WHEW!! Where Have I Been?

My oh my, it has been awhile since I have posted to my blog. Alot has happened! Matt & Karen (Chicago) brought their 3 little gems to gramma & grampa while they vacationed in Hawaii. Thier first trip alone in ten years! They had a fabulous time. Back in Seattle, we were having alot of fun until gramma (me) decided to blow out her back with a herinated disc. It was so painful. My grandchildren saw their gramma cry alot. Luckily, they were such little warriors, they climbed on gramma & grampa's big king sized bed and played around me. GiGi, their "great gramma" (my mom) at 83 would drive over everyday at 7:30 am and stay until 6:00 pm to help me with the kids. It worked out well despite the unplanned kink in the works.

I was out of work from July 28th until September 5th. It took a lot of drugs and laying around to ease the pain in my right leg which is where most of the nerves were pinched from the disc. Kudo's to my mom, Lola, my husband Layne and to the rest of my family and friends for bringing in food, trying to keep me from going crazy and for all their patience and kind words.

I am scheduled for physicial therapy so hopefully this won't happen again.

Anywho!!! What's going on with the rest of the world? I have to say that I so admire Bop & Beep for their postings on their blog. They are the epitomy of what "good bloggers" should be. Check it out, http://bopandbeep.blogspot.com/. I need to become a better blogger! Along with being a better friend, wife, aunt, gramma, eating better, exercising more, and being more spiritual.

Well, you are all witness to my resolutions! Keep me on path. Love to all!

Eastern Medicine

This past week I was in severe pain with my lower back. So much so, that I would have pretty much done anything to get rid of it (even Layne's offer of using his Black & Decker products was looking attractive). When I got to work on Tuesday, my eye's were glazed over with pain and one of the VP of Sales could tell. He said he had back problems and that acupuncture had worked great for him. So, being desperate for relief I had him call to get me an appointment and luckily they were able to get me in that day. I was nervous and even had my mom go with me (she's a saint and never stops raising me!). I was a pin cushion and had to lie flat on my back with the needles in my feet, hands, ears, and forehead. I must say I felt better when I got up. I went in again on Wednesday and have another appointment on Friday. My back feels alot better and I'm a believer! Don't knock it till you try it! I found out they do a face lift with needles and it costs $500. Hmmmm?!?!

AHHHH! THE JOY OF SUMMER!

I love summer. I love being outdoors. I love the 4th of July. This year, I deceided to find a parade, something the West family have always done on the 4th but not since the 6 years we've been in Seattle. Edmonds City has a parade, so Jeff, Jill, Clara, Emmett, Gigi, Gramma (me) and papa (Layne) piled into a car and went to the parade. Grampa & I walked away and had breakfast and then we watched a great little hometown parade. So much candy being thrown to the kids, free plastic beach balls, bubbles and so much more. Fun! See pic's. Gramma got the privlege of getting off work early on Wednesday, July 9th and picked up Clara & Emmett at day care. Jill was swamped at work and Jeff was traveling in CA for work. I arrived at daycare and went to pick up Clara first. She was just coming in from running through the sprinklers and they were having their afternoon treat. I told her I would sit beside her. Another cute little blond girl said, "Hi, Clara's gramma!" Clara quickly held her hand up and told the little girl, THIS IS MY GRAMMA! As the next few minutes went on, I felt so wanted because the little girl wanted to show off for me and Clara wasn't having it. She didn't want to share her gramma. Emmett's face went into enormous smile mode when he saw gramma and he nearly ran me down to hug me. We went home and the kids played in Gramma's fancy swimming pool. (A molded plastic one). They thought it was so fun to splash Gramma and actually it was so much fun. We all had dinner when papa got home and it was overall one of the nicest days ever!

Seven Food to Keep You Young

MSN say;s that 1) yogurt 2)salmon 3)olive oil 4)nuts 5) dark chocolate 6) wine 7)blueberries are foods that will keep you young. Considering the list above, I figure I should be about 30 years old. The only thing keeping me from jumping back to my teens is the wine. Hmmmm. On the other hand La (Layne) should be about 32. He doesn't eat blueberries, salmon, yogurt only occasionaly, no wine, a little chocolate and tons of nuts!



I think we both better evaluate our diets. Should you? Comments are welcome.

Fathers Day, Sunday June 15, 2008

We had a very nice Sunday on Fathers Day. We attended our church meetings, the Dad's were given a huge chocolate chip cookie wrapped & ribboned. Then we picked up Mom and went to the Ballard Locks where they had a bag pipe concert. It was wonderful! Bag Pipes are one of my favorite things because it is reminiscient of my high school days (we had bag pipes and I was in the tartan drill team where we preformed the highland fling). We so enjoyed the concert. Then all of us loaded into Jeff & Jills car and went to the University Village, where Emmett and Clara played in the water fountains and had such a great time. Their little chins were just shaking from being cold, but they didn't want to stop.

Days like Sunday where the weather was so warm and we were with those we loved make all the other not so good days just fade away!

ANOTHER CLEVER EMAIL FROM LAYNE TO HIS CO WORKERS

Okay, so here’s the deal. I’m tired of looking like Clint Eastwood and prefer to go back to my Leonardo DiCaprio days. So you people need to nominate me for an extreme makeover to include some major face work. It’s just embarrassing to go out to eat and have the waitress lady automatically give me the “senior discount” without even asking for it. I guess I could try and pull everything up and super glue it in place but I don’t think I could blink if my eyes were glued open. I also need someone to donate a large bunch of hair so I can get a weave or rug or something to cover up the empty spots on the old noggin. Anyway, get together and write up some cheesy document that will insure I get the face makeover thing. Do it now before the skin gets anymore loose and just sags to the floor. I love you guys-buddies for life, or at least till I get a new face.
Oh yeah, throw in some cash so I can get a good down payment on that fancy red sports car that keeps tugging at me to buy, buy, buy. I need some new clothes too, so see what you can do about that. You people are generous to a fault. Thanks again, cough up the cash.
Get a committee together and get going on the makeover. I will put Kelly in charge so work it out with her. All donations should come directly to me, cash only I don’t take checks. In the event I do not win the makeover, I will certainly return whatever cash is left over.

Layne

Layne West
Parking Services
206-529-8993 direct
206-729-0590 main
800-828-4197 toll free
206-729-0990 fax

My One & Only Nephew

Recently, I (Lorraine) went to my niece Tracy's wedding in Southern California. This was preceded by my niece, Jenny's wedding in Southern California as well. I have 4 wonderful nieces, Jenny, Tracy, Lauren and Courtney, whom I love dearly.

Out there by himself, is my one and only nephew, Justin! Saying Justin's name just puts a smile on my face. He is one totally awesome nephew. When he was little, I would bribe him with candy, to say that he loved his Aunt Lorraine more than anyone. He would always take the bait, despite my brother's indignation over that whole exercise. Now that he is "16", I think he would see through the whole candy bribe. Whenever I get the chance to see Justin, he gives me a hard time and I give it back, but this nephew of mine is very special to me. He doesn't shy away from his goofy aunt as other guys his age would do. So, Justin, here's to you from your favorite aunt (?). Keep being the great person you are and you will go far in the world. Until next time, make a goofy face for me. Love, from your Aunt Lorraine