Missing My Dad

This is my father's graduation picture.

I'm not sure what year it was taken but it was when he was a young man on his way to a life in the United States. From his warm South Sea home he came to the mid-western city of Chicago IL where he first experienced snow. To this day I am still in awe that he left his home to go to a place he had never been to and make a new life for himself.  I can't imagine the courage that must have taken him.

Working with a microscope.

Here he is in the back of the class taught by a nun.





 This is a picture of him at 27 with my mother in the Bahamas.

I like this picture because they had gotten all dressed up to go to a swanky dinner club.

Today was his birthday and tomorrow is the 10th anniversary of his death. I remember him asking what day it was and waiting until his birthday had passed before letting go. My aunt and I took him back to the Philippines and placed him with his parents. I can't believe that 10 years have passed. He was an extraordinary man and I miss him.

The Old Salt......

  A couple of years ago Blackbeard and I bought our current house and remained in our same neighborhood to remain near to both of his parents.

By near, I mean 4 blocks from the Old Salt, and 2 blocks from Mama Blackbeard.
(Thirty-odd years ago, they separated to their own quarters and never divorced.)

Luckily, both parents of Blackbeard are alive and sailing the seas of retired adventure.

So about a year ago, Old Salt decided that he needed some shipmates and rather than move us onboard to his his ship, he took quarters in the chamber next to the deckhands (aka eating machines).


Since moving in much has changed around here.


SeaDog and Sister Sarah no longer heed my beck and call.

  

They are never far from the Old Salt and his endless supply of biscuits and cookies. If he leaves, they sigh and pace around until he returns. Before he gets to the door, they bark for joy and dance to welcome him home!

They carefully sniff him to make sure that he is safe from harm and that no strangers assaulted him while he was away from their careful protection. They show him how since he left them they grew weak from hunger and that now their ribs are showing.

They guide him back to his room and show him how well they guarded the treasures he keeps on the shelf. Then they encourage him to take the treasures from the shelf so that he can see for himself that they haven't moved at all in his absense.......

You don't need me to tell you how this story ends.....

8 Years Ago.......

Eight years ago Blackbeard decided to make an honest woman of his wyfe!!!

We went down to the local Magistrates office, pushed our way through the rabble and ne're-do-wells to the front of the line and declared our intentions. We filled out the form, pushed it back through the little gap in the glass all the while grinning like the giddy lovebirds we were. 

Next we heard "Everything seems to be in order here........That will be $20.00."  Blackbeard reached into the pocket where he keeps his loot and proudly shoved a rectangle shaped piece of plastic through the little gap in the glass. The Magistrate looked down at the payment, pursed his lips, shifted his weight and said "Um....We only accept cash."

 Blackbeard withdrew his wallet from his pocket, replaced the refused plastic and searched around for the requested green paper bills. Out came a five, and 2 one dollar bills. He flipped around searching through the secret compartments used for hiding money and found a ticket stub, a driver's license, grocery club card, decrepit library card and a scrap of paper with ancient scribble on it. He looked at me "Do you have any money?" " Why would I have money?" I replied. He looked around at the group of rabble and ne're-do-wells to see if he recognized anyone who might make him a loan.

"Here." came a voice from behind us. We turned to see my wonderful aunt rooting around in her bag of goodies. Out came the requested funds which were quickly shoved through the little gap in the glass.

The Magistrate smiled broadly, shooed off the riffraff and ran for his robe.  We followed the kindly man to a beautiful courtyard were he commenced with the ceremony.

A few short moments later, I was elevated from the lowly status of "gyrlfrynd", to the exalted stature of "Wyfe".

So far we have ridden the waters as they have carried us. Happily riding the rough seas as well as the calm. I am the luckiest Wyfe in the world!!

Thank you Blackbeard. (Don't look so stunned)



The Wyfe Returns.................

Where do I start?

How can I apologize to my imaginary fans for my long absense?

Will they forgive me?

Do I still have a witticism or two to share?

Is blogging passe now?

Is it vain to blog?

Can I keep this template under control?

Mostly I just want to return to a hobby I started to amuse myself then I neglected for far too long.

Stay tuned..........

Foul Weather And Foul Moods Afoot

Dear Mr Weather Man,

FYI...... I live here.

Yeah, I know that one's a little hard to read.

So let me begin again,

Dear Mr. WeatherIdiot,

I LIVE HERE!!!

Specifically so that I don't have to see any of this......

And what did I spy when I looked outside the other day!!!

Curses and more Curses!!!

Luckily we had these "gifts" that we haven't had the chance to "regift".

This cold air phenomena is making the whole house act a little crazy.

Even poor Seadog doesn't quite know how to behave....

Next week I better see some of this or we're going back to the olde wyves waye of casting the weather!!!

Who Says Frivolity Can't Be Frugal?

Lookie here!!! Lookie What I Got!!!

Mirrored Op Art This modern 3 dimensional sculpture by Kenneth Wingardplays with light and shape in a way that can make a room. This glittering piece of wall art is made of dozens of mirrors attached to moveable wires. This sculpture is perfect for above a bed, sofa or any blank wall that needs some "pop". This Op Art sculpture measures 25" on diameter. Wall mounting included. Mirrored Op Art $218.00

And do you think I paid the glamour price? Nooooo!!! 

I got it at a YARD SALE!!!!  

I traded a crisp $20 bill for it! 

See!! Here it is!!!! 

Here it is on a buff wall........

Stunt shot of it on a blue wall......

Bedecking a Red wall.

I admit, I LOVE yard sales. I love plundering through the junk to find the treasure. Going to them is a luxury that I have not been able to enjoy for some time now. Today was the magic day and I found a fun treasure to start decorating the new ship!! Please forgive the poor photography and do your part by helping this poor wyfe decide which wall it should decorate...... 

Buff, Blue, or Red.

Disclaimer: I have no grand prizes other than a shout out and a BIG Thank you!!

It's Like a Game of I Spy!!

I Spy with my little eye.........

The contents of a Junk Drawer!!

What on earth will we find in here? Gold maybe?

Hey!! Here are my glasses I can never find!! Now I will be able to see!

  (and maybe take a picture that is actually in focus!)

Still blind and taking pictures.... I come across an assortment of grooming aids

  (now I can get all pretty for Blackbeard!)

I can fix my hair now too!!

Here is some booty I like to decorate myself with......

Air mattress plugs for missing air mattresses, playing cards and an assortment of writing devices that may or may not be filled with liquid ink.

Radios for camping trips, an ipod hard drive 2 magnifying glasses and 3 deathtraps for vermin. The list goes on and on and on......

What's in YOUR JUNK DRAWER?

Crashing Against the Rocks.......

To Anyone Left Who is Remotely Interested.........

Life on the ship lately has been through some rough seas lately................

Most tragically, days before Thanksgiving, my beloved nephson was orphaned by the death of his wonderful father.  His dad had not been feeling well and thought he had the flu. He was sadly sicker than he realized, and my nephson came home from school to find that he had passed. The coroner did not do an autopsy, so we will never really know why he died other than "natural causes". Most people who die at 51 have been chronically sick for a period of time or in poor health. It is a mystery that will haunt us for a long time. I am in the process of applying for guardianship of my nephson and getting him through this sad event. I love him so much, but am a poor substitute for his beloved father..........

During this time Blackbeard, Bonusboy, Seadog and I relocated to a bigger ship. It is a block and a half from the previous dingy, but has room for my nephson to have his own space here. Let me advise and strongly warn all who move...

....DON'T DO IT DURING THE HOLIDAYS!!!

Enough said about that.......

So the new year is upon us and I wish you all a Happy and Healthy 2009. I myself am looking forward to returning to calmer seas and posting more regularly.

Rare times on the Ship

Blackbeard surprised me the other day!!!

He got this out of its hiding place! I heard we had one, but since I never see it, I thought it was idle gossip......

He got it out to advert disaster on the ship..........

Our tiny tiny room with the special chair was out of order........

I wanted to call on a specialist, but he would have none of that.

(this is where he is ALL ABOUT BEING CHEAP (WHOOPS!) Frugal)

He disassembled the special chair while I had my finger on speed dial. I tried to tell him, its not like a computer, you just can't start tearing it apart and somehow figure out how to put it back together......

Well I must admit, he shamed his wyfe and her doubts. Before I knew it, he had it reassembled and water was where water should be......

He strutted out quite please with himself and decided to leave me to the aftermath while he moved on to other projects. 

He passed on this project......

I don't think he saw this disaster........

Seadog did his best with the tile, but was unfortunately hampered by the lack of thumbs.......

oh well, I can't blame him........but someday, it will be time to call a professional..

Nephson

Anybody besides me have a nephson?

He's my heart if anyone ever was.  I like to torture him by telling him how exciting it was for me the day he was born, as well as any other big life moments of his. Like all teenagers, his response is a dramatic eye-roll and something to the effect of "Don't you have any new stories?"This year he is a senior in high school. 

He is steadily counting down the days until he is free of compulsory ed

ucation and off to spend his relatives hard earned money on just the right school of higher learning. 

 

Today we began our University Education Shopping.....

There is nothing better than going back to school. Especially when you know that you are helping to find the right fit for what will be the most definative time of a young adult's life. (and especially since I won't be the one having to buckle down and study.)

We obediently wandered around following our tour director/student/sales rep.

Most campuses have some of these.

and these

and these.

Bonus Boy tagged along for early exposure.

He was most concerned with the whereabouts of the dining hall.

These made my heart go pitter pat.....

(It was very difficult to maintain my composure when we passed the second one.....)

This was a little secret surprise.......

Over all I'd say that things hadn't changed much since my co-ed days.....

1988

2008

Except for this....

Stay tuned for more inland adventures....