Christmas Greetings

Hello Wonderful Family,

It's great to have this forum in which to share news and generally communicate.
I am really enjoying my vacation. It's so great to relax and not be on such a tight schedule. Without stress I feel so much better.

I am over the pneumonia. I am still wondering about my breathing issues. A few days ago I had a blood test to determine if I am allergic to anything. Duh,...this valley is full of so many allergens. My doctor told me to move years ago. But alas, that can't happen just yet if ever. Tomorow morning I will have a CAT Scan. Next week I will see a Pulmonologist and have a breathing test. So neat that I can do all this and not miss work. We'll see what the outcomes are. My chest X-ray of last month revealed an enlarged lymph node. My medical specialist said this was normal as I had an infection at that time.

I think I have wrapped the last present and shopped for the last gift. But stuff happens so I can't be sure. All of your gifts have arrived and look great under the tree. We are truely blessed!

Uncle Rich is driving up tomorrow. He is leaving at 9:00 AM and thinks he can be here by 6:00 PM. We think he is underestimating his driving time. But it all depends on how long it takes him to get from San Diego to Los Angeles and out of the basin there. We'll see. We'll be waiting.

Steve's sister and mother sent a Honey Baked Ham. It's funny as we had been considering buying one. A local store is far from here. The closest ones are in Stockton and Fresno. We remember how good the Honey Baked Ham was at the Tiltons last February when Kathy was visiting. As I read the directions, they say not to heat it up as it may dry out and lose flavor. Serve it at room temperature? Really? Steve doesn't want to serve cold cuts. We want a hot dinner. So we'll have to figure out what to do about this tomorrow.

Steph's boyfriend will join us also for Christmas dinner. Luckily Steph doesn't have to work on Christmas as this is the one day of the year that Michaels is closed. Since she is the cook, that's pretty important.

Joe bought a new expensive DVR. For the life of us, Steve and I can't figure out how to work it. Joe can't be bothered to teach this new technology to us old folks. He just shakes his head and says that change is hard. It's so frustrating. So Steve just changes it back to our old MOXIE box. So,...each user uses whichever one he or she is comfortable with. It's not the best solution. Some folks are just not into teaching.

Steve and I hope to get away for a few days that first week of January. We plan to drive south along the coast. We love San Simeon and Morro Bay. Frankly, we'd just like to get out and hike a bit. Of course hiking along the ocean trails and/or beach is the best.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you! I won't be at my computer much for the next few days as computer is in our guest's room. Skype later? Have fun with Mom, Jan. Hope 2011 will be a better year for those most affected by our awful current economy.

Love,

Karen

Summer, Summer!

Hello out there!

It was so great to spend some time with almost all of you at Nana's 80th Birthday party! Karen and Jim sure do put on a fabulous party! What fun! It was a treat and an honor to be there with almost all of you! Sure wish we all lived closer. I filled Steve, Joe, and Steph in on all the latest news. The great companionship and fun activities and great food completely outweighed the humidity. I know, it could have been hotter. Personally, I'm glad it wasn't.

Katie, thanks for the pictures and for posting the recipes. You took fine pictures. Mine didn't turn out half as well. Kathy's Chai recipe was posted in red which hardly shows when I try to read it. Maybe it's just that way on my screen?

Congratulations to Julie with her new position as a school principal! I have worked under and observed school principals, as you know, for so many many years. I must say it's a very demanding and challenging job! I'm sure Kathy would agree. I'm sure she will be wonderful there will have a great year! Yes, she's back already planning. People don't realize what it takes to run a school and to begin a new school year. Everything must be in place and ready to roll.

Much luck to Vanessa and Zack as they prepare for parenthood. I don't think we have much of an idea of all that they are going through. The videoblog helps, but, I think we'd have to experience it to really understand. Best of luck to both of them.

I just love summer! It's so fantastic to have some time to wind down and relax before winding up again. After my Denton trip, Steve and I drove to Bend, Oregon to visit Sue and Tim Hagner for a very long weekend. Sue was an old college roomate of mine back in 1971. We had such a good time. It is a place that is a high, dry desert. But it's beautiful! Bend was amazing! Sue and Tim say hello to Nana, Jan, and Sue. They have a lovely retirement home, one they will be fixing up for years. Everything is there, even a Costco. We will definately put Bend on our list of possible places to retire too. It's not so hot in the summers. It's cold and has snow in the winters. It's different from our hot valley. I found it interesting that pine trees and desert plants coexist there. There are many recreational opportunities. It's even close to an airport. Wow!

Usually we would be camping now. The weather is still weird. There are flash flood warnings for Lake Tahoe today and two to four inches of rain is expected in Yosemite. So we are home for now.

We purchased a big screen TV. Joe and Steve felt we must have one. So Steve is enjoying movies in a big way. We needed to rearrange furniture to make room for it, so we had to take out the sofa. We are looking for a sofa bed that changes into a bed. Today's Garage Sales didn't have any. We'll check tomorrow. I don't think we will find one there. We dont' have many furniture stores here. Garage Sales aren't what they used to be. It think that people aren't replacing furnishings since the economy fell. Folks are making do with what they have and are trying to find jobs.

Today was the opening day for our annual county fair. It lasts for ten days. If we are home, I'd like to go next Tuesday. The Beach Boys will be performing, the one or two still living with others, no doubt. They are one of my favorite groups. I saw them perform up close in Sacramento back in 1963. I was young enough for them to have made a big impression on me. Can't wait!

This week our temperatures are in the 100's, typical for this time of year. So we are most active early in the mornings and later in the evenings. I went out at 7:30 tonight and washed the outside windows. By then it was down to 90 degrees.

Today I visited an old friend, a teacher I used to teach with and run the teachers' union with years ago. She now teaches in Provo, Utah. It was interesting to compare notes with teaching. It seems that teaching is so very different there. She has a son and a daughter living in Modesto still and a brother in Merced. It was so great to reconnect with her. Yes, email just isn't as great as the personal contact. I wish her well.

Enjoy the rest of your summer! Keep cool! Keep in touch!

Love, Aunt Karen