I updated Squeakings of a Housemouse today, and for some reason unbeknownst to me, it moved all of the posts around and labeled it as being done today. Disregard. Everything from this point in should post just fine. I am not ready to create a new post right at the present moment. It's something I will work on over the next few days, and I should be back in business after this entry. I hope you enjoy what you find here. I am looking for a new, fresh, and interesting blog for my readers to enjoy and ponder over. Every time I will try to vary the menu and hopefully will find that there's comething for everyone here. So sit back, relax, and get ready for a new post in a few days. I'm looking forward to entertaining you!
Regards,
Bonnie
Monday, July 23, 2012
Sweet Memories
In years gone by, back before we had the Coronado Bay Bridge, there was a ferry landing at the foot of Broadway, one ferry for taking cars across, and a ferry (called the nickel snatcher) for people. Every morning, a friend of mine would meet me around 4:30 a.m. to walk to the bus stop on Hilltop Drive in Chula Vista, and we would sleep while the bus waited for folks in the area to come onboard. We would ride the bus, without having to transfer, to downtown San Diego. We then would get off fairly close to the harbor and have breakfast at a local eatery, & I believe the place was called Dixie's. We'd have a hearty breakfast of sunny-side up eggs, hashbrowns, bacon, toast and coffee and after they got to know us they always gave us extra large portions. We needed the energy though, because after breakfast, we would sometimes have to jog to the ferry landing, pay our fare, buy a newspaper and hot cocoa and find our seat on the ferry. We would wait for it to fill up and then slowly make our way across the bay, after which we would walk up to building 334 on Naval Air Station North Island. One morning it was quite foggy and we accidentally ran into another ferry. No one was hurt, but a few of us wore our drinks to work that day. In the summer months, the breeze on the bay was really refreshing. Some evenings, when we had had to work overtime, all our co-walkers would leave together and walk down to the landing and ride across the bay together.
The unit we worked in consisted of all women. Coreen and I were the youngest ones in that unit, we were 21. Later on a few more young people joined the group. But most of them were in their 30's and we all got along well together. I was young and inexperienced, but I was very proud of the fact that I had a desk job and my own typewriter and my own responsiblities. I was a fast and accurate typist and my job was typing up naval mesages and speedletters and mailing out status cards and filing and all the usual clerical responsibilities. I had a good relationship with everyone and we all really just enjoyed chatting as we went about our daily routine. I still remember when the Hong Kong Flu hit us and a lot of us were out for quite a while trying to recuperate. It was really bad. I was out for a week and when I went back in, there were only about 3 or 4 people in our unit that were working that day. I was still very weak, but felt I had been out long enough and went back to work on a Friday. I could have stayed home for the rest of that week and went back in on Monday, but I was coscientious in my younger years and so I went back before I really had to.
San Diego is a beautiful city, and has changed a lot over the years. The picture on this blog is the way it looks today, but back in the day when we rode the ferry there were a lot fewer buildings and the beautiful bridge was only a plan on paper. I didn't have to ride the bus for long. I eventually bought a car, a yellow Chevy Nova, and I would drive around the Strand to get to work. I loved my little car and I washed it every Saturday while listening to music and drinking ice cold Pepsi's. I lived at home for a while, but eventually a friend of mine invited me to share an apartment with her and so I moved out and lived with her in Imperial Beach. We had a lot of fun together, and every payday Friday we would cash our checks, buy food at Jack-In-the-Box, a couple of bottles of wine and party all weekend with friends. It was a lot of fun being on our own.
This is a good spot to end this little entry...just a few good memories of life when things wern't so fast and furious. Now I am retired and enjoying life as a grandmother of 7 wonderful grandchildren. I have always loved San Diego and I was unfortunate enough to have to move after I had been here only a year, but I turned 18 shortly after that and bought myself a one-way ticket home after a year of being away. I flew in to San Diego as the evening settled over the city and all the lights were on as we flew right over the top of some of the tallest buildings. I have watched San Diego change over the years and my husband has introduced me to many more of the sights of the city. I have a lot of wonderful memories which I would be delighted to share. So stay tuned for more entries as we go about living in, and enjoying together, the sights and sounds of a beautiful city.
The unit we worked in consisted of all women. Coreen and I were the youngest ones in that unit, we were 21. Later on a few more young people joined the group. But most of them were in their 30's and we all got along well together. I was young and inexperienced, but I was very proud of the fact that I had a desk job and my own typewriter and my own responsiblities. I was a fast and accurate typist and my job was typing up naval mesages and speedletters and mailing out status cards and filing and all the usual clerical responsibilities. I had a good relationship with everyone and we all really just enjoyed chatting as we went about our daily routine. I still remember when the Hong Kong Flu hit us and a lot of us were out for quite a while trying to recuperate. It was really bad. I was out for a week and when I went back in, there were only about 3 or 4 people in our unit that were working that day. I was still very weak, but felt I had been out long enough and went back to work on a Friday. I could have stayed home for the rest of that week and went back in on Monday, but I was coscientious in my younger years and so I went back before I really had to.
San Diego is a beautiful city, and has changed a lot over the years. The picture on this blog is the way it looks today, but back in the day when we rode the ferry there were a lot fewer buildings and the beautiful bridge was only a plan on paper. I didn't have to ride the bus for long. I eventually bought a car, a yellow Chevy Nova, and I would drive around the Strand to get to work. I loved my little car and I washed it every Saturday while listening to music and drinking ice cold Pepsi's. I lived at home for a while, but eventually a friend of mine invited me to share an apartment with her and so I moved out and lived with her in Imperial Beach. We had a lot of fun together, and every payday Friday we would cash our checks, buy food at Jack-In-the-Box, a couple of bottles of wine and party all weekend with friends. It was a lot of fun being on our own.
This is a good spot to end this little entry...just a few good memories of life when things wern't so fast and furious. Now I am retired and enjoying life as a grandmother of 7 wonderful grandchildren. I have always loved San Diego and I was unfortunate enough to have to move after I had been here only a year, but I turned 18 shortly after that and bought myself a one-way ticket home after a year of being away. I flew in to San Diego as the evening settled over the city and all the lights were on as we flew right over the top of some of the tallest buildings. I have watched San Diego change over the years and my husband has introduced me to many more of the sights of the city. I have a lot of wonderful memories which I would be delighted to share. So stay tuned for more entries as we go about living in, and enjoying together, the sights and sounds of a beautiful city.
A Touch of Fall...or Is It Winter?
Summer is over, and the skies are grey. But we seem to have skipped fall altogether! One day it was 85, the next day we have grey skies, wind, and rain. It doesn't seem like fall at all. Where are the falling leves of gold and brown, and the days were mellow like Indian Summer? A lot of folks, just like myself, don't mind the change in weather. My feet swell up in the summer, and the days were hot and dull. But many others can't get it hot enough! At least here in sunny San Diego. With beaches to frequent, it isn't surprising.
But I like the rain and the cloudy skies and the occasionsl clap of thunder, or a flash of lightening. My daughter went out yesterday and clipped all the newly blooming roses from our rose garden and we brought them in to enjoy rather than letting the winds blow them helter-skelter. They smell so good! Their rich, warm colors are a nice touch in the living room.
I spent 3 years in Kodiak, Alaska where the warmest days of summer got up to 65 degrees! In the winter, the perma-frost would turn the first rains of winter into sheets of ice, and the temperature would dip to 10 below 0. There were storms in the winter months called willawahs and the winds got up to 100 MPH. We got use to it I guess, because we would walk to school in that and find our way home in blinding blizzards! I remember one day especially when my glasses
iced up and everything was white. You couldn't see anything beyond the reach of your own arm. I don't know how I ever made it home.
One time, our Mom came to get us at school because of the weather, and the car wouldn't climb the hill to get to the main road. She had started walking and some man gave her a ride to the school. I saw her go past my English class and her shoulders were heaped up with snow! She was headed to the kindergarten class to get my baby sister first. When she collected my brother and myself, we
left the building and she had us get in the car of the man who had given her a ride so he would take us to our car. When the owner of the car came out of the school and got in his car, he just stared at us. It was the wrong car. But when she told him the story of how the other person had given her a ride, he just laughed and asked us to show him where we wanted to go and he drove us to our car. Very understanding fellow!
I have also lived in Minnesota, and the temperature dipped to a chilly 55 degrees below zero! No one went out on days like that. I swear, at 10 degrees below zero, the sun came out and the snow began to melt! I went out on the porch to get the mail and I had shorts on. Bizzare weather to say the least. So, when the snow melted all the way, and Spring had come, I called the airlines in St. Paul and got a ticket for San Diego! I was 18 1/2 and I had had enough snow to last me a lifetime!
Somehow I have never regretted that decision. There have been scorching days when snow looked inviting, but never enough to make me leave California and look for a state that has snow in the winter. We have rain, and if you want to see snow, you can go to the mountains in the winter. But I'll take San Diego, and the heat, and the occasional earthquake, and rain in the winter! No more snow for me. The way the population has increased, I think there are a lot of people who agree with me. The sunny skies of San Diego have always felt like home to me. There are balmy days, cloudy days, rainy days, and enough variety to suit me. San Diego is pretty much perfect. I will never forget the lights of the city coming on as my plane flew low over the tall buildings of "Home", and I have never been unhappy enough in the heat, to move to any other place.
San Diego, you are just my cup of tea. . . or glass of iced tea! No matter the temperature, you will always be home to me!
But I like the rain and the cloudy skies and the occasionsl clap of thunder, or a flash of lightening. My daughter went out yesterday and clipped all the newly blooming roses from our rose garden and we brought them in to enjoy rather than letting the winds blow them helter-skelter. They smell so good! Their rich, warm colors are a nice touch in the living room.
I spent 3 years in Kodiak, Alaska where the warmest days of summer got up to 65 degrees! In the winter, the perma-frost would turn the first rains of winter into sheets of ice, and the temperature would dip to 10 below 0. There were storms in the winter months called willawahs and the winds got up to 100 MPH. We got use to it I guess, because we would walk to school in that and find our way home in blinding blizzards! I remember one day especially when my glasses
iced up and everything was white. You couldn't see anything beyond the reach of your own arm. I don't know how I ever made it home.
One time, our Mom came to get us at school because of the weather, and the car wouldn't climb the hill to get to the main road. She had started walking and some man gave her a ride to the school. I saw her go past my English class and her shoulders were heaped up with snow! She was headed to the kindergarten class to get my baby sister first. When she collected my brother and myself, we
left the building and she had us get in the car of the man who had given her a ride so he would take us to our car. When the owner of the car came out of the school and got in his car, he just stared at us. It was the wrong car. But when she told him the story of how the other person had given her a ride, he just laughed and asked us to show him where we wanted to go and he drove us to our car. Very understanding fellow!
I have also lived in Minnesota, and the temperature dipped to a chilly 55 degrees below zero! No one went out on days like that. I swear, at 10 degrees below zero, the sun came out and the snow began to melt! I went out on the porch to get the mail and I had shorts on. Bizzare weather to say the least. So, when the snow melted all the way, and Spring had come, I called the airlines in St. Paul and got a ticket for San Diego! I was 18 1/2 and I had had enough snow to last me a lifetime!
Somehow I have never regretted that decision. There have been scorching days when snow looked inviting, but never enough to make me leave California and look for a state that has snow in the winter. We have rain, and if you want to see snow, you can go to the mountains in the winter. But I'll take San Diego, and the heat, and the occasional earthquake, and rain in the winter! No more snow for me. The way the population has increased, I think there are a lot of people who agree with me. The sunny skies of San Diego have always felt like home to me. There are balmy days, cloudy days, rainy days, and enough variety to suit me. San Diego is pretty much perfect. I will never forget the lights of the city coming on as my plane flew low over the tall buildings of "Home", and I have never been unhappy enough in the heat, to move to any other place.
San Diego, you are just my cup of tea. . . or glass of iced tea! No matter the temperature, you will always be home to me!
Welcoming New Life to Planet Earth
After our honeymoon of two weeks was over, we went back to our jobs. It was different for me, because my new husband continued to tell me more and more about dealing with the people we worked with. They had to respect me more, because he was sitting right there in the same office. They couldn't stick their noses into our business any more. No more trips to the coffee room for Jack so they could tell him not to get involved with me. We continued as before, but my happiness was complete. I had someone to love and someone who loved me in return.
In March, I went in for a pregnancy test, but I already knew I was pregnant. The test came back positive and I was thrilled! A baby to love. As the pregnancy went on and I got bigger, I had to take a nap when we got home from work. Jack would let me sleep till around 7:00 p.m. and he would make us TV dinners and wake me up to eat. He was so sweet and considerate. He took good care of me and I flourished under his loving care and devotion. The doctor gave me pre-natal vitamins, and they also had me on water pills. In July I was 5 months along and one evening I developed severe back pains. I had to keep visiting the loo, and that night the pains got worse and Jack took me to Doctor's Hospital Emergency room. When we got there, there was a man taking wheel chairs into the hospital, and when he saw me he came running with a chair. They checked everthing out and determined I had a severe kidney and bladder infection. They gave me a prescription and released me. But while I was laying on the table in the emergency room, I suddenly started feeling better. I didn't know at the time, but Jack had gone just outside the room and was focusing all his love and care on me. He had told me a lot about the Tao, his religion, and how he was a lens, and able to focus this power to someone in need of help. I wouldn't have understood it, but I got better and was able to sleep that night after we got home. The next morning, Jack went and got my prescription filled. I was off work for a couple of days, but soon felt better and returned to work.
The boss harrassed me off and on, and when I had first got pregnant, I told him I needed to schedule maternity leave. He glared at me and asked me if I knew what I was talking about! I told him I had been a woman all my life, and knew very well what I was talking about! Just that sort of inane prattle was standared fare for me. They couldn't get past my diagnosis and apparently thought it meant I was mentally retarded or just plain stupid. But none the less, it soon became aparent that indeed I did know what I was talking about, and was indeed very pregnant! One day, he harrassed me so much I started bleeding and had to go to sick bay. They sent me home and told me to see my doctor. He told me I needed complete bed rest for a couple of days with my feet elevated. So I did just that. Not much changed at work. The only happy place for me was home, and our evenings together. We went for walks every night and Jack would tell me about the stars, and how everything was for me. We grew closer and closer. On the 4th of July we walked a few blocks away from the house and watched the fire works. I was so much in love with my new husband. I was happy for the first time in a very long while.
We went for all the doctor appointments, and I was doing really well. I wasn't gaining too much weight until November. I went in every week at that point and one week I had gained 10 lbs! The doctor said we should take some pictures to see just what was going on. Back then they didn't have ultrasound, so they did an X-ray. It was difficult to move around on the table, but after all the pictures were developed, they showed them to Jack and me. There were 2 babies! They had only been able to get one heart beat, but the pictures told the true story. I was so excited! But the only bad thing was that they were both in the breech position. The doctor said they would do a ceserean because breech birth would be too hard for me, as it was my first pregnancy.
That evening after we left the doctor office, we went to his Grandma Helen's house to tell them the news, but they wern't home. So we bought our TV dinners and went home. I couldn't eat. I was so excited. I took a walk down to the little market we shopped at and called my Mom's house. She wasn't there, but my brother was. I told him the news, but he had said earlier that I would probably have twin's because of how big I was getting. He was happy, and when my Mom came home and he told her about their being 2 babies, she didn't believe him because he had said that so often. I walked back home, and after we went to bed, I lay there wide awake and thinking about the prospect of 2 babies. It was 4:00 a.m. before I drifted off to sleep. At 5:00 a.m. I awoke with a start! It had felt like an earthquake in my stomach and my water broke! We hadn't even bought a bed yet for the baby, and here I was going into labor! Jack turned on the light, and was relieved that the ordeal would soon be over.
I went to the bathroom and changed clothes and put on his bathrobe and my slippers. My case for the hospital was already packed. I had been shopping and bought a pretty green nightgown and bathrobe and slippers, and had packed my makeup several weeks in advance. So we took my case, got in the car and headed for the hospital. We stopped at the market so Jack could alert my doctor, and then we left. The fiat had never ran so smoothly! I felt a pain just as we turned onto the freeway. When we got to the hospital, they had me put on a hospital gown and a little elderly man pushed me in a wheel chair to the lab where they took more pictures. I had wanted to have them naturally because back then they thought if you had one cesesarian, you couldn't have natural birth. My doctor had a specialist check me out, and he said I could have them naturally. So I decided to do just that.
Back then they didn't give you anything for the pain. You just had to suffer, and with 2 babies being born breech, the pain was excruciating. They gave me a cup of ice, and Jack stayed with me as long as they would let him. They would come in a check things out, and finally, after 8 hours of agony, one of the babies heart started slowing down and they decided to take me in and deliver the babies. Jack left at that point because they told him he would be in the way if something went wrong. He went to call my parents and his Mom and Grandma. It seemed like I was in the delivery room forever. They gave me a spinal, and there were several doctor's and a team of nurses there to take care of the babies. They delivered the first baby with forceps and disappeared with him. He was born bottom first, and the second baby was feet first. When they said they were both boys, I was thrilled. Most men want a son first and I had given Jack 2 sons! They held the second baby up for me to see, and I said "Hi, Baby! Don't cry!" I held up my hand to him and he grabbed my finger and stopped crying. Then they worked with me after the nurses left with the babies.
In March, I went in for a pregnancy test, but I already knew I was pregnant. The test came back positive and I was thrilled! A baby to love. As the pregnancy went on and I got bigger, I had to take a nap when we got home from work. Jack would let me sleep till around 7:00 p.m. and he would make us TV dinners and wake me up to eat. He was so sweet and considerate. He took good care of me and I flourished under his loving care and devotion. The doctor gave me pre-natal vitamins, and they also had me on water pills. In July I was 5 months along and one evening I developed severe back pains. I had to keep visiting the loo, and that night the pains got worse and Jack took me to Doctor's Hospital Emergency room. When we got there, there was a man taking wheel chairs into the hospital, and when he saw me he came running with a chair. They checked everthing out and determined I had a severe kidney and bladder infection. They gave me a prescription and released me. But while I was laying on the table in the emergency room, I suddenly started feeling better. I didn't know at the time, but Jack had gone just outside the room and was focusing all his love and care on me. He had told me a lot about the Tao, his religion, and how he was a lens, and able to focus this power to someone in need of help. I wouldn't have understood it, but I got better and was able to sleep that night after we got home. The next morning, Jack went and got my prescription filled. I was off work for a couple of days, but soon felt better and returned to work.
The boss harrassed me off and on, and when I had first got pregnant, I told him I needed to schedule maternity leave. He glared at me and asked me if I knew what I was talking about! I told him I had been a woman all my life, and knew very well what I was talking about! Just that sort of inane prattle was standared fare for me. They couldn't get past my diagnosis and apparently thought it meant I was mentally retarded or just plain stupid. But none the less, it soon became aparent that indeed I did know what I was talking about, and was indeed very pregnant! One day, he harrassed me so much I started bleeding and had to go to sick bay. They sent me home and told me to see my doctor. He told me I needed complete bed rest for a couple of days with my feet elevated. So I did just that. Not much changed at work. The only happy place for me was home, and our evenings together. We went for walks every night and Jack would tell me about the stars, and how everything was for me. We grew closer and closer. On the 4th of July we walked a few blocks away from the house and watched the fire works. I was so much in love with my new husband. I was happy for the first time in a very long while.
We went for all the doctor appointments, and I was doing really well. I wasn't gaining too much weight until November. I went in every week at that point and one week I had gained 10 lbs! The doctor said we should take some pictures to see just what was going on. Back then they didn't have ultrasound, so they did an X-ray. It was difficult to move around on the table, but after all the pictures were developed, they showed them to Jack and me. There were 2 babies! They had only been able to get one heart beat, but the pictures told the true story. I was so excited! But the only bad thing was that they were both in the breech position. The doctor said they would do a ceserean because breech birth would be too hard for me, as it was my first pregnancy.
That evening after we left the doctor office, we went to his Grandma Helen's house to tell them the news, but they wern't home. So we bought our TV dinners and went home. I couldn't eat. I was so excited. I took a walk down to the little market we shopped at and called my Mom's house. She wasn't there, but my brother was. I told him the news, but he had said earlier that I would probably have twin's because of how big I was getting. He was happy, and when my Mom came home and he told her about their being 2 babies, she didn't believe him because he had said that so often. I walked back home, and after we went to bed, I lay there wide awake and thinking about the prospect of 2 babies. It was 4:00 a.m. before I drifted off to sleep. At 5:00 a.m. I awoke with a start! It had felt like an earthquake in my stomach and my water broke! We hadn't even bought a bed yet for the baby, and here I was going into labor! Jack turned on the light, and was relieved that the ordeal would soon be over.
I went to the bathroom and changed clothes and put on his bathrobe and my slippers. My case for the hospital was already packed. I had been shopping and bought a pretty green nightgown and bathrobe and slippers, and had packed my makeup several weeks in advance. So we took my case, got in the car and headed for the hospital. We stopped at the market so Jack could alert my doctor, and then we left. The fiat had never ran so smoothly! I felt a pain just as we turned onto the freeway. When we got to the hospital, they had me put on a hospital gown and a little elderly man pushed me in a wheel chair to the lab where they took more pictures. I had wanted to have them naturally because back then they thought if you had one cesesarian, you couldn't have natural birth. My doctor had a specialist check me out, and he said I could have them naturally. So I decided to do just that.
Back then they didn't give you anything for the pain. You just had to suffer, and with 2 babies being born breech, the pain was excruciating. They gave me a cup of ice, and Jack stayed with me as long as they would let him. They would come in a check things out, and finally, after 8 hours of agony, one of the babies heart started slowing down and they decided to take me in and deliver the babies. Jack left at that point because they told him he would be in the way if something went wrong. He went to call my parents and his Mom and Grandma. It seemed like I was in the delivery room forever. They gave me a spinal, and there were several doctor's and a team of nurses there to take care of the babies. They delivered the first baby with forceps and disappeared with him. He was born bottom first, and the second baby was feet first. When they said they were both boys, I was thrilled. Most men want a son first and I had given Jack 2 sons! They held the second baby up for me to see, and I said "Hi, Baby! Don't cry!" I held up my hand to him and he grabbed my finger and stopped crying. Then they worked with me after the nurses left with the babies.
Friday, July 6, 2012
A Delicious Dessert - No Cooking Required
This dessert is delicious, easy to make, and I believe even if you have diabetes, you can still partake of this light treat. Absolutely no cooking required.
Angel Food Cake, which you can get at any supermarket, a container of fresh strawberries, or berries of any kind, and a huge container of creamy Cool Whip.
Slice the angel food cake into bite size peices. Wash the berries, drain and gently pat dry. Select your prettiest clear glasses or bowls, and layer the angel food cake, top with berries, and put as much cool whip as you desire between the layers and then on top, a dollop of cool whip and a berry on top!
Serve with a fresh pot of your favorite coffee, and enjoy. Makes a delightful, light dessert after a big dinner, or as a bedtime treat.
Another treat if you want something cool to drink: Make a strong pot of coffee, turn off and let cool. Sit pot in fridge for a couple of hours to really chill. When sufficiently chilled, put your favorite sweetner in a large glass, pour in the coffee to a little over half full, add ice and your favorite flavored coffee creamer, or your favorite flavoring (ie: Vanilla) to the mix, stir and enjoy. Tastes just as good as Starbucks and doesn't cost a lot to make. Simply refreshing and quite a favorite around the Tyler household.
Angel Food Cake, which you can get at any supermarket, a container of fresh strawberries, or berries of any kind, and a huge container of creamy Cool Whip.
Slice the angel food cake into bite size peices. Wash the berries, drain and gently pat dry. Select your prettiest clear glasses or bowls, and layer the angel food cake, top with berries, and put as much cool whip as you desire between the layers and then on top, a dollop of cool whip and a berry on top!
Serve with a fresh pot of your favorite coffee, and enjoy. Makes a delightful, light dessert after a big dinner, or as a bedtime treat.
Another treat if you want something cool to drink: Make a strong pot of coffee, turn off and let cool. Sit pot in fridge for a couple of hours to really chill. When sufficiently chilled, put your favorite sweetner in a large glass, pour in the coffee to a little over half full, add ice and your favorite flavored coffee creamer, or your favorite flavoring (ie: Vanilla) to the mix, stir and enjoy. Tastes just as good as Starbucks and doesn't cost a lot to make. Simply refreshing and quite a favorite around the Tyler household.
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