Author: Lisa

Controversial

I am a pro-choice, pro-death penalty, pro-gun, Catholic, Democrat.   I’m pretty sure not all of those things go together, but that’s just the way I am.

I hope for a world where people responsible and don’t have to choose life or abortion.    I hope for a world where people with guns don’t  need to kill anyone, and a world where people don’t deserve the death penalty (because if you harm someone without regard to their wish to live and be happy, then you deserve the death penalty).   I wish for a church without so much conflict who accepts the way I’ve lived my life (afterall, God gave me choices to make, right?), and well, maybe we could stop disliking Democrats so much, but there you go.

Really, George Bush was a Republican and so was Mittens Romulan.   Why wouldn’t you want to be a Democrat?

🙂

Nebraska … the movie

This movie reminds me a lot of rural Nebraska.   There are some beautiful spots in rural Nebraska.   Interesting farmhouse architecture, lovely countryside, cows, corn, etc.   Everyone knows each other and you probably would sit in front of the TV when you went to visit your relatives you haven’t seen for awhile.

Somehow, the rural scene is lost on me, really, at my age.

I remember summers traveling from Omaha to rural Illinois, where we met up with my grandparents and some of my other relatives.   Cousins, aunts, uncles, great-grandparents.   It was the highlight of my life, really.   Being in small-town Illinois was where I felt at home.

I guess I will always be from Illinois in my heart.

Good morning, Citizen

eagleas3Every year, thousands of men, women and children from all over the world become US Citizens. The path to Citizenship is not always easy, and you certainly do NOT have to be a citizen to live in America. Some people live here for 30 years or more with just a green card, which is “leave to remain” without being a citizen.

Nevertheless,  Ian made his way (by plane) to America and set to learning about America, in addition to marrying his lovely fianceé (me) and adopting his beautiful daughter. But he wanted to have a say in our government. He wanted to be able to vote, and maybe own a weapon (these two things are not related, btw, except that citizenship is required for certain things.) 🙂

So he practiced Citizenship questions day and night for several months. He went to sleep with the questions and answers playing in his head via his audio CD.

After several (5) various visa applications, on March 4, 2013, Ian attended his appointment at the US Immigration Building in Omaha, Nebraska, answered questions about the formation and continuation of the US Government, his rights, his privileges and his contributions to the United States of America, as a legal Citizen.

We are proud of this day when someone we love would choose to live in America, as an American and be excited and proud to do so. We are proud of you every day.

Happy Citizenship Day to my amazing husband.

I Was Just Getting Used to the Idea

I was just getting used to the idea of our 13-year-old daughter having a “boyfriend”. We went to movies as chaperones, of sorts, although we wanted to see the movies anyway. We went to dinner once, laughed a little, watched her (passively) text all night to him.

And then, one day, it was all over. I wasn’t expecting to take it hard, really, but I kind of did. I mean, I wasn’t a basket case, but it was all a bit sad. I was just getting used to the idea, and then there was no idea to get used to anymore. Just like that.

What happened? “Things just weren’t working. Things changed.” What things changed? We apparently will never know. The questions are answered with, “I know you’re curious and that’s normal, but it wasn’t working out.”

Ok, then.

“Plus, we still have Alicia to take to lunch and movies.”

That sounds ok.

Can we just not have this again until much later?

Catching up.

So, it was back to work today after a not-so-glorious 4 days off. Two days were the weekend, and two days were, “I have a stomach virus and I’m going to die, I hope” days. I blame the … well, I can’t really say the name of this dairy item anymore. Let’s just say, I’m not eating much dairy right now. Bleh.

My mom is in a skilled nursing facility. She broke her hip. She had surgery. She is starting to have a short-term memory again. It is a rough time for anyone to have no short-term memory. You have to be reminded of the same thing every minute of the day. And your family needs to remind you why you’re in the hospital and reassure you that you’re actually going to be ok and going home sometime. I hope she is on the road to recovery. My mom and dad sounded like their old selves again today.

It’s been a stressful time.

I’m flying down to Texas in a week or so to spend some time with them. It’s been hard to be away.

The dogs are starting to be normal. They are not trying to kill each other every minute of the day. They are growing fast and they are both lovely in their own puppy ways.

We went to PetSmart today to get more puppy food. Ian tried taking Nemo inside, but he screamed his head off the moment he saw any other dog in the store. In the meantime, I was trying to get Chloe out of the parking lot and into the store. Luckily, some Golden Retriever owners saw her resistance and called her closer to the store. Chloe will always go toward people, but toward things, not so much. 🙂 Once into the store, she found the carpet and refused to move. Nemo was back in the car, so Ian watched her for awhile until I could grab some food and we left the store.

Not an amazing bonding story, by any definition of those words. 🙂 Oh well.

Pictures of the day..

A Year Ago Today

I sent text to my sister-in-law out-of-the-blue and found she was mid-crisis with her father.   He passed away just minutes after I asked her if my brother was on the way.

Most “little girls” are devastated to lose her daddy.    My sister-in-law was no exception.

I like to think that Jimmy is looking down on his little girl every day, watching her, admiring her, being so very proud of her for the accomplishments in her life and the difficulties she’s overcome, and the times when her heart is just full of love for her family and friends.   And her daddy.

Jimmy and Lainie. A proud moment.

 

Our 4th Anniversary

Hard to believe, but it has been 4 years since Ian and I were married.   It was 4pm at the Douglas County Courthouse .. 4 years ago.  We were dressed to get married and we brought a photographer with us, and a few guests, like my family and our friends Lori, Kate and Steve.

IMG_8158Several people cried.   It was a wonderful ceremony by The Honorable Susan Bazis.

After the ceremony, we headed to the Upstream Brewing Company and had some lovely schnitzel, a beautiful wedding cake made by their pastry chef and some raspberry beer.   It was awesome, courtesy of my mom and dad.

Four years later, we were in a slightly warmer Dallas, where we were visiting for Thanksgiving, looking at apartments and having dinner at the ever-so-lovely Lawry’s Prime Rib Dallas.   We got dressed up and borrowed my dad’s SUV and drove downtown all by ourselves.    My husband pulled out my chair for me.   🙂   The service and the food… to die for, really.   The ambience; unforgettable.

A glass of the best Cabernet and a toast to us with my husband of 4 years, priceless.

 

 

Happy Birthday to Ian

London Tube!
London Tube!

49 years ago, a baby was born several thousand miles away who would eventually be my best friend and my husband.   I am thankful and happy to have you in my life.   Sometimes I look at you and think, “Thank God for you”.   Thanks for loving me and making me laugh and talking me into feeling better when I don’t want to.   Thanks for making me think about things that never occur to me, and making my dinner most days.  Thanks for listening when I disagree with you and saying I’m right sometimes (I like to win).   Thanks for your patience when everything seems to go wrong and your support when everything goes right.    You are a wonderful husband

Other times, I think, “Brittany is so lucky to have you for a dad, someone who loves and cares for her so much.”   Thank you for being such an awesome dad.  Thank you for dropping everything at the last minute and making random trips to school to drop off things forgotten, taking her to the doctor and knowing the right things to say when I can’t voice those things myself.

Thanks for sharing your dreams with us and making our lives happy.

Everyone loves you, but I get to spend my whole life with you.   How lucky I am, indeed.

Happy, happy birthday to the man I love!  ❤

Design a site like this with 监禁姐妹教师.com
Get started