Jerry and Jane and Family

Didn't win the 53 million dollar lottery.

Amber finishes her school tonight.

Lunch with Jerry, Roseanne, Ron and Sheila Stroud last tuesday.

Marc in town wednesday.

Jane MRI of her back.

Christmas decorations.

A diabetic cat.

Excited about our first cruise.

Shopping for the grandkids Christmas.

Dinner with Amber and family Sunday.

Cold and then a beautiful Sunday afternoon.

The family is well.

More basketball than you can imagine.

Life is good.

Read:

"Water for Elephants". An interesting book. I always say I enjoy historical novels. I think this one qualifies, as it gives an insight into life and history entirely foreign to me.

"Olive Kitteridge". I'm not sure if I should be depressed, but I think I will. Growing old is not for sissies.

Next up:

"The Hobbitt". Plus I will find a couple to take cruising.

Watched:

"Separate Lies". An interesting little tale. With a kinda happy ending. People growing togather. (I know that word is spelled wrong, but what do you expect from the worlds worst speller)

"Private Fears in Public Places". Enjoyed, but I don't know why.

Next Up:

"Russian Dolls"

"Snow Cake"

That is all from life in the fast lane

Lov Ya

Jerry & Jane

Seven Smiles, Three Thoughts, and a Mother Poem

Random Thoughts for the Day: From my Little Chef Friend Amanda, from her friend Christopher, from his friend Jim. The wonders of the internet...

Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.

There is great need for a sarcasm font.

Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

I can’t remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

Bad decisions make good stories.

Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the hell do I respond to that?

I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

Mother Poem, Healing Conversations by Nance Guilmartin: Thanks Lynn

When Mom Leaves

When she is gone
in a flash,
unbidden,
there is a loss
like no other.
You see
when Mom leaves
there is a center missing
as if the universe
has lost its gravity.

Everything,
everything falls apart
for awhile
until the universe
of our lives
finds a way
back to center.
And somehow
while there is no force
holding it together
the way it was --
somehow
we are
whole again
in
the
middle
of
it
all.

Blog Inspired Ode to Differences

We had an animated discussion at book club Wednesday night. Was Martha Beck who wrote Expecting Adam, to quote Sandy's blog, "an inspirational strong survivor or a whining child neglector"? Mary's argument against was balanced, eloquent, and intelligent. I was almost lost, but I stuck to my guns and gave a sloppy debate right back. Many points rang true to me and many points rang false to Mary. It made me think of differences between book club readers, nations, religions, and families.

How did we all get so different -- the mystery of genetic codes. The artful arrangement by a creative Creator to make us uniquely ourselves. Some nurse, some teach, some grow things, some master computers or numbers, some maneuver thousands of pounds of goods across treacherous roadways, some maneuver thousands of pounds of other more organic stuff. But we are family, humans, and belong to a vast world of differences.

I love being me, not the sharpest crayola in the box, just really colorful, purple velvet shoes and all. Is there a right and wrong way to be a Taylor? Tis the Season to reflect on good will toward men, compassion, all the higher intentions and ideals of man: Feed the poor. Love thy neighbor. Recycle. Stop global warming. Make the world a better place.

Be congruent, trust your interior guidance, leave life with as few regrets as possible by living life with as few regrets as possible. Make the world a better place by being a better, unique, original, different, God inspired you. God bless our similarities and differences.

Tis the Season to accept the funny fat man who wears weird clothes and sneaks into houses anyway he can.

Quote from my friend Lynn's blog:
"The trick is in what one emphasizes. We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same." Carlos Castaneda

So, now I know, shaming works!

I am semi-truly sorry it was shaming, but hey, what ever works. Thanks Bro.

Everyone got their own allotment of cookies? Now I'm jealous. Tal was right, he was betting on Brittany's abilities to uphold her Grandmother's reputation, and when he's right he's right.

I'm glad you got to come in from the cold and had a pretty lady to sleep with. Ain't life grand.

Today was P-Nutty Fudge day. I made ten tins to take to my book club Lasagna Potluck tomorrow night. Ten little tins. I'm not in Jean's, and now Brittany's, league yet, but I keep stirring the pot.

I watched Vanaja, an Indian movie that isn't Bollywood, about class divisions and a young servant girl. Even though you get the feeling the young girl can never right the wrongs done to her, it wasn't grim. Loved the ending. There is something about riding off into the sunset on an elephant that is satisfing.

Love, Jan

Christmas Breakfast

Okay Jan, you shamed me into it.

Why does the one with the worst writing skills in the world have to do this. Wa, Wa,Wa. Christmas Breakfast was delightful. Julia, Nora, Andrew, Jean, Brittany, Lindsey, Jeff, Michael, Jane & the author had a delightful & delicious time. Jeffery invited The Pretty Lady to stay at his house with a companion if she desired. I was invited by The Pretty Lady, so I didn't have to sleep in the truck. Jean, Brittany and Lindsey stayed with Julia. Jean was commander in chief as Brittany made cookies. They were kind enough to bring a container of cookies or candy for each person there. Sometimes small is better. Jean supervised the cooking of biscuits, Jane cooked gravy, Jeff cooked sausage, Julia mixed mimosa's and what else is needed. Michael entertained the crowd and we watched a little football. Jeffery spent a considerable amount of time playing with the Grandson. Jean, resting her knee, sat (as she has been doing since July 15th). I slept. I love sweets and sometime they put me to sleep. I would wake up, eat a few more cookies and go back to sleep. Starting drinking at 7:00 am didn't help either. (Just Baileys in coffee and Champagne in orange juice) So the one who slept through saturday gets to write the blog. Go figure. Sunday morning a bagel and then home. A delightful time, lets do it again next year.

Lov Ya

Jerry and Jane

Christmas Breakfast

Isn't anyone going to blog about the Christmas Breakfast?

Did Jean make cookies? Were the biscuits flat? The gravy lumpy? Did it storm? Were there enough beds? Who smiled the most? Limped the most? Traveled the farthest? Was Tal able to be there? Did Nora help anyone on the computer?

Just wondering.

Email from Jerry

Jerry sent me a email with his and Jane's activities in it. I told him it would make a fabulous blog and did he give me permission to post it. He did and here it is...

Jerry is now officially a The Spirit of Maxine author. Dated December 2, and titled Stuff. Thank you Jerry for letting me share. You put my pitiful reading to shame.

Jan,

How is the world of Mukilteo? Things here are good. Going to Arkansas for breakfast this weekend. Amber is down to 2 more Mondays of class and then graduation. Then we're off to Florida for a short cruise. Amber and her family decided that's what they wanted for Christmas, so we're going. The only bad part is Marc and his family are not going. We will have our family Christmas on New Year weekend.

Blaine is through with football this year, still in Boy Scouts. Going to Seabase Scout Camp in Florida, on a sailing vessel, in July.

Hannah started basketball practice, and all social activities she can arrange.

Taylor, school, work, theater. Don't see him as much as we used to, but he is growing up.

Clark, Jordan and Jack are all doing basketball. A busy time at the Taylor household.

Sounds like you had a GREAT Thanksgiving. All the Family was here Thursday and Friday then Marc and family went to Norman on Saturday. Amber went to studying and Jane and I loafed. Ate Thanksgiving at Mimi's. Homemade pies for desert. Amber is trying to get through school and studying and studying. We'll cook next year.

Jane and I spent four days at Greenleaf, reading and not much else. The truck didn't move for three days. These are the books I read or finished since the family reunion.

Galloway, Steven, Cellist of Sarajevo

I really enjoyed this book. People just living and surviving, doing for others through the fear and uncertainty of life during war. The humanity shown during all the inhumanity.

Solzhenitsyn, Alexsandr I The Gulag Archipelago (Part 1 and 2)

Speaks for itself.

King, David ,Vienna 1814

The peace conference after the defeat of Napoleon. The division of Europe and the longest period of peace in Europe in recorded history.

Lenda, Heather, If You Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am reading it again in small segments. It could be a while before you get it back. I could live there.

Atkinson, Rick The Day of Battle

History again. The Italian campaign during World War ll. A lot in the story about Anzio. I believe both Uncle Beaty and Uncle Foster were in the 45th Infantry at Anzio. I am always amazed at how screwed up the military is, especially the US military, but they always win the battles. Amazing.

Lehrer, Jim Eureka

Your suggestion, what does it all mean? Everyone has a mid life crisis? People just handle them differently? I eagerly await your reply.

Twain, Mark Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

An American classic? I finally got to the end. Do I need to read other books or stories of his? He is considered one of the great authors.

McNamer, Deirdre Red Rover

Young, William P The Shack

I read it and Jane read it. There was a lot I wasn't enthused about. But I also got some good from it.

I didn't always agree with him but I think it was a good story.

Herbert, Frank Dune

I liked this book. Probably the first scifi book I have ever read. I may need to read some more.

Gay, Kathlyn Mao Zedong's China

More of a text book than a biography. But a little more knowledge of China.

We are falling behind on movies.

"The Snow Walker" - I was hooking up the tv for instant movies and this is the one I found. An interesting little movie about the North.

"Under the Same Moon" - I liked this movie. A story of illegal immigrants in the US built around a little boy looking for his mother.

"Volver " - I don't know if you like weird movies or not, (ha) but this one is different. If you liked "Flower of Evil" you will like this one. Family secrets seasoned with deception, murder, ghosts.

"The Shadow We Soon Will All Be" - Where did you get this? I didn't see it on netflicks.

I have started "Zhou Enlai - the Last Perfect Revolutionary". Also "The Hobbitt". Jane has "Olive Kitteridge", when she is done I am reading it. Have "Water for Elephants" ready to pick up at the library.

I am adding books to my list faster than I will ever get them read. But we try.

Received "Private Fears in Public Places" and "Separate Lies" from netflix today.

Jane's reading, I'm watching OU basketball. Life in the fast lane.

Take care

Lov Ya

Jerry & Jane

Thank you again, Jerry. It was humbling to read your reading list. Tell Blaine I'm jealous of his upcoming scout adventure on a sailing vessel. How fun will that be? I was almost a cook on a Tall Ship but chickened out at the last minute. Silly me.

As for Mark Twain, the only thing of his I read that I absolutely loved was The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but maybe someone else has an opinion on that.

Have you read World War Z: An Oral History of The Zombie War, by Max Brooks yet? All of book club is avidly reading and enjoying it even though it is January's selection. We have Christian to thank for that one.

And you didn't mention Vegas, baby, Vegas. How was that?

I'm reading Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett, waiting for The Help by Kathryn Stockett from the library and Vanaja from Netflix.

Happy reading, movie watching and Christmas breakfasting to all.