Welcome Wednesday

Good morning, folks!!  I feeling a tad bit better.  I slept all day yesterday and forgot all my pills.  I woke up at 7pm and thought it was the next day!  My hubby said no, it's night time.  I fell immediately back to sleep.  When I woke up this morning, my legs were hurting soooo badly and I know why-I didn't take my extended release morphine, nor any other pill.  So I played "catch-up" and took as much as I could.  I also rubbed some myoflex on my legs which really seemed to help.  I hope the pills I took take effect really soon.  I also told my hubby that if I sleep past 5pm, wake me so I can take my morphine pill.

I haven't thrown up since yesterday,which is a good thing.  I hate throwing up!  It gives you such a horrible taste in your month!!  OK, enough of that.  Today is "Wordless Wednesday" So the next post will be devoted to that.  On Thursday, I will write about our anniversary (with pics of our wedding and reception).

Hope you have a great Wednesday.  I'm so very sorry I couldn't do my anniversary post on the day of our anniversary.  Well, we will celebrate it on Thursday!  Maye Frankie will be feeling better, too.  Don't we make a great couple????!!!!!

Here's my photo for Wordless Wednesday:

Well, happy Wednesday!!

hugs,

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Sicker Than A Dog Tuesday!

Today is our 14th year wedding anniversary.  Unfortunately, I'm sicker than a dog.  Woke up vomiting, upset stomach and my legs are killing me because I slept all day yesterday and never took my Morphine extended release.  NOW I'm paying for it!!!  I'm going back to bed.  Maybe I can write more later.  I wanted to do a special anniversary post for my husband and maybe I still can later.

Hope you all are well!
Hugs,

"Meet Me Monday" Blog Hop

Good Monday, everyone!
Well, we had a little repeat of what happened yesterday morning with Frankie vomiting in the morning but I did NOT have any diarrhea!  Yay!  We figured that maybe the oatmeal he has for breakfast is what is doing it.  Tomorrow he has an appointment with his pain specialist, so we'll see what he has to say about the matter.  Maybe it's a combination of meds and foods....who knows!!

OK!  Today is "Meet Me Monday" where you answer five questions about yourself and it's also a blog hop, too.  It sounded fun, so I decided to try it out here on my blog.  What an interesting way to get to know each other.  The button to join along with the blog hop is right up top on the right hand side bar.  I do hope that many will partake in this "getting to know you" blog hop.  So here goes:

QUESTIONS:

1.  Do you eat Sushi?
2.  What kind of bath soap do you use?
3.  How often do you talk to your Mom?
4.  What TV shows do you watch on a regular basis?
5.  Did you start Christmas shopping yet?

ANSWERS:

1.  Heck no!  I know my grandpa always told me to always try something first, then say I don't like it, but in this case, just looking at Sushi is enough to make me run for the exit door!
2.  I LOVE my Suave Lavender and Vanilla body wash.  I read somewhere Lavender is very soothing and I believe it.  When I've had a tough day, it's always nice to have a wonderful shower with my soothing body wash!
3.  When my mom was alive, I spoke with her every day.  I told her all my hopes and dreams and when I was upset or crying about something, she always knew how to make me feel better.  Oh, how I miss her so!  She died just a day past her 60th birthday and it's been hard to live without her and not talk to her anymore.  So all you out there that still have your mom, CHERISH HER!  You just don't know how long you will have her around.
4.  I used to be a big TV watcher, but over the past 2 years now I've been more into reading and using the computer.  When I did watch TV, I loved "Supernatural" (I have a gigantic high school girl crush on Jensen Ackles!), "King of Queens" and "Hell's Kitchen."  It always amazed me how the cooks could work under such pressure of Gordon Ramsey!
5.  No, I usually wait until the stores are TOTALLY packed on Christmas Eve.  Since my husband and I don't have a lot of money coming in, we all have decided to not get fancy, expensive gifts for each other.  My brother & sister-in-law didn't listen, though and got Frankie and I a brand new computer last year.  Not that I'm complaining.....heck no!  I LOVE our computer!!  :0)  I just felt bad that I couldn't get them something as nice in return.  They are always doing nice things for us.....I can't thank them enough!!  Frankie's folks are like that, too.  God bless them all!!


Alright, I answered the questions honestly and I will add my blog to the linky.  I do hope you all with blogs will participate.  It's fun!!!


I was tickled pink with all the sweet comments I received over my poem and picture yesterday.  So much, in fact, that I will do it again today as a special treat.  We all could use a relaxing picture and poem to unwind after a "manic Monday."  So kick off your shoes, sit back and relax with a nice drink and I hope you enjoy my selected picture and poem for today.

The picture I have selected for today is from our trip to Imperial Beach, CA.  This was right outside our motel room.  It was so nice to hear the lapping of waves while we relaxed in our room.  Too bad we couldn't have left it open overnight.  But with all the weirdos out, that wasn't an option.

The poem I have selected was written my senior year of high school.  I was going out with this guy, whom shall remain somewhat nameless, and I thought he liked me the same as I liked him.  But I knew better when he wanted me to "put out" more than I wanted to. The only thing he saw me as was a sex toy.  It still hurts to this day, and most of my poems written are regarding him and the pain he caused me.  He was my biggest love in school.

You Were Never There      

I never wanted to write this
Nor had I wanted our story to end.
I wanted, needed for it
To go on and on.
When we began
I saw no end.
But as time went on
As it always does,
The pages of our book
Thinned as they were turned.
Now the end has come
And it has gone.
It is time
You were never there.
Even when I could see you,
Touch you,
Your mind was off from me.
You were never there,
Even though you were right beside me.
You could not see me
Even when tears ran down my face.
You went on your way,
Leading me on a dead end road
Breaking my heart so much
Ripping it apart and throwing it away.
I found it without you,
You were never there.
It was lying far from where you are
And you didn't offer to mend it.
I can put the pieces back once again,                    
But it will take time.
I will never forget you
As you are unforgettable.
I may still want you back,
But I can never trust you
To have my heart.
I may wish, long for you
But you will never come to
Wipe the falling tears from my eyes.
I may wish for you near me
But it will never come to be.
You were never there before.
I may somewhere deep down
Still love you,
But I will not call you,
I will not see you,
I will not bother you.
Your love for me had died
As if it has ever lived.
I can call,
But you will never hear me.
You will never come.
I can look beside me
And see you there
But it was a trick my eyes played.
That place is empty-
You were never there
When I needed you most.

To Alex N., 1989

Thank you for reading my poems and liking them.  That means a lot to me.  Hope you are having a great Monday!!!

Until next post,
God bless you all!

Trapped Inside My Skin

Hi, my dear friends!
Can you believe it is already Sunday?  This week has just gone by so quickly.  Thanksgiving is just around the corner and then Christmas.....are we ready for all that?  :0)

My hubby and I started out Sunday with him puking and me a massive case of diarrhea.  Boy, we are high excitement over here!  We know how to live it down!!  The only thing I can think of that set it off was yesterday we had Chinese buffet (I couldn't go due to my leg was just killing me so my hubby brought home mine.  Isn't he sweet?) from one of our very nice friends and it was just one of those meals that keeps on giving.  I should have known because last night I had the heartburn from Hell and had so many Tums I feel like I could take stock in their company!  The heartburn finally went away and I fell asleep and woke up with the diarrhea.  What a day already!!

I just feel "trapped" inside my skin lately.  It is VERY, VERY sensitive to any kind of touch.  And don't even think of touching my shins.  I will let out a primal scream if you do!  They are so sensitive it is painful.  They are one of my fibro trigger points and it never goes away.  I mean, it lessens in sensitivity sometimes, but it's always there.  Hope that makes sense.  I also have the same kind of trigger points on my chest.  When Jack jumps up on the bed to snuggle, he likes to walk across my chest and it's all I can do to not scream.  I hate to push him away, but sometimes when those are really flaring, I have no choice to reposition him farther down my body.  Does anyone else have that kind of "trapped inside" your skin sensation?  It's horrible!  I want out!  Now!

Okay, before I go completely nuts (shut up to those who say I'm already there!) I want to share one of my poems and a pretty picture with you.  Every now and then I like to spruce up the blog by doing that.  I am hardly a poet, so if you don't like it, let me know.  I can make corrections.  Writing has always been an "outlet" for me, especially in those rough years of high school and college.  I've written 200 poems and some rhyme and a lot don't.  I'm one of those that believe that you don't need to rhyme to have a good poem.  Words just flow from your heart and seldom rhyme.  Do you talk in rhyme?  I don't think so!!  So every one of my poems is a masterpiece of my heart.

OK, OK, before I get too sappy, I'll show you the picture first.  It's just something to look at and make you feel calm and relaxed.  Or at least it does me.  I just LOVE the ocean, so I've got zillions of pictures.  My mom would tease me and say, "I believe you have EVERY  wave captured by your camera!"  You know what?  I think she is right!!!  I would take my camera with every time we would go to San Diego for our rheumatologist appointment. We would stop by the ocean and I'd get my pictures.  After all, you CAN'T go to California and NOT see the ocean!  I think there is some law about that....ha!  LOL! The picture I have chosen for today was taken in San Diego on Pacific Beach.  It shows the lifeguard station with a large USA flag billowing in the breeze.

Isn't that pretty? I just adore Mission and Pacific Beaches.  They are so vastly different, what with Pacific Beach having the pier that is actually a motel.  "Sleep Over The Ocean" is written on the side of the pier.  I kept telling Mom and Grandma that we should check into that.  I always got the same answer......"I wish!"  Yeah, it is pretty expensive.  But a girl can dream, right?  :0)  Now for the poem.  Hope you like it!

Only Then Shall I Be Saved

Look down upon me, Lord
See me as you did when I was first born
See me as white as snow-
My gown not a wrinkle to be seen
Look down upon me with love, Lord
For only then shall I be saved.
Oh, I know my slate is not clean
I have sinned today.
But I love you, Lord
And you say you love me
You say you can forgive
And forget.
Look down upon me-
Only then shall I be saved.
I want to feel you again
And live in glory.
I miss you, Lord.
It is I who walked away,
It is I who gave in to hardships,
It is I who have sinned.
It is You who stand before me with open arms;
Arms that are ready to receive me.
Please don't look away,
Like I have done,
But look upon me with love and forgiveness;
Only then shall I be saved.

Hope you enjoyed the new "feature" to my blog.  Every Sunday I'll do this: have a pretty picture and poem for you to enjoy.  I've been getting lots of positive feedback about my pictures.  Thank you, friends, for being so supportive!!  You have a lovely Sunday and relax....for tomorrow is Monday!

God bless you all!
Until next post,

San Francisco Or Bust!

Howdy, everyone!

I hope this post finds everyone happy and healthy!  I know a lot of my fibro friends have been having a rough time of it, what with the weather changes, so hopefully the flare-ups will end soon.  For me, I've got a double whammy.  Not only am I in flare-up from the fibromyalgia, but I'm decreasing the amount of prednisone I take each day.  When I went to my rheumatologist last week, he suggested going down 2.5mg a week until I reach only 5mg of prednisone daily.  Then the bariatric surgeon would accept that and I can have my surgery.  Man, can I feel the difference from 20mg that I was taking for about 2 years now to what I'm on today....12.5mg.  I am very stiff and am having even more problems with walking around.  I hadn't realized how much it was working for me until having to wean down on it.  But it'll be worth it (I hope!) so I can have my surgery.  The problem with prednisone is it lowers your immune system and you are more prone to infection.  It would be sooo nice if someone could invent a medication and have NO side-effects?  Ha!  I have a feeling that by the time I can have the surgery, I'll have to crawl in there on all fours or go in by stretcher!!

On to more pleasant things....I need to see the ocean again, so how about a trip down "memory lane" to when I went to San Francisco with my mom and Grandma.  It was a blast!  Like all of our trips were!  Anyway, Mom wanted to see Michael W. Smith in concert at a county fair in northern California.  I forget the name of the city-I hate that, as it's right on the tip of my tongue!!  We had never been past LA, so it sounded like we would be seeing many new sights.  We traveled most of the coast (I believe we were on I-5) and the ocean was just absolutely brilliant with the deep blues and cotton white waves that crashed against the shore.  But before I go on about that, let me show you some pics of LA from the freeway.  The traffic was just atrocious, so we had a lot of stop n' go moments.  I wasn't complaining....I could get better pictures that way than speeding down the freeway and getting a blurry picture.  The first few photos are the skyline of LA.

I noticed that in LA, they loved to graffiti the overpasses on the freeway.  Whomever did that did a fantastic job of it!!

Aren't those great?  We really enjoyed seeing those.  At a few points, it was down to more stop than go on the road, so we could really see the detail of the artwork.  Here in good ole' AZ, Phoenix does a really good job of landscaping our highways with desert plants and adobe art on the overpasses.   OK, we left LA behind and ventured on a whole new experience for us.  We were heading towards San Francisco and the fair that MWS would be at tomorrow.  On the way, I had Mom stop so many times she was practically riding the shoulder of the highway!  Sorry, but I had pics to get of the ocean.  And NEW ones at that!  We had never traveled this route before!!

I couldn't resist this photo.  It's Mom sitting in the "captain's seat" of her favorite red van.  She loved to drive, so I never objected since I don't really care to drive.  There's so many crazies out there and it makes me nervous.  It never bothered Mom, though!  She fit in right along with them!!

Here is my lovely grandma standing by the beautiful coast of the Pacific Ocean.  She gave in to me and my camera and let me take as many pictures of her as I wanted.  LOL!

OK, we reach the fairgrounds (after getting lost, of course!) and find absolutely NO parking spaces - handicapped or not.  The first parking space we saw was way over a mile away.  There were also people there wanted to wash the van's windshield for $1.00.  They were carrying pails of dirty water, so Mom said "no thanks" politely and we left.  There wasn't even a parking lot trolley available and I didn't see Michael W. Smith's name anywhere on the fair's attraction board.  Sadly, Mom pulled back onto the road.  She really wanted to see Michael again.  I did, too, but what can you do?  I didn't think she could make a mile walk into the fair grounds (neither could I!) and I didn't feel comfortable with leaving the van so far way, out of sight.  So we went to San Francisco instead!  We were so close to it, we might as well finish it off.  Mom and I had never been to SF, but Grandma had several planes stop in SF on the way to Washington.  Grandma has lots of friends scattered all over the place.

We get to San Francisco and were looking very intently for the exit for the Golden Gate Bridge.  The traffic was even worse here than in LA!  It was practically bumper to bumper cars and trucks.  Again, another photo opportunity!  So I got to snapping away.....

 Mother knew how much I loved bridges and wanted to see the Golden Gate Bridge.  She tried very hard to get over into the right lane, but traffic was bad and she didn't know exactly where we were going, so we got tangled in the mess of freeways and didn't see any sign for the Golden Gate Bridge.  Before we knew it, we were in the lane to the Bay Bridge.  So we zoomed up on that and figured we could catch the Golden Gate on the way back.  It sounded good in theory, but when we got to Oakland, we turned around and found NOTHING to advertise the Golden Gate Bridge.  How can this be?  It's only a huge tourist attraction!!  I couldn't find it on the map, either.  I must have been looking in all the wrong places.  The next few shots were taken from the Bay Bridge.

 Well, we spent a total of three hours in San Francisco, most of it looking at road signs, the map and screaming at each other to either "turn left" or "turn right" and Mom saying, "they give you ONE sign and you are supposed to plan a vacation around it!!."  We finally got out of the traffic jam in Oakland and coming back on the bridge, over to my right, in a shroud of clouds, was the elusive Golden Gate Bridge.  I was so shocked to be seeing it, I couldn't take a picture.  I regret that now!!  How beautiful it was!!

The following morning we left the motel and started back home.  When we got to Indio, CA we ran into a freak hail storm and had to pull over a couple of times.  It finally subsided and we were on our way.  We didn't know we were dragging a tree limb under our front tires, but we kept hearing a scratching noise.  When Mom stopped the van, I jumped out and saw the problem!  Once I had the branch gone, it was good as new.  When we got to El Centro, CA we ran into the SAME hail storm, but no branch this time!  That silly storm followed us all the back from Indio.  It even went into Yuma for a little bit.  

Whew!  We were exhausted by the time we got back into Yuma and dropped Grandma off at home.  Too tired to even eat, I think!!  We had the guys bring in our luggage and just sat there like couch potatoes.  What a trip!!!  Of course, with Grandma around, ya never know what will happen!!!  She has this practice of picking up pennies she sees on the ground.  Well, every time she does that, something weird happens!  I kid you not!  So whenever we had a weird occurrence, like a flat tire in a tire that was perfectly fine a day ago, we always say, "did you pick up a penny?"  And she will nod her head yes.  And give us the crap eating smile she has perfected.  But we wouldn't dream of going anywhere without her.  She is a special person and one whom I love spending time with.  I cherish ALL our trips together.....whether they work out or not.  :0)

OK, that about does it for this post.  I hope I haven't bored anyone.  I hope all the photos turn out.  I've been having a time with Google Blogger recently.  It won't save some of my photos.  Don't ask me why, I have no idea!

Oh, before I forget, a huge THANKS to all who leave me comments.  I am very appreciative and grateful.  If you left your URL to your blog, I will visit it.  And to those I've awarded the "Stylish" award to, just add it to your blog like you would a picture.  So go to "Add a Gadget" and "Picture" and then upload your photo and add your caption (optional) and link to my blog:  http://missyschranz.blogspot.com.  Select "save" and it will go to your blog where you can put it to your side bar by moving it over there.

 That's it!!  I've given instructions for those that use Blogger.  I don't know how the other blogging software works.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

God Bless,

Until next post,

"Stylish Blogger Award"

Howdy, fine friends!

I awoke to a very sweet treat in my blog comments from my last post, "Wordless Wednesday."  Actually, more than one treats - I had 5 comments, which I never get that many comments, so that means people are "opening" up more and sharing more, which is GREAT!  Most of the comments said that my picture was so cute with the two cats in the "kitty condo."  Thank you for complimenting my "boys."  Unfortunately, Tora, the kitty on the top of the condo is no longer with us.  He died last September when his heart threw a clot into his hind quarters and he was paralyzed.  The vet said his heart was very weak and he was going to die soon.  We chose to euthanize him, the more humane way to leave this Earth than to suffer any longer than he had to.  He will be forever missed!! He was a very sweet kitty.  We love you, Tora!

The other kitty, the one inside the condo is Jack.  He is still with us.  Oh, boy, is he!  He is very high maintenance.  He requires ALL of your attention.  But he, too, is very sweet and loving.  You can read more about Jack on my "Schranz Ranch" page.

I HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE "STYLISH BLOGGER AWARD!!!"  Thank you so much, Shawn Becker, for awarding this to me!  It's an honor to receive it.  I work so very hard on my blog that it is almost like a full-time job.  I love to blog and I hope it shows!!  Below is the precious award and I also will put it on my right side bar, too.  That way it will show always and not be buried by new posts.  Click on it and it will take you to Shawn Becker's AWESOME blog.  Be sure to visit her and see the Thanksgiving theme she has going on her blog.  It is terrific!! Here is my award:

Isn't it cool?  Here are the rules for accepting the award:

 1. Thank and link back to the blog of the author that gave you the award.

2. Share 7 things about yourself.

3. Pay it forward and give this award to 15 blogs that you have newly discovered.

4. Notify the blog owners that you have chosen and let them know about the award.

Okay, here we go.  I already did the first one. Now on to the second rule.....share 7 things about myself:

1. I LOVE stuffed animals of any shape, size or form.  I've got two gigantic teddy bears that I love to cuddle, especially if I feel down or depressed.  They help to cheer me up!  I call them my "cheerleaders."

2. This one I'm sure everyone already knows.  I absolutely LOVE cats.  Especially Jack.  He is so cuddly and knows just the right moment to come and "snuggle" with me.  He's nosey, curious and loves boxes and anything he can get into.  I wouldn't have him any other way!

3. My all time favorite food is lasagna.  Of course!  I can't have pasta anymore (or in very limited portions) because of my diet.  It turns into sugar and isn't good for my diabetes.  So I'll give my serving to Garfield!!  LOL........

4. I LOVE to read Janet Evanovich books.  I just finished "Wicked Appetite"  and that was sooo good I couldn't put the book down for very long!!  I read on her website that it will be a series.  I also love her "Stephanie Plum" novels, too.  

5. I absolutely ADORE blogging and making blog friends.  I can spend hours of reading other people's blogs and getting very involved in their lives.  It gets my mind off of what's to come with the bariatric surgery and how my doctor STILL hasn't done her part and given us the letters of medical clearance for surgery and monitoring of my weight and diet.  I also need referrals to the psychologist and pulmonologist. 

6.  I LOVE music of all kinds....but NOT rap or hard rock.  I love Christian music and singers like Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Mark Schultz, Mark Harris and many more.  I love the '80's genre, too.  That was when music was REALLY at its best.  With all this rap and crap, you just can't understand what they are talking about.  And all the little dance moves they do - looks ridiculous in my humble opinion.  If you are a rapper, sorry.  That's how I feel.  You can always go and make your own blog and sing its praises! (no pun intended!)  :0)

7.  I LOVE spending quality time with my family.  Life is so very short that you never know how long you will have someone around.  Sounds morbid, I know.  But what this means is to love what you've got and cherish those around you.  I do this as much as possible.  When my mom died, that taught me BIG time to support my friends and family whenever I can.  They all deserve it!!

I will be doing rule numbers 3 & 4 a little each day or so.  I will post who I've chosen in a future post.  I hope that is OK, but I don't want to feel rushed or anything about this.  This is an honorable award and I want to give it to the BEST blogs. 

Ok, that will be it for today!  My poor feet are swelling up and my hubby and I need to do some grocery shopping.  Oh, sounds like a blast, doesn't it?  We will go to Walmart and I will ride the motorized scooter they have out for those who need it.  I have my walker, but I can no longer walk very far because the pinching pain is so severe in my legs and rear end that it takes my breath away.  I hope that in a year or two I can look back at these posts and see how far I've come.  That will be so much fun!!

God bless you all!!

Until next post,

HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY!!  Thank you so much to those of you in uniform (and to the retired veterans that WERE in uniform) that fight for us to remain free.  Pictured here from top to bottom are: my grandpa, Victor P. Churchill, who served in the U.S. Army in WWII.  My father, Robert A. Karchunas, who served in the U.S. Army in the 1960's, stateside.  And my father-in-law, Frank J. Schranz, SR. who served in the U.S. Army, Korean War, stateside.

 

Wordless Wednesday

Hi, folks!  I'm trying something new (for my blog) called "Wordless Wednesdays."  It's where you post a picture that "speaks for itself, no words needed!"  Sounds like fun AND it's a Blog Hop, too.  So post a picture, enter your site in the linky (down below the picture) and meet some great new friends!!!  Happy Wednesday!!

 

God Bless!!

Lake Havasu, AZ

Howdy, fine friends!

I figured I had a little bit of time before waking my husband for his allergy shot and doctor's appointment to blog about when my mom, grandma and I went to Lake Havasu.  This was in the same trip as when we went to Oatman, AZ.  I blogged about that not too long ago (it's in the blog archive if you're interested).  Anyway, I believe this trip was in the late 1990's.  It was in the spring time, but Lake Havasu always is warmer than Yuma, AZ, which gets REALLY HOT in the summertime.  I loved our trips, though.  Every last one of them.  They are precious memories burned forever into my brain.  Especially now, because my mom is no longer with us.  Here is the famous "London Bridge" that actually IS from London!  They sent it over to us as a gift long ago.  Why the USA chose Lake Havasu to have the bridge, I don't know.  Anyway, it is a beautiful bridge.  The first picture was taken under the bridge.

Isn't it a beautiful bridge?  I thought so, too!!  Thank you to London!!  The next few photos were taken ON the bridge itself.  It has a little lane for walkers, which is what we did since we figured we'd enjoy it more instead of zooming by in a car and not seeing much.  And I could take better pictures, too.  Ya gotta have photos is my motto!!

Here was the entrance to the bridge.  It has a big plaque on the stone wall explaining the origins of the London bridge.  Unfortunately, I didn't have my good digital camera (they were really expensive in the 90's!) so I couldn't get the detail than what I can get on my digital camera now.  My hubby and I will have to go back retake these photos someday.

 

Here is a close-up of the plaque at the entrance.  You can read a little bit of it.  Looks like it came over to the USA in the early '70's?   Hard to tell.  Now if we had my good camera (instead of film!) we could read the whole sign with little effort.   We DEFINITELY need to get back over there and take digital pics!!

These two photos were both sides of the bridge.  It even had flags of the UK and street lamps that came with the bridge.  How cool is that?!

 

Ready to go under the bridge and see the shops, Lake Havasu, and assorted other goodies?  This photo was taken at the entrance steps to go underneath the bridge.

This photo was taken on the steps going down underneath the bridge.  It was like a whole village down there!!  Cottages, shops, boats.....boy, a person could get used to this!!  Something for everyone.

Look at that sky!  Not a cloud to be found.  Here are some of the cottages down below.  It really does look like its own village.

Here is a paddle wheel boat that offered "cruises" down the lake.  I wanted to go on one, but my travel companions didn't want to at the time....probably because of the cost to get on one.  Or maybe it was too full at the time we were there.  Good ole' "fibro fog."  And I've got it BAD today!!

Mom in front of a candle factory.  You could smell the heated wax from outside on the sidewalk.  What a great aroma!!  My mom and I loved candles and even had a small collection of them.

Okay, okay.  After MUCH prodding, here is my photo taken by the same candle factory Mom was standing in front of.  With how I look now, I'd LOVE to go back to yesterday.  I just didn't know how lucky I was back then.  Isn't that true for everyone?

What goes down, must come up!!!  Here is an adorable picture of my mom and grandma coming up the stairs and heading for the parking lot.  Just a few more steps, guys!  You can do it!!

Okay...I hope you enjoyed my "memory lane" thoughts and pictures.  I hope I don't bore anyone with this.  You know the joke about everyone hating seeing pictures of someone else's vacation.  Although I never minded it.  I love talking to people and hearing their memories.  That is why our trips were so important to me.  Especially the more recent ones.  Those were the ones that Grandma told Mom and I all her memories from long ago with Grandpa and her adolescent life at home with my Uncle Bob and Aunt Lois.  Those stories were such a hoot!!  Grandma lead a fascinating life and I loved hearing every last, juicy detail.

Alrighty....gotta go to get ready to head out in our lovely 70 degree weather. I feel sorry for you in the cold states with snow and ice!  Yikes!  I remember those days well when I lived in Michigan.  Grandma would call from Arizona and say something like, "I'm wearing shorts and have the windows open!"  We would be soooo jealous!!  Mean of her to do that, don't you agree?  And then here I do it myself on the blog.  Sorry about that! (LOL..._)

I can wait in the car while my hubby is getting his shot and read my book.  And then we are off to his first appointment with the pyschologist.  I don't know if I told you about his problem with skin picking?  He has been doing it for years now and it is a nervous habit of his.  He's got little scars on his arms and legs from past pickings.  My mother-in-law and I are at our whit's end with this.  He's already got a staph infection from picking off the scabs on his arm and I am afraid that in this "germy" world of ours, he'll get something worse that antiobiotics can't cure.  We're tried everything to get him to stop...."time-outs" from the computer, scoldings, reminders....the list goes on and on.  I hope this psychologist guy can help us.  I told Frankie to "open" up his heart to this guy and tell him everything.  He said he would.  We shall see!

My twitch is almost gone.  It doesn't seem too bad today.  Wooooo Hooooo!  Good riddance, is what I say!!  So it was the fear of not being able to lose 10 pounds (set by the doctor, no less!) by my doc appointment the end of November that had me stressed over my limit.  When I found out I had lost 12 pounds, it was like a weight (no pun intended!) off my shoulders.  Thank God!!

Hope you all have a great day!
God bless!
Until next post,