOLE TIME totally detached from everything going on around him... I could barely get him to eat...  I was worried the whole time...  I kinda joked about it saying he was turning into the Grandpa on Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory  [you know how the Grandparents were in the house in bed ALL the time and they NEVER got out of bed]

Well anyway... yesterday Sam's sister took Grampa to the Dr. and she basically told her to take him home and let him die comfortably... she has seen the signs before and basically he is ready to go... I guess Grampa was afraid they were going to hospitalize him... "I want to go home, don't let them keep me, I want to go home"  Tina said at first she wanted them to hook him up to a feeding tube but then she realized its just his time and he is ready to go...

He has lost 22 pounds since June...  He is nothing but skin and bones right now...

Grampa only has 10% of his stomach anyway... He had stomach cancer 35 years ago and they took most of it... So he has to eat every hour a little bit anyway... but he is barely eating now...

 

So... anyway... that is what is going on with Grampa... he was supposed to come here on the 22nd to the 25th... I don't think that will happen now...

 

 When my kids were little, Grampa would show up here at 3am [after going to midnight mass at his house and driving 2 hours to come here] I would then tape pillows to him and help him with his Santa suit, then he would jingle, jingle bells SO LOUD my kids would wake up, then Santa would give them their presents, we would always have a bigger gift like a bike or something in the garage and he would tell them he left it in there... the kids would race to see what it was and they would hear Grampa saying "On Dancer, On Prancer" and so on outside....

So one year we had to sit Kris down at 13 and tell him who Santa was because he was about to get into a fist fight over it... He just knew there was a Santa, he saw him every year and it wasnt his DAD because his DAD was there when Santa was... 

 

These are the things I will fondly remember about my FIL... 

For Chrissie

Happy

Birthday!

Girlfriend...

A toast for you... "May you live to be a 100, and the last voice you hear be mine!"

Caroling through J-land... Here ya go Chrissy

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Hang on... the flood gates opened

Damn I'm good...

guess who has a housekeeper again...

Hang on I gotta do the housekeeper dance...

[and I didn't HAVE to get out the red thigh high boots, however for granting me my way... I will dust them off and surprise my honey...]

So she is coming Saturday and Sunday WOO HOO!!!

I need her so bad... I have to tell you... I am the worlds worst housekeeper... I am a stuffer... the house looks clean enough but if you open a closet you might die...

I must have 72 loads of laundry to do right now... I know you guys think I am kidding but I am not... I have a towel fetish... a long time ago, we could only afford those really really cheap towels from K-Mart... the kind you need 2 just to wrap around you, and they were SO THIN... I swore if we ever had any money I was going to buy NICE towel SHEETS...  Ok... I have at least 52 towel sheets by now [I would buy one at Cost Co every trip] [I am not allowed to buy towels or pens anymore]

Anyway... I would take a picture of my laundry room at the moment but it would ruin my image you may have of me... so I will not...

Oh Guess what... My BESTEST, OLDEST, friend Kim called me today...

[You all know her as "The Most Beautiful Wedding From Hell"]

We have been friends since the 3rd Grade...

There are things I can tell Kim, that I can't tell anyone else in the world... Well, I could tell you but you'd NEVER understand what I'm going through... Kim grew up in a world like mine.. Our lives are like mirrors except I am about 10 years ahead of her in mine...

Both of us went to private school together, both of us had father's pass away, both of us had housekeeper's that lived in the house, both of us have had trust funds, both of us know what its like to call the 'office' when our bank accounts were overdrawn [its a scary thing to have to do... trust me] I do not have to do that anymore but she does... ha ha...,

I know you never hear me talk about those kinds of things... I try not to... it tends to evoke jealousy... You see, if you didnt grow up with money... its hard to understand what that is like...  Its hard to understand... the jealousy... the fake people... the part where you dont know who is your friend because they love you vs the friend who is there because they benefit from your money...

My Mother once told me "Sam is only with you for the money"...

[How do you know she is not right?]

I know... because we had serious hard times... I know because if he wasn't there I would have spent every dime instead of invest in property... I know because it has been 24 years and he is still right here loving me for me... making me laugh every step of the way...

Anyway... You see I ran away at 16... I didn't mean to run away, I was out with my boyfriend and it got later and later... and then I was TOO scared to go home!  A month went by and Kim's Mom found out I was living on the streets [read staying at a girlfriends house] and she sent me a plane ticket to Hawaii... I went to Hawaii and Kim's Mom paid for me to go to private school... [I was in heaven, I loved being there, I loved the school] but then my Mom came and had me picked up, flew me home and sued Kim's parents for taking a minor across state lines without consent!  Before the trial, Kim's parents settled out of court for an obscene amount of money... because they knew the jury had to rule on law, not what was the right thing to do for a child... Later, Kim's father ran for office in Hawaii [and won] and tried to get the law changed...  but the problem was they were afraid every pedophile would bring young children to Hawaii and try to say they were saving run aways... so it never happened...

After Kim's parents settled with my Mom... My relationship with her went south once again and I left home at 17...  [We always had a rocky relationship] Fortunately, we reconciled 4 years before my Mother passed away and I am happy to say I was holding my Mother's hand when she died...

Jeepers! How did you get me to divulge all that...  Lisa Jo are you proud I actually opened up!!!  I have always told Lisa Jo she was my hero because she put it all out there and I have a very hard time doing that... but you guys twisted my arm today...

That is all I have to say about that...

 

Mom I thought you were going to tell the story...

Candice reminded me of something that happened at lunch yesterday...

Candice and Kieffer were talking about moving to the Redondo Beach property we own...

[It has a front house, and in the back it has an upstairs 2 bedroom, 1 bath, and a downstairs studio]

Anyway... Candice says to Kieffer "Mike and I will live in the front house and you and Kameron can live in the back... It will be perfect"

Kieffer says "Ya... that would be great... and Kameron's friend Jared can live in the studio"

I say "Awww while we are all in fantasy land, Dad and I will move into the Newport house then!"

Candice says "No really Mom, it would work perfectly... seriously... then I could make dinner for my brothers"

Kieffer starts to laugh and pretends like he is calling Kameron

"Hey Kameron... Candice is making us dinner tonight... What kind of cereal do you want!"

I busted up laughing...

Took Candice a minute to get the joke because she was confused

"What do you mean?  I don't like cereal!"

Frankenheimer?

I left early and went over to Candice's before Kieffer's appointment.  Just in case Kieffer didn't want to go.

JD and Koda met me at the door, jumping all over Glamma Kendra... They are my beautiful black grandchildren afterall...  It was so nice to see JD up and running around.  The vet told Candice it was a miracle he made it thru Parvo, most dogs don't!

Of course, we all know it was the prayers he got from all of you and a little bit of loving from Candice

[Just kidding about that last part Candice]

So anyway while I'm at her place I say "So? Where is your ring?"  [Right Chrissie!!!]

She says "At the jewelry store getting sized, its done, lets go get it"

So we jump in the car and head to the mall and pick it up... I should have brought my camera, darn it!!!

Its beautiful, two sapphire stones and diamonds in platinum... I love it... she really loves it... she kept looking at it, and looking at it...

I asked her if she wanted to go to the Dr.'s with me and Kieffer.  She said yes and off we went to get him from the Country Club where he is working.

She showed the ring to Kieffer and he kissed it and said he loved it... He gave her a big hug... "Awww I love my baby brother"  as he towers a good foot over her.

We then headed over to Dr. M's, where they took out his stitches... We go back in a month for a check up.  After leaving there I took them to lunch...

When I took Kieffer back to work... I had to tell the lady at the gate [to the country club] where I was taking him, what residence]

So I say "Frankinheim I believe..."

She says "Fankenberry? "

Kieffer says "No its Fetchenheir"

She says "Fetchmeyer"

Kieffer says "Fetchenheir"

She says "Feckheim"

By now Candice and Kieffer are laughing so hard.... the lady at the gate starts laughing too [thank god]

She finally puts 'electrical work' on the car tag and lets us in...  I drop Kieffer off and then take Candice home...

By the time I came home from her house... Kieffer was already home working on his Mustang again...  My little energizer bunny... 

When I got home, Sam said he didnt feel like cooking...

[Yes I am a lucky woman...Like Mother like Daughter - As Mike cooks too] 

so he sent me and Kieffer's friend up to Del Taco to get dinner...

Candice you are NEVER going to believe who I ran into... MARTA...

[Our old housekeeper for 10 years but she hasn't worked for us in years... When the kids grew up I didn't need her as much and she slowly drifted off to another home.....  Anyway she gave me a BIG HUG and asked about all the kids... I got her number... ]

So what do you think the chances are Dad will let me hire her again? 

Hhhhmmmm I gotta go and work on my strategy...  

 if all else fails I will dust off those thigh high red boots in my closet... 

all's fair in love, war, and getting a housekeeper back right?

Right...

Tuesday...

Today I have to pick up Kieffer from work and take him to get his stitches out... Its been 13 days since the surgery...

It looks really good...

Maybe Kieffer and I will go see Candice and JD afterwards...

I hope the Dr. doesn't take forever... He is so good about answering all your questions but when you have patients in front of you... IT TAKES FOREVER! I hate that... 

Kieffer and I get so bored we start acting like little kids in the room... taking stupid cell phone pictures of each other... my phone has this really loud photo taking sound 'CHICK CHICK' and it makes Kieffer laugh...

Right now if he was home... I could say Kieffer what does this remind you of 'CHICK CHICK'  and he would start laughing and say Dr. McClenin's

It is SO quiet in the Dr.'s office and my phone going "CHICK CHICK" in the exam room was SO loud... 

Kieffer would go "Shhhh" and I would wait a few minutes and then I would do it again "CHICK CHICK" and we would get the giggles all over again...

I'll let you know if we get into any mischief today ;)

 

Dinner table conversation...

Sam, Kameron, Kieffer, Joe [Kieffer's friend] and I are sitting at the dinner table last night and we start talking about Candice's engagement...

Kameron says "Did he give her a ring?" 

[Yes, but we haven't seen it yet]

Kieffer says seriously "Yes, its 4 carrots!" 

[seeing if Kameron will believe him]

Sam pipes up "Well, I hope he chopped the green tops off first"

 

Its official...

Candice and Mike are engaged...  for a 2009 wedding!  He gave her a ring...

 

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Ok I just took these...

 

 Kieffer and his friend Joe working on his 66 Mustang... the engine is running... Wow... I'm impressed...

He bought the car for $500 a year ago

Hey Kieffer where's the flood?

 Kieffer's other beast... 1991 Suburban... He bought it off Kameron this year...

 
Post it notes all over the headliner

 When he was changing into the overalls I got this shot of his boo boo... looks good huh!  Stitches out on Tuesday...

 Gi Gi by the pool

 Rider is chaffed from boinking Gi Gi I told you!!!

  Rider in the backyard

and ofcourse the snow!!!

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence!

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Sunday...

 

It rained last night... Woo Hoo...

 

We woke up to it this morning...

 

Heavy drizzle...

 

NICE...

 

Love it...

 

get the lawn chairs out, open the garage!  Its a party... he he

 

This morning Sam and I drove up to Starbucks because I am out of my coffee cream

 

[I love a splash of coffee with my cream... LOL] 

 

When we got in the car... Sam says have you seen Kieffer's car... I thought he was talking about those girls writing stuff on his windows but he washed it all off...

 

I said "What do you mean?"

 

Sam says "go look inside his car..."

 

so I did...

 

There are about 300 stick up notes with all kinds of written stuff on them on his headliner...

Ill take a photo for you...

 

As we drove to Starbucks I noticed my mountains are covered in snow... Ill take a picture when the clouds are gone!  It snowed at the High Desert house ;)  I tried to talk Sam into driving up there with the dogs but he wasn't going for it...

 

So then I said "Let's go to the 'drop'" 

A place the teenagers hang out up this local mountain...  it has an incredible view of the entire valley...

He wasnt going for that either! 

Sam says "Ill take you up to the drop... and drop you off" 

My Mr. Funny Man... 

he did take me to a place by the drop to see all the mountain snow all around the valley...  I was so bummed I didnt have my camera!  Darn it!

 

So you'all come back now hear and check out my pics in a little bit

 

K-OKY-DOKY

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Do you remember...

Hey Lisa Jo,

You were right she DID have a magnifying glass she looked through... and I think it was on Romper Room... My cousin was on Romper Room and I remember him walking around on those upside down cup things with strings you would hang on too... Kinda like stilts but upside down cup things instead...

Do you remember...

Mr. Green Jeans? 

or how about Captain Kangaroo? 

 Listening to Casey Kasem and America's Top 40 every Sunday...

Saturday Morning cartoons... the last cartoon here was Fat Albert... "Hey Hey Hey..." then you could watch American Band Stand and then Soul Train... but after that... there wasn't any good T.V. on...  maybe once in a while you might find a Shirley Temple movie or a Little Rascals episode or Three Stooges...

[Uh.... can you tell I was a bored lonely only]

Sometimes on Sundays my Dad and I would go to Newport to visit my Grandparents...  and they would always have 'Face the Nation' on and then later

Oh Wow I can't think of the show...

bubbles...

"anda one, anda two"

damn it let me go ask Sam...

Ahhhhhh "Lawrence Welk"

I went to the garage because Sam is fixing stuff in there... I heard him calling me a few minutes ago but I ignored it because I thought he was going to tell me to quit flogging and blogging and start picking up downstairs...

No... he was calling me because our song was on the radio... 

"Caught up in you" by 38 Special...  

Awwww....  extra points in the plus column for him...!

Anyway... the dogs are still doing "it" all the time... I just yell at them

 

"Just Get a Room..."

 

Sam says "Gi Gi's name is no longer Gi Gi...

its V"

 

I said "V? Not Large Marge because She's in Charge?" that was his last name for her...

 

Sam says "No... right now she is V...

 

for Vagina" 

 

I started laughing...

 

Anyway... I LOVE being home for the weekend...  but I guess my kids don't...

Kameron is snowboarding again, Kieffer went to breakfast with a bunch of girls, and Sam and I went to the shop to get some tools, that needed fixing...

 

OMG speaking of tools I gotta tell you a story...  When we first bought our office building... Sam decided to check out a place up the street called "The Tool Shed" 

 

When he came back looking shell shocked he said...

 

"Ya its a tool place alright...   its a gay bar!"

 

I laughed so hard...

 

Hobo Kelly Glasses

Kieffer comes home with these huge glasses from the 3-D IMAX movie theatre... 

Sam puts them on and says "Look I'm Hobo Kelly" and I chime in doing the best whimsical voice I can

 "I see Sam, and Kieffer and Kameron"  then both of us start laughing

Kieffer says "You guys are weird... Who is Hobo Kelly"

Anybody remember Hobo Kelly?

Phil should...

In case she was only a west coast thing... Hobo Kelly was a kid show here and at the end of her show, she would put these big glasses on and act like she could see into our homes.... Parents would write in and tell her to say stuff like "I see Lisa Jo in Ohio, and Ellen in New York, Oh Look I see Chrissie in Kentucky very nice decorations Chrissie, Oh I see Kyan"

You get the idea

My Thursday...

An interesting day...

 

At 12pm Kieffer says he is going to get gas in his beast [1991 Suburban]

because he is going to lunch with his friend Kevin and his Dad at the nearby country club... I said "Oh... dress nicely then"  "Oh I will... I'm not going for another hour tho..." and he leaves...

Next thing we know, Kevin's Dad pulls up and asks if Kevin is with Kieffer and Sam says "No, but I will call him and find out" [I guess Kevin has ditched the first 4 periods of high school today] 

Long story shorter... after Kieffer left to get gas, Kevin calls him and says come get me at the high school... its lunch time... so Kieffer does...

and they pull up and Kevin's Dad is here all pissed off!  Thinking Kieffer and Kevin have been together all morning... but I am here to tell you they were NOT!  So much for the C.C. lunch I guess!

Next thing I know Kieffer calls and says "Mom, Kevin's Mom is going to come by... she is going to ask you if you called in and pretended to be Kevin's Mom at the High School!"  I said "WHAT? I would NEVER do that! You know I didn't do that!"  Kieffer says "Ya I know Mom but I still thought I should give you a heads up"

I waited for an hour but she never came by... I was going to call her but then I thought nevermind I'm not getting involved in the drama...

 

So I left and I went over to Candice's to check on her doggie JD [or my grandson as she calls him] because she is NOT having any kids I totally support her decision as she really is a second Mom to her brothers... She LOVES kids and babies just doesn't want any of her own...

 

Anyway... keep sending prayers and love for JD as he is not out of the woods yet... He is still throwing up but he is drinking on his own... [not eating yet... but that is understandable as Parvo makes a dog shed the lining of their stomach and that hurts him...  She is watching him very carefully and giving him Pedialite and Pepto Bismal... That is all she can do... Parvo kills through dehydration... She has to keep him drinking water every hour]

Koda was very happy to see me [Candice's Chihuahua] he loves his Glamma Kendra! 

 

After I came home... I came upstairs to check my email... and I hear

"Hey Mom, what's going on..." it was Kris... [its been a month] I gave him a big hug and so did Sam... we want him to come around and see us... we just dont want to employ him and be angry all the time... He has another job and he seems happy with it...  He stayed for dinner... tri-tip, potatoes, and a Caesar salad and he drank a gallon of milk!

Ok... it seemed like a gallon of milk... 

It was nice... the kind of thing we want with him...

 

See it was an interesting day... 

 

Anyway...my dogs are going to get hit with water if they start getting frisky [read horny and chasing each other around our room] at 5am again... 

 

I said to Sam "What was up with the dogs this morning?"

 

Sam says seriously  "Hey Honey... come here and pet GiGi for a second"

 

I thought Uh oh "is something wrong with her"  I come and pet her worried

 

"No I was hoping it would rub off on you" and I laughed...

Road Trip to Redondo and Newport Beach...

 

 

 

Before I tell you about my trip... I want to tell Lisa Jo and my daughter Candice my heart is full of worry for poor JD and Buddy... Lisa Jo I truly hope a miracle happens tonight and you do not have to put Buddy to sleep in the morning... I had to do that with my Dalmatian Domino and although my head knew it was the right thing to do at the time...  my heart on the other hand was broken... So please know you both are in my thoughts and prayers...

 

_________________________________________________________

 

Big Sigh......  

 

 Ok... 

 

We got a pretty late start on Tuesday because Sam decided he wanted a cup of tea at 9pm on Monday night after watching a GREAT Monday night football game -

Wow it was exciting... Sam picked the Patriots to go to the Superbowl this year... and they are 12-0... playing for a perfect season... however even he was cheering for the Ravens on Monday... it was a crazy game... 

 

anyway so after drinking the cup of tea... Sam was up all night and couldn't sleep... I woke up at 4:30am and said "Isn't it hot in here?" 

"Yes, turn the heater down... I was going to but I was feeling like I was FINALLY falling asleep and didnt want to get up"

 

30 minutes later... it's hotter than hell in our room... and I sleepily hear grumbling about how I turned the heater all the way up instead of down!  I am use to the air conditioner and turning it off by pushing the lever to the right and 90 degrees...

 

uh... oops...

 

So Sam finally fell asleep at 5am... 

 

 [Sam, Kam, Kieffer and I] finally got out the door to Newport/ Redondo at 11am... 

 

At 1pm we arrived and paid the hauling guy

[he has been there 3 times hauling construction debris]

 

We thought Greg [our foreman]

 

remember the guy from my ghost story...

 

had done a final clean up... but you look at these pics and tell me if you think this was a final clean up?  Sam was not happy...

 

Anyway... I hear "Hey Mom, come here.... I gotta show you a painting of an obscene green guy"....  So I walk over to the garage where the last tenant left some paintings...

 

[Candice check this out... Craig painted this... maybe you were right!!!]

 

Kameron says "You should ebay these Mom!" 

I laughed "Ya right, what am I going to call him?" 

Kameron says seriously "Obscene, Green Guy... no wait... his name is 'Earth Man'... its on the back of the painting"

 

So what do you think... should I ebay them? 

 

They did leave w/o paying for the last months rent!!! Hhhhmmm

 

Later we check into a motel because we still had to go to Newport in the morning...  The waves were HUGE...

 

They came down from that Big Storm in the Pacific Northwest... I guess Oregon got 12" of rain in one day...

 

Then we rented some beach cruisers... and rode down the strand...

Kameron was doing wheelies, and Kieffer was swinging his back tire around and doing little burnouts!  [with 26 stitches in his arm and 4 in his leg... but you'd never know... they were acting like 5 year olds on new bikes]

 

We took the boys to where Sam use to surf everyday... and took these pics

 

 

The next morning, we went to a place called Good Stuff in Hermosa Beach...

 

We had breakfast and watched 3 teams of volleyball players in the sand...[shorts and bikini's mind you]

 

I left my camera in the room... darn it... the picture would have been called

"December in Southern California" it was amazing...

After checking out of the hotel... we drove to Starbucks... for some reason the guy couldn't get our order right... 

so Sam said "Sorry, we're not from around here" [like it was our fault]

"that is OK... no worries!" we started laughing...

 

 when we pulled up to the window Sam says "Hey.. isn't Disneyland around here somewhere off PCH?" 

[It is no where near Pacific Coast Highway] 

This really stumped the Starbucks guy!

So Sam says "Oh never mind we will look at the map"

they gave us our coffee and said

"Have fun at Disneyland"

I almost pee'd my pants laughing...  My husband can make me laugh at the stupidest stuff!

 

Then we headed to the carpet place and bought carpet for Prospect [in the bedrooms only] then on to Newport to see the paint job the new guys have done...  [it sucked... they are coming back next week... I swear if you are not on a jobsite 24/7 they will try to get away with crappy work! WTH? In this economy I would do excellent work and get more jobs... but what do I know... I just live here!] 

 

Kieffer has been fighting off a cold the whole time we are gone... So I notice him just sitting on the grass... I know he doesn't feel good... I have my camera and start taking photos of him...

"Work it... Work it... Your a Lion in the Jungle" 

I got this shot... what do you think...

 

"Kameron come here and take a picture with your brother..." that lasted about 4 minutes...

 

 

 

then Kameron started hitting Kieffer with a leaf and singing "Mama said there'd be days like this, [whap] there'd be days like this [whap] there'd be days like this... my Mama said" [whap] 

Kieffer and Kameron start rolling around in the grass [they are 16 and almost 20 but sometimes I swear they are 5 and 9 sometimes]

 

Anyway... that was my trip in a nutshell... minus the phone calls to Candice all day about her dog... he is onesick Pup... Parvo is not a good thing! So keep sending prayers...

Lisa Jo... I am so sorry to hear about your Buddy dying overnight! I believe he waited till you were at work knowing it would have broken your heart to watch him die... 

My heart broke when my beloved Domino died when Rider was a puppy... I miss him alot but now I have my GiGi  [sometimes I swear she is Domino reincarnated... she does alot of stuff he use to do... I know that sounds crazy but sometimes I wonder!]

You want to know something else that happened that sounds crazy...  he would lay at the foot of our bed and when he would finally lay down the bed would move...  For a week after Domino died... our bed still moved like he was there... I thought it was just me noticing it but Sam did too...  So if you notice anything like that... Maybe sometimes they stick around to make sure we are ok...

Time will heal your heart... and I believe Buddy will be in heaven waiting for you when it is your time to cross to the other side...