well even teenagers can make a mom proud once in a while....yesterday was veterans day....before moving to Arizona I used take my girls on base for veterans day or memorial day ceremonies to try to teach them to appreciate our military men and women....Sadly I have not done any thing since moving here.....Yesterday I took the girls to the mall and Rose my 15 year old spotted a older gentlemen with a walker and a veterans patch on his hat....before I even had a chance to, she walked right up to him stuck her hand out to shake his hand and said, "my name is Rose, thank you for serving our country"

My youngest turned 15 yesterday.......Wes and I took her shopping on sunday for a birthday outfit....florescent green and black checkered high heels, new black ( tight fitting ) jeans, black tank, bright blue belt, and a purple/black checkered light weight jacket....oh MY...

but she really loves it

40 months ago (yep three years 4 months) I started the change. Hot Flashes from hell...then I moved to Arizona. Hot flashes from hell and hellish heat, oh Joy. that did not lend itself to fencing 3 nights a week like I had been used to. Then I injured my elbow and between all of this I have put on 50 pounds...YUK....My family doc says it is usually extremely hard for women to loose weight while going through the change. Their bodies dont know whats going on..... Last week I started a 12 week program with a DOC, Nutritionist and a personal trainer and exercise classes three times a week, to try and curb the weight gain.

I am very pleased to announce that for the first time in 3 years I have finally begun to loose some weight. This week I lost 10.5 LBS...

Yeah Joyce.

it has been a week around here. Getting a call abut Dan, and trying to finish the end of the school year for a freshman and senior. Sarah finished school, but did not wish to do the graduation walk, and for multiple reason I agreed with her. so we went to disneyland instead.

so one child is finished with High school and looking for a job. She will be 18 the end of July, and officially be an adult.

Life goes on.

there are times when I think it does not pay to be Joyce's best friend. Tracy, My best friend growing up, has a hereditary disease that has put her in an institution by her 40th birthday. My best friend, Kylson who helped me through a really rough divorce (ex tried to kill you type divorce) passed away 5 years ago at the age of 49. His aorta ruptured. After Kylson died I became very close to Dan and he became like a surrogate father to my daughter Sarah. He helped her enter Jr. High and face boy troubles. She calls Dan Dad and listens to his advice even after we moved to Arizona. Last thursday, I got a call at 3am. Dan passed away from a massive brain tumor. He was 39 years old.

To night is my oldest daughters Senior Prom. She is even on the prom court....

you know some times you just feel like the bug.

I have been doing a lot of thinking the past few days. June 19th of this year marks the 5th anniversary of my best friends death. He died on the fighting field, at an event right after winning the tourney. He was 49 years old. I miss him. Last tuesday I got a call with some news that is pretty hard to put into place. Another Very close friend of mine has been diagnosed with a massive brain tumor. It is inoperable. He is 38 years old with 5 children.
my life is so very wonderful right now. a wonderful husband who loves me. Kids who are growing and maturing. Good jobs. How is it that right now in my life I am so blessed. What did I do to be in this position. All I can do is recognize that it is what it is and I and my family are happy for the time being.
Now all I can do is help my daughter deal with loosing a man whom she considered a father. ( her own father died 3 years ago).....
I dont know what to say to him, to my daughter, to his wife, and even myself. The doctors will not tell him how long they think he has, so we will just continue to live each day and accept them as the gift that they are meant to be.

I would not want to for any thing in the world...what a tough time in life.
My oldest daughter (senior in high school) Just got dumped for her Senior PROM...at least she has time to find a new date (since it looks like she will be on the Prom Court). Still, she is heart broken, and now says she doesn't want to go at all. I can relate, I did not go to my senior prom for the very same reason, and I really wish I would have gone any way, but She doesn't want to hear that right now. Hopefully next week things will look brighter and I can talk her into going....she had the most beautiful dressed picked out and all.

many of my close friends were unable for one reason or another to make it to Estrella WAR XXV.

This year was very special for me for a few reasons. One, My 14 year old daughter got to fight in her first Ladies tourney. I was so proud of her. Then the list mistress decided she needed to fight her mother. Poor girl, Mom Wiped the floor with her, fighting double daggers. I actually felt sorry for winning that round, But I did go on to WIN my first Estrella war Ladies tourney. That was on Wed. Then on Thursday after the rapier war point Scenarios were done, I was made a Defender of the White Scarf on the Battle field, by HRM Ceceila. Her Majesty hand made the scarf she pinned to my shoulder and the scroll I was presented was gorgeous. Friday my daughter did me proud again as she preformed a piece in Sundragon court that was performed like a true BARD. (she is growing up to be a fine Bard)Saturday My Army (with the help of our allies) won the Rapier War Point. We have been training all year, it showed and we did it. We have not won a war point in 4 years.

What a war. I am so glad I had my sweetie and my daughter there to share it.
I was given a scarf hand made by the Queen, My sweetie gave me another scarf he had been saving to give to me, and bioth my sweetie and I were gifted matching scarfs hand made by a dear friend.
I thought it was really cute when my sweetie said "Not fair, It took me 3 years to get three scarves, and she has three in 2 days"....I sure love him very much.

Happy Birthday John....

The loss of any family member is very hard to understand and almost impossible to accept sometimes. Last night my beloved baby boy, as I often called him, Cowboy
Was hit by a car and left this world. Our 13-year-old Black retriever/lab was certainly a part of our family, right from the beginning when we brought him home at 4months old.
He put himself in harms way between an abusive father and my daughters…because of this he would never allow any one to roughhouse with the girls, and absolutely hated pillow fights, not realizing everyone was laughing. He put himself between all of us and the bear that tried to enter our home in Alaska, and always pestered the Moose who were unfortunate enough to stray into out yard.
Not much of a city Dog, cowboy loved to run, and took every opportunity to do so whenever he could sneak out. He loved to play Ball and tug of war, and was the best Friend to any animal I every met, even if he didn’t quit understand that a turtle needs to be under water and a dog doesn't know how to breath under water…
I Love my Cowboy very much and was fortunate enough to have a wonderful loving Husband in Wes who not only accepted me but ALL of my family including the fur speed bump, as Wes liked to call him…. Jet black except for a quarter size white spot on his chest Cowboy was definitely a road hazard in the middle of the night, because he started the night at the foot of my bead, but roamed the house checking up on everyone though out the night, an he usually slept upside down, feet up in the air all twisted and contorted.
What a happy dog. He loved to play hide and seek in the snow…silly dog never realized you could see that big black body sticking out, even with his nose buried up to his eye balls in snow. He was a wonderful pillow for little girls to rest on and watch T.V., and a friend through many trials in my life.
Thank you for being there Cowboy. I love you.

Today is the 5th anniversary of my mothers passing, it also happens to be the 2nd anniversary of my ex-husbands passing (I hope my gilrs dont remember)

I miss you mama. I wish we could just sit and chat.
I love you

Wes and I both have to work next week so we are spending the weekend at my dads in CAlif, for a early christmas....there is snow on the mountains, crispness in the air, and a beautiful tree with fake snow on the house...the only thing missing is MOM. (Jan 5 will be 5 years since her passing)

Miss you Mom

Well it's official....We are moving....we got the keys to our new home Wednesday before thanksgiving, and moved a few things in for the first time tonight..... it's almost twice the size we are in now,the kids stay in the same schools, and I just stumbled on it last week...I guess it was meant to be.

Tonight at Sundragon Baronial Court I received a wonderful surprise.

In the Barony of sundragon there exist a recognition:

Lord's and Ladies Choice:

Each month, the Lords of the barony gather and determine which lady has most inspired them over the previous month; likewise, the Ladies gather and determine which lord has inspired them.

Tonight I was named Lord's choice….How very cool is that.

My life is so very happy right now, with one exception. I cant fight. I have to be a good girl Now so I don't have to have a third surgery on my elbow....two is bad enough......fixed the severed tendon with the first surgery last january.... two weeks ago I had surgery the second surgery to fix the tears in two other tendons and the pinched nerve. by the time that 2008 is over I will have spent 6 months this year NOT being able to fight....but it hasn't kept me off the field entirely...I have been out helping with drills and training...but it's not the same. Oh well....now I just need to get healed....

Well, finally after years of frustration on both our parts from life happenings.
Rose became an authorized rapier fighter in the Kingdom of Atenveldt.......

yeah.....now I just have to let go and let her learn (sigh)

I'm old....after this last weekend and camping in the rain, I am so tired and worn out...not to mention...first thing sunday morning my Baby started high school....no we have a freshman and a senior in High school....I so feel old.

Your result for The Who Would You Be in 1400 AD Test...

The Knight

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