I promised...

Here it is the picture I promised to post from August 3rd, 1973.


I am the stylish one in the navy blue dress, with my mom, little sis, step-dad-Bob, Step-sister and step-bro.
Our first picture as a blended family!!
Keep Imagining!
Tracy

PS Happy Belated B-day to my step-dad Bob who was 69 yesterday (July 24th)!

The Year Was 1973..

My Mom and Step-dad will be celebrating their 35th wedding anniversary in a couple weeks. I was 9 at the time, so no I wasn't born that year!!! It is interesting to look back and see how much I do rmember happening even though I was just a kid. For the PARTY.. I am in charge of putting a musical slide show together of pictures through the years. It has been fun to go through the pictures especially with Carley who has so many comments to make about "my fashion sense"-I inform her i was very hip, groovy, and dressed just like Marcia Brady!(Not sure about the knee socks though with shorts). I will add some of the better pics as I work on the show. I have been procrastinating...and have so many pics to scan. Once I get started I will be obsessive about it!! Just thought I would take some of you back to good old 1973-or introduce it to those who weren't born yet! Funny we were having oil issues then too-but gas was only .40 cents a gallon.

In 1973 (the year you were born)

Richard Nixon is president of the US Supreme Court rules in Roe vs. Wade that states may not prevent a woman from having an abortion during the first trimester US announces the end of the military draft Spiro T. Agnew resigns after pleading no contest to charges of tax evasion while governor of Maryland Gerald R. Ford becomes the first appointed vice president under the 25th Amendment A total ban on oil exports to the US for six months is imposed by Arab nations after the outbreak of an Arab-Israeli war President Richard Nixon announces that a peace accord has been reached in Vietnam Drea de Matteo, Tori Spelling, Carson Daly, Monica Lewinsky, and Kate Beckinsale are born Oakland Athletics win the World Series Miami Dolphins win Superbowl VII Montreal Canadiens win the Stanley Cup The Exorcist and American Graffiti are top grossing films Elvis Presley's Aloha From Hawaii television special is seen around the world by more than 1 billion viewers KISS performs their first concert, at the Coventary Club in Queens "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack wins a Grammy for song of the year Schoolhouse Rock premieres

What Happened the Year You Were Born?

Keep Imagining!
Tracy

More of the Military Mess Up Game

We received 2 different letters from the VA today-one stated they were still working on figuring Rodney's compensation-OK we can deal with that I guess, I thought probably need to have Rodney call just to find out if they needed anything further. so I open the 2nd letter...It states they (VA) contacted the state of Kansas medical detachment, Adj. General department for copies of Rodney's medical records on 5/15/2008 and have yet to receive them. Today is July 17,2008-another 2 months wasted rolled in red tape. The VA is in Wichita and the Adj. Generals dept. in Topeka.Granted they are a couple hours apart but I would be willing to drive and get the blasted info. where it needed to be...I am obviously in that frustration place. I just picture in my mind his medical records being moved from one desk to the other on a daily basis and no one doing their job-which in itself is a feat since the whole file large enough to notice! I am fed up with dropped balls and people not doing their job (not blaming the VA at this point!)-we are 4 months out from him being released from medhold and still not VA rating which was supposed to be expedited. I guess I will have to start making some phone calls to stir the pot-that usually pisses off someone in the ARMY enough to get something happening! Really To Bad that has to happen!
Not a good day:(
P.S.
Rodney told me last night he had a piece of shrapnel fester up and pop out on his scalp-weird!He has that happen every once in a while but never his head.
Keep Imagining!
Tracy

Finally 18!

Today is my wonderful nephew Ethan's 18th birthday. He graduated from High School in May and is FINALLY today 18 (I don't think he should already be 18 but I am sure he does :)-He will be leaving for college next month where he will be running cross country and track.(this is a kid that had horrible asthma as a child-he has overcome it and runs every single day). He is one amazing, sweet, dedicated kid-I am very proud of him, and expect him to do well in life.
One thing he did recently that makes me smile when I think of it: We were at the lake camping over the 4th of July-we were getting ready to go put the wave runner in-I step into the RV to get bug spray and sunscreen-somehow in all my gracefulness I missed a step while trying to step out backwards and landed in a pile on the ground with a twisted ankle-My gentleman of a nephew with a smile on his face but not laughing like everyone else come over and puts his hand out to help up his poor Aunt T. I love this kid!
Happy Birthday 'B"-Love you Always Aunt T
Keep Imagining!
Tracy

A Small Piece of the Puzzle from 10/12/2006

Finally...I got it done with Carley's help. This video shows Rodney's roommate (Chris) from Iraq telling his rendition of the events that happened on Oct.12, 2006. We have heard other accounts, but this was the first time (we heard this over the 4th of July 2007) we had heard anything other than what Rod's commander had told me, which was "we made contact" or from Rodney who really didn't have a clear memory of the chain of events. I will share another video from the medic who actually worked on Rodney soon. Like I said it is just a small piece of the puzzle. We still have questions to this day that will probably never be answered. We appreciate Chris sharing with us and for being there for Rodney that horrible day. Keep Imagining! Tracy

New Look

I am in the process of renovating, redecorating and updating my blog while pulling my hair out-I lost all my links and pictures but I am learning-so Please bear with the construction!
Keep Imagining!
Tracy

The Cardinals are #1

Connor's baseball team ended up winning league and having the best overall record for the season for their age group! It was a fun season for Connor since he was able to pitch for the first time and did a darn good job doing it! In the championship game he was pitching and in one inning made all three outs (struck a batter out, caught a ball for an out, and tagged a runner going to home)Very Exciting Stuff!! He is such a natural athlete-nothing he got from me..that is all from his dad!! He also had three awesome, patient and genuinely nice coaches this year-it does make a difference.Thanks coaches!!!!!!
Keep Imagining!
Tracy

The Concert of the Summer

My mind really has been on blogging recently but I have missed telling you all about the fun stuff we have been doing..so it seems I am always playing catch up. I can't believe summer 2008 is 1/2 over:( ! I posted a slide show earlier today with pics from some of our adventures the last couple weeks, now you get to read about them as well.First one...the Concert
RED,WHITE & BOOM..The concert I took the kids to in late June. It was a full day of music (2pm-11pm). This was the very first concert Connor had ever attended. I was so excited for him! I think at times he was a little overwhelmed especially with it being an all day event and it being HOT! He soon discovered the t-shirt vendors and later the people walking around after it gets dark selling the "Light UP" toys. I hate those people :) Really we I almost want to buy something for me when I see them. I knew Connor would want something even if he is 11! He got a rainbow light up sword-I think he forgotten it even exists 2 weeks later, but not his 2 concert shirts-he wears them ever time they are clean!! It was also the first time I had taken all three kids-Do I get the COOL mom award! The girls took turns taking Connor down front and weaving through the mass of people in Mosh pit-he never lasted long. Taylor stayed down there and got some great pics of her fav group. Carley had a great time except she didn't get to have dippin dots. We had a great time singing,dancing, screaming and hollering-even if in the beginning Connor would keep saying stop it MOM when I would yell or scream-Like I was doing it to embarrass him or something. I was once an avid concert goer...20 years ago!I know what to do-I even held up my lighter and Carley told me that was old school-and showed me the cell phone thing! The performers were great though I was there to see Gavin DeGraw and Lifehouse..we also heard Blake Lewis, Metro Station (did you know Trace Cyrus is a part of the group, Miley's brother??), Boys like Girls (Carley and Connor's favorite) Jordin Sparks (what a cutie and she can sing!) and some others I can't remember.
I am glad we went and made the memory..how many 19, 15 and 11 year old want to hang with mom??? I only had to margaritas the whole day!!!
Really though they all love music and of all genres-just like their mama.I try to listen to as much of the same music they do, so I can see into their world a little. I see more concerts in our future...I will go as long as they will let me.
Keep Imagining
Tracy

Summer Fun

Make a Smilebox photobook

Keep Imagining!
Tracy