Long time no blog!

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted an actual blog... what's going on?? I have had some great times recently. Beginning with a weekend retreat March 6th to 8th with my swell sisters! Yahoo!!!! I haven't laughed that hard for so long in a really long time. What a hoot! We stayed in a vacation home owned by the brother of my swell sister Jen. It was a beautiful old home in McCloud CA, 5 bedrooms 2 baths. The sky was blue, Mt Shasta just glowed in the sunlight. The first night, Friday, we stayed up and talked, watched the movie Frida about Frida Kahlo, a famous woman artist from Mexico. I think I went to bed around 1. But Saturday was a whole different story! We were up till after 5am! I have not stayed up that late in years… and because Rebecca had to get home on Sunday semi early, we got up at 8am to come home… so yes I had about 2 1/2 or 3 hours sleep. I was tired for days after but it was all worth it! We played games, did karaoke, did art, laughed, danced, and even had a snow ball fight at 2 in the morning… ok, I just watched but it was fun! The weekend went by really fast. We are planning to do it again in the summer, 3 nights this time!

Last weekend was a party weekend also, Friday night was the retirement party for a long time friend. Rick. He had a big bash… great food, good music (one of my hubby's bands), good company! I danced my socks off… in fact I hurt my foot doing that. It is better, but I'm still limping a little! Saturday was my dear mother in laws birthday and we had a very nice dinner with her and much of the rest of our family. She had a wonderful night I think, it was so nice to spend with her. Yummy food again and great company!

Lindsey is in Oklahoma City right now. She was supposed to be home last night, but their connecting flight through Denver was snowed out. Or in… I am not sure. Lindsey and Kelsi, her girlfriend, went on Wednesday to check out the University there. Kelsi has been accepted to the theater department, she is studying to be a stage manager and apparently that is 'the' school to go to. So Kelsi will start in the Fall. They are coming home tomorrow now. Gave them an extra couple of days to explore the campus and city. I am taking care of my granddogger while they are gone. Lindsey got a puppy a little over a month ago. So, I am watching Pixi while she is gone. She is so cute!!! But I am pooped! I forgot how much energy a puppy has!!! She loves to play with Bosco and Chester.

I did get some sad news recently from one of my best friends since 6th grade, Carolee. Her sister Mary Ann passed away. Mary was 48 and never expected to live as long as she did. She was a down syndrome baby and born with a hole in her heart. They were told if she lived to be 10 she could have open heart surgery, well she did. After the surgery they were told she probably would not live for very many more years. Well, 38 years later, boy she really beat the odds! Mary was a bright star with a open loving heart. She had a very mischievous sense of humor, and love to dance! In thinking about Mary I realized how much she helped to make me who I am today. I was probably 11 when I met Mary, she would have been 7. Growing up with her taught me to be compassionate to others who are not like me. She taught me about the power of laughter and brought so much of it to my life. Being a witness and recipient of her love taught me how to love unconditionally. Her hugs were always heartfelt and her joy for life always so very pure. It has always given me something to aspire to. I will always be grateful to have had Mary in my life. I know she is now an angel and will watch over us all. If I can do one thing to honor Mary in my life it would be to live true, love openly, and dance like there is no tomorrow. Mary, I am going to do just that, we will all miss you very much.