Santa in the Making

Today I had to do a favor for the other Ward in our Building.
La Terrell wanted to help Grandpa get ready.
Here are a few shots of him helping or should I say his "Santa in Training" work.





Now the final product.



May this Season be all you hope.
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Black Friday Shopping

Today we went shopping. We got up just after 5am, showered and headed off to join others in the jungle.

Great News:
Jo-Ann's had only 3 people in line at 6:00am. So unlike the zoo last year this year was just calm, easy shopping. The other two were in line to get a cricut so we did not have to share the flannel or anything else.

Now relaxing watching "Horton hears a Who" with La Terrell.

Be Thankful (Author Unknown)

Be thankful that you don’t already
have everything you desire. If you
did, what would there be to look
forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know
something, for it gives you the
opportunity to learn.
Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities
for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your
strength and character.
Be thankful for your mistakes. They
will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and
weary, because it means you’ve
made a difference.
It’s easy to be thankful for the good
things. A life of rich fulfillment
comes to those who are also thankful
for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into
a positive. Find a way to be thankful
for your troubles and they can
become your blessings.

Thanksgiving Poem

May your stuffing be tasty,

May your turkey be plump,

May your potatoes and gravy

Have nary a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

May your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

Trunk or Treat

LaTerrell in Costume

Last night we had our Ward Annual Trunk or Treat. LaTerrell was a skeleton. He has waited for this night for 4 weeks since he bought the costume. We had the pleasure of dining on Chili and Hot Dogs. Then the Bishop lead the costume parade then off to the parking lot for candy.

Here are a couple shot and a short clip of LaTerrell participating in the costume parade.

Home at Last

Today Terrellee was released from the Hospital.
I got a text message from her at 5:23am. She was asking for her hair blower and a certain hair brush. (Can you say "I want to get out and need to be ready for my close-up?) So up I got and into the shower I went. When I got to the hospital Terrellee was asleep. I guess the excitement wore off.
We had to sit around until Noon. Her Doctor had another Doctor covering her rounds and He had to do two C-Sections during the night and wanted a little sleep before during rounds.
After leaving the hospital, she wanted to go right to Los Gringos Locos. After lunch we headed home for some relaxation.

Day Two at VHH

Well

Day One was eventful. Got to Verdugo Hills Hospital at 6:00am. They wheeled Terrellee away about 7:00am.
Then I had to wait in the waiting room. Two hours later the Doctor came and said all went well. She was trooper. (Talking to Terrellee, she said they started with an epideral. During the course of the surgery she started to feel some pain. At that point they put here out.)
Terrellee has always had a little trouble coming out after being asleep. She was finally brought to her room around 10:30am. Since the she has slept and just enjoyed having nausea.
Last ight she cured the problem and has felt good since then.

Day Two has begun. Her Doctor came by and said everything looks good. She is to get up and walk today, as well as eat real (hospital) food.

Will keep you posted.

Ready To Party

We are getting ready to head North for the weekend. Ellie is turning 80 and the family is getting together to celebrate. Will let you know how it goes.

Early Morning Wake up Calls

Last Night was wonderful.

The County of Los Angeles Sherriff's Office using reverse 911 called us at 2:07am. It was to let us know we where in the Mandatory Evacuation Area and needed to leave. Funny thing is the Evacuation Site is the High School. It is located two blocks below us and 5 blocks to the West. I thought this highly unlikely, so I got up walked outside and saw a clear sky and could even see the mountains. Thinking this was a false call; I turned on the radio and listened for an hour and a half to finally have them say the call was a mistake. They called all of La Crescenta. Just as we got back to sleep we were again called, 4:09am. This time they said the evacuation was canceled.
So in summary; two calls one at 2am, another at 4am and an absolutely enjoyable sleep ruined.

The Hills are a Blaze

The hills to the north of us are on fire. They have been for days. We are safe and can't tell you how much we love the smell of smoke and our ability to see what we are breathing.

Latest Doctor Visit

Isn't this a work of art?



Went to the Doctor on Friday with a sore toe. Again!!
This is just after I got an injection to numb the toe.
They decided to remove the entire nail.




The nail after being removed.



24 hours after the nail was removed and just after the first soaking.

Hopefully this will fix the "Toe from Hell."

Off to the Doctor

Well, off to the Doctor I go. My toes are acting up, sore and red. Dr. Hodges insists I go. I am sure they will find nothing as they have in the past.

Well it wasn't as bad as I thought. The right toe was cleanup very quickly. The left toe on the other hand took 3 shots to allow the Dr. to work on it and cut some off the nail to see if it was ingrown. It was not. He wrapped it up and sent me home to rest and relax. (Something Terrellee says I do well.)

Ten Commandments of Reunion Etiquette

1. Thou shalt not forget ordinary manners nor common civility, just because thou art amongst brothers and sisters.

2. Thou shalt tolerate the tiresome relative (at least for a little while).

3. Thou shalt not play footsie with a distant cousin or thy cousin's spouse.

4. Sniping and carping about a reunion's lack of organization is an abomination.

5. Thou shalt orchestrate spontaneous praise unto the reunion organizer.

6. Thou shalt agree to disagree, and steer clear of such topics as the Vietnam War, abortion rights, gay marriage, gun control, Waco.

7. Thou shalt not use intimate details of your kids' lives as conversation fodder. (Boasts of accomplishments are acceptable, but be discreet.)

8. Thou shalt not reveal devastating family secrets unless thou hast arranged therapeutic support systems.

9. Thou shalt not publicly criticize the bad manners or poor behavior of any child not thine own.

10. Thou shalt flatter thy kinfolk. All nieces tap dance divinely, all babies are beautiful and all aunts look as wonderful as ever.

Source: "Family Reunion," by Jennifer Crichton (Workman Publishing, $13.95)

Wood Shop

Terrellee decided to do a craft project today. It involved lumber and power tools. She bought 2x6's yesterday and today we went to Rupp's to cut the wood. She traced the letters on the 2x6's and then got instructions on how to use a band saw. Away she went. She cut all the letters except one when the band saw started acting up. Rupp came to her rescue. He and I were able to get it back up and running and he finished the last letter.
She also learned how to use a table router. Though she did not use it she knows how. She spent time using an orbital sander and belt sander smoothing all surfaces.
Now she get's to stain and paint the letters which spell Summer.

Mother's Day

Terrellee has heard from the three kids and has had a great day. Topped off with Los Gringo's Locos and green corn tamales.