Today would have been my brother’s 65th birthday. Richard “Dickie” was seven years older than me, which when you are a child seemed like a million, billion, years.
Melodie was just two years younger, and she and Dickie were really close. When I was small, they took pretty good care of their little sister.
Melodie, Dickie and me.
My brother was born prematurely and was very small. His birth was a tough one, and he had life long after effects from it.
My brother, was well loved by many. The one thing I can say is that he tried hard, always and he loved deeply.
He married a woman with four kids, and I know he loved each and every one of them. Together they had two sons. They will unfortunately never really know how proud and happy he was the days they were born. You see, when he was in his early twenties he became ill with cancer.
He loved to cook and he loved his music. Although he never could learn to read music, all he had to do was hear something once and he could play it either on the guitar or the piano.
He learned he had cancer at the age of 26. On April 1st, April Fools Day. And he fought long and hard to win his battle against that dreaded disease. Unfortunately, back in 1977, cancer treatment was brutally hard, and seldom worked on Lymphoma and Leukemia.
Dickie passed from this life to the next on April 2nd 1978. We miss you, Dickie and hope you are happy and celebrating with all of the family up there in Heaven.
This was a great weekend. Mandy hosted the party for Hubby and we got to spend time with the kids. Mandy and Matt and the grands, Savi and Quinn.
Bonus, of course was seeing my sister, Melodie and her husband, Ron, and my cousin, Janet, who is like a sister to me. It was time we don’t often get, and it was time well spent.
Anyway, this family time got me thinking about how fortunate we are to have this wonderful family. It may be a small family, but it is an awesome one!
So many people have no one, or perhaps they do, but take them for granted. I am so blessed. I know the wonderful family I have, and I thank God every day for each and every one of them.
Yesterday I was able to surprise Hubby with a mini birthday party. We had just the immediate family and it was wonderful!
Mandy got the best marinated chicken and beef tips, and I made my potato salad and Janet brought her mango black bean salad (drool!) and my sister, Mel made the Angel cake with strawberries. The weather was wonderful, sunny and warm, and we sat outside, while Matt cooked on the grill, and then ate our lunch. It was perfect!
Savannah sang two songs for us, and she was wonderful! I could feel myself getting all teary eyed. I just love her so much.
And Quinn has grown so much! I did my share of holding, burping and picture taking. I’m amazed at how quickly he is growing!
So, thank you to all of my family, Mandy, Matt, Mel, Ron, Janet and the two children, Savi and Quinn for making today so special for Papa. He loved it!
Another busy week went by. Appointments, laundry, housework, cooking and my first weigh in at Weight Watchers since starting their new plan. Here are all the details!
Tuesday found me off to the eye doctor’s office to be checked for changes in my prescription. There was a significant change. So…..New glasses were in order. My frames were not comfortable, or big enough to give me a good visual field. So I was willing to spend a little on some frames this year, as it was not my year to get new frames with my insurance.
I found the cutest light pink, wire frames. While I was being fitted for those, the sales clerk mentioned that they were having a special buy one get one 20% off. So I found the funkiest frames for sunglasses and ordered those too. They’ll be in around May 3rd.
After finishing up with the glasses, I was forced to drive home in a wild Spring Snow Storm! Yikes! The roads were bad and I was nervous, but I made it just fine!
I made more of Hubby’s favorite Lentil soup. I made a double batch this time, and froze a large container.
I weighed in on Wednesday at our meeting. I was so nervous and I just knew I would cry if I didn’t do well. I worked so hard this past week. I weighed, measured, and counted every point I put into my mouth. I also tried to make good choices. I got to class, and stripped down to my shorts and tank top, and stepped onto the scale. I was down 4.6 pounds! Needless to say, I have been walking on clouds ever since.
I was looking through old pictures and I came across this one that I had put together a few years back. It is of my Uncle Bob on the left, and my Grandma Honey, holding my mother, on the right.
They are all long gone from this earth now, but never will they be forgotten. All three had such an impact on my life and so many other lives in my family.
1. This is the last Hodgepodge in April. Share something you learned this month.
I’m reading a book about singer/songwriter Harry Nilsson. I was amazed to learn that he was really gifted with numbers, working in the early banking/computer department handling deposits and withdrawals. I also learned that he had an Eidetic Memory. (Known as a photographic memory, but with more precision, like exact dates, times, etc.) Do you remember Harry Nilsson?
2. It’s National Poetry Month, and we all know you can’t escape an April Hodgepodge without a little poetry. Keeping the first line as is, change the rest of the wording in this familiar rhyme to make it your own – ‘Hickory Dickory Dock…
The dog ran up the clock, The clock struck four, the dackel did roar, hickory, dickory, dock!
3. What were one or two rules in the home you grew up in? Growing up, did you feel your parents were strict? Looking back do you still see it that way?
Looking back to the 1960’s, the big rule was that you had to be home before dark, or when Mom rang the dinner bell. This meant that one had to be in the neighborhood, and close enough to hear the bell. I somehow made it and I don’t recall getting into trouble for that. Of course, now a days, you can’t just let your kids out to roam the neighborhood like we did. It just wouldn’t be safe.
4. Tell us about a kitchen or cooking disaster or mishap you’ve experienced. Do you have many from which to choose?
This goes back to my first marriage. I decided to try a recipe I saw in a magazine for a tuna roll. Looked easy enough. I chopped and cutup things and then got to the “roll” part. Well, as I started to roll it, and the tuna “roll” just fell apart! Oh it was terrible! I was mortified. Mostly because my former husband was a better cook than I was then. Anyway, he came home, and didn’t really say anything I can recall, but we grabbed the kids and went out for dinner.
No, I really don’t have too many disasters. I’ve spent time, and I’ve taught myself to cook. It’s now something I enjoy doing. Especially for large groups of people.
5. Plant a kiss, plant doubt, plant a tree, plant yourself somewhere…which on the list have you most recently planted?
Kiss. Hubby, grandchildren, dog, and I am a firm believer of showing your love for your family and friends.
6. What’s your most worn item of clothing this time of year? Are you tired of it?
My three season jacket. I am just sick to death of it! Enough said!
7. I’m wrapping up the A-Z Blog Challenge this month and our Hodgepodge lands on letter W. What’s one word beginning with W that describes you in some way? How about a word to describe your home, also beginning with W?
Welcoming. I would like to think that my family and friends are always welcomed by me.
8. Insert your own random thought here.
It’s already been a busy week for me. Tuesday I ordered new glasses and sunglasses. Special deal, very cheap. And I am very happy. My prescription changes so often that new glasses each year are a real must! Today is my first weigh in after my first week on the new Weight Watchers program. I have weighed, measured, and counted my points. I’m hopeful!
Today is the seventh birthday of Anneliese’s only litter of pups. Bogart, Baerbel, Birgit (AKA: Ali) and Baron. Time has flown by! Here is a little video so you can take a walk down memory lane with me, and with their owners!
I have managed to get through the entire weekend with no deviation from the Weight Watchers Plan. Each day I try to find new things to add, and at the same time, keep myself feeling full and satisfied.
My weigh in is on Wednesday, and I am both excited and nervous about doing that. I hope that I have a really good loss, so that it will show me that what I am doing is working and encourage me to continue.
Worst case scenario, would find me losing .2 pounds or no loss, after a week of really working the program. I really have my fingers crossed.
I saw a program on the TV the other day. The narrative said, “You didn’t gain all this weight overnight. You cannot expect to lose it overnight.”
Well, I’m here to tell you, that on a good weekend, I can gain ten pounds! Now I am sure that even on a good weekend, following Weight Watchers to the maximum, I could never lose that much!
So, I will just keep working on the plan, and I hope time will be my friend, and I will see some real progress.
I’ve truly embraced the new Smart Points Weight Watcher plan. I have weighed, measured, and counted all my points. I’m trying to make good choices, eat wholesome foods and move more.
In case no one has mentioned this to you, middle age comes with some benefits. No more birth control, having a few extra minutes in your day for reading, or gardening, or maybe even the ability to take off on a trip, short notice, because your kids have grown and gone.
However, it also comes with your metabolism deciding to go on strike. I mean, it just sits there laughing at you, at the same time your appetite only wants chocolate, carbohydrates and a nice cocktail at the end of each day!
Oh yes, middle age be damned!
However, I decided to shoo out the Carb Junkie and get that metabolism revved and going again! So, I am making some changes. If I am lucky, this time, it will work!
Another week has flown by, and this morning I am off to spend time with my favorite little man, Quinn! But this week I have the added bonus of getting to spend some time with Savannah too! I am so glad. I’ve missed seeing her.
My two darlings!
So as this week ends, here are some of my thoughts about current events and happenings.
I found the most wonderful book for Savannah. It is such an awesome book, and I will tell you all about it, after I read it to her tomorrow. It is just a truly feel good book!
I was shocked to learn that the singer Prince passed away on Thursday. Prince is the same age as me, and his music was part of my growing up. My favorite was “Raspberry Beret”. You could dance and dance to that. He will be missed.
Also this week we lost Doris Roberts, who played Raymond’s mother on the TV show, “Everybody Loves Raymond”. She was so talented and could do nearly anything. It was nice to know that she simply went to sleep and passed from this world to the next.
Hubby has asked me to cook a few dishes that he likes this week. Actually I enjoyed the cooking. ANd he enjoyed the eating.
I went back to Weight Watchers this week and I am making every attempt to lose this weight. I am now journaling and planning what I am eating. I simply have to do this.
So that was my week. How was yours? Hopefully it was good, and the weekend ahead will also be great!
