I really am stitching!

I was able to get a lot done on a pink daygown from Jeannie Baumeister while I was in Cambria. The picture is proof that I was really stitching!

We're home

After a wonderful visit with my family in Cambria, California, we headed back to Monterey the day after Thanksgiving. We were mere blocks from the Naval Postgraduate School's historic hotel where we had a reservation when the phone rang. It was NPS stating that there was a water main break and we couldn't stay there. We ended up at the Army Lodge at the Presidio of Monterey. Decent room but not as nice as the Navy.

The next morning we got up and had a wonderful breakfast in Monterey. We drove on up to San Jose and got to the airport very early. We checked in and settled in for a wait.

Our flight from San Jose to Phoenix was uneventful. We got to the gate in Phoenix, much busier airport than in San Jose, in plenty of time. US Airways began boarding. We were in Zone 3. All of a sudden, the jetway door closed and no one was allowed to get on the plane. They had already boarded first class and people traveling with small children. Finally they announced that there were "crew issues" and they hoped to have them resolved soon. John went to the counter after awhile and was told that the First Officer wouldn't fly with the Captain. We then saw the Captain storm off and a new one showed up. Boarding resumed and we took off.

About a half hour into the flight, the Flight Attendant announced that there was a medical emergency in First Class and if there was a doctor, nurse or EMT on the flight to please come to First Class. A nurse and a doctor showed up. The nurse went back to her seat and the doctor walked up and down the aisle with his stethescope. I guess they decided that the poor woman wasn't too sick to make it to DFW so the flight continued. We were held up while the EMTs at DFW took her off the plane on a stretcher, but that was fine. We were home.

While trying to unpack my suitcase at 1 am, I discovered that the nice people at TSA had searched my suitcase... a perfect ending to a day of drama!

Cowboys Fan

Most people who know me well are well aware of the fact that I am a diehard Dallas Cowboys fan. I even survived the 1-15 season in 1989 while we were living in Washington DC. This year is no different. They are horrible, but I'm still a Cowboys fan, but it is getting harder. At least in 1989 Troy Aikman was a rookie and they were TRYING to build a team, this year, well, I don't know what they're doing or what they're problem is.

I'm still a fan, but it's getting harder and harder.

Aftermath

The house is slowly getting back to normal. I amazed at what needs to be cleaned and how badly it needs to be cleaned! Dust is insidious, it gets into every little nook and cranny in the entire house.

It's also been really rainy here the last two days. It's also turned cold. I sleep so much better when it gets cold, but the rainy weather makes me wish I could take a nap.

It's Done

Relief. The faucet is in and working. We have running water in the kitchen. All that's left is the hardware for the cabinets and drawers. It's been 2.5 months and I'm ready. Sorry for the picture of the faucet, but I took it with my phone. Would I do it all over again? Yes, I'm that pleased with the result, but I wouldn't do it for a long time...

Kitchen Update

Well, it's almost finished. The appliances are in and we're slowly but surely putting stuff away. Friday the electrical stuff, lights, etc., will be done. The faucet and cabinet hardware are about 2 weeks away. It's a bit odd to have to go get water from the utility room, but the faucet will be worth the wait!

Changes

This week there have been lots of changes at my house. The plastic walls are down, the painting is almost finished. We have all the new windows that we ordered. We have about a week and a half to go on this process, not counting the kitchen faucet. That could take up to three weeks... My attitude has changed as I see the end of the process of remodeling, but I'm not sure when Phase 2 will start because I can't see going through this again.

One of my daughters lost her grandma in law this week. This one is particularly hard because we are so close to our son-in-law's parents. His mom lost her mom. My heart breaks for her because I have been there. My daughter is hurting because her daughter will never meet her great-grandmother....I so understand that hurt because my mom will never meet my granddaughter either.

Friends are the stability of life. I cannot stress enough the need to have friends. There have been times in my life when I haven't had friends and those were desolate times. Today I've had calls from two friends and I know that my daughter's mother-in-law who just lost her mom and I are connected by the heart. Tuesday I had the privilege to spend time with 3 friends to celebrate the birthday of one of them. Next Wednesday we are going to lunch. I need that time with friends. That 5 year span I had without friends still causes pain in my heart. When I was at my lowest of lows, 3 friends were there and I will never forget that. Friends are the stability of life.

Our life has been changed with the friends we have made here. In some ways, the remodel is because we will be hosting those friends at a get-together in February. Friends are that important.