All My Children #002

Hi Kids,

Well here is my new " All My Children Blog " that Tommy John has helped me to set up. Yeah !! I am really feeling as if I am getting into the technology now ! Haaaa ! I would like for each of you to let me know that you were able to access it and read my Sunday newsletter if you wouldn't mind. ( at least this first time ok ? ) Tommy said there is a " comment " link at the end of my letter you can click on and post a note back to me if you want to try that.

Well, lets see, another week has went by here in 2009. I hope you are all enjoying this new year so far ? It somehow seems as if we get a fresh start doesn't it ? I like that feeling. It brings the feeling of hope and inspires me to want to do better somehow. I think we all need to know we can start again, and that it is never too late. Change is a good thing because there is always room for improvement.

Ok, lets see what went on here in Hammondsport this week. Well, I watched the premier of
" Biggest Loser " and "Oprah's Best Life Week " ... I must tell you, I cried thru-out most of those shows. I guess I felt I connected with the pain associated with other people in both those shows. Yes ... I am struggling with my own battle of weight. At my age it is very unhealthy too. So, like many others, I too, am trying to make a difference in my lifestyle. I gravitate to any info on the subject. I must say it has helped me so far. I am looking forward to Oprah's free web cast on Monday night. I'll keep you up-dated on how I progress.

One new thing I have done is to join a Yoga class. Haaaaaaaa !! It was pretty funny really. But ... I did like it and I will return this Monday. It runs for 6 wks then starts again. I wish it were three days a week,unfortunately it is only on Monday evenings. I hope to be able to master the chant ... I felt silly not knowing what to say, there I sat, on my yoga mat, in candle light, others all around me, trying to look cool, supposing to have my eyes shut, relaxing and saying these strange sounds ( mantra's ).... well, I tried to have one eye open ... look around .... grab at my eye glasses, try to see the paper in the dark to read the mantra again and try to mimic the sounds.... pretty funny. What was good though, is the fact that it is hard work. That form of exercise is great. You feel so stretched and muscles feel worked for sure. So, I'll let you know how I do.

I took down all of the Christmas decorations this week. I haven't gotten them all put away yet though. I still have the big tree to get down. I still need more bins brought down to put away other stuff too. So needless to say the house is in a post-Christmas mess right now. Oh well, it will get done. I am only one person.

I drove to Erie PA on Friday. I met Grandma,John and Aunt Patty there at a Bob Evans restaurant. They brought Patty to the half-way point between our houses so I could get her back. The weather has been very wintry. Snow everyday in the forecast so it was a better idea not to have to travel further. ( 3-hrs to Erie for them and me ) So we had lunch together, then got on the road. Aunt Patty and I decided to try our luck out at the Seneca Casino on the way back home. Well, as you may have guessed, I didn't win ! Aunt Patty thinks she did, because when she checked out, she still had $15 left, so I told her she is so lucky. It made her day. She likes sitting at the slots and playing. I put a twenty in her 5cent machine and she played for 35 mins ! Not to bad.

We got up this morning to about 8 inches of snow in the driveway. So Dad and I bundled up and shoveled snow together. All of the driveway,the turn-around and the sidewalk from the library to the grocery store. Whew !! Big job !! Then we hurried inside showered and went to church. We haven't really been taking the time to go since living here in Hammondsport. Always letting the house and all the work get in our way. We both missed it though. It is very different here than our St Gabriel in Ohio, I loved Father Fred, but, hey change is good too. We went to breakfast after chruch and talked with a nice guy named Jim, that told Dad about the best kind of snowblowers. Well .... guess what ? Dad went and bought one today ! Haaaaaa ! (remember I told you how snowy it has been ! ) So, he said if we see Jim next Sunday, he is going to tell him he cost him $1000 ! Haaaaa !! Now we will want to try it out !

Dad and I started work on the attic. We managed to move everything out of the right side. ( as you get to the top of the stairs) We bought some carpet and padding and got them down, we have sanded and puttied any nicks in the wall and ceiling and filled woodwork nail holes, sanded and wiped down, bought paint and starting tomorrow, I will begin the lovely job of painting the ceiling. I am getting excited again about accomplishing something. I guess I have felt burned-out for awhile now. But, I am ready to get a move on now on this house again. This part of the attic will be our exercise room. See ... I really am trying to help myself. Dad said we will put a Wii up there too. ( haahaahaa ! Tommy ... I blame you for this ! )

Tommy is going to help me learn to post pictures in the near future. That will be a cool addition ! Then I can really show you our progress !

"Only one thing has to change for us to know happiness in our lives: where we focus our attention. -Greg Anderson"

Well, that's my week in a nutshell. I hope you are all well. Keep us all up-dated in your lives. I love you each so very much.

All My Children #001

Hi kids,

"When your body mind and soul are healthy and harmonious, You will bring health and harmony to those around you..."
B.K.S. Iyengar

Well, here it is ... the first addition of my weekly news letter to all of you. Something new for 2009. ( I thought you would get a kick out of the title Ang ) I thought this would be a nice way of keeping in touch with each of you and keeping you up-dated on what's going on here in Hammondsport. I am thinking I will try to accomplish this by emailing a short note each Sunday evening.

So it is the New Year ! Wow ! 2009 ! I can hardly believe it. I remember how odd it seemed saying ' 2000, instead of 19 something ?! Now it is already 2009 ... and next year ? I suppose some will say ' twenty-ten instead of 2010 ? Geez ! Time feels like it is flying by me sometimes.

Dad and I just got back from traveling to Ohio and Indiana. We had a great time. We had a lot of fun at the New years Eve benefit Tommy & Jennifer hosted with some other folks. Thanks guys ! We had a very good time ! Will this become an annual event maybe ? What a great cause to support ... Rise Up Against Cancer ! It was great company, food,dancing and socializing. We had fun spending time with Jennifer and Tommy for a few days. Ok, I had to admit, I like the Wii game thing. You got me Tommy ! We had a wonderful dinner at Jennifer's parents house on New years Day. They were so nice and fun to hang out with. I am happy we got to help Tom and Jennifer set up at the Bridal show too. They really did it all, but we helped carry things ! haaa ! They had a great looking booth, I sure hope it brings them lots future business ! They both put forth so much efforts into their business. Tommy, you may have lost your job at perhaps not the best timing, but ... now you get to walk away and leave it in 2008. All things happen as they should. It is your time to change it up. Look forward and no regrets. You wanted to do this, maybe you got pushed a little earlier then you were thinking, but maybe God was thinking ' NOW'S THE TIME ". Dad and I wish you and Jennifer wonderful success. We love you both so very much.

We went to see the movie Valkyrie ( sp ? ) with Eddie last Friday night in Ohio. I thought it was a good movie. It brought a lot of history back into my thoughts. It made me feel for the people of that time frame. Sometime it is easy to forget how some folks have survived their circumstances. Eddie , thank you for taking such good loving care of Tucker for us. I am glad Oscar and Tuck had that chance to finally be able to play hard. Seeing how Tucker got hurt at Christmas time, they sure didn't get play time then. It was fun to spend some time with you too Eddie. Dad and I love you so very much. Come and see us a lot this year, we always look forward to you and Oscar coming. I just love that little Oscar too. Oh ... by the way, did I tell you that you made some of the best peanutbutter cookies I have ever ate ! It is true, I am not trying to be Grandma ! Haaaaa ! They were sooooooo good ! We will be keeping you in our prayers for the test you will be taking in the near future. ( certified fraud examiner) I know you will do just fine.

Thank you each for all of our Christmas gifts. We enjoyed the holiday season because of each of you. I still have to pinch myself to believe I really had Bill & CJ here with us for Christmas ! What a gift that truly was. That will be a memory I will forever treasure. I still remember seeing CJ's face at the door with a great big red bow around her neck, then seeing Bill with his big bow around his neck, standing behind her with a great big smile ! Both of them saying " MERRY CHRISTMAS, your presents are here !!! " I felt I couldn't breathe at that moment. I felt it couldn't be true, and it was true. I can still see Angela jumping up and down and screaming with the door wide open, and from that moment on, it felt like I was in slow motion. I am glad I had a wall behind me to lean on. My tears came fast and I was truly completely overjoyed. Thank you, you planned such a wonderful,loving gift for us. I love you both so very much. I am glad Dad and I had the opportunity to come to your house for a visit in early December too. Your home is so beautiful. So warm and inviting. I was so happy we got to see your Christmas lights and your tree. I am especially thankful for the blessing of CJ carrying this baby safely. What a joy it is for all of us to have a new member of our family on the way. This child shall be so loved. May God bless you each day.

Last fall I was happy to get to spend a whole week with Angela in Charlotte. I love your new apartment ! Although it could have been under better circumstances, in the end, it all worked out perfectly. Thank God the tests came back negative. I am hoping to be able to spend some time each year with you, it is always fun to be together. I am happy to hear you got your car to Ang. ! For those of you that probably do not know, Ang bought a 2007 Honda Accord LX, today. She sold her Mustange to Grandpa John. He is getting it for Christopher ( sort of like his grandchild) She can fill you each in on the details. Ang, thank you very much for all the help you gave during Christams. I love having you home with us. Your nut roll was hmmm hmmm good !!! (Sorry Tom, I know we were suppose to bring you some, we were piggies and ate it all.) Dad and I love you so very much Ang. Be safe driving that new car.

Well, 2008 brought us many new things. It was mostly a good year. We certainly made a lot of headway with this old house. Hey ... we moved in ! Thank you for any help you each gave to us in getting things done here too. We greatly appreciate it. We have decided to take one room at a time now and finish it up the best we can. We will get there sooner or later. What ever it takes. But one thing I know for sure, we will set aside some time for us too. It cannot all be about this house all of the time. I want to spend time with each of you too. I want to be able to get to know this area better too. There are lots to see and do here. And after all .... we will have a beautiful grandchild born this summer, and that WILL TAKE FIRST PRIORITY !!!

Ok, enough for my first news letter. I love each of you, so very dearly. You are each, always in my prayers. Go on... get started and make this one of your best years yet. It is yours to make it happen. Get your health in order. Work hard, but take time for yourself too. Be more understanding, more loving toward one another. You will see the difference it can make in daily life. Keep in touch with each other. Make it a priority. Family is of most importance. Don't let time escape without reaching out to one another each month. We are all busy in our own lives, but we are important to each others lives too.

All my children, I love you, your Momma G