Welcome to My Mind

Happy Dress Up Day

The day started great. Jennifer had hot cereal and I had cold cereal. We then got dressed up in our Halloween outfits.  I wore my kilt.  The actual Sharp tartan pattern that DD got years ago.  Jennifer dressed up as a 1940's pin-up complete with a little black dress and seamed stockings with a guarder belt.  She looked good.  We then went to Memorial Mall for my haircut.  Whenever we go to Memorial Mall I want to go to Sweet Tomatoes.  And we did just that. 

Then back to Jennifer's to rest a little for tonight. Jennifer's friend Amanda got free tickets to the comedy club.   Jennifer and I drove to the comedy club area and looked for a place to eat.  We decided on Chipotle.  When we got there, someone who had walked out of the place told us if we wear aluminum foil, you get a free burrito.  So Jennifer made a tiara out of the aluminum foil the guy walking out gave us and we got a free burrito. 

Then met Amanda and her guy at the comedy club.  It was a fun Halloween.

Happy Halloween!

The Funeral

Today at 10a was Nana's Funeral.  It was a beautiful service.  It began with military honors which included playing taps (which was played very well with vibrato and feeling) and folding of the flag.  Then continued with a eulogy by Mom, Adam and Jean.  Then followed with a Catholic funeral mass.  I was one of the pallbearers along with DD, Adam and David. The reception was in the church hall with sandwiches, fruit and carrot cake. We then went to Bonnie's for the reading of the will and to hang out and talk.

We (Mom, Bonnie, Barbara, DD, AD, JK and I) went to the Fortune Cookie Chinese Restaurant.  Then we all went to DD's for more hanging out. 

The Viewing

AD and JK flew in today as well as Barbara, Mom's youngest sister.  DD and I went to Pancake House and AD and JK met us there.  Then we went to the viewing of Nana at the mortuary.  Mom,  Bonnie (Mom's younger sister), Barbara, DD, AD, JK and I were there 1st.  Jean (Nana's best friend for over 35 years) came a few minutes later. Some of Nan's other friends came during the viewing.  I walked up to Nana to really see that she is gone.  I touched her hand which felt like a mannequin's hand.  She really is gone.  I said bye to Nana who was and looked up and said hi to were Nana is now.  Some stayed for the Rosary.  I did not go.  I stayed outside talking to Adam and Barbara.

After the Rosary was done AD, JK, Mom, Bonnie, Barbara, DD, Jean and I went to Don Jose'.  Lots of talking about Nana and some laughs.  It was really nice seeing everyone. 

Back in SoCal

I arrived in SoCal today for Nana's funeral which will take place on Thursday.  I hate US airways.  No snacks. (Oh you can buy them.  For the same price you get better food in the airport and take it on the plane.  That is what I did.)  The seats are not comfortable.  After flying contenenal  a few years ago, I said I would not go back to US Airways.  Contenenal has comfortable seats (more comfortable than most airlines) and free snacks like a small pizza with salad and a small cookie. What a concept.

I only took Us Airways because they were the cheapest (considering I got them a few days ago) and they flew into Long Beach (since there were no direct flights into LA this late).  DD picked me up and ate at the Fantastic Cafe.  Had some free chips and salsa and got a turkey sandwich which was pretty good.

Nana Passed

On my way back with George from BJ's Pizza I got a call from Mom.  She said that she had to tell me something but to pull over 1st.  Right then I knew what she was going to say.  Her mom, the one I call Nana, passed away.  For the rest of the day, flashes of memories of her came.  Memories like when we would go to the Ice Dogs hockey games together and she would yell out things to the team like "nice skating" because they had not made a goal yet.  Imagine an 80 year old woman yelling out things during the came which always made me laugh. 

She was such a strong woman. She was still mowing her lawn at 60.  At 70 she said that she was slowing down.  At 70.  Dang. I want to be like that.

She loved sports: Hockey, football, baseball.  She loved crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles.  My last memory of Nana is helping her put together a puzzle the last time I was in SoCal this past summer in July.

There are to phrases that she would say and I still think about them and follow them.  The 1st is: "it is not what you know but who you know."  The 2nd is that if you are going to buy something (like a computer or camera etc) you might as well pay a little more for a good one that will last.

I love you Nana and I will miss you.

Wedding Bells

Today I went to Jennifer's friend Natalie's Wedding.  I met Natalie the same time I met Jennifer at the Melody club 4 years ago.  I saw 2 girls standing together near the dance floor, Jennifer and Natalie.  I picked the one closest to me which was Natalie.  (Jennifer still has not let me live that down.)  So here I was 4 years later and at her wedding.  It was outside overlooking Clear Lake which was a great view.  The wedding itself was not religious so it was short.  It occurred just after it rained and it rained a little after the wedding during the reception.  Good timing.  The reception was quite nice.  A great variety of appetizers like shrimp and vegetables.  Then dinner and the 1st dance.  Jennifer and I also danced a little. There was 3 piece Klezmer band that was really good.  They played for the wedding and for the reception.  It was a guitar, violin and accordion.  The wedding cake was a tiramisu (Natalie insisted that the wedding cake be tiramisu.) It was a nice wedding.