Eight Puppies!!

People who know me, know that I am not an animal person. I like animals...on a farm, in a zoo, at somebody else's house, in nature, just not in my house or yard. But, people who know me also know that I am forever loosing this battle, either with my husband or one or another of my kids.

During different stages of family life we have had several dogs, cats, fish, hampsters, frogs, snakes, ferrets, and even rats. We were down to one cat Misses, and then Jon and Bonnie moved home. They brought along their cat, Mews. After they moved away their cat stayed.

Then Ryan moved home and he brought his dog, who we thought was a boy, (Bob) then found out she was a girl, (Bobos).

Today Bobos "delighted" us (this is said very sarcastically) with eight(!) new puppies! Eight puppies in her first (and only) litter? I have to admit they are pretty cute, and Bobos is a good mother but, they are going to turn into real puppies and puppies turn into dogs. The trick is to "get them gone" while they are cute puppies and before they are just dogs.

So, with all that being said, would anyone want an adorable, cute, snugglie, fun, precious, loveable, black puppy? For free....did I mention they are free? Just let me know.

People Who Need People...

I am feeling like I live in my own little universe lately. I get up in the morning and get ready for work, all without talking to anyone. Well, that's not true, Jim usually calls me on the phone while I am getting ready, and some mornings Angie calls me because she is an early riser. So let's just say, all without talking to anyone in person.

I arrive at work, wish the receptionist Lita, good morning and head to my cubicle. There I remain for most of the day; frantically typing away on my computer while answering my never ending e-mail, getting an occasional phone call, and "doing my job".

The problem is, I am the only woman around and the only person who is not a software developer. My company moved all the departments around; accounting and sales are downstairs, CSR's are over by support, project management and testing are together, etc. The problem is, my boss and I are the only ones in 'marketing'. That means my cubicle is by his office door, which is right, smack-dab in the middle of all the developers.

Now, don't get me wrong, they are all great guys and I really like them alot. It's just that they are not talkers...they are...developers. They are busy developing. I, on the other hand, am a talker. I'll get my work done, but I like to chat with people now and again, just to keep the job interesting. But where I am situated, that doesn't happen.

So....I work quietly at my desk most of the day. Then I wrap it up and go home, again, to a quiet house. Jim calls to talk, but no one else. I fiddle-fart around here, maybe go too the gym, (where again, there are people but people at the gym don't talk to each other) and then I go to bed. I start it all again the next day.

I need some excitement! I need some fun, on a day to day basis. I used to love my job when there were "talkers" all around me, now I just "like" my job. Actually, the job is great but I miss people in my life! Where are they? I am alone too much!

The Graffs

The Graffs

A fabulous New Year!

I think I am going to make it a New Year's resolution to always spend New Year's in California. The sky is blue, the waves are big and the temperature is 70 degrees! Perfect.

We have had a great time doing nothing. We sleep in, go for walks, Jim surfs while I read or go for a run. We eat, shop, take naps, and just hang out.

Last night our neighbors invited us over for a New Year's get together and surprisingly enough, we had a good time. There are some really nice people who live in the complex.

I don't really have a lot to say because, like I said, we aren't doing much of anything but, we are having a great beginning to 2010 and hope that the rest of it goes as well.

To all our family and friends....HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

It is Christmas night and it has been a wonderful day.

One of the blessings of being an empty nester is being able to sleep in on Christmas morning. Another great blessing is having all the kids and grandkids home for Christmas every other year... but this wasn't the year! (Dang!) However, it was an enjoyable day none-the-less.

My sweet husband surprised me with a trip to Italy for Christmas! We are leaving on May 10th and will be gone for 10 days! We are going to Rome, Perusia, (some other city I can't remember) Florence and Venice. I couldn't be more excited! I have wanted to go to Italy for as long as I can remember. Our daughter-in-law, Kelly made all the arrangements; plane and train tickets, hotel reservations, everything! (Thanks Kelly!) Did I mention how excited I am!

Aside from my wonderful Italy surprise we had a nice dinner with Jim Carroll and his new wife, Mary. It was really nice to get to know her a little better.

I did really miss all the kids and grandbabies this year, though. I have already started the countdown to next Christmas when they will all be home! I can hardly wait!

Tomorrow starts my workouts and dieting again. This house is chalk-full of wonderful (bad) things to eat and I have endulged waaaayyyy more than I should have. Monday we are going to California for a week to relax in the sunshine and warmer weather. It should make it easier to be away from all the holiday treats!

Thanks to all my sweet family and friends who made Christmas wonderful. I love you all!

Wow! I haven't updated this blog in months! So much has happened, I'm not sure where to start.

Angie and Brent were married on October 10th. They make an adorable couple. We are so blessed to have Brent in the family and we are thrilled Angie found a great guy.

Kami and Steve found out they are expecting a boy! He will be born in April and we are so excited to add another grandbaby to the list. Miss Malia Shea just turned four and is excited to have a baby brother

Little Noah Kenyon Graff was born to Jon and Bonnie on October 1st. Ella makes the best big sister! How can we be so lucky to have such adorable grandkids!

All the kids were able to come home for Thanksgiving and we had such a fabulous time! We helped out Grandma Graff with some things, toasted marshmellows over a fire in the canyon, put up a Christmas tree, shopped, ate, played games and laughed. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family!

That is a brief update. If I can remember how...I will add a few pictures.

I don't write near as often as I should. I just can't imagine that anyone is interested in reading what I have to say. The only people who even know I have a blog are my children and I talk to them several times a day so, it seems rather pointless. But, nevertheless, here goes....

Today was my niece Sherry's husband's funeral. He was a year younger than I am and that is way too young to die. He had been sick for awhile but still, that is way too young to die. He was a very quiet man who loved his family very much. I guess in the big scheme of things that is all that really matters.

Anyway things like funerals, (which we have had a lot of, lately) always get me to thinking about my own mortality. Am I ready to die if I should get hit by a bus tomorrow? No one is really ever 'ready' to die, but by that I mean am I right with all the people I love? Do they know how I feel about them? Am I truly trying to improve on the person I was yesterday and working to be even better tomorrow? Do my children know how I feel about the "important things" in life? Have I taught them what is important? Have I spent my time here on earth, wisely or have I wasted time on frivolous things?

More than my own mortality I think about Jim or one of my children or grandchilden dieing. Could I get through that? My mind can't even go there....

There are too many things I haven't done yet, to die. I want to read all the good books there are to read; I want to see my grandchildren all grow up and I want to be important in their lives; I want to go to Italy and to Ireland and Tahiti and Africa; I want to scuba dive, I want to run five miles without stopping (or passing out); I want to go sailing with Jim, Yes, I want to skydive! I want to write a book, give a seminar, market an invention and be on Oprah, (for whatever it is I did, not because I admire Oprah!) Anyway, the list goes on and on....

So, I ask myself, "What did you do today to move a step closer to a goal?" And I have to say, "Nothing!" Why is that? We realize our time here is short and we could die at any time but we don't seem to get to the things we really want to do because "everyday life" gets in the way. That is the challenge.

That's enough profound thinking for one night.