We're off!

Don's granddad lived to be 102! He was a really sharp fella with a great sense of humor and 100 years worth of stories to tell. He passed away last summer. We're having a memorial service for him in his hometown in Montana on Saturday. All of Granddad's family will be there.

So......off to Montanta we go - Don's hometown. He can't wait to show me around.
I'll be back next week with pictures to bore you ;-)

Take care of youse. Have a great weekend!

Mocha

When she and Don first moved in here, Mocha hid for 5 days. Once she came out from hiding, Jack, the cat previously known as The Only Cat, hid for 6 months. Eventually they came to tolerate each other and Mocha became part of our family. She's been Don's constant companion for more than 14 years.

We said goodbye to her tonight. She was a sweet ball of fur and we'll sure miss her...

Keep the change

Change. I've always thought of myself as one who welcomes change. New places. New people. New things. Change in direction. It's all good.

Or, is it?

I think I've realized otherwise. I like change as long as I'M the one who's in charge of it. If *I* decide it's time for a change, that's great! But when things change without my permission? When changes come along that I have no control over? I don't like it one bit.

My school opened 8 years ago and since that time it's been my happy little home. I've worked with two wonderful girls who are like family. DB and I have been friends since our kids were in 2nd & 3rd grade. SB, DB and I are a team. We work SO well together. We get the job done and have too much fun doing it! Another job opportunity came up and SB has left us. :-( She did what she had to do (and left kicking and screaming. if it wasn't for the pay increase and incredible potential, she'd never have left) and I'm very proud of her. But, I'm (we're) just miserable without her. Ugh. She was our office manager and ran the office so smoothly and efficiently with one hand tied behind her back and both eyes closed. Now, we're scrambling to get through each day. What account does this come out of? Will payroll get done and will the staff get paid?? How on EARTH did she do all of this???

I want things back the way they were.
*pout*

I've been so busy lately. Work is a mess and there's so much going on around here and I've been having too many sleepless nights. Well, not sleepless, but sleep-not-enough. I stare up at the ceiling. Toss and turn. Close my eyes and pretend...but I just can't sleep! My mind is on overload. It seems like I can think so much clearer at night like that. In the morning when I recall the night before, the thoughts are all mumbo jumbo. Scrambled brains.

Tomorrow is Mother's Day. I dreamed about Mom again last night. I was sooo happy to see her! sighhh.. I've been thinking of her a lot. I have lots of thoughts I need to sort out. I was going to do that here, but I'm not up for it tonight. I'm already looking forward to tomorrow morning's cuppa joe.
First, though, to get some sleep...

dreaming. thinking.

I've been having some strange dreams lately. A coupla nights ago, I dreamt about a wedding. It was in a really large hall. Hundreds of people. I don't know who was getting married. I think my kids were in the wedding, as young kids - not as they are now. It was only inferred, but I know that I was concerned about them walking the aisle and all. But, what stands out most was the white haired, bearded, cigarette smoking rabbi who was officiating the ceremony. Huh?! I'm not sure what THAT was supposed to represent.... ideas??

Last night, though, I dreamt about Mom. We were in some faraway, unnamed country. We traveled there together, but right at the beginning of the dream she had to leave. She left before I did, and left me alone not knowing how to get home. In my dream I remember explaining to somebody that she didn't mean to leave me so soon and that I was sure she had good reason and would explain it to me later. Pretty obvious, I think. Leaving me too soon. . . leaving me to muddle through without her. sighh... I really miss her.

My dream then continued on with me being lost in a strange land. The most common thread in my dreams is that I'm lost, trying to find my way back to where I should be. That's the plot of most of my dreams. Different people and places, but I usually somehow get lost and spend the rest of the dream unsuccessfully making my way back.

Life is a series of stressors these days. We all have stress in our lives. It's how we deal with it that makes the difference. I've got to learn to deal....not doing a good job at it. I worry about my kids, first and foremost. Lots of good reasons why. My job is stressful right now. My job, where I've always been content and felt comfy. My doctor appointment is looming...just a few weeks away. I start to fret a bit as it gets closer. I spend so much of my time thinking. Dreaming about the Way it Should Be. Or will be. My mind is on overload, overthinker that I am. I'm grateful that I can usually sleep at night.

I need to make a list. Things Gayle Should Do To Improve Her Outlook Thereby Improving Her Life.

maybe tomorrow....