For my friend, Pam Colley

It has been about 18 days since I posted last. Really too long especially since I have pictures and lots to say.

This, however, is all about my friend, Pam. She died last Thursday, August 14th. She had pancreatic cancer. If you look it up, you will see that it is a very ugly form of cancer. She survived it for a couple of years which is utterly amazing, and I admit that I dug my head in the sand and refused to believe that she wasn't going to be ok.

Now I wish I hadn't been in such denial. I know she is in heaven, but I have to admit I'm still in stage 2 of grief: Anger. I figure bargaining doesn't exist when she is already dead but depression and acceptance are ahead.

Pam was awesome and amazing for those of you that didn't know her. She was my French teacher in 9th and 10th grade. She was a perfect lady, spoke clearly, quietly and slowly. It is hard to imagine how she didn't kill me, let alone learned to love me.

In 10th grade my French class bought her a dog, Molly. Molly was a cocker spaniel. A naughty cocker spaniel. She barked a lot. She chewed things. How did Pam not kill us all?

Of course, we read Le Petit Prince in her class which is still one of my very favorite books and that almost every line is a quote. It is about friendship and making friends. While I was in Europe this summer I got a "Le Petit Prince" post card. I didn't manage to give it to her because I kept forgetting it, but it said, " If you want a friend, tame me!" She certainly did that. I was a little wild thing when I had her, but she helped me to survive high school and grow up.

Through the years she was always there for me. She used to do this thing called "reducing inventory" we'd meet for lunch and she'd have something from her house that she had decided she didn't need anymore. . . The china I eat from, the silverware, tables, knick knacks. . . my house is full of momentos of Pam.

We used to go to lunch at La Madeleine and sit there until our butts were numb, we would talk for so long.

A few years ago after she had retired, she decided she would sub for me. It was awesome. The kids loved her, and they behaved for her (which is huge.) She would also sub in the library which she totally loved. She loved to dust books more than any one I've ever known.

Oh, and my favorite story, she used to tell us stories about the guy she was dating.She wouldn't tell us his name, so we called him Sergio. Through the years she would date him off and on. Well, she finally married him. When he introduced himself to me, he introduced himself as Sergio. He is a wonderful guy, and I am so sad that they only had 7 years together in the end, but I'm really glad that they had 7 years together in the end.

The funeral was beautiful. The minister spoke from the heart and obviously knew her well. My friend, Susan, one of the librarians at the high school, went with me.

At any rate, I'm really going to miss her, but I am sooo very glad that I knew her. She is definitely one of those people that I am a better person for having known.

day 5 in SF

santa cruz was tons of fun. I am still having to be really careful about what I eat, but I've done pretty well. gk and I went to the park and played a little basketball. Ian showed up with a friend and played his dad for real. GK wanted me to be sure to mention that he did win the game.
We went to see batman yesterday and today we went rollerskating. AM brought a friend and GK didn't actually skate. More fun tomorrow. cell phone post no 2

San Francisco Days

Ok, we have been a group on the move. I'd like to point out I tried to blog from the phone twice since the airport and it didn't work either time. Totally annoying.

Arrived in SF Tuesday, greeted by GK, my cousin, and his daughter AM. Took a tour around the city, hit Chinatown, had dinner headed to the house. That, of course, is where things were bound to get interesting since his soon to be ex still lives in the house. Very cozy.

She greeted me with "Why are you in San Francisco?" uh visiting my cousin? Ya' think? Maybe?

And "Oh, visiting while you still have someplace to stay for free?" uh, what? I'm pretty sure that GK isn't going to start charging me anytime soon. Sigh. God bless the man because he has been living with some serious strain.

Wednesday we went to Hearst Castle. This shows how much he loves me because it turns it out it isn't just a little bit south of the city, it is like 3 1/2 hours south!! I loved it, so I was very glad we went. We got back late . . . Also good.

Thursday we went to Santa Cruz we even got Alexander to go.

testing

so I'm trying to post from my phone as I sit in the airport waiting for my flight to San Francisco. I actually already tried this once, but it didn't work at all. So into the abyss with attempt two

Sex and the City

First of all, I love the TV show. To me, it is a lot like Seinfeld. In many ways it was a show about nothing, but that so many people can identify with it. I love the different personalities of the four girls. I know I see parts of myself in each. Don't you wonder who you might be most like? Take the SATC Quiz and find out . . . I'm 50% Carrie, 20% Charlotte and Samantha and 10% Miranda. Hmmmm

OK, onward, it was a great movie. MB mentioned that we needed kleenex and then we promptly forgot them which was a mistake because we both were crying! Afterwards, the good Major was a sweetheart and let us sit on the trampoline in the backyard, sans children talking about life etc. I'm really glad I waited to see the movie until we could see it together.

I will admit that the relationship of Carrie and Big with its back and forth and highs and lows has reminded me quite a bit of my relationship with JD. So watching the movie did make me sad in parts as I thought about that relationship.

I have to see it again, because I was quite busy with the story and not focused enough on the clothing. One of the first outfits you see Carrie in is the white dress to the left. Would have been fine except for the freaking HUGE flower at her neck. She wears a wedding dress later in the movie with a feather/bird on her head. So very not ok.

I really don't understand why the clothing people decided she had to wear such ridiculous outfits all the time. Couldn't she be hip but not silly? I wonder if it makes Clinton's and Stacy's (What Not to Wear fame) teeth hurt. As always watching those girls makes me want to improve my own style. Oh, and wear my heels more.

I know I have not achieved success in this area, but I think one of the reasons I started blogging is because I have always been so enchanted by Carrie as she wrote and talked through the shows. Busy at her laptop contemplating the world. Of course, she didn't have silly dogs at her feet destroying everything they get their little paws on.

Back in Dallas for Four

So, I got back in town Friday afternoon, got the dogs and tried to get myself focused on working on the real estate book. I got all of the proofing done and the book to the boys this afternoon. While I am in San Francisco, I expect them to be proofing madly.

I'll come back, get their changes, make 'em and mail 'em to the plant.

I got a new phone so that I would have a phone/palm in one unit instead of two things to keep up with. The downside is that I am having trouble working the phone. My ear appears to be especially talented at dialing numbers while I'm on the phone, putting calls on hold (unintentially), and, of course, hanging up on people.

I got the dogs on Friday and they will return to the canine country club tomorrow morning. Cat, in the meantime, has been living large next door at Emily's. In fact, when he hears my voice, he runs. I'm trying to not take it personally.

Saturday when I went over, he ran and hid under the bed. I had to get a picture. I thought it was particularly appropriate that he chose to show me his bum. Em told me that he loved to sit on the fire place mantle. So, she called me so I could get a picture. He looks pretty damn happily ensconced at Emily's. Let's see, eats soft cat food every night, gets his litter box cleaned every day, and no dogs. I'm going to have to drag his furry little ass claws out back to the house.

If I could figure out how to play music, you'd be hearing sexy back playing right now . . . Ain't he handsome!

Bad yards 101

While in OKC, we went to visit a neighborhood behind the base. (There was a house they almost got in an auction.)

Please note the very tall stork? pelican? whatever the hell it is. How much do you think they paid for that? More than $5?

As we made our way to the house, we passed this work of art. It is hard to get across how very horrifying it was and how to get across the number of THINGS in this yard.They even have a stupid wall across the yard. Very strange yard. I think I may try to start collecting for the backyard. The dogs could live in WT heaven.

I also like the dead tree, they didn't cut it down, no, they kept it as part of their yard bananza.