Fabulous Finalists Arrive!!
The first group of Fabulous Finalists arrive! All made it safe and sound-- some from way across the country. I only had time to upload the photos (and have not sized them correctly) and will fill some captions later. All the Ladies in the first group are not pictured here.
Richard's older sister, Connie, made it safely from Florida. What a terrific Lady she is and, boy, does she have some great "Richard" stories!!
Enjoy!
Click here.
-joe
Richard's older sister, Connie, made it safely from Florida. What a terrific Lady she is and, boy, does she have some great "Richard" stories!!
Enjoy!
Click here.
-joe
60 Comments:
ami first???
please excuse me showing off my underthingies!!!
cheers for now,
pj
the photos are very nice...too bad about the "red eye" ones, but other than that, fun...nice to see everyone having a good time!
cheers,
pj
p.s. don't forget to turn your clocks back!
Hello - Hello - Hello
Just stopped by to say I am happy to hear all have made it safely to their destination!!
Good LUCK Ladies... Have FUN...
take a lot of photo's..
HAPPY HALLOWEEN : 0 )
HUGs AWAY...
Wanda
Great photos Umberto and looks like everyone is having fun without me.. my flght was cancelled because of the hurricane - so I am looking forward to the second round in LA. Enjoy ladies and RR I hope I am missed just a little bit. What a great goup of ladies to hang with for the 4 days.
Keep us posted - I love it!
Paula
Joe, You are too funny!! You failed to inform us that Richard was steaming our stamps off of the envelopes! No wonder he has not been on the blog much these days. :):):) The photos of the girls all look great. Thanks for sharing!! Jane/Jayne
MUCH GOOD LUCK TO YOU PAULA!!! You have been a great participant and lots of fun too!!
"All the Best", Jane/Jayne
Hey Joe! On my way home from MB, I realized that I'd forgotten to pick up an American stamp to give Richard and I was going to mail him one. I guess I don't need to now, right? :D Unless he really needs a piddly 2 cents Cdn!! LOL Have fun but don't neglect Nancy. :)
Aloha Guys and Dolls ;)
I hope our ROEmancin' ROEmeo packed his Red ROEman(name of a fish called Red Roman) 'teef', shimmery pink rimmed glasses and his red hat, cauz that will sort the wheat from the chaff on these two 4 day getaways ;) afterall it is all about havin' FUN FUN FUN ain't it???? ;)
I am enjoying listening to the Blues again, puts me into the dancin' mood, howlin' too owwww!
DRAGONFLYFILLY: you little devil ;)
Where have all the flowers gone?
Desertflower/fox
Flowergirl
Lindaintucson
Canadian Bloggette
Clickgirl
La Dolce Vida
Leslie In VanCan
Lois
Coach Shar
Babette
Sweet P Phyl
Travellin' etc. etc.
SKYWATCHER 'ELLA'/MOON GODDESS ;)
Solar Energy info. very interesting stuff, all for it!
Love your writing too ;)
SOFT_RAIN: where you hidin' ? ;)
I love the idea of 'matchmaking' and always ask our Creator to place me in the right place at the right time to introduce and voila it always happens. I innately feel if the two are a 'perfect match' then things work out naturally on the Spiritual Level first, then manifesting here in the physical, kinda like a 'Cupid' phenomenon, no Bio, Photo, 'Script' necessary!
A Divine Plan that is destined(destiny) Beshert to unfold as it should. I see myself as a Messenger
a humble servant whose intention it is to be in the right place at the right time;) Enshala!
Hugs from 'Cupid' ;)
Senior Bachelorette:)
val the gal
Here's to the 'Greater Cause' a Higher Purpose in Love and Light!
Hello to evryone
I'm just cheking ...
Good Morning all you Chickadees and Richard and Joe and Umbreto....It's thundering here in Tulsa so guess we'll be getting rain....maybe it already is...The sprinkling system comes on at this time and just looking out patio door everything is wet and sparkling so pretty. We have big pine trees and big Magnolias in the coutyard and I face thi courtyard so it is an awsome view(I'm in a condo). I got tired of paying to have my yard done so decided to try condo life. This way when I do travel it's less responsibility here. Maybe we should do like Richard did ...In Pop and Me he ended talking about he didn't own a home or a car...I could sell my car, 2 condos, and my lot and my rent house and take a fabulous trip around the world...then what tho???? You guys all have a wonderful Sun. I gotta start thinking about what to wear to church and do something with my hair etc. Ada,I loved the Halloween card....Just too cute. I probably woke the neighbors with the music....Love to all...Paula I've got my fingers crossed for you...and of course my grandson too...He's in love with you.....If you want a 19 year old you definetly have one here.MM P.S. Willemena....I've got to find your tag directions again....Mine didn't work right????
Dear JOE or RICHARD ...Please tell other Mary from Tulsa I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for her and I'm jealous but it would be soooo cool for her to win one of the months and have Tulsa represented. Seeing these pictures makes me think of the wonderful time we all had in Chicago,,,,Go Mary . Go...Enjoy(:Love from other Mary in Tulsa(Like we only have 2 Mary's)
Hello All
I still skim read here...but not sure of what the ongoing purpose of staying in touch would be.
Kinda feels like my portion of the journey with Richard has ended and time to move on to other topics and adventures.
I feel rather silly sticking around just to be a cheerleader...I did plenty of that the last 5 months and it didn't get me much, ha ha.
I'm doing very well. Rebuilding my life with a different look to it that feels as though the end result will be better than it was. Thanks for all the support during my little melt down!
I have 3 fav girls that are still on the journey...you know who you are...you go girls!
Good morning Ladies,
Paula, of course you were missed! We're just glad you are safe and sound and look forward to your arrival on Wednesday. The schedules for both groups are virtually identical so you won't miss out on anything.
I spent some time with Connie, Richard's sister, yesterday as she met the Ladies. She is a fantastic woman and Richard is lucky to have such a warm and funny sister. She also had some challenges with the hurricane(s) and she says she likes her electricity so this is a doubly nice break for her. And good fortune for the rest of us. I'll get her back on the blog soon.
I'm going to do some work on the photos I posted yesterday. I literally only had eight minutes between the kid's sporting events yesterday to post them. And Umberto provided some new ones from the late afternoon and dinner as well so I'll get those up as well. He really has an eye for composition.
You can easily guess from the photos where the Ladies are staying. It brought back a lot of memories for me from late August and the great MB event (gosh, was that only eight weeks ago- whew!) You Ladies were really the trailblazers from that event and your spirit is strong and everpresent. You should be proud!
Give me about an hour to work on the photos and stay tuned!
-joe
PS- All your cheers are being heard loud and clear!!
Hello Ladies,
New photos on the Senior Bachlor website! They are on the "SB Photos" page right on top. Can you guess which ones were taken by Umberto-- I am humbled!
Marty, the truth about everything you say in a negative manner about Richard has been told by him in person and in print. You constantly think he is trying to hide things about his life. Everyone of the Ladies can make their own decisions about how they feel about Richard-- I don't think they need or appreciate your help. You and others have places you can go to post all you want about how you feel about Richard. Just not here. Please respect that.
-joe
Aloha Cap'n ROE, JOE and CO.
LINDAINTUCSON: lovely to see your picture again and hear that you are doing well, you are a lovely
'cheerleader' no matter how you may feel about it;)
MERRYMARY: you joyful/playful Soul!
FLOWERGIRL: hoping all is well with you and your dear Mother.
BABETTE: good to see you make a come-back from your Grand Canyon experience!
WILLEMINA/WILLY: lady in blue, how r u?
CHICAGOTRICIA: i have recommended the men's blog to a couple of male friends, one lives in laguna beach california. The men need a push, they seem kinda shy, don't know why! I guess we ladies are the bravest of the two, although there are the exceptions;)
SOFT_RAIN: where r u, missing your 'funnies' :)....meoow
Just arrived home from the most amazing walk through the woods with all the vibrant Fall colours and the warm sunshine on this beautiful day today! I am sure everyone is enjoying the ambience of the 'old world charm', how delightful for ALL of you and such FUN, a good vibe for sure!
VANESSA: (my daughter's name) love the picture of you and adorable hound, Golden Retriever, looks a lot like the doggy in ROEmancin' ROEmeo's picture with the 'blonde brown-eyed lady doggy' just recently, a 'low maintenance' gal for sure;)
Well, I am about to introduce my blonde blue-eyed 21 year old daughter to an eligible blonde blue-eyed laddie.
I know the family very well, they are a compatible match and can 'see' it blosomming into a serious relationship one day ;) She is very busy with her studies, 3rd year Psychology at university!
Love this 'matchmaking' stuff;) when it just falls naturally into place, again itz all in the perfect timing;) love it!!!!!
So y'all carpe diem and ~~~go with the flow~~~just let go and let G-D!
Keep the humour ~~ flowing~~ and live in the moment!
Hugs
Senior Bachelorette:)
val the gal
AHH!! Thanks Joe- I do feel a bit misplaced since I planned on being in CA these few days but today I volunteered to get out with my church and clean up the yards and homes of people who can't do it for themselves after Wilma. That does give you back a sense of purpose like nothing else will. Helping others makes me feel good inside.
Linda - don't leave us..ever! I for one need to hear from you and know you are okay. You are a beam of honest sunshine here.
Hello to all the wonderful ladies I have gotten to know on the SB blog.
MerryMary - hope all is well with you and thanks again for your sweet thoughts. Say hello to your grandson...if I were only 20 or 30 years younger..haha! : )
Joe, I wanted to aks that you give us the names of the ladies we are seeing in the photos. Some I recognize and some I can't. Some photos are dark and it is hard to tell.
Joe & Umberto -Keep up the great work...
Richard are you saving some energy for part2? I am sure you will have enough to go around.
Take care all
Paula
Excerpts from a Cat's Diary
Day 752 - My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects.
They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while I am forced to eat dry cereal.
The only thing that keeps me going is the hope of escape, and the mild satisfaction I get from ruining the occasional piece of furniture.
Tomorrow I may eat another houseplant.
Day 761 - Today my attempt to kill my captors by weaving around their feet while they were walking almost succeeded, must try this at the top of the stairs.
In an attempt to disgust and repulse these vile oppressors, I once again induced myself to vomit on their favorite chair ... must try this on their bed.
Day 765 - Decapitated a mouse and brought them the headless body, in attempt to make them aware of what I am capable of, and to try to strike fear into their hearts.
They only cooed and condescended about what a good little cat I was ... Hmmm. Not working according to plan.
Day 768 - I am finally aware of how sadistic they are. For no good reason I was chosen for the water torture.
This time however it included a burning foamy chemical called "shampoo." What sick minds could invent such a liquid.
My only consolation is the piece of thumb still stuck between my teeth.
Day 771 - There was some sort of gathering of their accomplices. I was placed in solitary throughout the event.
However, I overheard that my confinement was due to MY power of "allergies." Must learn what this is and how to use it to my advantage.
Day 774 - I am convinced the other captives are flunkies and maybe snitches.
The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit.
The bird on the other hand has got to be an informant, and speaks with them regularly.
I am certain he reports my every move. Due to his current placement in the metal room, his safety is assured.
But I can wait, it is only a matter of time ...
I have to finish some honey-dos before I can get back to the photos but, yes, I'll put in some captions so you know who is who. The dark haired Lady with Richard at the breakfast table is his friend of 30 years, Kim Auch!
I have some fun new photos from breakfast this morning. I took my family over to meet the Ladies and two of Richard's sons, Gabby and Chris were there with their children! A total of five of his seven beautiful grandkids-- what a handful! I was greeted with a paper cup full of snails that Jack Roe, age 3, pulled from the garden. I'll get the photos posted later today. Lot's of great conversations going on. I encouraged the Ladies to share with you on the blog what they are learning about Richard.
It's been suggested that you write to Oprah about the Senior Bachelor endeavor. By all means- positive and negative- all comments are welcome. Tell them what the Senior Bachelor experience has meant to you. Here is the link:
http://www2.oprah.com/email/tows/
email_tows_main.jhtml
Thanks, everyone!
-joe
hey PAULA, i don't want to play favourites, but it is hard, since you remind me so much of my cousin...but anyway, good luck to all...
...i have given up trying to read Shake Hands With the Devil, it is just too sad...so i have gone back to The Tibetian Book of Living and Dying from where i receive soulfull knowledge and inspiration, and where Sogyal Rinpoche quotes Shantidiva who, in A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life says:
"Whatever joy there is in the world
All comes from desiring others to be happy
And whatever suffering there is in this world
All comes from desiring myself to be happy."
so, today, as we prepare to hunker down for winter, i wish you all good health, prosperity, and happiness...sometimes we forget that we are all in this ["life-boat" called earth] together, let's us all try to be kind to one another!
cheers for now,
pj
Hey Val here I am with a few jokes for ya all.....
Classifieds
Actual ads taken from newspapers
FREE PUPPIES: 1/2 COCKER SPANIEL 1/2 SNEAKY NEIGHBOR'S DOG
-----------------------------
FREE PUPPIES... PART GERMAN SHEPHERD, PART STUPID DOG
------------------------------
GERMAN SHEPHERD 85 lbs. NEUTERED. SPEAKS GERMAN. FREE.
-------------------------------------
FOUND: DIRTY WHITE DOG. LOOKS LIKE A RAT... BEEN OUT AWHILE... BETTER BE
A REWARD.
----------------------------
SNOW BLOWER FOR SALE... ONLY USED ON SNOWY DAYS.
-------------------------------
COWS, CALVES NEVER BRED... ALSO 1 GAY BULL FOR SALE.
-------------------------------
NORDIC TRACK $300 HARDLY USED, CALL CHUBBY
-------------------------------------
HUMMERS - LARGEST SELECTION EVER - "IF IT'S IN STOCK, WE HAVE IT!"
----------------------------------------
GEORGIA PEACHES, CALIFORNIA GROWN - 89 cents lb.
------------------------------------------
NICE PARACHUTE: NEVER OPENED - USED ONCE
-----------------------------------------
TIRED OF WORKING FOR ONLY $9.75 PER HOUR? WE OFFER PROFIT SHARING AND
FLEXIBLE HOURS. STARTING PAY: $7 -- $9 PER HOUR.
-------------------------------------------
JOINING NUDIST COLONY! MUST SELL WASHER & DRYER $300.
------------------------------------------
ALZHEIMER'S CENTER PREPARES FOR AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER
-------------------------------------------
OPEN HOUSE: BODY SHAPERS TONING SALON. FREE COFFEE & DONUTS
---------------------------------------
FOR SALE BY OWNER: Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica. 45 volumes.
Excellent condition. $1,000.00 or best offer. No
longer needed. Got married last weekend. Wife knows everything!
i just checked out some of the new photos...boy, RR, i'm glad i'm not you...i would have trouble trying to make a decision! (lol)
...cheers, and i'm off to a birthday party!...
pj
Workers Comp
Here's an accident report from the Workers' Compensation Board.
Dear Sir:
I am writing in response to your request for additional information in Block #3 of the accident reporting form.
I put "Poor Planning" as the cause of my accident. You asked for a fuller explanation and I trust the following details will be sufficient.
I am a bricklayer by trade.
On the day of the accident, I was working alone on the roof of a new six-story building.
When I completed my work, I found I had some bricks left over which when weighed later were found to weigh 240 lbs..
Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley which was attached to the side of the building at the sixth floor.
Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof, swung the barrel out and loaded the bricks into it.
Then I went down and untied the rope, holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the 240 lbs of bricks.
You will note on the accident reporting form that my weight is 135 lbs..
Due to my surprise at being jerked off the ground so suddenly, I lost my presence of mind and forgot to let go of the rope.
Needless to say, I proceeded at a rapid rate up the side of the building.
In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel which was now proceeding downward at an equally impressive speed.
This explains the fractured skull, minor abrasions and the broken collarbone, as listed in Section 3 of the accident reporting form.
Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent, not stopping until the fingers of my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley which I mentioned in Paragraph 2 of this correspondence.
Fortunately by this time I had regained my presence of mind and was able to hold tightly to the rope, in spite of the excruciating pain I was now beginning to experience.
At approximately the same time, however, the barrel of bricks hit the ground, and the bottom fell out of the barrel.
Now devoid of the weight of the bricks, the barrel weighed approximately 50 lbs.. I refer you again to my weight.
As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the building.
In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming up.
This accounts for the two fractured ankles, broken tooth and severe lacerations of my legs and lower body.
Here my luck began to change slightly.
The encounter with the barrel seemed to slow me enough to lessen my injuries when I fell into the pile of bricks and fortunately only three vertebrae were cracked.
I am sorry to report, however, as I lay there on the pile of bricks, in pain, unable to move and watching the empty barrel six stories above me, I again lost my composure and presence of mind and let go of the rope.
Dreamweaver (Val)
I tried to go to your blog and it is shut down ....
Would be fun to be able to leave you a note once in a while.....
Dear SoftRain,When Bill and I got married we were given a puppy...Her Mom was 100%cocker spaniel and her daddy was one of those "sneaky neighbor mongrels????".She was a sweetheart and we had her 16and 1/2 years. She grew up as the grandkids were being born and growing up. We both bawled when she died. Cute costume dragonfly....Paula...Samuel and I talked about you at church this morning. You better be glad he has a girlfriend that is pretty posessive ot he'd be off to Fd. He's a cutie and loves to travel too. He went to Europe with several others after high school garduation and they had a blast. Hi, Val the gal...I need to go to the mall so have a good afternoon..Ok???MM
Linda...Good to see your pretty face again....I am so happy you're feeling better. You have been in my thoughts and prayers...Love ,Mary
stop being such a pain in the "you know what" MARTY; why don't you open up your own blog? - (us girls just want to have fun, y'know!)...so go grind your axe somewhere else!
read my blog comment and quote - posted at 11:25:22 AM
devilishly yours,
pj
Shalom...Salaam...Hola...Goeie Dag
Guten Tag.....Bonjourno etc. etc.
SKYWATCHER 'ELLA'/MOONGODDESS: Hello and love to you!
SOFT_RAIN: I only registered my screen name in blue, I do not have an active blog, this one will suffice for now! Love your funnies again...priceless :)
Took my daughter out for lunch today and as usual she turns heads wherever she goes, people approach her asking if she is a model or movie-star. If we lived in California she'd be on the silver screen long ago, she exudes beauty, charm, humour and an Angelic countenance, if I say so myself;) My two boys also turn heads, I am so proud to walk with them, we kid around like little children. I love it when we four get the giggles, kinda infectious, people automatically start giggling too! :)
Oh what a beautiful Life this is...La Dolce Vida! I am truly blessed with what I see in my 'three' it is their lives that I wish to be Healthy, Fulfilling and Abundant, a joy to observe!
Love makes the world go 'round ;)
ROEmancin' ROEmeo Gals and Posse, carpe diem and enjoy, have FUN FUN FUN in the sun :)
Hugs
Senior Bachelorette:)
val the gal
well MARTY, thanks for erasing your petty thoughtless comment that you had posted at approximately 1:00 o'clock, to which i responded (1:17:38)...good thinking...wise move...think before you post next time.
cheers for now,
pj
"We often assume that dragons have to be gigantic beasts breathing fire, but the fantastic creatures of the Faerie Realm often come in many shapes and sizes.
Dragonflies, because they are mythical relatives of the ancient dragons, are wonderful links to working with nature spirits."
- Ted Andrews; Animal Speak
Aloha to ALL!
DRAGONFLYFILLY: I have always been in awe of the unseen realm such as the realm of the Faeries in particular/Plant Spirits/Sprites etc. As a child I loved storybooks on the Faeries, Gnomes, Unicorns and mystical creatures that do good! I love Angels still to this day and feel very connected to that realm as they are here amoung us! I do not gravitate whatsoever to anything dark be it movies, books, etc. I always encouraged my children when they were very young to accept the 'invisible' friends they would see and talk about. Now that my Eldest Son is a promising prospective Director/Producer it is all coming into fruition pertaining to his amazing imagination, same goes for my other two :) Children 'see' very clearly, it is once they grow up that the 'veils' drop down in order to survive in this sometimes strange and icy society, void of preserving the imagination at the best of times!
Again, we are Spirit inhabiting a Physical Body and we have to learn to exist in this beautiful and at times harsh world/reality!
There is a special place in Scotland where the flowers, vegetables grow to what we would call abnormally large sizes, a very Spiritual place called Findhorn! I love to travel and discover the mysteries of this magnificent planet and the secrets she holds for centuries, yet to be discovered;) My most fascinating journey is the one of the so-called Lost Civilization of Atlantis, still to be revealed;)
To the chosen six ladies that are fortunate to travel with Richard for one month, the most exciting adventure is in the discovery of SELF through this upcoming opportunity/gift! It may seem like an outward journey but in reality it is a journey within, therefore the end result will reveal that special ONE! Know Thyself;)
Cheers to ROMANCE AND ADVENTURE
a once in a lifetime opportunity!
Carpe Diem
Senior Bachelorette:)
val the gal
p.s. Life is more than the 5 Senses, what I call the 6th Sense, the World of Mystery and Beauty beyond words, through discovery!
dreamweaver8,
thanks, gotta dash, my dinner/party ride is coming for me at 4:00 and i am not even dressed!
more later, o.k.?
luv,
pj
18 i mean....
i love what your wrote...so right on...more later,
cheers,
Hello Ladies,
Okay- posted great photos from breakfast this morning with the Ladies, Roe sons, grandkids and my Nancy! Also, went back and put in some captions on many of the photos. Enjoy!
Dreamweaver, such lovely thoughts about your daughter and the next steps in her "Journey." I just can't imagine my now 13 year old daughter and 14 year old son at those older ages. An open question to all of you with older children-- how did you prepare your child(ren) to go out in the world on their own? To me it just seems so daunting at times.
Thanks,
-joe
Aloha ROEmeo, jOE and Co;)
JOE: We as parents don't have a Manual to refer to pertaining to our kidz, the what-not-to-do and what-to-do instruction manual! In
my experience growing up the one thing that I now in retrospect reflect on is my parent's unconditional love and always 'being there' no matter what! As parents we see steps ahead of our children and try to prevent them from stumbling, that is in itself a daunting task! It is when they stumble that we need to fully 'be there' with unconditional love in as non-judgemental a mode as possible! Also always keeping an 'open forum' so that they know they can talk to you and Nancy about anything and everything, no matter what! Communication is the KEY, we HAVE to keep those lines OPEN, no judgement or they will turn to their peers and/or other people for guidance when it is the responsibility of the parents to do so! Every family situation is different for we all have Karma with our children and families, sometimes more difficult, that is where the Lessons exist! I have a book called 'G-D Wears Lipstick' by Karen Berg, it is a must read for all of us, in it she says and I quote: " According to Kabbalah, you chose your children, and your children chose you" Unquote pg 219
Pg 225 Karen says Quote: "No contract is more important than the one you have with your children.
No matter what you create or how large your business grows, if you've lost touch with your loved ones, you've neglected life and traded it for something less" Unquote
Then one more for ALL of us is Quote: " There is so much good in the worst of us and so much bad in the best of us that it behooves any of us to find fault with others" Unquote
This book is a MUST read for both Female and Male ;)
Joe, I hope the above has taken some of the weight from your heart
Your lovely Nancy and your dear Friend in Richard is very good Karma ;) It is heartwarming to share and look forward to hearing more from others who experience the Gift of Parenthood! We are not alone:) Every opinion is a good one even though we may differ at times, it ALL adds to our colourful tapestry of experiences!
In Love and Light
Senior Bachelorette:)
val the gal
p.s. I have also experienced great pain during childhood, that in itself has been a Teacher!
paula--just posted on your blog--just some info regarding the trip to LA.
vanessa/jump8
How to prepare your children to go out in the world? Mine just left. Don't infantilize them. Teach them real skills and help them practice. Change yourself and they will learn by osmosis. Be fearless, vocal and expressive and they will absorb all that. SEE THEIR REAL talents and help them realize those. I have seen so many people try to channel what they wanted for their kids and IGNORE and stifle THE GIFTS ALREADY PRESENT and real in a child's life. Teach them to be artists and to be pragmatic in what they do. Allow their differences to flourish and champion that diversity-- AND DONT LET THEM HIT EACHOTHER. Seriously TEACH non-violence and teach them to USE THEIR WORDS and thought processes to approach problem solving. Give them personal time and EVENTUALLY they will not neglect to give themselves personal time and will learn how to take VERY GOOD care of themselves. DONT TEACH THEM "moralistic lessons" Kids don’t comprehend adult reasoning and moralization- teach them to use $ as a tool and not an emblem but never withhold from their needs and if they WANT-- THAT IN ITSELF IS A NEED. Explore it and try to meet it. LOVE THEM Equally- not just the placators and the sweet ones; understand everyone has different behavior styles and help them to be flexible in these choices but do not hand out your love as reward for conforming. And have lots of responsible great sex with your wife and talk about it-- JUST KIDDING; kids hate the thought of old people conjugating. I can tell everyone exactly how to raise their kids because I have such a complete feeling of failure not even feeling mature enough to be a parent after all these years of faking it. THey are off and running and I feel I need 15 more years yet to teach them AND NOW THEIR PARTNERS what I have just listed. I have one Nazarene neo-con Kafka loving republican (my rhythm baby), One Wiccan, dulcimer playing eco-scientist ,( my diaphragm baby, and one agnostic National Merit Scholar who chose a degree in fine arts in painting, a metal smith and furniture expert, (my bouncing rubber condom baby) AND THEY ALL TALK AT ONCE . I have trilateral hearing. I’m not bringing anymore souls through this body. I was a naïve parent who gave them fairy tales and a world of theatre and 20 years of my life homeschooling. I have found jump8’s thoughtful posts hard to answer thinking about it a lot because I was not a soccer mom. I was a spend five hours slugging through 4 foot of snow down to the creek, chop a hole in the ice and get water to last another week mom during which I dreamed of being a soccer mom. The choices I made in my life were so fateful and my daughters were there through all of it. What do they have to take with them? Who knows. . it’s not my problem anymore. HAHHAHAHAHA
Golly,Lady Base Camper, and Val the Gal...What great Moms you both are. I am so proud of both of mine. I was so young and just kind of grew up with them...17 when Pam was born and 19 when Sam was born. I'm afraid I just didn't know what to do except call my Moma and ask her. She always had the best answers so I can't take much credit except I sure had fun getting them. Pam was conceived in the back seat of a red and white 57 Cheverlet so Joe Keep them out of back seats. Also, I did refer to Dr. Spock alot and The Prophet chapter on children. I hope each of you all have a wonderful, fun Halloween. My son is coming to get me and we're having hot dogs and trick or treat night at the church so that will be fun....Lots of sugar highs. Love to all,MM
Good Morning, Such wonderful messages on the blog this week! So inspirational, thought provoking and funny too. What a nice way to start the day. Talking about our kids, my second son is 38 today. He was a little fatty, weighing in at 9 lbs. The doctor handed me a piece of candy, laughed and said "Trick or Treat". My father called Bob a "Little Spook". What a challenge this son was to become. Kids with high, high I.Q.'s never give one a chance to rest. The older and younger sons were quite a challenge also. This blog has a wonderful way of taking me down memory lane. I really like that. HAPPY HAPPY HOLLOWEEN!!
Jane
Hi to All from Sunny Colorado!
THANKS, Joe & Umberto, for the continuing photos!!! Must say it brought a tear or 2 with all the nostalgia from MB & Chicago....
Wish I was there to continue the celebration, but happy I am HERE to continue the celebration. Good friend LORI shared some great pics, too! YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!
Val, ALL your comments on this Blog are RIGHT ON in my book.
Joe, TRY not to be surprised at ANYTHING the kids tell you.....
sometimes you will have to
"suck it up" and take a deep breath before replying (all the while thinking why are they even TELLING me this?) ......
However, being non-reactionary is the best, in my opinion. That way they will continue to COMMUNICATE without fear of finger-pointing.
LOVE is the best thing you can offer, along with a strong faith...
in God (or whatever Higher Power) and in themselves!!!
And by the way, YOU & NANCY will get SMARTER as the years roll along. Hang in there!
HUGS to All!
PeaceBachelorette aka CarolLee in CO
PS>>>> Good on you ALL for stamping out negativity! YUK!!!
Thanks for all the great photos. It's a joy to follow along the process.
Slick Rick has his hands full now! ;)
Hi everyone,
Talking about Mom's and the up coming Holidays opens my "Chatter key " again:
Our Table Instilled Love
Is it trivia, for us in the last third of our lives, to remember how our lessons of life were once taught and remembered around the old kitchen table?
Sometimes it was noisy. We kids honed our personalities around the table, battling fiercely for recognition. There, we learned “thou shall nots” of life, along with the “love-one-another” principle.
We also learned the rules of behavior after being banished to our rooms for a rude remark, a spill on the clean tablecloth or being too close when Papa had “Had enough”. At the table, we learned that life was not always fair.
Likewise, we learned that the injustices of life need not hold us back; that honors earned but not bestowed need not cause despair. Our kitchen table prepared us for our place in the world.
Our table was large enough for us to gather around, but small enough to keep us close. It was broad enough for us to lean on, and when I was young and tried to run away from guilt, it was high enough to hide under.
Through life at our table, we became aware of our responsibilities to society, the satisfaction of achievement, the necessity for authority and the joy of Belonging.
Our table, like our home, instilled in us the worth of an individual and the gift of love for each other.
That table, with its centerpiece of a sugar bowl, was the first focus of our lives. How important is that today?
For those interested, I am posting on my Blog site, a great “dish to pass”.
Great for after the holidays or the next potluck gathering!
Enjoy time together, laughter and Hugs!
Mary Rose
PS
Hang on to your fork.
Mary Rose
hey, Val The Gal,,,yes, one place i have always wanted to visit was Findhorn; i was invited on a trip to Egypt and a few other "spiritual" places when the "grids" (???) were all in alighment(???)...don't really understand what that was all about, but a bunce of people like nuns and practing yogies and the like were travelling there in a group to hopefully change the "universal vibrations" during this special time - first time that i had heard about something like this - you may know more about it than i do; unfortunately, time, work and $$ constraints kept me from going, although now i know i should have jumped at the opportunity, but oh well! - no time for regrets, eh?
and yes, my daughter knows that she chose me, and we have an amazing and outstanding relationship...she is definitely an "old" soul...and while she is wise beyond her years, she remains playful, and by association, so do i -- it is important to remember to see through the eyes of children...the 4.4 acres of treed land, where we built our house is (was) definitely "enchanted" -- if you let go of your inhibitions, relax and not try too hard, you could very occasionally see the transparent images of some of it's ghostlike inhabitants...but you have to be open to that, and not worry that people will think you are crazy...
had a lovely time yesterday visiting my friend's Mom and Dad, whose Dad turns 89 today! --so we went out for a lovely dinner at a fab (somewhat expensive) restaurant in Langley...young and old people in the gathering, and a really nice bunch of people...
hey LADYBASE CAMP; nice to hear from you...i went through this weird stage after my daughter was born and decided i was NOT going to fill her head full of fairy tales!!!(what was THAT all about i ask myself now)...but inspite of it she found them for herself, and dragged me to every Disney movie and other animated movies ever made, as well as all the Grimms Fairytales at the school library..and she remains whimsical and delightful and full of imagination...in grade 10 she supprised her teacher and class-mates by donning Fairy wings when she stepped onto the CatWalk wearing the sun dress that she designed and stiched for the yearly fashion show....and even when it is not Halloween her and her friends "dress up" IN COSTUME sometimes when they go out on the town...people always turn and stare, most smile...and that is the whole purpose, to bring smiles to the faces of random strangers!!!
["it's a Heartache" - Janice Joplin playing on JackFM now...YES!!..LOVE that song..."love until your arms break..." etc!]
well, all, enough blethering on...got to get some "other" kind of work done!
i received an inspiration at the Bereavement workshop, and that is to self-publish a story that my daughter wrote (about two dragons!) when she was in Grade 3, so i have to research how to do that so that i do it properly.
have a verrrr scarrrr HALLOWEEN,
still develishly yours!
pj
Joe,
i cannot find the "Breakfast" photos...is there a page 2 of the photo page?
cheers,
pj
hey MARY R, i tried to "hang on to my fork", but i missplaced it last night at dinner...so just call me Pumpkinhead lol,
pj,
Just try refreshing your browser with the SB Photo page on it. I renamed the folders when I posted the new photos this morning. All should appear. We're trying to have them appear in chronological order from newest to oldest. Still learning.
Off to meet the Ladies (and, oh yeah, Richard) for lunch. They are all riding bikes (strand cruisers) from Manhattan Beach to Redondo Beach! That should make for some fun photos! A beautiful day here with temps in the mid-70s and plenty of sunshine. If I have time I'll ride there on my bike and catch up.
Expecting our usual big Halloween crowd this evening. We give "tricks" along with "treats". I have to admit, I'm the biggest kid in the neighborhood. You'll see why with some photos later on. Richard is taking the Ladies to a great area of Manhattan Beach this evening called the "walk street" area. This is a wonderful neighborhood with homes on small lots but the front doors face each other and there is a walk street with no cars separating them. It is very safe and these families go all out for Halloween. It is shoulder to shoulder crowds with kids, young adults and adults alike.
Back soon-
-joe
Howdy Y'all ;)
CLMPEACE: Rocky Mountain High Colorado..da da da da da da da da da...love that song, gives me goosebumps phew! Thank you for your kind words, nuttin' like being positive ;)
MERRYMARY: We are all good parents, no matter what the circumstances, once a parent always a parent, it is in the heart! Many of our Parents and Grandparents suffered due to poverty, war, and circumstances beyond their control. Hardships can take its toll on one's psyche, BUT it is never too late to heal wounds, even with those whom we love that have Passed On. It is in the letting go of the pain that is freeing and in doing so we are able to show our children by example, and they go forth. Our actions with our children flows down through 7 generations to their children and down the line!
What a Gift it is to be a Parent!
I have a sticker on my fridge it says: CHILDREN ARE A GIFT FROM GOD.
THEY ARE HIS REWARD Psalm 127:3
SOFT_RAIN: 'The Cat's Diary' is priceless, one for the record!
DRAGONFLYFILLY: look up Findhorn on google.com fascinating!
GUYS: thanks for the pics,love Manhattan Beach atmosphere, especially Sunrise/Sunset. What beautiful 'blooms' adorning the Manhattan Beach area these past few days, no doubt Richard the Peacock is strutting around with his fantail feathers on display
once again ;)
OPRAH: Your Dedication Speech today in honour of our Sister Rosa Parks touched my Soul, you go girl;) You are an inspiration!
To ALL of us Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams!
Hugs
Senior Bachelorette:)
val the gal
thanks DREAMWEAVER18, i'll do that!
Boo Boo Boooooooo....
pj
Richard & Ladies: WOW its always been stressful for me to meet men's families and friends. Good job ladies, some of you looked wonderfully relaxed and content, a good sign. It's hard to tell by the body language of photos but My Pick is the blonde lady playing with the baby. ( I don't pick up stranger's babies unless it is a medical emergency and I admire people who do!) She looks so happy and comfortable; The curly short-haired blonde has the greatest smile ever and the petite brunette seems to like you a lot and be very focused on you. Can't wait for the next group to arrive-- GO JUMP8! It would probably be interstate gambling if we started taking bets on the blog- What would that be? Blambling? Thanks for the PICS.
This post has been removed by the author.
Opsie Daisy!!! where is that recycling bin when i need it!!!!
I mistook Tamara for someone younger!!! well, consider that a compliment, please, says she after taking her foot out of her mouth...
now signing myself off as
ABNA (Ancient But Not Anxious!!!)lol
oh and P.S. someone out there in cyberspace suggests i "get a life"...gee, anyone know where there are any spare of those floating about??? well, if you do, please feel free to visit my Blog, and especially check in with the spooky JackO!! heh heh,
cheers!! i mean Boooooo....
HEY, you guys are GOOD!!! "ask and yee shall receive!!!...thanks!!
and joe, i refreshed, and it worked! -kool..and thx.
cheers,
ABNA
Today I am so proud to be an American. With all the terrible politics going on, we took time to honor a GREAT Lady, Rosa Parks. What she did so long ago took trememdous courage, and we should all remember her and her contribution forever and we should tell our grandchildren about this proud lady. Jane
Joe-an interesting question-how do you prepare your children to go out into the world. I have quite a number-25, 29, 33, 33, 35, 37 and 38. I only gave birth to the 25 yr old, the rest were step children and children that joined our family. And my answer is simply you don't. you are essentially preparing your children from the time they are born with your love and your example...going out into the world isn't a big step, it is just another day that follows the one before.
I always use horses in my life as metaphors because they work so well for me..but when it is time for me to go into the show ring to exhibit, as I warm up over a few jumps in the warm up ring, my trainer has always said, just loosen up here, now is not the time to try to teach you something new. That all took place back at the barn by all the work done in the previous months. So I guess that's my metaphor-by the time they are ready to leave, the work has been done long ago. This is the time for that wonderful joy/sadness conflict, but mostly joy.
Lady base camp, I am sorry that i might come across as a soccer mom. for me it's such a negative image of brainless women driving their children from cello lessons, then to diving lesson and then off to soccer, and finished by private french tutoring. yuuuuuuk. I know you didn't say it in any negative way, it just stops me dead in my tracks. hmmm must be something there that it bothers me quite that much huh? lol i like to think i am basically the antithesis of the "soccer mom"
But my last and for me very important way for my children is education. It is the only thing I can "give" them, that no one can take away. I have promised each of them, as my parents did for us, to pay for their education through a phd. I have been blessed with the ability to do so. Well so far I have 4 masters, and god I hope I get a break for a while.
The other thing I would like to mention here is that one of the women out at MB right now Tamara, has written a book "Demetrius, my gift of life". I got it from amazon, read it last night and it is amazing. i sobbed for a very long time, yet she leaves such a hopeful message. She is very talented, and the message that she has to share is extraordinary.
I recommend it to everyone. Such a message.
TTFN
vanessa
Well, I did it again-- lost my voice scaring the daylights out of the trick or treaters!! But the most fun of all is Richard and Umberto brought the Ladies by my house without them knowing whose house it was. Umberto lined them up in front of the many Halloween decorations including the mock casket in front of them. At a prearranged cue, you know who popped out of you know what and scared the bejusus out of the Ladies. I never saw ten Ladies jump so high all in unison except for the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. I hope they forgive me!
To all a safe and sound all Hallows Eve. And thanks so much about the touching and sound advice on raising children for the world. A lot of collective wisdom in our group.
Good Night.
-joe
-joe
This post has been removed by the author.
This post has been removed by the author.
Jump8, by no means do you come across as a soccer mom-- cant find the actual quote but that is your term you likened yourself to in a previous post in regards to making life changes toward "hippiedom". I don't see you that way at all. I see you as the most intelligent, thoughtful, spiritually connected and naturally beautiful of all Richard's dates. DONT APPOLOGIZE for other's perceptions, anyway. All just labels anyway. I dont see "soccer mom" the same way; I see her lying in bed when it is still dark out, warm and cozy lining out her day thinking "okay we're going to do this, this and then this, and then we are going to solve these problems like they are monsters to be slain, and right on time end our day with some quiet stretching, reading and bonsai tree trimming, wax-on/wax off" She's the executive director of her family and her whole environment without being OCD or punishing to those around her; and a brilliant strategist and probably getting a degree online. There is no way she is brainless. I actually know someone like this and she is our ambulance captain. People with great leadership and management abilities and self control can do so much more. I would have liked to have been the ultimate soccer mom but time management and punctuality are impossible to fake.
I still drive my one remaining daughter to cello lessons! And to dance lessons but only when it rains and we are sometimes late for ridiculous reasons. lolol I brake for full bloom Rhododendron bushes as the skid marks on Lake Ave. make evident. (That was the guy behind me)
Jump8 I’ve also been thinking about your planting and loss of garden. I don’t know your particular hurricane behavior but if you have equipment, access to dozers or loaders, would it work to build a berm, maybe 15’ towards the prevailing wind direction and plant behind it . It could even be a labyrinth of sorts. You could choose low lying, flowering ground cover and strong rooted verticals. Maybe there is a lot to choose from that wouldn’t get trashed by high winds. You could bring in boulders and plant behind them or within them – it could be amazing; coencentric or anyway you want it. I live in a high wind / frequent storm area – we get 40-50 knots commonly in our average storm and 80k+ typically in big storms and it funnels right through town in crazy up and down drafts. The rain comes in horizontal sheets and is vicious. But we have lots of trees and mountains that make pockets of calm. Maybe you could landscape with this in mind. I hate loosing my plants. One year my tulip garden – beautiful peach, almost opalescent tulip garden was trampled on by workers residing the apartment where I live now. I won’t say what nationality they were, that would seem racist but they were from a country where color abounds and I do not think they valued the flowers as a source of beauty and such strength of memory that carries us through the winter. Maybe fellows get a testosterone rush from stomping out flowers. Testosterone and weed whackers are such a deadly mix. Civilizations could be destroyed in this manner.
<< Home