Retirement for me

Olympic High School staff always celebrates retirees and staff leaving at the end of the year. Yesterday was that celebration. The theme was "Leaving the Oly Nest". 

Each little chick represented one of us. I'm the yellow chick with what was supposed to be spiked hair, but she made a mohawk. Isn't this the cutest cake?

These are the retirees. The school nurse Helen Richardson, Administrative Secretary Nancy Allen, our principal Bob Barnes, Me & Bev Hurd one of our PE teachers. I knew my pose was going to be bad, but I decided it wasn't about how I looked, but the capture of the moment.

 I'm also retiring from making Fred a lunch everything single work night. I have hated it, but dutifully have performed this labor because I love Fred and it is one way I have been able to support him going to work each day. There have been lots of love notes over the years. I really have not forgotten very many times. I can say less than 10. He probably made a few lunches when I came home with a new baby....oh and when I would go on trips without him. Another pitiful pose.

Then the top off the night of retirement celebrations....We were sitting in front of the tv for a little bit and I decided to go to bed. Fred said "Wait I have something for you". He brings this big wrapped gift to me. "What the heck" I'm thinking. I open it and this is what it is.

At first I just see this bag.... and then I see the plaque he had made.

This is just about the sweetest thing Fred has ever done for me. All my years of complaining. It wasn't really complaining most of the time, but sarcastic comments like "Oh I get to make your lunch", "I hate making your lunch", "Your so lucky I make your lunch".....but I did hate it pretty much.

One more time may I say "I LOVE FRED!" 

and even more important is he loves me. :)

Going away celebrations

A happy and fun part of moving away is Going Away Parties.

Last week the gals at work threw me a going away party.

Last night, several of my favorite friends joined me

at Spiros in Silverdale. Being with my friends is just about the best

way to spend time. Wonderful women who I love and admire.

Their friendship and forever influence in my life is felt.

I have no tears yet, because the reality of leaving has not

really hit yet. I know at some point I will lose it and have a good cry or two.

But until then, this is a very happy time for me to

celebrate with friends!

The second part of the evening was driving across

the street to Origami Sushi. They serve the best

fried bananas and ice cream. They have coconut, ginger, mango, red bean (tastes like cotton candy)

and a few other exotic flavors. My favorite is coconut ice cream.

So if you are looking for a new dessert experience.....

Check it out!

Little Miss Copper

It is official!

Our first granddaughter is on her way!

Mom and Dad = Shannon & Brian

Approximate due date = October 2013 (7th or so)

Am I excited? Why yes I am. To be honest though, I really had wrapped my head around having all grandsons and feeling honored about that. So I would have been just as excited to be expecting another grandson. What is important, of course, is that Mom and baby are healthy and strong!

The intricacies of Burke Waldron

After I sold my car, we needed to take Fred's car to the dealer for oil change & stuff. So we ended up borrowing my Dad's Camry. If you don't already know it, my Dad is all about comfort and customizing things to his taste. So his dashboard has been customized. The dash wasn't lit up enough, so he added these little spotlights.

Next his custom GPS stand.

Then his custom wiring.

Here is a closeup of the tiny spotlights he installed.

Here is his auxilliary unit for whatever he wants to add to his plug ins. 

You can only imagine what his work van looks like. This is what makes him unique and wonderful too.

It's baaacccckkkk!

Today Fred & I went back to our storage unit and brought our stuff back. It does look so much better boxed up though. I'm actually quite pleased that we have done so well to get lots done ahead of time. We are still waiting for the appraisal....hoping that all goes well. The Inspection was a breeze. Thank you Fred for all your hours of work and worry.

We even have a moving sale date set for next Saturday the 11th. I can't believe we are actually somehow making that happen. I didn't think it was possible. All of Fred's predictions are coming to pass. Shame on me for doubting.

We have a pile of moving sale stuff started too. Fred is working on the garage and shed today.