Late night blogging

I have several things to comment on...........first, Mia moved away today. I think that says something when I think of it as Mia moving away and not my daughter! In my defense, Jennifer has moved away before. Colorado, Italy..........Mia on the other hand, well, she moved to Tomball, but really that was not too far. Now she lives in Austin, and while it is not (thank goodness) Colorado or Italy, it is still not just up the road, so to speak. I am happy for Jennifer and Rex buying a house and living where their hearts lead them, but, I miss Mia already.

Rob got the great job with Texas Parks and Wildlife, managing the fish hatchery in San Marcos. They are in the process of moving. I went with Cindy this week to see their new house, help unload some items and help paint. Again, I am so happy for them, but.......well, I will miss them dearly.

I have a membership to NetFlix, where I get two movies per month. I have enjoyed getting old movies, and not having anyone complain or give negative input.("Mom, just because it's an old movie, doesn't mean its a good movie" said by one of my beautiful and wonderful daughters.).....that being said, my last movie this month was "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". I saw it originally at the movies, YEARS ago, and once since then..........and I remembered tonight while watching it......I refuse to watch the end of the movie! I do not like the ending, but the movie is entertaining. I also watched "To Kill a Mockingbird" this month. Trivia question, "What role does Robert Douvall play in "To Kill a Mockingbird"?"

I have pictures to post, Mia, my Dad's 83rd birthday, and some other events, and I will get them on soon. Now that everyone is moving away, I will have LOTS of extra time on my hands!

Well that's is for now. It is 1:30 in the AM and I think I will try and get some sleep!

OH, PS, I will put these pictures here, because, well I have them loaded on my computer. Catherine has several pictures on her blog of this tree. I call it a Pink Magnolia, but I am not sure of the real name......anyway, I love these trees!

A visit with Mia

I did promise Catherine I would post a blog with pictures of Mia. My excuse Catherine is that when Jennifer loaded the pictures from her camera onto my computer, she loaded them in Kodak Easy Share, and man, it takes an act of congress to move them!

Anyway, Catherine, here is the video that we took just for you!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

And the slide show from that day is here if you have time to check it out.


Visit with Mia April 4, 2008



Oh, and by the way, I going to be a grandma again! Jennifer and Rex are expecting a baby! We are all VERY excited. I already bought "her" a cute little outfit! Yes, I am saying "girl" because, well, that is what I know, but everyone else is saying that little "boy" sure is going to look funny in that pink outfit! Even my dad is hoping for a boy..........Catherine said that should not be a surprise to me, since all I had was girls, its been over 50 years since they had a little boy around. So, all things considered, I guess its time for a boy!

Easter and Birthday Weekend

March 24th is Jessica's birthday. We have a wonderful video when she was a little girl talking about how her birthday was on a "Good Friday". She was almost an Easter bunny baby.

Jessica and her boyfriend Tommy came home for a visit this weekend. Jennifer and Mia were here also, because Rex had to go out of town.

Catherine was missing from my nest.

We ate grilled steak and veggies, and played croquet, and Mia dyed and hunted eggs. It was a very nice weekend and I loved spending every minute with my girls and their families and my parents.

Here are some pics I took.

And if you have time, are interested and don't have dial up internet, here are some videos I took. The background noise from the motorcycles next door is VERY annoying!

More Mia Pics from our March Visit

Mia Pics 3/17/08

My Little Ponies

When Jessica was a little girl, she loved "My Little Ponies". She played with them for hours on end. Every pony had a name and a story, and a voice. Through life changes, some pony items are gone, but there is one box that remained. I got the box down from the closet the other night and Mia is now LOVING the ponies.

Here are some clips I took. And yes, in one of the clips, it does look like a pony graveyard........but they are only sleeping, not dead!


My Little Ponies 3/17/08

Old Age, I decided, is a gift.

This was actually an email I got from a friend...........I believe it speaks loudly to me. So, I decided to copy and paste an email on my blog. There is a first time for everything I guess!


I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have
always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body,
the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am
taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, but I don't
agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving
family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've
become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself.. I've become
my own friend.

I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making
my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but
looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be
messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before
they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until
4 AM and sleep until noon?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 & 70's,
and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love .... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging
body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to,
despite the pitying glances from the jet set . They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just
as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not
break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when
somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what
give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never
broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being
imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning
gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep
grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died
before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about
what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even
earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I
like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but
while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have
been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every
single day. (If I feel like it)

Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band

Tonight I had the pleasure of going with Joanne McCay and Sheryl Stephenson to Cypress Community Church (which by the way, is the church where I got married) to see Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band. We went and had pedi's and mani's and Sheryl got her hair cut, and then we had a fabulous dinner at a place I use to eat many many moons ago, called "Clementine's". They use to be a burger joint with the best cheddar cheese soup EVER, and now they are a little more "up scale". But, Becky A............I FINALLY got my boiled shrimp!

Anyway, back to the Big Phat Band, truth be told, not following the jazz scene, I had never heard of them.............but man can they blow! Kind of a combination of big band and jazz.

Watching them brought back a lot of great memories of good times I had being a full blown band nerd, in high school and my earlier college year.

There are several clips of the performing songs on YouTube......... I hope you enjoy, because I know we sure did!

Thanks Joanne for a great time!

Rob and Cindy

I have talked in past blogs about friends and family and about friends who become family. I have yet to mention Rob and Cindy Schmid. Yep, I spelled the last name right, it is NOT "Schmidt".........the "t" is not there on purpose. Anyway I met Cindy I believe about 15 years ago, we were both band booster officers. Cindy and I chaperoned a band trip and I think we actually had more fun than the kids did. I remember being asked by the band directors to "keep it down a little" at an outside dinner! A terrible tragedy fell on one of our band directors, and as officers, we ended up putting in more time than normal. (I will not elaborate on this tragedy more)

One thing leads to another.........

Then a few years later, a tragedy happened in my life, and for what ever reason, I turned to Cindy first. We were friends, but, nothing like "BFF". I have since told her, I think I turned to her first because she was "safe". (I will not elaborate on this tragedy more either).

One thing leads to another............

At some point, Cindy and her husband Rob,their son Taylor, Catherine and Jessica and I start doing some "adventures in dining". We went to a Persian restaurant (smoked a bong!), we went to a Russian restaurant (had borscht) , we went to a Brazilian restaurant(most expensive meal I have ever eaten, and one of the best), and we went to an Asian restaurant(they served us a fried fish with his head still attached, sitting upright on the plate like he was swimming and it had a red sauce poured over it, it looked like blood....I did not eat that). Several of these were very international experiences. When we went to the Russian restaurant, we had an authentic Russian dine with us. He worked with Rob and Cindy and was here in the US learning to be a fish farmer. (Oh, by the way, that is what Rob does for a living).

One thing leads to another.............


When I went white water rafting in Colorado, I rode with them all the way there and back. Now, if you have ever been in the car with me for any length of time, you know that can not be an easy thing for them! I HATE riding in the car. They graciously let me ride in the back, with all of my pillows and sleep all I wanted! Possibly more important than that, they let me listen to HOURS of John Denver as we were leaving Colorado! Now, that IS friendship!

One thing leads to another.................

Through them I have met some wonderful couples, with whom I have since camped and kayaked, and canoed and spent Fourth of July and New Years and birthdays with. They call their group the "EGGS".......which is the last name initials of the core families who camp and canoe together (Elbert, Goetzman, Garcia, Schmid). (They all have sons who have since all become Eagle Scouts).

One thing leads to another.................

One year, Cindy, Becky (see older posts) and I took a road trip and drove to New Orleans just to eat at Emril Lagassi's (spelling?)restaurant. Now I have known Becky seems like forever, and by now, I have know Cindy really well, but, these two do not know each other at all. Often, mixing friends can be like mixing oil and vinegar. Truth be told, I wondered how it would work out. Catherine, being the wise old soul that she is said "Mom, how can anyone not like Mrs. Schmid ?". I thought it was funny in retrospect that she did not say that about Becky! (and I of course told this to Becky). We had a SUPER time! And, again, being the friends that they are, they let me ride in the back seat with all of my pillows!

One thing leads to another.................

When Catherine was a senior in high school, she decided that Rob and Cindy needed more of a special designation than just friends, so she declared them her "God parents". She even thanked her "God parents" in her salutatory speech at her high school graduation.

One thing leads to another.................

When Jennifer married this past December, she asked Rob to be the master of ceremonies, I guess you could say. What ever it is you call the person who keeps things at the reception moving forward. She asked Cindy to be in charge of decorating the reception area. The hours Cindy spent planning and creating and designing and building was beyond words, even for me. This couple, these wonderful friends, took more than two days of their lives to travel and work and be a part of my daughters special day. They worked their tails off, and without them there supporting me, well, I would not have made it.

One thing leads to another......................

I love this wonderful, fun, exciting, adventurous couple.

Rob has applied for a job near San Marcos. He would be perfect for this job. I work hard every day, trying to be the friend to them that they have been to me, by praying that he gets this job. It would mean they move away. It would mean a big hole in my life. It could mean the world to them.

So, if one thing truly leads to another, my prayers will lead them to this job, a new town, new friends, and new adventures.

This is for Catherine

My Montage 2/29/08

Little Kids Can Sure Make a Big Mess

Last night when I was putting the freshly cleaned crib sheets back on Mia's bed, I had some random thoughts. No one asked, but I am going to share them anyway.

Little kids can sure make a big mess. When Grammie Hegar brought her over, she had already wet her diaper so much that is soaked through her jeans (Mia that is, not Juda). So, we started off with dirty clothes. Then after supper and a snack, we got our shirt, jacket and other pants we had put on dirty. I changed the jacket and shirt, but, due to lack of clothing at my house, we had to wear the dirty pants to bed.

Mia went almost two weeks using the potty, and now, not interested. Normally after she poops, or even has an obviously soggy diaper, and you say, "Mia, lets change your diaper." she says, "No, I fine." and trying to change her diaper can be a battle. I will NEVER understand how wearing poop in your pants is fine! Anyhow, yesterday morning when she woke up, this was the first thing I heard on the monitor " GG. I have wet diaper!!!" (this was hollered pretty loud, I might not have needed the monitor). So, I go in her room, and "I have wet diaper" may go down as the understatement of the week/month/day/year..........everything in her bed was soaked. She felt and smelt like urine...........needless to say, I ended up with a full load of laundry from one night of Mia.

Not that I mind....But, Little Kids Can Sure Make a Big Mess.

It Goes Without Saying

I suppose I should mention that I have most of my voice back. The high "excited" register is not back, but everything else it. I suppose that goes without saying, since I posted a conversation with Mia.

A Good Day for Grandma's

I got to spend some time with Mia today. She actually came over from her Grammie Hegar's to take a nap. Right after her 3 1/2 hour nap, we walked down to Memaw and Granddad's. We played cars and toys and had peach yogurt for a snack. Mia was in a great mood. Then Jennifer came out to pick her up. In all fairness, Mia was not ready to go home. Since she had only napped at GG's, she still wanted to "go to GG's for a wittle bit". Thank goodness her mom and Rex had nothing planned, so............Mia is getting to spend the night! This is our first time. It was a blast! We played, she pulled out every toy she has here, and we watched Bambi, and she always says "Oh, no, GG, what's gonna happen?". Now, understand, she has seen Bambi, or what ever movie, SEVERAL times, enough to know what is going to happen, but its still funny that she gets so concerned.

Later in the evening we had this conversation:

Mia: "You GG"
Me: "Yes, I am GG"
Mia: " My name Mia Hegar"
Me: "Yes, your name is Mia Hegar"
Me: "What does Cindy call me?" "What is my other name?"
Mia: ......just looks confused here and says nothing......
Me: "My other name is Jami, Jami Dauphin"

I do have a point of this story. Hang with me a second.

So, a few hours pass. It is bedtime. I have put Mia in bed and I am searching for her warm cuddle blanket. I leave her in her bed, light is still on, and door open, and I tell her I am going to look for her cuddle blanket. I am in my room searching my bed for the blanket and I hear Mia holler "Jami Dauphin!"

Well, it made me laugh and smile and just want to hug her more. Of course, I am a grandma........I get mushy over every little thing she does I think.

The Wedding

I think this works. Here are the pictures from the wedding! But I am not sure if there is sound....oh well, maybe someday I will figure out what I did wrong....can I say that the pictures say it all!

Or you can go here and listen to the music as well.

Free MySpace slideshows, photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

It's Been 5 Days

It's been 5 days since I could talk. I am no longer amused. I tried talking to Catherine last night on the phone. She said I sounded like "Stevie" from Malcolm in the Middle (a TV comedy show). As usual, with Catherine's knack for getting to the heart of a matter, I realized that is EXACTLY who I sounded like. Then I could not stop laughing, of course, no sound was coming out, but I was laughing

Someone Must Have had Their Prayers Answered

Ok, I would like to know who prayed that I would "just be quiet for a while"? For the first time in my life, I have laryngitis. I find it more amusing than anything.....it has however made me wonder, how do people who are mute, or deaf for that matter ever order fast food? I tried to order my usual Sonic Large Diet Cherry Dr. Pepper (during happy hour of course) today, and the young man said "Could you please pull up to the window?" Even after pulling up and trying to speak face to face, I didn't get what I wanted! I could not however blame him.

Back to prayers...... you would think that I had one of mine answered ( I did not pray for this, and it's getting kind of old). I can not taste a thing for over a week now. Jennifer keeps fussing at me saying things like, "Mom, why are you eating that chocolate cake and all of those calories if you can't taste it ?" and my response is "Jennifer, why do you keep fussing at me when you know I don't listen?",.....the reason for both is, of course, HABIT on both of our parts! I bought this particular chocolate cake at a church auction. It was a homemade chocolate cake that looked like it was going to be at least three layers, probably four, but it was two huge layers, with chocolate icing, and a light green creaming filling. The top and sides were generously decorated with Andes chocolate mints. It looked wonderfully delicious.......and I could not taste a thing!

80 Years Young

February 2nd was my Mom's 80th birthday. I think there is something taboo about telling a "ladies" age, but I also think when you get to be 80, you should be proud you made it! My Mom and Dad have more than "made" it, they are VERY young at heart and spirit. I asked my Mom what she wanted to do to celebrate her 80 years, and of course, as is typical of my Mom, she said nothing........except, she did say, the only thing she really wanted was to have chocolate cupcakes, so Mia could have one. I fixed grilled cheese sandwiches, one of the few things my Mom will eat, and chicken and dumplings, for those who wanted a little more substance (although I think the grilled cheese sandwiches were enjoyed by everyone more than the chicken and dumplings), and then we finished off the meal with cupcakes for Mia!



Happy Birthday Mom (Memaw)




Neat and Tidy is how it all begins





A Little Chocolate is good for the soul



Is it good for the face, neck, forehead and shoulders as well?




Good call on the cupcakes Memaw!

What do you suppose she is "hinting" at?

So today I get this email from Catherine, and all it has are these links:

http://parentingteens.about.com/od/carepackage/a/care_packages2.htm

http://www.epinions.com/content_4062683268

http://www.parent.umn.edu/carepackages.html

http://www.gardenandhearth.com/Gift-Baskets/College-Care-Package.htm


Of course I sent a package off today! You don't have to hit me with a 2 X 4 !!

Dream Come True

When I graduated from college, I received a "scholarship" from an organization that I was president of on Campus, AITP (Association of Information Technology Professionals) to be exact. They are a professional organization, and sponsor student chapters at various campuses. Anyway, I think my professor put my name in for one of the scholarships, and I got it. The interesting thing is, I was graduating, and so I tried to give the money to the student chapter, but my professor would not take it, he said the students needed to learn to earn their own money and not have it given to them. So next, I thought about applying the money to my student loans..........that would have been way to practical, right? So, obliviously what came next was, take a cruise! My dear friend Becky Adams and I have talked for many years now about going on a cruise "someday"(she reminded me on the cruise that we have been friends now for 31 years! eek gad!!). Anyway, in August, Becky got to retire from being a prison warden. She put in 27 years working for the state.

End result, Becky and I went on our cruise.

We went for 7 days out of Galveston. Sailed on Carnival Conquest to Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel. We had a great time. I will not go into many details, except the water is unbelievably blue and clear. I would spend a full week in Grand Cayman if ever given the opportunity.

The one thing I REALLY wanted to do, that was an extra fee was to swim with the dolphins. We got to kiss them, be kissed by them, hold them, ride on them, and be "foot pushed" by them (they push you on the balls of your feet and you get up in the air)...........this experience was so way cool, I have to call it a dream come true.

I have a video, but I do not know how to get it on the computer so I can add it to my blog. When I figure that out, I will add that at some point.

Canada Oh Canada

Jessica went with her boyfriend, Tommy McCay and his family to Canada the day after Christmas. They did not come back until January 2. Tommy's mom, Joanne, is Canadian, and they have a family cabin there. Jessica said they had a great time, and as you can see from these photos, it was beautiful. Oh, and I would also like to add that I have never seen Jessica happier than when she is with Tommy, this will be evident to the reader when you look at some of these pictures.



Isn't it lovely?



Isn't she lovely?



She thinks he is lovely




Aren't they lovely?




Pretty as a picture in White (she said this was her "serious" face!)

I have had a Break Through!

Today was a big milestone for me. I like to think that I can learn, and that I am open to new ideas and such (my kids would tell you I am hopeless in this area,but, again, I hope they are wrong). I blogged about being sad and concerned that Mia would get confused as to where her "home" is. I have talked of my sadness that this will no longer be her home.

Today, a breakthrough!

Christina came to pick up Mia. Christina is Mia's daddy's fiancée, and soon to be Mia's step-mother. She has been in Mia's life very early on. She is sweet and dear and she loves Mia and Mia loves her. You can tell from the way they interact.........sorry, once again, I digress.

Anyway, Christina (CC) came to get Mia and Mia was very excited to see her. Mia even said she was "going home" with CC. Specifically she said "I go home with CC". At first, I was taken aback with her calling CC and daddy's place "home". Then, I realized, well, why is her dad's home not as much "home" as her mom's place. And then, I realized there is nothing wrong with having more than one home. I even went to Wikipedia to see what that definition was, and here is what I found:

"the concept of home is broader than a physical dwelling. Home is often a place of refuge and safety, where worldly cares fade and the things and people that one loves becomes the focus"

WOW............isn't that awesome I realized. Mia has several places that she feels safe, and where her worldly cares fade, and where people that she loves and who love her are the focus...........

I could not ask for more, and now, with this breakthrough, I could not be happier!