Thank God For Modern Medicine

Hello! After a week of feeling really bad, Sharon can finally tell you that it is much better. She has had four breathing treatments daily, plus cortisone, plus antibiotics, plus lots of TLC from Nursie-Pooh Ellen. This morning, she actually got up and rode her usual ten miles on the bicycle. Coughing fits have been sporadic, and that's good. We couldn't make it out to celebrate my birthday (boo-hoo), but I still had a good day, thanks to phone calls from my daughter, and other family members. We couldn't go to the symphony concert, and that always makes me sad to miss one. We are long standing season ticket holders, and it hurts to miss even one.

Turning 64 didn't seem like such a big deal. I missed the usual singing of "Happy Birthday" from my mom this year. This is the year of firsts since her death in September. I really miss her sometimes.

This week finds Ellen and Sharon beginning preparations for their trip to visit Sharon's daughter and son-in-law in Las Vegas, NV. Spring Break is just around the corner.

One belated birthday present I bought for myself is a new laptop computer. It is a Toshiba, and we will be able to take it with us on trips, and put pictures on it, and hopefully use it to talk to Nichole and Michael while we are gone. I just have to get it all figured out before then.
We hope you have a fabulous week with great weather wherever you are!

My Horrible, Terrible, No-Good, Very Bad Night

Sharon is writing this. Ellen is not sick.

Since I don't feel the very best right now, this will be short. The doctor told me that I had bronchitis. This is not very nice. If a doctor ever tells you that you or one of your children has bronchitis, the patient doesn't feel very good at all. My breathing treatment medicine gave me the "Heebie-Jeebies" last night. I couldn't sleep. My heart was pounding, so I got up and did what every self-respecting housewife would do. I cleaned the garage! And I did it with "GUSTO." With my nose dripping, and by lungs forcing me to cough, I kept plugging away. Finally I was able to go to sleep around 2:30 in the morning. Being sick is no fun. (And it is especially bad if it is going to interfere with my birthday on Saturday.) I had better be feeling BETTER after four different medications and an injection that hurt really bad. If all of this sounds bad, you can probably tell I don't like getting sick. (I know--nobody does!) There will be NO pictures posted of this patient. Thanks for listening, and hope you are well!

And A Good Time Was Had By All

Decorations on the wall are above.
The grand entrance of the three honored young people was quite a thing to see.

This picture is Cousin Joey, Cousin Denise, and Ellen.
This picture is how one part of the gym was decorated before everybody got there.
This picture is of the face painting station for the little guests.

Oh, my, we had one huge party to attend over the weekend! Those relatives of the Negrete clan really know how to throw a party. The Stein's daughters celebrated their Bat Mitzvah along with a cousin of theirs who celebrated his Bar Mitzvah. It was a wonderful weekend! Friends and relatives came from everywhere. The service at the Temple was very nice--the kind of a service to make you very proud of these young people. The music was great, food was delicious, and we saw old friends and former students! The party was actually held at Power House Gym. They had so many things for the young people--face painting, games, disco dancing, all sorts of things for the young crowd. The older people had beautifully decorated tables, video, food stations, and anything you could think of to drink. It just boggles my mind when I remember what fun we and they had. Those two young ladies will have beautiful memories.

February Is The Best!

February is just the best month of the year. (I know, I know, that is my OPINION.) Let me tell you why. First of all, there is Groundhog Day. Next comes my friend Judye's birthday, then Abraham Lincoln's birthday, then Michael's birthday, then Valentine's Day, then Brad's (He's married to my niece.) birthday, then George Washington's birthday, then Sharon's birthday, then my friend Sandy's birthday! (Hee, hee!) Now you know why it is the best month. Just thought I would share that with you on the day before Michael's birthday.

Happy Birthday to us all!

Weekends Are Wonderful

We have yet to meet a weekend we don't like! Thursday, Sharon went to help in Ellen's office at school. When she does that, then she will stay for lunch. While eating, Ellen received a phone call from Joe. He had a few invitations to give out for half priced meals at Carino's Italian Grill. It was good on Friday at 12:15. After a very brief (and I do mean BRIEF) discussion we decided we could order at noon and then keep it for dinner that evening. (On Friday evenings Sharon, her husband Paul and Ellen usually order take out from somewhere. ) Oh my, was the food excellent! To get it for half price made it taste even better! The restaurant has been closed since October and this was their soft re-opening. We are glad to have another choice added to our list for Friday nights.

Saturday took us to Cielo Vista Mall. We haven't been over there since before Christmas. We found a few good bargains and managed to tire ourselves out! We could both feel a late afternoon nap in our future!

We have discovered that it doesn't matter what we do or where we go, just spending time together makes it a wonderful day.

Now, it is Sunday, and we are on our way to church like good little girls. We sing in the choir. Hope your weekend has been wonderful, too!

A New Beginning for the Trees and Ellen

Well, I hope that you are staying warm and that all are well and happy! Our weather has been very spring-like. In fact, the mums are already starting to break through the ground. It is supposed to be in the 70"s today, and the trees will begin to bud out too early.

Ellen has scheduled the surgery for her new knee at the end of the school year. She is very excited about getting her new Stryker full knee replacement. (Actually, Sharon thinks that Ellen is more excited about issuing orders to Sharon.) I don't know why since I ALWAYS do what she tells me to do!)

We want to tell Nichole that we really appreciate her help with this blog. She knows so much more than two old ladies. Thanks, also, to AnnMarie for answering my question about posting pictures. We all get by with a little help from our friends.

SUPER SUNDAY!

Finally, it's here! The queso is made. The guacamole is ready to taste, chips are in the cabinet, the chicken salad has been made! Now, we are all set! Oops, I forgot--the wine is chilling as we speak. Now we are all set for the game and those intriguing commercials. We are not too keen on the half-time show. (Prince has never been one of our favorites.) I guess that is a sign of our generation. Neither of us really cares about the outcome. As my daddy used to say, "Whoever wins is who I was rootin' for." Ellen and Sharon are always thinking about the mommas of those boys when they get hurt; and when the boys do something to make their mommas proud, we are proud, too. We hope you enjoy the game. We plan to do the same.

Cyberspace, Here I Come!

I finally made it to the world of blogging! Sharon has been after me all week to get something posted, so I PROMISED I would do it this weekend. Today has been absolutely gorgeous. We have had blue skies, no wind, no rain and temperatures in the upper 50's. It would have been a perfect day to work in my backyard....but no, not me! The tax man cometh and so I spent some time this afternoon gathering information for the account. Oh well, if there is a refund in the future, it will have been time well spent.

Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday. We are avid football fans, so tomorrow we intend to watch the game and cheer on the teams. Since neither the Cowboys nor the Rams are playing, we really don't care who wins. We'll just nibble, sip, and enjoy the game! Hope you all are able to do the same. Have a great weekend.

Happy Groundhog Day

Well, I don't think the groundhog saw his shadow here in the good old USA. If I recall from my teaching days, that is a good thing if you want an early spring. If you wanted six more weeks of winter, he needed to see his shadow so it would scare him. (I wonder whoever thought up that crazy story in the first place.)

Now about pictures, I now seem to have deleted the pictures that I had posted of the snow. I hope you got to see them because I am not putting them back. (Well, I might give it one more try.) Maybe one of these days, I'll get it all fixed. Have a wonderful weekend! Watch for a post from Ellen!

Happy February

Wow, can you believe that January is history? Time is really flying by. When Ellen and Sharon first began this blog, we knew it was going to be difficult and that we would make mistakes. I don't know how I inadvertently posted the same thing twice, but I did! However, I think I fixed it. It has caused me to have a new appreciation for Nichole, Amanda, Ann Marie, and Michelle. Thank you for showing me that "old people" can learn new things, too. My next big job is to convince Ellen that since this is a joint blog, she needs to get on and make a few remarks. She keeps saying, " I will." I know that it is difficult to take the time to write when you have a job, and your time is not exactly your own. I, on the other hand, am retired, and my time is mostly my own (except for doctor's appointments). This weekend, we promise, Ellen will write something, even if it is just a few sentences. She is an excellent writer. (Her daughter seems to have that same gift.) Now, if I can learn how to do a better job of posting pictures . . . . .