Some pictures of our apartment

 

The couch is only part-way across the living room in the first picture, so the room is much larger;

I just took these quick pics with my phone to get you an idea of things.

I'll show more as time goes on.

I want to unpack and decorate first,  once our decorations are unpacked, such as they are...

Mark and I went to see "Gravity" last night, and we would've given it about an 85 percent rating.  Mostly because Sandra Bullock's loud and panicked panting and grunts were annoying

Even in the trailer, they were just too much lol

It was clean, and it did have a good theme that was kind of squeezed in/on towards the end

But it wasn't any 98 percent that reviewers gave it, averaged for positives

Anyway, that's our take on it

It was still fun to go on a date,

Plus, I got my hair trimmed by one of the hair dressers

in the bldg.

She did a good job and cut a little over an inch off

Looks way better!

I finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

That was such a good book!

An overlooked (by me) gem.

Thx to Melinda for the recommendation

Mark's back is doing a little better

because he puts a large softball behind him

when he sits down

I'm so grateful that he's getting better!

And that brings you up to date on us!

Thank you for your comments. 

Oh, and thank you to Bonnie and Dennis

for sending us the book, Visions of Glory

which tells one man's experiences of the other side.

Can't see the author's name rt. now, or remember it,

But it's told anonymously, through another person

I'll explain more later, but it's fascinating to read

about how involved our loved ones on the other side

are in our lives, and I believe that.

I've always felt like we have an unseen cheering section!

We miss and love you.

I was wishing today that I could give the whole extended family

a big hug!

Consider yourself squeezed!

xoxoxo

 

Moving One Floor Down and A Whole Lot Over

Keyboards are amazing!  We got the Internet, which is amazing, too. I can't type all that well, without some practice, but it's great to have these full-size keys and to be connected!  We have so much at our fingertips and can run our lives more efficiently.  An example would be knowing what's on tv, rather than sitting there flipping channels.  Then we have it off until we want to watch a show.  So much better!
That's just a teeny example.  Asap I'll be reading your posts and commenting.  First, I need to work on and finish Dallin and Haley's landscape sketch and info.

We are in our new apt., and I love it!  And I love being in Asst. Living!  They haven't gotten in full swing yet, but I feel so warm and happy here.  The aides are waaaay different here!  They're like the rest of the people in La Grande: just relaxed and friendly and doing whatever they do without stressing.  Just like the town, like it has its own corner on sunshine and life the way it could be someday, everywhere.
The way this apt. is arranged, without a hall, makes it more wide open and spacious-feeling.  The windows face the east, rather than the north.  And they have vertical blinds without curtains, which makes it brighter.  I'll post pictures from my phone in a separate post.]
Also, the funniest thing happened the first time the aides came to pick up trash: one asked if the kitchen garbage was trash and I said yes.  Later, Mark came in and asked if I had cleared all the things up and, joking, I told him I did.  He was all impressed till I told him the aides actually came and got the trash.  You should have seen his face!  He said, "You're kidding!  They came and dumped this trash?"  I nodded and he said, "That was full of things I brought down from our apt.!!!"  Then he dashed out the door.
Fortunately, no further trash had been dumped out with it!  Haha.  That felt just like a Lucy adventure!
Isn't that funny?

Leto is fine and is much admired by the aides.   They asked me if they could take him outside and I said yes, not knowing he hadn't gone outside at noon (unusual for Mark to skip doing that), so Leto  was really desperate to "go."  Well, Mark ran in with him a short time later, saying not to do that again.  Turned out, they didn't go directly outside, and Leto had dribbled all down one of the halls  Ahhh!
But we got lucky again - they are having that carpet cleaned professionally tonight!
Mark made sure and let them know that it was his fault.  What another Lucy-type mini-fiasco!

So, that's how we are.  Mark's back is bothering him some.  And we are eating sandwiches for our meal tonight, and had ice cream cones for lunch (we made our own).  We skip the other meals, usually, and are eating lighter.  And they weighed me and I weighed 20 lbs. less than I was guessing I weigh.  (143.8 lbs.)  Not much muscle, which is heavier, I must admit.  Still, that made me happy.
And I am loving having a phone, even tho I don't use it much.  And we are speaking in Sacrament Mtg. the week after Conference.  I love that and hope I can make it.  Also, I'm in the choir, which is excellent and only meets for 20 mins. and has refreshments, so good all-around, right?

Take care, continue loving each other, and write to Seth.  We looove you!
xoxoxo