Brendan's Signing Party

Wow, what a week this has been for me! And it has been made wonderful for me by grandsons!

On Tuesday night Brendan had his "Signing Party". He has contracted with Iona College in New York to play goalkeeper for their soccer team and they will give him a scholarship to study. Nice trade!

On Tuesday it was the official day for all young athletes to sign the documents aligning them to their schools and their teams. We were all there to witness as Brendan signed all those papers promising to play his hardest and his best for the Iona College Gaels! Go Gaels!

This was a really big moment for Brendan and was the culmination of many years of working hard for his goal. Joining him on Tuesday evening were his long time trainer, Dusty Hudock (goalkeeper for the Charleston Battery) and his coach, Clark Brisson. Brendan had a special thanks to them for all the help, guidance and encouragement they have offered through the years.

Congratulations, Brendan and good luck in New York. We will miss you very much and we will pray that you don't freeze to death!

Here He Is!! Justin James Sullivan

Our newest redhead! Just born a couple of hours ago! My god, I love internet and camera phones!

Announcing!!! Justin James Sullivan

My newest grandson has joined the family. Justin James Sullivan was born about 3:30 Eastern Time. He weighs 7 lbs 9 oz and and is 20 inches long. I think that is perfect! And like his brother and his mother, he is a red-head! Yeah!

As soon as I get some pictures, of course I will post them! I am so excited!!!

Jewelery Making

Here are some pictures of my first tries at this hobby. I am still learning and have a ways to go but it sure is fun. I make a lot of bracelets because I can wear them. I don't really wear necklaces because I have to wear the lanyards at work and I had to give up earrings years ago because of allergies. So bracelets are a big hit with me. I am just having so much fun with this and it is not terribly expensive once you get your basics purchased.

We have found a new store that has lots and lots of the natural stones like the rust agate below that I love so I am going to be spending more time there in the future!













I made this purple necklace and earrings from an old bracelet from Mexico days.

On The Mend

I went back to work today for half a day and then worked from home. I am feeling better but still have a cough and am tired. Time.

Flowers

My company, Scientific Research Corporation, sent me these lovely flowers. They are helping me just stay home and try to get better.

Aren't I lucky to work for such great people?!!

Pneumonia

I have not been feeling well and yesterday my boss finally insisted I go to the doctors and I guess it was a good thing because I have pneumonia. I still am in denial of it. I never get sick. I didn't even have any Tylenol in the house and never thought of taking it. No thermometer either. I just kept working thinking it would go away. Years ago I was really really sick and went to the doctors in my bathrobe. He told me that I had bronchitis and that there was nothing he could do. Go home and rest. It made me very angry and made a lasting impression. I just don't go to doctors. This last year I started going for allergies and didn't get very good results so had sworn off them again. Well, I guess sometimes they are better now! They even checked me for flu - I didn't know there was a test for that!

So, Kirby is taking good care of me and made me chicken soup. I slept a lot yesterday and am better today. Hopefully back to work tomorrow. This is not the way I want to spend my time off! But it does give me lots of blogging and facebook time!

Babies and Beads

Does everyone know that I will be having a wonderful little grandson this month?!! I am so excited and can hardly wait. My son, Ryan, and his wife, Lisa, will be having a little one soon - probably on the 10th of February if all goes according to plan - or it could be a little sooner. I will then have 4 grandsons ranging in age from 0 to 18 years. Wow, is that not the way to do it? One out and one in! (Brendan will leave for college in August.) I will have young grandsons for about 40 years! Cool - if I can live that long!

Of course as soon as this little guy makes his appearance you will all be the first to hear about it. It won't be long now!

And since what I do on weekends anymore is beading with Christie I thought I would show you some pretty pictures. I think what I love about it is all the pretty beads. I don't wear much jewelry - never have. So it is in the looking at it and the making it that I love - not the wearing it. But I do wear it!

Tacos and Trains

Last weekend the Shumbies came over for a Taco Feed and then we all played Mexican Train. I love playing Train and was missing it as it had been weeks and weeks since the last game. I almost never win in points but as I always say, "She who has the most fun, wins", so I always win no matter how good my points are. Actually, I think Kirby had the best "Score" but I really did win because I had so much fun. I love that silly game. Thank you Rick and Tanya for teaching it to us and totally addicting us.
In this picture - Brendan, Christie, Me but you can't see me because I am taking the picture, Casey, Michael and Kirby.





Here is my wonderful Kirby! Love that man!










And my beautiful daughter, Christie. (with Brendan in the background)














Here is Casey who is 16 now and a junior in high school. Don't you just love that light crown on his head?








And Michael who has been walking and working out regularly and looks terrific!



















I didn't get a picture of Brendan or me. Next time!

And of course, no posting is complete without a picture of the dogs. Socks on the left and Jake on the right. They are pooped after all the fun and games of running, tag, tug of war and doctor (where they operate on all the stuffed animals!)
Notice that I still don't have my new carpet!

In Memory of Barb

It has been almost three years now since I set out to find a loving home for my wonderful black dog, Holly. Through a friend who worked at the marina, Mary Lee, we met Barb and Tom. They were thinking of getting another dog as their "Patches" was getting on in years. We met just a couple of times and they fell in love with Holly. In mid May 2006, we took Holly to their home in Maryland to begin her new life and a couple of days later we sailed away without her. Because of the love of Barb and Tom, we were able to know that our girl was going to be OK.

Barb and I stayed in touch, talking often by phone and sharing emails and pictures. Not long after Holly went to live with them, they lost their little guy. Soon Little Patches came to share their home and their love. They all set out to adventure around the country together in their RV - from the Atlantic to the Pacific they traveled with their new family. Holly adapted so well to having a little brother to raise and in all her pictures it was so obvious that she was happy. And I was always so grateful to Barb and Tom for the love they gave her.

Barb and I always referred to Holly as "Our Girl". We shared the love of a wonderful and faithful friend.

Last September Barb was diagnosed with Lung Cancer. She fought the good fight and almost fooled the gods with her determination and wonderful attitude. Saturday morning, January 24th, Barb slipped from us. Those of us who knew her will always miss her upbeat attitude and her sense of humor. We will also miss her friendship. I was not fortunate enough to know Barb for very long but we shared "Our Girl" and I will always love her for that!