Sunday Chat

 "Open your eyes to the beauty around you, open your mind to the wonders of life, open your heart to those who love you, and always be true to yourself." (Maya Angelou)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

 It's hard to believe we're already heading into the final stretch of August. It feels like 2025 just began, and now we're staring down the last few months of the year. The good news is the holiday season is just around the corner, and I'm really looking forward to it. There are a few surprises planned, which makes it even more exciting.

    It's been an emotional week. Wednesday, my mom had a biopsy on her back. While her main doctor was hoping to rule out TB, that test came back negative, so now we're waiting for the next round of results to come in. It's frustrating to be in a holding pattern, but it's a relief to know that the doctors are actively working on finding a solution. We're hoping for some answers soon. My mom is feeling better, but the pain is a persistent part of her journey. Still, she's focused on what's next and is ready to embrace a new, less painful chapter. She's a real trooper.

 

    Mike's still coming for Halloween, which is a relief. I was concerned he might have to cancel since his stepdad passed away peacefully last Saturday.

 

    His stepdad was so young, just 62, and had been struggling with his health all year. After a gallbladder removal, he developed a severe infection, and sadly, they discovered he had pancreatic cancer that was already spreading. The infection prevented him from receiving chemo, and he'd been in and out of the hospital since February. It's been an emotional and draining time for his mom and sisters, but they've all rallied together as a family to be by his side every day.

 

     Mike's been in a similar situation to mine, taking care of his mom who has a disability while also working. I told him we could wait until next year, but his family is pushing him to take a week off. After all his hard work, he deserves a break.

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

 

 

 

 

 

Just the Facts #27

 

 

"The best index to a person's character is how he treats people who can't do him any good, and how he treats people who can't fight back." (Abigail Van Buren)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

 It’s Friday Funday again, they sure come fast don’t they?

 This week, we're taking a trip back to the land of braces and awkward dances: junior high. I was in 7th and 8th grade, right in that weird in-between phase of no longer being a kid but not yet a high schooler. Share what your junior high experience was like!

 

1.  I was tested for the Gifted and Talented program and made it in once again! It felt like a sequel to the Club 34 and Club 56 adventures I had in grade school. Every week, we’d gather to dive into special projects and activities. The highlight came in eighth grade when we took a week-long trip to New Mexico. I was completely captivated by the landscape and culture. It made such an impression that my family made it our annual summer vacation spot, a tradition we even got my grandparents in on.

 

2.  Growing up, our town didn't have a junior high, so my classmates and I were bused to four different schools across Denver. I was sent to a school on the opposite side of the city, conveniently just ten minutes from where my dad worked. On days he had a late start, he'd give me a ride to school and pick me up afterwards.

 

3.  A blanket of fresh snow in the morning meant a day off from school. My mom knew the long bus ride on the highway was too risky. It wasn't just me, either; most of the neighborhood kids got to stay home and play in the snow.

The days we did go to school, every bus was late. It felt like an eternity getting there, crawling along the slushy roads.

 

4. Watching the Space Shuttle Challenger launch in 7th grade was supposed to be a moment of awe, but it became a moment I'll never forget. Our class, like many others, had gathered around the TV, buzzing with excitement to see the shuttle ascend. That excitement quickly turned into silence and then profound sadness as we watched the explosion. I can still remember my teacher's quiet explanation of the tragedy, helping us process what had just happened. It was a sobering moment for us all, a vivid memory of a joyous occasion turning into a national tragedy.

 

5.  Writing a report on Martin Luther King Jr. was a requirement in 7th grade, but it turned into something much bigger for me. My teacher was so impressed with my work that she entered it into a Denver Public Schools contest. My report won for my school, and I got to go to an event at a local high school with all the other school winners. I was so proud to walk away with a ribbon for placing in the top ten!

 

6.  The Gifted and Talented program was a whole new world. I was one of maybe five kids from my neighborhood, and my days were spent in special classes, mostly separated from my childhood friends. It was a tough lesson in who my real friends were. The ones I'd known forever stuck by me, while some of the new kids I met didn't. Some days, I wished I could just be a regular kid again, in class with my friends. The program did bring a few good new friends, but we lost touch after junior high.

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

It's All About Life

Just the Facts #26

 “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up0.” (Mark Twain)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!

 

 With a new school year1 starting, it's the perfect time to reminisce about our own days in the classroom. This week, let's share some memories from our grade school years. 

 

 1. I went to preschool for a single day. When I was four, my family moved from one side of Denver to the other. My mom took me to a local preschool, but for some reason, she didn't like it. So, after just one day, I never went back.

My kindergarten experience was also a bit unusual, as I attended two different schools. The first was in a converted duplex next to a park. Then, the same school moved to a building in the warehouse district.

There was no grade school to attend at the time, but construction began on one when I was in the second grade. By the time I started third grade, the new school was complete, and all the students moved over to the new building.

 

2.  When I was in fourth grade, my only major childhood injury happened while playing tetherball. I sprained my ankle after smacking it against the metal pole. I still remember watching it swell up in class afterward. That same summer, I re-injured the same ankle twice more.

 

3.  At my new grade school, I was part of a program for gifted and talented students called Club 34 and Club 56. Acceptance was based on a combination of test scores and grades. Throughout grade school, I was a member of these clubs, where we focused on project-based learning and problem-solving. In Club 56, our main project was designing a new community in a nearby area. It was a large-scale, science-based project, and ironically, I now live in the very community we helped create.

 

4.  My first experience with love and heartbreak happened in 6th grade with a boy named Angelo. He was in the classroom next to mine, and we'd meet for lunch and sit together during movies in the auditorium. He even called me at home, which felt incredibly grown-up. When we broke up, I was completely heartbroken. The thought of going to school felt unbearable. My mom noticed how sad I was and asked me what was wrong. When I told her about Angelo, she let me stay home that day. Instead of sending me to class, we spent the day cooking together in the kitchen, a gentle comfort during my first real heartbreak.

 

5.  Throughout my time in elementary school, I was a high-achieving student. I made the honor roll every grading period since the third grade, an accomplishment that earned me a special award in sixth grade. I was also consistently recognized for my character, receiving the "Good Citizen" award every year based on nominations from teachers and students. My academic performance was so strong that had my elementary school named a salutatorian, I would have been it.

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again.

Life is Short... Live it to the Fullest!

 

We Did The Moulin Rouge...Twice

"If you have good thoughts, they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely." (Roald Dahl)

 

 Hello, my lovely friends!

 

    Remember that special blog post I promised? Well, it's ready! This one was super special to us, and I'm so excited to share it with you.

 

     A week ago, my mom and I had a fantastic time at the theater! We got to see the Moulin Rouge play for the second time, which was a huge deal for me since I absolutely adore the movie. We'd been holding onto those tickets for almost a year, so you can imagine how excited I was when the day finally arrived!

 

     The past couple of weeks have been a real rollercoaster for my mom, thanks to all the craziness with Kaiser. Taking her to the theater is always a perfect escape—a chance for her to forget about everything for a few hours and get lost in a great play.

 

    Now that we bring her walker, we get to take advantage of one of the few perks her condition offers: early seating. It's something she absolutely loves! The night before, my mom had me curl her hair in rollers and ironed a pretty outfit for her to wear. She doesn't get to go out as much as she used to, so it was fun to help her feel special.

 

 We had front row, not center, but to the side very good seats. 

 

 The show was amazing! It’s just a non-stop musical. My mom didn’t doze off once and she’s notorious for falling asleep during a show. The aftermath of the confetti thrown at the end of the show. 

    The whole ride home, my mom and I couldn't stop gushing about the play. We both agreed we had to see it again! My mom asked me how much longer it would be in town, and when I told her it was only one more week, she immediately told me to look for seats for us.

 

    When we got home, I found two seats in the second row. They had a "limited viewing" note, which meant we wouldn't be able to see some of the action on the sides, but on the upside, the tickets were a total bargain—only $45 each! We snatched them up. 

 

Our view for the second show yesterday. 

 

My mom doesn't get out much, so whenever she does, she makes friends instantly. We sat next to a woman her age at the show, and they hit it off right away, chatting before the curtain went up and during intermission. We even heard a rumor that the actual Tony Award for Best Musical was on the floor above us, so we decided to check it out after the show.

 

    After the show, the real fun began for my mom! We went up to see the Tony Award, and that's when I spotted a group of women dressed as "Can Can" dancers. They were taking pictures with a crowd of people when one of them noticed my mom in her walker.

 

    "Hey mama! Come take a picture with us!" she called out.

 

    My mom's face lit up, and she laughed as she joined them. She had the biggest smile on her face. I made sure to thank the dancers for making her day so special.

 

 

 

    Talk about a magical week—we saw it twice! My mom was completely enchanted, and it was so wonderful to see her have the time of her life. This show is a true crowd-pleaser and the perfect outing for a special night with the people you love. It’s impossible to watch without a huge smile on your face.

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

Just the Facts #25

 “I think nothing is successful without something to eat at the end of it.” (Peppermint Perkins (Joe Perkins)

 

Hello, my lovely friends!  

 

1.  Lots of people love sweets, but they just aren't my thing! I'd take a salty snack over a sugary one any day. Seriously, don't even try to tempt me with a decadent chocolate cake—I'm the person who scrapes all the frosting off before I'll even take a bite. And those candy-coated treats? You can keep 'em.

 

2.  My childhood self had a very specific, and limited, relationship with vegetables. I was a fan of the usual suspects: corn, carrots, and green beans. That was it. My world was changed, however, by the magical invention of the microwave.

My family took a class on how to use our new appliance, and there, in that fluorescent-lit classroom, I was introduced to broccoli with cheese. It was a game-changer! I loved the cheesy deliciousness, but I still had a problem with what I called the "trees" of the broccoli. Luckily, my sister was the opposite and loved the tops. So, when my mom made it, I'd eat the stems and my sister would eat the florets. A perfect system!

These days, I eat the whole thing, but I still prefer the stems. Good thing my mom is still on team "trees," so we never have to fight for the best pieces.

 

3.  I'm not much of a sweets person, but a little sweetness in a savory dish? Now you're talking! I love how a touch of sugar can elevate a dish, especially when it comes to sauces. Think of that perfect balance in a spicy sweet sauce, the subtle honey in a sesame chicken glaze, or even the sweet cornmeal batter on a classic corn dog. It's all about that delicious contrast.

 

4.  Guess what? I'm a total lightweight! Just kidding—I actually don't drink alcohol. My teenage years were so memorable that I decided to make some different choices as an adult. I'll occasionally sip a wine cooler, but I mostly prefer non-alcoholic drinks. I even use the bottles of wine my dad left me to cook with, which feels like a great tribute to him. It's a win-win: delicious food and no hangover!

 

5. After all this time, I still haven't had a Starbucks coffee! I've had plenty of Dunkin's, but Starbucks has always been a no-go for me. A million years ago, I bought a bag of their coffee and it tasted like an old, smelly ashtray. One sip and I dumped the entire thing. It was so bad that I've never tried another Starbucks drink since!

 

6.  If I had to choose a final meal, it'd be shredded beef tacos. You'd think that for a foodie like me, the choice would be tough, but it's not. I'm talking about beef slow-cooked with chilies until it's perfectly seasoned and falling apart. Absolutely delicious!

                                            

So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

Back At It Again

 

"Challenges make you discover things about yourself that you never really knew. They're what make the instrument stretch -  what makes you go beyond the norm." (Cicely Tyson)

 

Hello, my lovely friends! 

  

    I know I promised a special something for the blog today, but I've got a little secret: it's continuing on Saturday. I'll have the full blog on Sunday for you all. 

 The refreshing break from the heat is over. After a glorious taste of cooler weather, summer is back with a vengeance. Yesterday, the temperature soared to 98 degrees, and it looks like it's here to stay.

 

    I'm ready to trade in my shorts for sweaters and my iced tea for a pumpkin spice latte. I can almost smell the crisp autumn air and hear the crunch of colorful leaves under my feet. And with the holidays just around the corner, that means I'll be back to writing full-time blogs soon!

 

   My mom's health journey continues with another chapter! Tomorrow, she's seeing her primary care doctor for a check-up. She's got a whole list of questions ready to go, trying to get to the bottom of all the new developments.

 

    It's been a bit of a rollercoaster lately with her MRIs. The first one suggested she had fractures in her spine, which meant she couldn't get the injections she needed. But then, after a specialist took a look and requested another MRI, the results came back with a twist: no fractures! Now it looks like the injections are back on the table.

 

     My mom is a trooper! She has a biopsy next month, and while it's all a bit much and the medical journey is getting long, she's taking it all in stride. She's completely focused on getting better and is ready to tackle whatever comes next.

 

 Before my mom's appointment on Friday, we're making another trip to the lab for more bloodwork. My mom loves to joke that with all the vials they've taken, she's surprised she hasn't run out of blood yet!

 

 So glad you stopped by! Wishing you the coziest morning/afternoon/evening ahead. Can't wait for our paths to cross again!

Choose You