Idaho

And so, we moved to Idaho, because of M's work. First stop was Jerome. Now that was a smaller town than Dixon, and waaaaay farther away from the beach. We bought a cute 3 bedroom house with half an acre. We raised vegetables, and also bought a pony for S. Our second daughter was born there :)


That was my first time living in the cold snowy weather. One of my memories of Jerome, was waking up one morning and looking outside my window and seeing our pony's face looking back at me, somehow he got loose and was happily running around in the middle of a heavy snowstorm. M had already left for work, rain or shine there was always work to do. And I went outside, on my pajamas, with boots on and ran after the horse like a mad woman, until finally I caught his bridle and led him to his stable. Did I mention I was pregnant at the time? I also remember our first cat, a siamese that was evil incarnate. We didn't live in Jerome too long, just
from 1970 to 1973.


Jerome has grown some, it has more businesses, but the town itself is still the same, the downtown area has not changed, but the street where we lived looks different. It used to be in the country, with few houses around. Now there's many houses and trees. But again, I am glad I don't live there anymore.


By the way, we drove all around Twin Falls, and I could hardly remember anything about it, but M did, he was surprised I had forgotten many of the places in the town.

You can't go "home" again...

This July, I went on a memory trip to Northern California and Idaho. I wanted to see all the places I had lived in since I came to the US.

First stop was Dixon, California.

1965-1970 - That's the first town I lived in when I came to the US, a far cry from the big city of Barcelona. Dixon is a small town south of Sacramento, it has not grown much from the time I lived there .The very first place I lived in was a small house with 2 bedrooms, a backyard porch and a nice garden. After that, we lived in a one bedroom duplex. Our 3rd place was a duplex with 2 bedrooms (my mother was coming for the birth of my first daughter and we needed the extra room). After my mother left, we moved in with my in-laws. I didn't know how to drive and I was feeling very sad living there, so as soon as we could we moved to a 2 story apartment that was really cute. Some of my best memories of Dixon was living there. My English neighbors were members of the Peace Corps and we had parties which were fun. At that time I also started working at the Milk Farm. The last place I lived in Dixon, was a cute house with a great backyard. After that, we moved to Idaho.

The places I lived in have not aged well. The first 2 places are in what now is "the Mexican side of town". the only place that still looks OK is the last house we lived in.

All in all, I am happy I don't live there anymore. Although there were many good memories like having my first baby, and making some good friends, there were also memories of being lonely, away from my family, and away from the city I loved.

Next time I will write about Idaho :)

On a roll !

CHAMPIONS!!!

Just braggin a little about Spain winning the EURO2008 with a 1-0 win over Germany.

This is a big deal in Europe where soccer is king :)

My meme

Since school is out, I have time in my hands... :)

Ayyy I did not keep the remarks of each image !

The "D" word!

It seems like both Gray and Red want to improve their physical appearance, and I like that is not so much for vanity but for health reasons, to feel better, although looking better is a bonus as well.

So count me in. I have wanted to get in some kind of exercise routine, but I procrastinate sooo much. Maybe now is the time. And we can support and encourage each other. So Bracvo Red on losing already 8 lbs.

It is a true fact that the older you get the harder it is to lose weight. I just want to be more fit and get rid of a couple of spare tires. And be healthier, and maybe be able to stop taking some meds for diabetes and high blood pressure. I became a diabetic strictly by being heavy, it does not run in my side of the family as far as I know.

I remember my mother and my sister, always harping on my weight everytime I went back to Spain, and how hurtful it was. But in a way they were right, they only went about it the wrong way. My mother was concerned about my health, my sister just thought I looked older than my age. Both of them never had any weight problems. But they also took better care of themselves.

Which brings me to the "D" word. DIET. Red has joined Weight Watchers. I remember years ago I joined a group called TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly). We had a weigh in every week, if you gained weight, you had to take a big plastic pig and display it in your front yard (here lives a pig I guess was the motivation)! At the end of the month we all went out to dinner and whoever lost the most weight that month got their dinner free. It was fun while it lasted.

I am not much of a joiner of groups, I did join a gym when we moved to Southern California, but it was very short lived. I also don't have the strong will to give up things I love to eat.

So here's my plan. I will try to follow my mother's advice. Yes, sometimes mothers know best!

1. She always said you can eat whatever you want, in moderation, and in smaller portions ( a downfall in the US, they serve humongous portions in restaurants). A solution, eat reasonably and have the rest to go, then you can have the leftovers for lunch the next day.

2. Do some exercise at least 3-4 times a week. Start slowly and build up. I will use my exercise bike, it will work for my heart, stomach and (bat) arms. I will also not get upset if I cannot park really close to a store, walking is a good thing!

3. Cut down on the snacking.

4. Last but not least. Ease up on my guilty pleasure...chocolate!!!!!!

So girls...here we go!

Of lists, planners, etc.

Both Red and Gray and M are planners. They map their course.
I make lists sometimes, then forget where I put them.
And I very seldom plan.
Planning would make my work easier. There's so many things to do before the end of the school, report cards, cumulative reports, class inventory, promotion performance, end of year picnic. It would be helpful to make lists and prioritize.
Yes, maybe next year :)
Don't get me wrong. I totally see the wisdom of planning, I am just not good at following plans, or making them.
I am organizationally challenged.