029 – Happy Birthday, David

Today is David’s 48th birthday.

This is David’s Uncle Jim (his Dad’s brother/Jack’s dad).  We had a fish fry at Val and Jack’s house tonight.  I’ve officially eaten bad enough for a while.  Time to get back to healthy eating again.

028 – What My Day Looked Like

This is what Sunday mornings look like for me…

I run the projection software…so this is my view from the “crows nest” before church starts as the worship team practices.  We’re SO blessed with talented people who give of their time each week to lead in our worship.

After church and our traditional lunch at the Mexican restaurant, I went with Tyler and his friend, Erik, to see this…

I have two things to say:

1.  I really liked it! If you liked “The Pirates of the Caribbean” (can you say Johnny Depp?), you’ll probably like “Prince of Persia”.

2.  I am ETERNALLY grateful I never saw “Brokeback Mountain” because Jake Gyllenhaal was definitely pleasing to the eye and having watched BBM would’ve totally ruined that aspect of the movie for me. AND he has some serious biceps in this movie. Uh huh.

After the movie, David and I headed to my parent’s house for a family cookout.  I got a couple of pictures before my battery died.

  

We’re back home now and I’m super excited that I get to sleep in again in the morning! Yay for four day weekends.

027 – Nothin’ Much to Post About

If you don’t count catching up my laundry, giving the dog a bath, and (constantly) cleaning up after a cat with a persistent urinary tract infection… we (Izzy and I) didn’t do much of anything today.  Well, except for a lot of this:

In the meanwhile, David was gone before 8 AM… moved cattle… worked in the hay (again) and then mowed our yard and finished weed eating at our house and then at Ms. Charlsie’s.

What do y’all do on holiday weekends??

026 – The Start of the Holiday Weekend

Today was the start of a 4-day weekend for me and it began with 10 hours of sleep! Yay for me!  I had a killer headache all day yesterday after my dental appointment, so the sleep was just what the doctor ordered.

This morning I worked on paying bills and catching up my accounts.  Then, this afternoon, Izzy and I took a trip to Harrison to visit my favorite furniture salesman.  Ms. Charlsie asked me about finding a recliner for her and I wanted to get a mattress for the spare bedroom before Kale and Kayla come in a month!! I can check that off my list… now I just need to paint and get some bedding.

Charlsie just wanted a simple recliner, nothing fancy. She went with the brownish/greenish colored one.

On the way back home, Iz and I stopped for a short walk at the park and then David and I met up with my sister, Valerie (#4) and her family for supper at Chili’s.

Hunter and his Dad (Dave’s cousin, Jack).   The boy is growing up too quick!!

I hope y’all have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend.

025 – Back in the Dentist’s Chair

 

Today, I had to go back to the dentist to get started on the crown for the tooth I had to have the root canal on.  I’m officially out of dental benefits for 2010… and it’s not even June yet!

024 – My Old Jacks

This is my old set of jacks from grade school.  My “across the street” friend from Placentia sent them to me back in 2003.  She told me that she won them from me fair and square and was returning them to me after all these years so they’ve come full circle.  I don’t remember losing them to her, but I do remember the jacks.  They used to be yellow, but now the paint is worn off.  The bag is a creepy vinyl and in typical fashion… I wrote my name all over it.  (I did that to everything as a kid.)

Jacquie Goulet’s Jacks

In Memory …

Robert Albert Renaud Sr.

Robert “Bob” Renaud, the son of Noella and Albert Renaud, was born on March 4, 1932 in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. Bob graduated from Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, RI with the Class of 1949. He then entered the US Air Force where he served during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1953 with the rank of sergeant.

Bob married his high school sweetheart, Henriette Goulet in May of 1953. They settled in Connecticut and then in New Hampshire. In December of 1960, after enduring 11 straight weekends of rain, Bob moved his family to sunny California. They settled in Anaheim where Bob became a State Farm Insurance Agent. He retired from State Farm in 1997 after 37 years of service.

Bob was an affable, kind man with a great sense of humor. He was loved by many. He was an avid and knowledgeable sports enthusiast and ardent supporter of Notre Dame football. He adored and loved spending time with his family and was a fiercely proud and supportive grandfather (pepere).

In the last 12 years, Bob suffered from many health problems with quiet courage and dignity. After a valiant fight, Bob was finally called home to heaven on May 20, 2010 at the age of seventy-eight. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Henriette Renaud, his sister, Lucille Beckhaus, his children, Donna Renaud, Robert Renaud, Jr., Terri Renaud and Jennifer Renaud Koerner, his daughters-in-law Mary Newman and Shellee Renaud, his son-in-law David Koerner, his grandchildren, Bo and Brody Renaud, Emma and Hayley Newman, and granddaughter-to-be Koerner. Bob was preceded in death by his beloved son Michael in 1971.

There will be a Rosary for Bob on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 7:00pm at Hilgenfeld Mortuary located at 120 E. Broadway, Anaheim, CA 92805. The funeral will be on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at 10:00am at St. Norbert’s Catholic Church located at 300 E. Taft Avenue, Orange, CA 92865. A reception will immediately follow the funeral at the clubhouse of the Sunkist Gardens Mobile Home Park located at 1400 S. Sunkist St., Anaheim, CA 92806.

In lieu of flowers, Bob’s family asks that you consider making a donation to the National Foundation for Transplants on behalf of our cousin, Ray Ramirez: Please make checks payable to: NFT (National Foundation for Transplants). Please specify on the check that your donation is for Ray Ramirez. Donations can be mailed to :

The Ray Ramirez Fund c/o Elizabeth Hubley 5055 W. Hacienda #2156 Las Vegas, NV 89119

023 – My New Blog Design

Today, we launched my new blog design.  Faith did such a good job designing something that “felt” like me… and, believe me, I was indecisiveness on so many aspects.  If you’re interested in giving your blog a new look, check out Faith’s website.  She’s a pleasure to work with! 

022 – I’m Gonna Miss You, Jack

It’s the hour I’ve been dreading. The end of an era. The final hour… of 24!

All these years, I’ve pretty much convinced myself that Jack is real… let’s face it, Jack would make things interesting with this Administration!

Tonight, it all came to an end…

…well, unless you count the movie that’s supposed to come out!!! Now, go get a headstart on those Russians, Jack!!

021 – 1933 Class Ring

This is Ms. Charlsie’s class ring from 1933.  It’s 76 years old.  It’s missing the insignia that was attached to the front that said “Flippin 1935”. But, she’s kept it all these years.

Our conversation today somehow led to her telling me about how she got it...

When she was a junior in high school, her mother told her she wanted Charlsie to have a class ring and she offered to pay for it.  But, I guess when the time came, her momma didn’t have the money. So, she told Charlsie to go ask her older brother, Red, to see if he could give her the money.  He did.  Charlsie said she worked chopping cotton for Red all the time and later, when she had earned money, offered to repay him for the ring.  Her Dad told her that the cotton she had chopped all summer for Red was more than enough to settle the debt. She said it was the one time she remembers her Daddy “coming to her side”.  Then she giggled and got up to go get the ring from her bedroom and brought it back to share with me.

I liked how simple the design was. I would’ve loved to have seen it as she remembers it with the insignia still intact. But, I sure loved seeing it on her weathered hand.

020 – Saturday

Today, I spent the day with these two. Actually, most of the day was with Tyler.  Dave was in the hay field.

Tyler and I went to Branson and did a little shopping and had lunch at the Olive Garden. YUM!

Afterwards, Izzy and I took a run/walk at the park…I must’ve worn her out, because she’s been asleep pretty much ever since.

019 – Fun Friday Night Date

A week or so ago, I asked this sweet little girl if her and her brother would want to go eat supper with us sometime.  She said “Yes!”  So tonight was our date.

This is Adrianne and Bryce.  They go to church with us AND they’re also our sweet neighbors.

First we went to the Pizza Hut…

Then we went to Pet Co…

I don’t think they could ever get tired of looking at the hamsters, guinea pigs, lizards, birds, fish, ferrets, etc.  By the time we left, Bryce was pretty sure he needed a guinea pig.  I told him that was a question for his Mom and Dad, but I was pretty sure they had some mice around their barn somewhere.

We also had to stop and get a couple of things for Charlsie at Walmart… so of course, we hit the toy aisle.

They were SO much fun and were really good practice for those “someday grandkids”.

PS.  Thank you all for your sweet words about my Uncle Bob.  He was my Dad’s sister’s husband and they lived with most of my Goulet relatives in California.  He grew up in New Hampshire and Rhode Island and loved visiting Arkansas because he said it reminded him a lot of home.  I’m quite sure he’s enjoying his forever home now in Glory.

018 – Things We Found On Our Walk and Saying Good-bye to Uncle Bob

This little rabbit got Izzy’s attention on our walk today.

A little further down the trail, we found this…

…there were no eggs or birds left, but it was just sitting on the ground having served its purpose.

On another note, my Uncle Bob passed away today.  He was the sweetest man ever! He loved to smile and make you smile.  He was a gentle man with a kind heart.  I have so many memories of him and the man he was… and I’m sure going to miss him!

017 – Biscuit Bowl

This is David’s great grandmother’s old biscuit bowl.  It is one of the things that I have that I treasure most.  David thinks it’s probably from the 1930s… he even remembers watching her stir biscuit dough in it.

Do you have any really old hand-me-downs that you wouldn’t trade for anything?? 

016 – A TJ Maxx Birthday!

I think y’all know about my mad LOVE for TJ Maxx.  Well, apparently I’ve made myself perfectly clear to those I love because it was a TJM birthday!! And guess who’s going to Branson on Saturday?? I couldn’t be any more excited!! (Thank you all for the gifts!!)

I love birthdays.  I ALWAYS make a big deal out of birthdays. I still want to make a big deal out of my grown kids’ birthdays.

When Jodi and I go to the beauty shop, I usually get “in the chair” first.  As soon as I sit, I start in telling Kay what I want, what I wish I could change, asking her advice about what to do with this mess of hair I have, etc.  So, when Jodi finally gets to sit “in the chair”, if I interrupt “her” time… she quickly reminds me, “It’s ALL about me, now, Jacquie!”  So that’s our saying at the beauty shop.

Well, today was all about me!! Ha!

It started off pretty great when Kale called at 6:30 AM to wish me a happy birthday.  That’s a little earlier than I normally get up, but it was well worth it just hearing his voice!

Then Tyler hauled my Salvation Army desk home for me and then we ate lunch together. I even ate a Subway “birthday” cookie!! YUM!

Jodi came to visit me for a while at work.

I also got a sweet phone call from the best daughter-in-law in the world! (Kale is super thoughtful, but I have a sneaky suspicion that she is the one who keeps him on his holiday toes.)

After Izzy and I hit the park for 3 miles, David and I went to eat supper at Chili’s.  We finished the day off watching a couple of sweet boys from our church play a little midget league baseball. SO cute!!

And now… American Idol (GO LEE!) and Biggest Loser (Can’t decide who I want to win)…

016 – When Tuna Doesn’t Work

For the past month our poor little kitty has been fighting a urinary tract infection.  The first round we did Amoxicillin (liquid).  To medicate her, I’d have to wrap her in a towel and hold her while Dave used a dropper to give her the meds.  “Holly” is almost 12 years old and I guess her age has made it a little harder to fight the infection.  So, last week, I had her back at the vet for round two. 

This time, the vet gave her a different antibiotic, which meant giving her pills.  The first two days, I held her and got the pills down her throat by myself, but it took several tries.  So, on the third day, when David came home in time to help, I was overjoyed.  Little did I know it would be WORSE!  He didn’t have any patience for the cat.  She got upset and we both ended up with bit fingers! (which totally affected my texting prowess!)

The next day, we crushed up the pills and “hid” them in some tuna.  But, she caught on to that and we were barely successful at getting her to eat it.  So, I went to PetCo to look for a "cat piller".  They didn’t have one, but they did have these “Pill Pockets”.  I just hide the little pills in them, put them in her bowl with a couple pieces of feed, and she eats them… none the wiser.

Too bad they didn’t have something like that when I was a kid and got “worms” … all us kids had to take this gawdawful blood-red medicine because of me.  That didn’t go over well with all my siblings! I don’t know how many times I got punched or yelled at when we all had to line up and take it.

014 – Two of My Favorite Things About Today

Two of my favorite things about today:

1) Church and lunch with Tyler and his roommate, Ryan.  It does a momma’s (and daddy’s) heart good!!

(Super sorry about your speeding ticket, Ryan!)

2) This song we sang at church.  I LOVE IT!! It’s been in my head ever since.  This would be a good song to learn to play on your guitar, Fest!!

013 – Thrifting and a Movie with Jodi

When I called Jodi this morning we decided to run to Branson (T.J. Maxx and Target), but when I got to her house it was STILL raining… so we opted for a movie instead.  We got to town a little early so we made a quick trip to the Salvation Army … and look what I got for Tyler’s old bedroom (now the other spare room)!!  The desk was $75 and the table $10. I think I’m going to paint them black.  I haven’t completely decided yet.

I also got that little silhouette lamp ($2).  There’s a boy on one side and a girl on the other.  I’m going to have to find a lampshade to go with it.  And that’s Jodi’s popcorn popper on top of the little table. We weren’t there long… but we had a lot of fun.

We saw “Letters to Juliet” and it was a sweet movie.  At the beginning of the movie I leaned over and told Jodi that “Sophie” looked like a young Michelle Pfeiffer and “Charlie” like a young Heath Ledger (it was uncanny!).  By the end of the movie, every time the camera was on “Sophie’s” face, all I could think was how stinkin’ cute Amanda Seyfried is.  It’s just not right. 

Have you seen it yet??

012 – Friday Night with the Howards

A typical Friday night for us is a night with Gary and Jodi.  Tonight, we went to Chili’s for supper.  Then for “fun” we went to Walgreens and drove through the Walmart parking lot to see if there were any interesting people to watch. Ha!

I can’t even imagine how exciting our Friday nights will get when T.J. Maxx opens here!!!

011 – My Workspace

I thought I’d share with you a little about my office.  Here’s my desk.  Most people think that I’m a perfectionist, but clearly, I’m NOT.  This is organized chaos.

If you look real close, you’ll see a photo of Jodi and me.  You’ll also see a coffee cup.  I normally don’t do caffeine.  Here lately, I’ve been SO tired in the mornings, so I’ve been drinking a half a cup of Steve’s coffee when I get to work.  Steve makes coffee that’ll put hair on your chest… just sayin’.

Hidden behind the chair is my trusty under-the-desk heater.  I am very attached to that little heater.

Now you know what a messy desk I have!

010 – My Bedding

I thought I’d share my bedding with y’all.  I love the red, black, white and tan colors together.  Looking at it just makes me happy!

Now that Tyler has left his room empty, I need to start getting that room ready for guests.  My two favorite guests are supposed to be coming for the 4th of July!!  I’d like to put a queen sized bed in there since I have a full size bed in the other spare room.  But, I also want to keep an antique bed frame.  Have any of y’all ever converted a full size antique bed to a queen?

009 – It’s a Canine Breakthrough

In the time that we’ve had Izzy she’s had a meeting with other dogs three times. The first time was with Jodi’s dogs… she has three of them.  Izzy seemed like she was going to do okay, and then she lit in to Jodi’s dog, Ginger, a couple of times.  I was a little mortified.

The next time I was walking her at the park and we met up with a beautiful BIG dog.  That dog was very sweet and friendly and they seemed okay together after sniffing for a little while, too.  And then Izzy lit into her, too.  Mortified, again.

Yesterday I asked Jodi if she could bring her calmest dog, Mercury (he’s 14 years old), to walk with us at the park.  I told her we were just going to walk them together before we let them do any sniffing and maybe that would help them to pack together.  Well, we just got back and it went great!! We walked about a mile together. At first Izzy was a little anxious, maybe curious, but then neither one of them paid any attention to the other.

Before we left, we let them sniff a little and there was no growling, no nipping.  I was thrilled.  I had Jodi take them both so I could take a photo and Mercury growled a little at Izzy, Izzy growled back, and then Merc snapped at her.  Izzy never snapped back.  That’s progress.

Izzy loves riding in the car.  I get so tickled watching her go down the road in the back seat.

Izzy’s getting ready to meet you, Bosley!!