test only

Sorry...trying to figure out how to blog on the iPad while we are gone and I keep getting an error message. This is just a test. Gotta figure it out before we leave.

Christmas Preparations

Well the Christmas preparations are in full swing right along with the typical holiday sniffles. Yes, I got a cold last week while substituting for a friend at my old school. Ugh!

Anyway, the shopping is done and wrapped so I can check that off my list. This is the 21st of December and the world did not come to an end as predicted by the Mayan calendar. I've never had my shopping done so early. It is a good thing though because Dan and I are sharing a car right now. What that really means is that I am stuck at home. Wow am I getting a lot done though!

Yesterday and today I have made many batches and varieties of Christmas cookies to share with family and friends.

Last night I went out with the "girls" to see the San Diego Musical Theater production of "White Christmas". It was amazing and really got you in the mood for the holidays. The gal who was cast as Betty looked just like Rosemary Clooney. Anyway, great fun

Tomorrow I am baking holiday cupcakes to take up to Alta Loma for the big celebration on the 23rd. I found a wonderful recipe via Pinterest for vanilla bean white wedding cake. It is to die for and some of those recipes you find on Pinterest are a bit iffy, but this is awesome. Speaking of Pinterest, if you want to find me there are several Katie Pedersen's, I am the one with the yawning dachshund mouth.
LOL- it's Danny!

It seems like it is taking forever to get stuff done though because I keep napping from this cold. I need to get well before we leave on vacation January 5th.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas with family and friends and take time to remember the reason for the season.

Holiday Tea

My friend Debbie invited me to a women's tea sponsored by her friend's church. I had heard about this tea, but had never been. Basically, a woman "sponsors" a table and is in charge of decorating it with her own place settings, fabulous centerpieces, teas, candles  etc. The organization provides light appetizers that include tea sandwiches, scones, cheeses, and desserts all served by waiters. I don't know what the cost of the tickets were because it was a gift, but I am sure the proceeds went to some Women's Ministry fund. During the evening, there was an inspirational speaker who talked about the seasons of life every woman goes through. There was also incredible music vocals backed my guitar, violin, cello and piano. It was a great way to bring in the holiday spirit and to reflect upon the true meaning of Christmas instead of the typical Christmas parties common this time of year.
 

 When we walked into the hall, we saw probably 50 tables of 8. All seats were full with ladies from pre-teen to great-grandmothers. Everyone was dressed up for the occasion. Before the tea began, we could walk throughout the area treating ourselves to view each of the tables. Some were traditional Christmas, but no two were alike. There was a deep turquoise and silver table, a Japanese cheery blossom theme table, and a cupcake theme to name a few. Our table was brown and turquoise with a winter reindeer theme. It was exquisite! Each woman had a small gift at her place setting to take home. Ours was a beautiful poem and ornament to match the theme. It was a magical evening and I am so grateful I was invited to attend.

Weight Watchers

YEAH!! I met my goal---well, my Dr.'s goal for my weight loss. He wanted me to lose 20 lbs. in hopes of helping my hip bursitis. I started the journey of weight loss in April and just last week, I finally reached the goal. OK, I have not been at this weight since 2000! The bursitis is indeed better, but not 100%.

Weight loss is both good and bad. On the up side, I feel better. On the down side, I had to buy new clothes! That may seem odd coming from the queen of shopping, but I need new clothes from top to bottom. Everything sort of hangs on me and that is not good for the wallet.

Now the challenge will be to keep the weight off through the holiday seasons and while traveling abroad. I have discovered that the secret for me is going to the meetings for weekly encouragement and doing some activity daily. Weight Watchers is such a great program and offers so much support. I'm going to try to lose another 5 pounds, but I won't set that goal for over the holidays. Just hoping to maintain from now through January.

Walk at the Bay

Now that Thanksgiving has past, it seems like the commitments pick up and there is food everywhere! When I was 25, this was a wonderful time...lots of excitement. Now at the end of my 50's it seems a bit overwhelming.

A group of gals from church meet once a month on a Saturday to walk along beautiful San Diego Bay. This is not the part of the bay I am near, so it is fun to see something different. Exercise is still not fun, but walking with the gals makes the miles go quickly. Great time of fellowship AND burns those calories from food excess. You never know who will show up...could be six or up to 15. As you can see, we are a multi generational group! I'm the little one in the shadow behind my friends.

Thanksgiving Traditions Fading

Lots of changes in Thanksgiving are looming ahead. It was always one of my favorite childhood holidays. I loved it even as an adult. In recent years, mom and dad have passed away and so have the massive number of pumpkin pies. Dad always made sure he and Beth made a pie for each person! My parents always put out the "fancy china" on this day. It was a day of over-indulgence of food and then TV or games. The house smelled of roasting turkey when we awoke as Dad had put the turkey on at 5 in the morning. As some of us got married and had other families to include, we worked a system of all the Bertsches together for Thanksgiving and then not Christmas. The next year we would trade off and all meet for Christmas and not Thanksgiving. The system worked well for a couple of decades.

In recent years we would run in the Father Joe Carroll's Turkey Trot 5K to raise money for the homeless. It was a great way to start off the morning before all that food! It has become a tradition here in SD for us to participate in.

Black Friday has been HUGE in my family since I was a teenager. We would be at the mall when it opened at 6 a.m. and shop until noon then head home. All of the nieces have been inducted into the shopping foray and we even got Patience to join the fun. One thanksgiving we were in Chicago and she and I and her Mom and Dan's sister Beverly shopped at their freezing outdoor mall! I don't remember missing until last year.

Now that our children are married and have other families to include it seems rather hit and miss if we will be together. This is also a tough year because it is at Thanksgiving that Dan's dad, Bud, went into the hospital and died a few days later.

So this year will be really different. No Bertsch family, no Jay and Heidi, no Brian and Patience. No Turkey fixings at Bayside Lane. No Turkey Trot, No Black Friday shopping. We plan to meet up with Dan's mom and her husband, Ron, and the step-siblings. Seven in all. Not exactly the big hoopla I am used to. We are going to eat at Mimi's...

I am sad to see my childhood traditions melt away. Perhaps one day the house will be full of grand babies and new traditions will be formed by our kids. My parents love for tradition sure made my childhood extra special!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

They're Here!

The shutters have finally arrived! I am so excited. The house looks so different and I can't wait for the new paint job too. The installer did a wonderful job. I know this isn't a good picture with all the lighting and everything, but you can get the idea. It is so nice not to have window coverings that Shore Management puts in rental units. We had those nasty plastic vertical blinds for a good 25 years-maybe longer. I feel like a grown-up now.

New Toy for Card Making

OK, a while back I shared about a new way to spend time and that was on Pinterest. Well, I started looking at "card making" on other peoples sites and I noticed all of these amazingly cool cards that were embossed. So today I was on a mission to find out how you emboss.

I discovered there are two ways. One is with ink and a heat tool. I already knew how to do that, and it is indeed very fun to do. But I wanted something more dramatic...so I bought a Sizzix machine!

Can I tell you just how in love with this new gadget I am!!? It is basically an Ellison cutter which teachers use all the time for cutouts at school. Well a function of this machine is to also emboss paper. I have made 3 samples (screwed one of them up) and I can't wait to do more tomorrow. Of course I got it on sale for 40% off so it was cheaper than a pair of shoes.

You just might get one of my new cards sometime!

Thimbles

I have been collecting thimbles for most of my adult life. My sister Beth got me started by giving me a little porcelain thimble shaped like a hat. I loved it so much that I joined a Thimble Collector's Club like the Book of the Month Club. I got a lot of really great thimbles from around the world that way.

I finally decided that I needed to categorize them and take some pictures. There are groups of thimbles from all over Europe, the Scandinavian Countries, Asia, Native American, Stone, Cloisonne, mosaic, wooden, whimsical characters, statehood symbols, glass thimbles, flower patterns, butterfly patterns, antique silver and many many more. The only ones I don't collect are the cheap airport type thimbles. Here are just a few to look at.
 
The collection has grown bit by bit as friends bring me thimbles from their travels as well as ones I pick up. I am excited to look for some in Australia and New Zealand. Part of the fun in collecting them is the hunt. They are hard little devils to find!

I now have three huge glass domes and two smaller domes that hold the little gems. I guess the next thing to do is prepare written descriptions of each. Seems like a lot of trouble though for something that can't be replaced or no one else would want.

It is a great hobby because most thimbles run from 10-20$ although some like Waterford or Dresden run substantially more. They can pack very easily in a suitcase or purse. Each one tells a story. A great addition to The Adventures of a Retired Teacher!

Brian's Visit

What a fun time we had with Brian during his visit home for his 30th birthday. Brian flew into OC airport and spent a day with his best friends in the Santa Ana area. They drove him down on Saturday in the early evening in time for his party. A few of his friends were there along with Margey and Tom, our neighbor Christa and her grown daughter Vanessa, and of course Heidi and Jay. I picked up some Mexican food and beer and we just spent time chatting. It was so nice and susper fun.

He had the opportunity to go to the Alpine Brewery and bought a few beers to take back to Chicago~stuff they can't get back there. We also went to dinner at a fun burger place called Slater's 50/50 Burger with the family, Christa, and Joey and his girlfriend, Kristin.

It was a relaxed 5 days and we look forward to having him back at the Christmas holiday time.

He and Patience are trying to work through some tough times and while they are separated, they are still in contact and in counseling. We are all praying that things will work themselves out. Neither one of them is in a hurry to make the split permanent. Five and a half years is a long time to be married, so they are seeing what will happen.

A New Hobby

I have a new hobby that is a complete waste of time, but so relaxing and fun. It is mindless and creative at the same time. It is Pinterest. It is simply creating a virtual bulletin board of things you like. Just like in a classroom where we have multiple boards to display information/work in themed areas, this virtual board allows for the same thing. I just pick things I am interested in and then search either the Internet or other peoples "pins" and "boards" and put their ideas on mine. It is a great way to enjoy your hobbies and interests without spending a dime! Very Dave Ramsey smart. Just make up a name for something you are interested in and start pinning!

I have chosen topics called:
Tips for Safe Travel- I'm on the lookout for ideas as we are traveling a good deal now and I have found some amazing ideas.
Favorite Gems- I love rubies so I am collecting pretty settings for the precious stones I don't own and never will :)
Moon and Sunset- just great pictures of God's amazing earthly heavens
Doors, Fences, and Gates- Well, I am just fascinated with doors and fences.
Health and Home ideas- home fix-ups and tips for staying healthy
Dachshunds- need I say more!
Crafty Cards- Ideas for card making. This supports my real life hobby of making cards :)
Healthy and Not So Healthy Foods- great recipes I have found
Workout Mentality- Well, if you know me, you know I avoid this
Things to Ponder- just quotes and things that make you pause
Just Too Funny -things I find amusing
His Love and Grace- Spiritual quotes and thinking
Love That Purple- all things purple!
Thimble collections- since I really collect these I took pictures of them and put them on the site as well as looked for others.
Beach Life, Just My Style, Great Hats, Crosses, Dog Houses, Holiday Ideas, Places I've Bee, Dream Destinations and Living Spaces round out the boards.

Feel free to check out the site if you are on Pinterest. It can be completely anonymous. There is no risk like with Facebook. But you can see what your friends and other people are interested in. You look for Katie Pedersen (the picture is of a dachshund yawning-it's Danny) under people. Jay has said I won't get into trouble with this hobby...but still says I cannot have Facebook. I obey my children. Surely that is a commandment.

Needless to say, I am having a wonderful time with my virtual hobby and keeping up with friends and relatives!

The Ladies Take on The Rim

 While the men departed for the long-anticipated trip, Heidi's sister-in-law Lorena and son Kade took off on the bus to ride around the park and then eat and nap. Stacey and I were not about to be completely left behind while the "men" hiked so we plotted a route to hike/stroll.

We hopped on a west bound bus and took it almost to the end of the rim trail and then got off. We began walking eastbound along a gravel trail. The views we saw were absolutely breathtaking and so different than what we have always seen at the Bright Angel Trail. While well marked, the trail is less traveled by folks, so it was quiet and peaceful. We munched on apples as we went and after 3 miles we got back on a bus that would take us to Bright Angel. Unfortunately, my hip bursitis is still an issue and made me stop earlier than I had wanted. It was while we were just sitting down for a salad that Jay texted that they were 90 minutes out! We did not expect them for 3-4 more hours. Stacey and I quickly ate and headed for the trail head to greet them. They looked great, but tired. As you would expect the 30 something crowd still had pep in their step while the 50-60 generation were bringing up the rear.

Showers and an early dinner was the mandate from our hikers and then off to bed. I think they were all asleep by 8:30! The next day the youthful set all said they felt like a 10 out of 10 and Dan and Greg were happy to be an 8 out of 10. Stacey and I were just glad we didn't do it!

On Saturday, we had the whole day to explore so we parted ways with the younger crowd and the Kay's and Pedersen's headed east along the rim. What we thought was going to be another short little walk turned into a 3 mile hike. Stacey and I found that between the 3 days we had for walking/hiking we had covered most of the South Rim.

This was a fun trip filled with the glorious views of the Canyon and the wonderful interaction with family and friends.

"DON'T DO IT! Do Not Hike Down and Up in a Day"

At last the time had come when everyone piled in cars and met inside the Grand Canyon National Park for the long anticipated "hike." Jay and Heidi drove their Prius and rubbed in how they were getting 51 MPG! Dan and I drove with a couple from church, Greg and Stacey, and then Heidi's brother, Bernie, and his wife and son, Lorena and Kade (who is almost 3), drove in from the Tuscon area.

Friend Greg in the early morning sun.

We drove from SD all the way to the GC in a day-basically 10 hours. We checked in to the Yavapi Lodge Wednesday evening and settled in for the night. We were up early on Thursday and began exploring the canyon rim by Bright Angel Trail. It was a little warm-up for the hikers. We ate and walked a bit, and stopped at the visitor center to get important hiking information. All the rangers, park personnel, and billboards stressed "Do not attempt to hike down the canyon and back up in a single day." "People die from lack of water and heat exhaustion." This was not going to detour our group!

Dan, Bernie, Heidi, Jay, and Greg end their hike at Bright Angel Trail!

The training regimen that Jay worked up for everyone had them "over prepared." They said the training hikes to San Jacinto and San Gregornio were much more challenging. They started down the Kaibab Trail at 5:30  just before sunrise. They were at the bottom in good time and after crossing the river headed back up the Bright Angel Trail around 10. It takes 2 to 2 1/2 time longer to go up than down. The traversed MANY switchbacks that Stacey and I could see some of from up above. They anticipated a 10 hour hike and they made it in 8 hours 45 minutes! Amazing. Stacey and I were their at the trail head to welcome them back. No injuries, plenty of food and water. They were exhausted after hiking the 17 miles, some of it in 90+ heat. Dan said the last 2 miles was just one foot in front of the other him. But at 3 months shy of 63 he made it! So now he can check off his bucket list, "To hike Mount Whitney" and to hike the Grand Canyon "down and back up in one day." They have already planned their next adventure-The Narrows in Zion National Park. That is only 15 miles in water!!

Orion comes to Visit

Today I was scheduled to watch Danny Boy while the gang went hiking in preparation of the upcoming Grand Canyon Hike. One of the guys who was joining them on the hike was Jay' s  old roommate, Paul. Paul has a new doggie-Orion, an 8 month old Corgi. He is as cute as a bug (a big bug) and fairly well behaved especially for  a pup. He does like to sit on every piece of furniture there is though.

Danny and Orion spent a good 8 hours of the 16 hour day rolling, chewing, humping, licking, and generally slobbering all over each other. It was so disgusting. Danny was slick with slobber. The house reeks of wet dog fur! I am sure they will both sleep well tonight, because they sure didn't take much of a break today.

Heat Wave

Is this heat getting to any of you?!
We San Diegan's who live at the beach don't really know much about humidity and heat. Temperatures are fairly steady. The 88 degrees we have is hot, but the humidity makes it feel like 108. I told Dan it was like being in Thailand again.

It is so hot, I think I will go take a nap...because I can.

The Reunion

It's hard to believe I graduated from high school 40 years ago! The Sonora Raiders had their reunion in Costa Mesa last weekend. I was a little apprehensive about going because I was sure I would remember few if any of the people. I knew of one person who would be there (see picture). I would say I talked with about 8 people that I was friends with or had in classes. Many of the people I vaguely remembered, but we all look so different. Thankfully the reunion committee provided name tags with pictures or we would all be lost! I look like I have the same glasses! LOL

Everyone looked great...of course we all have a few pounds added and either graying, losing, or balding in the case of some of the guys! I saw 2 gals that look EXACTLY like they did at 17. How come they didn't gain a pound or get a gray hair? It was like a time warp.

It was sad to see photos of the dozen or so who had died over the years. I spent a great deal of time with an old pal who now lives in Alabama. She is an amazing woman and I really enjoyed hearing her life's story post high school. It was so interesting to talk with people and see how we had all "grown up."

Two teachers were there that I had and it was good to chat with them. One, my biology teacher, looked amazing for 73! He calls himself a "gentleman rancher" and lives in Colorado. I think all the girls had a crush on him back then, and he continues to look great and have that wonderful, genuine, personality. And to think he remembered me! He showed us the yearbook he brought with him so he could refresh his memory. Glad I wasn't the only one that did that!!

I must say though that those days seem very distant and I don't recall as much detail as I would have liked. I remember silly things, like where we ate at lunch, where our lockers were, and gym class. Most of the class seem to have stayed connected via Facebook (remember, I am not allowed to have that per Jay) so they have continued to build memories. I laughed to my friend and said how while I remembered little, I was sure my sister Beth will remember it all when it comes around to her 40th!

Glad I went, but won't go to a 50th. Dan was a good sport to tag along :) The key word from this entire blog entry: REMEMBER.

Yeah it works...well sort of

Well it looks ok on the screen but that is VERY different than what I see while I am composing. It says I can put in pictures but then I can't figure out how to do that. So I guess the plan will be to record the trips we go on starting with the Grand Canyon and then when I get home go back and add pictures. Well, this makes me happy! I just love this iPad 3!!! Dan was so sweet to get it for me this past Christmas.

Test

This is just a quick note to see how the blog works on the iPad. Since this is the device I prefer to travel with I need to know how this interface works. I know it is hard to get pictures, but I will try that too.

Grand Canyon Training

In October Dan, me, Jay, Heidi, and our friends Greg and Stacey are going to meet Heidi's brother and his family at the Grand Canyon to hike to the bottom of the canyon & back up. It is about a 9 1/2 hour hike and with my hip bursitis (old lady disease) I am well aware I cannot really do that big of a hike. Everyone is "training" right now by taking long hikes in our various local hills and mountains. Well, I have to find another way to train, so my YMCA trainer, Brandon, is helping me get ready. At this point, I think a realistic goal will be to plan to hike down 1 hour and then hike back. Maybe by October I'll be able to go further, but right now 2 hours of hiking seems like a LOT. It will be a super fun get-way as we are going to be gone 5 days.

At this point I am walking or on a treadmill at the Y for at least a mile 4-5 days a week. I like the treadmill because I can change the elevations both up and down slopes. but then how can you not love walking at the Pacific Ocean!!

3-4 days a week I am trying to get to the Y to do work with weights etc. One day a week I am with Brandon. Last night was just awful and I am so sore today! We did tons of stuff with that big blue ball (Swiss Ball) that strengthen your core. In other words tighten the muffin top! Then we used those long straps mounted to the wall (TRX) to do push-up, arm curls and squats. OMG! I am so sore today!! Those straps just use your body weight as resistance..and that is more than I would like too! I much prefer the days when he plans to use the weights and machines.

The goal is also to lose the weight the DR. recommended to help my hip and to get strong enough for the hike. OK, he wants me to lose 15 pounds! That seems harder than the training! He told me to do Weight Watchers--thankfully a program I know, so I am back at it again. Keep you posted on that...

Some Jobs are Harder Than Others

To work in property management it is fair to say that the unexpected is the norm. Things break and leak. Tenants "forget" to pay rent or just bounce checks. Maintenance crews work too slow to meet move-in deadlines. Owners frequently  "check-in" to see how things are going. And then there is the foot traffic that comes through the office...

"See me helping ?"

Jay is sort of the office manager these days. He runs a tight ship. His DOG however, (Danny~ Boy, Wiener Dog) subscribes to a completely different work ethic. To work for Shore Management, you need to like dogs. Yes, it is a pet friendly office. You can bring your dog to work. Pepper, a big black lab hangs out several days a week when her "mom" comes in to work. Jay brings Danny daily and he pretty much rules the office! He sits wherever he wants including the chair you are occupying! He sits in either of the dog beds, but prefers Peppers big bed. The old golden lab from the office next door wanders in from time to time. This can be dangerous when the three dogs decide to play chase and make laps around the filing cabinets and front desk. Danny is by FAR the fastest despite only having 3 working legs. Yeah, that 4th leg doesn't work well at the knee so he just sort of giddy-ups when he runs!

While Steven is working on tenant applications, Danny had decided to help by supplying Steve with a lumbar pillow. It is a hard job for a 10 pound dachshund, but someone has to do it. Note the bored expression? This means a dog-nap is sure to follow as the eyelids become heavier. Don't you wish you had a job like his?

"When was the last time you got an award?"

Shore Management also has the pet insurance program. In other words, if your pet needs to be groomed, or otherwise looked at by the local vet, you can take time off to take your doggie to get help. We don't pay the bill, you just get the time off to go. On his last visit to the Vet he was SO GOOD that he received a spanking new necker-chief AND a bumper sticker that says: "My Dog Was Pet of the Day." Surely that was a bribe for future behavior because Danny has a will of his own and I doubt he really beat out other dogs for this award!

Some day jobs are just harder than others. How's yours?

Earning His Keep

Being an executive at Shore Management is a task Danny Boy~ Wiener Dog is up for any day of the week. Yes, he is in Jay's momentarily vacated chair, looking for "work" AKA treats. He is not as bad as Auggie used to be, but he will never turn down a treat. He does sleep a lot during the day and enjoys barking at other dogs as they walk by the office which is not really too professional on his part.

But when not at the office, he is busy being a hound dog at home. So what does he hunt and kill you ask? Gophers of course! Two weeks ago Jay noticed him being preoccupied in one corner of the back yard. When he went over to "check on things" he saw that Danny had caught a gopher and was shaking it for the kill. And you though they were bred to only catch badgers! He was so proud of his kill. Jay and Heidi were thrilled as well so he was given MANY treats that night.

Gopher in a trap

 The next day Jay set a trap and guess what got caught in the trap? You guessed it, another gopher!

Danny really wanted to play with the little guy, as you can see him sitting up and begging like it was a cookie or something. Sometimes Danny is not the sharpest tool in the shed! Jay threw the dead gopher down into the canyon and sure enough, that was Danny's only venture over the cliff to the canyon below. Off he dashed to "get it." Jay had to go after him as he refused to come back on his own. Danny would make a great fox or coyote dinner.  A fence is really needed back there, but with so many other costly projects to do, not sure when that will happen. Usually he is pretty timid and won't go out there without Jay or Heidi and even then sticks close to the house. Guess he has some "fear factor" going on...unless of course there is a critter to chase!

The New House

Jay and Heidi celebrated their 1st anniversary on July 23! This has been a whirlwind year for them. Jay took over the job of bookkeeper as well as his web work for Shore Management. He seems to do well with the accounting portion (must take after his father) of the business and still has time to work on the new web site and all the "computer" things in the business. His Amateur Endurance website continues to grow and he is busier than ever making websites for other companies.

Heidi's is still with Intuit and has great job security and benefits.

Picture this with bushes, trees, and grass!

AND THE BIG NEWS IS: They bought a home! It is a wonderful 1900 sq. foot home in Clairemont within walking distance of an excellent elementary school. It is in a great neighborhood and while it has new carpet, paint, and roof, it has MANY other project to be attended to. Currently they are working on the sprinkler system, small retaining wall in the front yard and basically trying to beautify the front which was nothing more than a pile of rocks! The back yard is quite large and goes down into a huge canyon. So far Danny Boy~Wiener Dog has only taken one trip down into the canyon. They don't have a fence up yet.

They got a fantastic deal on the house because it was empty for a year and a half, had fallen out of escrow more than once, and is certainly the worst looking home on the block. Jay is super handy at fixing things and this place has AWESOME potential. What Jay doesn't know how to do, Dan does, so they continue to "bond" over home improvement projects (electrical, plumbing, brick work etc.). It is eerily similar to the early days with Dan and his dad, Bud. Some things really don't change...and what a blessing that is!

Heidi's dad has been a HUGE help too. He has done a great deal of the gardening prep work in both the front and back yards. He actually moved every single rock (those little nasty ones) from the front yard to the side yard so they could dig up the dirt and find the problem(s) with the sprinkler system. It was an unbelievable job! He also gave them a surprise little garden oasis in the back yard surrounded by weeds, dirt, and you guessed it, rocks! It certainly helps them visualize how amazing the yard will be. He got them a Shopvac yard blower now that they are real homeowners!

Her parents also bought them new kitchen appliances since the house came with none. They are loving the home and don't seem to mind putting in the labor to make it "their own." All I can say is welcome to the money pit!

Summer Bible Study

With summer off for teachers, our church offers more daytime Bible studies because we have lots of teachers in our congregation. This is a nice break for me since I usually lead a Wed. night ladies group. Now I get to be a participant rather than planner/facilitator. I chose to participate in 2 studies for a 7 week period. One is on the book of Jonah and is a DVD study with a workbook about how a "life interrupted" is really an opportunity for a "Divine Invitation" to join God in His work. Priscilla Shirer is a wonderful speaker and writer. I already had her book Life Interrupted: Navigaitng the Unexpected  and it is about the same thing as the DVD series but in a wonderful, easy to read book. I love this author, so I am thoroughly enjoying this Tuesday morning study. Talk about a real life study! We can all relate to life's interruptions and having the chance to see how God really uses those times for His purposes puts a whole new perspective on things. Jonah is that chapter in the bible that if your bible pages are still new, they will stick together and you will pass up this 4 page book!

I am also going to a study called Heaven with a different group of women on Thursday mornings. We go all through the bible getting the biblical perspective on heaven. This is far more philosophical than the Jonah study, but a good study anyway.

In September we will start up with our fall studies where we will begin The Story which is an abridged, chronological study (NIV) of the bible. It is always good to just be "in the word." If any of you struggle with the technical reading of the bible, get a copy of this book. It reads more like a novel and doesn't repeat things. It really is abridged and flows nicely while still using the direct New International Version translation. This is also a good version to recommend to new believers who are intimidated with that big book called, "The Bible."

New Furniture~ At Last

For some young couples they begin a marriage by buying a piece of nice furniture and add to it as finances permit. Well, after 35 almost 36 years of marriage, Dan and I finally decided to buy some "real" bedroom furniture. We got a new bed complete with head and foot board and Temprapedic mattress. I consider this a big step. We bought matching nightstands, and a huge 10 drawer dresser. The bed as 6 drawers under it too. Until yesterday, Dan had ALL THE DRAWERS! Yes, that is 16 drawers of his clothing. OKAY, so as not to completely throw him under the bus, he did give me three of the big under the bed drawers just yesterday. Hopefully today we are going to buy a new bedroom set for the guest room. It is actually the same stuff but will be in a darker wood stain.

Unfortunately, if you come spend the night at the Pedersen home, you will have to sleep on a standard/full size bed. A queen won't even fit in the room if you would like to walk around the bed! Can you say cozy accommodations?! We painted the bedrooms and they look so nice and fresh now. The good news~ I get the new dresser in that room all to myself! Sorry guests, you will need to live out of your overnight bag. :)

We also finally gave up the glass dining table and those incredibly comfortable Danish beechwood chairs. We updated to a darker wood table set that is counter height and has 6 chairs with a leaf and two more seats when we want them. A kinda of cool feature is the Lazy Susan in the center of the table. It is a fun set, but you really can't beat the old chairs for comfort!

The only other furniture we need is a new desk type thing for the "craft room" but the old dining table that I grew up with continues to do just fine as a card making desktop.

April Wedding

I've been away from the blog for so long that I need to do some recapping! But where to begin?? In April we had the great opportunity to fly to Fort Walton, Florida for Dan's nieces wedding. There were actually many highlights to the trip one of which was seeing a new part of the country. We were there for 5 days and stayed at a very central and reasonable hotel.

Highlight #1
The wedding was on the water and while it was a casual wedding it had many elegant touches. The bride came down from an upper staircase onto a large garden area just feet from the sand and bay. The ceremony was performed by a minister they both knew from the Air Force. A family style dinner followed and we were seated with the entire Pedersen crew: Virginia and Bob; the siblings~ Beverly and Ron, David and his family, and Dan and me. The food was delicious Italian. The last time we were all together was for Bud's funeral in December, so this was a time of celebration. Dancing in the evening was outside on a large deck surrounded in mini lights and tables with candles. It was a spectacular evening and we were so glad to have attended.

Highlight #2
Being so close to the water, we were able to go out twice on boat excursions. One trip was on a large boat to see the dolphins...and we saw lots. It was a fun way to spend an afternoon. Another day all the siblings  rented a pontoon boat and ventured off to see the sites. That was quite an experience to see how the "rich and famous" live.

Highlight #3
A few days before the wedding Stacey and John took all family members (both sides) on a tour of their giant airplane. They are stationed at Hurlbert Field and that was quite an experience to be  on a military field! There was also an outdoor military aircraft museum located across the street that we wandered thru.

Highlight #4
Just spending time with the relatives! Each day we went on an adventure with some or all of the family. Great fun smashed into 5 days. Well, we got an unintended 6th day because our flight was canceled due to mechanical issues. AA was kind enough to provide transportation, hotel, and food accommodations for an entire plane load of folks until the next day.

A New Adventure: The Grand Canyon

My sister Margey and her husband's family have a huge 4 bedroom house on the Colorado River in Bull Head City. It is near Laughlin, AZ. They invited us to stay at the place and then drive over to see the Grand Canyon and spend a night there. So we turned it into a huge family trip. Jay and Heidi, Dan and Katie, Tom, Margey, and Joey, and Beth. We caravanned in two cars for four hours. It was a fun 5 day adventure.

We spent two nights at the River and then drove 4 hours to the Grand Canyon. Oh, it was so pretty! Dan, Jay, Joey, and Heidi actually did some hiking while the rest of us walked along the South Rim. We  drove through there when the kids were 13 or so and while the Canyon is the same, the museums, shops, and eateries certainly have changed and been modernized.

It was really fun to hang with our grown kids. It made me really miss Brian and Patience though. I think it would have been great if Emma and Cayce had been able to join us too.

After the Grand Canyon we headed back to the River house for another day and a half for billiards, Hand and Foot cards, Dominoes, and sightseeing in Laughlin. It was too cold to go into the water and the family was having the dock rebuilt as it had broken down with weather and abuse. It was actually beautiful weather-just right after all the heat and humidity of the Far East.

One Last Stop

This is a HUGE marble fish and it will be delivered to the port in San Pedro (Orange County) in the next month or so. Actually, two of them will. One belongs the Pat and Carol Park and the other to the Pedersen's. I do not know what or where it will go, but it is pretty and pretty big. This was a Dan thing...I suggest Shore Management (Dan's company), but he thinks the house would be perfect. We shall see...

Big Buddha

During our last few hours of our time in Hong Kong we had a chance to go see the worlds largest Buddha. And it was HUGE. I managed to climb up 7 flights of stairs which was only about half way. Dan managed to go the whole way.

It was kind of a nice end to the trip. The entire trip was focused around Asian cultures and their strong belief in the Buddha. We saw massive statues in each of the countries we went. I will always associate  Buddha with incense, fruits, and gold.

This takes us to the end of our journey...except for the big fish! Catch the last entry next.

East vs. West-Toilets That Is

As if the food wasn't bad enough, now you have to find a decent toilet. Cleanliness standards aren't the same as in the US that is for sure. Here is a traveling tip: take your own toilet paper for sure and paper covers would be good too. I would say that a 8 out of 10 public toilets were so disgusting you were afraid to use them. I was really glad for all those Hepititus shots. The ones in hotels and most restaurants were fine, but hard to find when wandering the city.

So, in the Western toilets you can find signs like these posted on the inside of the stall door. It is a reminder to the Easterners NOT to hop up on top of the toilet seat to squat to do your business. Clearly, I would not be doing that! First of all, I could not hop that high, and second of all, who can squat and do business?  It was so shocking I just had to take a picture.

Now compare this to the Eastern toilet. There are two kinds. This one that is about 15 inches off the ground and there are ones that are about 2 inches off the ground. These are usually located near the far end of the row of stalls. See the ribbing on the sides? That is so that when you hop on you won't slip!
Can you say OMG!!

Again, bring your own toilet paper. If I was ever to go again, I would also throw in a wash rag to use as a towel as there is never anything to dry with. It is important to bring tons of hand sanitizer. I brought a lot of it and the other people in our group were happy to use it and I was happy to share.

One place, you had to even reach into the tank and pull the chain or it wouldn't flush.  So between the heat and humidity- and the nasty bathrooms, I would be hard pressed to go back. I have to keep reminding myself that we saw amazing things, met wonderful people, and experienced scenery like no other. It is a cultural difference and I can only wonder what they think when they visit us or other European countries. Guess I am just not that adventurous.

Chicken Head Anyone?

Dinner at a fine Chinese restaurant was not what we expected! Our friend Pat went to nibble on some of the chicken in the basket as it came around on the giant lazy susan at our table when he thought the piece of chicken was a bit bony. Then he took a better look. It is the chicken head!!

Do you see the beak, eye socket and cockle on the head? Once we figured it out we arranged it on a plate and took pictures. I could not eat after this. This was out first meal in Hong Kong and it would be my last. I almost threw up when I realized what it was. I could barely take this picture.

The rest of the meal was equally as nasty. You think well, wanton soup should be safe huh? NOT! The oddest tasting broth was served with the absolutely nastiest little mystery meat dumplings floating in it. The only edible thing was the white rice. I was not the only one who felt this way either. Mc Donalds was my next meal and I stuck with it until we ventured out to an Outback. Chinese food in Hong Kong is NOT Chinese food in San Diego. Can you say nightmares!

On To Hong Kong

We hit the ground running after the cruise ship docked. We grabbed 4 taxi's and headed for our hotel located in the heart of Hong Kong. It was a lovely place overlooking a park and the skyline of Hong Kong in the distance.

We grabbed a map and found our way to the underground subway and headed out for the sights and sound of Hong Kong. This photo was taken above the subway system looking down at the bustling street shops below. It is down in this area that we shopped for Asian antiques (well, others in the group did), and looked for all kinds of bargains. You could literally find anything-from high end museum pieces to cheap trinkets. It was a great place to buy pashminas, jewelry, jade, shoes, food, etc. It was a very safe place, but people everywhere.


Hong Kong appears to be a city that never sleeps. They are up early doing Thai Chi in the city parks before going to work.  As we were dragging back to our hotel  around 10 p.m., the streets were even more crowded if such a thing could be possible! And they are all under 35 it seems, well dressed, and walking fast. Lots of balck horn-rimmed square or rectangular glasses. Some people even had them on with no glass in them!

Construction is going on all over the place. You know how we use scaffolding here in the U.S.-- poles, planks, and screws? Not so in Asia. The poles are replaced with really long bamboo shoots. Instead of screws, they use black plastic-ties. And who needs boards or planks, you just scale the thing like a monkey. We watched mesmerized as men slapped up the scaffolding higher and higher! OSHA is definitely in charge over there!

One day I was not feeling well and had to stay home while they went out on a mad "shopping trip." They went to the Ladies Street Market (where you buy all kinds of female junk) and the Jade Street Market (where you buy inexpensive jade). Dan did a STELLAR job of bringing me back a couple of jade necklaces and a pair of jade earrings. I think all 5 pieces were under $40! Stunning looking, but oh so cheap!

As for shopping--well I think I am cured at least for awhile. I am sick of shopping. Only spent about $120 on the whole trip on shopping stuff, but it was tiring and I am just not interested any longer. Hope it lasts for awhile. Gotta start saving now for the next great adventure! i have something in mind, but yo never know what life may throw at us before next year.

The Mekong Delta

Now this trip is why we had to have so many shots and take malaria medication, but it was worth it because this was a cool adventure. We got up real early and headed out via tour bus to a boat dock where we floated down some of the dirtiest, muddy green water you have ever seen. Once we got further up the Delta we transferred into smaller boats as seen here. We headed up little canals and looked at houses built along the water. It was similar to what we saw in Thailand only muckier. Locals were out going about their daily business which was neat to see. The life seemed very simple and the people appeared to be working hard and did so with pride.

Eventually we ended up on a farm and I got to hold a python. No one else in our group would do it, but after all the snakes Jay had growing up and even in college, it seemed like no big deal. And it wasn't!

Again it was another super hot and muggy day. As we returned to the bigger boat we were given coconuts with straws in them to drink the coconut juice. Another thing that was yucky! So far, Vietnamese food is not sitting well with me. The air-conditioned bus was always a welcome thing to hop back on.

Two sides to Hanoi

As we drove along at the highway to visit the famous "Hanoi Hilton" prison located in Hao Lo, we passed this farming scene. Farmers were out tending to their small plots of land. I am not sure if this was rice or what. It was definitely mushy land. After the war, the government gave each person a small section of land to farm. Not sure how much they pay back to the government. It was a misty day and although this is a bit blurry as we motored along the road, I still thought it was a great shot. It showed the peaceful side of this noisy city.

Once inside the city proper we were taken to the place where part of the old prison remains. A tour guide let us wander around a bit and read all the poster and photographs depicting the "civilized care the Vietnam prisoners received while incarcerated." Actually the propaganda pictures were very blatant and I can't imagine who they are fooling. It made me wonder how the prisoners were cohered with in order that they would pose in clean, starched uniforms, appear to be playing checkers at a table in front of a decorated Christmas tree. In another shot we saw men dressed nicely and sitting down to a turkey dinner! They even had a picture of men in a courtyard playing games and realizing-R & R style.

There were glass cases that held real POW uniforms etc. and that was more the real story. Then we actually walked down a hallway where the prisoners were kept and saw dummy's posing in wooden shackles on boards where they lived.  It was just awful. The majority of the prison has been bought by some huge hotel company and a mega modern hotel now butts up against these remains. There is a nice monument to the POW's similar to the Vietnam Memorial in DC only instead of names it has etched skeletons that can be found in a small courtyard. The whole thing was just down right creepy and I am sorry I went there. It made me even more thankful for the sacrifices those young men of my generation made and how so many men and women are fighting again for the same things in a different part of the world.

Vietnamese Cultural Dances

The Azamara cruise ship invited another local dance group, this time from Vietnam, to entertain us under the stars. The young women, like those in Thailand, were so graceful and beautiful. They are also size 0! Anyway, accompanying them would be musicians who would play authentic old world instruments making the evening quite enchanting. Well, it would have been enchanting had you not been worried about those dive bombing mosquitoes eating your exposed skin! The gals in red are doing some sort of fan dance where they twirl around and snap the fans open and closed. It was really cool.

They also did a hat dance in very simple garb. I think it was meant to be more of a peasant dance with these hats made of baskets for gathering food. Like the Thai dancers their fingers would bend backwards, giving it a very elegant look as they interpreted life in VIetnam.

The last dance of the evening was similar to the hat dance except that inside the hat was a real burning candle of some sort. I'm not sure how they got away with that on the cruise ship, but there were no accidents or near misses, so I guess all was safe.

A real praise goes out to Azamara cruise line for their attention to detail and bringing quality local entertainment on board the ship. Some people who cruise are limited in the shore excursions they can participate in and this was an excellent way to feel like you were really experiencing the culture. With this being such a small cruise ship, there was plenty of room on the poolside deck to see the show up close should you want to. Dan and I are pretty sold on these ships that hold less than 1000 folks total (600 passengers and 400 staff). The ships can go into many ports the larger ships can't, and it isn't a madhouse on board the ship to find seats, get food, workout, etc. We had only about 400 guest on board (did I tell you this already, if so sorry) making it a 1:1 ratio for guest and waitstaff.

Old vs. New

In Vietnam, as in all the Asian countries we visited, there is a blend of old country dress, transportation, and life style, sharply contrasted with bustling city life.  In the middle of Danang we see motorcycles dart by as all as push cart vendors trying to make a living. This woman had her entire kitchen set-up on this sturdy three-wheeled cart. She was preparing to  serve lunch somewhere. On street corners we would see tables and chairs similar to those Fisher Price ones we had with our children. They just squat down on little blue and red stools and eat, solving the problems of the world I suppose.



Motorcyclists tend to wear face coverings like enlarged surgical masks. They are made out of what looks like thick quilted material and come in all types of prints and colors. Some that the younger, trendy women had on were very stylish and color coordinated with their outfits.

Helmets are a joke---anything goes as long as it covers the head. Some are real safety helmets, but most are a lightweight plastic cap. There is a law that says you have to have on a helmet if you are over 6 years of age. Those under six it is thought that their brains will be stunted if they have the helmets on, so they are exempt. Give me a break! It was very common to see a family of 4 on a motorcycle... youngest kid up front on motor, then the dad driving, another kid wedged behind him with mom hanging on the back. Wild!

Here is the best part---there are very few traffic lights just as in Thailand. Enter the street at your own risk. If you want to cross a street as a pedestrian, you walk slowly, but steadily allowing cars to anticipate your moves and weave around you. We crossed only one street and it wasn't a busy one and we actually had a local help us cross. I'm sure he thought we were pansies!

Immunizations and Killer Mosquitoes

Before our trip we had to get a few shots in order to stay healthy. I jokingly say a "few." Try this laundry list:
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Influenza
Tetanus
Japanese Encephalitis
Typhoid Fever
and of course...Malaria Pills

Grand Total: $1800. This is the hidden cost of traveling to third world countries when insurance doesn't pay for travel shots.

As if this isn't bad enough, immunizations against diseases carried by mosquitoes are thought to be about 80% effective and there are no shots to guard against Dengue Fever. So to protect yourself the other 20% you have to slather yourself in bug repellent with at least 30% DEET and 50% is better. 100% DEET will melt plastic! Think about that as you put it on your face and hands next time you go hiking!! Then you have to spray the outside of your clothing with this stuff call permytherin which also repels mosquitoes. Believe me, they can still sting you through your treated clothes...I have bites to prove it.

So while we are in 85-92F weather with equal humidity we are literally covered from head to toe with clothing that has been treated and our extremities are coated under the clothing. And to think the people who live there seem to have some natural immunity to these diseases.

This takes care of airborne diseases, but what about food/water? Well, like in Mexico, consume no water, ice, or local street fare. Only drink from a can if it hasn't been opened and you drink from a straw. Basically, I threw granola bars in my pack. The ship gave us bottled water each day as did most of the tour buses.

Some of these shots are good for a lifetime, but others just 2-5 years. That's OK, because I don't plan to go to these places again even though they were beautiful and the people were very nice. It was use TOO HOT for me.

Ho Chi Minh CIty/Saigon, Vietnam

After a day at sea (following our departure in Thailand), we entered the waterways of Vietnam. It was a peaceful sail into the port where we docked and the Immigration authorities came aboard ship to check our individual Visas before we could disembark. Because this is a Communist country we needed a special Visa to enter. Visas were stamped again as we re-boarded the ship. This process was repeated on all three days of our visit.

Our first shore excursion was called Highlights of Ho Chi Minh City and it was definitely eye-opening. Like Singapore and Thailand, the city was crowded, noisy, and full of motorcycles. Everything seemed chaotic. There are nearly 10 million people in this city...the largest city in Vietnam and all of Indochina.

Our first stop was the Reunification Hall that was the Presidential Palace where tanks from the North Vietnamese army crashed through the gates in April1975, which ended our involvement in Vietnam. On the lawn of the building are the two tanks and this is one of them. Inside the Hall on the top level were all of the rooms were they had cabinet meetings and entertained dignitaries. But down below underground were the bunkers/tunnels that housed the "war rooms." Today you can still see planning maps, teletype machines, and other communication equipment as a part of the "museum".

Just down the road is the the US Embassy where the helicopters landed on the rooftop to fly the last Americans out of the country. We also stopped at a cathedral and large post office that looked just like the old LA train depot. As we drove and walked through the streets there was a fairly descent size police presence. Ugly green uniforms and no friendly smiles.

On this day we also went to a very interesting lacquer factor and went to a water puppet theater where a variety of traditional folktales were told. It was actually kind of cool and nothing like we have here in the US. My overall impression was that his is a dirty, busy, city and not one I would like to return to. The 4 hour tour was long enough and I was glad to get back to the ship. It was in this country that I got the only 4 mosquito bites of the trip. They have mosquitoes on steroids there who have no qualms about zapping you through your clothes.

Thai Folkloric Danc

One night while in Thailand, the ship sponsored an evening performance out on the pool deck of dancers retelling Thai folktales. The costumes were so impressive as was the music and the dancers. These were men dressed in traditional costumes that were so ornate and  must have weighed a ton. They reenacted a famous tale that we heard over and over while in Thailand. In every case, the costumes were very similar.

The music was played on traditional Thai instruments as well.

In other dances, girls game out and performed. One of the most interesting things was how both male and female (especially) performers could make their fingers flex backwards. Apparently they begin at a very early age (2) pulling the fingers back so that they actually grow that way! Sick. It looks very elegant from a distance. I remember some of my young Asian students sitting in their desks pushing their finger back and know I know why.

The Thai women are absolutely beautiful. Their smiles will melt your heart. The people are just so kind and gentle. It was a real treat to get to see these elegant dances. It was just another way to experience the history and culture of the country. This ship really had some wonderful entertainment for its guests.

The Azamara Quest is a small ship that holds 600 passengers and 400 crew. We had a little over 400 guests on board so it was a nice small number (2/3 full). We basically had a 1:1 ratio with the staff. Big ships can have as many as 4000 guests!

Dan and I really like the small ship experience for two reasons:

1- Nothing is ever crowded onboard the ship
2- You can get in closer to many areas that larger ships cannot, thus you see so much more.

It does cost a bit more, but I think we kind of like it and on this particular line there are no formal nights so you never pack any of the fancy clothes which we like. No prom dress or tux!!