Did you feel it?

We did, not as much as people "down below" felt it however. The kids hit the deck :) but I don't think they have ever been in an earthquake. As a life long resident of Southern California I knew what it was right away.

Of course I called my dad to let him know we were ok, he didn't even know there had been a quake. I texted my brothers and sisters (love technology!!) to let them know - and called Honey who had no idea what I was talking about. So, quakes are hit and miss as to if one feels it or not.

Living here on the San Andreas fault presents its own concerns - but as of today with this quake we survived one more!!!!

Thank you God for keeping us safe yet again!!

3-Day Walk to wipe out breast cancer!!!

My sister had decided to do this walk in January. Then in June, as you all know, we lost my grandmother to breast cancer.

This is from the American Cancer Society webpage:

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, other than skin cancer. It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.

About 182,460 women in the United States will be found to have invasive breast cancer in 2008.

About 40,480 women will die from the disease this year. Right now there are about two and a half million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer some time during her life is about 1 in 8.

The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 35. Breast cancer death rates are going down. This is probably the result of finding the cancer earlier and improved treatment.

De-Anne (my sister) is walking November 21-23 in San Diego. Please click on the donation button on my side bar and help her out!! Thanks everyone!

Twilight contest!!!

I read the first book while in San Fransico. Go here for Stephenie Meyers stuff.

But go here for a really cool contest!!! I have stumbled upon The Story Siren and will be spending more time over at her place. Here are the details (directly from her page!!!) Please head over there for more!!!!!

Three winners will win their choice of Team Edward or Team Jacob buttons.

One second prize winner will win their choice of a paperback copy of Twilight/New Moon or a $10 gift card to Amazon.com, their choice of Team Edward/Jacob/Esme/Bella/Emmett/Carlisle/Alice/Jasper or Runs with Vampires/Forever short sleeved T-shirt from Twilight Teez and their choice of a Team Edward or Team Jacob button. (One (1) book or gift card, one (1) t-shirt, one (1) button)

The Grand Prize winner will win the complete Twilight Series: Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, their choice of Team Edward/Jacob/Esme/Bella/Emmett/Carlisle/Alice/Jasper or Runs with Vampires/Forever short sleeved t-shirt from Twilight Teez and their choice of a Team Edward or Team Jacob button. (Four (4) books, one (1) t-shirt, one (1) button)

This contest is only open to the U.S. and Canada. Sorry rest of the world!

The Deadline for this contest is August 2nd at midnight eastern time.

The winner will be announced August 3rd.To enter: leave a comment or email me at thestorysiren(at)hotmail(dot)com with Breaking Dawn as the subject. If you do not have a blogger profile please leave a your name or a nickname with your comment so that you can be identified. Anonymous comments with no id will be thrown out. If you email me I will send you a confirmation email.

There are many more ways to enter - but you need to get over there to see how!!!!!! Let her know you heard it from me!!!!!

When we said goodbye.....

On July 10, 2008 we said our goodbyes to my grandma. She was 91 years old and loved by all who were lucky enough to know her. My family gathered in Ventura and although the occasion was one of sadness - my family can always be counted on to laugh - ALOT! And that is what we did, we laughed and it was just as grandma would have wanted. The night before she passed away, my brother Joe was with her and she told him, "There is so much love in this family." He told that there was and then she asked, "Did I do that?" He replied that she did.

She made each one of us feel as though we were her favorite. She had lists of those she prayed for - everyday. She was a remarkable woman and although I miss her so very much, I am glad she and my grandfather are now together.

Anyway, here are some pictures from Ventura. The San Buenaventura Mission.

This is a picture of eldest daughtes and their dads. From right ot left - My father and I, My Uncle Phil and his daughter, Barbara, my Uncle Bill and Tara, and Uncle Randy (Uncle Starfish!!!) and Chelsey. My daughters and nieces!! All dressed up to go to the Rosary.
Great-grandma Marys' gravestone. (My grandma's mother.) My grandma was buried close to her mother - so after the gravesite service the family took flowers to greatgrandma's grave.Some of the "girls"!!!

Some of the "Boys"!!!

My Uncle Phil - grandma's brother (he is 93 years old and still goes to work at his barber shop every day!!!!) mom and Aunt Angie.
My mom and Dad and brothers and sisters!! Good looking bunch, aren't we?

The kids needed to get out after being dressed up all day - so we all headed over to the beach. Honey and I - look she is actually smiling!!!

My sister De-Anne being a goof! Chariots of Fire run.
Do you remember sinking into the sand?
The only people in the water - and all related!!
My goddaughter Olivia!!! Isn't she the cutest thing!!
And she is a ham!!!

Everyone on the mission side of Ventura knows my Uncle Phil!! Their picture is on the Tortilla Flats mural, which is on the way to the beach.
The GreenMill Ballroom is where my grandparents met. At a dance - he already had a girlfriend and she was chaparoned by Uncle Phil. The girlfriend was forgotten and they were married a year later before he went into the service.
As the saying for the day was - "Grandma would have wanted it!" We went out to toast Grandma!
My sister Dede and her husband Mike. And my brother Dom and his wife, Shelly.

Almost all of us!!!

I returned to Las Vegas with my Mom and Dad for an extra week. Each Saturday my mother and grandmother would go to early mass, have dinner, and then either go to a movie or do some shopping. I was a poor substitute for grandma but off we went to Mass, and then dinner with some of the ladies. My mom is in the middle.
Friday Honey came to get me and bring me home. But she had a little surprise for me. We had a great day - first we went to see The Dark Knight - which was great BTW!!!! - and then she had gotten us a room at Whiskey Petes! We did some shopping at the outlet mall - had a great dinner and did some gambling!! It was a fab way to go from the parents house to home and real life!!! This is the view from our room and all of the traffic going into Vegas!!!!

So, now I am home and unpacking and getting back to "real-life!" I did register for school and start August 25th!!

Rest In Peace

I cannot believe I am writing this post. But my 91 year old Grandma passed away Sunday morning. She was an amazing woman and EVERYONE who met her loved her. She joins my Grandpa who left us 10 years ago. These two people were the best grandparents anyone could have wished for. I am the number one granddaughter and can't imagine the world without her. I am heading out to Las Vegas to stay with my mom and dad for awhile. My grandma lived with my mom since Grandpa passed, so my mom is having a hard time right now.

I love you both and miss you more than I can say.

Please keep my mom in your prayers.