Superbowl Weekend

OK! Well, it has been a fairly uneventful weekend. We did go and buy a 2010 Tundra. Traded in my Scion XB for a truck. We have missed having a truck!

No real response from my post about being used. I posted it on Facebook. No one is that dense! We move on, I guess!

Took bikes out when it was about 42 degrees. Wore chaps, leather jacket, boots and suede gloves. Only thing that got cold was my face and hands. Dylan rode behind me for part of ride and in sidecar for rest of time. we will figure out how to get dog in sidecar when it warms up a little. Rode into CDA and back. Will wait until it gets alot warmer. Probably March or April. I rolled it out in April last year when it was 40 in the AM and rode home in the 70's.

Still trying to decide what to do with my hair.

Catching up!

Hello to all-- I haven't blogged for forever! Some catching up to do!

First of all, everyone is fine. All of us are healthy!

Veronica married her husband, Mark Ebel. They now have a son, Matthew, who is about 17 months old and absolutely adorable. Veronica works a few hours a week at Safeway in Spokane and also helps Mark with the shop, Ebel's Auto Repair, on Nevada in Spokane. Mark runs a clean shop and stands behind his work.

Alexis is doing well in 2nd grade and is a big help at home. She spends every other weekend with us. She continues to bond with us and also gets some special "just Grandma and me" time.

Amanda and Loren continue their world adventures. They are currently divemasters at an all inclusive resort called Small Hope Bay Lodge on the island of Andros in the Bahamas. They both enjoy the thrill of underwater exploration including caves, wrecks and "blue holes". We hope to visit as a family in June.

Bridget has rec'd her RN and is now in school for her BSN and has said she would like to be a Nurse Practitioner. Her family is doing very well.

Tyler is currently in Iraq at FOB Endeavour. He doesn't like Iraq very much but does enjoy military life. He completed Ranger School last year and we surprised him by attending his graduation. Tyler is working on his college education while in Iraq and hopes to apply for OCS when he returns to the States. Tyler's wife, Chrissy, continues to work on her BA and take care of little Nevaeh. They currently live on Ft. Benning in base housing. Chrissy is currently home-schooling Nevaeh.

Todd continues to have his difficulties. He is currently incarcerated in Florida after violating probation both in Florida and here in Idaho. He is currently completing his sentence in Florida State Dept. of Corrections. We fully support his desire to change and hope he can make the needed changes in life. Todd's children, Nicole, TJ and Tristan, are living with their mom, Michelle, in Pensacola, FL. They a wonderful, active a precocious kids. We expect Todd to be released from custody at the end of September 2010. at that time, he expects to stay in Florida and try to reestablish his life and support his children.

Mike lives in Allegany, NY with his wife, Misty. Mike's children are doing well. Mike still works for Zippo and Misty is an RN.

Phil has lost all of the weight he needed to lose and then some! He looks great and feels a ton better. He bought a new motorcycle last year and I now ride the 2002 with a sidecar. Dylan rides in the sidecar or behind me if Alexis is with us. We plan on riding a great deal this coming summer!

Phil, Dylan and I plan to go to visit Amanda and Loren in the Bahamas this summer. I was supposed to go this month but it just didn't work out for a number of different reasons. We will try again..... Also, Dylan will attend TESH summer day camp for 6 weeks so we will be busy!

I am doing well. I am still fighting the battle of the waistline due mostly to my poor relationship with food. I have struggled with it all my life. I had gastric bypass in 2007 which was a great deal of help and definitely the right decision for me. The surgery is NOT the cure-all for obesity but it is a great tool. I just need to get my act together and continue to modify my eating habits. I am addicted to SUGAR. I have been addicted to sugar all my life. It is to me what heroin is to a junkie. No melodrama here!! (LOL)

There is other news, BIG news but it is not ready for publication as of yet. Nothing sad, I promise!

Until then, I ask for everyone's thoughts and prayers!

Love to all!

OK, OK..... It's been awhile.....

I am fine, we are all fine.  Phil is now under 180 lbs. which is GGGGRRREAATT!  A mere shadow of himself.  I have posted pictures on my kodakgallery webpage but I'll try to remember to add to this site before I sign off.

I am still in the low 160s and feeling good except when my fibromyalgia flares.  I am truly better than I deserve, that's for sure!!

Dylan is doing well in school this year.  His teacher, Mrs. Stewart, followed her class from 3rd to 4th grade so it was not a big adjustment at the beginning of the year.  Fourth grade expects more from him, mostly more self-control and accountability.  Dylan still goes to his after school program 4 days a week where he continues to cope with his social and peer relationship problems.

Veronica had her 3rd and last child on September 19th.  His name is Matthew Marcus Ebel.  Dad's 1st name is Marcus.  Matthew has done well so far and only had a little jaundice - not enough to do anything about.  In his early pictures, Matthew just looks like he has a bit of a tan!

Roni and Mark are planning on getting married on November 7th.  First marriage for both.  It will provide more stability for all concerned.

Alexis, who is now in the 1st grade, is doing well.  She is a chatterbox.  She is learning to listen better and is getting good marks.  Alexis loves being a "big sister and is a lot of help to her Mom and Dad.

Amanda and Loren are still in the Bahamas.  Amanda is the head of the dive program at Small Hope Bay Resort on Andros.  She is fulfilling her dream.  No financial responsibilities, no kids and they dives twice a day, 5 days a week.  I am planning on going down to visit for a few days in March.

I have begun to ride the H-D on my own.  I rode around our immediate area for about an hour today.  I practiced everything from shifting gears to panic stops and riding in some traffic.  I have my permit, of course.  I passed the written the first time out.  I'll take the road test in the Spring.  I am going to try to get a couple more rides in before we have to put it up for the winter.

Winter......  We are expecting some snow in the next 10 days.  It shouldn't stick, at least I don't expect it to.....  Our sprinklers are blown out and shut off, our hoses are put away and our trees are losing there leaves.  Night time temps have been in the 20s.  We had a blower put in our fireplace and are going to insulate the crawl space, especially over our bedroom.

Well, that is my update

IT IS STILL SNOWING!!!

It is still snowing.......  Slowing down but still coming down....  We got 1 1/2 inches over night.  Today, it has rained, sleeted, graupeled (meteorological term for soft hail) and snowed. It has been around 34 degrees today but last Saturday and Sunday it was 70-72.  Like they say:  If you don't like the weather in N. Idaho, wait 10 minutes.

Mandy and Loren have signed on for an 18 month commitment as Dive Instructors at a resort in the Bahamas.  The place is called Small Hope Bay Lodge and it's on the island of Andor.  Andor is a 15 min. flight by private aircraft or a 2 1/2 hour boat ride from Nassau.  What can I say?  It's the Bahamas.

Communication with Mandy and Loren has been difficult due to trouble with the island satellite internet connection and I guess there are few phones at the resort,  I'm such a Mom.  I finally called the resort and was able to get Mandy and talk to her briefly.  

Now, that I know they arrived safely on the island, I can exhale.  I am not a "no news is good news" person. There is no wireless internet so they are waiting for a computer connection to be put in their room.... 

I don't have too many details about the job but the resort has a website at

www.smallhope.com.  The website has beautiful pictures.

Roni's pregnancy is going well.  We don't know boy or girl yet but there are things I can do or buy.  Mark is protective and Roni is tired.  All very typical.

I will post more pictures from the pro season as soon as I pick them up and scan them in to the computer.

More later.

A Short Two Weeks

The two weeks of Manndy and Loren here is coming to an end way too soon!  we have had a GREAT time.  Mandy has done alot of reading, scrapbooking and going through old childhood pictures.  Both Mandy and Loren experienced heavy snow for the very first time.  We took tons of pictures.  I will post all when I have time.

Roni, mark and Alexis are coming over for a farewell dinner tonight.  I will post more as I have time. 

It Is Still Snowing

Happy Spring!  It is still snowing.  Great big, fluffy, snowflakes.  It is not sticking to the roadways but it is covering the cars and the grass.  It will melt before the end of the day.  It is cold and breezy but the nice weather is just around the corner....

I am going to be a grandmother again.  Roni and Mark or pregnant.  This will be Roni's 3rd baby and probably her last.  The due date is kind of up in the air until Roni's first ultrasound on March 28th.  Roni has felt some movement and they were able to hear the ONE heartbeat.   I am guessing around early to mid October.  Mark is on cloud nine as this is his 1st child.  He is hoping for a BOY!

Mandy and Loren are almost done with everything having to do with diving at Neptune's in Manzanillo.  They have employment offers in the Bahamas for a couple and Mandy has aan offer in Cancun with prospects for employment for Loren.  They are coming home first and may make a trip here as well.......

We are making progress on the floor in the kitchen.  We are hoping to have flooring laid in the next 10 days or so with finish carpentry to follow quickly.  I want a floor, I want rid of the mess and I want my house back!

Much love to all!

It's been a couple of weeks

Well, it's been a couple of weeks.....  We still have quite a bit of accumulated snow but it is disappearing FAST!  We have been in the high 40s the last couple of days with bright sunshine.

As the weather continues to warm, we hear more and more bikes.  Just one or two, here and there, but, summer is coming!  We are getting our very own H-D dealership in Coeur d' Alene. The new dealership is Lone Wolf Harley Davidson.  It can be seen from I-90 which is one of the major coast-to-coast highways.  I-90 gets alot of Sturgis traffic so it will be interesting!  We have Shumate in Spokane and now Lone Wolf in Cd'A but my heart still belongs to Gary Bang Harley-Davidson in Atascadero, CA.  Hi, y'all!!!!

No new kitchen floor yet.  Waiting on insurance company.  It shouldn't be too much longer.  I will be glad to have my Subzero out of my dining room and my dining room table out of my livingroom.  I want a real floor to walk on!  It has been aan eventful 2008 so far.....

Love to all!!!