AAARRRRGGGHHH!!!!!

So close, but no cigar!

I have to admit that the Giants played better than we did tonight.

Too bad for the Packers, though!

 

Just found out from the Care Page that little 4 1/2 year old Julian Avery lost his valiant battle with cancer..

Josaju has the Care Page on her site.

 Little King JuJu is now in the arms of the Lord.

Keep the Avery family, and especially the 3 brothers left behind, in your prayers.  They are almost too young to understand completely.

EDIT: My niece's daughter was NOT getting Packer autographs, she was getting Giants autographs!  Naughty grandniece!  But she does have a reason.  She lived in NJ, not far from the Giants stadium when she was younger, so she naturally has a fondness for them, too.  Guess she is forgiven!  lol

--------------------------

GO

PACKERS!!!!!

Temperatures are supposed to be down around zero at game time Sunday evening.  Can we say "frostbite"?????  Wind chills will be much lower.

I will be VERY happy to sit home in my warm, cozy living room to watch the game.  While writing this, I just saw a niece's daughter on the local news.  She was interviewed by the station while getting Packer autographs today.

The Packers coach said that he kept all the practice footballs in the freezer this week, so the players could get used to handling cold balls (no nasty jokes, now!!!! lol).  This is not a joke--it is true.  Said that in the past he has put footballs in cold water for practice if he knows cold rain is expected.

Green Bay's airport is not humongous, and they are running out of tarmac to park all the private planes flying in for the game. Lots of executives and entertainment people in the area for the game.

 GO PACK!!!!! 

 

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE

This weeks subject is suggested by Slocyn

MY BEST FRIEND

 

Those of us who are happily married have a built-in best friend!

I am no exception.  Mine has been around for 48 yrs---including the year we dated.

Ken

My second-best friends---my daughters-in-law.  Only pic of the two together just happens to include our sons!  Jeff and Judy on the left are the ones who are now traveling the country in their motor home for up to a year, after selling their home here in WI.   Greg and Lori live here in town.

Before I met Ken, I had two best friends.  I still keep in contact with them, even though they both live out West.  After a few decades, I finally got together with both of them.

Char and I----then (1955--8th grade graduation) and now (2005)

 

Nat and I then (sleep-over at my house 1957) and now (2004)

Wish I could put up pictures of all my Xanga friends, too, but you would be here forever looking at them all!!

Just realized my Valentine theme is perfect for this challenge!!

HALLELUJAH!!!

The new faucet is in, and it worked perfectly the first time the water was turned on----no leaks!!

Sure was a lot easier than trying to fix the old one.  Ken spent almost all day working on the old one.

Now, I just have to go in there and clean everything up, and get everything  back the way it was!

We went to Lowes, and found one fairly easily.  We bought another Moen.  I would have liked one that has the high arched faucet, but Ken didn't care for those.  Since he washes most of the dishes, I gave in on that. 

All installed!

THANKS, HONEY!!!!

 

Nothing new from the travelers.

Since they are parked out in the desert, they have no access to internet.

But, for when they do get online and read here,

HAPPY 25TH ANNIVERSARY!!!!!

I tried calling them, but it went to voice mail.  Perhaps they were eating out somewhere.

Our 25th anniversary doesn't seem that awfully long ago. 

We booked a suite at the resort I worked for---got it for next to nothing, since it was in February, and also during the week.  They were not busy.

The kids surprised us there.  They had called up  Ken's family, and the ones in the area  met up at a bar near the resort, then all came to our suite for a party.

We were expecting one sister, so had some snacks out, but the kids brought all the food and a cake.  It was a really fun surprise party!

I have pictures, but they are not scanned into the computer.

--------------------------

Ken spent the day trying to fix our kitchen faucet, which is only 3 or 4 yrs. old.  Finally gave up, and went to the home center to get a new faucet.  He called me from there, and said there were too many to choose from.  So tomorrow morning we will go together and get one.  Tonight we washed dishes in the bathroom sink.  What fun. 

I have been reading all of you, but not commenting much.

I have been trying to get back to normal around here---whatever that is.

I am just getting year-end things done.

Still need to clear out last year's files and get set up for this year.

In the meantime, things to be filed away are in a pile on top of the filing cabinet.

Think that will be today's project.

Finally got Christmas put away over the weekend.  I don't know about you, but after everything is packed away in the attic, I ALWAYS find something that was forgotten.  No matter how careful I am, something is always overlooked.  This year it was a tiny "Peace" pillow that was hidden behind another pillow on the sofa.  And also a little ceramic elf "Santa" that was hidden behind something else up on a shelf.  Does this happen to you???

Just received a call from the travelers this morning---well, Jeff, actually.  He hasn't updated his blog, because they are not in a place with electricity.  They are outside of Yuma (California side) parked on BLM land (Bureau of Land Management---federal land--for those of you who don't know).  They can stay there free for 14 days.  They tried to get into an RV park, but Jeff said almost all of them are for age 55 and older.  The few others were all filled.  He also got a job at a Yuma sign company for two weeks.  I know a lot of you were wondering how they were financing this journey.  This was part of their plan---to work a bit along the way in order to supplement their savings.

He couldn't talk long.  I think he was on his way to work.  Will call him this evening to find out what has been going on since Bakersfield---or maybe I will call Judy later on today. 

Well, the sun is shining for the first time in a week, so I feel ambitious today.  Will hopefully be able to accomplish more than I usually do on cloudy days.  Hate having SAD!!

Have a good day everyone!!

WEEKLY PHOTO CHALLENGE

This weeks subject is suggested by Life_lived

Absence of color

Take a picture of something colorful and post it in black & white

I decided to do this a little differently.

I did a couple projects in Paint Shop Pro X

With the first one, I started out with my jeweled Christmas tree:

I then converted to kaleidoscope images, and then turned them into black and white.

Then I did the same with a picture of roses:

 

I was playing around with my new camera, which has several color changing options.

These are not technically all black and white, but love the effect.

All black and white, except for the red.

My grandson took this one---all black and white, except for one blue ornament.

Can you see why I don't get much done around my house??  I spend WAAAAY too much time playing with my computer and camera!

The kids have a new blog up.

They are in Bakersfield, CA.

Jeff explains the whole history leading up to their journey.

http://eagleswingsfamily.blogspot.com/

 

Today I am going to start taking down Christmas.  It is 10 a.m., and I am still in my PJ's.  Do you think I am procrastinating????  You bet!!

I am relaxing!

For the second day in a row!!

Ken's birthday was very nice.  We had 13 here, including us. 

We are still eating leftovers---even though we sent food home with everyone.

I had an eclectic menu---trying to have something for everyone.

Pea soup with ham, sloppy joes, hot chicken salad casserole, fruit salad, shrimp

Also snacking things like summer sausage, cheeses, veggie tray, crackers, chips, dip, and way too many desserts! 

I guess I don't know how to do anything in moderation----including eating!!  lol

Ken received several calls from siblings, and from "The travelers", too.

They were ready to leave San Jose New Year's Eve morning.  Jeff said SJ was "too cold"---ONLY in the 50's.  lol

They planned (tentatively) on heading to Bakersfield, and then on to the Salton Sea and the Yuma area.

Here are a couple pics from Ken's birthday:

He is trying to convince us he is only "17".  Yeah right.  Wait a minute---that would make me 12!  Yikes!

Pretty birthday flowers from Greg and family.

These next pictures are from Christmas.  I had taken some video, but didn't want to embarrass any of the grands by putting them up here, so just took some still pictures from them.

This is a favorite pic of mine of Ken and Hannah:

 Grands Hannah and Jordan.  They came from across state for Christmas with us.

(Picture disappeared.  Cannot upload it again.  Still comes up blank.  Sorry) 

Local grands, Sylvia, Louise and Linden, opening their goody bags.  Son, Greg, in background.

Grand, Avery, trying to keep his "goodies" away from his mother and sister.

Grand, Silas, posing with his goody bag.

DIL, Lori, and grand, Lydia

 

My next blog will be about Jordan and my camera.  Christmas evening he spent taking pics of our tree---changing it into all different colors.

Hope you all had a nice New Year's Eve with no hangovers.

I conked out at 10:30!