Bye Bye, June

June is almost done and it's been a crazy-busy month. Most of it I was preparing for the District Six, Sons of Norway Convention. Three days of business with 165 delegates - keeping track of everything, staying on top of parliamentary procedure and literally not being able to walk two feet without someone calling my name and needing my attention. I did love it, but glad it's done.

Our son Brandon married his beautiful bride, Josselyn on the beach in Kauai on the 15th. It was a fantastic, whirlwind trip. We were only able to spend four days there, but it was a blast.

Last week was our convention. I think all went smoothly and we were ahead of schedule. Everyone was so upbeat and nice.

I am no longer the President of my beloved District Six and it feels weird. After four years of hard work I have turned the helm over to my successor and hope all goes well. Swede, the President who served before me, was gracious and awesome about handing me the gavel and letting me do my thing. I'm trying to follow in his footsteps, but finding it a bit hard to let go. I'll keep my mouth shut and let Lyle do his job.

International Director is the next step for me. I was elected at the district level and will be confirmed and installed in August at our International convention. That means after 14 years on the district board.... I have two months off!

We came home to a kitchen re-do. Refacing the cabinets and new counter tops. I've been hanging out with the contractors the past two days and am looking forward to getting back to work. Pat has tomorrow off, so he can hang out and answer the various questions.

Despite all of the efforts of the contractors to contain the dust, our living room and dining area are coated in a fine patina of dust. I'm happy I have two months to clean up this mess and put our kitchen back together.

Bring on July!

You sew and sew...

I am not a terrific seamstress, but I do know how to sew. I made a lot of the girls' halloween costumes when they were little - in fact, I guess that's pretty much what I sew, costumes.
We're attending a Sock Hop themed party later this month, so I'm making skirts for Kristen and myself. No, not poodle skirts - Boston Terrier skirts.
We were at the fabric store last weekend. Pattern, check. Felt, check. Thread, check. Zippers, check. Size... WHAT?
According to the pattern Kristen wears a size three sizes larger than she actually wears and I wear FIVE sizes larger. I went by waist measurement and Kristen's size 14 skirt fits her just fine. I'm working on my 22 now. Good grief! I know I'm heavier than I want to be, but 22? That's just ridiculous.

Daddy is on his way...

My Dad's cremains are aboard the USS Reuben James, seen here leaving Pearl Harbor on January 15, 2010. The ship is deployed for six months.
Let me back up a bit. After Daddy passed away last August we had much debate about where would be his final resting place. My sister Jeanie found out that the US Navy will bury their veterans at sea. We all thought this was a perfect place for Daddy. He was a veteran of the Navy in both WWII and Korea, fighting in seven major air battles, including the Battle of Leyte Gulf in the South Pacific. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in this battle. He spent quite a lot of time in Hawaii as his home base when he wasn't out at sea.
The Navy has burial at sea ceremonies. They raise a flag, scatter the remains and take pictures. They will send back the flag and the camera along with the coordinates of where the ceremony took place. Maybe we can google earth the coordinates to see his place at sea.
Jeanie sent him to Hawaii last fall and we haven't heard a peep from the Navy. Mom was afraid they lost him and we were all picturing him in our minds stuck in a warehouse on the Naval base there. We got an e-mail from Jeanie today with very good news. The remains are stored in the Navy hospital there until the ship is deployed. Much more dignified and respectful than we imagined.
Seeing this picture and knowing he was on board that day has brought up so many feelings. Of course I was at the office when first looked at it and started bawling. Out of sadness for losing my dear father, out of gratitude for the US Navy for taking such good care of their veterans and knowing he was on that ship the very day this picture was taken.
Bon Voyage, Daddy. We all look forward to seeing your final resting place. We're all glad you're free of pain, but miss your smile and wicked sense of humor every day. We quote you almost daily.

New Photo Blog

My daughter, Kristen, started a 365 project this year. She has taken a picture every day and posted it on her blog. Since I have a new camera, I asked her if she would mind if I did it, too. She said "do it, Marger!"
I took my first picture last night on June 1st. Look for a link here when I figure out how to log up and upload pictures.