Category Archives: Friends

A Very LATE Post!

Good evening!

I have been pretty much down and out today. I don’t want to go in any details, but I just really don’t feel so good, and have slept most of my day away with a heating pad, ibuprofen, and my two girls!! Still not feeling much better! :-/

I got a surprise this evening, my sister Alice is spending the night, and I didn’t hear about it until about an hour before she got here. When she did get here she filled us on what she was doing, Jason and her are heading up to Forks, Washington tomorrow and back. They are going to help an old friend of a family get through a difficult time. So when they come back tomorrow, we are going to have a little somebody with them, and I can’t wait to meet her!!

Anyway, I am hoping that tomorrow gets a little back more to “normal”! I will be single for the day!! That can sometimes be fun!! 😉

Anyway, as I get back to spending time with my sis!!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! 😉

Friday Night Double Date!!!

Good evening!

I have had such a good day!!

My boss very generously gave me the afternoon off, and my friends Errin and Dawn picked me up so that I could join them on their drive up to Portland. I just LOVE Portland. Anyway, Errin had a business meeting, which gave Dawn and I some time to go hang out, have a nice long lunch, and do a little window shopping in Lloyd Center!

After we all got back into Salem, we met with my sweetie for dinner at the Road House (we love shucking the peanut shells onto the floor) and then all headed over to the movies. The idea was that they guys would go to a movie of their choice, and the girls would go to a movie of their choice. Well, it just happens to be that both the guys and the girls had decided to watch the same movie…

I Am Number Four.

What a FABULOUS movie! We really enjoyed it!! The movie did a great job investing you in the characters. It was easy to believe that the main hero, and his guardian had had a long standing bond, and you wanted the main romance to work out from the get go, well, at least I did!!! 😉

If you get the chance to go see this movie, do it! I don’t think you will be disappointed!!

Have a FABULOUS evening! 😉

Life Needs More Green Lights!

Good evening!!

I have had a day, but enough about me!

Tonight I thought I would do something a little different! I have this sign on my living room wall, and it says, “Life needs more green lights”. It is one of my FAVORITE pictures, but tonight, I wish this sign said, “Life needs more laughter!”

They say that laughter is the best medicine, and today my co-worker reminded me of this fact. In the middle of a rather stressful afternoon, Chris stopped and sent me something that really just made me almost fall of my chair laughing!!!

Here is that little ditty:

I was in Starbucks  recently when I suddenly realized I desperately needed to fart. The music was really, really loud, so I timed my farts with the beat of the music. After a couple of  songs, I started to feel much better. I finished my coffee, and noticed that everybody was staring  at me….

Then I suddenly realized that  I was listening to my  I-Pod.

Oh my goodness! That seemed to do it! We both busted up into a fit of laughter, and it seemed to really just lighten up our afternoons! None of the demands, or issues actually  went away, but laughing seemed to really put it all into perspective. This too shall pass.

I have always heard that laughter was the best medicine, but I decided that I wanted to look into it a little more this evening, and just see if I can find what the benefits actually are. Here are some of those that I found:

  • Laughter relaxes the whole body. A good, hearty laugh relieves physical tension and stress, leaving your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes after.
  • Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.
  • Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.
  • Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

Isn’t that AMAZING??? It would be so handy to bottle up little fits of giggles in pill form, so we can take, as needed!! Life would be a funnier place, I think!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!! 😉

A Savvy Life Morning!

Good morning!!

I woke up early this morning, and straight away picked up a book that I just started reading last night. The book is called Living the Savvy Life: The Savvy Woman’s Guide to Smart Spending and Rich Living by Melissa Tosetti. So far, it is a pretty good book! I think it is going to be a short and sweet read, but it is basically a reminder of a lot of things that I already know, but haven’t taken advantage of in my life. I will have to keep you posted on how that goes!!!

I am off to work late this morning!! I think I am near hitting burnout, and if we weren’t so short-handed I might have taken a personal day today. Instead, I decided to just let myself take an easy extra half an hour and don’t let myself get too anxious!! Work is still tricky right now, and I am not sure I see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I am sure things will work out – they always do!!!

OH, and I am saving the BEST for last!! It is my girlfriend, Dawn’s Birthday!!!

WHOO! HOO!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY CRAZY, ZANY, WACKY FRIEND!!!!!

I hope you have all that your heart’s wishes come true – ESPECIALLY TODAY!!!! I love you, CHICKA!!! 😉

With that said…

Have a FABULOUS day!!!

A Night of Worship with Family!

Good evening!

I have just gotten back from a Sunday night worship service at The Salvation Army in Albany, Oregon tonight!! I don’t know if you know this about me, but I grew up in the  Salvation Army church. My dad called us earlier in the week and asked me if we would come out this Sunday evening because they happened to have a combined service only about a 15 minute drive from our place – so of course Jason and I were in!!!

Jason and Trina

Myself and my Dad

Not only that, but my dad sang a solo this evening, and I was lucky enough to record him singing. My dad, and most of my family have been singers for as long as I can remember. But, my dad has, for the most part been the soloist of the family, and I haven’t had the chance to hear him sing for quite a while – so tonight has been a treat!!!

I did try and record it, but apparently my camera has a mind of it’s own and ate my video, and won’t spit it out!! DANG!! I know my Dad’s wife, Trudi recorded a copy of her own, so I will have to share it once I get a copy of that!!

Which is really a shame, because not only does my dad have a strong, rich voice, he plays guitar BEAUTIFULLY!! You see, my family is Hawaiian, and so my dad plays in a style that really incorporates the sound of slack-key. I can listen to my dad play guitar all day – it is Heaven in my ears!!

I have it on my life list to create a music CD with my dad in a recording studio. Tonight reminded me of that, and it also has inspired me to get on the ball and figure out how to make that happen! Hmmmm….

Here are some more pics I was able to capture this evening:

Trudi and Dad chatting up their peeps!

Faye, Lila, and my Dad

Jessica and Trina (they were so giggly, it was hard to get a clear picture!!!)

Jason and Trina being giggly!

Trina, Lila, and Myself

My dad waving his Salvation Army flag during a traditional upbeat hymn, a Salvation Army tradition!

Me “mothering” Trina, of course! 😉

Trina and I

and this guy is the guy I got to bring home with me – what a CUTIE!!! 😉

As I was posting pics this evening, I realize that I don’t really have hardly any pictures of Trudi, she is always so busy running around, setting things up, chatting with people!! I am going to have to be more stealthy and try capturing her next time I see her!! 😉

Tonight was a lot of fun, and I am so thankful that I was able to spend some time with some of my family! I can’t wait until next time!! OH, I will definitely post that video of my dad singing as soon as I can get my hands on a copy!!! 😉

Have a FABULOUS evening!

A Date with Tar-Jay!!

Good evening!

I have a pretty good day today!!

My sweetie and I had lunch with Willy and Adelle today to catch up!! Here are a couple of pics that we were able to snap before we parted ways today!!! 😉

Here is a pic of Jason, Willy, and Adelle.

Adelle and I.

And even though this one is a little blurry:

Jason, Willy, and myself!

After lunch, Willy and Adelle went home, Jason left to go hang out with his friends, and I made my way to one of my FAVORITE big brand store, Target – henceforth known as TAR-JAY!!! I went over there with ONE THING IN MIND!!! Picking up my copy of the new Adele album!!

WHOO! HOO! I made an effort to take the SUPER-LONG-WAY home just so I could have some time to listen to as much of this CD as possible!! I am glad I did – I am LOVING it!!!

Since getting home earlier this afternoon, I have had a VERY peaceful evening!! Reading, chatting with a couple of friends, and family members, hanging out with my girls, and later my sweetie!! I guess I just needed a moment of silence, and aloneness to be reminded about how GREAT my life really is, and how many blessings I really have!!

God is good!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! 😉

A COLD Happy Friday!!

Good morning!!

We are expecting record cold here in Oregon today, and possibly tomorrow – so I am bundling up to head to work this morning!!!

As I was laying in bed, trying to coax myself out of it’s deliciously warm blankets, I started thinking about recess when I was a little kid!! If recess was a profession, I would have be an expert in my field!!! I remember just being a ball of energy! I loved playing:

  • jump rope
  • hopscotch
  • Chinese jump rope
  • wall ball
  • four square
  • tether ball
  • balance beam
  • crawling tunnels
  • parallel bars
  • monkey bars
  • swings
  • H-O-R-S-E
  • kick ball
  • teeter-totter
  • hula hooping
  • big wheels
  • climbing trees
  • bicycles!!!

Man remembering all these just takes me back!!! Does that make me old?? 😉

At what point in your life do these activities leave your list of fun activities??? I am thinking that if I would have continued all or some of these activities, I would not have had the issue with my weight that I do now, and I would presume that the American culture, as a whole, would benefit from the health benefits that these activities provide!! Ok, so now that I am 35 years old, how weird would it seem to see me doing double dutch, or throwing my hopscotch marker, or playing a rowdy game of wall ball??? Who cares if it looks weird, I think I am going to give it a go! I wonder if the condo association would care if I used chalk to draw out my four square grid on the ground?? Having that would just leave me to go round up a friend or two who would be willing to come out and “play”!!!

As I dream about incorporating some recess activities into my regular day, I would LOVE to hear some of your FAVORITE recess activities as a kid! Do you still do any of them? If not, what made you stop?

Have a FABULOUS day!!! 😉

Another Outfit of the Day!

Good morning!!

After many false starts this week, it is ACTUALLY Friday!!! YEAH!!! I am sooooo glad!!! Not to say that I am not going to have to work this weekend, but at least I don’t HAVE to unless I WANT to!! (How else am I going to get a handle on my workload right now???) Anyway, I can feel it in my bones that today is going to be a VERY GOOD day!!! 😉

Do you like my pic??? I decided that I really needed a red-lip day!!! Nothing bad could ever happen while you have on your red lips!!! LOL!!

I have been trying to post a different outfit everyday, and I want to say thank you for all of the feedback I have been getting on my these outfits. It is one thing to think that you look a certain way in your mirror, shocking to see what you actually look like in a photograph, and encouraging to hear what you look like, and how you can JAZZ it up from people who can stand back and look at you through new eyes. So again, I thank you!!!! 😉

Here is today’s outfit of the day:

Cardigan: Torrid
Tank: Lane Bryant
Pants: Catherine’s
Shoes: UHM… I don’t remember
Glasses: Vogue
Earrings: Claire’s
Bracelets: Torrid

Just looking at this picture, I can really tell that I am cross between my mother and father!! Dad’s build, mom’s arms, dad’s face/smile (except for the makeup!), mom’s attitude!! 😉 I can also see, looking at this picture, that I really dress for comfort, and style may be a secondary after thought, which is funny, because I have always thought that I have had a classic kind of look. Forgive the walking shoes – I wear these a lot, seeing that I work at a hospital and I have to be able to get a round as quickly as possible, at the drop of a hat. Hmmmm…any thoughts on the rest of the outfit?? 😉

Well, last evening I had the opportunity to take a couple of pics of Jason and I with Alex and the kids, and I wanted to share a couple of them with you this morning!!

This is our nephew, Christopher, my Sweetie, Jason, and our niece, Victoria!! It was the last photo of the day, and Chris HATES getting his picture taken and both Jason and V were sick, soooooo all-in-all, I think it is a pretty cute pic!!! Don’t they all look sweet? Don’t let them fool you – they are all lil’ stinkers!!! LOL!! 😉

This is my sis, Alex, and myself! I think this may be the BEST picture I have of the two of us!!! She’s my girrrrrl!!! I love you sissy!!!

As I zip off to work…

Have a FABULOUS day!!! 😉

Dinner at the Manse!

Good evening!

Ok, so it wasn’t exactly at the manse, it was a condo, but it was dinner, and it was dinner with FAMILY!!! Family means so much to me, I hope that anyone who has ever read my blog knows that about me!! SO WHEN ARE YOU ALL MOVING TO SALEM ALREADY????? Anyway, I digress. Jason made his KILLER barbecue chicken legs, which are simply DELECTABLE!!! I can’t believe he braved this freezing weather to stand outside and cook over the grill!!! HE IS SUCH A GOOD MAN!!!

He is also a SICK man! Him, and most of the rest of my family have a NASTY bug that is causing them to cough, and hack, and snarf, and snot, and sneeze! It is a SYMPHONY of DISGUSTINGNESS!!! I think the only reason I haven’t caught the bug is that I have just been TOO DAMN BUSY to hold still long enough to catch the little bugger!! THANK GOODNESS!!! Anyway, even though he is feeling a little under the weather, he did a FABULOUS job cooking all of us dinner!! You always know that he has done a good job whenever our nephew, Christopher – AKA the word’s pickiest eater – eats 2nds – I think tonight, he might have had 3rds!! THAT HUBBY-O-MINE MAY DESERVE A TROPHY!!! 😉

Tonight I also got to do something that was A LOT of fun, and that was help my sissy, build her blog!!! I do have her address, but it is not finished being built yet! When it done, and she gives me the thumbs up – I am going to share it with all of you!!! 😉 She is such an amazing and joyful person!! She is one of those people that you can just stand in her presence and  she makes you feel, just by being there, one of the most important people in the world!! What a blessing she has been to me and my husband!!! She moves to Arizona in two days, and I wish and her kiddos ALL THE VERY BEST!!! I can’t wait until we have out first girls’ weekend get together in California!! I can guarantee you right now, it is not going to be SOON ENOUGH!!! I love sissy!!!! 😉

As I am blogging this evening, Jason is busy cleaning up the kitchen, and I am loudly serenading him with one of my many, self-composed creations!!! A talent that I am pretty sure that most of you never even knew that I had!! Well, ok “talent” might be a bit of a stretch, but singing silly little ditties that I make up on the spot in the style of a lounge singer is one of my many past times! Great timeless songs such as “The lady in the Turban On the Toilet In Tinsel Town”, or “I’m Tired”. Tonight I composed a new little number called “I Get No Love From You”, which basically means – “HEY, PAY ATTENTION TO ME!!!! I AM NEEDY!!! LOOK AT ME!!” Ok, so my “talent” may actually mean I need to see a psychotherapist, but it makes my hubby smile, and isn’t that all that matters!?!?!?! LOL!!!! 😉

Ok, with that silliness out of the way, I am off to go get ready for bed!!

Have a FABULOUS evening!!! 😉