Jennifer Apodaca's Blog, page 91

Weekend Roundup

It was a quiet weekend! The highlight was seeing Turbo Saturday morning, we had fun hanging out with him and his parents. Otherwise, Wizard and I have pretty much done normal stuff and decompressed a bit. I did have a neighbor from another street stop by when I was out front with Maggie to tell me he sees us out walking, and she’s a really well-trained dog. Um…yes and no She’s great in a familiar, structured environment where she knows what is expected of her, but she can be thrown into anxiety by new experiences and situations. However, I appreciate the compliment very much.

So speaking of new stuff for Maggie: I’m hosting Thanksgiving this year, and my son’s two big dogs Jett and Hazel, are coming over.  That will be a new challenge for Maggie, as it’ll be the first time she experiences another dog in our house. We’ll see how good or well-trained she is then, especially with all the added chaos of so many people here. I’m really hoping she behaves, but that whole well-trained thing could turn out to be a lie We have a couple of strategies to help, so fingers crossed!

Speaking of training, I need to exert some of that discipline and control over my writing and book. Life and physical issues are not going to conform to my artistic whims, LOL.

That was my weekend. How was yours?

Friday Five

TGIF! Boom, another week gone! But I’ve had a chance to catch my breath a little bit, and now, let’s jump right into sharing five random things about our week:

I had coffee with Biker Witch yesterday. For once, I wasn’t in a time crunch, so that was nice. But while with her, I could not think of the word “charitable” when I describing something to her. So frustrating when a word slips my mind like that!
Wizard and I had an excellent dinner at the Orange County Mining Company to celebrate our Anniversary. If you didn’t see it on my FB page, here’s a picture with the nighttime view behind us.
One of my BEST decisions regarding my wedding attire was the $12.00 pair of flat sandals that I bought from Amazon. They are blush champagne colored with rhinestones. After the ceremony and pictures, I switched to those flat sandals and enjoyed the reception in total comfort! Best $12.00 bucks I spent, LOL!
Last weekend was pretty wild here at our house with the preparations, rehearsal dinner, wedding, and rotating overnight guests. I’m soooo glad we decided to take Maggie to boarding. She always comes home thrilled to see us, and with no signs of any anxiety. But I suspect if she’d stayed home, she’d have been stressed with the level of chaos and lack of sleep in the house, plus we were gone about 9 or 10 hours on the wedding day, and she has no way to go outside if someone isn’t home. I’m so grateful a place to take her where she’s comfortable and secure while we’re otherwise occupied, and I don’t have to worry if she’s okay or not. Wizard is the one who pushed me to find that place, so Kudos to Wizard!
New Daughter-in-Law got her cast on yesterday for the foot she broke a week before the wedding. It’s a pretty big cast! She was sore after the wedding, and really has been staying off it. But on her wedding day, she wore a sandal and refused to let a broken foot slow her down. The mother in me worried but I also really admire her sheer grit and refusal to let an injury get in the way of her joy or the wedding pictures. Now she and my son are very focused on making sure that foot heals right, and doing whatever she needs to make that happen.

Tomorrow, Wizard and I have a breakfast date at McDonalds with Turbo Terror (my grandson). Don’t be jealous, LOL! Anyway, that’s my five random things about my week, now I’d love to hear yours! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

The Wedding!

And I’m back! Hopefully things will settle a little bit now. Yeah, I know, the holidays are coming so I’m dreaming. But right now, I feel like I have breather

And now onto the wedding. It all came off beautifully! Here’s the bride and groom in a photo I stole from my new daughter-in-law’s social media:

They did their vows on a terrace outside the country club where the reception was held. When they got to the “Will you take this woman to be your wife?” part of the vows, the officiant only got out the first three words before my son answered, “I will!” Everyone laughed, and it was truly sweet to see my strong, silent son so eager to make his best friend, and the love of his life, his wife. Both of them radiated joy and excitement, and total confidence as they and their commitment to one another forever. The whole day and evening was filled with happiness.

One of the special moments for me was the mother-son dance. First, I didn’t know they were going to do it. Youngest hadn’t mentioned it (not kidding when I say he’s strong, silent type.) I was fine with skipping that part since I don’t dance well anyway. Then they announced the dance, and I glared at Wizard when he laughed. He was all done with his toast and happy to have all eyes off him. Anyhow, here’s my son and I in a cell phone shot Wizard took:

A little bit into the dance, Youngest said, “Do you recognize the song?”

I was pretty nervous, and just trying not to do anything stupid or clumsy,  so the song didn’t really register. Before I could answer, he said, “It’s an Elvis song, Mom. I picked it for you.”

Then I really heard “The Wonder of You” by Elvis Presley. OMG! When the kids were little, I had an Elvis Presley CD I loved. I listened to it all the time. I know Elvis was slightly before my time, but for various reasons, I loved his music–especially at Christmas. My Elvis obsession became a family joke and a Christmas traditional. Then Youngest did this for me on his special day and I was touched beyond words. I’m sure I cried, but what I remember is the stunning love I felt for Youngest that quite literally took my breath away.

By the way, my tears started before the wedding when I walked into the bride’s dressing room. But to be fair, she started it, LOL! She teared up the second I walked in, which almost made me cry too, but I held out. That lasted about a minute, when she gave me a beautiful bracelet with a charm that says “Mother of the Groom” on one side, and “My Other Mother” on the other, along with a sweet note. How could I not cry? I’ve known her for something like 12 years now, and have watched her grow from a shy girl into a beautiful, confident woman. I truly love her and her gift trigger tears of love and joy.

Youngest is gaining a new family that loves him just as much! He now has a second mom who will always be there for him too.

 

It really was a romantic, magical wedding between two people who’ve supported one another through hard times on their journey to their happily ever after.

Today is also Wizard and my anniversary. Happy Anniversary to the man I said “I do” to a few decades ago!

So that was my weekend, how was your weekend, and is your week off to a good start?

Friday Five

TGIF! Oh my gosh, it’s November! Okay, let’s dive right into sharing five random things about our week. Here’s mine:

So my almost daughter-in-law saw the ortho, and the break in her foot is worse than the urgent care doctor diagnosed. But this orthopedic did her a favor, and said he’d put a cast on next week AFTER her wedding. In the meantime, he gave her guidelines and told her to go enjoy her day. I like him Wedding glitches happen, what’s important is that she heals well.
I got the results of my blood work–all good! Whew, guys, I am relieved and happy! I had a short-term flare of my RA that was looking like it could be ugly, but it resolved and I’m feeling better now. The blood work reassured me, and YAY for some good news.
Wizard is sulking because I always have better numbers than he does. Of course, I wouldn’t rub that in, bwahahaha! He might be naturally slim and in shape, but I eat better
I saw a woman today walking a massive German shepherd, and she had full control of her dog.  He was so happy and confident walking with her, doing a very dignified prance. It just make me smile to see how much time and care she’d obviously invested into her dog, making sure he’s well controlled, stable and still very happy. I deduced all this in about 90 seconds of observation because, at my soul, I’m a writer and I always write a story in my head
As you all know, Youngest Son’s wedding is Sunday. I probably won’t post Monday, but I’ll tell you all about it on Wednesday. For now, I’ll just say this–Wizard and I couldn’t be happier!

That’s my five, and I really want to hear yours! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Wind, Fires and Not How She Envisioned Walking Down the Aisle

Happy Hump Day! We’re supposed to have a whopper of a “Santa Ana Wind Event” Tuesday night and Wednesday. We already have two major fires burning in So Cal (not close to me), and we don’t need anymore breaking out with the predicted wild winds and extremely dry conditions.

I’m also cleaning because we’re having overnight guests for the wedding this weekend, and stuff like that triggers my mostly dormant clean freak But at least I’m spacing it out over several days, and once I do it, it’s off my mind and I won’t worry about it when people are here. What’s hilarious, though, is we’re going to be too busy for anyone to notice, things will be chaotic and messy, and the house will end up a disaster zone. But tell that to my dormant clean freak–that chick is a little crazy, which is why I try to keep her locked in a dark closet and drugged her with wine, LOL.

Now for the other news. You know how many girls dream about their “walk down the aisle” to marry the man they love? My almost daughter-in-law had that dream too.

It did NOT include a broken foot.

Yep, she broke her foot one week before the wedding. She was with her sister and friends on a pre-wedding trip when her heel in the crack of the sidewalk, her foot rolled to the side, and she heard the snap of the bone on the top of her foot. The next day–after she tried to walk it off, LOL, proving that she’s definitely not a wimp–my son took her to Urgent Care and they confirmed the break in her foot. It was just a freak accident that earned her a big boot accessory to her wedding dress, and a different kind of walk (hobble!) down the aisle than she had planned.

And let me just add here, her attitude has been amazing. Of course she’s bummed and had her moments of upset, and her foot is very sore, but she’s dealing with this like a champ! Seriously, she’s able to laugh at the situation, is working on last-minute details and also resting her foot because she’s smart and practical as well as beautiful and talented. I’m proud of both her and Youngest Son, who took care of her as soon as she got home from the trip. Accidents happen, but we don’t let them ruin the important moments in our lives.

Attitude is everything!

Happy Wednesday! And feel free to share any similar stories you might have about freak accidents, or things that happened before big events in your lives.

P.S. I hope everyone has a Happy Halloween!

Weekend Roundup

So I got this text from Youngest Friday morning:

Mom, I can’t remember if you said you were bringing cookies when you come over tomorrow….

Ha I know when I’m being played…and I laughed And then…I went to the store to get what I needed, came home made his special (lactose free) cookies, refrigerated the dough for a few hours and then baked them.  Then I spent all day Saturday over Youngest’s house painting two coats on the office walls. It was a lot of work for both of us, but the room came out so pretty! Well, he’d doesn’t use the word pretty, LOL, but he did say the very pale gray is exactly what he wanted. I loved it myself. And my neck and arm tolerated it pretty well, which really pleased me too.

Wizard was amazing and brought us lunch too.

Sunday was a lost day. I was feeling off, and all I really got done was cleaned out my drawers and closets, then stewed over my book but got nothing useful done.  I so don’t want to talk about the book. I won’t get anything more than plotting done this week anyway.

This weekend is going to be very full between rehearsal on Saturday and wedding on Sunday. Plus Oldest, his wife and my grandson are spending Saturday night here, then Middle and his wife Sunday night around all the wedding festivities. With all the chaos, I’ve scheduled Maggie to go to boarding. Shhhh…I haven’t told her yet She’ll have more fun at boarding anyway.

As you all can tell, I am so excited about Youngest’s wedding We all are so happy they’ve finally be able live their happily ever after.

That was my weekend, how was yours?

Friday Five

TGIF! Am I posting on the right day? This week is totally off for me. I’m positive I misplaced a day somewhere, LOL! But assuming it really is Friday, here’s 5 random things about my week:

Oh my gosh, Youngest is getting married in just over a week! How did that sneak up on us?
Realizing #1 meant I spent yesterday running around getting last-minute stuff I needed. I finally ordered a small purse from Amazon as I couldn’t find one in the right color that I liked anywhere. I think I only have one more thing to pick up.
Our new garage doors are great, and we got a price we thought fair. Then our ice maker stopped working…LOL! We got it working again, then realized how old the refrigerator is. Sigh, it’s going on the list of things that eventually will need to be replaced. However, it’s all working now so it can sit on that list for years and wait its turn or risk my wrath. I know that refrigerator is scared and will mind me
Back to Youngest Son. He texted me a couple of nights ago and said, “Mom do you want to come over Saturday and help me paint my home office?” I used to be really good at tell my kids no, what happened? Also, I’m really impressed that they are getting so much done in that house, even with the wedding a week away. Time Management and Will Power!
Do you all know how much we use the elbow on our dominate arm? I do! All the freaking time. The shot has helped my tendonitis some, and I wear the brace (per the doctor’s insistent orders), but I’m vividly aware of how much I use that elbow these days. It’s amazing how we take what our bodies do daily for granted until something gets old and cranky, LOL! (In case anyone is wondering about my tendonitis and #4, I can paint, especially if I do more trim work than the repetitive rolling of the walls. I may be a little sore, but I don’t mind–it’s better than sitting around and not doing stuff.)

That’s my five, now I’d love to hear five random things about your week! Have a great weekend!

What Happened to Monday?

If I didn’t post on Monday, did Mondy still happen? We had our grandson, Turbo, Sunday and Monday, and he sure lives up to his nickname, LOL! It honestly takes two of us, plus Maggie, to watch him. He’s smart, funny, energetic, and overall, really well-behaved for a 19 month old. He likes to repeat words he hears, and I’m happy to report, Wizard and I did not send him home with any inappropriate words added to his vocabulary We really enjoyed him, but we were wiped out when he left, probably because he didn’t sleep well this, and was ready to play at 3:30 a.m. I woke up Wizard for that–after all I didn’t want him to miss out on the joys of babysitting. I’m super nice like that And Wizard was a good sport, he just laughed and said, “You might as well start to the coffee.”

Turbo’s parents had a great time at the concert in Vegas.

It was also Youngest Son’s bachelor weekend in Vegas with both his brothers and a couple of friends. I’m assuming they had fun too, but over the years, I’ve learned not to ask too much because they actually tell me, and then I have Mom Vision, which means I can reenact the scene in my head with a dozen bad outcomes. It doesn’t matter that they are standing there in front of me, clearly fine. Mom Vision, it’s a real thing

This book is getting to me. If I gather all my characters in one place, and blow them all up, is that considered murder? I mean it doesn’t count in fiction right? Even more frustrating is I keep losing time to work. I thought I’d be able to get back to the book yesterday, but Real Life had other ideas. Today will be better!

Heat and fires blew into Southern California. It’s going to be hot all week. But I just have to say this, while I complain about many things in California, our firefighters are amazing. They saved more homes when a huge fire broke out in Los Angeles, just like our homes were saved a little over a year ago. While humans cause a lot of the fires, it’s the heat and Santa Ana winds that make them so dangerous, and extremely hard to fight.

So that was some of my long weekend.  How was yours?

Friday Five

TGIF!! Let’s jump right into sharing five random things about our week. Here’s mine:

We got a bunch of quotes for new garage doors. Once we passed through the stages of shock, anger, bargaining with God to win lotto, and finally acceptance, we made a decision Our new garage doors will be installed on Tuesday. We had two quotes over the phone (worthless for fairly obvious reasons–if you’re too lazy to come out and do a proper quote with pesky measurements and all, we’re too lazy to hire you), and four in-person quotes, and in that process, Wizard and I learned a lot more than we ever planned to know about roll up garage doors. But it did help us make a decision.  I’m not even going to talk about California’s insane laws because I don’t have a seaweed, emotional support latte to help me think. Nor would I drink that if I did have it
Still kind of, sort of, writing. Last night I thought I’d ruined the book, today I’m thinking…I need a latte. No wait, I’m thinking the book isn’t bad and I can totally make it work…but I should still get a latte. Maybe I’ll go buy one tomorrow because I’m irritating myself with my sudden latte obsession.
I saw my doctor this week, mostly to deal with my right elbow and other assorted stuff. He did another shot in my elbow, plus an x-ray, and I’m waiting to hear on that. I have looked at the x-rays images myself, but then I remembered that I never went to medical school, so…yeah…my diagnosis is worth as much as my non-existent medical degree. It’s probably just chronic tendonitis from an old injury, and also I’m recommending latte physical therapy to heal the stupid elbow. Bending my elbow to drink qualifies as therapy, right? Ha! I live in California, of course, it does!
Maggie charmed the man yesterday who came over to finalize the garage door thing. She was all shy, sweet and wiggly, and it works every time. Just like the time she met us and used her adorable charm to secure her forever home and human servants. Yeah, we eventually caught onto her methods, but she has us too well-trained now to do anything but fulfill her every wish.
Turbo is coming over Sunday and spending the night again. Maggie is resting up! Wizard and I are making sure to keep those days clear to enjoy The Turbo Toddler. If it goes as well as last time, we’ll be thrilled. And if it doesn’t, we’ll still enjoy having him because that’s what grandparents do. Then we’ll send him home and crash–maybe with a latte. Or wine. Probably wine if we have the energy to lift a wine glass.

That’s my five random things about my week, now I’d love to hear yours. Have a great weekend!

Maggie’s Mystery

Guys! Hi it’s me Maggie. Did you all know that my mom used to write mystery books?

Well I have a big mystery on my paws right here at my house! You ready? The big outside trash cans where my lizard-friends like to hide vanish! I’m not even joshing, they just disappear like magic or something. I’ll show you.

 

See that, they’re gone! I’m sitting right where they trash cans should be. This isn’t even the first time. They go missing for like a whole day, and then they reappear.

Isn’t that a great mystery? Wanna help me solve it?