Matt and Maddie...

As you may all know Madalynn and I live with Matt and Rhea. Matt and Rhea have been a really huge help with Madalynn. We are working together to keep Madalynn on track - easily said but it is a good bit of energy and effort to keep up with her.
This morning as I was dropping off Matt at work he said he wanted to use his video camera to document Madalynn's behavior. At some point in the future he wants to share the videos with Madalynn to elicit an apology from her for her atrocious teenage behavior. I replied with "I hope I live long enough to hear this."

Don't tell Matt but I am still waiting to hear a couple of apologies from one of his siblings...

Madalynn is a good girl! Her grades are good - a couple could be better (Math and Science). She does what is asked of her (but no more than what is asked) - as long as it is within her time frame. This means she wants to take care of family responsibilities between social events and phone calls from her friends. She is a typical teenager and a dynamo with a mouth attached! She may be 13 years old but she is still my baby girl.

The dynamic between Matt and Madalynn is very interesting. Matt has been almost a big brother to her until we moved from Florida to Chicago. At first he maintained his distance during squabbles but somewhere along the line he has found peace in being a father figure to her. Now he is the 'Dad' and this has added a dimension to their relationship. In dealing with Maddie's antics he is generally much more patient than Rhea or I. Now and then you do hear him raise his voice while Maddie is busy arguing with his logic. Matt and Rhea...Thank you...from the very bottom of my heart...Thank you for helping me on this journey with Madalynn. I don't tell you thank you often enough - I couldn't do this without you! Well...I could but it would be difficult and not nearly as fun!

There's No Business Like Snow Business

I got up early this morning to read a couple chapters of my latest read "Escape." Another day and after completing the Escape I will share my thoughts on this book. Anywho...I turned on the television to check out the weather (as property manager I do this daily...gives me an idea of how my day will proceed) and guess what...? More snow coming our way later today. I think we have had snow on the ground since the first of January. The ice damming is becoming critical in several of the associations I manage. I currently manage approximately 850 units throughout the Chicagoland area. That is a lot of roofs! It is also a lot of cranky people...all tired of the winter. And, let's face it, this has been a tough one.

Driving into work (I travel from Aurora to Hickory Hills) I enjoyed the beauty of the wide open spaces. Naked trees with white snow covering their limbs as they reach for the sun and its warmth. It always amazes me! Almost every day I see a huge pergrine (or falcon) seeking a meal as he watches the snow covered fields for prey. Nope...never gonna see this in Los Angeles.

I so delight in the beauty of nature and it is wonderful to observe the wild animals, beautiful birds and have I mentioned my geese? It has become a family joke because I have adopted all the Canadian Geese in Chicagoland. This summer I had a resident throwing rocks at my geese...I got out of my car and let him have the whatfor. Hey, the geese were here before him and they are our Father's creation.

I have often thought I would like to find a method of journaling that could be shared with family and friends. After a bit of luck I caught up with lost friends that are currently posting on this site. I really enjoy writing, sharing events and pictures with the people I love. So here it is...

Today is January 28, 2009 and another cold, cruel day in Chicagoland. I say this in jest...actually life has been very good to me. My three children and six grandchildren are healthy and, for the most part, happy. Trisha and two of her daughters (Hailee and Amaris) live in West Palm Beach, Florida. Michael, Katie and their three children (Mikey, Ella and Sofia) live in Naperville, Illinois. Matt and Rhea live in Aurora, Illinois with their absolutely adorable rottweiler, Jade. Madalynn (my oldest granddaughter), Bobo (my three pound Pomeranian), and I live with Matt and Rhea.

I am employed by MC Property Management as a Community Association Manager. This means I spend a good bit of time taking care of other's homes and well being. There are days when I spend time muttering under my breath - some people have a very strange sense of entitlement.


Stay tuned for the real deal as I get this up and going...