2006 Year of Adventure

As I look back and say goodbye to 2006 I thank God on how blessed I truly am. 2006 was my year of Adventure!!!! I was lucky enough go on a 10 month vacation to Denver! hahahahahaha. Yes I know, I moved there because I was offered a fantastic job. Little did I know I would miss my home so terribly. I got to learn how much I was missed. Actual heartfelt acknowledgments from friends and co-workers that welcomed me back with open arms. 2006 I learned what really makes me happy.

***** Sue Daubenspeck******

I would like to dedicate this Christmas to a friend that used to wear a black Bah Humbug hat at Christmas. She tried to act so gruff but we always saw the goodness and love shining from her heart. I have never lost a close friend before and this is very hard. I guess I am still in denial.
Sue you will definitly be missed. I miss your laugh, your facial expressions. The way your hair would stick straight up when you were having a bad day on the phones. Going to Bob Evans. We are all a little lost without you now. But we know you are watching over us. I miss you so much.
Life is not the same any more with out you.

Christmas MEME

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Egg nog at Christmas time although the container tends to sit in the fridge. Hot chocolate with marshmallows or peeps or whipped cream during the year, the colder part of the year.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just set them under the tree?
Wrapped of course, but now its so easy to use gift “bags”
3. Colored Light on Tree/House or White?
I have colored lights on the house, colored icicle lights. And I have colored lights on the tree. I also have strings of all red lights on the house and tree.
4. Do you hang mistletoe?
If I found some I would hang it. But really don’t need it. Because I have the BEST sex ever and kisses to die for all the time.
5. When do you put your decorations up?
Not right after Thanksgiving but at least the first week of Dec.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Mashed potato’s mixed with stuffing and cranberry sauce/gel.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child?
Going to grandma’s house on 213 Riverside Dr. She lived on the only street in Buffalo that still had the brick road. All my cousins, aunts and uncles were there. It was crowded and fun. One year my mom made me a dress out of this silver tinsel type material. I looked like grandma’s silver Christmas tree.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
It just morphed that way. I had always and still am a child of “just the facts” I figure stuff out.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Gifts just don’t make it to Christmas morning.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
Every year I make the real popcorn strings. (except this year) Lights and bulbs and always real candy canes.
11. Snow. Love it or dread it?
Its like spring out right now and I could care less if it snows for Christmas.
12. Can you ice skate?
Yes, and sorta backwards too.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
One year I asked my dad for ski’s. I was 9 or 10. He got me the whole she-bang, skis, boots, poles, jacket, pants gloves etc. Unfortunately, he only took me skiing once. My mom didn’t drive. She never took me. She did take us to Kissing Bridge, but I was not allowed to bring my skis then. She did stuff like that. She took me and my brother to Disneyland in California but we were not allowed to go on the rides. Oh and one year I did get a fantastic Engagement ring.
14. What’s the most important thing about Christmas to you?
It is Jesus’ birthday. But it has become nothing more than a nice weekend off from work.
15. What is your favorite holiday dessert?
Cut out cookies with icing and pumpkin pie.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Watching Sound of Music. Picking a person from the tree at work and getting gifts for the underpriveleged people. Sometimes these holidays do nothing but magnify how insignificant and how much lacking your life really is. It is probly even more horible for homeless and poor people.
17. What tops your tree?
A gold Angel I got in Denver.
18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving?
Giving.
19. What is your favorite Christmas song?
All I want for Christmas is you.
20. Candy Canes. Yuck or Yum?
I usually just put them on the tree, don’t really eat them. But looking at them now I am thinking they would be good stirring a hot chocolate!

GREEN LIVING IS THE LIFE FOR ME.........

I am in the process of creating a blog/possible podcast of Local markets for produce/eggs/livestock and also linking with Green and sustainable living in WNY. Tours of farms, flea markets, farmers markets etc to bring WNY back to buying and supporting local industry. I have lots of ideas and lots to learn to get this off the ground!!!! I will post the new site so .....Look for me soon.........

And THIS is why I love WNY!!! Where else can you take a pic like this driving down Transit road? hmmmmmmmmm? 

THIS is why I love home!!!! Me and my cousin Ursula!!!!!!!!!! 

I SWEAR 2 minutes after I took this pic the large branch hanging down fell and blocked off my driveway during the terrible Oct 13 Surprise Storm. 

On Friday Oct 13 Blizzard 

On one of our walks somewhere over the rainbow.... 

The canal behind our house. 

We ARE somewhere over the rainbow Toto......

I always loved the version of the song Over the rainbow sung by Israel Kamakawiwo. It always sounded so haunting....sooo sad....unattainable. I AM somewhere over the rainbow. I am happier now than I have been in a very long time. I love my new home, my new neighborhood, my life! I thank God every day for my wonderful life. Its just the simple things that make me happy. I have been given a second chance on something I never should have turned my back on and I am not going to take it for granted.................

Dr Wayne Dyer Quotes

When you dance, your purpose is not to get to a certain place on the floor. It's to enjoy each step along the way.
Doing what you love is the cornerstone of having abundance in your life.
Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into.
Circumstances do not make a man, they reveal him.
Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.
Heaven on Earth is a choice you must make, not a place we must find.
I am realistic - I expect miracles.
If you're always in a hurry, always trying to get ahead of the other guy, or someone else's performance is what motivates you, then that person is in control of you.
It's never crowded along the extra mile.
Love is the ability and willingness to allow those that you care for to be what they choose for themselves without any insistence that they satisfy you.
"Did you ever notice how difficult it is to argue with someone who is not obsessed with being right?"

Cyndie quote: If you ever want to change your life for the good, find peace........read Dr Dyers Books, listen to him on Hayhouseradio.com. What a phenominal man with excellent things to say. Each sentance like drops of sun on your mind, rays of light in your life.

Our new deck!!!  

Playing in the new back yard 

Tug of war at home 

My boys again..... 

Are you in your favorite tree? 

A Squirrel in the Desert

What is feeling at home in the world? You can't rearrange the world to fit your taste, you just have to find a place that feels like home to you. When you dont't feel at home in the world, you feel there is something wrong with you and the world doesn't feel right either. Now here's the good news. You're fine, nothing is wrong with you! You are just a squirrel in the desert!
I love squirrels, it is fun to watch them run up trees, across telephone lines, hopping thru the back yard. Jasper and Jeffery love to chase them, for some reason they never learn to LOOK UP once they get to the tree. I can see every day that a squirrel is perfectly at home in a world of trees. But imagine taking that squirrel and plunking him down in the middle of the desert. This wonderful animal will suddenly feel depressed, anxious and confused, completely at a loss. There are plenty of animals that make a home in the desert, but not the squirrel. There is nothing really wrong with that downcast squirrel in the desert. He's perfect. But he's only perfect when he's at home, in a place with lots of trees. In the desert the squirrel is an unhappy misfit. Now imagine doing something stupid: taking that squirrel and taking him to a thereapist so he will feel better. You could do squirrel therapy forever, but as long as he is in the desert he is going to be miserable. But if you just pick him up and put him in a place with lots of trees he is at home and happy! That was me in Denver, I was a squirrel in the desert. I really belong here with the trees. I never left because I hated it here, actually I really loved my life here in NY. I just thought that well, if Im happy here, I can be ecstatic somewhere else!!!! I am greatful for my journey. I don't consider it negative or a bad choice. It was a path taken and returned on. I consider myself extremely lucky to be able to come back. It says alot for my character to be able to be welcomed back by so many open arms of friendship. I cherish my cousin Urs and it is so good to see her smiling face every day at work.....and I cherish each and every NY smile I come across in my ordinary squirrel life..............


If you liked the story about the squirrels you would love the book I got the idea from. Everything Happens for a Reason by Mira Kirshenbaum

frankly my dear........

 

...Tomorrow is another day........

I can't let him go. I can't. There must be some way to bring him back. Oh I can't think about this now! I'll go crazy if I do! I'll think about it tomorrow. (She closes the door.) But I must think about it. I must think about it. What is there to do? (She falls forward onto the ascending stairs.) What is there that matters?
Crestfallen, she stops and then resourcefully and determinedly finds her true direction in the final lines of the film. She was never the type to admit defeat - so she refuses to acknowledge defeat in Rhett's rejection of her. Ghost-like voices of important men from her past remind her of the source of her strength in the soil of Tara. She hears her father Gerald: "Land's the only thing that matters, it's the only thing that lasts." Ashley: "Something you love better than me, though you may not know it. Tara." And Rhett: "It's from this you get your strength, the red earth of Tara." Each speech is repeated with increasing tempo and volume. Scarlett realizes that even if she doesn't get Rhett back, she can always return to the land - to Tara, to soak up its strength.
...Tara!...Home. I'll go home, and I'll think of some way to get him back! After all, tomorrow is another day!

Went to a Rockies game at Coors field.

It was like a summer night! Warm, clear. Hot Dog smell, peanuts. Nothing like a major league baseball game! It was really fun.

Rockies won too. 

Yep thats me in the dug out giving out pointers to the catcher.  

Crocks are the standard fasion in Denver 

Me and Mike Piazza at the Rockies Game at Coors Field

Yep, Me and Mike together again for a short time. 

Take me out to the Baaaaaaaaall game! Rockies vs Tornonto 

Memorial Day weekend and corn on the cobb

Well I just went to the store and got my watermelon for the holiday, I asked the produce guy where the corn on the cobb was and he said there wasn't any. The watermelon sucks here. Its pale pink and not sweet at all. Last summer I would be slicing up big beefsteak tomatoes and grilling corn on the cob. I would be putting flowers in my urns for the porch and cutting the grass. Jasper and I would be on the porch reading the paper waving to the neighbors.
Here my front door opens to two other peoples front doors, that I never see! The people next door to my enclosed patio have a whole wooded deck patio that I would die for. They never use it. Well, I can't blame them, I can't use mine either after 10 a.m. It gets so hot even the dogs can't go out there. Well, at least I can still walk them early morning and after dinner.

Its Memorial day. Lets take a little time to remember the many many people who have given all they had for this country. The families they left behind. If it were not for them, we would not be able to freely enjoy this day.

It RAINING in Colorado!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally, it is raining in Colorado. I just realized how much I miss those days, rainy days, sitting on my couch under one of the many fleece blankets I have made, hot cup of coffee, at least 2 or 3 books I am reading all at once, a warm doggie snuggled in a round ball next to me and looking out my window at the rain drizzling down outside. Cars driving by on the shiney roads. Sometimes a familiar truck pulls in my driveway and makes my heart jump.
I never realized how much I miss those rainy days. You never know what you have until you move 2000 miles away from it. I have always loved my simple life. I always said I am looking for my own Stars Hollow. I didn't realize I was already there. I already had my peace and serenity. I got greedy and wanted more out of life. It took a really big change in my life to realize what was really more important to me and what made me happiest. Sometimes winning the lottery isnt the best..................

Dim Sum Saturday

Another favorite past time is going to Dim Sum with my work family. These are the people I work with and we are very close. Chongmas my best friend, her husband Vincent and thier baby Kaila! Look at how big she has gotten. Celene is my manager and her daughter Bree. Roi our Team leader, Andy his wife and baby and Theresa my holistic tree hugger earth friend.

Dim Sum is like a chinese brunch of many many good appetizer type foods. We just spun that lazy susan around and enjoyed. Our last excursion was to Swing Tai, that was fantastic too. Of course we are missing more of our work team. More food for us...............

What is Dim Sum?
What is it, exactly? Let's start with what it is not. If you're the type that enjoys browsing through a menu, then a dim sum restaurant is not for you. There's no ordering; instead you choose from a wide assortment of snacks that the waiters bring out on carts and trays. Also, if you're looking to have a romantic lunch, then a dim sum restaurant probably isn't a good choice. First off, the atmosphere is hardly conducive to romance, what with the clattering of trays, people calling out their orders, and large groups of people talking at each table. Besides, the best way to enjoy dim sum is with a large group; otherwise you'll fill up on a few items and miss the opportunity to sample everything.

Vincent (Chongmas husband), Roi and Andy's wife

 

Andy's baby, Andy, Theresa, Celene and daughter Bree

 

Sum don't like Dim

 

The drive to the cabin

 

Cabin on Easter Weekend

04/15/2006

Now if I was home I certainly would not go for a walk at 6:52 a.m. while it was snowing. But here I am walking the dogs on a chilly morning, snow fluttering down. We can see the Vega Reservoir, its 80% frozen. There is snow up to the table top next to the cabin and snow covers the firepit completely. There was a nice big shovel near the door when we got here. Maybe I will get ambitious. Right now I am building small fires with the firewood I brought on the hibachi I have for cooking. Note to self and any others listening. Do not buy the cheap charcoal and fluid at Walmart. But the firewood is working much better and it’s kind of nice to have the campfire right on the front porch actually. The front porch is concrete. But the fire place in the cabin is cozy! We will be snuggled up to that this snowy afternoon. We have lots of books and magazines and I brought 2 huge knuckle bones for the boys. My plan is to tie each dog so they are just out of reach of each other to enjoy the bones completely.

I gotta go check the sausage on the fire.

On the drive to the cabin

 

Smoke from the forest fire on way to cabin

 

Rt 70 To Vega State Park