Happy and Sad~~~

I know Sweet Things,

How can one be happy and sad at the same time, it's not impossible, but it is the way life is.

Nothing is ever one or the other, it is a combination of both, and each are passing at the same time or goes in cycles.

Each can be brief or long.

I am sad for two reasons, Whitney Houston, a voice and a gift of music, gone forever to never have a chance to regain what she lost, but her music lives on.

The other reason is I just received word that one of my teachers who helped me get my scholarships to college passed away. I had asked when was the funeral I wanted to go, but was informed that she didn't want any funeral at all. She was cremated and her ashes scattered to the four winds. She had done what she wanted to do, influenced those that she could, saw the results and was pleased. She paid forward as they say. And I can only do the same, I'll miss her, I called her, wrote to her, visited her when I could, and discovered right up to the end she still was helping those that needed help, quietly, no fan fare, just doing little things to make the world better. I, and those whom she helped can only do the same.

Happy at the same time, yes, I had a wonderful evening with people I know and love, and saw the silliest movie "Munster Go Home", completely juvenile, silly and yet with some double meanings. I felt like a kid and the little beast "Baby" decided to sleep in my lap and would growl in its sleep if I moved too much. Maybe someday I'll have a dog of my own, but in the meantime I'll enjoy the company of others.

Joe has the Ford running right now, it is ready to "go for a spin". I asked him about all the other parts like breaks, steering etc. and he says that they are fine, so this will be a test run. But we are taking our very warm coats and our triple A cards---It's just going to be around town, nothing on the free way. Which is good, I have to do some shopping close by. So for a little while we will induge in nostalgia and be like there were in the '40's before Pearl Harbor.

As a matter of fact I saw a house up for sale here in town that's '40's vintage and I'm seriously considering buying it. It will need some work but it's open house today so we are going to take a look there first and have a serious talk about it. Joe liked the looks of it and it's drive way and garage space. He wants to get out of his apartment in Oakland, and if he's thinking what I'm thinking and I think he is we maybe on the same track, he'll have his own space when he needs it and I'll have fun doing up another place. And I can get my own garage back for my new car.

Joe is ready, so am I.

Later Sweet Things, Kisses

A 3 Day Weekend and~~~~

And Sweet Things, I am putting together all the things that must be done to do my income tax return.

But all was not lost, Joe insisted that we go for a little while out of town, where to? To a Gun shop where I saw a lovely .38 Smith & Wesson 5 shot Body Guard with laser and hammerless.

Joe was insistent that it be purchased. And why, I ask him.

One always needs a back up he said and I came across the gun safe of my dreams, can it be delivered? I ask. For a small fee yes, well considering that gas is now over $4 a gallon that's understandable.

They did have a .38 special by Charter Arms, as well---in Pink! with a sign next to it saying "Yes! It's Pink!" Several ladies were admiring it and I think one of them will buy it.

I have GOT to get to a Gun Show! I'm missing the smell of cordite in the morning.

So a new gun, which I'll pick up in a few weeks and a new gun safe that will be delivered tomorrow and I have the perfect spot for it. And it is extremely fire-resistant---very important.

Joe is now grilling two lovely steaks on the outdoor grill, we'll have a little wine, the salad is made, I asked him if he wanted me to prepare a vegetable but he's grilling peppers, tomatoes and something else. He said he wanted to do something that passes for normal after all the insanity that he's been going through and for him to have this time off is precious to both of us.

Tomorrow he's going to work on the Ford while I do the mundane things.

But tonight it's going to be ice cream and popcorn over at Lillian's to watch of all things "Munster Go Home" on Svengoolie, with Lillian and Heather and the little Beast.

I feel like a kid again, enjoying a childhood that I never really had, not that I begrudge my parents on that, but it seems right to enjoy childhood things. I want to go on Merry-go-rounds and Ferris Wheels, Drive the bumper cars, and eat cotton candy that's so sweet it makes one's teeth ache.

Joe is not perfect, we have our arguments, but we never go to sleep mad, we try to find out why we argued. Joe has said he's never tried that before, trying to search for the "why" of things.

I can only agree, why yesterday I had a "hissy-fit" at one of our people, she always gets on a "high-horse" about something or other and wastes time complaining about it.

Yesterday I and my Assistant had bought several boxes of Girl Scout Cookies, and I know people have issues about that, but it has become a tradition for me and Joe loves the Shortbread ones.

So do several other people on the staff, when Miss High-Horse started complaining about all the unhealthy things in Girl Scout Cookies, and that they were made in China, when on the box it says Kentucky.

Finally I had had enough and said "If you are not happy with the cookies, write a letter of complaint to the National Office of the Girl Scouts and complain to them, do not waste my time, other peoples time or create an uncomfortable atmosphere in this office. With the time that you wasted complaining you could have looked up the address, wrote it out on an envelop and started drafting a letter of complaint----Those that want to, do so----Those that just want to take up air, complain---and it seems to me that you are doing the latter, so do something or be quiet and let us enjoy these so-called unhealthy cookies once a year."

And with that I took a bite of one of the Samoas and thoroughly enjoyed eating it right in front of her. I am happy to say so did the rest of the staff, while she went back to her desk.

I documented the situation and sent it on to H.R. this person has more than once created an uncomfortable situation by her belligerent attitude, and I am hoping that she will get a "side-ways" promotion. Which more than likely will happen.

Fortunately the feed back I received from the rest of the floor was positive on this situation so right now Girl Scout Cookies rule. On Tuesday I'm going to buy a box of Thin Mints.

And now the steaks are ready and Joe has poured the wine, and he's put on my favorite Dean Martin CD. Hmmmm I wonder what he's up to.

Kisses Sweet Things.

Film Noir, Chinese New Year and Whitney~~~

I know Sweet Things, So much in one "headline" for this post.

Whitney Houston, so sad, a talent lost, I have a couple of her CD's I had hoped she'd make a comeback, but it almost seems like she was on a path to self destruction. Information on her death is still sketchy, but still sad.

I am also getting over a mild headache---Chinese New Year's parade so much fun, and crowded, Yoshi, her husband and I went to the one in S.F. I had wished that Joe could have come but they were expecting their own sort of Fireworks.

Everyone seemed to want to be a part of this year's celebration, the year of the Dragon (water Dragon), hoping for prosperity. This time Yoshi earlier had taken me to several religious ceremonies and they seems so right, this year I feel that it will be a turn around, slow, hard, thoughtful but fighting to get back on track. Everyone jostling around, cheerful, calling out happy new year in Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, some one passing by gave me a small red envelope with a golden dragon on it, in side a Chinese good luck coin. Just a young person, a young man really with a big smile on his face, just from happiness or making a pass, who knows.

Yoshi's husband Brian was worried that I had been pick-pocketed, but I keep my important things in a very small wallet, Velcro inside a pocket inside my jacket. They'd have to get very physical to remove it. Oh the food, so delicious at Yoshi's Grandmother's home, and I'm afraid I had a little too much wine, good thing I slept over her Grandmother's and had them bring me home. We all did, Grandmom insisted, wisely too.

Now I have a vase with blossom's in my living room and Yoshi insisting that I have my entire home looked over to have the proper Chi analyzed by a Fung Shui master. Well it couldn't hurt.

Joe is up and insisting that we go and have a late breakfast, I think I can eat bacon and eggs, I know not exactly healthy, but I could go for the protein. Then he wants to go to this place for parts for the Ford, I'm bringing a book, because I know when he get's to talking about car parts, I'm a little lost. But that Ford is coming along beautifully.

Joe wished we could have driven it to the Film Noir Festival a few weeks ago, but what I did is work and then went over to the theatre and meet either Joe or Heather and Lillian there, it was wonderful seeing a number of old films that have not been released to DVD like "Mr. Dynamite" or the 1931 version of the Maltese Falcon or Alan Ladd in the Great Gatsby, I was having fun wearing my 1940's outfits, my hair up in those 40's hair do's. And Angie Dickinson being there she looked fantastic!

I joined the Film Noir foundation, that and the Art Deco Society. Joe in a Trench Coat and Fedora, is my Sam Spade becoming no longer just a fictional thought? Who knows.

Joe has given more thought on retirement, his friend Frank has too, they both have put in a lot of time and are in good positions to retire and although he is tempted to seek a position in the Gold Rush country his heart is still here in the Bay Area, many people have inquired with him about security of their properties and he's given advice but now he's thinking in the private sector, so is Frank---I've come to call them "The Dragnet Squad".

They both are trying to put in for a few days vacation, so we can go the the PEERS "Film Noir Ball", I hope he can do it, it's been hard having time together.

And now it's time to grab a bit to eat, thank goodness my headache is fading fast.

Until later Sweet Things.

Kisses!

P.S. my gosh he wants to go in the Jeep!!! I have to wear a heavier coat and pray it doesn't rain!

Thoughts and Chinese New Year

Well Sweet Things,

Joe put in another long night last night, I woke up and was glad he had come home, to not wake me he fell asleep in the spare bedroom, He just had enough time to crash on the bed, I made sure he was warm enough.

Heather and I took our Sunday morning walk on the beach with the little beast with us, of course it meant carrying the little thing after a bit. We had coffee at our favorite coffee shop and talked about things. Her classes are going well, if there are no disruptions, but she is not happy with the campus----too political among the students she says, all she wants is to study get her degree and get a job, which is very competitive right now.

I've had her go to seminars about what to do and not do to improve her chances of getting work, "On my dime" so to speak, she considers it a loan I told her 'it's an investment'.

There is something about the aroma of coffee that is comfortable, conversational and warming, with comfortable chairs, soft music and just the right atmosphere one can talk on a lot of things.

We had walked so far that Heather's legs were hurting, so we caught bus back to our homes, Heather invited us (Joe and Me) to dinner and we are finally going to see "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken", nothing special she said it's all take out.

I told her we'd chip in, Joe is awake, Heather said she called in the order and we are going to go and pick it up in a few minutes. Joe has the next few days off and is planning to go and get parts for the 1940 Ford, he is close to having it running.

Baby Sis and Ted are planning to come up and visit during their next school break, and are going to stay with me, Ted wants to get together with Joe about the Ford, Baby Sis and I can only sigh.

Am I sounding so 'pedestrian' ? Family this, friends that and Boy friend another thing, well Sweet Things it's the way my life is going right now. But this coming weekend Yoshi and I are going to take in the Chinese New Years Parade, it will be fun seeing her and her husband and family. I wish Joe could be with me but again he's pulled duty it being a Saturday and who knows what Occupy Oakland will be planning.

My caregivers at my country place say things are going well, just a few minor repairs, I'll have to plan on going up there soon.

Time to go, take care Sweet Things

Kisses

Decisions~~~

Hello Sweet Things,

I am taking a short breather after a very hectic early morning.

Joe and I had a very serious talk last night, and he's decided to put in to retire from the force, right now he's going to see a financial advisor to see about his projected retirement income, then he will see what he needs to do to line up things.

He has had it, Frank and his friends have persuaded him to take that step and I have to agree, and with the decisions made by the City Council last night it appears to be the best thing.

I am relieved for his sake, but I am also concerned about his future, what does he want to do with the rest of his life? Well he hasn't been letting the grass grow under him, while I've been at work he's been making phone calls, and there is several positions open half time where I have my country house, and except for the distance it would be perfect. I can go up there and he can come down here as our schedules permit and he can live at my country place. He said he wants to try his hand at milking goats. ***big smile***

I think the slightly slower pace would be good for him, away from all these pressures, and getting involved in a more small town feeling. That's not to say there aren't problems up there too, there are, but of a more manageable sort.

Now I must go, I have a meeting in 30 minutes and I want to go over my notes again.

Kisses Sweet Things