Wednesday, July 08, 2009
WOW....the fallen trees are gone exactly two months to the day since the May 8th Inland Hurricane!!!
I knew yesterday evening that the chances were good that along our street the fallen trees, the cut-up and chopped-up trees, and the thousands of branches and limbs along our street MIGHT be gone by tonight......and, THEY ARE!!!!!
FEMA arrives....and soon the town begins one of the final stages of clean-up from that devastating "inland hurricane" which blew through here at noon on May 8th. We were approved as a Federal disaster at the end of June.....and things then began to happen here in F'town with the arrival of the FEMA officials/people. It allowed the city to HIRE a removal service(s) to come in and remove all of the trees that have been lining the curbs of sooooo many streets here in town.....and they are getting the job done....quickly and efficiently!!!
In my yard.....the main problem has been the LARGE Maple tree, that we were told was about 200 years old, which had been uprooted and the trunk, while sawed into huge chunks/logs, it had been laying there for two months. Today....after it being chain sawed for almost an hour to allow the "claws" to grab it in several pieces and lift it into a large truck......that tree is GONE! HURRAY for FEMA!!!!!! Now.....we are left to get someone to grind up the roots in the almost 3 feet deep hole, and then bring in a load of dirt so we can begin to get the yard repaired and healing. That is one worry that is no longer............
I been dragging all day today.......I woke up at 5;30 this morning with a sore throat.....and can't imagine what is causing it. I have no sinus problems, no "stopped up" head from a cold......just a sore throat. Oh well........I took a Clariton and it should work.....(??).
The 1st Lady is still at Dr. Jeni's sitting with the two younger grandchildren.....as Meghan is still attending the Washington, MO summer camp activities from 8:30 - 3pm each day.....and LOVING it!!! She will return to her mother's home tomorrow evening as her mother has a Dr.' appt. on Friday. She will then return to Dr. Jeni's....and I will pick her up on Saturday.
I have to be in Rolla, MO for a noon meeting of the initial planning committee for a reunion of all of my former band members for the 30 years that I taught......in three school districts. I will get to see a few former band members/students that I haven't seen in years and years.... on Saturday....and, I am excited about this!!!!!!
Tomorrow......I need to begin to work on the "dead areas" of the lawn where those limbs and trees laid for two months. Lots and lots of cleanup still left to do now that those trees are gone.......and in the fall we will try to plant some grass in those huge "dead areas".
And sooooo, with a sore throat......, but as always..........
LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!!......And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!
FEMA arrives....and soon the town begins one of the final stages of clean-up from that devastating "inland hurricane" which blew through here at noon on May 8th. We were approved as a Federal disaster at the end of June.....and things then began to happen here in F'town with the arrival of the FEMA officials/people. It allowed the city to HIRE a removal service(s) to come in and remove all of the trees that have been lining the curbs of sooooo many streets here in town.....and they are getting the job done....quickly and efficiently!!!
In my yard.....the main problem has been the LARGE Maple tree, that we were told was about 200 years old, which had been uprooted and the trunk, while sawed into huge chunks/logs, it had been laying there for two months. Today....after it being chain sawed for almost an hour to allow the "claws" to grab it in several pieces and lift it into a large truck......that tree is GONE! HURRAY for FEMA!!!!!! Now.....we are left to get someone to grind up the roots in the almost 3 feet deep hole, and then bring in a load of dirt so we can begin to get the yard repaired and healing. That is one worry that is no longer............
I been dragging all day today.......I woke up at 5;30 this morning with a sore throat.....and can't imagine what is causing it. I have no sinus problems, no "stopped up" head from a cold......just a sore throat. Oh well........I took a Clariton and it should work.....(??).
The 1st Lady is still at Dr. Jeni's sitting with the two younger grandchildren.....as Meghan is still attending the Washington, MO summer camp activities from 8:30 - 3pm each day.....and LOVING it!!! She will return to her mother's home tomorrow evening as her mother has a Dr.' appt. on Friday. She will then return to Dr. Jeni's....and I will pick her up on Saturday.
I have to be in Rolla, MO for a noon meeting of the initial planning committee for a reunion of all of my former band members for the 30 years that I taught......in three school districts. I will get to see a few former band members/students that I haven't seen in years and years.... on Saturday....and, I am excited about this!!!!!!
Tomorrow......I need to begin to work on the "dead areas" of the lawn where those limbs and trees laid for two months. Lots and lots of cleanup still left to do now that those trees are gone.......and in the fall we will try to plant some grass in those huge "dead areas".
And sooooo, with a sore throat......, but as always..........
LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!!......And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!
Monday, July 06, 2009
Wed thru Monday.........I'm waaaayyyy behind!
WOW......I am not sure I have gone this many days without writing since I was in Egypt a couple of years ago. Just have not been able to get away to go up to Hannibal just to get on the internet.....and this post would be difficult to peck out on my iPhone!!
After going to Dr. Jeni's home to sit with the kids when Max was ill.......and he did get ok with meds.....we spent the night on Tuesday with them. Wednesday morning I took Meghan into Washington to go to her daily summer camp.......ran Ava to her sitter for the day, and thenwent back to their house and waited until the 1st Lady was ready to leave.
We did some window shopping in Washington, and then went on into STL, doing some shopping as we are still trying to find just what we really want in the way of replacement patio table and chairs. If we find a table we like, then we don't like the "sling" chairs....and when we find the right kind of chairs, the table isn't the kind we want to own!! Soooo, early afternoon we to the 1st Lady's "Aesthetic Dermatology Surgeon"....and the next four hours were spent in the process of removing some skin cancer on her right cheek. The actual process went smoothly, but then we had to wait for another hour with the bandages on her cheek.....waiting for the lab results to return to make certain that the Dr. had removed all of the cancer cells. Soooo, it was after 6pm before we got away from his offices.
Leaving there, we stopped at the Chesterfield Mall area for dinner......at Red Lobster. Both of us were a bit disappointed with our fried shrimp and garlic shrimp dinners. Mine was tough from being cooked too long and hers was just tooooo much garlic...the tiny little things were drowning in the garlic sauce! Gues we are just spoiled from being soooo close to the shore during last summer in the Maritime Provinces of Canada....and the winter near the Gulf of Mexico in southern Texas. Both times we were able to enjoy REAL FRESH shrimp......certainly makes a difference!!!!!!
We arrived at her Mother's home around 10pm.....and the 1st Lady's sister/husband and son were already there for the weekend. Thurday....Friday....and Saturday, we were involved in family activities 90% of the time(To my readers who were camped nearby at the Mark Twain Lake.....sooooo sorry I was not able to get out to see you). I did run up to Quincy, IL for a couple of errands....but returned home for dinner. The house has been packed with family members from her and away.......tons of little grandchildren and great-grandchildren running around most of the time.
Today(well, not TODAY)....the 4th of July....the house was filled, as well as the yard with activities....a grill with food cooking, and then off and on, lots of rain came down upon us. The evening of the 4th there was .....as usual.....a major fireworks display in Monroe City, but......sadly, the clouds were soooo low that unless anyone was almost right under the fireworks, they were only visible on their way up and as some of them drifted down to the ground........along with making the clouds turn various colors as they exploded in air...and inside those hanging, wet clouds. A unique display, to say the least.
Sunday......we left durng the afternoon. I dropped the 1st Lady off at the home of Dr. Jeni/Darrel as their sitter is going to be gone for the week, so the 1st Lady will sit with Max...as well as Ava and Meghan depending upon their daily schedules. I returned to the stick and brick last night.....as I had to have my truck at the body shop at 8am this morning to begin the two week task of re-painting it.....due to the May 8th inland hurricane. I hope I can get some other things done this week as once again, I play the bachelor role here.
Today....the truck was in place at the appointed time....and then I returned to the sofa as I was awake most of the night with a headache....not serious, but just constant pounding. Ahhhh, the wonders of getting old(er)!!!! Just resting this morning......and I am back to normal(?) now. I spent some time watering things around here this afternoon as I can't tell that it rained any while I/we were gone.
One more little insurance adjuster tidbit.........if you have followed this saga, you remember she was here a few weeks back to meet with my roofing contractor to measure the roof TOGETHER. Well, when she left she told me I would have the next check in about a week. Hmmmm.......again, she was not accurate. I still do not have that damn check for several more thousand dollars....so I called the Claims Office in Dallas.....and was told it had been sent out on June 20th!!!!!! Did I see it.....did I get it????? HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!.......So, I had the Claims Office put a stop on their check and demanded that they get on the ball and send me that check immediately. Now what the hell happened to that "mailed check"???????????
And sooooo, back at home, the weather is getting warmer again with humidity becoming higher....and so we are back to normal.
OMG.......I don't believe I mentioned that our son, Jeremy/Jay called Saturday night to tell us he had proposed to Anne-Marie during their weekend in NYC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have been anticipating that this would occur........and are really excited about this!!!!! We think the world of her......she is just GREAT!!!!!! She is from Mobile, Alabama......and probably will be married in that area as her family resides there.......a southern wedding??????? Believe they are looking a late March date as springtime there is beautiful........
What more can I say after that.....but,
LIFE IS JUST INCREDIBLY GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!
After going to Dr. Jeni's home to sit with the kids when Max was ill.......and he did get ok with meds.....we spent the night on Tuesday with them. Wednesday morning I took Meghan into Washington to go to her daily summer camp.......ran Ava to her sitter for the day, and thenwent back to their house and waited until the 1st Lady was ready to leave.
We did some window shopping in Washington, and then went on into STL, doing some shopping as we are still trying to find just what we really want in the way of replacement patio table and chairs. If we find a table we like, then we don't like the "sling" chairs....and when we find the right kind of chairs, the table isn't the kind we want to own!! Soooo, early afternoon we to the 1st Lady's "Aesthetic Dermatology Surgeon"....and the next four hours were spent in the process of removing some skin cancer on her right cheek. The actual process went smoothly, but then we had to wait for another hour with the bandages on her cheek.....waiting for the lab results to return to make certain that the Dr. had removed all of the cancer cells. Soooo, it was after 6pm before we got away from his offices.
Leaving there, we stopped at the Chesterfield Mall area for dinner......at Red Lobster. Both of us were a bit disappointed with our fried shrimp and garlic shrimp dinners. Mine was tough from being cooked too long and hers was just tooooo much garlic...the tiny little things were drowning in the garlic sauce! Gues we are just spoiled from being soooo close to the shore during last summer in the Maritime Provinces of Canada....and the winter near the Gulf of Mexico in southern Texas. Both times we were able to enjoy REAL FRESH shrimp......certainly makes a difference!!!!!!
We arrived at her Mother's home around 10pm.....and the 1st Lady's sister/husband and son were already there for the weekend. Thurday....Friday....and Saturday, we were involved in family activities 90% of the time(To my readers who were camped nearby at the Mark Twain Lake.....sooooo sorry I was not able to get out to see you). I did run up to Quincy, IL for a couple of errands....but returned home for dinner. The house has been packed with family members from her and away.......tons of little grandchildren and great-grandchildren running around most of the time.
Today(well, not TODAY)....the 4th of July....the house was filled, as well as the yard with activities....a grill with food cooking, and then off and on, lots of rain came down upon us. The evening of the 4th there was .....as usual.....a major fireworks display in Monroe City, but......sadly, the clouds were soooo low that unless anyone was almost right under the fireworks, they were only visible on their way up and as some of them drifted down to the ground........along with making the clouds turn various colors as they exploded in air...and inside those hanging, wet clouds. A unique display, to say the least.
Sunday......we left durng the afternoon. I dropped the 1st Lady off at the home of Dr. Jeni/Darrel as their sitter is going to be gone for the week, so the 1st Lady will sit with Max...as well as Ava and Meghan depending upon their daily schedules. I returned to the stick and brick last night.....as I had to have my truck at the body shop at 8am this morning to begin the two week task of re-painting it.....due to the May 8th inland hurricane. I hope I can get some other things done this week as once again, I play the bachelor role here.
Today....the truck was in place at the appointed time....and then I returned to the sofa as I was awake most of the night with a headache....not serious, but just constant pounding. Ahhhh, the wonders of getting old(er)!!!! Just resting this morning......and I am back to normal(?) now. I spent some time watering things around here this afternoon as I can't tell that it rained any while I/we were gone.
One more little insurance adjuster tidbit.........if you have followed this saga, you remember she was here a few weeks back to meet with my roofing contractor to measure the roof TOGETHER. Well, when she left she told me I would have the next check in about a week. Hmmmm.......again, she was not accurate. I still do not have that damn check for several more thousand dollars....so I called the Claims Office in Dallas.....and was told it had been sent out on June 20th!!!!!! Did I see it.....did I get it????? HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!.......So, I had the Claims Office put a stop on their check and demanded that they get on the ball and send me that check immediately. Now what the hell happened to that "mailed check"???????????
And sooooo, back at home, the weather is getting warmer again with humidity becoming higher....and so we are back to normal.
OMG.......I don't believe I mentioned that our son, Jeremy/Jay called Saturday night to tell us he had proposed to Anne-Marie during their weekend in NYC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have been anticipating that this would occur........and are really excited about this!!!!! We think the world of her......she is just GREAT!!!!!! She is from Mobile, Alabama......and probably will be married in that area as her family resides there.......a southern wedding??????? Believe they are looking a late March date as springtime there is beautiful........
What more can I say after that.....but,
LIFE IS JUST INCREDIBLY GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
June 30, 2009: Visiting Dr. Jeni, Darrel, and grandkids!!
As Max was really ill last night with 104+ degrees of fever, we answered the call and came up this morning so he would not have to go to the baby sitter for the day. Dr. Jeni had already had him at an early appt. with his doctor....and he gave him some meds, saying that it was a type of virus which seems to be making the rounds of young children. The Motrin that he suggested certainly worked well in reducing the high fever....and when arrived about 11:30, he was smiling and jabbering. However, he slept a great deal of the afteroon, and the fever did remain low to none with the doses of Motrin.
I sat inside for awhile....and then I began to really feel strange...my heart was pounding in my head, my legs were weak, I felt shaky......but, it took a couple of hourse before I began to realize what the problems might be: they have remodeled a bit of their new home to add a two more bedrooms...#4 and #5......and yesterday, the painters were here. I had no idea that this had occurred as it just wasn't really evident by aroma....but.....in the past 5-8 years, I have developed a really bad allergy to paint....any kind of paint.....even those that are not supposed to be the kinds that bother people like me with a paint allergy. Sooooo, I left to go in to Washington to do some looking for new patio furniture and a BBQ grill. I stayed away for almost three hours, returning back to their home just in time to turn around and go pick up the girls. Ava was at the sitter's a couple of miles from their home.....and Meghan was back in town.....about 15 minutes drive.....at the local swimming pool and park where she is attending summer camp there with tons of other kids. She spends the entire day in the swimming pool and in the park with lots of counselors/supervisors....and loves it.
Soooo, picking them up, I returned to their home......and soon we were fixing some food for dinner. Once again....the same problems began......and so, I moved to one of their decks and ate outside....and just remained out there until a few minutes ago. Darrel returned about 7.....and Dr. Jeni, who had her offices open from 2pm until 8pm as she does each Tuesday.....returned a bit after 8pm. As I type this, the fumes must still be around....and I will need to sleep upstairs in the bonus room with the windows open tonight. Hopefully, the fresh air will circulate around....otherwise I will be a basket case by morning!!!!
Tomorrow, we will go back in to STL for a bit of shopping, and then the 1st Lady has the Dr's appt to have that small spot on her cheek worked on ......for the skin cancer that was discovered. Then we will go on to her Mother's in northeast MO until Sunday.
OK...this could be my last post for a couple of days as her Mother doesn't no have internet and the closest place that is free is in Hannibal.....and I won't drive in there everyday just to post this little bit of rambling thoughts. Sooooo, stay tuned, keep checking....and perhaps I can get a tiny post online by using my iPhone, but I am not going to peck out very much with my two thumbs!!!!!
As always.....even with my head pounding and swooning around,........
LIFE IS REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!
I sat inside for awhile....and then I began to really feel strange...my heart was pounding in my head, my legs were weak, I felt shaky......but, it took a couple of hourse before I began to realize what the problems might be: they have remodeled a bit of their new home to add a two more bedrooms...#4 and #5......and yesterday, the painters were here. I had no idea that this had occurred as it just wasn't really evident by aroma....but.....in the past 5-8 years, I have developed a really bad allergy to paint....any kind of paint.....even those that are not supposed to be the kinds that bother people like me with a paint allergy. Sooooo, I left to go in to Washington to do some looking for new patio furniture and a BBQ grill. I stayed away for almost three hours, returning back to their home just in time to turn around and go pick up the girls. Ava was at the sitter's a couple of miles from their home.....and Meghan was back in town.....about 15 minutes drive.....at the local swimming pool and park where she is attending summer camp there with tons of other kids. She spends the entire day in the swimming pool and in the park with lots of counselors/supervisors....and loves it.
Soooo, picking them up, I returned to their home......and soon we were fixing some food for dinner. Once again....the same problems began......and so, I moved to one of their decks and ate outside....and just remained out there until a few minutes ago. Darrel returned about 7.....and Dr. Jeni, who had her offices open from 2pm until 8pm as she does each Tuesday.....returned a bit after 8pm. As I type this, the fumes must still be around....and I will need to sleep upstairs in the bonus room with the windows open tonight. Hopefully, the fresh air will circulate around....otherwise I will be a basket case by morning!!!!
Tomorrow, we will go back in to STL for a bit of shopping, and then the 1st Lady has the Dr's appt to have that small spot on her cheek worked on ......for the skin cancer that was discovered. Then we will go on to her Mother's in northeast MO until Sunday.
OK...this could be my last post for a couple of days as her Mother doesn't no have internet and the closest place that is free is in Hannibal.....and I won't drive in there everyday just to post this little bit of rambling thoughts. Sooooo, stay tuned, keep checking....and perhaps I can get a tiny post online by using my iPhone, but I am not going to peck out very much with my two thumbs!!!!!
As always.....even with my head pounding and swooning around,........
LIFE IS REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!
Monday, June 29, 2009
June 29, 2009: The return of wonderful weather....and I get lazy!!
Ahhhh....yesterday morning...Sunday...I was just a bit hung over....that damn man inside my head once again, pounding away with his sledge hammer, and not letting up all day. He even worked overtime into the evening, but by that time he must have been getting really tired because the pounding was easier and not nearly so loud!!!! Yep.....I enjoyed myself tooooo much Saturday night at the winery with my former students!!!!!! And...I really did enjoy being with them once again......it was as if those 10 years had never happened and, with the exception of the drinks and wine, we were just in the band room talking about everything.
During the afternoon, I managed to get the lawn mower started and mowed most of the lawn.....the temps were still up there, but not nearly as bad as the past 10 days. I retired early during the evening.....just can't imagine why???!!! 5 hours of sleep is just not nearly enough for this sagging hulk of me!!!!
Today....Monday.....I was up at 6:30, and after checking my email, I was out on the patio enjoying the refreshing cool air....60 degrees....and the gorgeous morning as I sipped my French Roast coffee. At 8am.....I started up the lawn mower and finished the job I had started yesterday in about an hour. AMAZING just how well that damn mower runs with cool temps!!!!!!! And, it does seem to use less gas......or, is it because I can mow faster without breaking a sweat?????? Hmmmm......might be the last idea!!!!
This afternoon I ran up to Farmington, got the oil changed on the Park Avenue, and then went and had my 68 hairs shortened.....and it feels good to have shorter hairs again. When those 68 hairs get too long.....well, I just don't like trying to continually arrange each long hair so that it looks good over the bald head!!!!
This evening we had one of my favorite meals for dinner.........steamed broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and orange bell pepper over wet brown rice, topped with marinated chopped tomatoes(salt and vinegar and cracked pepper) and then grated Parmesan cheese over this. On the side we had four filets of Tilapia which had been flash fried with lemon pepper....lots of this!!! WOW.....a glass of my dark red medicine(cabernet sauvignon) and it was nothing but pure enjoyment in dining!!!!!
Tomorrow.....we are off to Washington to spend the afternoon/evening with Dr. Jeni, Darrel and family as Dr Jeni works the afternoons and evening on Tuesday, and Darrel is swamped with business every day.....and Max has a fever, so they do not want to take him to the sitter. Soooo, grandparents to the rescue!!!!!!! Then on Wednesday, the 1st Lady as an appt. with a doctor in STL....she has discovered that she has a small skin cancer....carcinoma(sp??)....that needs to be removed....and from there, we will go on to her Mother's home until Sunday. I will then bring the 1st Lady back to Dr. Jeni's for the week as their sitter is going to be gone on vacation.....and I have things here to do in F'town, so I will return down here until Friday of next week and then go pick her up at Dr. Jeni's.
Next Monday.....I have to have my truck at the Kemp's Auto Body Shop....as they will begin the job of repainting it......due to the damages from the May 8th inland hurricane here. It will take about two weeks.....and I am also having a new tailgate installed and painted, as the one I have now is dented from a couple of times I have backed too closely to the kingpin on the rv and dented the tailgate. Soooo.......we will be down to one vehicle for two weeks.......
And soooo, the evening is beautiful, the temps are to be in the low 60's tonight and mid-50's tomorrow night....SUPER!!!! We are still trying to make a decision with the rest of the family about going to DisneyWorld the week before Christmas.......must get this worked out, IF we are going to go down there. We have a possible trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico the 1st week of November for 7 days....and then the winter in Texas....and then we are getting more serious about going to New Zealand for a month, or more, in April/May. Lots to decide......and, as usual, these decisions all revolve around our travels for the next year. LOVE IT!!!
And sooooo, as always......
LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
During the afternoon, I managed to get the lawn mower started and mowed most of the lawn.....the temps were still up there, but not nearly as bad as the past 10 days. I retired early during the evening.....just can't imagine why???!!! 5 hours of sleep is just not nearly enough for this sagging hulk of me!!!!
Today....Monday.....I was up at 6:30, and after checking my email, I was out on the patio enjoying the refreshing cool air....60 degrees....and the gorgeous morning as I sipped my French Roast coffee. At 8am.....I started up the lawn mower and finished the job I had started yesterday in about an hour. AMAZING just how well that damn mower runs with cool temps!!!!!!! And, it does seem to use less gas......or, is it because I can mow faster without breaking a sweat?????? Hmmmm......might be the last idea!!!!
This afternoon I ran up to Farmington, got the oil changed on the Park Avenue, and then went and had my 68 hairs shortened.....and it feels good to have shorter hairs again. When those 68 hairs get too long.....well, I just don't like trying to continually arrange each long hair so that it looks good over the bald head!!!!
This evening we had one of my favorite meals for dinner.........steamed broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and orange bell pepper over wet brown rice, topped with marinated chopped tomatoes(salt and vinegar and cracked pepper) and then grated Parmesan cheese over this. On the side we had four filets of Tilapia which had been flash fried with lemon pepper....lots of this!!! WOW.....a glass of my dark red medicine(cabernet sauvignon) and it was nothing but pure enjoyment in dining!!!!!
Tomorrow.....we are off to Washington to spend the afternoon/evening with Dr. Jeni, Darrel and family as Dr Jeni works the afternoons and evening on Tuesday, and Darrel is swamped with business every day.....and Max has a fever, so they do not want to take him to the sitter. Soooo, grandparents to the rescue!!!!!!! Then on Wednesday, the 1st Lady as an appt. with a doctor in STL....she has discovered that she has a small skin cancer....carcinoma(sp??)....that needs to be removed....and from there, we will go on to her Mother's home until Sunday. I will then bring the 1st Lady back to Dr. Jeni's for the week as their sitter is going to be gone on vacation.....and I have things here to do in F'town, so I will return down here until Friday of next week and then go pick her up at Dr. Jeni's.
Next Monday.....I have to have my truck at the Kemp's Auto Body Shop....as they will begin the job of repainting it......due to the damages from the May 8th inland hurricane here. It will take about two weeks.....and I am also having a new tailgate installed and painted, as the one I have now is dented from a couple of times I have backed too closely to the kingpin on the rv and dented the tailgate. Soooo.......we will be down to one vehicle for two weeks.......
And soooo, the evening is beautiful, the temps are to be in the low 60's tonight and mid-50's tomorrow night....SUPER!!!! We are still trying to make a decision with the rest of the family about going to DisneyWorld the week before Christmas.......must get this worked out, IF we are going to go down there. We have a possible trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico the 1st week of November for 7 days....and then the winter in Texas....and then we are getting more serious about going to New Zealand for a month, or more, in April/May. Lots to decide......and, as usual, these decisions all revolve around our travels for the next year. LOVE IT!!!
And sooooo, as always......
LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!.....And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
June 27, 2009: A GREAT time at a class reunion of former students!!!
This will be brief....I have had waaaaayyyyyyy tooooooo much wine and mixed drinks, thanks to former students for treating their old band director!!!!!!
Yesterday: a quick morning, a quick drive down to Cape Girardeau, and then on to visit our son, Michael, for the afternoon. A good visit, even thought he was fighting a head cold and not feeling up to snuff/par.
Today.....we just hung around inside the house with horrific temps outside. This evening I had been invited to the Vance Vineyards Winery for the class of 1999 reunion.....10 years! And....OMG.....what a wonderful time it was.....just simply great to see many former band students and other students from 10 years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Obviously, as I said....way too many former students buying me drinks.
The HowserHouse winery was open this afternoon as a former student, now a band director himself in Edwardsville, IL, and his wife dropped by....and we knocked off a bottle of dark red medicine before the reunion even began! They went back to the local hotel and changed clothing and then we met after they had had their reunion dinner.......and from that time on, I had a few drinks tooooooo many!!! Vance Vineyards is a great place to meet......and I saw soooo many former students that I have not seen for one year.....and for ten years. Sooooo much fun.....too much to drink....and a great time!!!! It is now 12:30am on Sunday, and I need to get my sagging hulk in the bed in a horizontal position before my head explodes in the morning.
I cannot describe the wonderful friendships that have developed with my students......there is no way to begin to talk about how really, really close we were, and how close we remain....as friends!! If you do not understand, go to Facebook: "Mr. H's Band Members" and you will see for yourself the unique relationships that we developed as teacher/student....and now as friends for Life!!!!!!! Their Lives mean soooo much to me.....and I hold each one so close to me as friends that I can always count on at any time I should need them. THAT is why the reunion of 30 years of band directing is such an incredible idea that is exploding with excitement from everyone that played in my bands over those years!!!! HOW LUCKY I AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And sooooo, I will close this before I go nuts correcting my typos from tooooo many glasses of vino and margaritas. WOW....just a wonderful, wonderful, incredible evening!!!!!!
And....as always, and especially tonight.......
LIFE IS JUST REALLY INCREDIBLY GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!......And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
Yesterday: a quick morning, a quick drive down to Cape Girardeau, and then on to visit our son, Michael, for the afternoon. A good visit, even thought he was fighting a head cold and not feeling up to snuff/par.
Today.....we just hung around inside the house with horrific temps outside. This evening I had been invited to the Vance Vineyards Winery for the class of 1999 reunion.....10 years! And....OMG.....what a wonderful time it was.....just simply great to see many former band students and other students from 10 years ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Obviously, as I said....way too many former students buying me drinks.
The HowserHouse winery was open this afternoon as a former student, now a band director himself in Edwardsville, IL, and his wife dropped by....and we knocked off a bottle of dark red medicine before the reunion even began! They went back to the local hotel and changed clothing and then we met after they had had their reunion dinner.......and from that time on, I had a few drinks tooooooo many!!! Vance Vineyards is a great place to meet......and I saw soooo many former students that I have not seen for one year.....and for ten years. Sooooo much fun.....too much to drink....and a great time!!!! It is now 12:30am on Sunday, and I need to get my sagging hulk in the bed in a horizontal position before my head explodes in the morning.
I cannot describe the wonderful friendships that have developed with my students......there is no way to begin to talk about how really, really close we were, and how close we remain....as friends!! If you do not understand, go to Facebook: "Mr. H's Band Members" and you will see for yourself the unique relationships that we developed as teacher/student....and now as friends for Life!!!!!!! Their Lives mean soooo much to me.....and I hold each one so close to me as friends that I can always count on at any time I should need them. THAT is why the reunion of 30 years of band directing is such an incredible idea that is exploding with excitement from everyone that played in my bands over those years!!!! HOW LUCKY I AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And sooooo, I will close this before I go nuts correcting my typos from tooooo many glasses of vino and margaritas. WOW....just a wonderful, wonderful, incredible evening!!!!!!
And....as always, and especially tonight.......
LIFE IS JUST REALLY INCREDIBLY GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!......And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
June25, 2009: Global Warming in Misery continues......
Yep......in the mid-100's for the heat index today....as it has been for the past 9 days. And, this is only the last week of June!!
Our daughter, Dr. Jeni, and our three grandchildren, Meghan, Ava, and Max.....left about mid-morning today for their home.....AND, their swimming pool. HAHA...I do not think that running around in the water sprinkler and using the "slip/slide" was a good enough substitute for the little ones. They are used to using the pool daily......
Yesterday....we spent the late morning in the yard....using the sprinkler and the kids enjoying it, but tired of throwing themselves onto the ground to slip/slide was just a bit boring, I'm afraid. The kids were wonderful these three days.....Meghan is growing up, calming down....and little Ava and Max....well, they are sooo good for their ages. All three are growing....and it is just a great joy to have them here with us!!!!!!!!!
This week has really flown by so quickly.....tomorrow being Friday....and the weekend here already. Of course....being retired, everyday is part of a weekend, isn't it??? Next week....July!!!
I am saddened this evening by the death of Michael Jackson. As I wrote on Facebook.....it is a very sad day......the loss of an incredibly gifted musician, entertainer, dancer, perfectionist, and world-wide pop music star. Eccentric, unique, odd, controversial, one-of-a-kind, and a very troubled person........but yet, a man who influenced our culture with his wonderful, unbelievable music performances! Yes.......a very sad day for all music lovers.
As we "sit" here this summer in the stick and brick, we are both getting cabin fever. We normally would be traveling where it would be more pleasant weather-wise....and are not particularly enjoying staying here for the summer. Hopefully, we will be able to get things completed as far as the storm damages being repaired so that we can go out west to the mountains for a bit of trout fishing in late August. The RV may not be repaired by that time, however......it is not damaged in any way that would prevent us from going..and then getting the repairs done when we return the end of September. I SURE do hope it works out.....just need to get away for a few weeks!!!!!!!!
We would have been going to South America...Peru....in September had it not been for the storm....but, as I have stated before....it has set back all of our traveling plans for an out of the country adventure. Soooo, we are in the discussion process of just when we will make a trip....and it may have to wait until April of next year....???
Well......I have the water sprinklers on....as the heat is just sapping our plants, bushes, and grass with the intense hot sun and few clouds bearing down on these yard plantings. And...the buzzer is now telling me to turn these sprinklers off, so I will close this uninteresting post for the evening.
As always..........
LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!!.......And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!
Our daughter, Dr. Jeni, and our three grandchildren, Meghan, Ava, and Max.....left about mid-morning today for their home.....AND, their swimming pool. HAHA...I do not think that running around in the water sprinkler and using the "slip/slide" was a good enough substitute for the little ones. They are used to using the pool daily......
Yesterday....we spent the late morning in the yard....using the sprinkler and the kids enjoying it, but tired of throwing themselves onto the ground to slip/slide was just a bit boring, I'm afraid. The kids were wonderful these three days.....Meghan is growing up, calming down....and little Ava and Max....well, they are sooo good for their ages. All three are growing....and it is just a great joy to have them here with us!!!!!!!!!
This week has really flown by so quickly.....tomorrow being Friday....and the weekend here already. Of course....being retired, everyday is part of a weekend, isn't it??? Next week....July!!!
I am saddened this evening by the death of Michael Jackson. As I wrote on Facebook.....it is a very sad day......the loss of an incredibly gifted musician, entertainer, dancer, perfectionist, and world-wide pop music star. Eccentric, unique, odd, controversial, one-of-a-kind, and a very troubled person........but yet, a man who influenced our culture with his wonderful, unbelievable music performances! Yes.......a very sad day for all music lovers.
As we "sit" here this summer in the stick and brick, we are both getting cabin fever. We normally would be traveling where it would be more pleasant weather-wise....and are not particularly enjoying staying here for the summer. Hopefully, we will be able to get things completed as far as the storm damages being repaired so that we can go out west to the mountains for a bit of trout fishing in late August. The RV may not be repaired by that time, however......it is not damaged in any way that would prevent us from going..and then getting the repairs done when we return the end of September. I SURE do hope it works out.....just need to get away for a few weeks!!!!!!!!
We would have been going to South America...Peru....in September had it not been for the storm....but, as I have stated before....it has set back all of our traveling plans for an out of the country adventure. Soooo, we are in the discussion process of just when we will make a trip....and it may have to wait until April of next year....???
Well......I have the water sprinklers on....as the heat is just sapping our plants, bushes, and grass with the intense hot sun and few clouds bearing down on these yard plantings. And...the buzzer is now telling me to turn these sprinklers off, so I will close this uninteresting post for the evening.
As always..........
LIFE IS JUST REALLY, REALLY GREAT!!!!!!.......And, I hope it is for all of you, also!!!!!!
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