Grandparent's Day

9/13/2015

Until I saw postings on Facebook about Grandparent's Day, I had no idea that we had a "day".  Jeff and I are blessed with a grandson, Benjamin, who has and will continue to be the apple of our eye.

Being a grandparent is way better than being a parent.  Parents have to do all the hard stuff: getting the kids to bed on time; making sure they eat their veggies; limiting their sugar intake - stuff like that.

When Benjamin visits us, I do try and adhere to some of the rules he has at home.  Notice I said some.  Because our time with Benjamin is precious, it's far easier and way better for us to let him stay up at night, so we can snuggle together.  

Benjamin knows that at Mom-Mom's house, I keep cookies and/or make cake for him.  When I ice a cake, I try to use the really outlandish colors: dark blue, purple or orange.  Licking the bowl and beaters is a necessity.  My boys always loved that I left some batter in the bowl, and I do the same for Benjamin.

Grandchildren are the sprinkles on top of cake.  They are like a reward for parents.  You raised your children, who turned out to be amazing grown-ups and they give you grandchildren!  Perfect.

I loved my grandmother a great deal.  She was always around to listen to me.  She even listened to rock 'n roll radio stations when I was in high school.  When I was with her, I knew unconditional love.  When we moved to Illinois while I was in high school, to be closer to grandma, it was wonderful.  Grandma's house is where I went before school every day.  She was the one who came and got me when I fell off of a trampoline.  She was the one who drove me to school after it snowed.  She was the one that I talked to about anything and everything.  She had my back and I knew it and was blessed to have someone like that in my life.

I am trying to emulate my grandmother, in my care and love of Benjamin.  I want to be the one that he can come to and tell me anything, and I won't overreact.  I don't live close enough to Benjamin to allow him to just pop into the house to see me every day, but when he does visit, we make up for lost time.  

Our love for each other is to the moon and back - many times over.  Jeff and I are blessed to have Benjamin in our lives.

P
 

P

My Friday

9/12/2015

Yesterday, I went to Kmart to do some browsing and/or shopping.  Since when does a woman enter a store to "browse" and doesn't find something to buy.  Whether she needs it or not, is not up for consideration.  She sees, she likes, she buys - simple.

During the week and now that school is in session, stores are blissfully free of lots of people.  With my new nerve stimulator buzzing happily away, I stayed in the store for nearly an hour.  That's a long time for me, so I'm really pleased with the performance of my new buzzy "friend".  I browsed through clothes and tried them on.  Some I kept, others went back to the racks.

After picking out some new things, probably none of which I needed (but don't tell Jeff), I went to buy a new purse.  I have a white one now but fall is around the corner and I wanted a purse in a brown or taupe color.  I found a lovely "snakeskin" looking purse that had all the right compartments to house all the junk I stuff inside!  My purses are really heavy.  Perhaps I should dump out all the contents and see how much unnecessary stuff I'm dragging around.  I'm betting lots.

New nail polish and a browse around the beauty aisles, and I was ready to go home.  I always browse the beauty aisles, yet I use none of those products.  I do own some make me pretty(er) make-up things, like eye shadow, etc., but seldom if either use them.  My face after I shower in the morning looks just the same as it does in the evening before bed.  My only must do when I'm going out is to put on lipstick and I use my Cloe perfume every day.  Easy peasy.

All in all, I was in the store for over an hour and physically felt fine.  While the recovery period after surgery for my new buzzy friend was painful, that's all behind me and very happy that I decided to go ahead with the implant.

Seems like it rained (drizzled) last night.  The squirrels are busy working on the oak tree in the front yard.  They are leaves and acorns everywhere.  At this time of the year, you don't even think about going down the driveway barefooted.  Stepping on an acorn without shoes is painful.

Happy Saturday.

P

9/11/01

9/11/01

Do you remember where you were when the planes hit the towers?  I do.  I was at work and the noise started out as a mere buzz, but soon the noise was louder and people were screaming and crying.  The television was on in the conference room, and we all huddled around to watch the true horror that was happening.

I don't really remember how long after the towers went down, before it was announced that we could all go home.  Even early in the morning, the interstate was packed with cars.  People hurrying to get home to see their families.

That morning, I took local streets and was amazed at how quiet the world had suddenly become.  Even when I rolled my window down, there was simply no sound.  It was an eerie silence.  By the time everybody got home, all glad to be alive, Jeff and I decided on a plan for leaving town, if we needed to.

Our instructions to the boys were quite clear.   If we became separated, for whatever reason, they were to drive west to Illinois to my brother's house with the dogs.  I knew my brother wouldn't appreciate having animals in his house, but if worse came to worse, he would manage. We also told the boys that if living so close to Washington posed a risk, we would also drive to Illinois.  

Luckily for all of us, the need to drive to Illinois was not necessary.  We all stayed home and watched countless hours of television.  When the company opened up it's doors, I don't remember if it was the next day or not, traffic was different.  Drivers allowed drivers to merge effortlessly, horns didn't beep and everyone, pretty much still in a daze, drove steadily on.

While we watched television, there were only so many times you could watch the towers fall. The world, as we knew it, seemed to have gone mad.  It was unbelievable that a terrorist would take control of planes and crash them into buildings.  After a while and feeling quite numb, I turned off the news.  I knew that for many days to come, the pictures of horror would play over and over again.  There are times when you just can't process a horrible occurrence, such as the one on September 11th, one more time. 

For many of you, you may also remember the day that JFK was assassinated.  I know I do.  I was in 9th grade English.  Over the intercom, it was announced that JFK had been assassinated and that school was closed, and we should all go home.

The walk home, as I remember, was quiet.  And, like 9/11/01, everybody was watching television pretty much 24/7.  Since this was before the internet, you had to get your news the old fashioned way: newspaper or on television.   

We will never forget the horror of 9/11, or the brave men and women who responded quickly to assist survivors.  It is a day of remembrance that is etched in my soul.

P

Day Two of "Batching" It

9/10/2015

Unfortunately, today I will start with an early dentist appointment that is supposed to be a lengthy one.  Fillings and a crown I think.  Most times when I leave the dentist's office, with my mouth all numbed up, a vanilla shake makes me feel much better!  

Today, there will be no milk shake for me.  I am, with some degree of difficulty, trying to lose a few pounds.  I see my doctor the end of this month, and I'll be damned if I go in there weighing more than I did in March.  So far I've made some progress.  Thank goodness for fruit.  I buy the already cut up melons and if I eat a few pieces, then my tummy doesn't give me away by rumbling!

The other incentive for losing weight, other than making me feel better about myself, is that the clothes I bought earlier in the year, will fit.  I wouldn't mind at all, if I ever had to buy a smaller size, but that's not the way my scale works.  Nope, the numbers always seem to move to the right, not the left - curses!

I'm not pinning about fitting into a size tiny anything.  I want to simply fit into the clothes I already own (sigh).

P

And He's Off

9/9/2015

Today, is day one of Jeff's trip to Texas.  He is flying with a friend, so they will be able to take turns being the pilot, and share the expenses.  There is a flight tracking site where I can type in our tail number and see where the plane is - that's very cool.

It's pretty hot outside and the yard is brown (looks like I live in Southern California).  To keep my plants alive that I planted in the spring, I water them every day.  Even with doing that, a few of the plants don't look like they're going to make it.  

I could go somewhere, but truthfully I'd rather be at home.  I have everything I need and while our home will never grace the cover of an interior design magazine, it's comfy and I'm happy here.  My doctor would rather I go out more, but really I can't think of anyplace to go, except to a store.  And, if I just wanted to spend money, I can do so with Amazon, and never leave my chair.  

As the days grow shorter, I will soon be limited to only daytime driving.  My cataract makes driving in the dark very challenging.  The cataract forms a halo effect around lights, and causes me to have to strain to get everything in focus.  At least Sam (our terrier), who also has cataracts have something in common - the dark isn't good for either of us.  

I've found a Spanish soap opera on Netflix called "The Grand Hotel".  If you don't mind subtitles, it's a very addicting show.  There is murder, love affairs and all other forms of nonsense, which makes the show fun to watch.  It ran for three seasons, and I'm in season two now.  Jeff is not fond of subtitles, but I find that after you start reading subtitles, pretty soon you forget that you're doing so!

I will send Jeff emails throughout the day to let him know that I'm okay, which I am.  I am in a much better place now than I was a year ago, except for that short term memory issue.  Since the memory hasn't improved very much, it seems likely that I will have to live with my memory, the way it is.

In case you're interested, today is National Teddy Bear Day!

P

The Day Before

9/8/2015

Today is the day before Jeff flies to Texas for the COPA (Cirrus Owners' Pilots Association) migration.  As I did last year, I will remain home.  Four days of pilot stuff just isn't my cup of tea, and Jeff will have a much better time without me.  

On Sunday, Jeff and one of the plane's new partners, washed and waxed the plane.  Jeff says she looks good.  No more student pilots, who frankly Scarlett couldn't give a damn about your plane.  This is evidenced by the damage, most of which is minor, but damage nonetheless, to the plane.

This morning, Jeff and said partner, who will be going to Texas with him, are taking the plane out for a spin to make sure that the plane is performing at 100%.  Jeff will leave very early tomorrow and I know he's anxious to get underway.  He looks forward to the annual migration each year, and greeting old friends and making new ones.

The next thing that we need to buy for the plane is a golf cart or a tug to help pull the plane in and out of the hanger.  She's a heavy girl and while it's doable without the aid of a tug, or equivalent, it's a lot of work.  There is a golf cart that's for sale and if Jeff can work it out with his schedule, he'll probably buy one today.

My job for today is to make sure that Jeff's clothes are washed and folded.  Jeff prefers to do his own packing, and I'm okay with that.  As a woman, I don't think men tend to pack enough clothes - and men think women pack way too much!

By the way, Angelina Jolie flies a Cirrus!  We're definitely in good company.

P
 

Labor Day

9/7/2015

While today is Labor Day, I doubt that too many people are laboring.  Today will likely be spent in cars returning from the beach, the mountains, or wherever folks go to vacation.  If your school hasn't already started, it will be tomorrow for sure.  

Once school is back in session, the commuting traffic pattern will change.  I'm sure that Jeff will notice the difference.  When I worked, I definitely noticed the difference between August and September traffic.  Since I don't work any longer, I don't pay much notice about traffic, it's definitely a bonus for being retired.

Jeff is flying on Wednesday to Texas for the annual migration of COPA (Cirrus Owners' Pilot Association).  As I did last year, I have opted again to stay home.  At COPA migrations, while there are spouse events, it's really more about pilots talking to pilots about planes.

So while Jeff is doing what he enjoys, I'll stay home and do what I enjoy.  Here's what I won't be doing: I won't have to cook dinner, or do more than one load of laundry and maybe run the dishwasher once.  I will set the Tivo to record a whole bunch of crummy television shows (the reality ones that I like so much), eat Frosted Flakes for dinner and maybe have popcorn for dessert!

The only thing that gets to me when Jeff isn't home, is noises in the dark.  I tend to sleep with a light on downstairs as well as upstairs.  I know that both dogs, who do sleep deeply, will become alert and make noise if they hear something.  

While Jeff's away, Maggie will take over his side of the bed.  Sam, will continue to sleep on top of my feet.

Since it's Labor Day, I better get started on doing some kind of work.  Once my work is done, I can return to the book I'm reading, which I'm enjoying very much.

P