Wastin' Away Again

We had so much fun at the Jimmy Buffett concert last year, we decided to go back to Las Vegas and do it again. We did better with our costumes than we did last time. Maybe next year we will actually find the steet party!

Camping - Then and Now

When Mark and I were dating and engaged, we used to go camping almost every weekend with friends. We would get everything ready to go on Thursday night and set it at the front door. On Friday, after work, we would just load up the truck and head out for the mountains in southeast New Mexico.
We hadn't gone camping together in a long time, but a few weeks ago we decided to go up to Big Lake and camp for two nights. We had a great time fishing, hiking, getting a fire going, waking up at 3 a.m. to thunderstorms with a lot of lightning, thunder and rain pounding on the roof of our pop-up camper...

Just like old times, except for a few minor details.

These pictures will show you what I mean:

Mark & our tent in 1979

Me & our pop-up 2008

Mark fishing then and now: Camp cooking...... You get the idea!

More

City Island, New York

City Island is a small island located in Long Island Sound. It is the place I lived from 1963 till I went in the Army in 1976. That means, from age 10 to 23.

The island is 1.5 miles long and .5 miles wide. Almost 5 thousand people live there.

It was originally inhabited by the Siwanoy Indians and was first established as an English settlement in 1685.

City Island became an important ship building and yachting center in the 18th century. Several of the sloops that won the America's Cup were built on City Island. The Island is still home to yacht clubs, sail makers, sailing schools and marinas.The Island is also known for its numerous seafood restaurants.

Growing up here was great! At the ends of the side streets are small private beaches. I would walk to the beach almost every day in the summer and spend hours swimming with my friends, and sitting in the sand with my transistor radio at my side.

Here are pictures from our recent visit to City Island where my parents and one of my brothers still live.

To read more about City Island, click on 'City Island' under my Favorite Links.

Slide Show-Iowa Nebraska trip

Here are some pictures from our trip to Iowa and Nebraska in June 2008. We went to Andy's graduation and Bob and Adriennes wedding. We even got to experience being in a couple of tornado warnings! It was great to see all the relatives and meet some we never met before. We visited Amish country and toured the Gretna Fire Station, where Mark's brother Terry is chief. We also enjoyed Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and the Strategic Air & Space Museum.

A New Beginning

Who are you?



Who am I?






Mark and I had to get to know each other all over again because the focus of our marriage was different now. Up until now our main purpose and goal was to raise two good productive members of society. That had been accomplished, so we had to decide what to focus on now. In a sense, we set off to 'find ourselves.'

We went on a few trips the first year. We visited Quebec City in Canada and practiced our French; we went to a Jimmy buffet concert in Las Vegas; Vegas again to Cirque du Soleil Beatles 'Love' show; and to Puerta Vallarta to a resort, where I actually went para sailing! (My Dad said I had to 'Fly the kite', because my Mom did that in Mexico when she was my age!)

At first it was really awkward with no kids in the house. Neither one of us knew what to do, or how to act. I decided to take Beth's room and convert it to a hobby room, where I could have a table for scrapbooking that I never needed to clear off for company. I also got to have my own computer there for the first time. After that was done, I started writing a cookbook for the kids with their favorite recipes. Some were handed down from my mom, and were never written down before.

This is where I sit as I write this post.

Already?

Flashback - August 2006

After 27 years of marriage, (this is a picture of me and Mark on our wedding day-September 1st 1979.) and 26 years of living with kids growing up, my daughter, Beth announced her engagement to Tim. The wedding was planned for March, so there was alot to do. It was easy to get caught up in the excitement and busyness of planning a wedding. We did alot in the planning of our son Chris' wedding 2 years before, but this time, as the bride's family, we were making the big decisions. Chris moved out 3 years before, but Beth was our youngest child which meant we would be 'Empty Nesters'.

Through every stage of child rearing, diapers, homework, advice, I always felt that this was the reason I was here. I knew that raising these kids was probably the single most important thing I would accomplish in my life.

Christmas 1983

Christmas 1991

Chris' graduation from ASU May, 2003

Beth's Wedding March 2007