Julee's Journal

Click on Julee's Journal for updates. Re: Family and family related stuff.

Write Of Passage Re: Strictly writing, reviews, and stories I'm working on.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

The Old Testament

Sisters Hope

Let me introduce to you, two young women who care.

Jennifer and Melissa are in the very early stages of doing and giving what they can to causes that have pierced their hearts.
Jen is working at collecting money to free Ghana children sold into slavery along the coast of Africa.
Melissa is saving to live and work in a Malawian Orphanage.
Learn the back story behind this nonprofit adventure.
Click on the sidebar; Sisters Hope.
And then, do something.

Give It Away, Throw It Away, Put It On Ebay

Watch for updates on my Junk For Sale sidebar.
Categories Coming Soon.
House For Sale or Trade
Pre Sale Of "John Deere Memoirs"
Mac Help For Sale
Mac Web Pages for Sale
Wedding Stuff For Sale
JG Photography


You can still find my journal right where you've always found it--->Click here ----> That's What I Thought

Come Over Right Away

I've moved! Click here----->THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT

Things Are Gonna Change Around Here

Seems some of you all's comment button has gotten a bit jammed.
Seeing as I'm the instigator and matriarch of this eblogger craze...there are a lot of you that could stand to update a little more often.
Heck, I would settle for a garden/evergreen tree/wooden chair/20 MORE things about Big Daddy/ update.
And as soon as I hear more about NicToria, you can bet I'll break my Melissa gag order and tell you all about Otha!
Do it! And for the next 300 or so entries, I'll be posting at my new site powered by the oh so wonderful iWeb! Stay with me.
This is it for now-------->
NEW & IMPROVED: That's What I Thought Put it in your favorites, and change your links...or not.

Back To My Roots

It seems some people are confused by by blogging riturals. Don't worry, I'll always let you know where I'm posting these days. I'm home again now for a spell so click here and I'll try to stay in one place for a while. No promises.

Zoom Zoom Zoom

Taking a much needed apartment break at this lovely resort.







I COULD live here, and I just might.







Oh yeah, and I got my haircut.
Go Danica!
God, please bless the troops!!!

Typical

Jennifer seemed to have everything under control inside the ONT airport when I felt the need to bite her head off about pre-boarding passes and online check in. I would have to remember to apologize later but had to smile when the ticket counter clerk tried to smooth my awkward, embarrassing and uncalled for comments. Her line, "Oh they're just typical, I have daughters, too."
I just about lit into her and it may have gone something like this.
"Listen lady, just cuz I'm on the verge of a menopausal meltdown right now, I do not have a license to talk to my daughter like I just did. If you could have seen how much she has done to keep me from flipping out on the daughter operating on 1 hour of sleep, you would probably want me arrested."
It was a long day. There is no such thing as a family discount at UPS. We checked seven bags and carried on two computers, a suitcase of shoes, and one guitar. The flights were filled with delays, storms, and the kind of turbulence that makes you talk and laugh an octave higher.
When Jennifer sneaks out of bed to go chat with Melissa, I'm alone in her Chicago apartment for one last time. I cannot hold back the tears.
Call my kids sensitive, sarcastic, cynical, pranksters, opinionated, stubborn, and relentless. Call them neat freaks, sloppy, procrastinators, OCD, and lackadaisical but whatever you do, do not call them typical.
I am blessed.
And grateful.

Soul Patrol

I'm going to blog as I go tonight.
And everyone gets to speak for themselves.
Black Horse In The Cherry Tree
Recap Randy, “I would say something new tonight, but I don’t have a very large repitoire of words."
Paula, "Maybe this sleezy top will distract people from thinking I prattle."
Simon, " I'm a mega millionare and I wear T-shirts"
Kathryn…"uh oh."
Me, "Paula, put them away."

Living For The City
Randy, “I know I’m repetive but repetive is good, isn’t it?"
Paula, "I’m pretty and I babble and chatter if you pull my string."
Simon, "It’s Taylor 1 Kathryn 0"
Taylor, "I love to sing and I don’t care whether you like my jacket or not."
Me, "Love the jacket."

Somewhere Over The Rainbow
Randy, "I know I've said this before, but..."
Paula, "I can clap like a seal and speak two different languages: Gobbledygook and Jabberwocky."
Simon, "Round 2, you’re back in the Game."
Kathyrn, "If happy little blue birds fly beyond the rainbow why oh why can’t I stand up to sign????"
Me, "Is that your best shot?"

Levon
Randy, "I think my stapled stomach has affected my ears, I think my stapled stomach has affected my ears, do you need me to repeat that?"
Paula, "One either, sings on pitch or one doesn’t, and I drivel."
Simon, "Tied ballgame."
Taylor, “I like to sing and I don’t care whether you care or not.
Me, "Enough said."

My Destiny
Kathryn, "I really really like this song so I hope you’re not bored."
Randy, "I’ve used all my words tonight so I’ll steal some of Paula’s and I hope they sign my contract after I completely trash their song."
Paula, "I want the camera to stay on me longer so listen while I jabber gibberish during my turn."
Me, "Who writes this shit?"

Do I Make You Proud?
Randy, "America, we got a dawg, check it out in the hot pound tonight."
Simon, "I can admit when I’m wrong and you’ve just won American Idol."
Taylor, "Woooooooooooooooooooo. Woooooooo"
Me, “Soul Patrol.”

We're Baaaaaaack!

Ok so Jen has aced her studies at North Park University and been accepted into Cornerstone's Vocal Music Program, Melissa can sing the he** out of almost any song, but tonight it's all about Taylor Hicks. I'll finish my travel journal here shortly but for now.....don't talk to me, I'm watchin my idol.

Nothin' But The Tailights

The working bee day was totally sunny. Our sightseeing day, not so much. It’s overcast but it’s California, for crying out loud. There were sights to see and new friends to meet. (Well, not so much new friends but some total strangers that shared our passion for the Pistons at Yankee Doodle’s Sports Bar on the 3rd St. Promenade). We did it all. Santa Monica, Sunset Blvd. Rodeo Drive, Mann’s Chinese Theatre, Hollywood Stars on the Walk of Fame, Kodak Theatre, and the famed Hollywood Sign, And we did it all from the car. We even have pictures.
Just mother and daughter off to see a little bit of the OC. Enjoying life. I only tripped once on the way up to Look Out Point. Big shout out to the two guys that helped us back up without damaging our rental or their Porsche. Their finally pat on our (car) trunk and a hearty “Good Luck” gave us a good laugh all the way back down Mulholland Drive.






I told you it was cloudy.
We finally circle back as Melissa wakes for the day. We hope to rendezvous with her and what friends remain back at the hotel tonight. She arrives red-eyed and somber having said more good-byes. I remember when we brought her out here; she would not stay at her apartment until we left the campgrounds. Today we can hardly pull her away from the place without physical force. Most of the YA’s have headed for home or to their summer plans, so it did not surprise us when Betsy and Joey arrived to watch the Road Trip DVD + pizza – Otha. :(
Melissa has fallen in love with this whole cast of characters. And why not? I’ve spent minimal time with just a few of them and I’m over the edge with their care and concern, their kind and selfless consideration of others, and just the fact that they are one big safety net for each other.
Joey summed my feelings up exactly after watching our family video. “I love you guys! I laughed and I cried, and I didn’t even go on the trip.”
Right back at ya, Young Americans!

Day ?

Not sure what day it is, sheesh!
This is the only picture of her room I felt like posting. Reason being, any other apartment photos, and Melissa would have to relinquish freygirl status.

At least Jen got the picture taking gene.
I think my next book will be a handbook for YA’s. They’re all alike, you can just go from one apartment to the next and the décor is identical. Street and stage clothes EVERYWHERE, unrecognizable items, bodies, etc. I’m not gonna bore you with any other grimy details, but just know that when I said Jen’s bathroom was extremely dirty…I lied. So yesterday Jen and I went postal on her apartment. And I blame myself mostly. Me and that damn motor home. Once again, I reiterate, we have too much stuff. But there is a bright side. I found $220 in uncashed checks. $120 and $80 from Chick-Fil-A. And a $20 late graduation gift. So my question to Melissa was, “Do you know what $220 will buy you?”
Two cleaning ladies and one UPS shipment.

Today's News

By sneaking a helmet and chute into his backpack a brave heart jumped off the Eiffel tower today and videoed his own perfect landing on the Champs de Mars.
Tony’s take on it while talking to Jen from the top of the zip line, “That’s illegal.”

By 4:30am on day five I had stowed my littlest suitcase in one of the oversize-live-in-Paris-for-five-months one and was traveling through trafficless streets to deliver myself to the airport for phase II of the mission.

As complicated and harried as my November travel day to get to the New Kids Show on time, this day would be the total antithesis.

Disclaimers:
Been asking Melissa for weeks to:
1. Buy our tickets to the Really Big Show.
2. Find out what time the show started.
3. Start packing
4. Stop at Chick-Fil-A to pick up reissued check she lost

So I snatched Jen from her catatonic state in the vortex of what seemed like a respectable place to live when we dropped Melissa off on August 27, 2005. Not so anymore.

We assessed the situation. Our suitcase plan would not suffice, so we stopped at the UPS store for a consultation on packing a guitar, bought a couple of boxes, and headed straight to our hotel pool. Ahhhhhhhh.

The plan would be to catch some rays, head towards the theatre around 3 (you have to allow your self a couple hours to get anywhere on a Friday afternoon in LA.) We would find a nice sit down restaurant for a leisurely dinner, arrive at box office around 6. If we had extra time we could watch the Road Trip DVD while we waited for the show to start at 7pm. (The time stated on the YA web site)

Obviously, Melissa has failed miserably at 1, 2, & 3.
The traffic was minimal, so we arrived in theatre area around 4.
We purchased our 3rd to the last row balcony tickets.
Checked show time. 8pm.
Took us until 5pm to find a Perkins-style sub standard non-fast food restaurant. Apparently, the pioneers that settled in the west did not believe in TGIF’s. When this unknown little fact makes it’s way back east there will be another gold rush.
By 5:30 we had shoved our ½ eaten meal that looked nothing like the pictures in the menu aside and headed back to theatre to assume the position.
Sitting in the car to wait for Showtime.
Thankfully we could entertain ourselves with the computer, calls to our significant others, and hopefully get a nap.
Calls went unanswered. SOMEONE forgot to charge the laptop. And because, by this time, we were both a little on the bad mood/giddy side, assuming the position for getting a power nap did not come easy.
We left several messages that may or may not have gone something like this:
Melissa, thanks to you we are sitting outside the theatre trying to digest what “Millie’s” said was their finest home cooking, stale TCBY cones, and using the Wendy’s as a pit stop…if you get any kind of a dinner break before the show and don’t come out here and sit with us we’re gonna pack it up and go see The DaVinci Code.
Tony, please call me so I know you’re not under a canoe at the bottom of Muskegon River.
Mark, would love to chat about the weather and how much it’s gonna cost to UPS Melissa’s DVD library, but I have so few cell phone minutes left could you just text message the Pistons score as necessary.

Even though we could have traveled to Paris while we killed time, assume the position, came to mean to Jen and I today: “This is day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad.”

At the end of the day. (5:30am MI time)
Pistons win.
YA’s came through and made it worth the wait, especially the second act and Otha singing, “Precious Lord, Take My Hand.” Dear Lord.
Ben’s DVD will bring tears to my eyes for years to come.
Tony and Jen were meant for each other.
Melissa will tour the Midwest this fall with her new best friend.

Route 66

Ben and Annie came into Chicago on Day 4 and brought his baby, the professional DVD documentary on our trip out west. It’s a labor of love and if this unbelievable family time could ever be recaptured this came pretty close. Thank you.
Here are 66 things I liked about it and 1 thing I didn’t.


1. It’s just a ride
2. Shot of Mark’s hands on the steering wheel
3. The ants working busily on their home
4. The striking comparison between the GC and Vegas
5. It looked like we liked Vegas
6. The play list
7. The time when I just calmly said, “That’s enough”
8. The road becoming a character
9. How the Route 66 Museum seemed to come alive
10. Oh, one day when you’re looking back
11. The windshield wipers
12. The raindrops
13. The attention to detail
14. The map shots
15. Panning from right to left on the map going west
16. Panning from left to right on the map when returning east
17. The titles
18. Sometimes you’re up sometimes you’re down
19. Don’t you break down
20. Listen to me
21. I wish I could open my eyes to see in all directions
22. The shot of the bikers on the road in front of us
23. Welcome to lovely, lovely New Mexico
24. The fact that the Meteor Crater looked so big
25. Thanks for leaving out my GFC comment
26. Commentary about the original Indians
27. Who’s not in Kansas, anymore?
28. Dance by the night
29. Sing to the stars
30. Driving through the night
31. Sunrise
32. Sunset
33. The Flicker Of The Campfire
34. The song California by Rufus Wainwright
35. Any minute now, my ship is coming in
36. Keep checking the horizon
37. And I’ll check my machine
38. I’m waiting for my real life to begin
39. The camera shutter sound effect
40. Everyone’s humor
41. J-Jizzle and M-Money
42. Aka Arizona vs. Nevada fight over the state line
43. On a clear day the Hoover Dam is big
44. The scene with your Dad laughing repeatedly
45. Wish there was a way to get back home
46. The calm GC scenes
47. Fast motion road scenes, we wouldnt want to re-live that in real time.
48. Please remember me
49. The song choice and appropriate silent scenes at the GC
50. Editing the back shots
51. The rap song, Money Comes and Goes in Vegas
52. The outtakes
53. The cover
54. The windmill farms forever captured on tape
55. If I could open my arms
56. They would make your name sing
57. Seeing Melissa’s excitement at the beginning
58. Watching it wane, as we grew closer to separation
59. The fact that you concentrated on the trip not the destination
60. The characters
61. It tells a story
62. It was a ton of hard work and I appreciate your time
63. That you were so excited to show it to us
64. We’ll always have the memories
65. Even though we didn’t always look our best you captured our spirit
66. Don’t forget, enjoy the ride

The one thing I didn't like.
1. Annie and Tony weren’t with us. Next time.

Sea Biscuit and Day 5

I hope I didn’t harm Sea the other day when I cleaned the bowl. He seems spastic today. All the while I cleaned Jen’s kitchen, bedroom, and living room he kept circling the bowl, at times, even bashing his head against the side.
He seems hyper.
I wonder it it’s a he.
I wonder if he’s bored.
He doesn’t get out much.
Same scenery.
Every time I come into the room in between cleaning and packing, he comes to the side of the bowl I’m closest too.
I wished I hadn’t packed all the fake greenery lining Jen’s Coke-a-Cola bottles, I could have stuck some in the bowl for a little variety.
I’m sure he has a purpose. There must be an episode of Mr. Nye, the science guy, which examines why a gold fish was created. Maybe he eats his weight in mosquitoes every day. Wait, no that’s a hummingbird. But still…
Who does he trust?
More circling. Always circling.
He has his rules. He can’t just jump out of the bowl for a day trip or reunion with his mother. He seems oblivious while Ben, Annie and I settle in for the evening and turn on the Road Trip DVD.
Still swimming even after we’ve said goodnight.

I have a long travel day ahead of me tomorrow. As always, when I travel I step back and contemplate why I’m here…am I completing my purpose in life, or am I the one going around in circles? It’s odd that Sea Biscuit is so trapped and I am so free. When the DVD zoomed in on some Arizona ants scurrying about, it hit me.
We all have a job to do. Arizona ants, Sea Biscuit, and me.


While the city sleeps I begin my long travel day. I reprimand myself for booking the early flight. Sea Biscuit is finally still. I will put my trust in pilots, and airplane mechanics. I trust them to do their job. Just like the goldfish trusts in me to feed him, clean his cloudy bowl, and not deprive him of water for too long.

Maybe if nothing more, he was created for me. If God flung the planets in space and designed the whole scheme of things, can he not surely muster a goldfish to come across my path and teach me a lesson? To make me think. To remind me and tug at my ever-busy circling heart and squeeze out an abundant and heartfelt thank you.

And we’re off.
Crowded little monopoly houses soon give way to scattered farmhouses. I spy a farmer in almost every field. Then clouds. I pat myself on the back for taking the early flight.

Feelin' Groovy

First of all, because we waited ½ hr in between buying our outbound tickets, the Friday flights went up $100. So Jen got a Wednesday one. Fine, she would carry another big empty suitcase out to get Melissa. In the mean time I would finish packing, cleaning, buying boxes, calling utilities, and putting the finishing touches on closing this chapter in her life. Fine. She would uphold her end of the bargain and get to surprise the heck out of Melissa, sit by the CA pool, catch a couple of YA rehearsals, and get to hang out with Amy, Betsy, Mary Otha, & Melissa.. Fine.
I just had one simple request. Here, take my camera…take a picture or two and then e-mail them to me. My last words to her were, “Call me, have a safe trip, I’ll be praying for you, and there better be a picture in my in-box when I wake up.”
Oh yeah. I forgot her most convenient luxury of getting dropped at the airport door for her flight. But that’s fine, too. Just make sure to send me some pics.
Was that too much to ask? Obviously, do you see a picture on this post?
After a 3+ hour trip to Midway and back, driving in wind, hail, lightening, thunder, and torrential rain, worrying about her flight in these conditions, finding a parking spot at the apartment, cleaning the fishbowl (how long CAN they go in air?) and fixing my measly dinner, I finally got to Amazing Race ¼ into the show.
But it’s all fine. I’m not really one to hold grudges or be vindictive so I’ll give you fair warning. Jen and Melissa stop reading right now if you don’t want to know that the hippies, BJ and Tyler won the AMAZING RACE.

Aunt Ruth, Idol

Day 3 of the mission includes more of the same as day 2 only with a goal to be done by 6ish to watch Idol. I cleaned the bathroom. Did you hear me? I cleaned the bathroom. Do not take that lightly cuz it needed cleaning really bad. Helped Jennifer sort her packing procedure. Boxes are ALL marked and will not be opened until appropriate time. Some will be contributed back to the household from which they came, clothes for California, clothes for Springhill, clothes for a choir tour of Sweden & Austria, clothes for a year in West Michigan. Collectibles and some kitchenware will stay idle until her wedding bells ring.

Aunt Ruth has been trying to get together with Jennifer to celebrate her engagement at none other than the Four Seasons Lounge downtown for hors d’oeuvres and drinks. That thought alone counts. But with schedules being the way they are, suburbs, traffic, finals, and her arduous task of hiring and filling her position at GCD it almost seemed like an impossibility.

So knowing of her addiction to Idol we invited her to come and watch the final three and have pizza with us at the apartment. She rearranged, left work a bit early and then proceeded to sit in traffic for two hours. So it was hard to be upset with the fact that she doesn’t care for Taylor. I guess if she had her own blog she could praise up Kathryn or let you in on the fact that her favorite was Princess Paris, and rightly so. Thankfully she shares our disdain for the judges.

My take on Idol
Clive Davis picked ridiculous songs. Ha ha, Idols sang them well. Clive wanted Elliott to sing a rock song and so he picked “Open Arms” by Journey. Very not rock. Wander if Randy will mention that he played with Journey.
Wished he had picked a Wicked song for Kat because she belongs on Broadway. But no, he picks, “I Believe I Can Fly.” McWreck.
Then Taylor gets, “Dancing In The Dark.” C’mon. That’s sabotage. Wasn’t it bad enough that they picked this 3-note song for you? Don’t Taylor, please don’t. NOOOOO, correct me if I’m wrong but it looked like you invited Paula up on stage to dance. Bad form Taylor.

But then just when I think the judges are a total waste of my time they pick the best three songs of the competition. They had to. Wonder what they’ll have to say, when they can’t say, “bad song choice.” Oh wait, I don’t care.

Elliott needed to bring his A game tonight and he could only muster a B. And, even though Kathryn nailed “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” the highlight of all my reality TV watching days… Taylor’s version of “You Are So Beautiful To Me” and then he just nails all other coffins shut with Otis Redding’s’ “Try A Little Tenderness.”

Jennifer did her own little uninhibited let’s-just-crown-him-right-now-king-taylor dance….for the duration of the song, and

Melissa called and said she wants to have his babies, Taylor’s that is.

The winner tonight…
Hands down…
Aunt Ruth.!!!

Idol was very entertaining, but I’ll miss my spot as fly on the wall at POP’s dress rehearsal tonight. I can think of a few other walls that I would savor a 20 minute morph into flydom. Stay tuned. Day 4 will have plenty to say and hopefully it will include the hippies winning the Amazing Race.

Ya Gotta Have Friends

Scroll down for prime blackmail photos.

I am safe to say that this group of friends is quite…eclectic. I’ve known Marti since Ben and Joe were in preschool together. Here’s my version of the story. We would be standing around staring at each other while waiting for the little boys in their bib overalls to be done with their morning session of preschool. Sometimes the younger siblings would get fidgety so we would loosen their cute little pink snowsuits and let them crawl around in the foyer of St. Marks. Beth and Jennifer introduced themselves and held no reservations about becoming fast friends. It took Marti and I a bit longer. Sad to say we even tagged each other with the typical shores/catholic/side-of-the-tracks labels long before we introduced ourselves. Thankfully she made the first move towards inviting herself in after suggesting a carpool and we’ve been fast friends ever since.

I have been blessed beyond words to be able to call Marti a friend. The memories are plentiful and a flood of amusing, caring, shopping, cottage, camp, crusader and sailor memories come rushing back if I just push my mind’s play button once in a while. And I do.

To all of you whom connect to me through her:
Your smiles, your strength in tragedy, your compliments about my family, your ability to let down your bufont hairdos and throw out inhibitions, your care and concern for the less fortunate, and your laughter inspires me. I do label people…and you all get my girlfriend nametag.

As you can tell by the pictures, I’m approaching insanity and some of you that share ties with us are not far behind. I refuse to go down without a fight, but one can always use a little help from their friends. So if you’re reading this; chances are you have touched my life and I thank you. Now more than ever, I’m looking for a state of mind that siphons out the negative and concentrates on the positive. Therefore, lately I’ve been thinking less and less about gas prices and more and more about how to nurture and cultivate lasting relationships.
I absolutely enjoyed talking and sharing with each and every one of you at Beth's shower. Evenings like that always bring a hint of nostalgia and wistfulness about life's journey and the people that have come across my path. There is, also a tinge of regret that I didn't slow down at times and nurture and grow more in my relationships with girlfriends. But I say, it's never to late!
Looking forward to dancing the night away at the wedding...and if you even think of planning something for the summer without inviting me...I will crash your party.

Best Wishes Beth! Along with the love of your life, may you always have the concern, care, laughter, love, and bond that only a couple of really crazy-ass girlfriends can give you.

What Can Brown Do For You?

Less than a year and there'll be no more shits...I mean shirts.
I simply refuse to believe that today is the middle of May. I’ve seen some things out there in blog land that I would like to implement into mine. Gets ya thinking. There’s Sunday Scribblings, Thursday Poetry, 52 Projects, Jake has intrigued me with the book; Behind the Screens: Hollywood Insiders On Faith, Film, And Culture. Definitely interested in seeing a couple of movies; Akeelah and the Bee, and Cars.

This is how Mark and his brother spent their Thursday winter evenings. They win the city doubles and Paul wins the city single table tennis championships every year. Too bad he can't claim the same with the Wahabi. I preferred Survivor. But Cirie inspired me to get off the couch. I will as soon as Race and Idol are over.

Took Tony on a whirlwind trip to the city. We had to start saying our good-byes to Ed’s and the city after 8 and ½ years. I’m not sure Jen will find the tips as plentiful back home. And she might have to bite her tongue and restrain herself when she feels like throwing straws at the diners.

I’m only on day 2 of my mission but look how much I got done today.
Most useless item found while cleaning out apartment: A bottle cap that claimed, “You’re a winner. Row 10 seat 2. Enjoy!"
Most mysterious/disgusting item these merry maids ran across: A baggie that held 2 huge wisdom teeth??

Message left on Melissa’s voice mail, “Holler at your boy!”
Comments that sent Melissa and Jen to floor. “Word to yo Mama!” Who knew?

And my mission you ask? Get-m-home!

For a couple of weeks, anyway.

Guess who’s coming to dinner?