Monday, September 8, 2008

Old Folks, ya gotta love 'em!


Thanks so much, everyone, for stopping by my first blog! And I have my first winner! Clynsg, congratulations! You’ve won an autographed copy of TL Schaefer’s The Saints of Midland. Please send an email to skully@skullybuzz.com with your snail mail address and I’ll send your book right off.

For my next offering, I’ve got an autographed copy of Bella Andre’s Game for Anything. This is another hot, sexy read from this wonderful author, and of course, she’s a friend of mine, too. You can check out the book at Bella Andre. So post a comment for a chance to win, and I’ll make the announcement next Monday!

I’m going to try my best to answer your posts on a timely basis, but I’m actually staying with my mom in her “old folks” home. Their Internet access is limited, and I have to wait in line to use a computer. No wi-fi! Oh my God. But it’s a cool place where she lives. My mom has her own apartment, and she’s very self-sufficient even at 82 (God forbid I should say 83 even though she’ll be 83 in December). Except she had an operation on her foot last week, and she’s not supposed to be walking. So I’m fetching and carrying, making her bed, doing dishes, cooking. And watching lots of movies with her! But you know, it’s hit me that she won’t be around forever. When you’re young, you think Mom and Dad will always be there. Even though I lost my dad to lung cancer a few years ago, I still wanted to think of Mom being there forever. I’m starting to realize that forever might be ten years, or five years, or a year. So I’m trying to get down here as often as possible and spend quality time because I don’t want her to be gone with me whimpering, “Gosh, I wish I’d gone down to visit her more often.”

I know it’s not Mother’s or Father’s Day, but let’s talk it up about how we can appreciate our parents! I do love amusing stories about elderly people. You’ll find lots of old folks in my Jennifer Skully books, I love adding octogenarians. My favorite was Grandma Blue in Sheer Dynamite. And in the Max series which I write as JB Skully, there’s Witt’s mother, Ladybird. God, she was amusing! And there were hints of my own mom in Ladybird.

Jasmine and Jennifer
http://www.skullybuzz.com/
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31 comments:

Margay Leah Justice said...

My mom will be 71 in October and she doesn't look - or act - a day over 50. The woman is amazing! I hope I'm half that lively at 70!

One of my funniest memories about her happened at a get together at my sister's house. I forget what the occasion was, probably a birthday or something. Anyway, my youngest sister came in and said something about being hungry, so my mother pulls out a baggie from her purse and asks, "Want some chicken?" It was left-overs from her supper the night before and she brought it with her "just in case" but it was just so random and unexpected that we still tease her about it - and get a good chuckle from it - to this day. (I always thought I might put that in one of my books some day.)

Jennifer Skully/Jasmine Haynes said...

Oh my God, Margay, that's so funny. And you know, it sounds like something my mom would do, too! She saves everything! Thanks for sharing!

Jasmine

Bella Andre said...

Hey you guys! Just checking in real quick before I take my kids to the dr for a checkup. If ya'll have any questions for me, I'm happy to answer them! Thanks for giving my book away, Jasmine!

Oh - and I should mention that the 2nd book in my bad boys of football series - GAME FOR SEDUCTION - is officially released tomorrow!

;-) Bella

Jennifer Skully/Jasmine Haynes said...

Thank you so much for stopping by, Bella! I loved Game for Anything, and I can't wait to get the next book when you sign for our readers group. And I'm sorry I didn't mention Game for Sedution in my post. Bad Skully!

Jasmine (and Skully, too!)

Bella Andre said...

Hi again! My mil is 75 this weekend and she's a firecracker! Looks amazing, flies a plane, drives a boat in the rough SF bay waters, and (fortunately) loves my books. ;-) Glad to hear your mother is doing well after surgery, Jasmine.

Margay Leah Justice said...

Oh, my gosh, Bella, she sounds like a hoot! Wish I could meet her.

Jennifer Skully/Jasmine Haynes said...

She flies and drives a boat! She's very brave, Bella. I'm with Margay on this, she's a hoot! See, old is only in the mind! And thanks on my mom. She's doing very well now after we got her a little extra medication.

Jasmine

kim h said...

wtg margay
would love to win belle books, love football and hot men in them lol. love the covers

Jennifer Skully/Jasmine Haynes said...

You are so right, Kim, Bella's books are hot, and the Bad Boys of Football are great. Thanks for stopping by the blog!

Jasmine

tetewa said...

Football and hot men, count me in!

Jennifer Skully/Jasmine Haynes said...

You're definitely in for a treat with Bella's books! And she's a really nice person, too.

Jasmine

Monica McCarty said...

Jasmine,
Welcome to the blog world! Glad to hear your mom is doing well. And what a fabulous choice for your prize this week (says the very unbiased CP!). You guys are going to love Bella's football series--these guys are HOT!

Crystal Kauffman said...

Hi Jasmine! I hear you on the old folks thing. I'm taking care of my uncle now in his "old folks apartment" and thankfully there's no dishes for me. Just movies on his ginormous tv. He's living it up!

Thanks for the drawing for the Bella Andre books. I love her books! Especially the hot ones :)
Crystal

Unknown said...

Yes you gotta love those older people. A friend of the family that everyone called granny. She never went to the doctor,but got to feeling bad so her son took her. Keep in mind this lady was 93 still living by herself. When she went to the doctor, the doctor said something to her about smoking, she was a heavy smoker. She told the doctor to shut up she didn't want to hear it. I have been smoking for 70 years and if it was going to kill me I think it would have already. I just about cracked up when I heard this, you just had to know this little old lady. She did pass away a few months ago at the age of 95, went to sleep and that was it. I don't think her cigs is what killed her do you?

Jennifer Skully/Jasmine Haynes said...

Thanks for stopping by, everyone. Monica, you are definitely unbiased and Bella's books are definitely wonderful!

Crystal, I love the word ginormous! I only heard it recently. My husband said it about something. Okay, not THAT something.

I'd say 95 was a ripe old age to live to, Virginia, especially if you can still get around. And I do say that at the age of 93, what is the point in quitting smoking? Honestly, how many more years can you eke out?

Jasmine

jyauzer said...

Love your new blog, Jasmine. Keep it coming. You are a good daughter. I'm sure my mom would be thrilled if I fetched more stuff for her. :) I'm looking forward to your new series. Yippee Yay! Cheers.

Beth Barany said...

Yeah, Skully for doing the blog thing.

My grandpa passed away at 75 while listening to his friends rehearse their big band for a performance later that week. His last words were, "The band sounds great!" I miss my be-bop Grandpa Bernie, but I know that wherever he is, he's smiling and being the cool cat he always was.

robynl said...

as I read the blog I am waiting for 7:00 p.m. so I can go to the Personal Care home here in our town and start work. I am going to see if this is what I want to do. I look forward to talking to the residents and getting to know them.
Thanks for the chance to win a book.

Unknown said...

Glad to see you're blogging! I'm adding you to my RSS feeds. Yay!

Jennifer Skully/Jasmine Haynes said...

Thanks, jackie! Mom is now fetching for herself. She went to the doc today and he said she could start walking, swimming, driving, whatever. I told her she still needs to take it easy! But will she listen to her daughter? Hmm...

I'm sorry you lost your Grandpa, Beth, but what a way to go, doing something he loved and enjoying himself!

Robyn, have fun with those folks at the personal care home. And check back Monday when I annoucne the winner.

And thanks for adding me to your RSS feed, Carolyn!

Hope to see you guys on Saturday!

jasmine

Maureen said...

Often I don't realize that my parents are aging but the time does go so fast.
When my mother cooks for the family she always makes an incredible amount of food. Doing the dishes afterwards takes quite a while. We will be putting food away after everyone has eaten and she'll be taking food out of the oven still that she was cooking just in case.

Unknown said...

I can't wait to read Game for Anything! It's been on saved on my purchasing list for a while now!

Sue A. said...

My mother has a greater zest for life than I do. She walks multiple times daily around the neighborhood. She gardens, mows the lawn and does all the yard work. And takes charge of getting other house maintenance done.

But there are some things she just hasn't got a handle on. This summer I got my first flat or rather tire blowout. It turns out that in an attempt to save gas my mother has been topping up the air on my tires for quite some time. Unknown to me she had some of the tires pumped up over three times the maximum pressure. She thought tires leaked regularly so she's been adding air regularly without the use of a tire guage. For safety reasons I had to get two new tires, but I kept two so I'm still waiting to see when the next tire will fail.

Pat L. said...

Am testing - had to re-sign.
Pat L.

Pat L. said...

My Dad was 89 when he passed away in July. He had a good sense of humor.

He lived in a nursing home for almost a year and as you know they are understaffed and not always quick in attending to your needs.

He had a thing for having enuf toilet paper - always had tons of it while living at home. Well at the n.h. he was down to his last roll, asked for more and was still waiting so he rolled himself into another room and took a roll.

He is greatly missed always had us laughing.

Pat L.

Jennifer Skully/Jasmine Haynes said...

Oh Pat, I do have to laugh about the toilet rolls! In my mom's facility, they each have their own apartment, and there's a house cleaner every week who brings new TP, etc. Well, my mom doesn't use it all, but she can't tell them NOT to bring it because after all, she's paid for it. So whenever I go there or she comes here, she gives me all her extra toilet rolls!

And Oh my god, Sue, your mom blew up the tires!

Maureen, my mom's the same, always has way too much food. When I come back, I have to diet!

We all have such wonderful memories and stories. Thanks everyone for stopping by to share them.

Jasmine

Bella Andre said...

Julz,

I hope you enjoy Game For Anything! Thanks for putting it on your wish list.
;-) bella

Dena said...

Hi Jas, My Mom died after having a so-called routine surgery when she was 42. I miss her so much and wish she had lived to meet her granddaughter. I'm 42 now and it makes me sad to think she should have had so many more years with us. She was always the life of the party and all my friends called her Mom. I've seen a few people be rude to there Mothers or disrespect them and it bothers me so much because they don't appreciate having a Mom. I'm glad to hear your Mom is doing well and it's wonderful that you can be there to help her.

I love all the stories everyone has shared.

Bella your new book sounds really good.

Jennifer Skully/Jasmine Haynes said...

Dear Dena, I'm so sorry you lost your mom when she was so young, and when you were so young, too. It reinforces for me not to take my mom for granted. And she's doing really well now, had the stitches out and the pins. I'm still telling her to take it easy, but she's doing great. Whew!

Thanks for sharing.
Jasmine

Karin said...

I'm really glad to hear you mom is doing so well, Jasmine. My parents are only in their fifties, but my grandparents are in their seventies and eighties. The only grandfather I have left turned 76 this year and nobody's sure if he'll make it to 77. I'm lucky that he and my grandmother, who's 75, only live up the street and around the corner because I can always find time during the week for a short walk up to their house. As much as he complains about everything, we all know that he loves it when we visit. He even keeps a nice stockpile of caramels to give to all the great grandkids who come to visit.

My other grandmother, who is 80, lives about 15 minutes away from here and about 5 minutes from where I work. She walks almost every morning with my mother and she bowls in a bowling league every summer with my parents and I.

I love spending time with all of them and don't really think about how little time they have left. Instead, I just try to spend as much time as possible with them and enjoy them while they're here.

Jennifer Skully/Jasmine Haynes said...

Thanks, Karin, on my mom's. She's feeling better every day. Now we can get her to sit down!

I do think having visitors and keeping active is the way to stay as young as possible. I love that your grandmother is in a bowling league! And you're a wonderful granddaughter to visit as much as possible.

Thanks for stopping by.

And I'm off to pick a winner, then post the blog!

Jasmine

 

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