Somehow I have neglected to write anything about what’s been going on lately. Perhaps because so much has been happening! So early on a Sunday morning I will try to catch up on at least part of what’s been my life for the past month. It will probably be a long post, but that’s what happens when you don’t write anything for a whole month…and many exciting things have happened lately! Where to begin….

Kevin, Chrysoula and Robin visited us on March 4th. This was Robin’s first visit to Grandma’s house as well as the first time Uncle Patrick got to meet his new nephew. We had a really great time. I only wish they could have stayed a bit longer. But then again, Grandma was exhausted by the time they left! We took Robin to Kidspace Museum where he had a fabulous time. This place is like a dog park for kids! You turn the kids loose and they run about just having fun. There are rooms and activity areas designed for kids of all ages from little ones who crawl about to older kids up to about age 10-12. We also took Robin to the park down the street a couple of times and just let him roam freely about my house for a good portion of the visit. I thought my house had been childproofed, but Robin changed my mind! He found everything and anything that I didn’t want him getting into! He really was loads of fun, though, and I so wish we lived closer so that I could see him more often. It was great to visit with Kevin and Soula as well–but you know how it is, Robin just seems to take precedence over Mom and Dad!

The other really big news has to do with Patrick–he and his girlfriend, Veronica Sweeney, got engaged yesterday!!! I am so thrilled and happy for both of them and am looking forward to another great daughter-in-law! No word yet on wedding details, but I’m sure it’s going to be a huge big party! Oh, and Patrick proposed by giving Veronica my engagement ring that has been passed down through a number of generations of Maginns. More info about the wedding will be posted as they start making decisions. By the way, did I mention that I totally love Veronica?!

The animals are all getting older and are coming down with numerous age related problems. Murphy has become bloated-looking (he actually has taken on the appearance of a pot-bellied pig!) and we took him to the emergency veterinary clinic a few weeks ago. After tests there as well as additional testing at my vet’s office, the preliminary diagnosis is something called Cushing’s Syndrome. I’ll get the results of the latest test on Monday and then we’ll begin treating it with drugs. He also has a calcified disc in his back which causes problems walking and jumping up onto things…perhaps the reason he lost his balance outside this morning and fell into the pool! Hopefully this isn’t a trend.

Yesterday I finally got all my Italian Cypress trees cut down in the back yard. They were at least 50 ft tall and could have become a real fire hazard if the foothills above us caught fire. Plus, they had grown so tall that they completely blocked the view of the mountains from our back yard. While I liked the privacy they afforded, I really like seeing the mountains. Now I have to start cleaning up the large flowerbed where they used to be and come up with some plants and bushes to fill in that area. But nothing that will grow any higher than the fence!

I finally scheduled an appointment and got transferred over to a new doctor a few weeks ago. She seems very nice and is much closer to both home and work than my previous doctor. And I didn’t like him, so I’m happy to be with her now. I’m scheduled for lots of routine tests over the next few weeks (blood work, mammogram, bone density testing, etc), but so far all looks pretty good as far as my health is concerned. I don’t have time for medical problems, so I’m hopeful they don’t come across anything when the tests are completed.

Got a summons for jury duty starting tomorrow but, thankfully, I called in and don’t have to report on Monday. Have to call in each evening to see what the next day brings. I probably could have gotten out of going completely since I served as a federal juror last May and you only have to go once a year, but this is for Superior Court and is at the Pasadena Courthouse right across the street from work. So even if I do have to do it, I won’t have to go to downtown LA. And I won’t have to worry about it for another year. All in all worth it. How is it that I continue to get summoned while others I know never get called? Somehow something is wrong with this system.

Well, that’s about it for now. I have lots of pictures to get posted from Robin’s visit, the tree removal, and who knows what else. Just gotta take the time (hopefully this week) to get everything downloaded from my camera and sorted out.