Holidays

So I finally went to see Allison, Devin and Baby Sam. On Christmas day I went over to Allison's parents house ( they live near Chad) and took Caleb with me, Allison had not seen Caleb since he was Sam's age. Caleb was a bit put off by Sam's cries, but got over it when he saw all the toys left out from Allison's niece and nephew.

Winter in the AZ !!!

his first winter beenie

#1 Here I am sledding with Caleb, he had a look of confusion and worry on his face.

#2 Caleb is now tall enough to open the doors in the house so, all the handle have been turned so it is harder for him to open them .

# 3&4Caleb is showing his distaste in touching snow(ice) trucked in for the kids of Vistancia,

and him playing in his stroller.

work.....

So I answer phones and do data entry, there are three of us who answer all the calls and send them to who they need to go to. I have always been the receiver of people venting their complaints, for a while I was planning on being a therapist. So at work I hear a lot of stuff about one person in particular so I had been taking notes and when her performance began to affect me I went to my boss who didn't want to listen, so I went to the HR manager who listened and then my boss arranged a meeting for those involved. The person of interest got very defensive when the issue was mentioned and lashed out at me. I am not surprised but, you would think now that the issue was put on the table she would be aware of the problem and fix it the next day..... I was wrong. This issue is still happening and my boss either doesn't believe us or just doesn't want to hear it.... I am sure the saga will continue.

Where does the time go?

So today is December 10th and I have no idea where the year has gone. I have just been living everyday as it comes and I wonder if time flies by as fast for other people.


I just visited my my family in Texas and attended the funeral of the man I considered my grandfather. He was actually my great Uncle but both of my grand fathers passed before I was born so, Mr Ernest Mayfield was it for me. I spent on summer there when I was six years old and never wanted to go back basically because of the way my aunt (his wife) treated my brother and me. My Uncle was my saviour that summer, he is the one that put me in my first official swim lessons which later led to my being a competitive swimmer. He was an avid gardener and I remember pulling lettuce and carrots from the garden for dinner. He was big on family and community and was a basketball coach and a Dad to many children and relatives.

Uncle Ernest you are missed greatly!

More Cakes!!!

I made this cake for Tatum, my neighbors 6th birthday, white cake with strawberries.

These are the cakes I made for my Nephew's first birthday. The big one was red velvet really for Caleb's father and the round one was white cake with almond butter cream.

Cakes

These are the most recent cakes that I have made.
Red Velvet with Cream Cheese Icing White and Choc swirl with Vanilla/Almond Buttercream

White and Chocolate with Whipped Cream

Babies!!!

Welcome to the world

Sam W Barry

Sam was born Monday the 10Th @ 1:09 pm to Devin and Allison Barry.

I worked with Allison for just over a year, I enjoyed our break and lunch chats and her openness to other views and opinions. She is truly the most loving person I have ever met. Devin is so sweet to Allison and now he can be a doting dad.

Simply Amazing !!!!

My 78 year old grandmother is so very proud to be alive to see this American Dream come to fruition. She has already purchased her ticket to D.C for the inauguration of Barack Obama. I personally am still numb, I pray that he follows his path and doesn't get caught up with the red tape of congress and the house. I pray that some radical freak doesn't attempt to take his life. This is America we are suppose to accept all people, He is not Muslim, he loved his grandmother and who cares what color his skin is, so many people pay to get to the color he is. He is a son, a friend, a father and a husband, the kind of man a woman could stand by and be proud of. Now men have a roll model other than hip hop artists, and athletes, and can be motivated by the possibility that yes! You can even be the President of the United States.

Halloween 08

Halloween 08. I went to a party that was themed 20's-40's. I was Rosie the Riviter, Michelle a Flapper and Toya a Gangsta. we had a good time at the Hotel San Carlos in Downtown Phx. The hotel was very old(classic) and supposedly haunted. The suites were named after old hollywood stars ie Marilyn Monroe, Cary Grant, Fred Astaire, Jean Harlow and the party was on the 3 level pool deck. Not too bad for a random night.

On the move !!!

With my new flip camera I made this video of my nephew. He will be One on the 21st of this month. He actually started walking this past weekend.

Makes you say yep!!!!

So I was looking for silly shirts and bumper stickers at http://www.cafepress.com/ and I found a few sayings that I like.

The CHRISTIAN RIGHT is often NEITHER,

If you judge people, you have no time to love them. -- Mother Teresa

Satan is a big fat doodiehead!

If you hate ANYONE, you're not a CHRISTIAN!

Jesus loves you but I'm his favorite.

Do you really think Jesus would be a Republican?????

I support the separation of CHURCH and HATE!

Stop using Jesus as an excuse for being a narrow minded A**hole. *** favorite***

You cannot love your enemies and bomb them simultaneously.

San Ramon with the Aurelios.

Me, Zachary and Marino Zack is a rambunctious, and all boy. He loves Star Wars and Swords. I had more sword fights than I have in my lifetime, with him. He didn't care if I had a sword and he had a light saber he just attacked me. Zack is going to be Indiana Jones for Halloween and he wore his costume to the pumpkin patch, and machete swatted everything he could with sound effects.

Gabriella and Marino. Gabby is a devil/ angel type all weekend she would go from sweet and coy to loud whiny and crying. I think it is being two aka the terrible two's. She would speak to me but not let me pick her up or help her out of her car seat not even push the grocery cart. She played very well with Marino and vice verse, they liked playing in the backyard together.


Our Pumpkins from my first pumpkin patch!

We always purchased our pumpkins from the grocery store. The place we went to was in Livermore and it had a petting Zoo and an old western town with a jail and a saloon. Tons of pumpkins from very small to award winning. The kids were so happy to be in the dust bowl of a field and running through the maze and eating popcorn and icees. I on the other hand was a bit uncomfortable, I was planning for cooler weather being that I was in Nor Cal but no, it was about 88 degrees and I was in jeans and a button down shirt and flip flops so I was hot sweaty and with dirty feet. I know I sound like I was complaining but really I had a good time seeing all the kids happy.

My trip to San Ramon CA, to see David and Tanya. David and I have known each other since being in our mothers' wombs. Our older brothers went to the same pre school where David's mom worked and my mom dropped Chad off and picked him up until one day my dad picked him up and Karen David's mom was terrified because of my dad all 6 foot 6 of him was coming into her classroom and she freaked out. Chad saved her the call to the police (dad was the police) because he ran to him yelling daddy. Ever since then Karen and Jim and Mom and Dad have been friends.
Friday I got into town and Tanya still had to work a couple of hours so I watched TV and read my book. Then we went and had a Mani- Pedi and picked up the kids. Later Tanya's sister and family and a family friend an her daughter came over for a cookout. Man was I over whelmed, six kids a dog 6 adults and the TV, radio, and beer.. wow I had to sit outside with the two guys at the grill to get away from it all a couple of times. Tanya joked that she may have given me a reason for a tubal ligation. Saturday we hung around the house most of the morning then went to the mall I found some really cute shoes at Nordstrom( I was trying to avoid that store) but they were only $59.

Later we all took naps and got ready to go out( just the adults) They arranged to have a baby sitter. We were going to Sha Boom, but we could not get in because David had on tennis shoes. Who knew there would be a dress code in San Ramon. So we went to Outlaws (sports bar) and had a few drinks and chatted up the evening and the waitress. She and Tanya bonded over baby and breast feeding stories. Dave and I reminisced about the early years. We then went to have dinner AT 9:30 @ a great Italian restaurant I cannot think of the name. We sat outside under the heat lamps and chatted about anything an everything. I had a great time. We had to be home before eleven to get the babysitter home. Sunday Tanya Gabby and I went grocery shopping then we all went to the pumpkin patch after Gabby through a fit because she didn't like her Abby Cadabby costume she just wanted to carry the wand, which she wasn't allowed without the whole costume.

We went to the patch and came home and ordered Z pizza (I love that pizza) and carved our pumpkins. Tanya and my pumpkins came out the best but we have to give big ups to David for letting Zack carve and carve and carve more. The three wolves howling in front of the moon turned into 1 tooth in front of the moon.

All in all I had a great time, other than my dad falling asleep and picking me up at the airport 45 min after I landed.

Evening with co-workers

The company I work for does cool things to thank the employees. Yesterday 11 of the Administrative personel went downtown to the Clarendon Hotel for mini spa treatments and apps at the roof top bar, it was so nice. At the end of our session my boss Marsha got a hankering for ice cream, so all but three of us went to Mary Coyle's Ice cream shop, it reminded me of Farrells in that they have selections for 20 people I think it was called the Mountain. We did not get that one. Since it is October I got one scoop of pumpkin ice cream LOVE IT !!!! We had so much fun, it is cool to see another side of your co-workers. Marilyn is a crack up, and Marsh is just as funny but in our work environment we don't get to interact that way. This me on the roof with the skyline.

?????

I have nothing really interesting to say right now. Have a great week!!!!

Reckless drivers!!!! aruugh!

So this morning on my 9 mile commute to work which takes 40 minutes, There was a very impatient woman in a pearl white Mercury Mountaineer, On Northern just before Grand where the traffic backs up, she chose to drive down the center turn lane (illegal) to pass everyone who was waiting for the light to change and there was a truck in the lane waiting to turn left( legal). After the light there is a bit of construction and the road narrows to one lane for about 10 yards, She sped up on the right to get as close to the cones and tried to swerve over in front of cars (reckless) who waited in the left lane because of the closure. then of course traffic wasn't moving fast enough for her @ posted 40 mph. She tried her hardest to get past the cars and through the light which turned red just as she got within one car of the light (me). Then she fought in and out of each lane because she couldn't pass me and the few cars ahead of us. I was really getting joy out of the fact she couldn't get ahead in her speed demon way of driving. Finally she sped throught a yellow to red light to get ahead just to slam on her breaks because of what ....... TRAFFIC.

was that wrong of me?

10 Months

Here is my (nephew) Caleb almost 10 months old. I got to spend a whole day with him. Here I was keeping him busy with a partially frozen water bottle for the teething.

Sunday, Dad and Chad went to El Centro to hunt Dove ( poor little things) Kimmie, Caleb and I went to Issac's 7th birthday party at the AMF bowling alley. Caleb loved watching the kids run around and all the noises of the balls hitting the pins and the clapping and screaming. It was a bit much for me. Then we went to the mall just to walk around. We found some cute shoes at Stride Rite for Caleb (we didn't buy) the doctor says don't put him in them until it is cold out. He would be a 7&1/2 baby (huge). The sales lady was surprised by his age after we took him out of the stroller. She said well I hope his dad is a large guy or there is a genetic issue. CAN YOU believe that!!! Caleb is just sturdy!!!

90% in height and 95%in weight.

Go D'backs... or Dodgers oh what now?

I went to another Diamond Backs game this time against the Dodgers, they passed out signs that said "BEAT LA" I really didn't want to carry one but... I am now in AZ at the D'backs stadium.

They also had kids from the CAYFL California Youth football league there with the signs, they got to parade on the field and in the stands with their "BEAT LA" signs. They were so boisterous with the chanting of "BEAT LA", and actually the D'Backs did beat LA that game! So many of the Dodgers fans were arrested I was very surprised. I sent this photo to Chris and Cynthia, the biggest Dodgers fans I know and now I have been written out of Cynthia and Erik's wedding plans and I am no longer welcomed at Chris and Lesley's place. We'll see how long either of those hold up!.

After the game Toya, Michelle and I decided to go to Bobby C's a bar/restaurant in the downtown area to meet up with a long time friend of Toya's. Toya and I were in her car and Michelle went home to change clothes. While looking for the club, on Washington there were crews repaving the road so the entrance of the club was blocked so we went around the block to try the back. When we turned the corner onto 11Th st, I noticed a guy jumping into the back of a white car as it fishtailed and sped away. Toya and I looked at each other like "What the Heck!!!"

As we kept going, on the right side of the street in the gutter was a woman. I immediately grabbed my cell and called 911. She was beaten and bloody and was breathing very hard and inconsistently. She didn't respond when was asked if she needed help but clearly she did need help. Her dress was ripped and around her waist. She was in bad shape. The 911 operator asked if we has seen the car, I responded that we were so shocked by it fishtailing that we didn't pay attention to the model or plate. Within 5 minutes 5 cruisers and the fire dpt were on scene and the paramedics showed soon after. I was fine until I was giving one of the officers the rundown of what happened, then I started shaking and thinking what if we came one minute sooner, what if they guy has a gun.. OMG!!! the officers were very nice and thanked us for calling. My hunch is that she was a "lady of the night". I am glad that we were in the right place in the right time for her sake.

We decided to go ahead a find the club, a strange night could only get better right. Bobby C's is tiny I mean TINY!!! and they have the nerve to make a dance area in the middle of the place. Most of the crowd was older (I guess I now fit into the older category) 30 and above, some patrons were quite older and some definitely had alternative lifestyles, but variety is the spice of life right? We had a good time with Toya's friend and his friends. The music was great reminded me of the parties my mom and dad used to have.

Caleb is 9 (months) Today !!!!!

One day old Nine months old

Go Padres.. I mean D-Backs... oh I am torn

So last night Toya and I went to the D' Backs/ Padres game. I am always torn when a CA team plays AZ. I have always liked baseball and I like that I can take the time and go to games now. There were these older men sitting next to us joking with us because we had garlic fries and beer and margaritas, like women wouldn't go to a game and have those things. WHATEVER!!! There was this young woman whom I am guessing didn't know she was going to the game or maybe she did; She was wearing FMH's and shorts with a bandeau top. Of course she was a feature on the jumbo tron. Oh and the D'Backs won!!! I also bought my first D' backs t-shirt ( # 10 Upton) I thought it was about time, but I still cheered when the padres scored. Now I just have to go to a few Cards games.