Fast Forward me Backwards



I want to talk about TVs. I remember when we got our first TV when I was around five years old. While I have memories of life before then, I have no memories of what our evenings where like between dinner and bedtime. One memory I do have is before we got our first TV. We were living on my grandparents farm. They had converted the upstairs into a rental, and we lived there while my parents' home was being built. My brother, sister and I would walk to the neighboring farm and invite ourselves to watch Howdy Doody every late afternoonish. It was a very small screen in a big box, and the reception was blurry....but it was the best part of the day. We learned a lot of stuff too. How else would we know that you could actually send away for Snap, Crackle and Pop hand puppets?

Televisions had evolved quite a bit by the mid sixties. We got our first color TV the week JFK was shot. I remember my father being estatic that he could watch the continuous coverage in color. For me? Color TV made watching these folks on Peyton Place a whole lot steamier.

So fast forward to now. I have two TVs. One is in my living room and it's about six years old and is a 27" flat screen....not a flat panel. Still, it was on sale and it suits me just fine. Just a side note, I watch TV in the livingroom when I have company and when my reality shows are on...that's it.

This is that TV.....nothing fancy. Just a few things to fuss with on the front, but I use the remote from the cable company so I rarely use them.....
This is the TV in my bedroom. It is a flat panel....with the same type of buttons that I don't use for the same reason. Some friends from my church invited me over to watch some basketball yesterday. I really don't know much about basketball....and except for going to my grandkids' games, I don't get too excited. These friends have invited me over several times in the last year, and I always have a good excuse not to accept their invitation. Today I decided to go over.......

This is their TV....nice...52". When I arrived it was on....and loud. I was the first one there for the basketball bash. The husband and wife were busy in the kitchen and told me to make myself at home, and turn the volume down if I wanted. I looked around for the remote and it was nowhere...great, so, yeah, now I'm running my hand over the tv looking for some secret compartment.....how embarrassing, their daughter comes in and looks at me like I'm crazy! The controls are on the top edge. JUST GIVE ME THE REMOTE!

This whole episode reminded me of an incident years ago. Before I bought my flat panel TV for my bedroom, I had an older 19" TV from Sears. It was something like this one. Sort of....not really. I had it forever and marveled at the excellent picture it had. I wanted it to go out so I could justify getting rid of it. I finally gave it to a co-worker for her kids' Playstation. And...I finally got my little flat panel TV. When my grandson was three, he asked me if he could watch TV in my bedroom. Of course I said yes....he looked at it and his eyes got has big as saucers. Then he asked. "Grandma, what are those "(pointing to the knobs). I said, "thats how you change the channel, you turn those." He looked at me and said, " REALLY? Boy grandma, you have the coolest stuff...we have to use the remote!"

For The Love Of Dogs....all dogs, mostly


I'm a dog lover. I haven't always considered myself one, mainly because I never really took the time to devote much time to any of the dogs I've known until I was almost fortyish. Oh sure, we had a dog or two growing up. Mostly I remember the maintenance part of having a dog. Feed the dog. Let the dog out. Let the dog in. Pick up the dog poop....what? We played with the dog, and he ate my vegetables for me, but mostly not much bonding stuff going on.....not really.

If I had taken the time to smell the roses....you know, make an effort to find out if dogs were all they were cracked up to be. If only I had taken the time to gaze into a pair of eyes that made your heart melt......like these.

Ok, so thats not a real dog...but he's cute, and he has "love me" written all over his face.

Just so you don't think I'm nuts, I don't go gaga over all dogs. I'm not really crazy about the pure bred, cropped tailed, bandaged eared, nip and tuck kind of pedigree dog. I mean, to me a short little nub of a tail doesn't really wag! I don't watch professional dog shows, but I will watch the funniest dog videos, and all the silly shows where the dogs sing and play the harmonica. Those I love.

But then the world is tipped up on it's flat side when this guy wins the Westminster Dog Show. Yep, Uno, a friggin Beagle...for the first time. And it's about time!


The world went crazy! All the poodle lovers cried. I mean Uno is cute, adorable and smart but are beagles considered aristocrats? Are they? Everyone loves their floppy ears and wagging tails. The go nutso with their baying...or is it a howl? Anyway I thought they were cute and cuddly. So now Uno is a total celebrity .....he has been on every talk show except the View. He even went to Camp Snoopy at Knott's Berry Farm in SoCA to meet Snoopy. Snoopy is a beagle too.

I remember when Knott's Berry Farm was free...and cute boys hung out there.


.....And this guy got jealous because he has never been invited to Camp Snoopy. Instead, he pines over Lady. Sure, like she would really dump Tramp for Pluto!So at the age of 38, I get this guy.......he was a gift and just a baby. He was almost untrainable because I didn't know how....but we muddled through, and became best friends. His name was Charlie, and he lived to be almost eighteen. He loved me...and I loved him. He was gentle and wouldn't hurt a fly...but if he thought you were hurting me then too bad for you! He taught me how to understand and appreciate dogs.

Then I noticed other dogs that were wonderful. They weren't mine...but they were my friends just the same. This is Maggie and she is one hot Lab!

Even when I take my granddaughter to a friend's son's birthday party the dog becomes our main attraction. This granddaughter not only looks like me, she loves dogs and pedicures too.


In April of last year, I move to Texas. You didn't know that? I mean really, I may have mentioned it a time or ten! I can't wait to spend time with the Texas grandkids. They told me they had a new dog but blah, blah, blah.....so what!

Meet JJ......I saw that face and I swear I heard him say "are you my grandma?"
JJ was only about six months old. About three days after I arrived in Texas JJ jumped in the air and came down wrong. He limped, and whimpered and I got scared. We headed off to the vet. Since I wasn't his owner we had to turn the town up on it's end to get him taken care of. Some of his records were with the previous owner, and some where at a different vet's office.

I spent ten months living with JJ and his family. I held his hand when he got neutered.....well, not physically...but in spirit. We went for rides in the car almost daily. We shopped at PetSmart and Walmart. We napped together and checked the mail together.

The one thing I avoided was letting JJ sleep with me. Afterall, he had a mom, dad, sister and brother who loved him...and he loved them. He has his own bed and over a period of time he started sleeping with his sister on a regular basis. When the family left for work and school in the morning, JJ would scratch at my bedroom door, and I would let him in and we would cuddle until I got up.

I visit JJ about once a week. We roll around and bite each others tails...well, he thinks my hand is a tail sort of. We go for a ride in the car and then it's "hasta", until the next time.

Today, I went over to see JJ. This is how it usually goes.......

................and neither can I. Then we do this! JJ rides shotgun and loves "chasing all the bad guys away". We go shopping and he gets a new toy. I take him back home, and say "hasta" again.

I think about how much he reminds me of this old guy.

I get back to my apartment....really glad that I don't have the upkeep of a pet, but I still have JJ to visit and play with whenever I want.

I walk up to the mailbox and glance over at the swimming pool.......

Could this be one of my neighbor's cats?

This is a Public Service Announcement

Brought to you by..

Recently a woman's nipple piercings set off the metal detector at an airport in Lubbock Texas. The TSA Officer made the woman remove her nipple piercings. According to policy, they rightly insisted that the alarm raised, be resolved. In other words, the woman had to remove whatever was causing the alarm to go off. Well, this didn't set well with her, and she put up a fuss....I mean it wasn't like she could hijack a plane with her nipple piercing, could she?

Because of this highly publicized incident, and perhaps there have been many, the TSA has reviewed there procedures. They are revising them to allow passengers to either remove the source of the alarm or be subjected to a visual inspection otherwise known as show the screener her boobs...I mean the piercing.

The TSA thanked the woman for bringing this flaw in their screening process to their attention.

Ok, I confess, I don't have pierced nipples....there, I said it....but we are all inconvenienced when we go through the screening process at the airport. I for one will never complain about having to take off my shoes or anything else the screener has questions about. I fly several times a year, and from where I live, it takes two flights to get anywhere. I always fly out of a small regional airport that only goes to three places...and they are all in the state of Texas! That means all my trips have connecting flights. So I dress according to the level of inconvenience I'm willing to put up with. I usually wear flip flops, and if I have to have different shoes on my feet upon arrival, they are in my carry-on.

I had one issue here locally....not really a biggie. One of the TSA Officers announced that all lipstick, chapstick or lip gloss must be in ziplock baggies. The rules state all liquids (within the 3oz limit) must be in ziplock bags...but you can put more than one in a bag. This was the first time I was ever asked to bag my lipstick. I always carry a couple extra ziplock baggies in my carry-on just in case, and I handed out a couple to a few of the other women. I did as he asked and that was that. I will say the other officer, was rolling her eyes!

So now, back to the nipple piercing....you can all leave your nipple piercing in, just as long as you don't mind showing them off!

One thing that I feel bad about. The airport I fly out of is in a military town and the soldiers have to take off those boots they wear before boarding. What a pain that has to be.

* LATE BREAKING NEWS *

I was going to give a blow-by-blow of the last two days, but really? no one would believe me....so, after driving to Waco two days in a row, (116 roundtrip) ....there are only two things worth mentioning.

1. The IRS office is flooded with seniors and other people who don't have taxable income, applying for their "stimulus refund".

2. They owe me $12.

THE END

THE "MAN"

is not done with me.....

The Porch Saga


When I was getting ready to retire, I chose to leave California and move to Central Texas. My main reason was economical. My children reside in CA, CO, and Texas...with a granddaughter who spends the majority of the year in FL. Living in Texas was way cheaper and allowed me to travel more to visit and spread the love.

Back in California, every single town had complexes for seniors 55+. Really and truly. There are condos, apartments full service, gated communities....some have golf courses. But, there are plenty of options. Here in Central Texas there are few. There is only one within 40 miles of my daughter in an area with a population of over 150,000. There are several down the highway but the whole purpose of moving here was to be close to one of my children and their family. So I put my name on "the waiting list" and wait.

Fast forward ten months and I'm finally moving into my own little apartment.
My first day in my new place I told the gal in the office that the old tenant left some hanging plants, ceramic animals and wind chimes. She told me my neighbor put them there for "me" to enjoy. She loves decorating the exterior and the old neighbor pretty much let her. I asked for them to be removed.

This is my side once the stuff is removed.
This is my neighbors side....and this is probably more pleasing to a whole lot of folks. I don't make an issue about the hanging stuff on my part of the wall because I don't want to get off on the wrong foot now, do I? We aren't allowed to have BBQs on our porches.
So this is the front. We are the only ones with a friggin archway with dead stuff on it. I know...right about now you are sooo glad I don't live anywhere near you. I guess it wouldn't be as bad if the archway was painted to match the trim and those pots weren't tipping over and there weren't so many flamingos, frogs and squirrels. Have you figured out that I like things orderly and neat? I'm not totally mean because all the stuff you see out front, I let go because it's really not on my porch.
This oil derrick has "classy" written all over it, doesn't it?

And this? It's across the walkway next to the laundry room. The landscapers pointed it out to me. They know her gardens by her "signature" fencing. Evidently she has several throughout the complex. I just wanted to give you all an idea of how this woman likes to spread out. God love her, she really loves gardening!

So this is what I ended up with. I know, it really needs plants but there is no way I'm going there. It's bad enough she sweeps my side everyday. If I had plants she'd be tending to them. The fact that I like to go out of town, and I have three trips on my agenda, I don't want my neighbor stepping in.....to help.

Just a bit of trivia for all you folks who don't live in Texas. Everyone has a Lone Star somewhere on their property or vehicle..... Texans love Texas...I really admire that about them. Cortney, do you have one? Briana? Veronica?

So, there you have it. Of course my neighbor isn't too thrilled with me and I feel bad. Another gal moved across the way on the same day I did. They have become good friends and for that I'm happy.

Gotta Get 'er Done...

I recently moved for the second time in ten months. My first move was my huge retirement, flee the state, then veg move. I arrived in Texas the day before Easter, 2007. Settled in at my daughter's home with the intent of checking out the area for a place of my own. So fast forward ten months to February 2008 and I finally GET OUT and into my own place. My daughter and her family were sad to hear that I was moving out. My son-in-law's head hurt so bad that he was doing cartwheels to ease the pain.

Now that I've been in Texas for two Easters, I find myself with "stuff" that has to get done. This isn't exactly stuff like laundry, making the bed, doing the dishes kind of stuff. For the most part, this is the kind of stuff I didn't want to do in retirement. Paperwork stuff. Red tape stuff......IRS stuff. The stark reality is, you can never simplify your life.....never.

Today is the day I make some appointments and resolve some issues. Tomorrow is the day I travel 60 miles to the IRS as a walk-in...to resolve issues with my 2005 taxes....so I can do my 2006 taxes...then my 2007 taxes. Huh?? Why aren't I in leavenworth breaking rocks in the hot son? Ummm it's a long story over a couple of bucks...REALLY A COUPLE OF BUCKS!! This issue was the first thing I attemped to resolve my first week in Texas....in April 2007. Details to follow when I have the next and final chapter to this saga upon my return from the IRS.

A few of the other issues have to do with medical insurance (oh fun), second attempt at getting my address changed with various agencies/companies. Then I will pay a bill or two.

The icing on the cake is shopping for a little bit of patio furniture. I have a dinky front porch and if I don't put something out there my neighbor, whose porch connects to mine...will decide to fill in the emptiness...AGAIN! I won't be getting anything fancy...probably cheap plastic stuff because it's not as if I will ever sit out on my porch...I just want to mark my territory once and for all. I will post pictures of the before and after because this is such a big project..all 10x10 feet. I will also post my neighbors side and the surrounding common areas that she has homesteaded with a birdbath, animals and an oil derrick...of all things.

So, I'm off for now...the sun is shining and the birds are singing....I love to shop.

Easter Brunch 2008

I love going to brunch....especially on holidays like Easter. It's especially great when it's a buffet.....especially when you go with family......

The cherry on the cake is when your grandson who is getting oh so tall and handsome....is really having a grand old time with you...and you decide that the two of you would probably like to go to a movie...maybe even let the rest of the family tag along...maybe.

Then this happens!



Who would have thought I'd have to share this handsome young man with the Easter Bunny!

I hope your Easter was as good as mine.

The Heartbreak of Having a Child With MCS.....


Not every family has a child afflicted with MCS, or more commonly known as Middle Child Syndrome.

I, like so many parents try not to recognize the fact that yes, my middle child really does get booted to the curb on occasion. Of course, it's not something I purposely set out to do. When it's brought to my attention I do what most moms do....I go overboard trying to make it up to the child with MCS.

That's exactly what happened to me today. I had some shopping to do because tomorrow is Easter Sunday, and I needed some new white sandals. Actually, I wanted some white flip flops, but that sounds a bit tacky for Easter...but yes, I ended up with some nice flip flops...because nothing says "high fashion" like flip flops at Easter Mass.

Anyway, I get home and before I get out of the car my cell phone rings...it's my middle daughter. We have a change of plans for Easter....NO COOKING ALLOWED...we are going out for brunch!! Thank goodness!

Now, just so you know, my middle daughter is nothing but good to me. She let me stay with her when I arrived in Texas for almost a YEAR! Believe me, that's a whole lot of love going on! She added SHO2 to her Direct TV so I could watch Big Brother After Dark. She gave me spa certificates, she took me to Bingo....you name it...the sky was the limit.

So, I asked her is she liked the little Peep People on my blog. She did, but she noticed that her older and younger sisters had a Peep Person and she (the child with MCS) didn't. What the .....?? So, I tried to explain that I only made Peep People of the folks who left a welcoming comment on my blog. Of course, she understood....ummmm sure, yeah, that's ok...uh huh.

So now, without further ado......meet my middle daughter, her handsome husband and their middle child JJ. I am nothing if I'm not fair.

Love, Mommy

I Want You To Meet My Peeps
because they are very special....

No, not these Peeps, even though they do a good job of satisfying my need for sugar....pure sugar.

Nor these.....
But these! These are the Peeps who helped me launch my blog! Yes, they sure did! They encouraged me and jumped right in there and commented without forethought or shame. So let me introduce you, as best I can.

This is Hallie with one of her weiner dogs. I don't know how many she has....but she sure does love them, and they love her! Thank you, Hallie, for the warm welcome into the world of blogging.
Meet Postcard Cindy. Here is one awesome woman who earned her nickname not from blogging but from DOING! That's right.....Cindy doesn't have a blog, but she donates time, money and postcards. She is there when she is needed. Cindy painted Christmas plates to raise thousands of dollars to help families of cancer kids. She never asks for anything in return. I thank you, Cindy! Ok, Veronica! Veronica loves me....and I love her. Who the heck are you, Veronica? I made your outfit fancy with spots on it and I put some cows out to pasture because I do know you live in Texas, and if you live in Tx then it's all about the cattle....sort of. So keep visiting me, and tell me more about you....girlfriend!My oldest daughter Kim , is a blogger from Southern CA. She is a Trojan, and don't ever forget it. Some Trojans like to show their colors by wearing USC Hawaiian shirts...because they aren't in Hawaii.... Kim has three little kidlets. One is a cancer survivor and Kim has become a strong advocate for pediatric cancer research. Her kids love baseball, swimming, dancing and anything Disney!
Meet Kelly , she is my baby. Kelly lives in Colorado where they have big mountains and very little oxygen. Her two boys are total jocks and love all sports....you name it! They call me Grandma DeLux...and we can all guess why! I know she doesn't hang out in blogville much but she had to take a peek. I heart Kelly and her family.
Briana is someone most of us know. We know her and admire her, yes! If you are wondering why she is the only one wearing spandex pants it's because she is nothing if she's not riding for a cure. Briana runs too. She raises tens of thousands for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and Team in Training. Marey and Kim do too....as well as others but Briana LIVES it. I like her so much I gave her a water bottle shaped like a rocket. Yep, nothing is too good for Briana.Thank you..for all you do. This is Marey . I have known Marey for over four years. Marey is a kindergarten teacher and a good one at that! We've never met in person but I have followed her oldest daughter's cancer journey and now she's cancer free and in college. Marey also makes hundreds of Christmas Santa plates to raise thousands of dollars for pediatric cancer families every year. Hopefully your family will never be on the receiving end of Marey's generosity...you can check them out and make a note to order some next year...EVERYONE should have one...I do! Meet Cortney . I know Cortney through other blogs. She is an AGGIE....and Aggies don't have long horns. I don't know what they have except good sports and sports fans. Actually Texas A&M is a mighty fine institution academically as well. Cortney likes vollyball too...that's why I gave her one. She's blurry because she just can't stand still....sort of. Thank you, Cortney for making me smile, and we really have to get together some day since we are both in CenTex...which is much more than a home builder....yes, way!

There you have it! I love my Peeps! I won't blog tomorrow on Good Friday, but I want you to all have a Happy Easter, and remember it really is all about HIM.

Love, Grandma J

Get Ready to Meet My Peeps!

Yes sir! I will be posting later about them....all of them, sort of, for REAL!!
Right now, I have to go get my Easter Bonnet and pedicure. Because, for Easter I'm nothing.... if I'm not fancy.

Dancing in a Trance
unless you're the one who stole my tummy....

The women made their debut last night on Dancing With The Stars. I only pick a few to critique because I have to watch other stuff at the same time. And that other stuff is what I REALLY like.

Kristie Yamaguchi was the top scorer amongst the women last night. Some of you may think Kristie Yamaguchi is my favorite. Well, let's just say...yes, I think she is. That could change, but for now, I like her. When she closed her eyes I knew she was going to her "happy place"...the ICE.

Before Priscilla Presley performed I wasn't too excited. I had seen pictures of her that were too perfect and it irritated me that she didn't have wrinkles. I mean, we are the same age, and it's not my fault that I wasn't in West Germany when Elvis was looking for a child bride. Some people just happen to be in the right place at the right time. So when the judges told Priscilla that she was "star quality" I had to agree. Then she closed her eyes and went to her happy place.

When Marlee danced I was amazed. This deaf woman was incredable. She said she listens to her heart. Her partner, Fabian was listening to her heart too! The judges thought she was fantastic! Then, Marlee closed her eyes. I know she has a happy place, or was she wondering what kind of mischief her four kids were getting into?

So then, why in heck didn't Marissa close her eyes and go to her very own happy place ? She was the most fun, but did she have to flaunt her "I have your body" in my face?

Oh and yeah, just to keep you informed, I live right there, smack dab in the middle of CenTex.

Let's Not Leave St. Paddy's Day in Haste.........


Just as I'm getting ready to go to bed, I come across a news flash that throws my whole week's schedule off. Because I take my obligation to blog seriously, I had really big plans to review the Dancing With The Stars ladies first thing in the morning. When I say "first thing", that's exactly what I mean because I have other appointments to get out of the way before my first nap.

So I'm faced with a dilema. Do I share my breaking news with you or do I say "screw it" and go to bed. Since disappointing you would make me sad, I decide to stay up and "share". Now I need a sandwich (or more ice cream). I make me a ham sandwich ...

Michael Rice is a 9th Grade Mentor at a high school in South Carolina. Michael works with a mentoring program preparing kids for college....and went to a whole lot of trouble to honor St. Patrick and make his students happy. NOT SO FAST Michael!!

Michael got called into the principal's office FIRST THING in the morning....Did he win a Best Hat and Sunglasses contest? No. School officials sent him home because he wasn't dressed professionally. No one else wore costumes....WHAT? Seems like there are plenty of party poopers in that school. But that's not all...



There was something else that made the principal steaming mad. Green hair!

All I can say is "You rock, Michael"

Illusions & Delusions: can you cha cha?

I don't usually watch Dancing With The Stars with any consistency or real interest. But, since I had nothing better to do, and it was the season premier, I decided to give it a shot. Besides, even though none of the men are "star" quality, I noticed Kristi Yamaguchi and Priscilla Presley were competing, and they were famous.


So this is the first guy that graces the dance floor.So, it's Penn and Kym doing a cha-cha. Actually it doesn't matter because Penn is going to do a disappearing act real soon. By the way, has anyone heard of this magician before now? I mean magicians are like Siegfried and Roy, Houdini or Mr. Rogers.



I don't really know this next guy.
Except he is from Chili (he pronounces it Chee.LAY), and his name is Cristian (he pronounces it Crees.tee.AWN). He is a hot Latino, and he KNOWS IT. I get that impression because he loves the camera, and, during rehearsals he does the "wet finger, touch the ass, sizzle" thing A LOT. He can dance, but the ego just might be his downfall...that's all I'm saying.



So, we come to this next Adam.I do remember Adam from the Jimmy Kimmel show. Not that I'm a regular viewer because I don't stay up that late...well, I do now because of Big Brother After Dark on SHO2...that's a whole different post. Anyway, Adam isn't much of a dancer, and the judges don't like his sense of humor. I would like to see him stick around a bit, just to amuse me.

So my last candidate is.

Yep, it's Mario. You don't know Mario?? GET.OUT!! He is a Grammy Award Winning R&B star. To me it looked more like HipHop with a little Rap. He is an excellent dancer, but he is a professional too. At least I consider him professional since he dances on his music videos. So, Mario, Baby! You won't ever get my vote. I will enjoy watching him dance, but he can't win.

Tonight is the women.....they were sitting on the sidelines last night and I think Kristi will be right up there with her experience skating. Priscilla Presley looks like she should be in a wax museum somewhere with her flawless smooth, not so natural complexion. I know, I'm nothing if I'm not catty.

**Oh, yeah, just so you can appreciate my dedication to this blogging stuff......there were flash flood and tornado watches in affect, can you see it on the TV? These are not the same as the old "Storm Watch '08" that California gets when 1/2 inch of rain falls. No sir, these are the real deal.