As quick as they came they went

The ants came, they stirred me up for a morning, then they were gone ! Hmmmmmm

To other news: It's been hot here, and the pool is open. I've been in it everyday, except yesterday - it threatened to storm all afternoon, but never did.

I did something in my pool today that I've never done in 4 swimming seasons. I donned goggles, earplugs and nose clips and I went under water. Markie didn't think I would do it, but I did.

I encountered a coupla problems. The first time, things went well, except I kept my eyes closed. Lotta good them goggles did me. I had a terrible time with the nose plugs, they kept sliding off my geasy nose. I couldn't get them to stay on. The second time I went underwater, I opened my eyes, but the nose clippies slipped off and I got a nose full of water.

Needless to say, I did something more than float on a noodle today, but I need some grippie nose plugs. Maybe my nose is just too fat !!! Maybe I need some of them vice grips for my big fat nose.

Now I have funky swim hair too - but it was fun.

Glo Versus the Volcano

I am old, this is true. I am not feeling well – have a cold. This morning I took on Mother Nature.

I went up to the living room with one eye open and one eye shut - I was there just to get coffee. (This, after Orion can’t get in the back door and is laying part in and part out of the door. Michael’s first word of the day - BLOOD!!! Orion had injured a toenail – but is ok. Another story, another day.) It’s not yet 6:00 am.

Michael said the words that will live in infamy. “What’s all those bugs doing there.” I looked and one whole corner of my living room is covered with bugs that fly. There were thousands. I thought they were gnats, but on closer inspection they were fairly large and looked like termites.

I immediately came downstairs and looked up termites on line because I thought they were the termites that swarm. From my googleness I found that the thousands of bugs in my living room were flying ants.

Well, as I was coming up the stairs with my pic in hand, I saw that on my landing there were literally millions of ants outlining my front door, and my landing was full of the crawling type of ants as well. Crawling ants and flying ants Orion with a bloody paw – Gooooood Morrrrrrrning.

Barney to the rescue – or so it seemed. (Insert the opening theme song to 2001 a space odessy). In case you do not know, Barney is my new PURPLE Dyson vacuum cleaner. I was ready for the volcano of ants that was erupting in my house.

In the corner of the living room, I sucked the flying bastards up with no problem but they kept landing from somewhere. I was down to three or four. I then went to the landing to suck up “the others”.

Millions, I kid you not, millions of crawling tiny brown ants. They are the same color as the wood on my landing. At this point I might remind you that I am barefoot. I begin sucking the ants off the door jamb, and the ants on the floor began crawling on my feet. In addition to crunching as I walked, the damn crawlie things started biting my feet, and the flying ones started landing in my hair. I said some very ugly words and was thrashing about trying to get them off my feet because of the biting, and was trying to get them out of my hair because it was icky. Barney was singing his merry tune during this whole time. “I love you, you love me.” I was literally flailing about and had to turn Barney off because his tune was getting on my last nerve. I go back upstairs to find that about 100 of the flying ones had regrouped in the corner of my living room. If anyone had a video camera it would have been one for the books.

My feet itch, I have not had my coffee and I’m calling the Orkin man.

My Vanny

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. This is true of my Granddaughter, Savannah.

I had the utmost pleasure of spending the night with Dianna and kids this weekend, and I had a wonderful time.

I spent a lot of time out in the back yard smoking and watching Savannah and Maddie play. I didn’t realize how grown up Savannah had become. This is exposure to a bad habit, I know, but while I was smoking, I would let Savannah and Maddie step on the fire off my cigarette so no one would get burned. I threw my cigarette butts in the trash, but first I flicked off the fire.

One time Savannah was swinging and Maddie was right there when I put out my cigarette, so I let her step on it. Well, low and behold Savannah got mad. Went into her little play house, shut the door and closed the windows. After awhile, she brought a chair outside and sat on it, with her arms folded across her chest (still mad). She was mad at me. I promised her she could do the next one, and she did. That is the first time, I had seen her display any anger. It was kinda cute. She didn’t yell or scream she was just pouty. Soooooo darned cute from a grandma’s perspective.

Savannah is a very giving child. She is willing to share her toys and always seems concerned about people’s feelings. When you walk into a room where she is, her energy and happiness are contagious. You can’t help be in a good mood when you see her smile. She is very, very sweet. She isn’t selfish like some kids her age. She and Maddie made me birthday cakes made of sand, and we would sing happy birthday (to me), and I would blow out the pretend candles and make a wish. She always wanted to know what my wish was. I always told her that it was that Cindy from the Brady Bunch would come over.

Savannah is a girlie girl. She loves to play dressup, loves to dance and cheer. She showed me some of her cheers, and by golly they were cute. She also has the gift of music and is content just to listen to someone sing. We sang several renditions of “On the way to Grandpa’s farm.” She loves music, dancing and singing.

On top of being sweet, Savannah is a beautiful child with striking blue eyes. The whole package of personality and beauty makes my heart jump for joy when I see her and she runs up and gives me hugs. I cherish every moment she is around, because she is full of energy and love. I love her so very much, and am enjoying the changes in her from week to week - it’s astounding. A special child indeed. I love my Vanny.

My Anthony

Anthony is growing at such a rapid pace. He is 14 years old now, and looks so much like his dad, that it isn’t even funny. He and Juanie spent the night last weekend, and I have to say, I enjoyed their visit so much.

Anthony so wants to play basketball in high school. I was in the garage as Anthony was shooting some hoops. It was just me and him. He showed me his special dribbling abilities and how he shoots the basketball. He wants to attend a Basketball camp put on by Rick Pitino. Together, we looked it up on line and found out how much it was. Expensive it is - $300 for one week. I wish I could afford to send him. Maybe next year. I told him I would get him some weights so he could start working out. He so wants to fulfill his basketball dream, and I would love to help him succeed. He tells me that when he plays for U of L he will get me front row tickets. Have you ever just wanted something for someone so much that you wish you had a magic wand and could wave it and make it happen. That’s my dream for my oldest Grandson. Anthony is every so special.

Anthony has a very, very sweet disposition. He told me several times this weekend that he wanted to do something that he and I could do together. He wanted me to play Risk with him and the twins. I told him that I didn’t know the first thing about Risk, and maybe we could play something else. We never did come to an agreement, but the fact that he wanted to do something with me as a participant was very heartwarming. I’m going to make it a point to learn the game of Risk.

We all watched the movie Kong together, and it was good. Anthony had seen it, but when it came to the part where Kong dies, Anthony left the room. I know he was touched by the movie and didn’t want to show emotion in front of his friends. He is a very sensitive child.

Anthony is such a special person who loves his granny, and his granny loves him right back. I could not have asked for a better Mother’s day because I woke up with two special boys at my house.

My Bubbie

I had the privilege of having my grandsons over to spend the night last night. I thoroughly enjoyed their visit, as usual. They are wonderful boys, and I owe that to my daughter Dianna. I always miss them when they leave. Sometime soon, I’m going to have Savannah over for a sleep over. She’s getting at the age now where grammie can keep the pace.

Juanie (Bubbie) is the subject of this blog entry. I will write about Savannah and Anthony too, but Bubbie gets first bill.

Bubbie has such an angelic face and a disposition to match. He is plagued with Celiac’s disease and can’t eat what the others do, and is prone to tantrums out of no-where. There are many times when Dianna has had her hands full I know.

Bubbie is my swimming buddy. He and I are the first ones in the pool and the last ones out. I am teaching him everything I know about taking care of it. He seems to love it, and wants to learn more. The Bub also has a great sense of humor and really gets into playing practical jokes. He likes to clean out the junk drawer in my computer room. When he cleans it out, he gets to keep the money he finds. So, needless to say, I plant lots of change in the drawer for him to find. Shhhh – don’t tell him.

This weekend particularly was special for me with the two boys. My dog Orion only has three legs, and this weekend he has been troubled with his remaining hind leg, to the point of almost not being able to walk. I have been medicating him and it is better. Orion hangs downstairs in my computer room. We now call it Orion’s room. We probably do not spend as much time with Orion as he needs, but he is a good, faithful doggie.

Bubbie took special care of Orion this weekend. He sat on the floor and petted Orion for several periods of time. Bubbie made sure Orion had lots of treats and he even slept in the room with Orion so “Orion wouldn’t be so lonely.” When I woke up this morning, I saw that Bubbie had placed a blanket on the floor for Orion to sleep on. What does that say for a child who is only 11, who yearns for contact with his father and receives none; who has to eat a special diet and is stricken with some behavioral problems.

Bubbie is a special child with an angelic face and a heart-warming smile. I can’t help but feel that Orion is better today because of the special attention he received this weekend from Bub.

Great job Dianna !! Love to you all.

Next up - Anthony and Basketball.

(The picture attached is of Bubbie and Savannah. It’s the best one I have that shows that face that I am talking about).

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

By that I mean, it has been cloudy and cool for the last several days, and the forecast is for more of the same. This is more like December than May.

One of the things I hate about winter is the cloudy, overcast skies. I can take a thundershower or storm, but this is getting ridiculous.

We even fired up our furnace last night to take the chill off the house - What's with that?

Waaaaaaaaaaaaa - Bring me some sun !

Bummer

I've been drinking the hell out of green tea because I was told it was good for my health. Now I see a report on TV where the FDA says "No No" it ain't doin' a darn thing for me. Sh*t !!!

I was thrilled to death when they told me chocolate was good for me. They are going to take back that piece of news too - I just know it. I'm just not watching the news anymore.

Anyway. . . . I am back in school again, and as you can tell I haven't been blogging. It just seems like there is so much work to do, that I don't have time to do what I want to do. Oh well, such is the nature of life.

As far as the pool goes, it is only up to 76 degrees. I got it in last Friday and got some more dirt out of it, but I can tell you - it's dirty again.

I really need some warm weather, a few hunks of chocolate and some green tea. Yum Yum.