Ok Jenny, you ignited the fire and I'm back!
I just spent the last hour going through my blog, reading old posts and even tried to update the picture of Randy and I that's on the top (because anyone who has seen me lately KNOWS I don't look like that anymore!)...but I can't figure it out! UGH!
Reading through old posts was fun though, also sad...but it re-ignited the fire.
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I had a conversation with one of my Pavelow sisters last week. Kim is one of the most wonderful women I have the pleasure of knowing and she was one of the first who welcomed me with open arms into the Pavelow family after Randy and I married. She and her husband recently moved from Hawaii to DC and Kim was posting from a hair salon. She was so excited because she found a stylist and fell in love! It got me thinking...when you move, what is the most important 'service' to find? Family doctor? Lawn service? Pool service? Nope, we agreed three things are more important to be taken care of first and foremost...NAILS, TOES and HAIR! I love my hairy godmother. I found her on the recommendation of someone I thought was a friend but even though THAT relationship ended, the more important one, that with my hair stylist, has endured for the 4-1/2 years we have lived here. I lucked out in the nails/toes category - I walked into a salon one Saturday and have been going back ever since. Mai is magical when it comes to taking care of my nails and toes! Of course I found the necessary doctors, lawn service and pool service...but those came secondary!!
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We inherited another dog. Yep, you read right. We had no intentions of getting another dog...ever...after we inherited Missy but we couldn't say no. Her name is Bella and she's a black lab mix. She is the absolute sweetest dog we have ever had...either of us! She has a health issue and is doing well with treatment. We have to keep her in the crate most of time to minimize her excitement but we do let her out with us at night when we know no one will be knocking on the front door. She's great about going and staying in her crate though. Two more weeks and she gets her next treatment and hopefully the vet will give us the go-ahead to keep her out of the crate. Since she's a lab, she loves to run so walking her out to go potty is a challenge. But she's adapting well. I've promised the girls that when the vet clears her, we'll go spend the afternoon with Bella at the dog park and let her run until she exhausts herself.
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Missy and Bella are not our only pets. Last year before I left Fort Walton Beach after the ACA Reunion (Randy had to stay for work so I was by myself), I stopped off at one of the cheap tourist shops on the island and bought the girls two hermit crabs. I bought them each a container for it so they'd have their own but then we read and learned that hermit crabs survive better when not left alone. So, we consolidated the tank thingy-s (still not sure what to call them - they're not aquariums) and put it on the counter above the kitchen sink. Welp, here it is August, 9-1/2 months later and the darned things are still alive! I have no idea how they're surviving - we water their sponges and leave water in their shell-bowl-thingy but they don't eat anything! We feed them but they don't touch it! I can't remember what Emily named hers but Grace named hers Chubby...for the fat claw.
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We also have fish. This time last year, Randy received his second bonus from Cubic and since it was a *good* bonus, I suggested to him that he use it on himself (after all, he went from being off work for almost a year to landing an awesome job and in my opinion, he's more than earned it). He pondered for a week or two on what he wanted and finally settled on a saltwater aquarium for his office. When you walk into our house through the front door, the room directly ahead is traditionally used as a formal living room. Since we have no use for a formal living room, we use it for Randy's office. So, a fish tank in this room would be openly visible. We found a 180-gallon saltwater system with a complete setup and fish...and went about to get it. We contacted the owner, who said he'd need some help tearing it down but in return, he'd help us set it back up. We spent 10 hours between that guys house and ours and finally set it up across from Randy's desk where Randy can take breaks from working and relax, watching his babies float around. The girls set about quickly naming the fish! We have Moe, the king of the aquarium - he's a large, light- and dark-gray Tang who turns wickedly dark when he's agitated. We also have Dori, just like Dori from "Finding Nemo," who is hilarious to watch swimming throughout - you can almost hear Ellen Degeneres' voice when watching her! We have Bubbles, the yellow Tang, and again, just like the yellow fish from "Finding Nemo,' who loved bubbles. There are Electra and Stripe and several others, not to mention the number of crabs and snails. We used to have a spiny blue lobster, the girls named Larry, but all we can guess is that he reached old age and passed...he was a P.I.T.A.! That darned lobster ate the hermit crabs and snails! We had to get all new!
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Friday, August 2, 2013
Been a while...
My daughter-in-law asked me a while back what happened to my blog and to be quite honest, I don't know! Life got busy, I guess.
We're staying busy here in the Anderson household!
Grace is entering the third grade...I have such a hard time saying that! She's still my baby but is definitely growing up! She's excited about school starting up in the next few weeks, ready to see her friends again. She didn't have the opportunities this summer to see her friends that Emily has had and it never hit more close to home than when I overheard a conversation between them. Grace commented that she wants to move to California, specifically San Diego where daddy's home office is located. Emily told her she'd miss her friends but Grace replied she didn't have any. Yep, I privately teared. Maybe this will be Grace's year...*fingers crossed* Up until this week she's been taking gymnastics but decided it's not really what she's interested in so she wants to start playing piano! I've found a teacher locally so she'll start up lessons soon.
Emily is my big-shot fifth grader, wise beyond her years and far too mature for my comfort. Despite our attempts to keep their environments age-appropriate, she's just beyond that. Lord, please help me NOW! She's excited about being in the top grade at the school, and has developed a wonderful group of friends. She received a phone for her 10th birthday but she's good with the rules...and I end up with it more than she gets to keep it! Her friends learned quickly that I read her text messages! What a great group of mom-friends I have with her friends' moms! We watch out for each other and have no problem jackin' up when necessary. The kids have learned fast that we talk and nothing is kept secret. Yes, I know they'll find ways around it, but for now I'm ok with it. Now if I could just get a handle on her mouth and attitude! LOL! I know, the best is yet to come, right???
Randy is blessedly employed and truly loving his job. The corporation he works for is creating a Special Operations and Intelligence Division! They will be their own entity. His boss is absolutely awesome, a former Unit Commander and one of the absolute greatest people you will ever meet. A few months ago, another Unit member was added to the team with the promise of more operators to be added in the near future! Business is growing!! Randy's doing more than just holding his own with everyone he's working with...and I am so proud!
He was elected as Treasurer of the Air Commando Association Tampa Chapter last year and has been actively involved. He came home a few weeks ago from an officers' meeting and said that they were going to have a membership drive in September and oh, by the way, would you organize it? So of course, I said yes. I've spent the past few weeks securing a location and food vendor, working on appropriate entertainment and helping plan a 9/11 Remembrance ceremony. I've spent the past several days going through music, listening to LOTS of 9/11- and America-themed music and really feeling proud of our troops. And yes, I do miss being active duty Air Force. One of the greatest things about the path of work Randy chose post-retirement is that it still keeps us in the community, keeps him actively involved, keeps us involved. I love the men and women who wear the uniform and serve this country!
Once again, for the fourth year, I find myself part of Maniscalco's PTA...and for the third year as president. Things are kicking into high-gear for us with school starting in just 2-1/2 weeks. I'm blessed to have a FULL board of volunteers this year! I look forward to working with the outstanding group of women who have volunteered to serve this year.
Randy and I are headed up to Fort Walton Beach up in the panhandle again this fall for the Air Commando Association reunion. Oh! And a collection of his writings about military life was compiled and submitted for publication in the August edition of the Air Commando magazine. He's going to be published! I am so proud of him!
The rest of the family is good. Our granddaughter, Liliana, began first grade this week. Katie and Lili are still in Georgia, Efren in the Azores, waiting on orders so he can come home. Ryan, Jenny and Nathan are doing well, too...Nathan starts preschool soon (still can't believe that!). Ryan and Jenny are both in school as well. I miss them all terribly!!!!
Until next time...and hopefully that will be in the near future!
We're staying busy here in the Anderson household!
Grace is entering the third grade...I have such a hard time saying that! She's still my baby but is definitely growing up! She's excited about school starting up in the next few weeks, ready to see her friends again. She didn't have the opportunities this summer to see her friends that Emily has had and it never hit more close to home than when I overheard a conversation between them. Grace commented that she wants to move to California, specifically San Diego where daddy's home office is located. Emily told her she'd miss her friends but Grace replied she didn't have any. Yep, I privately teared. Maybe this will be Grace's year...*fingers crossed* Up until this week she's been taking gymnastics but decided it's not really what she's interested in so she wants to start playing piano! I've found a teacher locally so she'll start up lessons soon.
Emily is my big-shot fifth grader, wise beyond her years and far too mature for my comfort. Despite our attempts to keep their environments age-appropriate, she's just beyond that. Lord, please help me NOW! She's excited about being in the top grade at the school, and has developed a wonderful group of friends. She received a phone for her 10th birthday but she's good with the rules...and I end up with it more than she gets to keep it! Her friends learned quickly that I read her text messages! What a great group of mom-friends I have with her friends' moms! We watch out for each other and have no problem jackin' up when necessary. The kids have learned fast that we talk and nothing is kept secret. Yes, I know they'll find ways around it, but for now I'm ok with it. Now if I could just get a handle on her mouth and attitude! LOL! I know, the best is yet to come, right???
Randy is blessedly employed and truly loving his job. The corporation he works for is creating a Special Operations and Intelligence Division! They will be their own entity. His boss is absolutely awesome, a former Unit Commander and one of the absolute greatest people you will ever meet. A few months ago, another Unit member was added to the team with the promise of more operators to be added in the near future! Business is growing!! Randy's doing more than just holding his own with everyone he's working with...and I am so proud!
He was elected as Treasurer of the Air Commando Association Tampa Chapter last year and has been actively involved. He came home a few weeks ago from an officers' meeting and said that they were going to have a membership drive in September and oh, by the way, would you organize it? So of course, I said yes. I've spent the past few weeks securing a location and food vendor, working on appropriate entertainment and helping plan a 9/11 Remembrance ceremony. I've spent the past several days going through music, listening to LOTS of 9/11- and America-themed music and really feeling proud of our troops. And yes, I do miss being active duty Air Force. One of the greatest things about the path of work Randy chose post-retirement is that it still keeps us in the community, keeps him actively involved, keeps us involved. I love the men and women who wear the uniform and serve this country!
Once again, for the fourth year, I find myself part of Maniscalco's PTA...and for the third year as president. Things are kicking into high-gear for us with school starting in just 2-1/2 weeks. I'm blessed to have a FULL board of volunteers this year! I look forward to working with the outstanding group of women who have volunteered to serve this year.
Randy and I are headed up to Fort Walton Beach up in the panhandle again this fall for the Air Commando Association reunion. Oh! And a collection of his writings about military life was compiled and submitted for publication in the August edition of the Air Commando magazine. He's going to be published! I am so proud of him!
The rest of the family is good. Our granddaughter, Liliana, began first grade this week. Katie and Lili are still in Georgia, Efren in the Azores, waiting on orders so he can come home. Ryan, Jenny and Nathan are doing well, too...Nathan starts preschool soon (still can't believe that!). Ryan and Jenny are both in school as well. I miss them all terribly!!!!
Until next time...and hopefully that will be in the near future!
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