How I wish it would rain. . . .

NOT

Ok, enough of the wet stuff already. It seems like it has rained, and rained and rained for several weekends in a row. I have got to get my pool closed. The leaves are slowly starting to fall, and it's time to get that cover on - or we're sunk. My priority is to get it closed TODAY or TOMORROW - even if it snows. Got to be done.

The house has been painted, and we are slowly but surely getting stuff rehung and the house is almost back to normal - Remind you - I said ALMOST. It just seems like the weekends are too short to get anything done. Ahhhhhh to be retired !!!

Been out of the Blog Loop Lately

Just wanted to say . . I'm Baaaacccckkkk.

It's been a long summer and I have been extremely negligent in my blogging.

First, we went on vacation, then we had the house painted. In addition I given in to my Big Brother addiction. Yes, I am going through withdrawal - but in all honesty, I'm glad it's over. My other reality shows don't take up as much time, because they don't have live feeds. I have just realized, I love to spy on people - Oh (Big) Brother !!!!

I've reconnected with the family, I'm getting my laundry done, I have returned to a normal work schedule. Yes, I had it bad !!!!!!

Been Awhile

Oops, I haven't posted in such a long time. Vacation was great, and I really do miss the balcony that looked out over the ocean, and I miss the sights and sounds of each day.

I would awaken very early every morning to sit on that balcony and watch the world come to life.

The light of dawn would happen between 6 and 6:30. The beach inhabitants start early. You have your early morning "enjoy the sunrise" walkers. These walkers saunter on the beach at a snails pace, i'm sure they are taking in the sights and sounds. The saunterers are not in any hurry to get to where they are gonig. These walkers are followed by the "stay in shape" walkers. They walk at a brisk pace, and intermingled with them are the runners. I'm sure they too are taking it all in, but are more concentrated on exercising and staying in shape. Following the stay in shapers are the bicyclers. I put them in a classification with the "enjoy the sunrise" people. Although they are exercising, they are going at a leisurely pace and I'm sure they are enjoying the scenery. Maybe they are a combination of both.

My favorite people are next - animal lovers. The dogs would be out in force every morning. Dog owners would bring toys, throw those toys in the water, and the dogs would fetch. It was so much fun to watch these people. There were big dogs, small dogs and people with many dogs. One couple was particularly interesting. Their doggie toy looked like something attached to a rope. They had a large dog, and a small dog. The couple would toss the toy into the ocean. The large dog would go fetch, and the small dog would meet the large dog half-way into the waves. The smaller doggie would grab on to the toy and the two dogs would carry it it together. Was great to watch.

Next are the "worker-bees". They are the lifeguards that set up the beach umbrellas and chairs. It seems that after the worker bees arrive, all of creation heads to the water-side.

We were part of that action every day. We would spend several hours down by the waterside and it was so enjoyable. The water was perfect.

When the day was done, I would once again sit on the balcony and watch the world come to a close for the day. People left the beach in the reverse order in which they started.

The masses left first, followed by the worker-bees then the animal lovers would re-appear and so on and so forth until dark was cast on those who sauntered.

A great week at the beach indeed - maybe most of it was spent on that balcony watching the comings and goings of the world.

Vacation

Well vacation is less than 2 week away and I can't wait. I made my first list today, and I am really ready to start packing our suitcases.

Found out today that Donna is going to pick up the kids next weekend (keep your fingers crossed). She's already a month late already, and the twins are pretty upset about it. Joshua said this morning, if she don't get us this summer it will be 2 years before she will see us.

They miss their mom, and I wish it were the other way around. She has put off getting them because her apartment is not ready yet. SHE'S HAD OVER A YEAR TO GET AN APARTMENT AND PREPARE FOR THEM TO COME THIS SUMMER!!! Why she would wait to the last minute is beyond me. I would be there the second I could if it were my kids.

I hope she realizes they are expecting their Christmas and Birthday celebrations. I hope she makes it enjoyable for them. I especially hope she keeps them straight on their medications, because they have been doing great.

Mr. O'brien

I was talking to Dianna tonight and explaining her why I was so afraid of doctors. It’s Mr. Obrien’s fault. Thought I would share this story, as it conjured up some vivid memories.

Mr. O’Brien was our insurance man. He would come to our house periodically to collect the insurance payment. He carried all his paperwork in a satchel. The satchel didn’t zip, but it was leather bound and had carrying handles. In all reality it was nothing but a big book with that contained his client’s information. It looked just like a doctor’s bag.
Back then doctor’s made house-calls. I always thought Mr. O’Brien was a doctor. I would be very afraid when I saw him coming. Mr. O’Brien knew I was afraid of him too, and when he would come Mr. O’Brien would pretend his ink pen was a needle, he would hold it in the air as if he were going to give me a “shot.” He would say, “you ready for your shot.” I would run and hide with fear. Mr. O’Brien would laugh when I would run and hide. I remember one day I was so scared, I hid under my bed with all the dust bunnies. I was little, and I would say it was in the late 50’s.

Mr. Obrien got his. My mother used to do laundry in an old wash tub. Mr. O’brien came one day when my mom was doing laundry. He sat in a kitchen chair to write in his doctor’s bag. When he got up, his pants were soaking wet. You could plainly see the wetness of his pants. The pants were tan, and darker brown when wet. Mom had spilled laundry water in the chair – the chair in which Mr. O’Brien happened to sit. . .Tee Hee.

We didn’t have air conditioning back then. We had fans in the windows. The fans blew to the outside, pulling out all the hot air out of the house. I can remember very vividly my mom, pulling a chair outside, and Mr. O’Brien standing on that chair, outside, drying his pants via the window fan. I can still see that man, on that chair, trying to dry out his britches. Mr. O'Brien was a tall, hefty man, and I prayed the chair would topple and throw him on the ground. Mr. O'Brien was upset, my mom was embarassed. His wet pants kept him from his clients and other children he needed to scare with that darned ink pen. I was laughing now.

Plays well with others

I need someone to play with. . . . pure and simple. All my friends live 30 plus miles away and we hardly get to hang out together on a regular basis. They come over and all, but not all the time.

I want to get in my pool, but there is no one to play with me. The twins will be leaving soon. The grandkids come over on the weekends, and Markie just doesn't like to get in. Granted he will sit there and talk to me, but he won't play with me.

The house next door is for sale, and my prayer is that someone will buy it who has a woman there who likes to drink coffee, watch movies and come swim with me. I want someone close who can come over.

The neighbors on one side are nice, but hat is a story for another day. Pray that someone moves in that has teenage boys, and a woman that is just a kid at heart - I do play well with others.

The weekend. . . .

It's been a ho-hum weekend for me. The weather has cooled down, and has been beautiful. The pool has cooled off a little, and I haven't been in it at all this weekend. That is highly unusual for me.

This has been a weekend tho, that I just didn't want to do anything. Believe it or not, I wish it had been rainy so I could curl up and watch movies. I feel guilty watching movies when it is soooo nice outside.

I really have missed being in my pool though, and may still get in it this afternoon for a quick swim. It refreshes me a whole lot.

So, the weekend in a coupla words - Ho-hum. Boringly Ho-Hum. Yawnnnnnnnn !

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.

Helicopters and Hypothermia

Well, I did it. Let it be known that on April 28, 2006 I got into my pool. The water was freezing cold (72 degrees) and I got in to vacuum.

The pool was full of those helicopter seedlings from the trees and some explamation point seeds too. It will take another vacuuming and scrubbing and WARMING before we can actually swim.

The water is optimal around 83 or 84. 72??? Shiver me timbers. I loved it though, and I did not want to get out . . . . Just a few more weeks I would presume, then it will be just right.

Monday Monday

Hi ho
hi ho
it's off to work I go

ON THUNDER

I'ts been raining cats and dogs lately, but tonight is Thunder. I love Thunder over Louisville. We are going downtown about 2 and watching the air show then the most fantastic fireworks ever. I simply can't wait. I LOVE THUNDER !!

AROUND THE HOUSE

I LOVE SPRING TIME - THINGS IN BLOOM. ENJOY

Like we do at Christmas time. . . .

Let us not forget what this day is about. . .


To all who read this blog - HAPPY EASTER



Matt 28:5-6 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
Matt 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Success at Last

YEE HAW - the cover is off the pool. The water was crystal clear and all is well except for a little dirt and debris in the bottom. I'm going to vacuum it sometime this weekend, then we are going to put on the solar cover. (That just helps it warm up faster)

We added all the chemicals for the initial start up and once it warms up, we are ready to SWIM.

Pool Temp is currently a freezing 60 degrees. It is swimmable (but cool) at about 75. 80 is perfect. We got a long way to go, but have taken a lot of steps this weekend.

I just can't wait !!!!! The water looks soooo inviting. Ahhhhhhhh