Two Year Blog Anniversary...

I just realized today, June 1st was the anniversary in starting this blog.  It totally escaped me!

My daughter, her husband, the 9 year old and the 6 year old left this morning for their vacation...I am sitting on the couch watching So You Think You Can Dance... The house is quiet and I am winding down from a nice day...

I had lunch with my girlfriend Connie at Chili's.

We dined and talked and hogged the table a good chunk of the afternoon, then went to Kohl's to spend our 30% off coupons.  I got an ochre colored tablecloth and new dish towels... (I have a thing for linens...)

I chatted with my youngest brother E____ on my way home (via my cell phone ear piece)....

And finished up the day with a nice dinner at Bob's Big Boy with my dear friend Pat....we laughed and caught up enjoying each other's company and conversation...

What a nice day....

Tomorrow, I head over to Mom's house....

Laughlin Blog Friend Meet, Grand Sons and Dog Love...

My husband and I went to Laughlin to meet up with one of my dear blogging friends, Jeanie of Living Consciously.  We met for lunch on Valentine's Day...  She was just as wonderful as I thought she would be.  Her husband Doc, and my husband enjoyed mutual conversations and Jeanie and I spent more time talking, (having a few "toddies") than playing the slots.

She didn't do so bad...and I came home with $20 less than I came with...

Always thoughtful, Jeanie presented me a Valentine's present from her dog Dodger, to my dog, Izzy.  A cute little hedgehog (which she promptly tore open and tried to eat the squeaker) and a hard, lime green, chew bone that also squeaks.  She is still figuring out what to do with the bone, as most of her toys are "fuzzy".  She was tossing it around yesterday...

Dodger (Doc and Jeanie's dog)

Izzy (my dog)



Jeanie and I both decided they would make a cute couple...what do you think?

This is Doc and Jeanie.  Doc is a knowledgeable dog owner, protector and great fan of dogs...One of his pet peeves are owners who don't pick up their dog's poops...and people who don't respect the etiquette of the Dog Park... (see the band aid? ) He doesn't put up with any nonsense.... (just kidding...he had some minor surgery...but the rest is absolutely true!)

Me and my honey...

On the way home Tuesday morning, he suggested we stop at a neat old place in Searchlight.  He discovered it when he used to work and was checking out a project out in that area.  He told me I would love it and said it was like going back in time to the 50's...

It is right off Hwy 95 and is called the Searchlight Nugget.  It is about 20 miles from Cottonwood Cove.  When you walk in, you hear the sound of money falling from slot machines.  Now a days, the machines generally spit out a pay voucher with a bar code.  You can cash it in or stick it into another slot machine like money.  No more getting your hands dirty from gathering up all those coins from the coin slots...

Wonderful aromas of bacon and coffee fill the air.  The prices were extremely reasonable for the generous portions.  They are famous for their coffee which costs....(are you ready???) ten cents.  Yep, that's what I said, TEN CENTS!  Delicious coffee!!  I think I had six cups.

This is our check...(check out price of coffee, I was not kidding!)

If you are in Laughlin, take a little drive to Searchlight, it is so worth it... We decided we would re-visit as it is only about a 45 minute drive from our house.  I want to take more pictures of some of the old stuff there...

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The six year old grand son was in a play Thursday night.  My daughter said he was a little Tom Cruise.  He said his 4 different lines perfectly and did not talk too fast.  He sang at the top of his lungs and waved to all his fans.

He also drew a picture of Gary the snail from Sponge Bob Square Pants...Here it is:

Pretty good little artist, eh?



The eight year old is quite the reader.  He is required to have 16 points per quarter, and he already has 45 points.  Unfortunately the extra points don"t carry over.  He is like his Mom...he likes to get everything done in advance so he has more play and fun time. 

They both are looking forward to their being off all next week...9 whole days!

Here is baby Jacob...making his first mess.  He rolled over and attacked the pile of diapers!  Notice how proud of himself he is??

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I have a new Grand Pup..... my oldest daughter's family got a chocolate lab and his name is Dutch.

He has been with them almost one month...and already knows how to sit and stay.  The boys are having a blast playing with him... Isn't he cute?

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As promised...Izzy in her purple sweater....and relaxing in her bed in my office...

Fits her great...now if we could just find a new rain proof jacket...her belly has grown and she no longer fits her little red parka anymore...

Updates and Venting On My Frozen Shoulder...

The nursing home called to let me know Dad's left pinkie toe is doing so much better and is almost healed.  They also told me the Psychiatrist came yesterday and decided Dad is doing so well the doctor is going to reduce Dad's anti-depressant medication.  That is GREAT news. 

We had a great time with our friends last night, but stayed up a bit too late. My husband is a master at barbecuing steaks. YUM! We are still in our pj's and just relaxing.  Izzy even stayed up late with us, so she has been catching a lot of Zs herself.  I think I will get dressed and take her for a walk around the block.

We are having dinner with one of my husband's friends tonight, so I am looking forward to it.  He is very funny and was one of the buddies who went to Mexico with my husband.

OH!  I finally got my settlement from my slip and fall July of 2009.  It was more than they offered me, they rounded up, but I think the reason they gave me some extra is because it took so long to get the check.  I had been dealing with the claims person and she kept telling me the head of security would not return her calls...

So I got the guys phone number and called him.  When he did not answer my call, I called the President of the Casino.  The next day, the head of security's assistant called me and told me "the check was in the mail".  That was before I left for California.  So when I returned and found no check, I called the head of security again, who again did not return my call.  I called the President again, and that afternoon I finally heard from the head security guy telling me the check was ready. He wanted to know if I would  want to come pick it up or for them to mail it.

I told him it was raining, and I would hate to take a chance of slipping and falling again in their casino, so would they please mail it to me.  JERKS!  We will not go to that casino ever again!  They denied my claim because they claimed they did not know about the water spill I slipped in, and if they did not know, they were not liable.  Well, that is a no brain-er on their part, huh ?  When I called three different slip and fall attorneys, all of them said if there were no signs or cones up it would be difficult to prove and would not take my case.

It was a new walk up bar they had built, and there was construction being done in other areas where there were cones, but this particular bar had just been finished.  In front of the bar was a lit up floor which had been placed over where carpeting had been.  I felt there should have been a rubber mat on the floor since all patrons of the casino walk from carpeting across the lit floor, then back to carpeting. Having it lit, makes it even more difficult to even see the surface of the floor. 

Whether someone had spilled a drink or the spill was from a leaking hose, I felt it was negligent on their part to not have something on the lit floor to prevent people from slipping...on anything!  Especially with all the seniors who frequent the casino.

Oh well, it is behind me now, and at least I got some compensation for my sore frozen left arm and shoulder for one year.  At least it covered the co-pays I had to put out for the x-rays and treatment in the ER, the doctor and orthopedic bills, and the MRI.

Sudden Tragedy...Loss Of A Friend...

As some of you may know, Penny Westwood at Penny's Word (which has been deleted) was in a car accident, August 17, 2010. She lived in a small town of New South Wales. She was driving and swerved to avoid a speeding car driving too fast, around a curve and on the wrong side of the road. Her car left the road and slammed into a tree. She was severely injured. The doctors put her into an induced coma. She became conscious, and then had a relapse. Tragically, she died August 26, 2010 in the hospital of a cerebral hemorrhage. Her funeral some time today, in the afternoon. She was only 59 years of age...


Several days ago, I had gone to her blog to check for updates and discovered it had been deleted. It gave me a horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I hoped either her husband Doug, or one of her three teens, may have done it by accident...

I had emailed her Gmail account asking how she was. Today, I received an email from her husband Doug, who shared about her death. When I replied, that email had been deleted as well. I cannot imagine the grief and loss they have to be feeling now...

I read her blog last March. I had read one of her poems and was so touched, I asked if I might have her permission to post it. She graciously allowed me to. At the end of my post today, I will re post her poem.

I had been corresponding with her only five months, but in that short span of time, through her writing and photographs, I felt she was a kind, gentle, loving woman who loved her family, her little town, animals and nature. She was a regular visitor with her comments. I will miss her.

Here is her poem:

Just sayin’.


When in doubt, leap. One needs a little courage to live.
Miracles happen so often they become commonplace.

It’s easier to draw a straight line than to straighten a crooked one.
How come it’s always the narrow path that considers itself superior?


If you paint a black picture, the picture will be black.
Boredom is the price one pays for not enjoying everything.

Getting lost is part of getting there.
There’s something braver than dying for the truth – living without it.


Lessons are learned, not taught.
When your burden gets too heavy, you learn how to carry it.


The little girl riding her bicycle. Never once did she wonder: “Is this worthwhile?”
The sea will wash away our footprints but not the fact we made them.


Experiences for which there are no words get along fine without them.
Reasons are invented, not found.


No river could flow if it had to know its destination first.

~Penny Westlake~

Rest in peace, dear friend...

Circle of Friends...

I received this CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AWARD from my new blogging friend, Rayna
over at http://coffeeringseverywhere.blogspot.com/ . 
She and I share the torment of Fathers with Alzheimer's.  She has been so kind and supportive, sharing her gentle memories of  her journey with her Father, when she walked that lonely road...

That kind of a bond is strong, and for us, is a foundation for friendship.  Thank you so much Rayna!

I am to pass this Award onto five fellow Bloggers.  I am having a very difficult time narrowing it down to only five. It has been a couple of weeks since Rayna graciously gave this to me, so I apologize Rayna, for taking so long to post this. There is so much talent out there, so that alone makes it impossible.  I have decided to bestow this onto my five newest blogger friends, whose generous and supportive comments have given me so much comfort with my Dad...

Gayle at http://gramme2006.blogspot.com/

Jeanie at http://jvlivingconsciously.blogspot.com/

Mari at http://mari365days.blogspot.com/

Marylinn at http://marylinnmlkelly.blogspot.com/

Darlene at http://george-cat.blogspot.com/

I greatly appreciate all your comments and concerns. All your kindness touches my heart in ways I can never adequately express.  Many thanks to:

Linda at http://wandertothewayside.blogspot.com/,

Linda Lou at http://vegaslindalou.blogspot.com/,  

Donna at http://grannygrampsplace.blogspot.com/,  

Marsella at http://marcella-gemini.blogspot.com/

and Lily at http://www.lillianrobinson.com/ (Becoming an Author My Journey)

Please check out these ladies blogs, if you are not familiar with them. 

Thank you again everyone, for your constant visits and caring concerns.  I am so honored and Blessed to have your support and friendship.