After dinner - night of goofyness

Without Brian here during the week, Shanes only wrestling partner has been Greg who is not all that into it of late as he has aches and pains after he indulges one of the boys. So tonight Shane got Ashley onto the floor swearing she might need some of his training when she was in TX. He and I were watching on her facebook page, other recruits doing field work, that she had attached the video from You Tube.

We had dinner Tuesday and not long after table was cleared, I got out the camera to get a picture with each of the kids.. no, my hair didn't have alot of attention given to it, but I didn't care.

And so I got into a picture with Ashley, and than captured one with Shane. I generally am behind the camera getting whatever shots I am looking for, rarely allowing myself into a picture.

boxes, boxes, and discoveries, and more boxes

The day is arriving, and two weeks from today Oct 9 or 10 her little car will be packed full, idling in the driveway and her and her dad after the tearful goodbye's will exit the driveway and start out towards Texas. Ashley needs to report to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio on the 14th between 3pm-6pm. Greg will have flown home on the 13th.

It's been weeks that she has been going through plastic containers in bathroom. Cleaning every drawer in armour, closets, under the bed, on the desk, in the computer cabinet, and in every nook and cranny. So there have been discoveries and decisions to be made... Keep-pack to go with me, Keep-but pack for the Army to pickup and bring to each assigned base, or time to throw it away. It's been a project that has been going on for weeks and weeks.

this bed is a catch-all each day of whats on the floor that would bee in the way........

This closet and all the shoe boxes on the floor need to be packed to go with the Army pickup Her thirteen hours days will only give her part of Saturday and all of Sunday as time off. So amount of clothes will be minimal and she will take that with her and the rest into Army storage and will move to her next longer term assignment.

This is the spot in the downstairs where the stuff started to pile up.

So there you have it, she has done a great job on her own (I've been doing something else during all of this)

This week she picked up three of her green camo uniforms and ordered alot of other stuff online which will arrive and need to be hauled to TX.

It's a good thing that Greg is content with wearing his clothes all week... he can just bring a ziploc bac to put his toothbrush/toothpaste and deoderant in and he will be good to go.

Thursday slow lane

I have been somewhat beating myself up for how I just plain feel in the mornings most of the time. I just don't fight against the "should get up", instead I just prefer to stay laying there with the "whats to get up for" thinking and the overwhelming desire to just stay sleeping.... (remember I could be related to Rip Van Winkle).

And the funny thing is that when I get up at 11:00 or noon, after 12-14 hours of sleeping or resting, I yawn like I am lacking sleep the entire time I am washing up, or showering, blowing my hair dry, etc... but that's not exactly what I'm feeling (sometimes) cause it happens at night as well, like when we go out for a walk, a very short walk to what amounts to about 12 housing lots to the west of our house and back. It has the most level sidewalk on our block being fairly new after the new houses went in. For a long time it was just grass, dirt and uneven, like it still is across the street. We homeowners appreciated the city of Bellflower updating our rural living.

Aw, but there is an answer that I just DON'T LIKE and will have to face it as being the truth.. I am taking two meds 4X a day that are to heal the nerves and relax the muscles in my back, I get a bit of spasms and jerking after taking them. Now whenever I should take them with the pain med, which is only when it's at it's most painful in the foot with constricting, extreme pinching, burning, where the nerve root damaged in the middle back by the broken bone that pressed against it for weeks. This could take 6-9 months to regenerate and stop the pain if I am lucky. If you mix ALL OF THREE of them they each have a side affect of drowsiness and these are the ones I have been dealing with at different times, not all the side affects I have had, so I did not list those.

Nureontin for nerve healing; Dialudid(hydromorphine) Back pain; Drowsiness, changes in vision (double or blurred vision); clumsiness; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; nausea; stomach upset; tiredness;

Today I got up at the last possitble moment to shower and get ready for the day, Aunt Elsie was coming for a visit at noon. But she beat me here, so I had to hustle into my clothes and I made it downstairs for a very nice visit!!! I have felt today clumsy, blurred vision, stomach upset, I guess the reason I am slow to action.

best dressed young man...

Last week the Kohls flyer came and when you peeled off the percentage off sticker it had 30% as the lottery win.. Shane had been saying he needed to get some stylish clothes after Brian had picked up some pant/shirt for an event he had to go to.. I gave Shane a decent total I'D COVER FOR HIM and my Kohls credit card, well he missed that part of the conversation and thought I said that was the total He should spend.. and that the card was just in order to use the coupon not that it was a credit card.. oh brother. So day after day I kept after him about whether he had stopped at Kohls yet. Today as he was heading out the door to the fire store for some CPR stuff he needed , I caught him and said hey your going towards Kohls. And that's when he said it, "I don't want to spend that kind of money right now".............

Finally, the why, he hadn't followed through. So after I explained that the card was a credit card I had given him not like you use at the grocery store (a bit confusing I guess).. He came home with a bag of full and his first shop on his own. As he showed me what he had purchased of long, short sleeved shirts and one pair of black dockers. I suggested that he could also use a pair of dark brown pants like those, so he might head back and pick up that color.

So today was a lesson in when a college student and your parents offer you clothing money, take it. And that he saved in dollars vs what he paid for it all.. was an awesome economic stimulus you win on.

Got behind the wheel..

This afternoon I asked Ashley if she was bored with just sitting around... (my thinking) and she said where do you want to go.. I told her to the Cerritos Mall and get Cinnabons.. So I changed out of my shorts and tshirt and tried to do something with my hair in a hurry..

As we are walking out the door, I said "is it okay if I drive" and she said sure.. strange question for my car.. But it has been since June 28 that I have done many things.. one is driving, second is shopping, third is eating out... and today I was going to go out and do all of them. Wow..

I drove us to the bank near my work with a drive thru, only to find out that my ATM card was not accepting the pin number.. what? and so we parked and went in to withdraw the money. The teller only agreed that the pin was not the right one (wrong, it was the right one) and has been since they sent me the card with that pin and I stayed with it.. So she's sending me a new ATM card..

We than back tracked to the Cerritos Target to pick up a few items for the pantry that stores charge to much for. And than across the street to the mall in the food court area is where there is a Cinnabon.. We got one box of six for now, and one for into the freezer.. I asked Ashley what she wanted for dinner (we were at the food court at 6:00) and she says In-N-Out Burger.. uhh, that's not in the food court.. and that is what we had last night during football night with Shane.. So out to the parking lot and away we go to the Long Beach Towne center and eat in. Some good conversation and than I gave Ashley the keys and said "lets go home" I was a bit tired.

So upstairs to get a shower done so that I don't have to get up so early, as I am going to ride along with Ashley to the Army office in Ventura.. she has been getting some major run around on important questions and issues need to be cleared up SINCE SHE DOES REPORT IN A LITTLE OVER 2 WEEKS. The kind of run around those who are in the considering it process never get, they get responses immediately.

And I'm tired... good night

It's a Tuesday that's toasty..

It is strange to be a couch potato day after day.. On warm days like today I'd be in my office where the A/C is always to cold. Fortunately having been home most of the summer when it was so very warm, Greg would run the A/C at the hottest times of the day. Today even though he left and headed up to Fresno, we are playing by that same rule. Today the Santa Ana winds are supposed to arrive and with the heat, the fires that are nearly contained after raging for several weeks, could just start up again with a fury. And we have different winds than those areas affected and usually hard to know it's even going on

I just turned on a local station and the Moorpark & Fillmore in Ventura county has a huge fire burning quickly and it is being moved quickly by the wind through just grass land. It's really grown fast and blowing towards communities. Norco has a fire that has started in one area of tree clusters, but the winds blowing is the dangerous part of keeping it small. The Canadian super scoopers are busy here in CA during our fire season, and do respond quickly as any fire breaks out. God help them.

I'm suddenly wondering "what" would I grab now, hoping that one of the kids were home to back the explorer to the side door and we could get the containers of pictures from the downstairs hall closet. With back surgery I couldn't/shouldn't lift them, but I would certainly be dragging as many of them as I could. There isn't anything else but pictures and other than the ones on the walls, a few discs on the office desk and I'd be out of here. All else could be replaced, even clothing in a hurry. We don't have much for vegetation that would feed a fire in our area, but if it started as a structure and in a wind, it could just cover a large area out of control.

Shane is in school to become a fireman.. someday this could be his daily call.

simple Saturday

Unfortunately I slept all day, and got up long after the kids had taken off for there activities. Greg and I are watching Texas vs Texas Tech.. back and forth the score goes. At half time he and I walked a little ways up the street and than turned around.. small distance just holding hands or leaning on his arm. Someday farther we will go.

Ashley spent a day with her school classmate and shared birthday friend Valerie VanderWal Hartman. About 19-20 days till she and Greg head towards TX.

Brian and April went to Big Bear around noon, told Greg they were bringing in some ice to snowboard on... so we will see if it was as fun as they thought.

Shane went to watch LBCC play football where one of his friends who had been hurt is now back playing.

IS ANYONE READING THIS BLOG??? I get no comments and so I wonder... just create a gmail id I think is all it takes.. simple..

miscellaneous stuff

Monday I was a basket case... the pain in my foot just annoyed me at the highest level, I think that the last few months of holding it all back just came out.. I couldn't stand any of the tv shows I chose to watch.. they didn't make sense, didn't think they were funny. And the foot pain/constricting just was constant and hurt. And thinking about how few weeks Ashley being around and present in our house just struck me sadly. And so I was just a puddle of tears all day long.. I'd be okay and than I'd be a mess and sobbing.. Didn't take any pain meds which I don't know if I just didn't think of it since I was downstairs and meds upstairs..

But at 8:30 I just headed upstairs as Ashley and Shane were going down the stairs, leaving for Coldstone for ice cream. I declined the invite and was unable to speak. I quickly got ready for bed, took my meds, and two pain meds and a Tylenol PM. I slept tremendously and did not feel the foot pain at all.. So that is my new way to sleep well and pain free. Tuesday I actually did not get out of bed but a couple of times, watched a little tv, but mainly just vedged and slept intermittenly.

Wednesday morning after shower, we discovered a staple left in the front.. so I had a few appts and that was removed by the surgeon who put it there at one of the appts.. The nurse at med rehab had taken them out, so strange she missed on so obvious. The vascular surgeon hearing that I had been to rehab was astonished that I had started already, and he had some concerns for what was done with my stomach muscles until about 6-8 weeks. So got him to write them down. I than went to back surgeon who took xrays (he's staying on top of things now) and they showed us the fracture is surrounded by hardware and everything is where it is supposed to be. Makes me feel secure. And than Veronica removed the 17 staples in the back and only steri strips are now over them. So freeing from the heavy thick bandages that were covering it before that I had to lean against. Found out that he too did not order the P/T and that it came from the med rehab dr's and he too said NO P/T until 6-8 weeks. Let things heal and be settled. He feels I can do just fine with day to day living. And than take on P/T.

Today I am "assistance" free.. I slept late, and got ready on my own, got my own lunch for the first time. And I not not using a walker, or a cane and my balance feels real good. So hopefully that will continue.

Well, I am feeling very sleepy all of a sudden, time to relinquish for a cat nap.

happy Thursday..

Celebration of 50 years Sept 19, 1959-2009

How they started after two years of dating while he served in the Marines

Friday night at the Old Ranch Country Club a large group of family and friends where about 75 gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ron and Alice Van Meeteren. The night was a week prior to there actual anniversary date, but they are a rarity in longevity. It was a great night of fellowship with those who have been important in their lives over the years whether through family connection or friendships that have been developed because of their gift of hospitality, strong church fellowship committment, vacation companions.

Let me first speak on the family they both come from and how it has been a important part of many lives. Ron is one of the oldest of 13 children in Sheldon, IA. (don't ask me the order) but as more kids came along, the faster you had to "leave" the nest, whether on your own or into the fold of another family. I believe Ron entered the Marines and than CA was a destination he called home during this service period. He met Alice and they began to date whenever he was on leave and in the area in 1957. When Ron and Alice married, they became somewhat like a waystation for many of Rons brothers as they moved from IA to CA either to establish their home here or for a "long' vacation trying to figure out what they were going to do since they might not have any other place to be. My own husband, Ron's nephew stayed with them for 2-3 months when he decided to move to CA for a job he was offered. He needed a place to sleep while he worked alot of hours, saved his money and than got an apartment. A bond that still remains today and that he (we) treasures.


Alice De Jong came from a dairy family that started here in the local area and than moved to Chino where the dairy remains today in the family name rented to another family. Jake and Lena, Alice, Al, and Anita were members of Bethel Reformed Church. My parents were and are friends of Al and Rojene and I too consider them friends after all these years. Jake and Lena "adopted" everyone of the Van Meeteren tribe whether with a yearly trip to the river or every Thanksgiving feast out at the dairy together.


Ron was a partner in a tire shop in Bellflower on Artesia Pl. called "Lord Tire" as his partners name was Blaine Lord. Retirement came in the last few years. Alice while a homemaker when the kids were younger, later they owned a window tint business for a few years and she ran it. Now in their full time retirement years something that have always enjoyed is travel and while they have done much of it over the years, it is something that they split there time with CA as home. They are still living in there own home here in Bellflower during the summer/fall months with trips with the motorhome to anywhere and everywhere. But for the last several years have called AZ home in the winter and have spent time with friends they have known for decades and have kindled friendships with people they are just meeting at the park they call home there.

Ron and Alice's children are a daughter Loree whose married 27 years to Chuck and they have a son Jacob (21) and a daughter Kirby (18). Son Jerry married 10 years to Gabriella who have a son Elisha (?9) and daughter Helena (6). Jerry has from a previous marriage a set of twins, son Ian and daughter Nina (22) who is married to David Smith. Brad is married to Cheri (not sure of # maybe 15) and they have three adorable sons Brent (10) Trevor (4) and Ty (2).


Ron is an avid fisherman and he and Alice shares this with him. They have many memories of trips to far flung remote country of Utah, Wyoming, Colorado to cast there line whether from the shore or from the fishing boat they toted along on top of the pickup behind there motorhome. They passed this sport enthusiasm down to there son Brad who now has his sons who have and will pull many a fish from the waters in the lifetime of sharing this activity. Great thing I think.

They are also avid "week" at the river with the largest group of family or friends that want to join them at Bransons in Parker, AZ for about 49 years is my guess. I started coming with Greg a couple of years before we were married and have been there nearly every year with them. Grandpa Jake always had his boat, Ron/Alice with there boat and those boats ran all day long from the youngest to the oldest making a couple of runs a day. The pranks ran the gammit going on during the week and good food, laughs, cards, and fun in the water are the mainstay of this week.


Now as they winter in AZ, no activity is beyond them. And we hear the tales of when they have gone off road jeep or atv riding. Ron is now an avid golfer, bike rider, and boche ball player with the guys.


This past summer in June they took all of there kids and grandkids on an Alaskan cruise and land tour to celebrate. They had a spectacular time and the celebration continued as we raised our glasses to toast them this past Friday. Congratulations to a couple who truly call each other best of friends and look to serve the other in how marriage was intended.

Home Sweet Home

For today Sept. 11th this is a memorable day in that we remember those whose lives were lost in 2001 by terrorists using planes to steal, kill and destroy. The horror of that event you will never forget

What have I been up to the last 11 days?
Today I came home from the hospital / Physical Rehab after a total of 11 days post surgery Sept 1st. The first incision was made Dr. Ravessoud on the lower back (9 in staples & straight as an arrow) the two rods & 4 screws were put into to pull the fracture up & off the nerves that the broken piece had fallen away & join back up with the sacrum it originially came from. When all was deemed well, they closed up & rolled me over. Dr. Acker than made the 2nd incision from my belly button down to ..... about 7 in. & he got the opening made past the organs, blood vessels etc & than Dr. Ravessoud went in an removed the first fusion cage screws and somehow got it out of the area (hmm pain causer..? yep) & than he installed the new but older version of a fusion cage that has upper and lower "keel blades" which the blades go into the vertebrae with the turn of a key like tool from the front. He than is done and Dr. Acker backs him out putting everything back in place and staples me shut.

Now in the days after surgery I was SO VERY SORE having pain from incisions generating from the front and back but mostly the back. Moving was not exactly impossible it just took some strategic BREATHING out deeply and yet it's easier to just hold you breath in those moments. My physical therapists and Ashley who was there quite often were reminding me to breathe out all the way when rolling or sitting up.. But than being that an incision was made low in the front and the stomach / intestines were moved, they can somewhat go dormant and that becomes a concern for a couple days as you try to sip not drink, no eating or very little from the liquid diet plate. So by the time that Saturday came around that they would have sent me home, I stayed till Sunday as I WAS NOT READY and had I gone directly home it would have been a burden for Greg and I probably just would have stayed in bed and not made much progress. Stomach /intestines were still not working in cooperation. Now there is more detail to that but I will pass on explaining...

So on Sunday night I was wheeled on short notice from the 4th floor to the 1st floor Memorial West Rehab for 3 hours a day of physical therapy. P/T is great for moving the correction of the stomach/intestine issues with walking & also to gain a better knowledge for how to work with the incisions, gaining strength, muscle tone. I went in weak & within a couple of days I was moving about so much better. Now consider for a moment that I have been mostly bed ridden for 10 or so weeks since June 29 surgery & I had lost alot of strength/muscle tone as no rehab could be done with the situation I was in. I remained at the rehab wing for 5 days & came home this morning at 10:00 am & it was so good to be heading home after an 11 day absence. "There is no place like home, there is no place like home". The noon lunch of Taco Stew was soooooo delicious..

Life goes on and I look forward to it. Slowly at first trust me...