CLEVER WAYS TO GIVE MONEY AT CHRISTMAS

Just finished up Christmas today. Had a long month of it at work- which is to be expected- and part of the job. We had Christmas with Husband's kids the day after Christmas and got together with my kids today. We were all supposed to have gone to KC to be with youngest son , but you all know about the "best laid plans of mice and men"...right? Anyway- it was such fun to give the grands their gifts this year, because Husband and I didn't just give them money in a card- we cleverly wrapped the money differently for each person- and they had a blast figuring it out! For one, we gently opened the bottom of a box of mac and cheese and then took out the cheese packet, carefully cut the bottom of it open and shook out the cheese- then wrapped the money in foil and slipped it into the cheese packet and glued the packet shut. We then glued the bottom of the box- and it was really fun to see oldest grandson's (16) face when he got a box of mac and cheese for Christmas! For one of the grand daughters we rolled 25 brand new 1 dollar bills up in a roll of toilet paper- and for youngest grandson we made a slit under the label of a 2 liter bottle of coke and slipped two large containers with money inside the two liter bottle. We then glued the label back and put the lid on and he was baffled for a couple of minutes about how we got those containers into the pop bottle! The best one - in my estimation-however, was Husband's very own clever idea! We bought a bag of tootsie rolls and unwrapped them, then rolled 25 1 dollar bills very small and rewrapped them in the tootsie roll papers. They looked REAL! Youngest grand daughter was crazy about it! It made a mundane Christmas gift very special- and we all watched as each person opened his/her gift- none of this frenzied-tear the paper-hurry to the next present-stuff. Daughter was a sweet hostess and had a couple of games for us to play, as well- and we ate far too much- as always. Hope you all had wonderful holidays with your families!

IT'S BEEN A WHILE!

Well, it has certainly been a day or two since I have posted! We had the big Gala at work on last Friday night and outside of being a chinese firedrill when the food was put out on the buffet tables, it went pretty well. Have got to work on a better "flow" for the crowds that we have come to expect at this event. I talked with the dietary manager on Sunday at our employee Christmas party and we think we have it worked out for next year- goodie. Tomorrow I will work with three activity directors from a neighboring state who will be at my building for some training, networking and brainstorming. Looking forward to that. Husband and I were off today to recoop from the past couple of weeks of getting our building decorated and preparing for the Gala.

We took a bottle of that almond wine I've been talking about on here- to the party- it was like a liquer (is that how you spell lik-koor?). It has aged into a mighty fine sipping drink. Smooth! Just took over two years to get it to that point! While I've been off today I made pumpkin bread and a wonderful beef stew to share with my neighbors. I have three and they are all elderly and ill or alone. Have not been paying them the kind of attention I should for a little while-so am fixing that this afternoon. Bought two new recliners over the weekend. Husband's is h-u-g-e! And I got one for me that just fits me pretty nicely! It is beautiful, too. Merry Christmas to us.

CAMPING SEASON OVER

Came home from the lake today after our last weekend for the season. Brought the camper back with us and will use it as extra sleeping quarters when company comes. The lake offers so much- relaxation, entertainment, a safe place for the grands to run...it's a real retreat. We love going to church there, too. Now I have to get back in the groove in my little town. The church bazaar is the second weekend in November and typically I help with it, but haven't been contacted. Suppose because we have been gone so much. The kids are planning to come that weekend anyway. We will probably bottle the 20 gallons of wine in the closet and then we are through making wine for a while. We aren't drinking very much of it anyway. It gives me a tummy ache and Husband should not have too much because of diabetes. Kids love it, though. Just got back from KC on Wednesday night- went to meetings there. Got to eat at a Red Robin at last! It was pretty tasty! Also ate at a place called "Bravo" in the Zonarosa shopping area. Had not been there before. We had access to so many appetizers and soup that I didn't enjoy my lasagna because I was full. Shame on me. My daughter and her family attended the K State game Saturday and went dressed as characters from Alice in Wonderland! They were on the jumbotron for a full two minutes- which means they were on national tv! She was the white rabbit, he was the mad hatter, K was the red queen and A was Alice. They took one of their friends and she was the white queen. We met them in Hutch at Village Inn for pie when they came through Saturday night. Their pics were so cute!

RELAX-AVOUS

Well-I cannot tell you how thrilled I was to do a presentation at the state activity director conference last weekend- nor can I appropriately express how relieved I am that it is OVER.

Public speaking is not my cup of sassafras- and I truly do not want to do it again. Boss is already talking about the next time and what we should tweak, yada,yada,yada, but I'm going to turn it over to her. She can do the crowing- I'm very contented to just lay the eggs. The song and the poem I wrote for the presentation went over super- everyone wanted copies and we had a great time singing together- Put a bunch of activity directors in a room and you're bound to have a sing-along. Even the critiquing was reasonable- only a couple of people had adverse things to say, and 2 out of 60 participants isn't bad. Gotta get my head wrapped around the next few months because it's my busy time with the holidays and all. Already have my entertainment for the Christmas Gala lined up. As usual, the Sweet Adelines will perform and this year we have a new act, too. A local pediatrician and a woman he goes to church with are going to be performing Christmas music from the 30's and 40's. They're working on "Baby, it's cold outside", too- so should be fun. I got a few new craft ideas at conference and incorporated a couple into October's calendar- and one lady showed me how to do some simple but beautiful flower arrangements. Going to KC at end of month for a regional meeting and will demonstrate for the group how we have begun to use the knobby balls for exercise- as well as engage the group in a mini drums alive exercise. We have a blast with it- and I know other buildings will enjoy it too. Kids coming mid month to bottle wine- it will be awesome to get all these carboys emptied and into bottles so I can have my closet space back. Number 1 son made two carboys ( 12 gallons total) of wild- one is Peach Mountain, made from colorado peaches and the other is a sandhill plum wine that he has named "out of gas" because they ran out of gas while they were picking the plums. They will take a couple of years to mature. We will enjoy some of our first almond wine (called Almond Joy) at Christmas time this year. It will be not quite 2 1/2 years old. Made our first batch of chili Friday night- mmmm-mmmm good- and then worked at our little fall festival on Saturday at the church carnival. It was nice to not be working on "work". Stayed the night at the lake Sat. night and after church we came home and plan to spend the rest of the day resting.

Work!Work!Work!

Heard from Kathleen Lourde, the writer who interviewed me for the magazine article - said they had pushed the article back again- may not be out till September or October. Oh well- whattaya gonna do?

Had a nice surprise yesterday- our big boss (operations director), nurse consultant, marketing consultant and finance director went together and nominated me and our " when you wish upon a star" program for something called the Einstein award. This is a company wide ( over 100 facilities) award and is given quarterly. Only 4 people can win each year. We won the second quarter! Now I will be placed in competition with 3 other people and their ideas, and hopefully win the over all award and a trip to Branson for the annual meeting. Last year it was in San Antonio- was up for employee of the year - was not chosen but there were only seven people in the category and the rules were very stringent.

It's nice to be recognized for doing your best. Did get to go to St Louis for the big whoopty do.

Getting ready to go to Indiana for a small family reunion in early September. Looking forward to seeing some family I have not seen for a while....and some I saw recently- but can never see enough.

Just bottled 30 bottles of peach apricot chardonnay. Took 15 to work to use for wine and cheese party later in the month.

Know I need to post more often, but when things are on the straight and level it is hard to find something to write about. Oh, I know, I just finished doing six name "arts" for a friend at work. I did all of her grandchildren for her. They turned out swell. She liked them so much she went and got color copies so she could put them on the wall in her spare bedroom. She said so many of her grandkids live far away that she wouldn't get to see the artwork very often, and she wanted it in her home, too. That was nice. Doing three for my sis's grands and doing two more for a girl I work with who has twin grand daughters. Better go get busy! S

VACATION PICS

We rode the cog train up to Pike's Peak!

Looking out the window of the train.

Met such nice people.....a builder, a Vietnam Vet, a teacher from Katy, TX and her husband, who works for Shell Oil- also met a hot air balloon commercial pilot and some of HER crew... and there's a possibility that we'll be able to work out having a hot air balloon tethered in the field next to our facility and give the residents rides! Is that not cool? Just gotta work out the details!

The air was incredibly thin on Pike's Peak- so hard to breathe. We rode the royal gourge train along the Arkansas River in the bottom of the gourge- incredible! They have a roller coaster at the gourge that is the highest in the world- they say it is also the scariest in the world- It flings you out over the gourge with a 1200 foot sheer drop- too scary for me! The train ride was sooo cool- they played lots of songs about trains - and everyone was singing along- like "I'm the train they call the city of New Orleans" and "Fulsom Prison Blues" and others. Had breakfast on the train, too- as we sat in the dome car. Went to Cripple Creek for a couple of hours and broke even- which is always a good thing. Had supper in Manitou Springs at a "not so hot" place called the Nile Cafe. Kids came over tonight and we took them out for supper at the little Amish place in town- yum! And as always, it is sooooo good to be home. Still got two days before we go back to work- guess we will go to the lake.

CATCHING UP

Took a group of folks out to our RV camp for a jam session last night. They were a hit! One of our volunteers and a resident played the harmonica and guitar and they were sensational! Got invited back by many! Had soft ice cream afterward and got them all tucked in by 10 p. Today starts our vacation. We are going to Colorado for a few days to drink in the mountains and get away from the heat. Have had quite a bit of rain from hurricane Alex. It's muggy and (one of husband's favorite words) "sultry". Staying in tonight to protect our little doggie from as much of the firecrackers popping as possible. She is so scared- she just shivers and shakes. Will spend next weekend at the lake again with husband's daughter and family. It's husband's favorite thing to do, while away the hours fishing and resting in/near the camper. I take my art supplies and tablets and paint or write. Sounds like we have storms again. Hope you all have a wonderful and safe 4th!