Yes, we are still alive

Hi, well after umpteen tries to get ont o my blog, I finally remembered the password. It is now written down with all my other passwords. OK, where do I start. We did go out to Colorado in Sept and had a blast. Pagosa Springs is a great place to vacation. We went rafting in New Mexico, did some pottery, spent the whole day a a spa where there was 13 different hot springs (got a massage too), took a buggy ride pulled by Clydesdale horses and had a bbq with a sing-a-long, and took a steam train up the the hills (9,000 ft) who can breathe up there? It was an old mining town called Silverton with old saloon bldgs etc. There were hot air balloon rides but Dexter nixed that. But we did get to see a bunch go up and that was a pretty sight. In Durango I bought to cowboy hats (what can I say, I line dance) and a beeeutiful gown to wear on the cruise. It was 300.00 somthing and I got it for 75.00. Some beads were missing (they had extra ones) and thre was a small mark on the bottom. I sewed the beads back on (don't think my eyesight will ever be the same) and I will take it to the cleaners just to have the bottom cleaned, I don't want them touching the beads. It is silk and a sorta the color of the inside of a shell. I'll try and send pix.
Then on to Ca where we saw lots of friends and relatives including our new great granddaughter Sophia. She was 6 months and very cute. We had a bbq at Liz ( my step-granddaughter) and all the grandkids were there and the great grandkids, from Liz and her brother Josh. It gets to become an extended family. But we got to see Rick's place...wow, 2000 sq ft of cleanliness, it gags you he is such a neat freak. Has decorated in gargoyles. Dave looks good and is a great grandpa. Not great great but just a grandpa that is great. HA.
On to Arizona to friends we have since the kids were little. Spent a week and had a good time. Then a week home. The whether had been great till we stopped in Sedona for the night and after Flagstaff it rained the whole way. Now we had already spent a $1,000.00 in LA on the car, had the tire fixed that had a nial in it in AZ, (I think) then the window on the driver's side decided not to go up so Dex kept using two hands to get it up and wedge matchbook or twigs or whatever was on hand to keep it up. Course I would slam the door or go over bumps and it would come down. He's gotta love me. I don't know why h e wouldn't get it fixed on the road. Turns out it was just something that came loose and was fixed in no time here at home.
OK, now we are home. Tom and Liz bought another house and I am so happy for th em. It's about 30 minutes west of their other house which they are keeing for a rental. The new one is three stories, has a porch, and is on 3/4 acre. Close to Ben's daycare (8 minutes) and closer to us.
We are going out next weekend to help paint two rooms. It has a tower for the third floor and it will be Tom's room and he likes that he has a door to close and keep the cats out.
My daughter-in-law took me to a spa for a late birthday present. I had different treatments and it was a fun day.
Rick turned 40.
I don't know if I told you about a painting I did (drawing actually using colored pencils) It won a gold medal here (four counties competeing) and it went to state finals and won third place. How 'bout that?
Mike is in Latvia right now getting ready to come home. Just messin' around there with two other guys from the embassy in Iraq. He goes on manuevers the 14th.
Getting ready for the cruise, (packing, etc)because once we are in NY and come home there won't be enough time.
OK, guess that's enough for now. I expect a picture of Reese and Liz'a new address, when she gets one, news about Maggie's boyfriend, and Rebecca what are you up to?
Barb, you should go to a hotel until your house is done!!!!!!!
Love to hear from all of you.
Teri and what's his name.

Hi Y'all

Well, it's been awhile. The internet was so slow, I couldn't get through. My news is last week I woke up in mucho pain and after a half hour I realized it was a kidney stone. ER, wonderful pain medicine, a gorgeous doctor filled my bladder with water and went up there and blasted that sucker and took it out. The kicker is, he put in a stent. So all week pain, pain, pain. It had affected my intersitial cistytis. So after a week I went back today a nd he took it out. That sucker was 12-14 inches long. and wire. Hello...So now the pain isn't so bad but I have to fill a large jar with urine for a 24 hour period. (I know you're just lovin' all this info). But, hey, it got me out of making dinner all week.

News flash. Dexter and I are going on a Caribbean cruise from Dec 5 to Dec 19th. My cousin in Colorado is going with us and a few other ladies (poor Dexter). I'm excited about it. Ten islands!!!! I told him he could get it for me for my birthday, and I got his for HIS birthday. Neat, huh?

We leave September 6 for Colorado to spend a week at a time share in Durango, CO. We will be leaving there on the 22nd. Barb, will you be off those days?? I know you're going to Oregon for the weekend of the 27th. It takes 8 hours to get to Utah, so that would put us there late on the 22nd or early on the 23rd.. I want to be in CA around the 29th.It takes 11 hours to get to Ojai, two days there, and then to LA. If it's too close timing for you, let me know. I do want to see your house, but I know it's bad timing. After seeing the grandkids and great grandkids, Rick and David, we'll head down to AZ for a week or so with old friends from San Diego and Santa Maria. Then a week or so to get home.

That puts us home the second week in October, Thanksgiving in NY, home three days and off on the cruise. Gosh, I wonder what I can do during the last two weeks in Oct. I know, I'll decorate for Christmas, since I plan on having a party for my art class during the holidays. Guess it'll have to be around New Years.

Mike is home and is still trying to get out of going across the pond with the National Guard. His present job with the government wants and needs him there.

Tom's contract in DC is up next week. He got 5 job offers with the Guard and is taking the one in Raleigh, about 40 minutes from his home in Durham. Quite a difference than the 5 hour drive he's been doing.

Well, for some reason my men want dinner. I had Dex put the water on for pasta, guess that's all I can hope for.

You guys be good, have fun, and hopefully I'll see ya soon.

Love, Teri

hey everybody

I know, I know, I said Jennifer instead of Rebecca, sorry girls. Well, let's see, what have I done since I last talked to you. I finally realized I should check comments after my blog! Now, if I could only remember how to get to your blogs. I should put them on my favorites lst and then I wouldn't have to remember. Hmm? We are finally getting some great thunder and lightning storms, I love them. And we really need the rain.
Dex and I went to the center (I will refer to the senior center as that from now on) and we strted the first pinnocle game. None of us had played in over 20 years, but we picked up o.k. It was fun and we will do it once a week. So on Thursday while Dex plays golf and I'm teaching art, we'll go to lunch when we meet and then go back to the center for games. Oh my, aren't we the industrial type.
It keeps us out of trouble. You know how the old geezers are. I talked to David today. It's his birthday and he is 49 and loving being a grandpa. Katie sent me a picture of Sohpia that is adorable. and yes, I will send it. But right now it's 2 o'clock in them morning and I don't want to mess with it, figuring it out and all.
There are times when I stay up all night and this looks like it may be one of those nights. Don't know why, nothing on my mind, just wide awake. Some times I read all night and now I'm here. Just got through playing some new card games on the computer.
My physical therapy seems to be going o.k. They rally put me through some moves, but I think my thighs are getting stronger. I don't check my blogs so forgive me if I repeat myself.
Dex keeps bringing in stuff from the garden. and our fruit trees. So far I've frozen peaches and blueberries. I don't like to freeze squash it always comes out water logged. I try to use it as soon as it's picked, but lordy, how much of that stuff can one eat?? I'm not even crazy about it, but it's a good crop. We have plums that are ripe now, too. Eat your heart out Barb.
E-mail me and let me know how to get into to your blog, please.. I promise to do pictures. Dex turns 71 on the 19th.
Love to all, Teri

OK So I'm officially old now

I celebrated my birthday with a nice bbq. Dex even went out and bought a new grill.It was in the 90's, but the rain didn't start till it was over. We are now having a grat th under storm and Abby is shaking by my side. I live down the road from a lot of greenhouses and went and bought a whole bunch of hanging baskets to hang around the wrap around porch. They looked beautiful. Mike is coming home on the 23rd and will be home with the national guard. Some trianing, then one weekend a month till they go over.
As you know Barb, Mike, and Jennifer met us in CA. to go to Windy's memorial and get in touch with his lawyer. We had a few days to sight see and that was fun.
We went on a trip with the Seniors to Mt Airy, which in tv land is Mayberry. Always a nice trip, then last week we went to Blowing Rock which is a town in the mountains. It's nice to go with the Senior Center because we don't have to pay for gas which is now $3.99, but at Walmart we pay $3.86.
Liz and Ben came down for the party. Tom is in Sacramento with the Guard for the fires. He hopes to be home in a few days. they say the fires will be out in 6 weeks, but totally not for 6 months. I think I got that right.
It was fun having Ben here. He can throw and catch (when he doesn't shut his eyes) pretty good. Of course at 2 yrs old, before you can finish asking him a question, the answer is "No".
For awhile now, things should quiet down. I'm planning another play for next month.
This one will be a reader's theatre. That means the old folks (God, am I one now?) just rad their scripts and not memorize t hem. We have a party once a month at the center and that's when we'll perform.
We're going to Colorado in Sept and expect to go on the Barb's IF SHE'S HOME.
If my cousin come down from Vermont in Sept. we won't get to Utah till the around the 26th. If she doesn't come, we might be a few days earlier.
Well, that's it for now. Take care everyone.

Hi all, well, since we last spoke, both Dexter and I have had bronchitis and his has returned. Over Memorial Day, we flew up to New York to be with my cousins. It's kind of a mini family reunion. The weather was great and we went to Massachussetts to see the Norman Rockwell musuem. What a treat.
Mike is due back today from Mississippi, so we drove his car down to the armory and left it for him. I hope he comes in tonight.
Physical therapy is really leaving me pooped, but it's what I want and hope my legs get stronger soon.
I spent time with our gandson Ben and that's always fun. While we were gone up north they came and stayed here. Seems Tom took Ben on the tractor for a ride and he was in seventh heaven. He's into Bob the Builder right now. Found a cheerio in our bed, so I know he took a nap there!!!
I know, I have to get pictures, give an old lady a break.
Speaking of old ladies, I'll be 70 years old on the 25th, so I'm throwing myself a party. A bbq really.
Not much else right now. I'm still keeping tabs on Windy, calling the home where he is and speaking to the lady who takes care of him. He has a good appetite but doesn't really do too much else.
See ya, Teri

Here we are again

Well, Barb tells me I'm supposed to change this often. Sooo, talked to all my boys and granddaughter on Mother's Day. Hope you all had a good one. Dex and I had eaten out after out last performance and then went to a Twilight Ball Saturday night and ate out, so I just had him make my dinner for Sunday. It was raining and I didn't feel like going out. Monday I really had to work hard on my physical therapy. I told the PT that I really wanted to work hard and I'll be darned if she didn't take me at my word. PLUS, I have to do it at home. OK get rid of this underlining. Dex has a cough and has now been kind enough to share it with me.
My washer died and fortuneatly have a warranty. I've spent hours editing the tapes we took of the play and to morrow I will take it to the videographer and have him put it all togther including the bloopers. Not much news. I'll be going out to take care of Ben while Liz drives to DC to pick up a trundle bed she found on the net.and she'll use my truck. At least I get to play with my grandson and see how he's grown. Well, I think I'll go cough and read my book. Later. got to find out how to get this underline out.

First Blog

We're glad you guys started this family blog. I'm not sure if I'm going to get this right or not but I'll give it a shot. Our news: Katie had a baby girl so we are not great-grandparents. They will call me GG Teri. Ben is talking a lot more now, but I don't get to see him too often. David is managing something like a jiffy-lube. Rick has moved into his new condo, and still has his old one and the house if Rancho Stevenson. He's still thinking of moving to Salt Lake, but it will be a few years. Mike is home for a month from working for Blackwater in Bahgdad, but has been called up by the National Guard and will be deployed the end of the year. When he gets done with this tour, he will only have one more year in the Guard and he can retire from them. Tom is still working in DC, trying to get moved back down to Durham where they live. There is also the chance that he may be called also. Dexter is fiddling outside like he likes to do in the spring/summer. We just had to buy a new riding mower...$3500.00. We both entered the Senior Games (like the Olympics, but for seniors). I won two gold medals for my artwork and best of show for the best in visual arts. He will be playing golf this
week. That's it for now. Lord knows if I'll be able to put a picture on this thing, maybe Mike can show me how. Love to all. Teri