guess I am lame

Forgot to mention Erik and Angela's kids' names....hmmm, must be losing my mind. Anyway, around the piano with me is Jeff, Calista and Kelli's little boy Keyton. Also present in Erik's family was Carson and Ewan. See, we had a big crowd!

Thanksgiving

We had a good time today with the family! Present were: Erik, Angela and kids; Jared, Ashley and Madison; Kelli, Allen and Keyton; Stu and I. we fit everyone at the kitchen table, with all leaves in use. It was tight, and we had 2 highchairs, too, but it was fun. The food turned out well, and I feel very fortunate that my kids and families are doing well , get along, and support each other in their lives.

Here are some pictures from our time together, today. I am thankful for my family...

p.s. notice several people "sleeping" after the Big Meal.....hmmmm. Erik says that the triptophan (excuse my spelling) in turkeys does not induce sleepiness. I guess it 's just being relaxed....

the tag thing

I am... Sharene

I think...nobody can please everyone

I know...my husband loves me

I want.....a bowl of Shwann's peppermint ice cream

I wish...that more people followed the golden rule

I had....blueberry whole wheat pancakes for lunch. yum.

I hate....when people don't take responsibility for their actions

I miss...holiday and fast sunday meals with Stu's mom and dad, Kubaleks, Beatties and Mitchells

I fear...losing someone I love

I feel...pretty good!

I hear....the computer humming and the cat yelling for attention

I smell...drier sheets from the "darks" that just came out

I crave...see above "want"

I search...for books that are engrossing but not lewd or too realistic

I wonder...If I'll be able to do everything I want to do when I'm my mother's age

I regret...not being more carefree and imaginative when my kids wanted me to play with them

I love...my husband and kids and grandkids and parents and siblings

I care....too much when I see animals suffering (don't ask me to watch the "carnivores" or anything that has to do with animal deaths...)

I always....have something I "could" be doing, but don't feel like doing it at this moment.

I am not....a night person. I turn into a pumpkin at 11 pm

I could ....work on vacation scrapbooks (see above "I always")

I dance ...by myself when I hear a good classic rock song on the radio

I sing...more like humming, when I'm working around the house

I don't always...feel social

I write..in my journal , when I think about it

I win...once in a while at pinochle

I lose..patience with whiney people

I never....swear

I can usually be found...outside in tahe morning,or crocheting at night

I am scared of....people wearing masks

I need....to hear that what I do is o.k. or good

I am happy about....I have enough food, water and wood to last for a while if we lose electricity or water

I tag...all of you

Whaaaattt?

I read a little blurb in a magazine the other day....about what people name their children...I REALLY feel sorry for these children. Luckily, they are not having to deal with these names anymore, as they have been gone for a century or so.

Here are some of them:

1875- Lethal Margaret Stothert

1780- Lurking Crabb

1890- Tom Dick Harry

1640 (this tops them all)-Nicholas if-Jesus Christ-Had- Not- Died- For-Thee-Thou-Hadst-Been-Damned Barebon

1846- Original Bottom

1858-Fatal Frederick Grucutt

and finally-

1848- Wack Broomhead

I am laughing out loud just reading these. I guess it's even funnier if you are in the bathroom reading these!!!

(this is a picture of Carson a while ago- her expression is probably what these poor children had as their "look of death" when their parents introduced them to people!!!)

success?

I read an article in Reader's Digest today about success. It was written by a man name David Hochman, and it was interesting and informative.

A lot of people think that success is instantaneous, pure luck, or "you have to know somebody". In his article, he says, that success has several ingredients. First you have to have some talent. Then you have to have timing and opportunity, then hard work and discipline. He says that people like Bill Gates and the Beatles, had all these things in their favor.

I think being successful means that you are happy in what you do, can live on what you make, and can have a good, positive effect on those around you.

In a nutshell, here are his 5 steps to success.

1. Find meaning and inspiration in your work.

2. Work hard (sounds like Mom Smith!)

3. Discover the relationship between effort and reward.

4. Seek out complex work to avoid boredom and repetition. ( I could never work in a mill....)

5. Be autonomous and control your own destiny as much as possible. (make things happen!)

I think that if anyone trying to decide what they want to do in life can read this and find some nugget of inspiration in it, GOOD!

Feel inspired and DO something. I have been lucky enough to have had a good job being a dental assistant/receptionist for my father. It was a good job, and if I had to work again, I'd go back to it. Have you had good jobs in your life? My favorite has been wife and mom. How about you?

Change

Have you ever noticed that when you get comfortable with something, that it changes? For instance, in church, you get comfortable with your calling- whether you are a teacher, a piano player, or an organizer- then you get a new calling that you are NOT comfortable with, like being the president of an organization, or such?

How about if you live in a town and you have certain friends, then they either move, or you do, and you have to learn to live in a new place and have new friends?

I had 3 favorite restaurants that were around when I grew up in North Seattle that I and my family frequented quite often. One mexican- Campos; one italian-Chef Tony's; and a hamburger place- Triple X. All three of these restaurants are long gone. There is one triple x left in Issaquah, Washington, but when do we ever go there? (every 6 or more years.....) I have lived in Port Angeles longer than I lived in Seattle. I have favorite restaurants, but some have gone, like Smitty's and Chihuahuas. Always change, always another choice.

Now we are going to have a new President of the United States. I listened to his acceptance speech the other night. He sounds sincere. He sounds like he knows what he's doing. He looks young and capable. Here's hoping he is all three. If he can turn the economy around, bolster morale, and do what is right for the nation and not just the special interest groups, I think he will be a good president. I wish there would have been more choices, or better choices presented us, but who in their right mind would WANT to be president of the United States?

Anyway, change is good. The seasons have changed , too. Just today, the nice fall sun and leaves have been replaced with rain, cold and wind. The leaves are mostly on the ground and wet. Ah well. That's why there is Thanksgiving and Christmas to keep our minds busy during the dreary days of late fall/winter!

Hope your fall has been as beautiful as ours was. I love the northwest!!