Simply a tribute!

Mar 5, 2008

Current mood:blessed

I am so very lucky to be the mom of two incredible daughters. I simply cannot imagine my life without them. They keep my young, laughing, and always on my toes. They are the very best of the best.

Today is my tribute to Alyssa. She's my oldest. She's such a bright person and very aware and sensitive to others. She's been there for me whenever I need a shoulder. I can't say that's my proudest thing, because I am not sure kids are supposed to be so strong for their parents, when that is the parental role for the child. But she is very attuned to me and knows when I need my hugs.

Alyssa is an adult. Such a hard milestone for a parent to accept. She makes her own decisions and sometimes I don't agree with them but I try very hard to support them. Even more, I want to support her dreams and see her do and become everything that is important to her.

My mom is becoming more difficult to care for daily. When I needed to go to Cincy for a week, Alyssa offered to take an unpaid week off work to assist with her care. She has had a wonderful attitude despite how difficult it is. I am so proud of how she has stepped up to the plate and really accepted responsibility in this. It's not been a pleasant situation.

Alyssa, I want you to know how very much appreciated you are. This is a tough time in my life, seeing my mother deteriorate and slip away from us. No matter what our past has been, my Mom is my Mom and I love her dearly. What you are doing for her, and therefore me... well, I can't express it in words what it means to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are so wonderful!!

I forgot to mention that she has some other things happening in her life that are not mine to discuss... but they make me soooo proud!! You rock girl!!

2:34 PM

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There really is an upside to snow!

Mar 5, 2008

Current mood:disgusted

At least when the ground is covered with snow the damn cat doesn't bring in any living or dead mice!!

5:46 PM

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Krissy

haha! you put "living" in!!!

and you know it just means he looooves you!

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3 years ago

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Betsy Gully

Well, after you mentioned it I realized that I detest the live ones he brings in even more than the dead ones... yuck!!

At least MY cat has better ways of showing me how much she loves me!!!

On the road again...

Originally posted on MySpace on Mar 2, 2008

Back in the St. Paul/Minneapolis airport doing the reverse trip.  I can't quite figure out why dh books direct flights for himself and sends me all around the countryside to get home.  It's all paid for by the company and he doesn't worry about saving a few bucks when he's traveling - only when I am.  What's up with that?? 
I ended up going to the design center on three separate days.  Dh went with me the second trip and we chose the exterior portions of the house.  Even though I had stressed to him and showed him photos of a color combo I really REALLY liked, he went in a totally diffferent direction.  We had talked about it the night before and I stressed how awesome this choice was, but when we got to the design center, he started making choices based on their 1x2' panels.  I was NOT happy.  I can only think of one other time in 23 years that I stressed how important something was to me just to have him ignore me.  After that visit we went back to KY and through the communities looking at exteriors again.  When I turned onto the street that the house I loved was on his eyes popped.  I wanted to slap him up aside the head!! 

DUH DINGBAT, TRUST ME!!

He left before my last appointment at the design center, but he assured me that he would trust me on whatever I chose for the exterior.  However, he did not want the brick he'd picked out the day before.  LOL!!
I did learn an important lesson.  When you upgrade piece by piece over three visits it doesn't seem like you are spending as much as if you'd upgraded all at the beginning.  Say you start with $5,000 worth of upgrades and a day later add $2,500 more and a day later than that add another $2,500 more.  The final $10,000 doesn't feel so bad as it would have sounded on day one.  WTF, we're all going to die penniless anyway, right??
When I left KY this morning all the snow had melted and it was starting to look like spring might just be around the corner.  I understand it was snowing again in UT.  I'm ready for some tulips and daffodils in my yard.  And green grass.  And leaf buds on the trees. And some fruit blossoms on our apple, cherry and apricot trees.  I'd even go for some weeds right now if they are green and colorful....
Can't wait to get back home!!

Good times in Cincy & N Kentucky

Originally posted on MySpace on Feb 28, 2008

Current mood:excited

Can you believe it is harder to find a Starbucks in Northern Kentucky than it is in Utah?  How weird is that???  I finally found a nice size one off of Turkeyfoot Road (these are the names I am going to have to learn... no more Sitzmark or Quail Run roads ) and plugged in and settled down with my latte.
It's been snowing most of the time I have been here this visit, but nothing has really stuck other than where there is already snow. Seems much warmer than it did in January - thank God!
The visit to the design center was fun but almost a little disappointing.  I expected to be selecting a lot more things and was very disappointed to find that wall color, other than white, off white, off off white and really white white, were my only choices.  The model home has amazing color on the main floor and I totally wanted to copy it. I was told to expect at least 8 hours there and I was done in 4.  Mark works with a man whose wife spent three days there.  I can't even imagine, other than she must have upgraded totally EVERYTHING and had to go through a million times more options. I didn't pick out the exeterior brick yet and spent all of yesterday driving around the various communities and looking at what my options are. The design center brick samples were about 2x3 feet and Candice thought I would have an easier time looking at the full effect of the brick on a house. I have to say that was excellent advice.
Candice, the gal I worked with was wonderful.  She collected samples of all my choices as we went along and had them ready every step of the way to compare with the 'total package' so I could be sure I loved how it was all going together.  Again there were some items that we thought were included in the contract and some others that I didn't realize we had inadvertantly excluded.  The model has hardwood floors in the family room and we assumed (bad word!) that it was standard.  Nope, now we have an additional cost to upgrade there.  We opted for quartz countertops as they are basically maintanence free, but I was in love with the granite in the model.  We are staying with quartz in this case, but went totally opposite of the look I originally fell in love with.  But it's all good, I hope!
There are about six gray haired old men outside of this Starbucks all wearing black berets.  They look like an elderly old group of those guardian angel dudes who keep the streets safe for us simple folk....  Maybe they all retire to Northern Kentucky?
Anyway, a few of the photos I promised...

This is the model of the home we chose.  This is the elevation (front exterior) we want.  We had to chose another originally because of the homesite we chose, but with the move to a different homesite we are able to build this elevation (we love the porch area). I love the shingles below the eaves on the front of the home and how they add variety in color and texture. Our home will be the reverse of this one, with the garages on the left instead of the right.

This is the same home, reversed, with the other elevation so it looks a little different, but it has the garages on the left like ours will, and also has the carriage garage. So imagine this little side garage attached to ours as well.  There's actually a two car garage with side entry.  So the windows on the front here are the side wall of the two car garage and this carriage garage is set  back behind the two garage doors.  Does that make any sense, or do I have to take another photo?

This is just the entry into our community.  All those blurry spots are snowflakes.  Notice the lack of mountains and hills and evergreen trees?  I sure do!!!

Sittin’ and waitin’ and wishin’ & hopin’

Originally published on MySpace on Feb 25, 2008

I am currently sitting in the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport waiting for my connecting flight to Cincy. It leaves at 1:00 which is a LONG time from now - especially if you consider I was up at the butt-crack (thanks Alyssa, for that descriptive word) of dawn to catch my flight here. 
This airport is HUGE.  My flight docked about 3 miles from where my connecting flight takes off, and for that I am happy that I have a 3.5 hour wait. I was worried about not getting enough exercize. Ha!!  After a walk that included about 10 moving walkways and an incredibly short tram ride (about 1/2 block - what was the point of that??!!) and more moving walkways, two down escalators and two more up escalators, I am parked outside the gate for Cincy.  I am in a little enclosure where others have plugged in their laptops and pulled out their cell phones and conducted their business so I thought I would as well.  However, suddenly, they have all disappeared and I have become the lady that looks like she knows something.  If one more person comes up and asks me about their flight, I may have to pack up and resort to reading. 
Seems several flights have been cancelled from here due to fog today and I am only praying that i don't become one of them.  I've been there before and I do empathize with these stranded passengers... not to mention the airport employees that take the brunt of the frustration.  Ick - not for me!
If I make it to Cincy today I am really excited about the task ahead. Heck, I love all of it.  I know Mark hates travelling so much, but he does stay at the downtown ***** (encoded for my privacy!  LOL) with all the great amenities and the big ol' lavish and comfy bed.  A whole week, no cooking, cleaning or nothing! Better yet, no taking Mom back and forth to the bathroom, bedroom, livingroom or all the nasty stuff that goes along with that. I love her but....!!  Thanks Alyssa & Harriet!!
Mark is leaving Cincy on Friday, home in Utah for less than 24 hours and then flies out to go skiing with his buddies at Whistler.  I am envious but he didn't fly me out of Cincy until Sunday so I figure I am in for a good full two days of SHOPPING!!  I simply am NOT going to complain about that! 
Stay tuned for the photos that will be appearing shortly. 

Hi ho, hi ho, To O-Hi-O I go...

Originally published on MySpace on Feb 22, 2008

Current mood:excited

We did it.  We negotiated an offer with a builder for a new home in Northern Kentucky.  Hubby will be working in Cincy, across the river, but we will be living in the beautiful Kentucky countryside.
So we have the lot in our preferred community, we have the house design we love, we have the financing and now I get to go and pick out all the details... that means I am off to the design center. 
Never lived in an all new home before and I am soooo excited!! I'd love to post a picture but the one I have is a bit different from what we are building. I plan to take a photo of the model home when we are there this time and I'll share that when I come back.
We didn't get the first lot we made an offer on - long story - but the lot we did get was Mark's first choice, my second choice, so it's still all good.  We back onto a gully with shrub & trees that seclude us from our back yard neighbors. We will be just one house away from a community area and pathway that leads to the pool and there is also a small lake or pond that Bailey is absolutely going to LOVE swimming in. 
I'm not entirely sure what to expect at the design center.  I was told to allow at least eight hours.  One of Mark's co-workers is building in a community owned by the same builder and he said his wife took 3 days to complete the design center appointment. Yikes! I think it's going to be things like choosing our countertops, flooring, paint colors, etc.  I wish I could take some helpers along with me.  It's starting to sound like a whole lot of pressure... fun, definitely, but pressure, too!
This is going to make moving a bunch more fun!!

10:16 PM

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    ♥Cid not so Vicious♥ That is so exciting, Betsy! It sounds like so much fun to be able to go and pick everything out for your new house...I can't wait to see pictures!
    
    Good luck with your appointment at the design center.
    {{{Big hugs}}}
    

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    3 years ago
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      Betsy Gully Thank you!! I am so excited to have this to look forward to since we will be so close to being empty nesters. I guess we have to have something else to focus on now.
      

      3 years ago
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    Gordon Lee Greetings Ms. Badonkadonk
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    Woo whee. I have a pretty good idea what you're up against. My darling young bride and I just went through all that last year when we sold our Lee Mansion in Maryland and picked out a lovely little spit of land on the beautiful muddy banks of Elizabeth Creek where we had plopped down our brand new super deluxe custom-built double-wide here in Texass. Your lot sounds a whole lot like the one we picked. We too back up to the creek and are a short distance from the community center and pool.
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    We were very lucky that our real estate agent volunteered to go with us to the design center. She had just recently before us had a home built and knew how daunting it was to pick and choose stuff that you must live with permanently. Having that agent with us was a big help. You're lucky getting eight hours. We were only allowed three (we were told we had to pay by the hour if we went over the three hours). Our agent hinted at things that worked in her house and things that didn't work. Plus, she broke the tie when my bride and I disagreed.
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    The design center folks had the decision making process down to a science. They use a check-off list and hop from item right to the next. They won't let you forget anything. Just go ahead, take a deep breath, and have fun.
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    Respectfully,
    
    Gordon Lee
    

    • Reply(1)

    3 years ago
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      Betsy Gully Thank you, Mr. Lee, for sharing your experience! I don't think I have a time limit on my design center visit - but I am sure hoping it doesn't take more than one day. Oh, never mind - since I have to go it alone I will probably have to go back with hubby in tow for his approval.
      

      3 years ago

Why "KING" you ask?

Originally published on MySpace on Feb 18, 2008

Current mood:sad

Find out here:
Lawrence King

8:12 PM

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    Jason Black Thanks Betsy

    • Reply(1)

    3 years ago
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      Betsy Gully Certainly!

      3 years ago
      
      
      
      This is Jason's blog at the link above:
      
      Feb 20, 2008
      

      Lawrence King

      
      

      Current mood:angry

      A 15-year-old California boy who police say was shot at his junior high school has been taken off life support and his organs have been given away. Authorities say Lawrence King was targeted this week by a younger boy because he came to school in Oxnard dressed like a woman.

      
      

      Prosecutors have charged 14-year-old Brandon David McInerney with premeditated murder and want him tried as an adult. McInerney has been jailed on $770,000 bail. A medical examiner plans an autopsy Friday.

      
      

      ''It is inevitable that this is going to become a murder case,'' Ventura County prosecutor Maeve Fox said.

      
      

      King was shot in the head Tuesday morning during a class at E.O. Green Junior High in Oxnard, police said. More than 20 other students were in the room at the time.

      
      

      Fox said she could not discuss the facts behind the allegation of a hate crime because those details of the case have not been publicly disclosed. Oxnard police have not specified a motive but said there appeared to be a personal dispute between the two.

      
      

      King sometimes came to school wearing makeup and high heels, eighth-grader Nicholas Cortez, 14, told the Associated Press.

      
      

      Another eighth-grader, Michael Sweeney, said King's appearance was ''freaking the guys out,'' the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday. ''He would come to school in high-heeled boots, makeup, jewelry, and painted nails -- the whole thing,'' Sweeney told the Times.

      
      

      King was pronounced brain-dead at St. John's Regional Medical Center on Wednesday, said Craig Stevens, senior deputy medical examiner in Ventura County. Doctors planned to remove some of his organs for donation Thursday, Stevens said.

      
      

      ''I think that's what he would have wanted,'' the boy's father, Greg King, told the Ventura County Star.

      
      

      Lawrence King had been under the care of the county foster care system and lived at Casa Pacifica, a nearby center for abused and neglected children, said Steve Elson, the facility's chief executive.

      
      

      ''We're are all stunned, and it's just an unspeakable tragedy,'' Elson said Wednesday. ''This is a very big traumatic experience for all of us.''

      
      

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      I heard about this on Friday and was in complete shock. There has been no national news coverage. A search on Fox News and CNN, both of which claim to be the best news source in the country showed up nothing but local to San Francisco status reports on his medical condition. No one but a few of his classmates even seem to care that a 15 year old boy was shot in the head because he wore girl clothes and maybe hit on a male student. The above story is from Advocate.com and is one of the few that has any detail to it, I found one other in the San Francisco Times. There are commentary stories popping up about this tragedy, but where is the outrage? Where is the anger that a child was murdered by another child?

      
      

      Contact The Human Rights Campaign Fund here to incourage them to get involved in this incident and make some noise about this before it happens to another gay kid.

      
      

      Contact PFLAG here, for info on how you can become a part of making your community and school a more tolerant place.

      
      

      Then contact your kids/nephews, neices, cousins, little brother or sister's school and tell them you want to volunteer to teach tolerance in the school. The school board will have a website and so will the school itself. Do it now. Before your kid is shot in the head or has to watch some other kid die because they are brave enough to be who they really are.

      
      

      I would also like to ask all of you who can, to change your MySpace name to _______ King for the week. Then people will ask you why and you can tell them about Lawrence King and how he was murdered and maybe by spreading this story around ourselves we can help prevent something like this from happening again.

      and YES, I deleted comments, some people decided this was a place to show their ass and I tried to respond with sarcasm and my own brand of typed eye-rolling, BUT, it seems that was misunderstood, and some people took it upon themselves to attack certain people; so the drama has been deleted, if your comments were tied to those comments they have probably been deleted too.
      Thank you all for getting the word out about Lawrence King and helping to educate people about the tragedy that ended his life.