Monday, March 2, 2015

A Fun Reunion

We totally surprised Amy.  Yes, she was happy to be in warm Arizona in February.  It's a difficult month for all of us as it is the second anniversary of Jake's death.  So we wanted her close so we could wrap our arms around her as we continue to deal with our loss.  But on to the surprise.  Erick drove to Los Angeles on Friday morning and picked up Carson and brought her back to Phoenix.  walked in and while Margaret & I and the twins were saying "Surprise", Amy didn't look up.  So we yelled it again and then she saw her daughter.

It was a priceless moment.  Hugs, laughter and tears.  If only I could make my daughter that happy every day.  It gave her a little respite from the pain of loss that is so much a part of her.

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Jury Duty

As an Arizona citizen, I got a drivers license and registered to vote.  So then received a questionnaire to fill out and return deciding my eligibility for jury duty.  I've done it 3 times in Indiana so of course am willing. Received my first summons and reported for duty yesterday.  The county seat is in Florence, AZ which is about 35 miles from here.  The hard part was making sure I was there at 8:15 am.  It was an interesting experience.

My fellow jurors ranged from an ex-dean of a university to  a school bus driver (neither of whom made the final cut).  They qualified 22 of us and then chose 10 to be on the jury.  I couldn't believe that I didn't make the final cut.  I'm intelligent, well-read, not biased, etc.   I could understand not choosing those who worked in law enforcement as it was a physical assault case, but why not me?

I'm left pondering - is it my age? My appearance (grey-haired older woman)?  My serving on 3 prior juries (maybe I'd be too savy)?  Who knows.  But I'm off the hook for 2 years.

Since I didn't get picked, we get to spend afternoons with the twins this week and I can continue to read Joyce Carol Oates book, The Accursed.  Quite interesting.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Cities of the Plain

This is the last of Cormac McCarthy books in the trilogy that began with All The Pretty Horses.  It takes place in 1952 and tells the story of John Grady Cole and Billy Parham as they work as ranch hands.  A lot of the book tells about their life on the ranch.  But then John Grady falls in love with a Mexican prostitute and it changes his life.

I liked this book and didn't like it.  McCarthy is an excellent writer and I enjoy reading his books.  But so much of the conversations in this book are in Spanish so I wasn't able to understand what was going on.  I felt it took away from my enjoyment of the book.  I preferred the first two books in the trilogy.

Recent Books I've Read

  • Confederate in the Attic
  • Where Men Win Glory
  • Zeitoun
  • Body Surfing
  • Secret's of Eden
  • Sarah's Key
  • The Year of Magical Thinking
  • The 19th Wife
  • Out Stealing Horses
  • The Help

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About Me

We retired after years of being in the computer support business, Jane with Brulin Corp and John with Unisys. We tried tent camping but finally settled on RV living. While we are part timers now, we hope to move to becoming full-timers eventually. John works on his HO model of Ellis, KS UP railroad and Jane persues her search for used books to read and sell on Amazon. We winter in Apache Junction, AZ and summer in Indiana.