Archive for September, 2014

Truck driver

Monday, September 29th, 2014

miafiretruck

Here’s Mia at the wheel of a very important fire truck. She appears very excited to get to that particular fire. Or maybe that’s her look of steely determination. Great Art courtesy of the exclusive iPhone-cam, taken during our recent trip to Sonoma Valley, and part of my famous Machinery and Vacation series.

Speaking of iPhone-cams, my new iPhone 6 Plus is here! It arrived last Tuesday. Joanne and I were in San Diego for a few days, so I actually opened the box on Friday evening. So I’ve had it for a few days already. It’s very nice. I’m still struggling just a bit with how big it is, but I’m getting used to that. My old phone was pretty much a one-hand thing most of the time, and the new one just isn’t. It has an amazing camera, which I’m just beginning to explore. It will be featured here many times. Today’s Great Art, though, is from my good old iPhone 4s.

Let’s see, what else is new? Joanne and I spent last week in San Diego, as mentioned previously. We stayed at a place just south of Balboa Park the first two nights and then moved up to Oceanside the last two. Both places were very nice and we had a wonderful time. I showed Joanne our two houses on Paseo Ajanta in Penasquitos. They didn’t look as bad as the last time I saw them. I guess the neighborhood is holding up well.

Joanne started her new job today. It went well, to hear her tell. She seems excited about it. Hopes are high for great success.

And that’s it for today. I’ll leave my Loyal Readers with this combination food violence news and exciting Morrowlife Employment Agency job opportunity: peanut butter jellyfish!

See you tomorrow.

Janet Kay Morrow 1932-2014

Saturday, September 13th, 2014

IMG_2298

Here are my mother and me on June 28th of this year, before anybody knew she was sick. Great Art courtesy of the exclusive iPhone-cam, taken at Meijer’s in Canton, Michigan, and part of my famous Vacation series.

Many things have happened since my last post. My mother has died. She passed away at home on Sunday, September 7, 2014. She had been in hospice care for a few days. The last few days were really rough for her. I’m grateful her suffering didn’t last too long.

Here’s what I wrote on Facebook this evening:

Well, the day’s just about over. We buried my mother today. There was a beautiful funeral and graveside service, followed by a large luncheon and reception at my sister Julie Pita’s house. There were many people in attendance, a testament to the many lives touched by my mother. There were tears and laughter. There were memories shared and friendships renewed.

I miss my mother. I know I’ll miss her more and more as the days go on. But tonight I’m filled with love for her and my family. She gave me a happy life, encouraged me when I was down, and made me feel safe and loved. Hers was a good life.

I love you, Mom. Farewell.

That’s all I have tonight. I’m in Michigan and will go home on Monday. More later.

Edison’s bench

Friday, September 5th, 2014

edisonbench

Here’s Thomas Edison’s workbench.  Great Art taken during my June/July visit to Michigan, in Edison’s Menlo Park laboratory, which is currently located in Greenfield Village in lovely Dearborn, and part of my famous Vacation and Workbench series.

Once again, it’s been unconscionably long since my last post. Sorry about that, Loyal Readers. I don’t know how you’ve been getting along without me.

First, an update on my mom’s condition. She’s not doing well. In fact, she is at home in hospice care and very close to the end of her life. I expect to hear it’s over at any time. I have another ticket to Detroit on Thursday. I hope she’s still with us by then. I can change plans and travel sooner if necessary. I’m truly grateful to have spent last week with her and to have been able to say goodbye and express my love for her.

Sandy and Julie are taking care of our mother 24/7 at this point. I’m also truly grateful for their dedication to do that. I just don’t think I have the wherewithal to do it, although I’m tremendously conflicted about that because I really wish I could be with my mother right now. No matter what, though, she knows I love her and am grateful for the wonderful childhood she gave me and for the things she taught me. I’ll always love her.

I’ve been in Denver since mid-day Wednesday. Andy got his tonsils taken out that morning. I didn’t find out about it until Tuesday evening, so I bought a ticket right then and got here as soon as I could. He’s doing remarkably well, although he’s in quite a lot of pain. They told him to expect the third day to be the hardest, and they were right. He was taking half-doses of his pain-killer and he has upped that to two-thirds. But the discomfort is still there and he’s just having to ride it out. He’s been quite tough and will be fine. Other than the tonsillectomy, I’m delighted to report he’s doing quite well indeed. He’s been through some hard times lately, but he’s navigating life’s difficulties like a champ.

Mark’s back in school! He’s been going for a couple weeks now. Or maybe a week. No, it’s been a couple of weeks. They started the week before Labor Day. He’s doing well, although his math class is as difficult as it could possibly be. Keep your chin up, Mark! You can do it!

Joanne and I hosted fifty people at her house on the day before Labor Day. It was quite a crowd, but it was a fun party that I think everybody enjoyed, including us. We were both glad when it was in the record books, though.

We’re going to the Bay Area tomorrow for a few days. We’ll see Katie, Cliff, and Mia on Sunday and then have a couple more days to ourselves. We’ll be staying at the WorldMark Windsor resort. Joanne’s been there before and we have high hopes for a peaceful few days. Then I’m heading to Detroit, unless plans need to be moved up.

And that’s it for tonight. I need to be up at 5:00 tomorrow morning, so I’ll leave my Loyal Readers with this exciting Morrowlife Employment Agency job opportunity: motorcycle-attacking fugitive bull!

See you on Monday.