New Year.....

I have not posted anything about the New Year.....I had been writing down 2011 in my day planner at work.

I do not usually do New Year's resolution but I read my sister's blog and she used goals for the New Year.

I will only have goals I know I can do and I have started one...doing exercises, mostly getting on my treadmill and walking and I have done that since I have gotten back from my vacation. I am also trying to lose a bit more weight and maybe the doctor will decrease my medication. I have maintained the weight I have lost which is good and will work hard at losing the rest of the pounds.

Changing job is also one of my goals...I need more challenges and it gets boring as it is the same things I do. I got a call for an interview and I am really hoping I will get this one. A great company to work for, just being interviewed and be considered is good and makes me feel better about myself.

Keeping my fingers crossed....

Little things mean a lot.....

This Christmas I received a present from a dear friend. It is something that he has made and I love things that people make and give as presents, it means a lot to a person.

He has been retired and has been doing all kinds of new things. When I got the little parcel, I was wondering what it would be and when I saw the little box, I got a bit excited and was hoping that it would be something he has made.

When I opened the box, it was one of his paintings. Oil painting and small, you have to see it to admire the patience it took him to do it. The picture does not do it justice.

This painting measures 2.5 "x 2.5". It is so cute and it is sitting in my night table. Thank you, Ped.

Warm weather.....in January!!!

Before it starts to get cold again, which I am sure it will one of these days, I would just like to post that since I left to go to San Jose before Christmas, the weather has been quite warm. On January 4, I think we broke the record....it was plus 11 and that is balmy.

When you think about it, at this time we are usually in the -25 or colder and lots of snow. There is no snow on the roads and we had brown Christmas. I know the forecast is saying traces of snow in a few days, and that is still ok as long as we do not get dumped with the white stuff.

So while we have it, we are going to enjoy it. And then it will only be 21/2 months and will be spring. Something to look forward to.

A very sad news.....a tribute

She is like a mother to me, but more than that, she is a great and dear friend. I met her 7 years ago. I was starting a new job as site manager and she was one of my assistants. I have featured her in my special people, special places page. She was the second feature I did and I am glad that she has read that.

Today, I found out that she passed away December 30. She had another heart attack. She had quadruple heart bypass a few years back and being diabetic, has had a lot of problems. I called her the night before I left for San Francisco to wish her Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I am so glad I had done that.

When I came home, I tried to call her and there was no answer so I just left a message wishing her Happy New Year. But deep inside I had a bad feeling. I tried to call her again a bit late at night and still no answer. I again tried another day early in the morning and still no answer. By then I thought she might have been in the hospital. So this afternoon, I called again and her daughter answered and I knew then that something has happened to her. Her daughter was apologetic that I had to find out this way but she told me, she tried to call me and no answer and she did not want to leave a message.

My only consolation is they have not had the funeral/memorial yet. I believe it will be this coming Saturday so at least I can still say goodbye to her. I had cried the whole afternoon and at a loss wondering who can I ask for advice or just vent over anything that is bothering me. She and I call each other every few days and I will miss that.

She was a wonderful friend, a loving mother, a devoted grandmother and the best great grandmother. She will be missed.

Phyllis, I hope that you are happy where you are now and will be with your Don. I know Katherine had mentioned that you were getting tired and finally decided it was time to go. I will miss you so much. 

Il Divo is one of her favorite singers and we were just talking about them coming to Edmonton this summer. This is for you, Phyllis.

San Jose.....shopping

This is a post about shopping and a few pictures of what I bought there. When I got to San Jose, the next day we went out shopping for groceries and went home and started cooking for the Christmas eve dinner. After we had done a few dishes and waiting for some to cool down, we decided to go out shopping and went to Ross and Kohl's.

I bought 3 dresses, and 1 pair of boots. Then we headed back home again and finished what we had started cooking. A few hours later, I said to my sister that I have not gone out shopping late at night close to Christmas. This is the night of the 23rd and my sister told her hubby to check what time the stores would be closing. One was closing at midnight and the other at 1:00 a.m. So we headed back out to go shopping again. This time I got a dress which I had to convince my sister I had to buy, it was only $22.99 but at first she thought it was expensive after we paid $15.00 or less for the other 3 dresses. So I got it and went to Broadway and I bought two pairs of shoes there. After a while we headed back home again.

I was glad we did this because my sister got sick afterwards and could not go out shopping. After Boxing day, she asked Jeff and her mother-in-law to take me shopping. This time I found two pairs of boots and some leggings and bought See's candies for the ladies at work.

Here are pictures of the boots and shoes....for Alysia.

I found this one at Kohl's.

Annette found this one at a different Kohl's.

Jeff found this one at the same Kohl's

The next two pairs, I found at Broadway.

The next 3 pictures are purses I had asked my sister to get for me and just took it home this time.



This matches the jacket I bought.

A match for a skirt my sister gave me.

I like animal print.

My shopping experience in San Jose. I have not taken pictures of the clothes as I needed to hang them and take pictures and they have to be pressed to look nice, and I just do not feel like ironing at this time.



San Jose......pictures

I know this is a bit late but I am now posting Christmas pictures from my trip to San Jose. I did not get much of a chance to blog from there and I did not take a lot of pictures but here are some.

I did this table arrangement just in time for Christmas Eve dinner and I just went out the back and cut some of the leaves and berries and even stole a few sprigs from next door.

My sister's version of brown (could be Charlie) Christmas tree.

One of the decorated homes nearby.

Another one.



Christmas day dinner, crown roast of pork

My orange picking moment/episode

BIL and me

My sister's mother-in-law, Luckie and me in front of my cousins, Jo and Becky's house

So these are some pictures from my trip and I wish I had taken a few more but I keep forgetting my camera.

San Jose....a wonderful time

I am back home and missing my sister. Sometimes we don't realize what we are missing until we get a chance to experience it. I had a great time visiting my sister and I know that she feels bad because we did not do a lot as she got sick. But it was still fun just being with her and there will always be a next time.

My biggest thank you to her, Jeff, my fave brother-in-law and to Annette, my pretend mother-in-law. Also my cousins, Jo and Becky who on the spur of the moment, decided that we would drive to Carmel/Salinas after having dim sum. Of course it would not be a wonderful trip without the shopping. even though my sister was sick, she made sure I went out to shop with Jeff and Annette.

I am sure they will be relieved now that I am gone that there will be no chance of somebody stealing oranges. lemons or flowers.

My trip back was uneventful, although I have realized that I am not going to fly with United Airlines ever or if I can help it. No need to explain....just not flying with them.

I will post some pictures this weekend. I went back to work today and was greeted with 114 emails and took me almost 4 hours just to acknowledge and reply. I had a headache after that. Now, it is time to plan for my trips this year.

Again, thanks to my wonderful and dear sister.....it was great to spend some time with you and to my wonderful BIL and Annette....I believe I ate a lot of Chinese chews. Hope to see you again.

Thank you for lettin me be myself again.....I don't know why but somehow this song reminds me of how the two of us are when we are together...just being ourselves.