The Cardinals were in town last week to play the Pirates. It's hard to keep up with who is playing with the Pirates, because as soon as someone plays well, they trade them. The young lads behind us yelled to McCutchen "Double deuce, don't play so well, they'll trade you". But Mia day was to go see the Pirates play and that we did. And what a good time we had! It was, again, dollar dog night, my favorite...sorry to all the vegans out there. The Cards have a very good team, I am told by Monkeyboy. Their first baseman did well in the all star game. I can't quote the stats the way Monkeyboy did, suffice to say, he is good. Pujols is his name, I believe. We find our way to the parking lot in good time. Monkeyboy's excitement is hard to contain. He has gathered all his mitts to distribute to catch fly balls and balls hit during practice. We arrive at the stadium and follow him to the seats, which are in the outfield bleachers. The kids station themselves at the rail with others to catch the balls. I sit in the seats, waiting to get the dogs. Waiting, waiting. A ball is hit my way. Oh my gosh, what to do? Two men are racing towards me. The ball goes into the ivy. I stand up, push the two men out of the way and race towards the ivy. People are yelling "You can't go in there". Well, I have no intentions of going "in" there, I am only reaching. The look on the kids face is one of horror, fearful that I shall be arrested. I reach for the ball through the fence...almost reaching it. The man reached around me...a quick shove to him and I have my hand on the ball. I hear shouting that I am not to be doing this. In triumph, I raise my hand holding the ball. Kids come back to seats after practice and tell me I should not have done that. What do they know...I have the ball. Time for those dollar dogs, so a trip to the food stand and peanuts, cracker jacks and dogs are there for the eating. Once our stomach is full, it's to the souvenir stand. Monkeyboy wants a McCutchen shirt, Bean opts for the McLouth shirt, which of course is cheap now since he is no longer with the Pirates. Monkeyboy puts his McCutchen shirt over his Bey (Jason Bey was also traded), and we go back to our seats. Monkeyboy shouts to McCutchen to throw us a ball, and sure enough a ball comes into the stands and lands on Bean's leg. Monkeyboy grabs it and now we have two balls. The game was a good one, we lost, of course, 6-4. We got two home runs which brought forth fireworks. It was a great evening. Well, there was this incident when we left the game, but I knew the bus wouldn't run us over.
It has been warm here the past few days. Sorry, Wacky Mommy, but I have air conditioning, and I have had it on. After a few days, I get tired of it. So (shhhh) last night I cheated and opened my bedroom window with the air conditioning still on. The cicada's are singing their end of summer song and I love to listen to it as I fall asleep. I lie there in bed listening and thinking about what a wonderful summer this has been. Tonight is cool enough that I have the windows all open and the air off completely.
I had another interview at Phipps. I think it went very well. I had to do a drug test and background checks and they will call me once they are done. I went from Phipps to my old office to see folks, and I do miss my unit! We all sat in my old office and talked for a good half hour. I saw everyone there and talked to all my co workers and friends. It was great to see them all again. I do miss them, but not the job.
There is another mini-family reunion coming up in September over Labor Day. It will be good to be together again. I am flying through Chicago again...and am hoping not to get stuck in the airport for 20 hours again this year!
Have a wonderful rest of the week!
Iowa
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Road Trip '09
Here we are, back in the 'burgh. Yes, I believe I did see Tim in Virginia, but I can't be sure since he was surrounded by hotel security.
The weather was perfect for the beginning of the trip. We sailed along, singing merrily, anticipating a wonderful trip. Called Bird and said how well things were going...and then...traffic.
Who would think that at noon on a Friday cars would be lined up around DC for over an hour. No, there wasn't an accident, it was just a mess. But we got through that and rolled along again. We arrived in Williamsburg somewhere around three. Our room was ready and so was the pool. Kids played in the pool for a couple of hours, then off to dinner. Spilled milk, but no other disaster, and off to bed to anticipate a wonderful day at historic Williamsburg.
Not.
It was 86 degrees when we woke up. We ate breakfast and headed out. Arrived at the visitor's center, got our passes and were off to explore. By this time I think it was 98 degrees. Grumpiness ensued. We went into a few buildings, only because they were air conditioned. Monkeyboy wanted to take a carriage ride, but they were taking the horses off the street at 11:00 because of the heat. I was impressed with that...Monkeyboy was not.
We left soon after that for another afternoon of swimming. And then went to explore the town a bit. Again, an extremely hot day. Don't know what I was expecting, but the heat and humidity were awful.
Then we discovered Yorktown. What a charming place! We walked around for a bit, then decided to take the free trolly tour around the town. It stopped at the Visitor's Center and we had to sit and wait for about 20 minutes for a bus to arrive. Children (not our party) were getting cranky and it was hot...did I mention that? Bean mentioned that she thought she saw lightening, and she did! We finally began to move and the sky became darker as we moved through the town. There was a woman in a wheelchair who had to get off, and apparently, the driver of the trolley car wasn't real familiar with how to operate the lift. It took three or four times of jostling this poor woman up and down to figure it out. Meanwhile, the sky was getting darker and large drops of rain began to fall. Did I mention the lightening? The driver told the woman to back up a bit which the woman did, and almost fell off the lift. It was not a pretty sight. She did finally get off and her husband raced her to the car.
We were the only ones left, and the rain got more serious, as did the lightening. We picked up a couple who were drenched and dropped them off. We were dropped at the parking lot and raced to the van. The wind was howling, the rain coming down in sheets and trees were bending to touch the ground. We decided to wait it out and I was glad we did. As we headed back to the hotel the roads were close to being flooded and there were a lot of trees down. We did see a rainbow, but were not successful in getting a picture of it.
Back to Yorktown the next day and to the beach. 86 degrees at 8:00 in the morning. We had a great time at the beach in spite of the jelly fish. Bean began to build a sand castle, but with no help from anyone, she decided to cheat. See results at the right.
We made a decision to head to the farm. I went to use the computer in the business center and there was a young girl using it along with a gentleman. I asked if they would be long and said I would come back. An hour later the young girl was still on the computer and another gentleman was there. I asked how much longer they would be and the gentleman said he had just logged on and the sweet young thing said she didn't know. I told her I would be back in ten minutes to use it and she said ok. I came back in twenty minutes only to find her still on it and another person on the second one. She said she would be a little longer, and I said I needed it and I would wait until she finished up. Then I pulled a chair right beside her and waited. She got the hint. Why do people think they have the right to use one of two computers in a business center for hours at a time?????
Got a reservation at the farm and we headed for Lancaster the next day. How wonderul to sit in the orchard in the cool breeze and enjoy a good book while the kids played with kittens and jumped on the trampoline!
An interesting group at the farm this year...a man in special forces in the army, a family from Germany, a Chaplain from a state prison in New York and of course...us!
It was a great road trip and except for the heat, darn near perfect! Have a great Sunday.
The weather was perfect for the beginning of the trip. We sailed along, singing merrily, anticipating a wonderful trip. Called Bird and said how well things were going...and then...traffic.
Who would think that at noon on a Friday cars would be lined up around DC for over an hour. No, there wasn't an accident, it was just a mess. But we got through that and rolled along again. We arrived in Williamsburg somewhere around three. Our room was ready and so was the pool. Kids played in the pool for a couple of hours, then off to dinner. Spilled milk, but no other disaster, and off to bed to anticipate a wonderful day at historic Williamsburg.
Not.
It was 86 degrees when we woke up. We ate breakfast and headed out. Arrived at the visitor's center, got our passes and were off to explore. By this time I think it was 98 degrees. Grumpiness ensued. We went into a few buildings, only because they were air conditioned. Monkeyboy wanted to take a carriage ride, but they were taking the horses off the street at 11:00 because of the heat. I was impressed with that...Monkeyboy was not.
We left soon after that for another afternoon of swimming. And then went to explore the town a bit. Again, an extremely hot day. Don't know what I was expecting, but the heat and humidity were awful.
Then we discovered Yorktown. What a charming place! We walked around for a bit, then decided to take the free trolly tour around the town. It stopped at the Visitor's Center and we had to sit and wait for about 20 minutes for a bus to arrive. Children (not our party) were getting cranky and it was hot...did I mention that? Bean mentioned that she thought she saw lightening, and she did! We finally began to move and the sky became darker as we moved through the town. There was a woman in a wheelchair who had to get off, and apparently, the driver of the trolley car wasn't real familiar with how to operate the lift. It took three or four times of jostling this poor woman up and down to figure it out. Meanwhile, the sky was getting darker and large drops of rain began to fall. Did I mention the lightening? The driver told the woman to back up a bit which the woman did, and almost fell off the lift. It was not a pretty sight. She did finally get off and her husband raced her to the car.
We were the only ones left, and the rain got more serious, as did the lightening. We picked up a couple who were drenched and dropped them off. We were dropped at the parking lot and raced to the van. The wind was howling, the rain coming down in sheets and trees were bending to touch the ground. We decided to wait it out and I was glad we did. As we headed back to the hotel the roads were close to being flooded and there were a lot of trees down. We did see a rainbow, but were not successful in getting a picture of it.
Back to Yorktown the next day and to the beach. 86 degrees at 8:00 in the morning. We had a great time at the beach in spite of the jelly fish. Bean began to build a sand castle, but with no help from anyone, she decided to cheat. See results at the right.
We made a decision to head to the farm. I went to use the computer in the business center and there was a young girl using it along with a gentleman. I asked if they would be long and said I would come back. An hour later the young girl was still on the computer and another gentleman was there. I asked how much longer they would be and the gentleman said he had just logged on and the sweet young thing said she didn't know. I told her I would be back in ten minutes to use it and she said ok. I came back in twenty minutes only to find her still on it and another person on the second one. She said she would be a little longer, and I said I needed it and I would wait until she finished up. Then I pulled a chair right beside her and waited. She got the hint. Why do people think they have the right to use one of two computers in a business center for hours at a time?????
Got a reservation at the farm and we headed for Lancaster the next day. How wonderul to sit in the orchard in the cool breeze and enjoy a good book while the kids played with kittens and jumped on the trampoline!
An interesting group at the farm this year...a man in special forces in the army, a family from Germany, a Chaplain from a state prison in New York and of course...us!
It was a great road trip and except for the heat, darn near perfect! Have a great Sunday.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Summer in the 'Burgh
The last baseball game was last night. Monkeyboy's team won 3/4 tournaments, last night being the fourth. What will I do on a warm, summer night? Such fun to watch these kids develop skills over time and the elation of winning. Lessons learned.
Phipps has been in touch with me. Some budget problems, some problems with HR director's illness in the family. I will check when we return from the road trip.
Road Trip 2009 will begin in just two days. To Virginia for a week. I have been having muscles spasms in my back, so hopefully they will quiet down before we leave! We have lots planned, Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, the beach and lots of food, of course.
Not working has it's benefits...the biggest one being enjoying the world around me. I have had time to sit and enjoy the garden. The flowers are magnificant! And the deer are hardly bothering them. I have painted the bedroom, again! (hence the muscle spasms in my back). It looks very beachy. Thanks to all who have had input.
This has been an incredible summer here in the burgh. We had rain last Friday for the first time in weeks. Took the kids to Color Me Mine to paint and have art pieces fired. Monkeyboy painted a frog, Bean a tile, Sprout a cup and I painted a stone that said "Welcome" for the garden. We went to the library, where the kids sat on the padded window ledge, watched traffic and listened as Bean read a story to them.
Bean helped me pick out a swimsuit. Haven't used it yet. Tried on lots of them and many gave us a good laugh! The first one I tried on is the one I ended up buying. Had to have one for the road trip.
A neighbor is cutting their grass. I love the smell of fresh cut grass. It is one of my favorite smells of summer. Do you have one?
Time to do something...read, shower, shop, get ready for road trip, or just sit in the garden enjoying summer.
Hope your summer is as pleasant.
Phipps has been in touch with me. Some budget problems, some problems with HR director's illness in the family. I will check when we return from the road trip.
Road Trip 2009 will begin in just two days. To Virginia for a week. I have been having muscles spasms in my back, so hopefully they will quiet down before we leave! We have lots planned, Williamsburg, Busch Gardens, the beach and lots of food, of course.
Not working has it's benefits...the biggest one being enjoying the world around me. I have had time to sit and enjoy the garden. The flowers are magnificant! And the deer are hardly bothering them. I have painted the bedroom, again! (hence the muscle spasms in my back). It looks very beachy. Thanks to all who have had input.
This has been an incredible summer here in the burgh. We had rain last Friday for the first time in weeks. Took the kids to Color Me Mine to paint and have art pieces fired. Monkeyboy painted a frog, Bean a tile, Sprout a cup and I painted a stone that said "Welcome" for the garden. We went to the library, where the kids sat on the padded window ledge, watched traffic and listened as Bean read a story to them.
Bean helped me pick out a swimsuit. Haven't used it yet. Tried on lots of them and many gave us a good laugh! The first one I tried on is the one I ended up buying. Had to have one for the road trip.
A neighbor is cutting their grass. I love the smell of fresh cut grass. It is one of my favorite smells of summer. Do you have one?
Time to do something...read, shower, shop, get ready for road trip, or just sit in the garden enjoying summer.
Hope your summer is as pleasant.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
A Sad Day In Mudville
It had to end, this tremendous winning streak that his team had. I believe it was 16 or 17 games. And end it did. They lost their game last night, 6-5. It looked as though they tied it up in the last inning, but alas, the runner was called back to third and the last out was called. Another game today, perhaps two. We'll have to see.
Bean got an electric guitar, and generously allowed Monkeyboy to try it. Both kids have talent when it comes to music, and already they have collaborated on a song. MR plays keyboard, Bean plays guitar and Monkeyboy plays drums. They have been banished to the basement to practice. All they need now is a name.
I have a fan that is stuck on one speed. I wrote to the manufacturer and told them the problem. They suggested sending them the model number which is located on top of the motor housing, which just happens to be three inches from the ceiling. So, I am on top of the bed with a mirror looking for the number. Aha, this must be it. But they said it started with a "2". Hmmm, could this thing that looks like a "5" actually be a "2"? And I am having some difficulty reading the numbers from the reflection in the mirror. So, I try to take a picture, but that doesn't work. And it is very, very dusty. I clean it and get everything below very, very, dusty. I write back to the manufacturer and give him what I think are the numbers and tell him they could be in any order. We'll see what happens with that.
The magnolia tree has scales. They are little white bubble kind of things. Scales, I am told. They cannot be gotten rid of this year, but the medicine should take care of it next year, I am told. Oh, yes, and the deer have returned. Madly spraying plants and it seems to have helped.
Other than that, unemployment is wonderful. I wake up and think about doing something, then do nothing. Not true, of course. Bean, Monkeyboy and I went to pick out paint for the bedroom with the fan that doesn't work properly. We decided on light blue. That's the name. It is a pure blue, no grey or green, and I think it is going to be pretty. I had to repair the window where there was water damage (and I did a fine job, I might add), and I just sanded that down, so Monday will be paint day. Maybe. That's the great thing, you know. I can do it or not.
We went for a walk the other night, well, actually we went for a walk several times. Mippy, Monkeyboy, Bean and I. The kids rode their bikes and Mippy had Oscar, the dog. Monkeyboy wiped out twice...lose gravel on the road, and according to him, Bean making him wipe out. The first time he ran into a tree. Bean and I had a difficult time containing our laughter. I have a problem with that...I tend to laugh when people fall. He didn't get hurt on that one, only his pride. Two nights later, the same thing, only he got pretty scratched up on that fall. I didn't laugh. His arm was bleeding (Bean's fault,of course, she cut him off) and he held his arm up for about 1/2 miles watching the blood. And he was never going to ride his bike again because it was stupid. He rode it the next day. His father was riding his motorcycle to work and Monkeyboy rode up the street on his bike beside his father.
Off to clean and get ready for the game today. This next one will be do or be done time, I believe. It's so hard to follow all this.
Have a wonderful summer weekend.
Bean got an electric guitar, and generously allowed Monkeyboy to try it. Both kids have talent when it comes to music, and already they have collaborated on a song. MR plays keyboard, Bean plays guitar and Monkeyboy plays drums. They have been banished to the basement to practice. All they need now is a name.
I have a fan that is stuck on one speed. I wrote to the manufacturer and told them the problem. They suggested sending them the model number which is located on top of the motor housing, which just happens to be three inches from the ceiling. So, I am on top of the bed with a mirror looking for the number. Aha, this must be it. But they said it started with a "2". Hmmm, could this thing that looks like a "5" actually be a "2"? And I am having some difficulty reading the numbers from the reflection in the mirror. So, I try to take a picture, but that doesn't work. And it is very, very dusty. I clean it and get everything below very, very, dusty. I write back to the manufacturer and give him what I think are the numbers and tell him they could be in any order. We'll see what happens with that.
The magnolia tree has scales. They are little white bubble kind of things. Scales, I am told. They cannot be gotten rid of this year, but the medicine should take care of it next year, I am told. Oh, yes, and the deer have returned. Madly spraying plants and it seems to have helped.
Other than that, unemployment is wonderful. I wake up and think about doing something, then do nothing. Not true, of course. Bean, Monkeyboy and I went to pick out paint for the bedroom with the fan that doesn't work properly. We decided on light blue. That's the name. It is a pure blue, no grey or green, and I think it is going to be pretty. I had to repair the window where there was water damage (and I did a fine job, I might add), and I just sanded that down, so Monday will be paint day. Maybe. That's the great thing, you know. I can do it or not.
We went for a walk the other night, well, actually we went for a walk several times. Mippy, Monkeyboy, Bean and I. The kids rode their bikes and Mippy had Oscar, the dog. Monkeyboy wiped out twice...lose gravel on the road, and according to him, Bean making him wipe out. The first time he ran into a tree. Bean and I had a difficult time containing our laughter. I have a problem with that...I tend to laugh when people fall. He didn't get hurt on that one, only his pride. Two nights later, the same thing, only he got pretty scratched up on that fall. I didn't laugh. His arm was bleeding (Bean's fault,of course, she cut him off) and he held his arm up for about 1/2 miles watching the blood. And he was never going to ride his bike again because it was stupid. He rode it the next day. His father was riding his motorcycle to work and Monkeyboy rode up the street on his bike beside his father.
Off to clean and get ready for the game today. This next one will be do or be done time, I believe. It's so hard to follow all this.
Have a wonderful summer weekend.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Thoughts on a Sunday
Woke up this morning and decided it was a perfect morning to take a walk. Generally, a walk of this kind demands the cemetary. I look at the headstones and wonder about people. Who were they? How did they die? Some are very young. One was a teen who died and her parents decorate the grave quite elaborately.
Came home and decided it was much too lovely to go inside, so I brought my book out and sat on the patio, watching the rabbits, the birds and reading my book. It's called "Twenty Wishes" and is about a group of women that make a list of twenty wishes that they want to accomplish...kind of a bucket list if you will. I think I am going to start another one, since I lost the first one. I'll share mine, if you share yours. It should be something that is fun, something whimsical, if you will. For me, the first wish will be a pair of red cowboy boots. When I was a kid I always wanted a pair of cowboy boots and never got them. Now I can. Don't know where I will wear them, but I want them.
Bean and I were at one of the many tournament games this weekend and I noticed Monkeyboy and his friend, Noah. They don't talk much, kind of just hang out together. I asked Bean how she chose friends. She thought about it for awhile, and said that when she was in second grade, it was a matter of asking someone if they wanted to color with you. That was the beginning, or at least could be. She said a friend is someone you can be with and don't feel like you have to make conversation. You can just sit quietly and if feels okay. I think that's a good description. I also think a friend is someone that you haven't seen in a long time, but when you do, it is as though you have never been apart.
Tournaments. *Sigh* Monkeyboy's team (it's not actually his team, but the one on which he plays) is undefeated after fourteen games. This is the third tournament, and the final game of this one is tomorrow night. There was a homerun this game, and Monkeyboy made an outstanding double play from third base.
I have not heard from Phipps Conservatory, but am hoping to this week. I will keep you posted.
The beautiful flowers were from the Iowa contingency. Some might refer to my lack of employment as retirement, but I am fortunate to have a friend who said to me "You are now faced with a new adventure. Make choices, suffer the pitfalls, and bask in the glory of the right ones. Life is not a journey to the grave to arrive in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming--- WOW WHAT A RIDE!!!!"
I don't know to whom I should credit the last part, but it was a quote that they used and I thought both parts were perfect.
It's a new adventure, and I can't wait to see what lies ahead.
Have a great week.
Came home and decided it was much too lovely to go inside, so I brought my book out and sat on the patio, watching the rabbits, the birds and reading my book. It's called "Twenty Wishes" and is about a group of women that make a list of twenty wishes that they want to accomplish...kind of a bucket list if you will. I think I am going to start another one, since I lost the first one. I'll share mine, if you share yours. It should be something that is fun, something whimsical, if you will. For me, the first wish will be a pair of red cowboy boots. When I was a kid I always wanted a pair of cowboy boots and never got them. Now I can. Don't know where I will wear them, but I want them.
Bean and I were at one of the many tournament games this weekend and I noticed Monkeyboy and his friend, Noah. They don't talk much, kind of just hang out together. I asked Bean how she chose friends. She thought about it for awhile, and said that when she was in second grade, it was a matter of asking someone if they wanted to color with you. That was the beginning, or at least could be. She said a friend is someone you can be with and don't feel like you have to make conversation. You can just sit quietly and if feels okay. I think that's a good description. I also think a friend is someone that you haven't seen in a long time, but when you do, it is as though you have never been apart.
Tournaments. *Sigh* Monkeyboy's team (it's not actually his team, but the one on which he plays) is undefeated after fourteen games. This is the third tournament, and the final game of this one is tomorrow night. There was a homerun this game, and Monkeyboy made an outstanding double play from third base.
I have not heard from Phipps Conservatory, but am hoping to this week. I will keep you posted.
The beautiful flowers were from the Iowa contingency. Some might refer to my lack of employment as retirement, but I am fortunate to have a friend who said to me "You are now faced with a new adventure. Make choices, suffer the pitfalls, and bask in the glory of the right ones. Life is not a journey to the grave to arrive in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proclaiming--- WOW WHAT A RIDE!!!!"
I don't know to whom I should credit the last part, but it was a quote that they used and I thought both parts were perfect.
It's a new adventure, and I can't wait to see what lies ahead.
Have a great week.
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