Tuesday, February 27, 2007

Before and after....






OH MY GOD!!!!!!!
So! Remember when I said earlier that I had pictures of my scrap room but couldn't find them? Well the Gods must have been listening, because before I could take more pictures, my gracious brother gave me his office furniture.....
I was thrilled with the old/new desk that I got from my office. It was HUGE!! It took Scott and Rory a long time to get it in the room. Scott even said that when we move, the desk stayed. It was that much of a pain in his ass.
Then just a mere 2 weeks later, my brother sold his beautiful home and generously gave me his office furniture. You should have seen me going up to Scott and telling him that! HA!
I told him that I would take the old one apart and set up the new one, all he needed to do was deliver it. Simple Simon!
Early Sunday morning I got up and removed everything out, took out the old one and went with Scott to get the new one. When we got it home, I panicked. It was mostly put together but partly not. I knew Scott was not going to help me and my brother was far too busy with his own house, and you all know me.....I want it done yesterday. As luck would have it, Rory's son didn't have any plans and I paid him fifty bucks. The best damn fifty bucks I have ever spent. The boy is so smart and we got it up in about 3 hours.....
I love my new room so much that I go in there turn on the lights and just admire it.
I am so lucky to have a brother with expensive taste!!!
LOVE HIM!

Friday, February 23, 2007

Quote....

"The measure of a man is shown by how he provides his children."

Reggie Poitier as told to his
son Sidney

I can't stop thinking about this.....and how true it is.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

GO Lorraine It's your Birthday!!!

This is a shout out to one of my favorite people, Ms. Lorraine Martinez. She is pictured here in the front right wearing blue and black. Pictured with her is her sister Laura (front left) and her friends Lucci and Lucinda.

What I love about Lorraine is that she is a beautiful person both on the outside as well as the inside. She single hand idly raised her son Ruben (with some help from friends and family) into a fine young man. She is the first to roll up her sleeves when its needed and she is the best one to sit next to when having a cold one. She loves her music and loves her friends and family, and I am better for being one of them.

So, here's to you my friend! Let's celebrate soon!

Love ya!

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

There is something in the world with my name on it...


and its this ugly ass bobblehead doll.

Deal or No Deal!



Did you see it last night????? No? Then you are in for a treat!!!

Ok, the man's name was Hyoung Poung, and yes, he is from China. Anyway when he picked number 8 as his case to keep, I was hooked. Not sure if you know, but my favorite number is......8. I was born 8/8/1969 and will be throwing ONE HELL OF A PARTY next year on 8/8/08!!!

Anyway, the point.

He picked case number 8 and proceeded to chose more and more cases. As the show progressed, his story was revealed. His parents arrived from China with exactly $750 in their pocket and made a life for him and his siblings. They were the cutest couple. His Mom was exuberant and his Dad was alot like mine, quiet. As he continued to open cases, the deals came....yadda yadda yadda.

He gets to the last 4 cases on the board and the money left was...

$750

$75,000

$500,000

$750,000....

He has to pick one case.......

He chooses case number 24 and you guessed it, it contained $500,000. So now that is left on the board is...

$750

$75,000

&

$750,000

All derivatives of $750 The odds of that happening are AMAZING in of itself. But he is holding case number 8!!!! And case number 8 may hold the largest prize.

This whole time while he has been given offers, his Dad quietly sits and offers no verbal wisdom, perhaps its his quietness that he offers. Who knows, one thing is for sure, he is a humble man and one who has worked hard throughout his life to provide for his family.

The decision is now at hand. The offer is $241,000 for the DEAL or open one more case if he decides NO DEAL. He thinks about it and says, "even though this seems to be fate, I have to take the money" So he takes the Deal.

Howie then asks, if he didn't choose, which case would he open? He chooses it, and yes, it contained the $750,000. He made a great deal.

What was inside his case number 8? This is where it gets deep......

It held $750. The exact amount of money that his parents had when they came from China. It was surreal. At that moment, his parents were sobbing as Howie handed over the case to them. This was full circle.

It made me and Scott both cry!!!!

And there you have it, who needs Tivo, you have me! Ha!

Tune into tonight's American Idol. We will be celebrating at Case de Algire where we will be dining on tostadas YUMMY! and a not so pretty cake. I made the cake and it was fluffy as all hell and I ran out of frosting!!!??? Billy will laugh, but its going to be good!

Friday, February 16, 2007

Welllll.....

shit. I had a post showing my new desk in my scraproom and I can't find the picture....Since I like to post with pictures, you will have to wait. I know, you are all too excited to wait, but I promise......it will take your breath away.....or maybe not

So what else can I talk about? *thinks heavily*.....Well me and Miss TNT went out on a date last night for Valentines Day. We had a pretty good time. We ate at Chili's and this child must be going through a growth spurt because she GRUBBED!

Its amazing, I haven't seen her in 3 days and I must say her vocabulary has grown! I asked her to pick up some of her toys, she does better when there only a few out....or maybe its I that does better. Anyway, she gave me a look and said "Just a minute" I was laughing so hard I almost peed my pants.

Let's see what else....I feel like I am rambling....sure wish I had those desk pictures...

Ok, here are my plans for the weekend....

Tonight: Clean (I love to clean at night) Scott is working and this works out pretty good.

Tomorrow: Take our taxes to get done. Go see Grandma and Dar. Perhaps Mariah has a volleyball game....hang out.

Sunday: Nothing planned perhaps just see what the day brings.

And that folks, is the exciting life I live....

Have a great weekend!

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Final Farewell......






Well folks, I am back to work. It has been a long, long week and I am anxious to get back on my schedule. The last week has been full of tears, memories, and reconnecting with family. They say that a death can either bring a family together or tear them apart....this family is closer than they have ever been before, and we all owe it to Jasper. He will be forever missed and remembered always. I am convinced that within Scott is the spirit of Jasper. He possess all of the good things Jasper had and I am so grateful.....yes, I have myself a good man.



In other news, Miss TNT celebrated her 2nd birthday. When you ask her how old she is, she holds up her two index fingers and says "I'm 2 much"....Yes, she is. When Scott and I needed a pick me up, she was just the person do it for us. She made us smile when it was difficult and we are so lucky to have her in our lives.


So this week we will get back to normal. Go to work, (hopefully) pick up TNT each day and eat Popsicles.....Because life goes on....

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Grandpa Jasper....

passed away last night at approximately 5:45. He was surrounded by his wife, his sister, his children and grandchildren. His passing was very peaceful and he will be missed terribly. He is with the Lord now and his brothers and sisters.

We love you Jasper.

Monday, February 05, 2007

Another Update

Today is Monday. Let's just say it was a busy busy weekend. He had been on blood pressure medicine and that essentially was keeping him alive. At one time he was critical and not responding, then like a miracle, he responded. He would be awake long enough to greet everyone and if you told him you loved him, he said it back. That was yesterday.

Last night he had a bad bad night and at 7:30 this morning the decision was made to remove the blood pressure medicine and to make him comfortable. He is on pain medicine and now its just a waiting game. We are very lucky to have 2 RN's in the family and they say it can be hours or it could be days.....we just wait. As hard as it has been, we have said goodbye and told him it was okay to go. We will take care of Grandma and Darlene, his work here is done.

Thank you for all your prayers and thoughts. We can feel it....

Friday, February 02, 2007

Update and Places....

****ETA*****

Just as I posted this, Scott called. Grandpa's blood pressure went down and he is back in critical condition.

Please pray for him.


Last night we didn't get much news. By the time they admitted Grandpa into the ICU it was late. His vitals seemed to get better and they plan to do some tests this morning. They are concerned about 2 things, his heart and where the bleeding is coming from. If surgery is required to stop the bleed, they need to make sure his heart can handle it.

So we wait.

Before leaving the hospital, we were allowed 3 at a time to go in and say goodnight. At first they were going to have 2 of us go in at one time, until they realized......there is alot of us. Scott, Uncle Leroy and I went first. I was very proud of Scott but concerned for him as well. This man is a Father to Scott in so many ways that his own father could never be. And here he was hooked up to machines, frightened and vulnerable. One good thing is Grandpa was aware of his surroundings and able to communicate. Grandpa also suffers from MS so it is very difficult to understand him as his speech is not good. We were able to understand him when he said that he loves everyone and that he was scared. Some things can be understood with no words spoken. I kissed his hand and bid him a good night. I hope he rested because he will go through alot today.

I came to work today so that I don't use much vacation time. Might need it for later.
Scott and his family are on there way and will call me when they get any news.

That is the part of the update.

Now, places.

Grandpa Jasper is a veteran and is at the Veterans Hospital. For those who don't know, (what am I thinking....I only have 4 readers) Uncle Tim was treated at the Veteran's hospital for quite some time. The 5th floor is where he resided each time. I can count 5 rooms that he was in.

The first time Jasper went to the Veteran's was about 8 months after Tim passed. Out of respect for Scott I bravely made the trip with him, not knowing how I would react. Upon entering the building, I had a mild panic attack. While I was in the bathroom trying to get it together, Scott was finding out where Grandpa was. I kept muttering to myself...please not the 5th floor. please not the 5th floor. please not the 5th floor.....

Grandpa was on the 5th floor.

It took all the strength I had to get off the elevator, and let's just say I didn't do very well. Lucky for me Grandpa was released after 2 days and I didn't have to go there again.

Fast forward to last night.

Sitting in the Emergency Room waiting room. Also thinking of Tim, because one trip to the hospital started in the ER. The time that I told him to cover himself cuz I didn't want to see his business. He was out of it and snapped back saying, "But I have business to take care of!!" Days later when I told him about that, he laughed and said "I wonder what business I had." LOL!

So, while waiting in the ER waiting room, I was doing OK. Not bad at all. I went with Janna to get lunch for everyone and when we returned, most of the family had left. Jasper had been admitted to his room. I looked at Scott and asked what floor......He looked in my eyes as if to brace me and said.

The 5th floor.

My knees buckled and I thought 'GEEZ....does this hospital have any other rooms on any other floors???!!!!'

Going up to the 5th floor and surprisingly I was OK. Going into the ICU waiting room again, being there before with Tim and I was still ok. After a while it started to get stuffy and I asked Scott to go with me for a walk. He had no idea, but I wanted to see if I would still be ok by going to the 5 rooms where Tim was. I went through the hallways past the nurses station in 5A passed all 5 rooms stopping slightly in front of each one, and you know what?

I was ok.

I realize, this place is not my Uncle Tim. This place is merely walls that contained his body, but not his spirit. A place where alot of tears were shed, but also alot of laughter. Family time. Precious time. Time that I would never want to relive again but when walking through that place, I remember. I remember Tim. Everyday.

I am certain Scott didn't know what my thought process was while I was walking the halls.....maybe he did. I felt it was something I had to do, and I am so glad I did it. Would I be able to go to the nursing home? Probably not. Nor do I ever want to try that. I know that it too was a shell that held his body for a while, but that is something I am not ready to do.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Pray for this man.....

I just got off the phone with Scott and it seems that Grandpa Jasper suffered a stroke this morning. They are currently at the ER and Scott said he is doing ok. I will post news as I get it, but if you could please say a prayer for him, we would appreciate it.