Ms.Blue Eyes!

I know I'm hopeless.

And counting...Four....Three.....

Three more days!

Retirement here I come!

My E.X.C.E.L.L.E.N.T. co-workers threw me a super retirement party last Thursday.  We met for happy hour at Amorcita's Resturaunt.  They had put together a slide show of our years together (someone found a picture of me in a dress - amazing!), and I got the greatest gift - a full spa day splurge which I plan to take full advantage of once I have no daily schedule at all. (Doesn't that sound great!?)  
Of course, I got the "officially retired" pin, and a few plastic "retired" necklaces, too.  I'll keep those to use when needed.  I now am the owner of a cushey football stadium seat for the UTSA football games this coming fall when they start their freshman season, and I have a (fake) hang tag for parking on campus that declares that I am a very special retired person, and it's green - which at UTSA gives you access to the parking spots right up front.  I wonder if it would fool anyone?
I was very honored that my family came to share this event with me, even Ms. KT!  Finally everyone got to see the little girl I rave about all the time.
Anyway, I feel very loved now, and plan to fad away quietly on Thursday.
They'll be fine - I've been peeking at the applicants for the job and there are some pretty fancy resumes there. I predict that they won't have any problem replacing me!

So now, off to bed so I can wake up on day three!

Movie Review -- X-Men: First Class

You know how you wait for a movie to come, reading this and that about it until you just can't wait? And you know how it has some really great looking guys in it that you just can't wait to see - yummy guys like James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender (oh stop! You know I just like to look!) And then, you know that the reality of the movie can't possibly live up to the legend that you think its going to be - well that's the reaction that I had to this movie.  It wasn't a bad movie - matter of fact, it's helpful to learn the back-story to why some of these characters act the way that they do. But I just wasn't blown away by it.  John liked it a lot more than I did, so if you trust him, by all means, go see it.  It's a nice, cool way to spend a Saturday afternoon out of the Texas sun, that's for sure.

How I remember Danny....

I cannot believe I found this picture!!

This is how I remember my brother Danny as a child -- always hauling around the red wagon! And the hat with the ear flaps -- ha ha! I can remember the smell of that wool. Love, love  *love* this!!!  Toe! (that's a "Dannyism" - you had to be there.) 

6 more days!!!

I'm only 6 work days away from FREEDOM!!

What I'm Reading...

I'm just about finished with the second book by Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire.  It continues the tale of Katniss Everdeen, the heroine from book one.  The storyline is dark, as I talked about before, with another round in the arena for the teenagers.  This time you get to know more about of the tributes and their lives, which I think helps you care about what happens to them.
Reading these "young adult" books as an adult, I find the character of Katniss to be somewhat selfish, although as she is the narrator of the story, I guess this is unavoidable and somewhat understandable since she's so young.  I'm looking forward to the end (who will survive?) and the next book, where I'm sure there will be an uprising aganst the capital. 
I can recommend these tales as some interesting summer reading - although I do think they are a bit dark for the under 17 crowd.  I am in awe that this author has not caught huge flack from the PC crowd, and that they have reached the popularity that they have.  The movie based on the first book is already being filmed.  I've been interested in the casting - it's always interesting to see if you agree with the casting directors choices.
Question - the killing of these young people is so cold-hearted in these books, even the description is told in a matter-of-fact way, with not much in the way of regret or sorrow.  Are the characters so used to seeing this murder on their tv screens that they don't seem to have any feelings about killing or each other?  Most have been raised watching these "games" on their television.  Is this what we're doing allowing our children to play violent video games, or watch violence on TV and the movies?  Something to think about.

"Dearest Mary Ann"

Ran across these two pictures of my sister Mary.  The first was printed by Fox Co. in December, 1958.  Someone wrote across the back "Dearest Mary Ann."

The next picture was printed in December 1959.  A note across the front says "Mary Ann and ?"  I can't read it, but I believe it references the little black puppy. Does anyone remember that dog?

Awful cute, there, dearest Mary Ann!  ha  ha!

Happy Father's Day, Dad

My dad.  It's been 3-1/2 years since he's been gone, but I miss him every day.  Love you, Dad!
This photo must be from a long ago Christmas or birthday, there was no date on the back of the picture.  I can tell you exactly what he was doing.  Everyone else in the room would have torn through their packages and paper and ribbon, and Dad would have calmly pulled out his pen knife and he was most likely carefully cutting through the tape, untying the ribbons very carefully, and he was probably still opening his first gift.  He would have been intent on saving the wrapping and ribbon, and would have saved the tape if he could.  The man was a recycle nut before that was even a word.  It used to drive us crazy!!
The newspaper at his side was another constant in our home.  I think it helped make us all better readers, the example that he gave us.

Bruno becomes a grandpa

Found this picture in a box - it's Bruno W. Schwencke, my grandfather, looking up at Mike (I'm thinking) in the crib.  There are some toys on the floor in front of  him.  I don't remember much about him, to tell the truth, so it's really something to see how much he resembles my father when he got older.  The photo is very light - these pictures took a real kicking in the flood.  Hope you can see it.

My daughter is truly awesome!

I'm just amazed at Colleen's drive and ambition -- we went to Austin this weekend to support her in her desire to run the Danskin Tri race, and she really did it!  Our trip was fun, too - a little shopping at IKEA (that's a long walk thru that place).  Then some great Italian at a place that Jeff too us to on Saturday evening. 

We stayed at the same place that we were at for JR and Ashley's wedding, which brought back a lot of great memories of that wonderful event, too!

Then Sunday morning, EARLY, Jeff and Colleen dropped KT off with us in the room (I swear it was before 5am, and she was still fast asleep.)  Meanwhile they went out to check in and get Colleen in line for her first event, the swim in the lake at Walter E. Long park.  We totally missed the swim because we took KT for breakfast before we got out to the park.  But, we got there in time for her bike ride in!  Then she was off to run.  
It was hotter than HELL, I'll tell you.  We hopped from one shade tree to the other with KT, trying to keep her out of the sun as much as we could - I slathered on the sunscreen, too.  She was so good - that little girl knows how to travel - thanks to her parents taking her everywhere!  It's so paid off in her being such a champ.
We got to visit with Sarah, too! She came up from Kyle to cheer Colleen on!  She is looking so good - she and her mom are both working hard and it's showing!
Colleen did so, so, so awesome! And I wish I had taken some pictures - I got a few, but really not very good this trip.  I've included a few here.  Again, Colleen has proven that she is her father's daughter -- we are nothing alike in our likes and dislikes - she is so much like John, it's really so evident!
Proud of you girl!

19 days and, yes, I'm counting!

Only 19 more work days until retirement! I'm so looking forward to it!  It's not that I dislike my job or anything, but the daily grind more than anything. It's my age, I'm sure, and I'm ready to see what else life has in store for me.  
In only 19....