Happy Birthday, Daddy

Today would be my father's 87th birthday.  At this point in my life, 87 doesn't sound nearly as old as it once did.  The sad thing is, my dad has been gone for 10 years and 77 years old  certainly doesn't sound as old as it once did.  I think of all the things that have happened in my life in the last ten years and wish so much that he and my mom were here to take part.  I like to think that they know all those things anyway.

My dad was what I call a"public professional".  He was in the public eye most of life.  As a child he worked as a child actor on a local radio program in San  Antonio.  As a teenager he was a news announcer and a disc jockey for several San Antonio radio stations.  He took a break to help the Army out during World War II returning to join the new media sensation known as television.  He remained a newscaster in San Antonio, with one short detour, until 1969 when he became a full time cartoonist -- a career he enjoyed until his death in 2000.  There are any number of detailed bios on him on the internet - just google Pat Boyette and you will find them.

My dad has been called a "renaissance man" -- much of his knowledge was self taught  -- he was an avid reader and had great interest in the world around him.  Whether you were talking to him about religion, politics, movie making, art, aliens, ghosts, Egypt etc, he had something to bring to the conversation.  I miss those conversations.

My dad was a man of compassion.  He would  never walk away from somebody in need and gave many times when the giving wasn't so easy.  He was one of the kindest people I have ever known.
 
 My dad wore a lot of hats, professionally, but to me he was just Daddy.  he was a good father, a great grandfather and he is missed on a daily basis.   So, happy birthday, Daddy -- I wish you were here.

Buh-bye to the Most Miserable February I Can Remember

February used to be such a good month. It is my birthday month and, even though this year is a milestone birthday, I was looking forward to it. Operative word, was. Now, I am not looking forward to the birthday I am just looking forward to this miserable month being over!

When I started school, we were arranged in classes by our birthdays so, my classroom was made up of those whose birthdays fell from January 1 to mid-March. My best friend, Roger's, birthday was on the 24th, my friend Kathryn's was on the 26th and mine the 28th -- no wonder I can remember that. February was definitely the month of parties. Those were the days! Not this year, however. (Below is a photo of my 6th grade graduation with the majority of the girls in my class -- a couple were missing. )

This has been a horrible winter. We have had snow at least three times. My grandchildren have contracted some sort of illness that I believe they shared with me. My expectant daughter managed to contract some sort of stomach virus from her husband. The month is a complete blur. Complete.

So, with that said, I am quite anxious to see February depart and some warm weather takes its place. I would like to see everybody well and all my projects underway. I am getting way behind in the project arena. I want my ears to unstop and my chest to uncongest and I am willing to forego the birthday celebration in order to hasten the healing.

On that note, I am going to wish myself a happy birthday, drink copious amounts of water, swallow massive amounts of something to decongest me and take a nap!

Ah, To Be Three Again -- I guess

Yesterday was spent at our son's house celebrating our grandson's third birthday. It was actually a pretty quiet little party. One invited family was suffering from "flu like symptoms" and decided they best not attend which is understandable and considerate. So, there were only three children there -- the birthday boy, his sister and his buddy. But, the three of them were lively enough.

The theme of the party was "firetruck" -- one of N's favorite things right now. So, Mom fashioned a firetruck cake from pound cake, oreo cookies, gumdrops and rolled fondant icing. Since she didn't want the kids to partake of too much red food coloring, she made this a Fort Worth firetruck which are blue and white. She also had "dalmation" cupcakes which were cupcakes with white frosting with crumbled chocolate cookies mixed in to make them look spotted and they were topped with icing fire hydrants made by birthday boy's dad. I didn't get a photo of those, however, but trust me, they were cute.

There were gifts galore


Balloons to be popped, friends and aunts

Gramps and Granny B


And a good time was had by all!

June 4, 1947

Today is AW's birthday! I don't know why I am excited about it -- perhaps because it isn't MY birthday? I even bought him a gift -- something we haven't done for each other for years -- and a card -- a mushy card! Even though I had a funny one picked out -- something about REAL MEN and maps -- you can see where that is going -- but I opted to be nice. So, nice dinner and a gift -- he will be happy! Celebration with children to follow later -- tonight it is just us. So, Happy Birthday, AW!

How 'Bout them Ags?

Saturday was spent at dear daughters for her birthday. She planned her own party this year -- well, after all, she is 29 so I guess it is allowed. She had friends and family over to celebrate with tamales, beer and Aggie football. I am so glad that A&M beat UNM -- a wonderful birthday present for the daughter and a houseful of potentially volatile Ags!

Good game, good day -- Happy Birthday, girlie!

Happy 18th Month Birthday To You!

Today is Moochi's 18 month birthday! He is the cutest little guy and we love him so much! He is really growing up so I am including a more recent photo, too. However, the most recent photos are still on my camera -- NOT MY FAULT -- I am upgrading my OS, well, my computer genius son is, and I can't put anymore photos on right now. In the first photo he is just a couple of months old. The second was taken in this past spring.


Moochi is an absolute joy! He is all boy, a bit of a roughneck and the loviest and cuddliest little thing you could want to be around! In case you are wondering about the nickname Moochi -- that is my nickname for him. Nobody else calls him that -- just me.

Friday Fill-Ins

Ok, I know it isn't Friday but I am off a day -- or two. I will do Thursday's thing in a little while.

1. Idle hands are the devils playground, or something like that.

2. I love Aveeno Colloidal Shower Gel in the shower.

3. My favorite time of day is when A nudges me from my chair slumber and says it is time to go to bed -- usually right after the Leno monologue or maybe the Leno headline funnies.

4. The last tea I drank was Stash Peppermint Herbal decaf, last night before my chair slumber.

5. I like to stay inside during the summer.

6. My mother always said "don't do anything to embarrass me". I didn't -- she wasn't.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I am looking forward to absolutely nothing, tomorrow my plans include going to the gun show, and Sunday I want to go to church and celebrate A's birthday with my family.

Birthday

Today is my birthday. So, what kind of a day is it? Well, for February, it is pretty nice. Morning is like late winter, afternoon is like early spring. I guess that sounds typical. It is sunny but windy -- and the cedar pollen is high -- again. I awoke with the remnants of the allergy attack of yesterday -- not gone but going. The cat is a bit punk and the laundry is multiplying itself in the dark. It is pretty much business as usual except that A gave me the gift that I had picked out a few weeks ago. It is much easier for him if I do the picking, he does the buying and hiding and presenting. It works well that way because sometimes I even forget what it is I chose! I guess those senior moments can work to our advantage if we look at it that way. So, all in all, it is a good day. The best gift is that I have today -- sneezing, itching, punky cat, cedar and all. I will take it. It is a good thing!