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| Road Trip with Grammie |
Lisa-Jo's book is a collection of amazing Essays. She shares her heart as a mom of 3 children, wife, plus full time working mom. She has a down to earth way of talking about all the ooy, gooiness of our lives as women in the middle of everything.
That sweet little face in the backseat is trusting that her Grammie and Mamma are going to take care of her on the amazing road trip we were on at the end of June. She and her sister were great travel buddies as we went to the California Coast to Auntie Joey's Baby shower.
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| My granddaughters July 4th |
My Current Middle Matters
~Breathe deep Deena, breathe deep.
Beginning is April I started the process to change my name back to my maiden name by August 2nd, when I turn 60. Yes, WOW, 60! I am a 1959 classic 🤣 The first step was at the court house for 3 hours and then waiting for the Judge's order to get mailed to me. At the time they asked for the "self addressed stamped envelope" no one mentioned the additional $25 charge. I sent the check a week ago and I hope to go to Social Security next week. I have an appointment with DMV on July 29th and plan to get my Shingles vaccine next week too. All a part of the process of turning 60.
There are printable lists for changing your name, but I like a check list in a journal to keep track of my thoughts. My friend brought this wonderful hand made paper, journal from Nepal
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| So beautiful and so ME |
She carried this all through her trek, just for me. It seems like an ideal book to record the processes of this summer. Looking back a year I was in SPA Deena Mode. There has been so much healing since that time a year ago. I continue on the journey of my healing. This time in the middle of July while I rest a lot and work about 18 hours a week at Pier 1; I'm house sitting and it is a perfect time to continue to renew my mind.
Caroline Leaf and her book: Think, Learn, Succeed have been a great source to rearrange my thinking. The Gifts Profile she shares in her book explained that my way of thinking is not wrong or right. I am hard wired for some of the processes that I go through. I can put attitude spin on my thinking by choosing gratitude, forgiveness and optimism. These are lessons I had already learned, but learning how I process my life experiences can help me put myself in another's shoes. That seems such a key force in dealing with children. The behavior of a child is often related to how they have been treated. I'm glad I have another month to put polish on these ideas before I will be trying them on children.
Meanwhile, Spa Deena has not been forgotten. I broke a finger nail, badly just before my niece's wedding in early June. Since then I have been treating myself to acrylic nails while my nails grow out. Today was the last time I will get acrylics and July 30 I am treating myself to the new "Dip" process. Salon nails aren't for everyone, however for the summer it is fun to treat myself.
La Croix Coconut is another treat I have given myself this week. After spending an hour on the phone with my name change program I was thankful my host family had also left some wine in the house for me while house-sitting. My daughters taught me that the "mute" button on the side of my phone can be used to take pictures. (I always wondered how they were doing their selfies so easily.)
So, I have been using it to take pictures of my beverages.
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| Wine time after a rant and whine |
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| Crepes and La Croix |
There are no grand plans for the rest of summer break. I got an oil change and my nails done. Getting all these people/organizations contacted for my name restoration is a full time project for my spare time. I am also enjoying swimming in the wonderful pool here.
I hope all my readers are having a fantastic summer. Give me a call if you are in the Redding area and we will have a glass of ice coffee.
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| Iced Coffee with Peppermint Syrup, Yum! |
