Life keeps getting in the way.

Yes, I have every intention of updating this blog. I always have lots to say. Yet life has been so crazy lately I just haven't had the time to get on here. It frustrates me...but I guess I shouldn't complain that my life is filled with 'busyness' :-)

I've been enjoying Summer. Entertained family from CA; been out of town, several times for relaxing vacations; been busy getting settled into the new house; enjoying lots of family/friends gatherings and birthdays.

Work is slow (Real Estate...blah). I'm working on getting my home office whipped into shape so I can be more efficent.

Done lots of cooking lately. And yes....even....BAKING. Who knew? LOL but I make a pretty mean Apple Crisp and Blueberry Cobbler!!!!

So hopefully I can get here more often. I have tons of recipes to share! Lots of pictures and fun stuff.

The Zen of Sarcasm

The Zen of Sarcasm


1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me the hell alone.


2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and leaky tire.


3. Its always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.


4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.


5. Always remember that you're unique. Just like everyone else.


6. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.


7. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.


8. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.


9. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is probably not for you.


10. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.


11. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably a wise investment.


12. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.


13. Some days you're the bug; some days you're the windshield.


14. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.


15. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.


16. A closed mouth gathers no foot.


17. Duct tape is like 'The Force.' It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.


18. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.


19. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.


20. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.


21. Never miss a good chance to shut up.


22. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

Home again...

Ahhh, while I had a wonderful vacation and did not want to return, now that I am home; I am glad. Course it helps that we came home to GREAT weather.

Yesterday I spent the day, unpacking and getting our stuff put away. Oh and did I mention LAUNDRY? Lots of it!

Today I am putting my house back in order. My mom entertained a bit up here and the floors are a diaster. LOL

ALSO....D hasn't been living at home for the last few months. He has been staying with random friends. Well he is now back home too:-) We are still adjusting and there needs to be a major talk between him and his dad; but I am sooo glad he is back home with us!!!

The rest of the week? I'll be preparing my K's 21st BDay Bash on Saturday. Complete with a live band and lots to drink. WAHOO......

Happy 4th!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th! My family is enjoying a GREAT week away in a small resort town in Eastern WA. The weather has been WONDERFUL here. So sunny and warm. We are enjoying the sun and lots of time out on the boat.

Yesterdays boat ride was especially fun. I managed to drink a whole pitcher of margarita's all to myself. LOL Today will be more lowkey. BBQ and good friends!!!

Happy 4th of July!

An ending....

My beloved Papa passed away in May. A month later we had an amazing Memorial for him (and my Nana who had passed away 10 years before). We chartered a boat and spread their ashes into the Puget Sound. The day was perfectly sunny. As their ashes were released we had Somewhere Over the Rainbow, playing. Then as we circled their ashes and the flowers we had thrown, we listened to My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion.

There is so much I could tell you about him. But I think his obituary sums up almost it all. Other than I loved him so much and will miss him every day!!

Jerry Darling


Jerry Darling, 75, of Granite Falls, Washington unexpectedly died of a sudden heart attack May 15, 2008. He was born in Plankinton, South Dakota on September 3, 1932. His family moved to Los Angeles, California to escape the Great Depression and he grew up in Inglewood, California. As a boy, he became fascinated by airplane development in wartime Los Angeles. World War II left him with many very vivid memories and a sustained pride in our country's accomplishments. He flew in the Air Force during the early 1950s and was stationed in the Mediterranean. After he served his country in the Air Force, Jerry met Betty while they worked together at Douglas Aircraft. They fell deeply in love and married in 1955 and honeymooned in the Deep South. In the early 1960s, he worked on NASA projects. He was particularly proud of a design for a satellite and work he did on the Atlas rocket. Jerry accepted a job offer from Boeing to work on the 747 and they moved from California to Everett in 1966. He was a proud member of Boeing's Incredibles for his work to make the 747 possible. He worked there as a tool design engineer until his retirement in late 1995.
Jerry had a marvelous sense of humor and loved to laugh, joke and tease people, but never in any hurtful way. Handsome and athletic, he aged gracefully and felt fitness was essential to enjoying life. He was a man of very many enthusiasms and hobby's. He enjoyed flying and owned for a time a small acrobatic airplane. He loved sailing, so he owned a 28 ft sailboat and had a home overlooking the Puget Sound. He liked astronomy, so he had a large telescope. He became very passionate about bicycling and rode in the Seattle to Portland bicycle race more than once. He also ran the Seattle Marathon during the time when running was his passion. He learned to scuba dive after retirement and dove on many occasions with his son Steve. He spent many evenings with his daughter, Rhonda, attending plays at the Everett Theater and listening to the Everett Symphony. Painting came easy to Jerry and enjoyed his lessons in the art. He enjoyed playing golf and loved following the tournaments of the PGA. He loved books on history, politics and above all, science. All of these subjects he could discuss with a great depth of knowledge and feeling. He loved his classical music and attended with friends concerts by the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and performances by Seattle Opera. He decided shortly after he retired that he would become a hand on a fishing boat in the stormy Gulf of Alaska! He did this for ten weeks and enjoyed every minute telling story's to the family about his adventures.
Jerry was preceded in death by his dear wife, Betty Darling. She died in 1998.
He is survived by his brother, Dr. Jack Darling and Geraldine, of Arlington, WA; children, Rhonda Darling, and Steve and Debra Darling; grandchildren, Jason and Chilly, Christina and Dave, Cassie and Jeremy, Ashley, Jason and Nicky; great-grandchildren, Kayleigh, Dylan, Brenna, Bryce, Easton, Aidan, Chance, Tori, Jordan, and Payton; his brother-in-law, Jerry Tippin and Janice; and all of his nieces and nephews who meant so much to him.
He was a very kind, thoughtful man his many family members and friends will greatly miss. Jerry was deeply loved by his family and those that new him.
At his request, no services will be held. His ashes will be mixed with those of his wife Betty and spread in the Puget Sound within view of the house that he and Betty lived in for so many happy years overlooking the water.

New Beginnings

Sooo, we are finally situated in our new home. OMG...I LOVE IT!!

With all the turmoil of the city wanting to buy our home and then being able to get into this one; its amazing how I feel. I lived in the other home for 10 years. It was our first home we owned. I loved it. I raised my kids there. I learned so much about myself while living there. I was so sad when I knew I would have to move. It will always have a special spot in my heart. The memories and friendships that were made there will be with me FOREVER.

But oddly I have jumped into this move with both feet and haven't looked back. Before we lived 'in town'. Now we live out of town on 6 acres. While I do sometimes miss the hustle/bustle of being in the middle of town (as much hustle/bustle that a small town has) I have adapted to being out in the "country".

While I don't have the sounds of the comings and goings of being in town; I am enjoying experiencing all the new sounds of the country. Birds, owls, coyotes at night, neighboring horses neighing, the rushing through the trees and PEACE and QUIET. I wake up every morning and drink my coffee on the back deck; listening to the birds chirping. At night I love to sit out there and wait to hear the local owl hooting. We've gone for many walks, exploring the neighborhood and trails.

Speaking of birds, I have gone a bit bird crazy. Binoculars, bird books, bird seed and feeders. But it is so fun to be able to spot new birds or the thrill of recognizing frequent visitors to my feeders.

The weirdest change? I am enjoying cleaning. LOL I have a nice routine and the house has been staying spotless. AMAZING. It's a new me!! But I love having my house look so nice:-)

We are still adjusting to it all. New mortgage, bigger "yard" to take care of, and my mom moved in downstairs. (that's an entirely other post!). But I LOVE IT HERE!!!! And I feel so complete right now in our life!

I'm BAAAAACCCKKKK

I'm back in the saddle:-)

I'm moved into our new house and somewhat settled. YIPPE

Now enjoying the nice weather, new deck and some good wine:-)

I've got lots to say...and update......

Taking leave...without pay

OBVIOUSLY....I'm not around.

Been up to my eyeballs in work, family and teens. So this is an official notice of my "taking a break" from blogging.

I shall return....soon.

My life...lately

So yes, I have been busy. Oh so busy.

Hmm, lets see. Working hard on this new healthy lifestyle change. Which means lots of exercise, lots of research and lots of reading of all things healthy. I REALLY am enjoying two books. Dr. Oz's 'You on a Diet'. And Bob Greenes 'Best Life Diet'. Both are WONDERFUL books. And neither is a DIET...yet more a way of life.

Okay...what else? Oh...D had surgery on his knee. On VALENTINES DAY. That made for a sucky VDay for me. And I have spent the last 5 days cooped up in the house, answering to his every beck and call. I'm beginning to think he is milking it now.

Been working a lot. Or should I say trying to work a lot. Working hard at drumming up some business. Real Estate is kinda funky right now. So doing everything I can to get more business.

But the big exciting news! My brother and David have been building a brand new house. It is on the property behind my brothers. Originally it was for my mom and then they would sell it in a few years and use the equity for her retirment. WELLLLLL....now that has all changed. She will live in it till the city buys our house and we are ready to buy it! Then she will move into the FULLY, FINISHED downstairs (complete with kitchen). She will have money for retirment...plus live "with us" as she gets older and needs more care.

So now that I know it will be "mine" down the road....I have been spending more time over there helping to get it finished. There are some design changes I will make and paint choices. But I LOVE it. I can't wait. I am already buying stuff for it. (I know..silly me!).

So that has been my life of late. Now that things are all balancing out....I plan on being on the blog more...and reading everyone elses:-)

Monday Weigh In

As of today I have lost 19 pounds since beginning of the year. I am right on track for where I want to be!

AND...I went in Friday to have my bloodwork rechecked. I am proud to say that I have reduced my total cholestral by 43 points! I'm still working on it....but that was AWESOME news to hear!!!

I'm working on a update post for tomorrow. Been busy, busy, busy:-)