upcoming FUN

david and i are going to see cheap trick at the hollywood bowl tomorrow night :)
and then janice is coming in on the 3rd for the 4th of july weekend....not sure what we'll do besides shopping on melrose...but i know whatever we do will be fun....it'll be great just to see her and hang out....

update - at katie's request ; )

well, i think i've realized i'm not a frequent blogger...
i did start a myspace page but no real 'blogging' yet...i did post something about our recent visit to mom's early this month, though.

as far as updating and what's going on lately:
job is good--still doing insurance at daniel's office....my old co-worker, becky, is back---after several people that were NOT a fit for the office..this was her first week and it feels really good to have a smooth-running, positive-vibe office...

on a not so good note: a friend of mine's husband died recently from lung cancer after only knowing about it for 2 months...so i've been trying to be there for her...
another friend of mine is in the process of getting a divorce..
---all this is making me really appreciate all i have and i'm trying to enjoy every day with my family and not take anything for granted...

darian is now 'officially' a senior in high school! i can't believe my baby will be going off to college before TOO long :(
i think she wants to go to san francisco...either to sfsu or some art school there...not sure yet...she takes the SAT in october...

guess it's time for an update

well, i haven't updated in a while but have had a couple people email me and ask if i was ok...so i thought i'd update.
over the Christmas holiday, i had some great conversations with my family about health and weight-loss, and long discussions with my sister-in-law, buffy, about running. (she is a marathon runner). i decided i would try it (even though i had NEVER jogged)....
i was going to keep it a secret and just surprise my family the next time i see them, but am feeling so great that i thought i would post about it.

since mid-january, i have been working out at Active Fitness, a boutique gym in santa monica and have been working with a personal trainer named jason...he's such a great motivator and has made me realize i am stronger (both physically and mentally) than i ever thought.

As of today, i have lost 16 lbs and lots of inches...i feel healthier now than probably ever...i am not yet a 'runner', but i do enjoy jogging on the treadmill and have gone from only being able to jog a few minutes to jogging a few miles at a time.

Happy Birthday, David!!

today is david's 35th birthday :)

darian and i took him to the cheesecake factory for dinner and now we are watching VH1 Classic's
The 24 Hours of KISSMAS
david said VH1 is so thoughtful to play his favorite band's concerts and videos for him on his birthday....haha

happy birthday, honey.....
i love you

Goodbye

'take care of my little david for me' was what shirley said to me before we said our goodbyes.....shirley, i will do my best....

the entry below was copied from david's blog:

My Aunt Shirley passed away very early Friday morning. All of us were able to travel to Arkansas in October to see her. We were able to spend time with family and say our final goodbyes. She was in good spirits and stood strong knowing she had little time to live. We knew this day was very near but it is still hard to know you will never get to share a new moment with them.

Aunt Shirley - We loved you dearly and we will miss you.

Shirley Rose Howard Litchford
(June 12, 1946 - November 30, 2007)

Graveside services for Mrs. Shirley Rose Howard Litchford will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, December 3, 2007 in the Rush Chapel, Glenmora with Reverend Gary Richerson officiating. Interment will follow in Amiable Cemetery, Glenmora under the direction of Rush Funeral Home, Oakdale.

Mrs. Litchford, 61, of Horatio, Arkansas entered eternal rest on Friday, November 30, 2007 in her residence.

Shirley became an educator late in her life and thoroughly enjoyed her new career. She attended the Horatio Assembly of God Church. She was a devoted mother, grandmother, wife, aunt, sister, daughter, cousin and friend. She leaves all of us too soon and will be greatly missed. Heaven has acquired its’ newest angel.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John Lois and Crecie Bond Howard; one sister, Judy; her paternal grandparents, James David Howard and Susan Adeline (Addie) Wiggins Howard and her maternal grandparents, Joe Vander Bond and Hattie Bond.

Survivors include her husband, Earl Litchford of Horatio, Arkansas and his children and grandchildren; her daughter, Donna Krissette Langford Kotler; her grandson, Greg McCarroll; her granddaughter, Katie Kotler; one brother, Billy Ray Howard, Sr. of Houston, Texas; her beloved nephews and niece, Billy Ray Howard, Jr. of Horatio, Arkansas, John Lee Howard of Florida, David Christopher Howard of Santa Monica, California and Lisa Erin Minor of Houston, Texas. She is also survived by former husband, Benny Langford; special sisters-in-law, Paulette Langford Nelson and Martha Anne Bonner (Howard) Pierson; aunts, Lucille Wiggins and Marlene Bonds Fergurson and many cousins. Her extended family and friends mourn her passing.

Friends may post online messages of condolence for the Litchford family by visiting www.rushfh.com

nice weekend

even though janice's flight was late and we missed seeing vains of jenna saturday night, and that the jimmy kimmel taping was canceled so we didn't get to see duran duran on monday, we had a nice visit :)

sunday, martha and marvin were also in town and we all had a nice visit--did some shopping in hollywood, took martha by high voltage tattoo (aka LA Ink) so she could get some pictures and earn some "cool points" with her students ; ) and had a nice dinner at our favorite restaurant, with our favorite waiter....

on monday, darian was sick and stayed home from school, david spent time with martha and marvin (went to the grove), so janice and i ventured out to burbank----since we weren't going to see duran duran on jimmy kimmel, we thought maybe we could somehow get in on the ellen show taping they were doing...

we went to burbank to the NBC studios.....we weren't able to get tickets and did not see the guys, but we did see some of the writers on strike....janice wanted a picture with the strikers so we went over and asked if we could take a picture....they said, 'sure--pick up a sign and walk with us....we've been doing this for 2 wks and we're tired'......so janice picked up a sign and i took a picture......turns out, 2 of the strikers were tonight show writers...

we also saw people picketing in front of ellen's entrance.....while other shows have stopped taping because of the strike, ellen has continued taping using her own material.....
they were doing a military-type chant: 'ellen ain't no friend of mine (ellen ain't no friend of mine), she danced across our picket line (she danced across our picket line)....was kind of funny.....i understand why the writers are on strike, but boy, if janice and i could have gotten in to see duran duran, we would have happily walked into the ellen studio :)

martha and marvin flew out monday......so david, janice, and i went to el cholo for food and drinks monday night....we had fun......after visiting a while, i went to bed and janice and david spent a couple hours catching up and talking about music/bands.....

i took janice to the airport early tuesday morning.....was sad seeing her go, but i know we'll all see her again before too long....i can't believe Christmas is almost here!!

janice coming to cali

janice is coming to town---originally coming in to see duran duran on jimmy kimmel monday....but due to writers strike, that has been canceled.....
we'll have to figure out what fun things we can do while she's here....we're bummed we won't get to see DD, but happy we'll get to see each other and hang out---that's always a good time :)