Did not realize

Good Morning!

We had our usual June gloom and now the sun is out!  Mari and I are going walking in Corona del Mar and then going to Trader Joe's.  We will use my Map My Walk and I can get my ocean fix and Corona del Mar has been a place Mari has been wanting to go walking, as it has trees on the side streets.  So we  both get something we want out of a walk.

Wednesday night I watched the second episode of Extreme Makeover:Weight Loss Edition and last night, I watched the first episode.  The first episode effected me more than the second, as it dealt with a set of twins who were codependent on each other.  In the last week, I have come to realize how much I have grown and really did not realize I had grown.    I used to be codependent on Rory, but I feel like I am no longer.  The person I have to be really careful not to become codependent with is Mari.  I had a hard time sleeping last night, as I did not wind down after watching the first episode, plus Rory was having a hard time sleeping.

Today is my photo day and I am going to edit one day worth of photos, work on my scrapbooks and do the first lesson of a class I am taking on Photoshop.  I am going to see, if I have time, if Mari can help me edit a video I did, while we were on vacation.

Sweet Pea sitting in one of her favorite places!

Mari and I left here about 10 and drove to Corona del Mar and took a 2-mile walk.  I loved looking at the houses and we saw a house that reminded me of a fairy tale.  The waves were also huge today.  Took lots of pictures.  On the way home we stopped at Trader Joe's.  Our new microwave was installed, but now we have another problem, that the cabinet doors above the microwave won't open.  Luckily everything that was in that cabinet was taken out and I can put them other places.  Rory went out and I got a nap.  I am having some wonderful quiet time, working on the computer.  Going to make snack.  I like my quiet time, I like walking and I don't need things to make me happy.

Edited pictures:

Got some photos edited and did some work on scrapbooks and I am going to work on the class I am doing on photography.  It feels good to take one particular thing and work on it every day.  That way I am not getting frustrated of what I am not getting done.

Rory is coming down at 9.  I am going to finish this and work on my class.

Good night!  Trudi

The Smithsonian (Castle) taken last year, when we were in Washington D.C.  This is the one day we met up with Rory.

Waiting, but moving forward!

Good Morning!

 The sun is actually out this morning, yes, we had some of our June gloom.  Watched a lizard run across the patio.  Marissa was up at 8, which was a surprise.

Three weeks ago, I took Rory to Orange County airport and today I pick him up from Los Angeles Internatonal Airport.  It is usually difficult when he comes home from a trip and we get back to "normalcy".  I am moving forward with my normal routine, but a part of me is waiting for Rory to come home, to see what is going to happen.  In many ways, he takes control of this house, when he is home.  The two of us have a control issue.

I am working on my morning computer routine and today, I am going to work on blogs.

Computer routine done, towels put in the dryer and a nap taken!  I am done with all the laundry from the girls and my trip; now, I just have to wait for Rory to get home!  Now, I am going to start on blogs.

Made a salad for lunch.  Really trying to eat healthy!  So far, so good!  I have lost almost 2 pounds since I have been home from vacation.

Mari and I left about 1:30 and headed for LAX, with a stop at the gas station and Starbuck's.  Rory called about 2:40 and told me, where he was and I told him, I was in Long Beach and would be there as soon as I could.  Drove back in LA traffic, UGH!  All of us are home now and I need to make dinner.

Rory was very tired when he got home and now he is going through all of his stuff.  I understand some of the things he brings home, but there are things he brings home, I really wonder about.  I feel like he brings things into the house and I take things out of the house.  I know this trip meant alot to him, so I am trying to be respectful.  I am sure he saw some beautiful country.  There are things that are going to be up for awhile, but then, in some respect, they are going to go away.

Doing my usual night time routine.  I watched the first week of Extreme Makeover.  Rory came down in the middle and as usual, before he left for vacation, I went upstairs and he went downstairs.  He is going from being chilled to being hot and he has not taken his medication.  I do not want to be his caregiver or his mother.  I will cook, yes, but he has to take care of himself.  These last three weeks have been nice.  Yes, we have had our struggles.  I hope I can wait for Mari to graduate.  I do not want to foul her up.

Good night!  Trudi

This was the view from our room in Alexandria, VA after a storm.  This was taken a year ago.

A quiet day in between storms

Good Morning!

Overcast and cool!  The birds are singing!  It is peaceful in the house, as the girls are not up yet.

 The computer issue has been resolved for Mari and the house is back to pre-vacation.  Today, I am having lunch with a friend and this is organizing day, plus I am getting my car washed.  Tomorrow, Rory comes home and I know he is dealing with a cold and his broken toe.  He has a tendency to go to pneumonia and I am dealing with the what ifs and knowing he will not do anything on his own.  We shall see what happens.

This was taken on May 30, 2013 from a vista point on I-5 near Mt. Shasta.

This has definitely been a good day!  The girls slept in!  Got all of my computer stuff done by the time they got up and I took a nap.  Rory called, just after I got up and his recent fun and games is that the bed he was sleeping in last night, broke!  I guess that is three things on this trip-broken toe, cold and broken bed!  Cleared up some things with credit card companies and then left to meet up with my friend for lunch.  It was really nice to see her.  After lunch I went to get the car washed and then to Smart&Final, make reservations for Father's Day brunch and then to Goodwill.  Came home and continued to get things done, which felt really good.  I am going to do one more thing and then start getting dinner.

This was taken today on one of our hills!

We had dinner and watched some TV and then I watched Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition.  This was a program I was watching when I first started losing weight and it kept me going.  I am currently my lowest.  After I watched Extreme Makeover, I came down and watched Haunted Collector with Mari.

I am tired and I am headed for bed.  My last night of sleeping by myself for awhile.  Rory comes home tomorrow.

Something I am noticing with my photography is that after we get home from a trip, I have a hard time getting inspired.  I feel like I am going through that right now.  I feel like it is a chore.  After we got back from England three years ago, it was 9 days before I took a picture.  Last year, when we got back from Washington, D.C., it was 5-6 days.  Mari keeps telling me, make a story out of it.  I am not sure what she means and when I ask her, she just says, keep it simple.

Good night!  Trudi

I love Victorian home and this is Georgetown.  This picture was taken a year ago.

Happiness?

Good Morning!

Our usual June gloom and coolness, which I am enjoying!  Yes, I like the sun, but that usually means it gets warmer, which I don't enjoy, unless it stays under 75 degrees.  Is there a middle ground between dryness and humidity?

This morning I was having a conversation with myself about happiness!  I really believe overall, I am not really a happy person.  Then there comes the discussion of happiness and joy!  I do enjoy doing things for others, I do enjoy writing my blogs, I do enjoy exploring and taking pictures and sharing them with others. I do enjoy being organized and planning.   I deal, also, with acceptance and perfectionism.  Am I doing a good job or is someone doing better than me.

I had a good morning!  Someone I know and I have been playing phone tag with recently.  We were finally able to connect this morning.  We had a 45 minute phone conversation and it was really nice.  Now, we are headed for the Apple store to see if they can fix Mari's computer.  This afternoon, the three girls of us are headed for Marissa's therapist.  I have not heard from Rory, which is nice.  When I talk to him, all I hear is about him and when he asks me about the girls and I, I talk, but I do not really feel like I am being heard, so I really do not feel like talking to him.  Today, in between things, I am going to work on pictures.

An old church in Anaheim taken a couple of years ago.

Mari and I went to the Apple store and Mari's computer is dead!  There was moisture damage and it would cost about $700 to fix it.  Fortunately I was able to get her a new computer.  We had one issue with a credit card that I know has plenty of credit on it, but the card was declined for some unknown reason.  This is the card I usually use for travel.  Luckily, the other card was accepted.  I just really did not want to use that card and having a card turned down, brought back all the memories of when we did not have much money.  It was lunch time when we left there.  We got Rory's car washed first and then went to Chipotle for lunch.  Came home, ate lunch, got a nap and then we headed for Marissa's therapy appointment.  Came home and now I need to make dinner; which is going to be really easy, as we are having TV dinners.  I have yet to edit pictures.  Hopefully tonight!  Rory called once today and now has a cold.  Good thing he is coming home on Thursday.

I am really having a hard time getting inspiration taking pictures, especially after having been in the Pacific Northwest.  This is my daily picture.

While I was making dinner, Mari got a call from the Apple store and her computer was ready, so after dinner we went over there and got her new computer, plus some dessert.  Came home and now winding down and just having girl chat!  It is so nice to have just the three of us in the house and one four legged princess!

Good Night!  Trudi

We went to Arlington Cemetery a year ago!

I finally got to edit pictures.

Doing something for someone else and something for me!

Good Morning!

Going through our June gloom!

Rory called me this morning and told me that he was going to stay with the tour and that he would be home on Thursday as planned.  YEA!  It would have cost him $3000 to have them X-ray his foot.  Going through the airport, he will be in a wheel chair.  Rory wants me to bring one of the girls to help with the luggage.

I am taking Rory's car to Big O to get the oil changed, as I know he will not feel like it when he gets home.  While they are changing the oil, Mari and I are going walking.  According to my new schedule, I am working on blogs today and probably take a nap!

Mari and I took Rory's car to Big O and got the oil changed and while they were doing that, Mari and I took a walk.  Came home and took a nap, then made lunch, working on laundry, as well as some other things and now I get to work on my blogs.  Rory sent us a gift from Alaska of socks and hats.  The socks I will use, but the hats, I will not.  We don't live in a snowy climate and I don't like hats.  I guess they might come in useful in the rain sometime.  I have to be respectful and say thank you.

Wrote out one of my blogs about Mission San Buenaventura.  I was going to do some laundry, when Mari had a problem with her computer.  We went to the Apple store, plus we went to Sears and got my new microwave.  Came home and edited my picture of the day and then made dinner.  We watched TV and I did talk to Rory, as he had called around 3, when we were dealing with Mari's computer.  He asked me to look at the place he is staying, which I finally did.  I was also trying to find out he broke his toe.  He banged his toe into a wood bed post.  OW!

I took this on our walk today!

Doing my usual nighttime routine!  Getting in touch with friends to have lunch!

Good night!

Trudi

This was taken a year ago when we were in Alexandria, VA

Making a home a home

Good Morning!

It is cool and gray this morning!  I feel more rested today!  Today, I am doing laundry, making a menu and doing shopping and we are doing hair.

I am really trying to work at being content with where I am and to surrender my life to God each day.  I know I would love to go back to Oregon to live, but for now, that is not possible, so I need to be content with where I am.

This is the capital building in Sacramento, CA.  This was the view from our room in Sacramento.

After I got my computer stuff done, I decided to take a nap.  Did my Bible reading and then took a nap.  Rory called to tell me, he is not going horse back riding, while I was trying to sleep.  I told him that I was taking a nap and he said, that it was not noon and I told him that I take naps when I feel like I need it.  Got up and got the laundry going.  Made up a menu and shopping list and then made lunch.  After lunch, Marissa and I went to Target and Mari took a nap.  When we got back, all of us went to get hair cuts and also went to Trader Joe's.  Hopefully, I have food for the week.  Came home and now we are doing our own thing.  Rory called again while I was eating lunch.  He is struggling on this trip.  Going to get dinner started soon.

Had dinner and watched some TV.  Mari and I colored each other's hair.  Did some work on the patio.  I feel like I have our house back to being a home!  Took a couple of days, but we were gone for 14 days.

Getting tired, so in about an hour, I am going to head for bed!

Good Night!  Trudi

I took this in Alexandria, VA a year ago!

I just got a call from Rory, that he thinks he broke his toe and his going to ER!  I have had an almost three week break, but I was really hoping he was not coming home until Thursday.  I have certain things I want to get done before he gets home.  Oh well, we shall see!

Lessons learned

Good Morning!

It is a sunny day and supposed to be in the mid to upper 80's today.

This was a good trip, but a hard trip.  It is nice to be home.  Next time, we are going to one place and stay there for several days.

Today is going to be an organizing day.  So far I have gotten my suitcase unpacked and started working on getting my closet organized.  Rory has a tendency to stock up on things and hoard.  Since Rory is not here, I am going to organize the closet.  I am also going to take a nap!  Got breakfast and took a nap!  When I got up, I got the box I keep in the car cleaned out.  Been meaning to do that for awhile.  Then I went to Target and got a new microwave.  We are going to have two, as I want to get one for over the stove, to replace the one that is currently there and does not work.  Came back and ate lunch.  Now I am going to go through all the mail from the last two weeks.  I enjoyed vacation and now I have to deal with all of the things that took place at home.  Oh such fun!

Took another nap and then went to get some fruits and veges, so we have some things to eat around this house.  There is a store called "Mission Ranch Market" that is near us and they have good fruits and veges for not too much money.  Keeping going.  Checkbook taken care of.  I have a Franklin Covey and while we were on our trip, I kept a running log, so that when I got home, it was very easy to transfer.  YEA!

Needed something easy today.  This is one of the flowers on my patio.  It is dinner time, so I had better get to it.  Mari and I made dinner and then watched TV.  Rory called tonight and is in Jasper.  Finishing up getting organized from being on vacation.  Tomorrow, I plan to do my usual Sunday prepare for the week.

Saying good night!  Trudi

Interesting how a year ago, we were on our way to Washington D.C. and today, we just finished vacation.  This is a picture of the sunset at Chicago O'Hare Airport.