I guess I forgot to Blog yesterday. Oh, now I know why...I watched Claire all day and picked up Finn from school and watched him too until about 6PM A long day 9am -6pm. Carolyn and Dana took the day off to spend it together.
In the morning Claire and I went food shopping for Carolyn than we went to lunch with my friend Barbara than got Finn from school . We went for a walk etc. I made Italian dinner for all when C&D came home.
Today I did next to nothing. Played some ,"Can See..." still stuck on Jesse and his pen. than I cleaned up around here. I went to Mass at 4 pm ,came home ,took a bath and that is all.
Not a bad day.

What in the hell is SBTVD?
I just got a post from them on this Blog. Ugh! I won't openit.

Today I took Clarie to the park group and it was fun. Lots of young mothers and one other Grandmother who happens to be a RN for NY. She has lived in Santa Barbara for 40yrs.

This afternoon I went to my ,Strengths Meeting at the church. We discussed it we thought our ,"talents" described us. I think mine did and I think I have used my during my life even it they did not have names.
I found out the Gallop people also do one which is NOT faith based. A women in my group has taken it for her job. I forget what she does,but she did say she goes all over the world.
Rosemary, I asked the lady who lived in Asia where she lived and she said of all places, Singapore !
Her husband was a exec for a large shipping co. She started swimming schools there and in , Hong Kong! She is thinking of moving back to Singapore.

today I took lunch to my friend Barbra's house. Picked it up at Subway.
She lives in a over 55 condo place right on a little golf course. We sit out on her patio ,eat, talk and occasionally an old golfer comes along.
Got gas at the cheap place and it cost, $43.00 to fill up my little Ford Taurus! $3.83 per/gal.
Other than that I played ,Can You see what I see?

Watched Claire all day. She is so cute. She is beginning to say a lot more words. "Hot, work and walk" are some of her new ones. We went to the bank, than did a little shopping. after her nap we played in the yard. She always finds a way to do everything she wants to do. She used my camera to take lots of pictures of the grass. Just green grass, nothing else.
Finn taught her how to pick her nose and she will do it whenever he asks her.
Now I am getting hooked on, Can You See What I See. Must get back to it.

Carolyn and Claire came over this morning and we went to, The Daily Grind, for breakfast. It's a neat very busy restaurant only a block from my house.
Today I am celebrating. 26 years ago today I stopped drinking.
After trying for several years , I was having lunch with Connie Halpin. We had just ordered martinis, as my came I said to myself, "this is the last drink I am going to have". It was.

Carolyn called me last night to tell me this conversation.
Finn: "Mom, how come every time Nana says,"shit" she says ,"sorry".
Carolyn: "because its a bad word".
Finn: "What does it mean"?
Carolyn:" Poop"
Finn" "Oh".

Today was so nice. 80 degrees with lots of sunshine.
Dana went to see his mother.
Carolyn,Finn, Claire and I went on a mission to find shoes for Claire. She has grown out of all of her shoes and sneakers. We had gone to Macy's and Nortstoms yesterday but, Claire was having none of it. She is very strong willed and its just not worth it to try to get her to put on shoes. Well, today we went to Payless and she ended up getting three pairs. Maryjanes, sneaks and sandals and Finn got vans and flip-flops.
Than we went back to Carolyns and got out the little pool and Slip-slider. They had fun. I had fun watching them. Finn wanted me to go on the Slip-slide. You run up to it and than belly-flop onto this long plastic thing that has water running in it. I declined to try it.Maybe next time.

today I did not do much. Went to a few Yard Sales. Got a magazine rack for my room. Its real small so I can put it on the side of my bed. Also got the DVD, Lord of the Rings for
Finn. I don't think he has it yet. Than I came and read, The Last Lecture. It made me sad. The guy is 47 and dying. He really wrote the book for his three little kids. When Wes died on one ever told the patients they were dying. We only talked together about it for a very short time. I think he would have told his children the same type of things Pausch tells his. Oh well....

Spent the day shopping...sort of... I went to Cosco and only bought Pepsi and broccoli. Than to Borders where I bought ,"The Last Lecture" and some books for Finn and Claire. Later Carolyn and Claire and I went downtown to look for new shoes for Claire. We could not find any that seemed comfortable for her. I kept asking the clerks where the shoe x-ray machines were and they looked at me like I was nuts. I don't get it. When we were kids all Kinney's Shoe stores had x-ray machines so the mother could see if the shoes fit.
I am only playing computer games the rest of today.

Today was quite a day!
First I took Claire to the " Mommy and Me " class. She went up on a little bridge to get to the slide and I had to go around to get her at the bottom. Well, I tripped right onto my face. My glasses went into my face and I was bleeding. Everyone was very nice but I was a little shaken up. I did stay for the morning and Claire had a good time.

Than at 3PM I went to the church for my first meeting of ,"The Living your Strengths Journey".
I found it very interesting. It's object is to find your strengths and not worry about your weaknesses. Based on the thought, that you are at your best when you do what you naturally do best.
There were 16 people and the cute young priest. Each person introduced themselves. I told about moving here from NJ and that I was a Peds and Hospice nurse in my day. Strangely, the next two women each spoke about their sons who had died in the last three years.
I talked to them after the meeting.

We discussed the word, vulnerability. The book say that accepting that we are vulnerable frees us to fulfill our true potential.
We have a workbook and daily reflections. I'll keep you informed.

Went to lunch with Barbara. I had salad, I am happy to tell you.
I can't find my CPR card and I need it so I had to call my old company to get a copy. Spoke with,Linda who has been there forever. She filled me in on all the people who have left since I worked last year. Of course everyone left under bad conditions. The owner is very difficult. When business is bad she cuts back hours, ( she cut mine in half) than she gets upset if you don't go for it. Ugh! Nursing agencies are all nuts. I am NOT talking about the care patients receive. I am talking about the working conditions.

Today Claire and I went to visit my friend, Catherine. she had Carpel Tunnel surgery last week and wanted the bandages changed, but did not want to go to the doctor to have it done. So I changed them . She has 8 stitches. I cleaned it up and put the splint back on. She is also trying to sell her house so we talked about real estate for a while. Claire was a little angel.
I took her home and gave her a nap. When she woke up it was time to pick up Finn from school.
Claire loves to go to school. Everybody makes a fuss over her. There are three little girls in first grade who fight to take care of her. So cute.

Went to lunch with Debbie. I worked with her at Hospice. We have lunch every couple of months.
She fills me in on all of the latest gossip . We went to a new bakery place. Very good. I had grilled cheese and salad. I know, I should have skipped the grilled cheese.
Than I went and got the fuses fixed in my car. I could not use the lighter, that I need for my new GPS. It is so great. If you go the wrong way it will program you a different way. I love all of the new stuff. Also signed up for a," Strength Class" at my church. This is something started by The Gallup Poll. First I took a test online that takes about 30mins. where you find out what your own strengths are. My were, Communication, Developer, WOO, (means winning people over!),Positivity and Responsibility. the purpose of the classes is to lean how to use your talents in the community . I think it will be a good thing for me.

Got back late yesterday from the funeral of Dana's father. The memorial service was so nice. The large church was filled and several of his friends and business associates spoke . afterwards there was a garden lunch in the garden of their home. If I did not let you know his obit was in Fridays LA Times. (Google- Stephen Gamble).
I stayed at Steve and Robyn's and had a nice time. We had breakfast at a neat local place called,"Dusty's.
Today, Carolyn and the kids went to a neat little park and than to the supermarket.

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Oh,man...! I forgot to let the whole world know that I reached level 71 on Word Slinger !
I did it yesterday and forgot to blog. Pat this was before I read your blog. Please remember I have been playing this everyday for about six months. It took me over two months to get from 70 to 71. I also do not care what my score is, in fact I never even look at the score.

Today I prepared to go to Pasadena for the funeral. I will stay at Steve and Robyn's. I have to drive because I have lots of stuff that Dana and Carolyn need. Like his suit. He thought he was going down to be with his dad this week.
Stephen was asked to be an usher at the church. I think lots of people will be there. He was well and known and very respected in the area.
I'll miss him.

I cleaned out my car than took it to the car wash. This is a big deal for me because I only get it washed twice a year. Actually I did not want to be embarrassed when I go to LA.
I plan on going down on Thurs.
Here is the info on one of the organizations started by Dana's dad. You will have to Google it because I don't know how to send the link.
National Health Foundation