5 NEW ANGELS

Howdy Angel Watchers,

I've been a busy girl this weekend. Friday we had a neighborhood BBQ. It's so nice to get out and spend time with the neighbors. Saturday, spend time chatting with my son about his college schedule. Seems he's got a year and a half left at the community college (he took lots of remedial classes to bolster his skills due to his learning disability up until just last Fall), and then he's got at least three years at Sac State. He's doing a Mathematics/Statistics Major. Seems like he's got his ducks in a row.  Also went to see The Black Night. Heathe(sp?) Legder was so creepy good in this film. What a shame that his life was so short. The plot was suspensful, but lots of blood and blowing things up. I wouldn't take kids to see it. It really is too creepy.

Anyway, yesterday I bought new office furniture for my office. I'm so stoked. I wanted to create a new space for myself, so I'll sell my oak walnut stained roll top desk on Craig's List and take my office chair to school with me.

 Deb - Where do you live?  Do you have a local Volunteers of America office you could call to see if they've got volunteers willing to come out and build you a ramp? Another idea is to contact the local highschool woodshop or metal shop  teacher to see if they would have their students do a community service project for you. It would be good PR for their program and a great experience for the kids. Just a thought.

I was sorry to hear about your friend's husband. What a wonderful friend you've been to her to help her clean up the house and to give her much needed hugs.  Her husband should be eligable for home health care services, right?  Also, maybe her local Cancer Center can point her into the right direction for volunteers to come in and help out. That would alleviate a little bit of worry for her. That must be so hard to be the only one giving care to her loved one. She's lucky to have her as her friend.

Faith - How wonderful that you found a kindred spirit in Las Vegas and were able to share experiences, good music, and people watching.  I have no doubt that your written evaluations will be just as wonderful as the verbal kudos you recieved.  You are just one of those rare human beings that draw the best out of people.

 Puppy - Hey sweetie!  We love you, too. 

I second Faith in that Norm has gathered to him a rare group of angels indeed, and how blessed I feel for having met all of you.

I smile at things these days that I don't know I would have really paid attention to before. I smile at the sound of birds singing, at interesting looking bugs crawling across the sidewalk, new leaves sprouting on the baby tree outside of my window, people zipping in and out of traffic, uncomfortable situations I would have avoided before, and at the thought of all who I am blessed to know. Thanks for making me smile.

Walking on Sunshine,

SIS Kimberly 

WOWOWOWOW Norm. That's an absolutely "chattie" post from you!! Made my evening for sure.

I know that the weight of the truth is all around you every day and every night, but it's such a bolster to come and find some news of your trip. I love the idea of your personalizing your speedster with a racing stripe. Also gave me such a giggle to picture the wind up key on the roof.

There are times when your natural sense of humor just glimmers. I will hope that you can continue to tap into that -- whatever the immediate situation brings.

Thanks so much for taking the energy to communicate to those of you always eager to hear more.

Best to you each and every day.

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hugs to each and every AngelWatcher walking alongside Norm as he continues to move forward

Hi Norm. I've missed you.  I was so glad to see your post.  I'm glad your trip to Ontario was good. What did you do while there besides buy a new car, which by the way sounds so cute. I love the face of the VW bug...they have one you know, and picturing your blue bug with grey racing stripes zipping down the road makes me smile. I too love the idea of the wind up key on the roof.

 It's true, Fall will be here before we know it, and then it will be winter once more. I know all of these firsts can't be easy, Norm, but as Faith pointed out, your sense of humor is glimmering, and that's a great view into your healing process.  You are making Brenda and the kids so proud with your progress.  

Any ideas about what you want to do over the next few months? Are you still looking for a house?  

 I love that blessing, Puppy. Thank you.

So, I'm off to Tahoe tomorrow. Won't be home until late Friday.  Then next week, I leave Tuesday for Ashland for a week, so I'll be offline more than on over the next two weeks.

SIS Kimberly 

Dear Merciful Comforter, I ask that you send our dear friend Norm, all that he seeks. Send loving angels of mercy to wrap their light around his broken soul. Shore up his lonliness with people who can reach out and encourage as you would ordain. Give him meaningful projects that absorb his mind, so that healing may continue. Brighten his days with signs of your generosity and power.

Just as the stories of Job, from your written word...... Norm lost 'everything' last winter...... and now we friends across the miles work to help Norm realize that there's another chapter in his book waiting to be written. Give him glimmers of that path ahead: reasons to get out of bed in the morning and a sense of calm in the dark of night that urges planning for the future. Offer solace that only Heaven can afford. When the sorrow of his loss strikes, give Norm a measure of your heavenly comfort. Give him readings, or teachings, or quotations that help him to reconstruct a new life using his unique talents. Grant him the memories of all those years providing for a wife and children in need and give him insight into what a unique contribution that was. Help Norm to realize how proud we are for his efforts to remain here on this planet among us..... it would be much easier for him to leap into Heaven. I'm grateful that Norm has chosen the hard path.

There are so many thoughts jumbled in my head and heart..... please send the appropriate and necessary ones straight to Norm's soul. Comfort him as only You can. Remind Norm that "other people feel this" and that he is never alone.

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Please sustain all who gather round Norm. Hold them each in the palm of your hand. Offer strength and courage -- whatever the journey. Breathe hope into us all.

  O Lord I need you to help me find my way with all the challenges, And hurts of my friends and online family. Please bless them at this time and give them peace to remember, We are never alone. Lord, You told us it would never be easy, But it would be worth it. So Lord  I give it to you and I will listen for you to remind me, You are never alone. Thanks for caring us, In this I pray AMEN

PS I am losing some of my medical next month, Please pray it will work out, Thanks Debbie

Angelwatchers,

Feeling a little better. AC has been much, much harder for me than taxotere.  Then last week onc. said your counts are so good Im thinking of adding two additional treatments.  Guess what the blood work shows and how you feel have nothing to do with each other at times.

  I didn't call my mil for a few days, ( she knows that means I am sick,) so yesterday she called and said why don't I fly up Sun. for a few days. Talk about a blessing falling from the sky.  Major worry for me the last few days, we found out from our atty. on Thursday that the upcoming trail on Aug. 12 will last "at least a week".We had no idea. Thought probably one day.  We need to stay in Knoxville, considering the 90 mile drive each way.  What to do with dogs?  Then what about clothes.Our atty. said he wants us to be very well dressed.  We have the clothes from all of those years of attending large conventions and meetings, however most of them are in storage bags as we have needed them so little the last two years.  Suits need to be taken to cleaners, ties need to be checked,shirts laundered and everything organized for ten days worth, just in case.  I had planned to get by with my two dressier hats, and now that won't work because that won't be enough to match all of those outfits.  I am even wondering if I still have blouses for everything.  I kow this could sound trivial to some, but we are 90 miles away from shopping. and frankly I am out of gas. (not the car)  God bless Elizabeth, nothing makes her happier than shopping except for cooking.  She weighs 100 lbs. every outfit is perfectly accessoried and she is a gourmet cook.  No, you can't have her.  So today my life seems so much more under control.  See how He works.,    

 Managed to grocery shop today so she can cook  whatever she wants.

 Kimberly, Have a  wonderful time.  You are far  away  of  me with  your cirriculum  project.  But we are still plodding away.  Atty. called on Thurs. for a one last attempt to settle.  Their atty. had called him and said their very last offer was "why don't we all walk away now with nothing and call it even and not go to trial."  We had a deadline of Fri. at midnight to answer.  My husband told atty. that's what we have now, nothing.  Our atty was so confident of our case, he took in on contingecy.  I can only imagine what a week or ten day trial will cost them in legal fees. HeHe.   .

 Faith, in  the soap  opera dept.,  have you determined yet who is ahead?  Soooooooo glad sin is home.

Footie, Puppy I pray every day.  Hope you are continuing to gain strength.

Norm, is so good to see you back some.  You are sorely missed during those long absenses.Did you ever find anything out about Linda,  You do'nt  know how that has haunted me. 

This time tomorrow, I will be sitting in my recliner being served a delicious meal,  I would love it and Elizabeth would too.

Suz, what have you been up to?

Love

Joy 

thru airport security waiting for my plane........

joy soooooooooo glad to hear your Elizabeth is on her way to help..... so glad that your lawyer is on contingency. praise the saints...........

praying for all of our "Norm-family"

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Norm, does your yard sparkle now? From all of your efforts? I bet it does..........

let's join joy for lunch, wouldn't she be surprised?

 Hi Joyh, How are you feeling? Love Debbie

i do i do i do i do i do!!!!! let's see lots of pics!!!!!!

hugs to each and all...................................

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Wow!!! Suz -- what an extra-ordinary opportunity!! I'm so delighted that you were able to make full use of all the benefits of your 'water-supply-work.' How cool to get to be back stage and onstage etc. etc.

My favorite pic is the one of you with the Tele-tubbies....... it's making me laugh from the deep well of laughter.

Thanks for posting them. It's fun to get to 'meet' your family. The backdrop of scenery looks beautiful too! Canada..... have only graced the border a few times. Did an extensive canoe trip in the boundry waters north of our Minnesota. Gorgous memories.

Everybody have a great day. Thinking of you Joy as you come down the homestretch (which they may extend??) and to you Puppy as you continue to recover and to you Footie as you continue to battle for insurance and your ramp, and to you KimberSIS as you kick up your heels before school knocks at the door.....

But always first and foremost to you Norm, as you keep putting one foot in front of the other.

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Hey all,

Suz, that must have been so much fun.  So glad the opportunity came your way and looks like you made the best of it.  I wondered  where you had been.  I had just begun  to get my  energy back when I started chemo again.  Ca'n't wait to get through and hopefully start  to be able to do some things again

Faith, don't you every stop?  Is summer your busiest season?  I know it is for conventiions and conferences.  Guessing you really do'n't want to slow down as it seems the mometum of your business has taken on a life of its own.  That's when it is fun.  How is your niece?

Kimberly, hope you are having fun and makig the most of your last summer days.

Puppy, how are you?

Debbie, thanks for your thoughts and prayers.  Any progress on your ramp?  Hope you are feeling better.

I am due for chemo next Tues.  But.can't afford to feel bad for trail ( attorney now says I will be o the stand for two days).  I already had talked to onc. about one week delay but looks like two now.  I have to call Mon. and see what he says.  I don't want to jeopardize my treatment.  I did  ask about going one week early an d he said no way.

DH had business at the court house today and I went along.  Farmers set up all around the court house square. selling fresh vegs.  We bought squash,zucchini, egg plant, new potatoes and green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, cantalope and watermelon.  We'll be feasting the next few days.Week 3 for me so appetite is back.  We also bought green tomatoes.  In the south we just slice them, dip them in cornmeal and salt and fry until golden brown. Ummmmmmm!

Hope everyone has  a nice week end.  Daniel, our IT guy is coming tomorow for the day to finalize figures for trial.  Other than that a quiet week end.  Elizabeth, MIL, is still here and is making life so much more pleasant.  One delicious meal after another.

Norm, will you be working in the yard again.  No more accidents, please.  I do'n't think I knew you had another grand child on the way.  When is the due date"  Thinking of you every day and sending prayers your way also.  Are  you still house hunting?  Always so good to hear from you.

Love,

Joy 

 Norm this ones for you       please know we are thinking about you and are holding you in our thoughts and prayers. Personally my heart is with you 100%. Its all I have and its all I give. Much love sent your way, Suz

Sorry I've been AWOL. I got lots of stuff done in Tahoe, plus a little fun, and then was home for a few days and off to Ashland, Oregon, which was great! It was pretty smokey on the drive up especially from Chico on up, but it wasn't bad once we crossed the border into Oregon. We arrived after 5pm, checked in and cleaned up quickly so we could get some dinner before the play, View From the Bridge.

We stay at a gorgeous B&B every year called Country Willows Inn. It is one of those places that just feels like coming home.

We headed to our Spanish hangout, Zingarros, only to discover it is now Asian. Won't be going back. Very dissapointing. However, the play was fabulous, so it made up for the meal.

Wednesday, after a wonderful breakfast at the Inn, we stopped at the market to pick up some cheese, fruit, and crackers for a picnic, then headed out to Medford and Jacksonville just to check it out, and then the Applegate area wineries.  Discovered one really great one (Schmidt- fabulous grounds where we ate our picnic), one good one (Fiasco - neat tasting room although not finished), and one that was just OK (something sword...see, can't even remember the name).

We got back around 6pm, took an hour to just rest up and change, then headed to the Winchester  to see our favorite wine bar host, Andy. They have great food and wine tasting flights. The boys had the red flight and my gf and I split the Temperanillo flight. We weren't that impressed this time around, but the food was so good we didn't mind. Besides, we brought a bottle of Sea Smoke Pinot with us to share with Andy- who was very excited about that- so at least we had some really good wine before being disappointed. The boys liked their flights, so it must have just been the Temperanillo.

Thursday, we lounged around. After breakfast, my gf and I went to replenish the picnic supplies knowing that we'd be lunching at the Inn that day. We read and hung out at the pool, had out picnic, took a nap, then headed out to dinner at the local French restaurant we'd made reservations for the night we arrived in town. Really good food and found a Spanish wine that retails for less than $10. The restaurant paired it with the pork and told us we could find it at their wine shop. Score!  The play, Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner was a new play about a woman who is really heavy and trying to lose weight. The set was great. A huge refrigerator on one end, a bed in front of that, the kitchen table in front of that, then the couch and TV, and a moving set that was the treadmill, the sister's bedroom, the bar, and the movie theater. It was all symbolic really...all the characters were dealing with self worth issues in some way or another. All in all, the message was how we need to stop taking on everyone elses stuff,deal with our own stuff by thinking about it rather than using some numbing device...food, sex, placating to be liked, TV, etc... I think the play needs to be revisted by the writer and tweaked. The concept was really good, but many walked away-based on comments we heard leaving the theater-feeling unsure and unsatisfied. I thought there was a lot going on...many levels...but still, it needs some tweaking.

Friday, we had different plans after breakfast and a little Bacci Ball. My gf and her man went to see Corialanus, an obscure Shakespearean Historical Tragedy while my dh and I went wondering around Ashland. We had lunch by the creek, Thai, so good and a peaceful setting. I found a pair of walking shoes, two skirts and a hat. I need to find a few shirts still. School shopping has begun. After their play, 3 hours, we went to the wine shop to get the Spanish wine we'd had the previous night. My dh and I had already been there and bought all the bottles,but one. We arranged to have the owner play a trick on our friends. He told them he only had one bottle, but that he could see if he could get more. He called my dh's cell and talked to him right in front of our friends. Unfortunately, our friends were busy looking at the wine around them and not even getting the joke being played on them. Once they realized it was us who had all the wine (six bottles), they got it. Of course we shared it with them, so we each have several bottles we brought home.

We got back to the Inn in time to change and have a little snack on the deck before heading out to our 8:30 dinner at Sammy's Cowboy Cafe...you'ld never suspect it was fabulous food from the name,would you?

Anyway, it was a great trip, and I can't believe school starts in just a few weeks.

So, Norm, I'm sorry you banged up your head, but it seemed to be a precursor to your awakening of where you are right now in life...and may I echo Faith in being so pleased that you chose to tough it out down here on Earth with the rest of us mere mortals.  How we all struggle in such different ways in order to learn the lessons we are meant to learn. It can be frustrating that our 'teacher' doesn't always provide detailed instructions and explanations, but then the best teachers give only enough to allow the learning to be done through experience, which I find to be the most effective method of really getting the message, myself. Sometimes, we are forced to open up to a little collaboration and cooperative learning strategies- case in point, us being brought together as a group to assist one another. Hang in there, Norm, with the last of the firsts coming up, the ride may be a bit bumpy, but we know that you can get through those bumps.

Joy - Good luck with the upcoming trial, and whoohoo that your dear Elizabeth will be there to help you out. I know it seems like a lot to prepare for, but just one thing at a time, and it will all get done.

Deb - I was sorry to hear that you'll be losing part of your insurance coming up. Why? What are your options? Are you on  disability right now?

Suz - Wow, what a great concert you and your family got to attend. I've not heard of this mucisian. What kind of music does he play?

Puppy ((((HUGS)))) Thinking of you. Please let us know how you are when you have the energy to do so. 

Gotta go and get more laundry going.

SIS KImberly