A Close Encounter

Don't let the title of this post fool you.   Grandma J hasn't had a close encounter in years, and you can interpret that anyway you want, and you'll probably be right.

Today she snuck into the clubhouse to use the computer and honestly, you would think she was there all day playing games.   People pace and then sneak up to try to see what Grandma J is doing.   She almost turned around and said BOO.

So, just to keep  a certain blogger from thinking she bit the dust again, she wanted to touch base and let you all know that she should have her own laptop back by Tuesday. 

For now, she will share a tidbit of news with you.......

Her doctor has moved his office closer to where she lives, and Grandma J couldn't be happier.  

She shot this picture of the inside of his office without his permission.   Well, she had his permission but she told him she never blogs about him and he believed her!

xoxo Grandma J

Wordless Wednesday....

With a whole lot to say........


Grandma J has been busy with a plethora of things on her plate.  Things to do with lemons, and laptops, which can be considered one and the same.  

She wants to take the time to share a couple of birthdays with you via one of the computers available at the Spa.  It doesn't matter that there are people pacing, waiting to use the same computer that Grandma J is using.  It doesn't matter that they think updating a blog is trivial because we all know that they are full of prunes!  Does anyone else say that anymore.....FULL OF PRUNES?

Grandma J's youngest daughter turned 40 yesterday!  Sweet Kelly is still a baby in her mom's eyes.   She lives in Denver and is celebrating with her boys husband and two boys.

 It's a bittersweet day when you realize all four of your children are over forty, with a couple of them chomping at the bit to join AARP.  Not that Grandma J ever joined.

The other birthday is Ry Ry....well that's what Grandma J calls him.  He's one of her CA grandsons, and this is one of his cool pictures he took of himself. 

This is Ry Ry's new kitty named Tiger!  Happy Birthday, Ry Ry!   Tiger is cute and the best gift ever.

xoxo Grandma J

Bad Teacher....the review

Just have to say, It's really bad when Grandma J goes to a Friday matinee, and then doesn't do a review until the next day.  Just saying.   But,  it's the next day and she's had her coffee, donuts and nap.....

Before arriving at the theatre, Grandma J stops off to get some snacks and  lunch, which fits neatly in her purse.....

As much as she la la loves Cameron Diaz, and as much as she thinks she's super funny, Grandma J wasn't over the moon about Bad Teacher.  Yes it was funny......but it was too raunchy like Bad Santa-ish.


Elizabeth starts out as a so-so teacher with a rich fiance' and can't wait to be a lady of leisure.  He ends up dumping her, with high marks going to his mother for this decision.   Elizabeth is totally ticked that she's lost her meal ticket, and her luxury living accommodations, and has to continue teaching....

Yes the cast was full of so many of Grandma J's favorite funny people......and she laughed like a hyena.  "..laughed like a hyena", is something Jack used to say.  But just know, Jack laughed like a hyena every time he saw a Jerry Lewis movie, or Soupy Sales.

Back to the review...

 Cameron Diaz as Elizabeth Halsey, is a school teacher who doesn’t bother to learn her kids names and spends class time showing them movies, and guzzling from airline-size bottles of liquor she keeps hidden in a false bottom of a desk drawer.

Teachers don't teach because the are looking for a rich husband.  And teachers don't rip off their school to pay for a boob job.  And,  teachers don't utter the F bomb in the classroom, unless they are driven to do it   for no good reason. 

All in all, Grandma J did like the movie in a crappy sort of way.  That being said, she doesn't  like the idea that every teenager in town was in the theatre, and it's even more astonishing that they were up and out of the house at 11:00 A.M.   Plus....can you just imagine being a teacher and going to a matinee on a Friday and running into Grandma J  some of your students?  

So,  because the movie was funny, and she would have enjoyed it more if there weren't so many kids in the theatre, Grandma J gives Bad Teacher......

Three out of five stars.

xoxo Grandma J

Back By Popular Demand

Tomorrow is Friday, and you might remember that Grandma J used to go see a matinee every Friday for three weeks in a row.

 Lately there haven't been too many movies that Grandma J wanted to review on her blog because she has a zillion grandkids, and  she tries to stay within the family friendly perimeters of  PG movies.

For instance, a couple of weeks ago she went to see Hangover 2, and if she had given a review on her blog, and her grandkids saw it, they would probably correct her she would have gotten in trouble.

This Friday she is going to throw caution to the wind and go see ..........

Grandma J saw the trailer for Bad Teacher when she was in the theatre to see Hangover 2.   It looks a little racey, but come on, if Grandma J looked like Cameron Diaz there's no telling what she'd do.   Ok, that's just a hypothetical comparison or something similar.

 

Besides, Grandma J really likes Cameron Diaz's carwashing and acting abilities, and she thinks she's funny. 

So, check back later in the day for the review.  If you happen to go see it too, be sure and share your take on it with Grandma J.

xoxo Grandma J

Accidental Interruption

I was feeling blah, so I bought some flowers for myself.

Then I heard my phone summon me for a new text message.....

Maybe company's coming over.....


Maybe it's an invite, or an old friend ......

Or maybe it's none of the above.

Back to the flowers.

xoxo Grandma J

Wordless Wednesday

When zipping through the town of Shiner, TX  Grandma J came across this sign.

xoxo Grandma J

Bang Bangs

Lately some bloggers have been posting childhood photos.  Most are pretty cute, and in retrospect, even a tad bit comical.

Grandma J shared this photo of her First Holy Communion a while back.  She focused on the home permanent, and the humongous curl in the middle of her forehead.  It was not much of a fashion statement by her mother, Rita, but rather the only option besides cutting Grandma J's hair into bangs.

That's right.....bangs.  

The curse of the chopped crooked bangs.  Bangs cut with the precision you can only get using pinking shears or hedge trimmers.

By fifth grade, Grandma J's worse nightmare came to fruition!   The dreaded bangs.   The ones that half the mothers in America insisted that their daughters sported.



But come on!  Who does this to a baby?   Seriously?   A six month old Grandma J had her hair whacked off to the point of stubs, and then had her picture professionally taken.

Anyone else want to share their bang pictures?  

xoxo Grandma J

The Other Good News is...

Actually it's the real good news......

the best good news.........

Andrew saw his urologist last week to find some resolve about his terrible pain that had him in the ER almost daily too many times, and it wasn't kidney stones.

According to his dad, this is what they discovered:

"Doctor feels one of his chemos, cytoxan, damaged his bladder causing hemorrhagic cystitis - a bleeding condition that is worsened when he does not hydrate enough. His urine gets particulates that act like sandpaper causing bladder irritation and pain. Hopefully hydrating him more will help. Thank you friends for all the prayers, emails, notes and concern over the last week or so!"

So, Andrew has to drink, drink, drink and stay hydrated. Hopefully this will help prevent the pain.

 Besides that, he has to get some more Cub Scout camping trips under his belt with his dad.

Who wouldn't want to be at their campsite when dad and Andrew make cinnamon french toast, bacon and hot chocolate for breakfast.   Are scouts allowed to use butane stoves?  Aren't they supposed to rub two sticks together and cook over a fire?

Catching frogs on the endangered species list is OK as long as you are a certified Cub Scout, and you release it back into the wild after the photo shoot!

xoxo Grandma J

Remembering My Dad

Grandma J's father died in his early 50's.  He was a smart but quiet man.  He was funny when you least expected it.  He loved his family.

Like so many fathers, he took most of the pictures that end up on the family albums, so there are few of him to enjoy.  

Grandma J has his Army picture.....somewhere.  But, she wants to share this worn and tattered one with you, because this is how she remembers him the most.  Relaxing at the beach. The best memories ever.

click on photo to enlarge

This particular one was taken at Hampton Beach, New Hampshire in the early fifties.   When they still lived in Rhode Island, Grandma J's family spent their  vacations there every summer.  Grandma J's uncle owned several bungalow cottages and let them have one for a couple of weeks every year.  She remembers all the fun times with her cousins on the boardwalk at night.

Grandma J loves the old ice truck in the background, and her dad's Sperry Topsiders with his cigarettes tucked inside. 

Is it any wonder Grandma J's father moved his family to a beach side community when they moved to CA?    

xoxo Grandma J

The Color Purple

It's Saturday and the temperature is supposed to be reach 104 degrees today.   Yesterday was supposed to be 102 but ended up being 105 degrees. 

Central Texas is in the middle of a severe drought.   No rain to speak of in months.  Well, one good downpour that flooded my den back in May, but that lasted an hour or so...no much good for the lawn or plants.  I'm not complaining, just wanting to see some color blossoming. 

Back in Orange County CA the Jacarandas are blooming.  I always thought they were so beautiful, but never gave them much thought.  They were always there, and bloomed like crazy every year.  I haven't seen any in Texas, but then it's a big state you know!

Admittedly, there were times Grandma J considered them a nuisance because they could be messy when the blossoms fell causing you to take time to sweep them up.

The were beautiful by a pool and so pretty to look up at against the blue sky.

Grandma J thought everyone had Jacaranda trees.   She misses them.   Do you have Jacaranda trees in your neck of the woods?

All photos are from the June 17th edition of the Orange County Register.  I borrowed them without permission.  Amen

xoxo Grandma J

The Great Protector

Despite the fact that JJ could be considered spoiled by some, and sometimes a bit of a mama's boy, he still thinks of himself as the man of the house. 

 Seriously, Grandma J had nothing to do with instilling that image in his mind.  It's genetic.  He's half Mexican Chihuahua, and has that inherent macho mentality.

Yesterday, after Grandma J picked JJ up from Pouncing Paws Daycare,  and after their daily romp through the carwash, the arrived home just in time to discover a strange object which could have easily been an evil alien,  out in front of their bungalow at the Spa.

JJ bravely walked right up to it, and was about to flex his muscles when the strange object  started to spin out of control.....scaring the bee.geez.us out of JJ.   So much for Macho Man.


 xoxo  Grandma J

Don't Mess With My Stuff

It's his.....and it's his favorite, at least for today, and maybe tomorrow.

Even if he has chewed off all the pointy ends, and dismantled the squeaker.....it's still his, and it's his favorite toy.

It doesn't matter that the whole dang top is just about gone, and the tips have all been eaten, and did I mention that the squeaker has been dismantled?  It's still his....and he wants it back  NOW!

So, Grandma J tells the J-Man that his toy is in his toy box.   He actually doesn't have a toy box, but he used to, so it's still a term Grandma J uses for the place all his toys are located.  

Actually, they are piled up on her antique scale and  JJ goes through them every day, as if he's counting them.   His favorite changes from time to time.   He's been known to find something very old and decrepit in that pile and treat it like it's a long lost friend.

 

But today, it's his yellow rubber cone head toy that he wants.  And he can't find it, and he knows I had it....and he's mad as H.E.double toothpicks.

Grandma J put it back in the heap, but she accidentally buried it in the back.   JJ hunts, and he grunts while he hunts.  

He's getting closer....and the toys are all scattered about....but he means business, and he's not a quitter.  He wants his toy.

He finally gets it.  He checks it out......

Before Grandma J can say, "yeah JJ", he darts off lickety split!  Does anyone else say lickety split? I didn't think so.   JJ never looks back, never pauses, not even for a brief second. 

He retreats to Grandma J's bed.   His domain when the couch gets boring or when he wants alone time with his toy.  His favorite toy, for now.

xoxo Grandma J

Wordless Wednesday...it's a sign

xoxo Grandma J

Movin' On Up

You all know Elise, aka Little One.
 Who knows how to smile BIG on command.

Who gets all gussied up for a day on the town.  To be more specific, a day shopping at Target.

The diva who is so comforable in her own skin, she sees nothing wrong with having breakfast at McDonald's in her Hello Kitty jammies. Yes, she said she brushed her hair.

The princess who not only likes her buns powdered, but likes her little piggies powdered too.

Well, she's no longer that little preschooler who spent the last three years as a Teddy, Penguin and an Owl....

She's moving on up....

To kindergarten!!!  Congratulations, Elise!

Grandparent's Day is going to pretty special for Grandma J this coming fall.

xoxo  Grandma J