Family and Friends

Work. Many don't consider work as family. Fortunately for me, I do. I make myself at home where ever I am. Therefore, work is my second home with my second family. As frustrating as it can be at times, it's my life. It's our life. I read somewhere once that people tend to know their co-workers better than they do their own spouse. This makes so much sense to me because generally we are on our best behavior under the worst of circumstances. Sometimes at home we cannot say such.

Forrest and I many years ago before I had wrinkles around my eyes. Forrest retired August 31st. Every retirement leads me to believe the future will never be the same and what on earth will we do without the retiring one. We make it. We make it until the next retirement and I will forever think the very same thing all over again. And the wrinkles will continue to add to my character...

This is me, with wrinkles around my eyes, and Paul. He grumbled when I asked to take a pic of him. So I offered to get in it. Since I liked it of me and he did not of him, I kept it. Cause I'm the boss. Literally.

This very well may be the Insane Posse or something like that. Two of the orneriest people I know are sitting to the left. The middle one wreaks of trouble.

More bosses. We need them. Trust me.

Then there are people you can't wait to see because no matter what kinda mood I'm in, I know they'll make me laugh. The majority of this picture makes me laugh. Always.

Watch out for creepers. They are everywhere...

I did say everywhere...

The friends we make lasts a lifetime.

This is baby Forrest in 1980. I bet he didn't really think he'd last 30 years.

Little did he know, he would. And I hope Forrest considers us family and will miss us like we will miss him. I will miss him approaching me at least once a week asking something to the effect of, "Lisa, will you please check on this #@!% thing for me? I know it's in there somewhere!"

Change is good. Isn't it? I try to convince myself I like change, but honestly I do not. I like comfort with a little spontaneity. We will muddle through without Forrest and be envious of his newfound freedom. Best of luck to you my old office neighbor. I'll forever miss hearing the trading post radio show thru the walls of our offices. May your wife not strangle you when she has to listen to that everyday...

Hanging on to Summer

One thing that gives me complete peace is the lake. My father used to love to go to the lake and watch the water and everything about it. Me too. The sound of the waves crashing, the gulls in the air, and on this particular day, the voices of community service workers painting the handrails on the steps completed my picture perfect peaceful day.

The beach was filled with so many butterflies today. This one was my lucky shot. He danced and danced, teasing me. I was just grateful to get his one picture of his prideful pose.

Not sure about this little fella. He was a dancer too. Having fun in the sun was his agenda for the day. I felt as though I must have known him in a previous life, if that's possible. He'd tickle my hand, bounce to my beach bag, fly a few feet away and come back to me.

He's striking a skinny pose here. I really like how he matches my bag. Maybe that's why he kept hanging around.

I was about to leave, but my Ipod insisted I stay for one more song. Then...

these boys showed up. They had a "skin board" and was trying to perfect their surfing on the water's edge. I asked if I could take their pictures while they "surfed". One boy replied I'd have to ask the one who owned the board, the one that smoked the pot. Okay, so this old lady didn't take the bait. Instead, I just started snapping pictures. Take notice of the one holding the skin board. He was fun and didn't mind enlightening me thru the course of the surf.

I wished I had asked his name. He was a toot. Toot even invited me to try to surf several times. Toot asked, "do you think you can do it?" Teasing me with the cutest grin only an ornery boy can possess, I had to reply, "of course I can do that!" "Well COME ON THEN!" he yelled.

I believe this to be the owner of the skin board. He got it in California. After asking him if it was a piece of plywood, he giggled and said, "yeah, it is."

The boys got on a roll and put on a show for me. They surfed and did some awesome flips in the water. They were getting loud and crazy. Their energy mounted. The more their adrenaline pumped the better they surfed. My camera even started to overheat.

Then...

my batteries went dead...

the story of my life...

Meet Maggie May

Meet Maggie May. Mom's new addition to her little home. Maggie came home the second week of June. After lots of adjustments and a mini meltdown, she has earned to right to a happy home. Maggie has to be one of the most loving dogs I have ever been around in my life. She is quick to learn and very intuitive. She is a worker. Mom needs to find more jobs for her to do. It seems as though a long walk increases her energy. I hope to have new pics soon, but thought it was past due since I've been a lazy blogger lately. Welcome Home Maggie!

Family Fun

Japanese Garden

Aunt Karen's Gardens

Not sure if you remember my post showing Aunt Karen's gardens from last year or not, so I went back the other night to see what was new. The little garden above is one of my favorites. I love Autumn Sedum and she had large mounds here. There were several in other areas as well.

This one is probably my absolute favorite. The purple Cone Flowers have spread so much they absolutely dance when one looks at them.

oops, I say that and then I'm reminded of this one. This beauty is new. A tree had to be taken down and my aunt requested stumps be left so she could create this masterpiece. I love it. In another few weeks I hope to go back and get her picture in front of it.

Liatris, mmmmm, so pretty!

Also plenty of black berries ripening on the vine.

This was a short tour of her gardens. One day I will return during daylight hours and take more pics.

Aunt Karen and Uncle Dave are headed to mom's house tonight for a little 4th of July celebration. Can't wait!

Happy July

This coming weekend brings us to Independence Day. A time to reflect on our freedoms and choices. The picture above is one of my favorites of George Washington, The Prayer at Valley Forge. If our forefathers had any idea our country would end up like it is today I wonder what they would think.

cats, frogs and old men

After spending several weeks at home I am finally getting really, really bored. I spend today at the lake, thinking about anyone and everyone I could call and bug, but didn't. Instead I enjoyed the view wondering why I didn't buy batteries for my camera. The weather has been amazing, hot but amazing, just the way I like it. As you can tell in the picture above, my sleepy boy just woke up. A cool hiding place until the fatgirl finds him to boot him out.

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A few days ago my mother tells me, "I'm beginning to think you don't like old men." I had to laugh and I think she's right. And, I think she knows where I get that from. We were eating in a diner for breakfast when a nicely dressed older man was being completely obnoxious. He was loud and a sexist pig. Neither one I really mind, but from him, it just ticked me off. He was talking about some hot sweet thing he had seen at the city office and how, "THIS OLD BULLDOG JUST ABOUT BROKE HIS CHAIN!!!" Gag, me and another old woman kept rolling our eyes at each other while other idiotic older people laughed at him feeding his ego. Mom thinks he might have heard me say that "bulldogs stink", but I doubt it. Secretly I hope so. And, I think mom is right. Maybe I really don't like old men.

On that note, today is my 5th anniversary. I got my hubby a really cool St. Louis Cardinal jacket. I got a card with a frog on it. In my next life I vow not to marry and, if I don't have to have sex, I might even be a lesbian...