pitterpat

I feel the need to write a So Cal update, for those of you who don’t frequent my blog often this will take you back aways, so settle in and get comfy. You have some catching up to do. Those of you who are kind enough to come around often can either go for a walk or keep on reading, your choice. Remember you can click on the thumbnail photos to see a larger version of them!

June 2007, Jerry and I take Matt to Disneyland for his 25th birthday and buy him a So Cal pass in hopes he’ll have time for some serious goofing off. Hard to believe our youngest is 25 already. He had an interview with the Marriot as a contract processor for time shares.

Good friends Pauline and Valerie from Illinois came for a weeks visit in June as well. We’ve been having a blast. Shopping, eating, visiting, going to Disneyland, more shopping, you name it it probably happened here or at least we thought about it. It had been 9 years since we’d seen each other, 12 years since they moved away. Pauline is going through a divorce, and has been struggling with it for some time. End of Oct and she’ll be available. She is one gorgeous lady so if you’re interested let me know.

Jerry’s still doing the job search thing. Believe it or not it’s been a year since he was let go from Ericsson, and a long one at that. He enjoyed his 3 week contract with Hyundai in May. There have been a few nibbles but nothing solid yet. his usual patient, helpful self. I count my blessings often when I think about how my life could have been different. My biological father did my sister and I a great service when he put us up for adoption at the age of 1 and 2. We ended up with great parents, and grew up in a small town where I eventually met my husband. He’s has been by my side through thick and thin for the last 36 years. Believe me I know who the better half is in our marriage. Jerry is the kind of husband every woman wishes for; he doesn’t mind that the living room is shabby chic mixed with traditional style. He doesn’t mind my love of fairies and that they are in every room of the house except for his study. He helps out with the day to day chores, is sympathetic when I don’t feel well and is all for a house that looks lived in not spick and span clean. And to boot he is damn handsome with blue eyes that invite at least 1 Disneyland cast member to want to look into them. She told him so while I stood by his side.

Matt landed the job at Marriot in June, did his temp to perm time and is now a permanent employee at the Marriot Contract Processor Portfolio Sales West department. He doesn’t seem to have a lot of spare time, something I know he was hoping to have with his new job. He comes for a visit about every other week and we love it. We’ll watch TV, eat a home cooked meal and work through any laundry he’s brought home. Other times he spends with friends at Disneyland or goofing off.  Jason is fine, he keeps busy working at the local Wildberries grocery store as stock manager and doing his thing; skimboarding on the beach, running, making music with his guitar and equipment, sending it to us via email. He’s jammed with a few friends, something he enjoys a  lot. The last phone conversation we had he told us about spending time with his boss and employee friends at the lake, water ski-ing, bbqing, and having fun.

My dear Uncle Jim celebrated his 80th birthday in June so Jerry, Matthew and I drove down to San Diego to congratulate him and spend time with family. Relatives came from all over California so it was a pleasant surprise to see so many of them after so long. Jerry and I got married at Lou and Jim’s house over 36 years ago and we have remained close to them. We certainly feel blessed.

In July I finished painting the master bedroom and retreat area in 2 shades of turqouise. I sewed a bed sham, pillows, and curtains, applied a rub on on the arch way between the 2 rooms and Jerry built a small work area for me between 2 white bookcases we got from a friend. It was a huge amount of work, some of which my friend Karen helped me with. We love how it turned out.

 I’ve also traveled to Torrance, our old stomping grounds 22 years ago, to spend time with and sew for good friends Beth and Steve. I always have a blast when I’m up there as they as sooo good to me! Their son Matthew called from Iraq while I was there so that was a nice surprise. He goes for 2 months, then  is home for 2 months. They have 2 cat who loved helping me sew. Tigger had the most fun!

 Jerry’s brother Bill and family came for a visit, after they vacationed at Disneyland and California Adventure. We met them one night for a dinner at the Rain Forest Cafe, a fun but noisey place to eat. It was great seeing the kids again, they’ve grown up so fast. Zach wasn’t able to come with them, but Josh, 15 was, as was Shelby who’s 9, and Ryan who’s 4. Fun and busy.

 August Jerry, Terry, Karen and I went on the new OC Great Balloon Park ride which is free until the end of the year. The ride was short but spectacular. The balloon is attached to the ground with a cable and the ride is a metal donut shape basket.  

I’ve been continuing my Remicade treatments for my Rheumatoid Arthritis and recently switched to a new medication in hopes of helping my Fibromyalgia. I’ve started back in physical therapy with a great Dr who specializes in Fibromyalgia. Dr. Leon Melkonian is in Costa Mesa and great at this job. Look him up in the phone book if you want someone who is kind and compassionate as well as qualified.

My sister, Dee and I celebrated our 55th and 54th birthdays. How on earth did we get to be so old? Sure is a scary thing. I only wish we could have celebrated it together. I had a group of friends over to help celebrate it and it was fun! A special thanks to all of my wonderful friends, whom over the years have always reminded me of my strengths, held me when I was down, and cried and laughed with me through all the trials of my life. Without you, I couldn’t have made it.

Jerry and I along with Terry finally got to ride on Finding Nemo. The wait has been long ever since the ride opened this summer. The special effects were pretty good, the subs are the same and still cramped.  Jerry and I go with Terry to Disneyland usually every other week, I sometimes go 1 time a week for several weeks, Terry goes every week. We always have fun!

Our friends and family have been so wonderful to us since Jerry was laid off. We have treated to so many dinners, lunches and get togethers, we’ve leaned on shoulders, bent ears and in general made to feel very special from family and friends near and far. A big shout out of thanks to everyone.

Our good friend Jill gave us her free ticket to Universal, so added to mine  and Terry and Karen’s it made for a full day of fun! It has been years since all of us have gone and it was a much needed escape from the day to day stress of life lately. I stayed out of trouble most of the time !

Stress tripled this summer when my sister Dee, and her boyfriend Tyrus who live in Texas, both lost their jobs. Tyrus is a mechanic and Dee had worked as an office supervisor for a donation center for 10 years. Jerry and I can certainly understand what they are going through! Prayers and wishes for jobs now got to them as well as Jerry.

This October Jill and Steve Bennet’s son Alex was hospitalized and had an operation on his brain due to unexplained brain bleeding. The Dr’s discovered an earlier bleed that probably happened as an infant. He is recouperating nicely, but will not go back to his Sophmore year at UCI until winter quarter in January. It’s been a frightening time for these wonderful friends of ours. Thanks so much to our friends who prayed for his recovery. We are so happy and thankful that you are doing well Alex, shown on right.

Jerry and I both got new computers, mine was because my old one was running slower than normal for a while, and we got a notice that “computer failure was imminent”, so after much talk and research we broke down and bought a new one for me. As far as getting files over from the old one to the new one, lets just say it’s always a chore. Jerry spent at least 4 days doing one thing after another and I think we’re finally set up “all systems go”. That is another blessing he brings to our marriage; he’s computer tech savy! Lucky me! I now have an HP, Intel Core 2 Duo, 2048 MB Memory, 320 GB, DVD Burner & 22″ monitor. Jerry has a slighter better version of the same HP computer with the dual core processor and a 24″ flat panel screen. He’s working hard on getting his new blog up and running, so stop by and take a look; http://geraldsfuller.com/ where he is “blogging for $”. Eventually it will have ads on it, but the look of it will be almost the same. He’s had to learn Word Press, web hosting, mySQL, as well as a lot of other information pertaining to creating this new blog. I will eventually have a blog too, which will in time replace my old website Pitterpat. My new blog will be at; http://patriciaafuller.com/

All in all it’s been an interesting summer. We’re thinking positive about our life and looking forward to the New Year.