Rain in CC as of March 26, 2007

30" as of 3-26-07. 41" as of 3-26-06

Thankful

After the Lisi's scare, Ben's cancer, Sandi's loss of her sister, our own grand daughters scare with her lymph node surgery. All these things are a sobering reminder or how precious life and family are.

Some time ago two of my windows were broken out at the place of my business. As I looked at it, the first thought was that it might be a couple of eighty year old women fooling around. Just kidding. Actually I figured a couple of kids were feeling their adolescent hormones. Why didn't I figure it was a couple of old ladies? Because usually we fall into well worn grooves of behavior, that many have traveled before. If something is vandalized it probably kids. If there is a car driving too slow in the fast lane, in a '81 Chrysler, it's an old person.

Most young people act as if they are invincible; they ignore old people, but they can't wait for the next sign of maturity; like being tall enough to ride the roller coaster; getting a drivers license; old enough to date; old enough to drink alcohol. They're all in great a rush to get to those prime years where they are independent and can find life's adventures on their own. When I was young I could take a hundred pounds weight and 'snatch' it over my head with one arm; I could swim against a rip tide all day and never tire; I could run full speed across a jetty of boulders and not miss a step. But now.....I need to have a girl help me get something off the top shelf at Wal-Mart! If I trip and fall, it takes me three days to recover. And if I need to lift something I have to wait for my son to come around.

Now that I've lived about two-thirds of my life, I'm more and more contemplating what is truly valuable in life. Someone said, "nothing matters but relationships". Now that I'm older, I'm convinced this is true, and everything else is just frosting. The Westminster Catechism says that "the chief end for man is to glorify God..." I believe God is glorified when we play ball or fish with our kids; when we kiss our mothers; when we listen to an old neighbor's complaints. God is especially glorified when we show our appreciation for the wonderful things he has done for us - including the families he's blessed us with.

So far I don't really mind getting old. When I was a child and I looked forward to getting older I saw it as a great opportunity, and it was, but now I see old age as a wonderful mercy. What if we lived unceasingly in youthful self indulgence? There is nothing like the realities of old age to align a man's priorities, and to force him to think about, not only eternity, but also those whom God has given us. I thank God for my wife and kids, and the brothers and sisters and their kids too. I am really blessed!

Excuuuuuuuuuuuse me, but I'll take carpe diem award back!!

What a great day! Randy and I went kayaking this morning, or at least until he started feeling a little seasick. Actually the picture looks like I'm trying to fend off a shark, doesn't it? Then on the way back home I saw a log on the beach and so I dropped off the kayaks and loaded up the saw. I ended up cutting a pickup load of wood on the beach in about 1/2 hour. I dropped that off at home, cleaned up and went to listen to a free concert. A five piece brass band from the Air Force was putting on a free concert downtown. Then we went out to dinner and now for some reason I'm tired. I'm sure glad that it's Sunday tomorrow. Of course, if you think about it, what day generally follows Saturday?

Good night,
Jim

It has been a long week...........

I wish I could say something pithy, wise, or profound...but I can't. It's been a long week. Sandi drove back to Santa Rosa Thursday morning and listened to two more days of testimony during the trial of the person that killed MaryLou. She will be in about 10:00 tonight (Friday). Below I've included the website of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat if you would like to read the story. Also, you can get the flavor of the community there if you read the comments. I posted a comment too.
Jim
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070317/NEWS/70317008&SearchID=73275876011129

You should've seen the size of that crab!!!

Andrew and I went fishing last Sunday, but we were there after the high tide and the bite for perch is supposed to be on the incoming tide. This crab leg was calling for me to take a picture of Andrew as we were leaving. Hmmm... I think that I may be feeling ill next week sometime.

Sandi got back from Santa Rosa at about 11:00 last night. She taught today and I think that she's going back down for court Thursday and Friday. The judge expects it to wrap up this week and the jury getting the case on Friday afternoon. It was hard for her to hear everything, but it's part of the closure process.

Jim

Rainfall in CC 3-19-07

After about 10 days without any rain it started raining again last night. Last year on this date we had 40" since Jan. 1.

Life is goooooouud!

Yeaaaaa, I did it. I am s-m-a-r-t!! I got onto the blog so I can add my two cents worth. Congratulations Jim and Sandi for 28 years of love and committment. I loved the wedding picture.

Jim, you are going to be pretty lonesome with Sandi gone for the trial and now Randy gone too. Keep us posted on the trial and how Sandi is holding up. Is she taking a leave of absence from work?

Dick I think you asked me what MAC I got Lydia. Well, it was the white one with the apple on it!! I'm too lazy to go look up the model # but it burns CD's and DVD's. I haven't heard from her all week so I don't know if she got it up and running yet. She started a new job and she is exhausted. Sometimes our phone service does not work at all. One week she called for about 4 days straight and the service would just say, "no service available". She was pretty frustrated.

I have been having a hard weekend this weekend. I have missed Lydia a lot and feel very estranged from her since I can't get thru on the phone. I can relate to Jim...it's very hard to grow up!

This weekend I walked about 5 miles and enjoyed very cold, windy and grey weather. Every kind of weather is good in San Francisco.

Do any of you have suggestions on how we can get the blogspot communicated to the twins and Rick and Bonnie? Love you all.

Congrats to Jim and Sandi/on the coast

Seems as though God gives us special angels to help us along our way. The twins have Jess. Leuria has Rich, Ben has Illa. I have Karen etc. But it appears some of us need two angels! Jim had Helen, and now Sandi for twenty eight years. Really, I don't know what us men would be like without our women. Maybe a mix of Dick and Chuck! Oh not, not that. But remember Dick and Chuck, the Apostle Paul was never married; so it isn't so bad I guess. But Paul was a guy who seems to love making trouble (I rest my case Dick); took pleasure in infimities; rejoiced when beaten. And was the main spokesman for women being in subjection to a man! No wonder he wasn't married. Everyone knows who's really the boss, right Jim? AnywayI glad God gave you two angels, guess he figured you need it.
Karen and I are at the coast right now, she's taking a nap. Definitely the best day I've ever seen here. No wind, t-shirt and shorts. In our trailer with all the windows open. Not a good day to be a duck! Peter

Our 28th anniversary.

Wow, it's hard to believe. This Saturday, Sandi and will have been married for 28 years. It just seems like yesterday when I was wrapping my arm around her arm and trying to take a drink of the fake "double bubble." It's been a good 28 years. I have a lot to be thankful for.

I don't think I'm old enough........,

but maybe I am. It's been somewhat of a busy week. Randy has been saying he's going to be moving out...again, but yesterday it really happened. I know in all childrens' lives there is just such a time, but I don't think I'm old enough for him to do this. He's been wanting to do this for some time, but I was always coming up with good reasons why he shouldn't; mom's cooking, save money, free laundry, covered parking, mom's cooking. Did I mention Sandi's cooking? Yes, I wanted him at home. Some things about growing up aren't as fun as they seem. Makes me feel really old.

Another thing that makes me feel old is the fact that he can fix computer problems that I don't even understand. Case in point: tonight we had to go through the process of changing internet accounts from his account to our new account since he was paying for it while he was here. Yes, I did offer him the opportunity to pay for it even though he wouldn't be living here. He said, "no thanks." He's a very courteous boy. Anyway, I went down to get the "self-install" kit. Yeh, right. I took the installation process as far as I could and I had to wait for him to come over and finish it. I was close...only a cyber space away from solving it, just a couple clicks away. Now, I really feel old.
Jim

Carpe diem

Glenda gets the 'carpe diem' award for the day. She called me today and said that she was standing at the top of a cliff that overlooks the Golden Gate Bridge. While it sounded somewhat neat, I told her not to jump. Actually, she was at a great moment in her life and she was wanting to spread the joy and I feel honored that she called me. Kind of like getting ready to jump out of an airplane and calling someone to try to explain why a person would jump out of a perfectly good airplane to feel the sensation of falling. It doesn't make sense, but that is the type of thing that people do when they want to share the 'joy.' Anyway, carpe diem to her. I had just stepped into the house from getting wood and mowing the yard. Was I a slightly bit envious? No, I was a lot envious. But, I need to do what I was doing and she did what she felt the need to do. More power to her. I'm tired and happy, she's tired and happy. Who's better off? We both are because we were able to do what we needed to do.
Jim
P.S. She didn't jump.

Bugs, bugs......

Dick,
If you made it that to the posting page you did well. But, instead of 'save as draft' you must 'publish' so it can be posted to the page rather than being saved as a draft. By the way it was kind of both Sandi's and my idea, or rather I saw how much she uses her blog to correspond with her side of the family.

Jim

The Inception

Houston, we had a problem and this is a test. I've copied a previous comment that made to see if I can do it.

Really, it's not about any one of us in particular, but all of us. All of Glenna's children, grandchildren, and significant others (isn't that the proper politically correct term to use when one isn't sure of their relationship? Come on help me out).

A central cyberspace place to post that which interests us or that which others may find interesting informative, or maybe even downright annoying. Basically a place to share, vent, console, complain, communicate, and converse.

What say thee? Let's try to get to know each other without actually being physically in the same room. Yes, we're living in the future.

jnshoop@blogspot.com

Garcia / Rouzaud Family Blog

Ok, I'm doing this a little different. Jim reminded me of something I forgot. Since I had to change things I lost some comments. BUT, now YOU can post! Hurrah.

Anyway, share this with everyone. I'll email the username / password to you -if I have your email address. If you don't get it, call Jim, me or someone will have it.