Washed, dried and folded 1,242 tablecloths.
Brooke & Corey got married.
Corbin & Nancy got engaged.
PAP normal - yay, another year without cancer.
Oh, but wait - mammo abnormal.
Right hand surgery.
Mother's Day - text only from Nancy and Corbin.
Came down with massive cold/bronchitis.
Angie's husband died.
Mammo re-check - mammo, mammo, ultrasound, biopsy, mammo.
Pause 2 days.
All clear.
Three year anniversary of Dad's death.
Steve moved out. I kept Lydia.
Doobert transport - Steve had to help because of my surgery.
Sick as a dead pig.
Stitches removed - healing well.
Picked Lainie up from airport. Loaned her my car for a week.
Mike's memorial (couldn't go; still sick + no car).
My 59th birthday. Text from Brooke first thing in morning, and from Corbin last thing at night.
In re severe depression, made appointment for psych intake/evaluation.
Treated to dinner by Steve, Lydia and Bill.
Janet turned 33.
Joel & Janet's 3rd anniversary.
Still coughing.
Took Lainie to airport.
Showing posts with label Joel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joel. Show all posts
Visalia: not exactly the vacation spot you think of first
I spent a few days in Visalia last week. Joel, somewhat overwhelmed with work, school, parenting, etc., welcomed the offering of maternal help to get his new house put in some semblance of order.
Joel's bought a really great house. It's a 1500 square foot home that was originally listed as a 4bed/2bath. As soon as escrow closed he knocked down a weirdly constructed wall that created the 4th bedroom, turning that part of the house back into the den it should be. He also tiled both bathrooms before moving in!
While Joel was at work Thursday and Friday, I had no shortage of tasks to keep me busy. There were carpets to clean, loads and loads of laundry to wash, and some minor electrical issues to be repaired (which explains the meticulous heart-shaped post-it note numbering system you see all over the walls in the slideshow). Since they just moved in and she has already moved out but doesn't yet have anywhere to put all of her worldly goods, the garage is chock full of stuff to be sorted/boxed/tossed/organized. Think of these as "before" shots...
Joel picked Landon up from Cindy on Friday afternoon and had him until Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately for me, Landon was napping when it came time for me to head back home on Sunday. I didn't get to snarfle him goodbye and missed him and his daddy by the time I got a block away!
Joel's bought a really great house. It's a 1500 square foot home that was originally listed as a 4bed/2bath. As soon as escrow closed he knocked down a weirdly constructed wall that created the 4th bedroom, turning that part of the house back into the den it should be. He also tiled both bathrooms before moving in!
While Joel was at work Thursday and Friday, I had no shortage of tasks to keep me busy. There were carpets to clean, loads and loads of laundry to wash, and some minor electrical issues to be repaired (which explains the meticulous heart-shaped post-it note numbering system you see all over the walls in the slideshow). Since they just moved in and she has already moved out but doesn't yet have anywhere to put all of her worldly goods, the garage is chock full of stuff to be sorted/boxed/tossed/organized. Think of these as "before" shots...
Joel picked Landon up from Cindy on Friday afternoon and had him until Sunday afternoon. Unfortunately for me, Landon was napping when it came time for me to head back home on Sunday. I didn't get to snarfle him goodbye and missed him and his daddy by the time I got a block away!
Grandma's not used to this (continued)
Day 5 - Monday
Landon spent this day with his Grandpa Dave, Aunt Laura and Uncle Daniel. He had a great time swimming for hours.
Day 6 - Tuesday
After my morning conference call, and after breakfast and a haircut for the boy, Dave brought Landon back here. I'm doing what grandmas do best and spoiling the kid rotten. Heh heh. Grandmimi likes to hold the baby and rock him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, until he releases that baby-sigh of relaxation and his little eyes close. This is how we spend every nap time and every nightly bed time.
Grandmimi had a nice conversation with her boss, who agrees she should not be concerned with work when Mr. Priority One is here. The rest of the week will be All About Landon.
Day 7 & 8 - Wednesday & Thursday
We have a little routine now, and Landon continues to be happy and extremely well fed and hydrated. All systems are operating as they should.
a period of general hyperactivity when Steve, who started out as Faux Grandpa but has devolved to simply Faux Pa, delights the child by throwing him around like a hackysack.
He's very careful, but sometimes Grandmimi just can't bear to watch.
Day 9 - Friday
Joel arrived right on time, late Thursday night. I waited up for him and was awake when he rolled in at 12:42 AM. The three of us spent Friday catching cat-naps, then trying to get through a small to-do list involving his new vehicle and air conditioning. We didn't accomplish very much.
Day 10 - Saturday
The air conditioning in the Explorer gets fixed by Joel & Koby. Unfortunately, their efforts to chill the Jeep aren't as successful.
I spend the afternoon rolling sarma. Brooke and Bill keep me company at the counter, uttering small noises of empathy and appreciation at appropriate intervals. Steve gets home and I have all my favorite family around me.
Later, after dinner, and nanoseconds before I'm getting the boy to bed, Laura and Hurricane Daniel arrive, putting a whole new spin in the evening! Daniel > (Baby Landon x 6) + (Baby Koby x 12). Bill decides to call it a day, and Steve and Brooke retreat to quieter corners of the manse. Daniel and Landon tear it up for an hour or so, while Laura perches on the sofa looking painfully cute with her little baby-bulge. Finally it's decided Landon may just explode if he doesn't get some sleep, so I spirit him off to Grandma-lap-time in the bedroom. The kids end up in the back yard playing guitar until well past the time Grandma has to yell "Uncle!"
Day 11 - Sunday
It's really hot here today. About 104. I'm so glad Joel's a/c got fixed. He and Landon are now packed off back to Visalia. I gave Koby a haircut,
then he and Brooke went back home. No one wants to do anything but veg in the cool house. Steve, however, is up at Dad & Margaret's, helping around their little ranchero. I hope it's not as hot in the hills.
Although the hum of the a/c in my house is lulling me to a long overdue nap, I miss my little grandson already. Oh wait - what? My next vacation starts July 2?? Hmm.....
Post Scriptum
So what's the deal? Why did I have the pleasure of such a long visit with my grandson? Well, in case you haven't heard, the Visalia Mussos have decided to split. Joel and Cindy are going their separate ways and it's not happening as amicably as one may like. I do hope that changes, and peace and courtesy can dwell once again in the valley as they go through the never-pleasant process of disentangling their lives...but I'm not holding my breath. Right now it's not pretty. That's why it was decided that Grandmimi would take the baby until, hopefully, the storm settled. The storm has not settled, but lives continue and jobs must be attended to, so Landon is back home, being shuttled between Visalia and Bakersfield for the time being.
Landon spent this day with his Grandpa Dave, Aunt Laura and Uncle Daniel. He had a great time swimming for hours.
Day 6 - Tuesday
After my morning conference call, and after breakfast and a haircut for the boy, Dave brought Landon back here. I'm doing what grandmas do best and spoiling the kid rotten. Heh heh. Grandmimi likes to hold the baby and rock him back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, until he releases that baby-sigh of relaxation and his little eyes close. This is how we spend every nap time and every nightly bed time.
Grandmimi had a nice conversation with her boss, who agrees she should not be concerned with work when Mr. Priority One is here. The rest of the week will be All About Landon.
Day 7 & 8 - Wednesday & Thursday
We have a little routine now, and Landon continues to be happy and extremely well fed and hydrated. All systems are operating as they should.
 | There are walkies in the stroller every day, and, in the evening, sprinkler-play, fish-feeding time, and... |  |
a period of general hyperactivity when Steve, who started out as Faux Grandpa but has devolved to simply Faux Pa, delights the child by throwing him around like a hackysack.
He's very careful, but sometimes Grandmimi just can't bear to watch.
Day 9 - Friday
Joel arrived right on time, late Thursday night. I waited up for him and was awake when he rolled in at 12:42 AM. The three of us spent Friday catching cat-naps, then trying to get through a small to-do list involving his new vehicle and air conditioning. We didn't accomplish very much.
Day 10 - Saturday
The air conditioning in the Explorer gets fixed by Joel & Koby. Unfortunately, their efforts to chill the Jeep aren't as successful.
Ford Repair: So easy, even cavemen can do it.
I spend the afternoon rolling sarma. Brooke and Bill keep me company at the counter, uttering small noises of empathy and appreciation at appropriate intervals. Steve gets home and I have all my favorite family around me.
Life is good.
Later, after dinner, and nanoseconds before I'm getting the boy to bed, Laura and Hurricane Daniel arrive, putting a whole new spin in the evening! Daniel > (Baby Landon x 6) + (Baby Koby x 12). Bill decides to call it a day, and Steve and Brooke retreat to quieter corners of the manse. Daniel and Landon tear it up for an hour or so, while Laura perches on the sofa looking painfully cute with her little baby-bulge. Finally it's decided Landon may just explode if he doesn't get some sleep, so I spirit him off to Grandma-lap-time in the bedroom. The kids end up in the back yard playing guitar until well past the time Grandma has to yell "Uncle!"
Day 11 - Sunday
It's really hot here today. About 104. I'm so glad Joel's a/c got fixed. He and Landon are now packed off back to Visalia. I gave Koby a haircut,
then he and Brooke went back home. No one wants to do anything but veg in the cool house. Steve, however, is up at Dad & Margaret's, helping around their little ranchero. I hope it's not as hot in the hills.
Although the hum of the a/c in my house is lulling me to a long overdue nap, I miss my little grandson already. Oh wait - what? My next vacation starts July 2?? Hmm.....
Post Scriptum
So what's the deal? Why did I have the pleasure of such a long visit with my grandson? Well, in case you haven't heard, the Visalia Mussos have decided to split. Joel and Cindy are going their separate ways and it's not happening as amicably as one may like. I do hope that changes, and peace and courtesy can dwell once again in the valley as they go through the never-pleasant process of disentangling their lives...but I'm not holding my breath. Right now it's not pretty. That's why it was decided that Grandmimi would take the baby until, hopefully, the storm settled. The storm has not settled, but lives continue and jobs must be attended to, so Landon is back home, being shuttled between Visalia and Bakersfield for the time being.
Happy Martyr's Day
The weather was perfect: 78 on Saturday, 80 with a slight breeze on Sunday. Having done most of my prep work Friday afternoon, I was ready for the Martyr's Day Feast!
We had salad, too, but that was boring so I didn't take any pictures of it. I also grilled some chicken breasts for the odars.
 Lamb Shish Kebab |  Pear and Filo Torte |  Cheese Boreg & Hye coffee |
We had salad, too, but that was boring so I didn't take any pictures of it. I also grilled some chicken breasts for the odars.
 | Cory came up from Modesto. |
 | Koby and Brooke came over from Davis. |
Home & Family
Morro Bay & Mary's Memorial
After a quick business trip to Spokane in late January, I collected the boys - all three of them - and we drove out to Morro Bay to attend Aunt Mary's memorial / celebration of life that was put on by the Lions and Lionesses at the Veterans Hall in Cayucos. It was great to see everyone there.
Thanks to Paul and Nell's chauffeur service, even Spike was able to attend.
That area of the Pacific coast is probably my favorite place to be. When Publisher's Clearing House finally shows up with that giant, cardboard check for me, the first thing I'll do is buy a huge, built-for-entertaining house out there within walking distance of the beach. You're all invited.
With apologies to Brooke
After the leaving the Musso family in Morro Bay, the kids and I drove to SLO to have lunch with Coleman. It was a quickie, but great to see him! (Why didn't we take any pictures?!) Then we headed east again, stopping in Templeton for a quick taste of wine at Four Vines. Then it was back to Visalia for more laughs and a couple of zzz's before Koby and I headed north again on Sunday.
Home Improvements
I've finally finished painting the kitchen cabinets!
Before:
After:
Okay, so maybe in pictures it doesn't look like much, but it was a long, difficult process getting all the purple cabinet doors to turn "capuccino" and dying the orange cat grey.
While shopping at Lowe's on Saturday, we found kitchen cabinet knobs that - lo and behold - we both liked. We got them - and the new drapes for the new living room window - installed on Saturday - just in time to host the gang here for Superbowl Sunday.
I'm really happy with the way these projects are turning out. The kitchen looks brighter and more spacious. Next will be the arduous removal of the kitchen baseboards -- which were GLUED ON! -- then installation of cork planks over the existing crappy laminate flooring. Once that's done, we can install new baseboards, sink and faucet (and counters??). I'm also going to remove the 1970's recessed fluorescent lighting, finish that alcove and install a low profile ceiling fan, then put can lighting around three sides, directed to the work surfaces.
When the kitchen is done, I'll start in on my bathroom.
* whew *
Happy Birthday, Joel
In 1982, this boy entered my life. Well, technically he entered my life in 1981, but I didn't actually get to meet him until 1982.He began life as the most gentle, peaceful, contended, sublime child. He was always ready with a hug, and loved to be read to. He began reading on his own when he was only one and a half. When he played by himself, he would make up long, involved story-telling songs about dinosaurs. He couldn't say his R's or S's too well at first, so he'd sing, "The tywannathauwuth wath a meat eataaah..."
By age three he was considered an academic genius and encouraged to enter kindergarten early. Deciding that three was just too early, we kept him busy at home with "athignmenth!" He started kindergarten at age four and a half.
A minute later he was ready to graduate high school and pressuring us to sign papers so he could go directly into the Navy. Coming from a long line of Navy service, his dad had no qualms about consenting, but his mom resisted. Finally, though, after Joel really put the pressure on, I signed the papers. Just days later, or so it seems, I was handing him over to strangers who stole him away for nine weeks of Rude Awakening.
Another minute later, Joel was married. He and Cindy now have their first child. Nowadays Joel struggles with the stress that comes with working full time, studying for a Bachelor's degree, and taking care of a one-year-old. (Cindy works at night so they alternate duties with Landon.)
He and Cindy are clearly good parents - Landon is a busy, happy child who doesn't seem to worry at all about having his needs met, he just goes about the business of being a toddler. Joel is working hard to survive his online college courses with a respectable GPA. He's a valuable employee who is depended on at work. (I know, that sounds like I'm doing your annual review!)
I know he worries sometimes that he's not "where he should be" in life at this age, but, really, he's in exactly the right place and I am so proud of him.
My birthday wish for you, Joel, is that you remember to breathe... and live more in the moment. Learn from the past, plan for the future, but don't miss the present. It's gone in a FLASH! One day you look around and you're fifty-something and you have all these precious memories but they are of events so far away you sometimes wonder if it was all just a dream. It's like that feeling you have about an hour after waking up, when you just can't remember all of it no matter how much you want to.
Joel has decided he doesn't feel any older this year, so he's declared this his second 27th birthday. I hope he has many, many more 27th birthdays to come!
Happy birthday, son.
Best Movie of The Year!
Joel made this video and played it at Landon's first birthday party last month. Enjoy.
Perpetual Motion Machine
Thank Goddess for Skype. I miss the kid and the grandkid and at least Skype lets me see and hear them.
Joel is exhausted, as you can see. Landon seems to be channeling demons. He's now crawling, pulling himself up to standing, and climbing out of his crib when no one's looking. His personal mission is to remove any objects from any flat surfaces by flinging them to the floor. He has teeth above and below now, all the better to chew through your cables.
Joel says Cindy wants three kids, and then he says she must be out of her mind.
Wow - it's been a while!
I've been incredibly busy with work over the last couple of months and have not found the time to keep up on my blogging. My apologies to you who are avid followers. Both of you.
In addition to work-work, I've been struggling to (pardon the pun) keep my head above water with the pond. We've had disaster after disaster. As of this writing, I really should be outside repairing the filter. I'll get to it.
Steve and I just returned from a mini-vacation. We left a little later than we'd planned Friday morning so had to cancel plans to have brunch with Cory & Url in Modesto. We made our way down to Fresno by about 11:00. I drove to Roeding Park hoping to show Steve the gutted airplane I clambered all over as a kid, but it's not there anymore. Next to Belmont Memorial Park where Steve screwed his patience up a notch and accomapnied me in locating my grandparents' graved. I photo'd them and we left. Short and sweet. (I miss Grandma.)
When in Fresno, one must dine Armenian, right? I'd had a curiously difficult time locating Armenian restaurants via Google before our trip. Not because they don't exist on every freakin street corner in Fresno, but because the folks who run them are about as tech-savvy as my ex-boss. Maybe less so. So I followed the map to one of the two places I'd found that had few but glowing reviews. It was so crappy we didn't even order food. Used their bathrooms, then went to the next one. That turned out to be a good call, even though it was clear the hell across town. No lamb at the first place (wha-wha-whaaatt???) and yummy lamb at the second place (thank you Goddess!!!).
After lunch we toured the Forestiere Gardens. I'd done so a few years ago and have been anxious to get Steve down in those caves, sure he would enjoy it. He did. Go, if you're ever nearby.
From there we drove another almost-an-hour south to Visalia and got checked into the Holiday Inn just in time to connect with the kids. Joel wanted a little time to feed Landon and get him to nap, so we had a cocktail before heading over to their house. Cindy was at work but we got to hang out and play Peek-A-Boo, Suck The Toes and Bang The Table with Landon until we were all exhausted.
Next morning Joel's phone call woke us up. We got cleaned up and met Joel, Cindy and Landon downstairs for breakfast. Cindy hadn't slept all night, and had a job interview at noon, so after a hearty breakfast she took the baby and headed home to get them both a little shut-eye. Joel stayed with us. We chatted and had coffee downtown before having to get him back home.
Then we found that Cindy didn't have to go to the interview after all, so while she slept we again just hung out with Joel and that perfect little brown bean of a child that is Landon.
Steve works Sundays, so we had to leave fairly early in the afternoon to allow time to drive back home and get him to bed at a decent hour. In his job, there is no room for error. He must be well-rested and able to focus and remain safe! On the way back we stopped in Sacramento for dinner, then just came home and crashed.
A quick Central Valley vacation, but a good time nonetheless.
In addition to work-work, I've been struggling to (pardon the pun) keep my head above water with the pond. We've had disaster after disaster. As of this writing, I really should be outside repairing the filter. I'll get to it.
Steve and I just returned from a mini-vacation. We left a little later than we'd planned Friday morning so had to cancel plans to have brunch with Cory & Url in Modesto. We made our way down to Fresno by about 11:00. I drove to Roeding Park hoping to show Steve the gutted airplane I clambered all over as a kid, but it's not there anymore. Next to Belmont Memorial Park where Steve screwed his patience up a notch and accomapnied me in locating my grandparents' graved. I photo'd them and we left. Short and sweet. (I miss Grandma.)
When in Fresno, one must dine Armenian, right? I'd had a curiously difficult time locating Armenian restaurants via Google before our trip. Not because they don't exist on every freakin street corner in Fresno, but because the folks who run them are about as tech-savvy as my ex-boss. Maybe less so. So I followed the map to one of the two places I'd found that had few but glowing reviews. It was so crappy we didn't even order food. Used their bathrooms, then went to the next one. That turned out to be a good call, even though it was clear the hell across town. No lamb at the first place (wha-wha-whaaatt???) and yummy lamb at the second place (thank you Goddess!!!).
After lunch we toured the Forestiere Gardens. I'd done so a few years ago and have been anxious to get Steve down in those caves, sure he would enjoy it. He did. Go, if you're ever nearby.
From there we drove another almost-an-hour south to Visalia and got checked into the Holiday Inn just in time to connect with the kids. Joel wanted a little time to feed Landon and get him to nap, so we had a cocktail before heading over to their house. Cindy was at work but we got to hang out and play Peek-A-Boo, Suck The Toes and Bang The Table with Landon until we were all exhausted.
Next morning Joel's phone call woke us up. We got cleaned up and met Joel, Cindy and Landon downstairs for breakfast. Cindy hadn't slept all night, and had a job interview at noon, so after a hearty breakfast she took the baby and headed home to get them both a little shut-eye. Joel stayed with us. We chatted and had coffee downtown before having to get him back home.
Then we found that Cindy didn't have to go to the interview after all, so while she slept we again just hung out with Joel and that perfect little brown bean of a child that is Landon.Steve works Sundays, so we had to leave fairly early in the afternoon to allow time to drive back home and get him to bed at a decent hour. In his job, there is no room for error. He must be well-rested and able to focus and remain safe! On the way back we stopped in Sacramento for dinner, then just came home and crashed.
A quick Central Valley vacation, but a good time nonetheless.
Car Wanted
I'm putting this out to the universe because I know if I do that it will come to be.
Joel needs a car. His old RX7 has finally thrown in the towel. Since he's a dad now, he needs something that won't cost too much money (say, under $1500), sturdy, reliable, good on gas, and with four doors.
Please spread the word.
Bonding With The Baby
On Saturday, Koby and Brooke and I left the house at the crack o' dawn. We met Cory for an all-too-early breakfast in Modesto, then the four of us drove together the rest of the way to Visalia. Cindy was throwing a surprise birthday party for my first-born.
How To Change a Diaper
I failed to post this video with the others. This is Joel opening his gift from Koby - an emergency kit for new dads.
Landon's Baby Shower
Yesterday Steve and I hosted a baby shower for my oldest boy, Joel. He and Cindy are expecting their first child in November. It's a boy and his name will be Landon.
Everyone at the shower seemed to have a great time. We ate and drank and sweated in the Sacramento summer heat. We watched a video of the baby's sonogram, complete with circles and arrows and revealing details! We also took a group shot of the people at the shower who were also in attendance at Joel's birth back in 1982.
Back Row: Steve Wolowitz, Joel Musso, Te Franklin, Cory Franklin, Liz Franklin
Front Row: Debbi Wolowitz, Grandmimi, Bill McCabe
Blues Man Frankie Consulo sneaked into the picture!)
Joel and Cindy got lots of great loot - now they just need to figure out how to get it all back home!
Click here to see a veritable boatload of still shots from the soiree.
...and here are a few videos for your viewing enjoyment...
Everyone at the shower seemed to have a great time. We ate and drank and sweated in the Sacramento summer heat. We watched a video of the baby's sonogram, complete with circles and arrows and revealing details! We also took a group shot of the people at the shower who were also in attendance at Joel's birth back in 1982.
Back Row: Steve Wolowitz, Joel Musso, Te Franklin, Cory Franklin, Liz FranklinFront Row: Debbi Wolowitz, Grandmimi, Bill McCabe
Blues Man Frankie Consulo sneaked into the picture!)
Joel and Cindy got lots of great loot - now they just need to figure out how to get it all back home!
Click here to see a veritable boatload of still shots from the soiree.
...and here are a few videos for your viewing enjoyment...
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