Weekend of Showers

Saturday morning I headed over to the west side of Michigan for the shower hosted by Andrew's Mom, Kathy, and three of his four sisters, Liz, Katie & Molly. They hosted a lovely luncheon and party at their home. The weather was beautiful and many of their friends attended and showered Amber and Andrew with many

lovely gifts and well wishes. Many of these ladies had known "Andy" since he was a
small child and it was fun hearing them talk about him. I know Amber and Andrew were overwhelmed by their generiosity. Later that afternoon Amber and I drove back to the east side to prepare for our hometown shower. I had baked 3 dozen or so cookies on Friday and I needed to get home and decorate them! With a little help from Howard we finished and fell into bed, exhausted from the day!










Katie, Kathy & Amber
















Megan, Amber (with her ribbon bouquet) & Nicole at Andrew's family home.

Sunday morning we were up early to get

things ready to go for the Bridal Luncheon.

Nicole, Megan and Liz came over early to help load the car and head over to Oakhurst Golf & Country Club for the luncheon. The set-up went quickly with so many people helping and the room looked lovely.

Amber waiting for her guests.




















Megan, Liz, Amber & Nicole










Andrew came later to kiss the ring!










Prize bags for the "games" and our
Wedding Cake Cookies

Birthday Boy Turns ?

Here he is, the Birthday Boy! These pictures were taken on Sunday, July 29. Amber sent him a "Father of the Bride" coffee mug, which he really needed, and I bought him another Swiss Army pocket knife. He can't seem to keep hold of these little boogers and is always needing a new one. Scott and I took him out to dinner at one of our favorite restaraunts, Stir Crazy and then to see the newest Harry Potter movie. He finished off the evening with his favorite, Pineapple Upside Down Cake!

Just When I Had Given Up Hope...

They called. The vet's office. I had pretty much given up hope that they were going to call me. After all, it had been a week and I figured if they were really interested they would call me fairly quickly. So, having given up on that job, I was thrilled to get a call yesterday from an elementary school where I had also applied for a posted job as a reading aide way back in June. I figured that I wouldn't hear about that job for a while because the buildings are closed down in July and don't open back up for business until August. So yesterday I got a call to schedule an interview for the school job! I was thrilled! Since I obviously didn't get the job at the vet's office, at least I still had a chance to get this job! I'm perfect for this job! I've had experience! Confident! Excited! Then... this morning the vet's office called. I didn't answer the phone and let the machine get it and they requested I call them back. What were they going to say? Sorry, we hired someone else or you got the job! What did I want them to say? So instead of calling them back I went over to my Mother's apartment to sort through some things and throw out some things and talked it all over with two of my best friends, Natalie and Loretta, who were helping me clean things out. They also helped me weigh my options. Both jobs have merit but I don't have either job at this point. We finished up at my Mom's apartment and I came home to think some more. Finally around 5:00 I called the vet's office to find out what they had to say. They offered me the job. They had tried out a few other people but no one had my personality or job skills. (Talk about flattery going to your head! This was what I needed to hear!) So now, here's the dilemma. Do I take the job that's offered and forget about the interview on Monday? Or do I interview on Monday and weigh the two jobs? I asked the vet's office if I could call them back late Monday or Tuesday. He said to take my time, they weren't considering anyone else until they heard back from me. I think I've decided to go ahead and do the interview on Monday. It can't hurt, right? The worst that can happen is that I would have two jobs to choose from. Or at least get enough information to decide if I would even want the reading job if it WERE offered, and said offer could take another week or so. Geez, decisions, decisions. I think I'll get a few more opinions first! Wish me luck!

1934 - 2007

My Mom quietly slipped away this morning after a month in the hospital, two weeks of which were spent in ICU hooked up to a ventilator and other invasive tubes and wires. Sadly her organs just gave out and couldn't support her anymore. She didn't care for the tubes and let us know but we thought we were trying to give her a fighting chance. Howard and I were with her and I was holding her hand at the end. She had many friends and extended family members who will miss her dearly. She was proud of her sharp mind and was always challenging herself with games to help keep it that way. Just recently she started learning about Marine Biology so she would be able to discuss it with Tyler. This picture was the last one taken of her, right around my birthday on June 7. I had just gotten a new camera and dropped by her apartment and spent a few minutes trying it out. Eventhough she will be missed we know she's gone on to a better place for her, one without pain and suffering and where she can get around freely now. Rest in Peace.

Do You Ever Feel....

Do you ever feel that you just can't take any more? You can't take any more bad news, sadness, stress? Today that's what I'm feeling. I know tomorrow the feeling will lighten a little but today it is heavy. My dear friend, Claire, the one I visited in Valparaiso, IN about a month ago lost her husband to a heart attack last night. He wasn't that old, wasn't ill and it was quite unexpected. My heart breaks for her and her kids, all 3 of which are far too young to have to be without a father. This loss on top of my own Mother and Father seems like too much, at least for today. It's just so sad.
My Mother will be taken off the ventilator on Monday. It's time; she's not improving and the bottom line, which I have to keep reminding myself, is that she would not want to live like this; tubes down her throat, hands tied down, laying in a bed staring at the ceiling when she is awake but most of the time sleeping because of the pain medication. It's just so sad.
My Father will probably have another chemo treatment next week. He has been sick following the first treatment and is just starting to feel a little better. His spirits are high and he's fighting the good fight. It's just so sad.
Today is a sad day. Tomorrow the sun will come up, it will be a beautiful day here in Michigan. It will be Howard's birthday and we will all try to be happy. We will have cake and cards and presents and appreciate what we do have and that we are relatively healthy, happy and just simply alive. Tomorrow will be a happier day, hopefully. Just one day. Then it will be Monday.

It's All New To Me!

Ok, granted, I haven't interviewed for a job in over 12 years, but this was a new one to me: a working interview. A couple weeks ago I took my resume to a local veterinarian's office who were looking for an additional receptionist. I filled out their application, dropped off my resume and letter and waited to hear from them. Finally on Monday I got a call to come in for an interview on Tuesday at 10:00. I arrived for my interview and had to wait for a while because they were so busy. Finally the time arrived but we had to conduct the interview outside on a bench because they were so busy there were no spare rooms. The interview didn't last long but seemed to go pretty well and at the end the practice manager (that was his title) asked if I could come in on Wednesday for a few hours. I agreed to come in from 8:00 - 11:00. When I got there I was introduced and it was explained to others that I was there for a "working interview". News to me but I have to admit that on Tuesday he didn't say I had the job but didn't say I hadn't. I guess "working interviews" can be a good thing for both parties. Maybe I wouldn't like them or how they did business. Maybe they wouldn't like me either and didn't think I would fit their image, or whatever. The first thing I decided was that this is not just a "receptionist" position unless those have changed too in the last 12 years. Receptionist jobs I was familiar with were jobs where people answered the phone, took messages, maybe booked some appointments, got clients coffee. This is a front office job and it's b-u-s-y!! When the 3 hours were up the manager and I went into an office, he asked me how things went, I said I thought things gone well, that there would be a lot to learn but I thought I was up for the task and he said he would talk to the "girls" and be in touch! End of working interview! So... now I wait. Wait to see if/when they will call back. At least I have my first interview in 12 years behind me. Maybe it will be my last, maybe only the first of many! Updates to follow...

Zoe, lookin' cute!!

Good Shopping Weekend

Amber arrived bright and early Saturday morning! How she gets up for these early flights I'll never know! After she finished her greetings to Scott and Zoe, she and I were on the road to the jewelers so she could order the wedding bands! How exciting! She wasn't too happy about leaving her engagement ring behind for a couple weeks but it needed a little tweaking so that it will fit right with the wedding band. When we finished there we were off to the fancy schmancy mall in a hunt for a perfect "Mother of the Bride" dress! We headed straight to Macy's as several of my friends have had good luck there with their dress shopping. We swept through the department and brought an armful of possibilities back to the dressing room. The first selection was a good one, only needed a little alteration. The second one was nice but Amber had a hard time getting past the beading of large flowers. Reminded her of a Mexican fiesta, I think! The third selection seemed perfect; wouldn't need alterations, good color, simple yet elegant! And the best part: IT WAS ON SALE! It was 50% off!!! Even if it hadn't been on sale it would have been worth it to find something that fit so well and was found so quickly!! We didn't even feel that we needed to keep looking, just in case we found something better. This was it! So, that hurdle has been cleared and I am all set with the perfect Mother of the Bride dress!! Now if I can only find the perfect shoes to go with it!
On Sunday Amber and I went up to the hospital to visit my Mother. She actually seemed a little more alert today. Apparently she has an infection though that she contracted in the hospital. They are treating it and hoping for the best. It seems that for every little step forward she takes 3 or 4 backwards. It's slow going and she's not out of the woods yet. They want to do dialysis as much as possible as that's really the only way to get the fluid out of her body and then hopefully things will start working again.
Amber's on her way back home now. I think she got a lot accomplished in two short days. In just two weeks she and Andrew will both be back this way to participate in the Bridal Parties/Luncheons here in Michigan on both the West and East coasts! Exciting times!!