This is what showed up at Phipps on Wednesday.  She came through the door with an attitude.  She was the cutest thing ever.  I asked her mom for permission to photograph her, which she gave me. Our theme for story time was Garden Fairies, so I thought perhaps she dressed for the occasion.  Her mother explained that for her birthday party they had decided on the theme of "Breakfast at Tiffany's".  And you know, I cold see the resemblance of Audrey Hepburn!

Here we are, a week away from the road trip 2013.  It will be to Arizona.  And it really isn't a road trip, we are flying.   We had a pre-travel planning meeting on Thursday and we are all excited.  Lots to do, lots to see, so we'll keep everyone posted.

Observation.  Garbage men. The recycle truck seem to lumber down the street first, usually around 6AM.  Jokes abound between the driver and the pick up person.  Laughter.  Fun times.  So, now I am awake.  About an hour later, down comes the garbage truck.  Not sure if these are just generally angry men or if they enjoy seeing how far they can throw the empty garbage can.  Either way, they wait until they are in front of MY house to turn on the thingy that chews up the garbage, and then the throwing of cans begin.  It was suggested that the plastic liner be taken out and have that along the curb (we don't really have curbs in this neighborhood, it's just a figure of speech), but that would mean the animals would have a feast.  Just an observation.

We have this plant now at Phipps.  It's a corpse plant.  Allegedly when it blooms it smells like dead meat. Or a rotting corpse.  WHY would anyone want to see/smell this?  Apparently it was a big success in DC, but you see, in DC you could see it for free.  You have to pay here to see it.  I'll keep you posted about that one.  I won't be here for the most part, so sad......NOT.

Well, dare I say it?  For the most part, the Pirates are doing very, very well.  They are 26 games above 500, and up until last night they looked great.  We are playing the Rockies and they beat us 10-1.  That is not a typo...it is the score.  Now, Tim, I know you are working hard.  But that's not a good enough.  I know, it's probably the thin air and the trip from Pittsburgh.  Let's hope tonight is a better night for them.

The Steelers are playing tonight also.  I can't cheer for two teams at once.  I couldn't get excited for the Pirates when the Pens were playing, and I can't get excited about the Steelers now.  My cheering energy must go for the Pirates.

Beautiful Summer Day

After weeks of having the house closed up, having the air conditioner running non-stop and having horrific storms, we have today, a beautiful day.  Low humidity, sunshine and white fluffy clouds.  In fact, last night I was actually cold while sleeping.  Have you ever lay in bed uncomfortable, whether it be too cold, too hot, having to go to the bathroom, and wondered if you should do something to remedy the situation?  I do that a lot.  Last night the fan was going, the windows were wide open and at 4 AM I wondered if I should do something about the fact that I was freezing.  If I got up, would I be colder and lose the warm spot in the bed?  Would the cat think it is morning and decide to play?  Would I stub my toe or have difficulty falling back asleep?  I do this when I have to go to the bathroom.  Can I wait until the alarm goes off?  If I get up right now and race to and from the bathroom will I be able to go back to sleep?  That seems to be a big worry, and I have to admit, much of it depends on what time it is.  This morning I just curled up in a ball and fell back asleep with a wind...not breeze...coming in the window above my bed.

A few glitches with the computer.  Verizon had to come and give me a new router and fix a couple of settings. I called last week and yesterday was the soonest they could come.  They assured me they would be here between 8 AM and noon.  So, there I was, rolling out of bed at 7 to get a shower and eat some breakfast.  Waited.  Waited some more.  And more.  Tried to call them.  Push 1 for this, 2 for that, up to 8 for this and that.  Nothing about checking appointment.  There was one to cancel the appointment, but none to talk to a person....so I kept pushing "0".  Not a valid option.  After a half hour I had someone on the phone who said the repair person would be there between 2 and 3.  Fortunately, he came before that.  Words I don't want to hear...."Gee, that never happened before".  And "I never got that message before".  And I have noticed that when anyone comes to the house to repair anything they always ask "Who did this?" followed by a shaking of their head.  He told me to contact HP. 

Easier said than done.  Finally....after 1 hour on the phone I get Jim from India.  He remotely accessed my computer and fixed the glitch, but not before several problems popped up.  Had to call them again today for a different issue.  I called six different numbers and finally called the world headquarters and talked to my new bff, Julia.  She assured me she would help.  I'm waiting for a call from her.

We have become a society that cannot reach a live person to discuss a problem.  Thank goodness I am persistent....although I have about given up on the one minor glitch.  When I asked Verizon how to bypass all of the automated messages and get to a person, the tech support said I can't.  They are busy because of all the storms we have had.  I'll accept that for now, because it is true that weather has probably played a part in all of this....but the next time I will think about switching from Verizon.

The kids seem to be racing through summer.  Baseball, biking, swimming,   Phipps is extremely short handed in their guest services department, so I have been working A LOT.  Have not seen many of Matt's tournament games, which is sad.  I actually go for the refreshment stands, but don't tell Matt that.  I believe we are all looking forward to the road trip which is rapidly approaching. 

Pirates are doing well.  Grilli is hurt.  He is the closing pitcher, and seems to be a really neat person.  I hope it isn't serious and that he gets back to the ballgame.  I see that they are again having a drug investigation on players.  Maybe I am naïve, but I don't think this has touched the Pirates.  I think if I heard of any of them taking performance enhancing drugs I would be very disappointed.  And I know there are those that say "everyone" does it, but I don't (1) think that is true and (2) think that is an excuse to do it.

Well, I am headed to the back yard to sit under the tree with my book and enjoy the wonderful weather. 

Finally!

Change is hard for me.  Very hard.  I would rather put up with something that barely works than get something new that I have to learn.  Such is the case with computers.

I have an older computer, probably seven or eight years old.  Was spiffy when I got it, but lately it has not been the best.  Kept freezing up, had to start it with the recovery disk, just wasn't something I had any fun with anymore. So, for the past.....oh, I don't know....two years(?) I have been perseverating about a new one.  I have everyone's opinion and have made my head spin when I tried to sort it out.  Then, one day recently, I read that Windows 7 was going to be discontinued in August and no computers would be sold with Windows 7 after December.  After reading and hearing about all the problems with Windows 8, I thought do it now or be sorry.  So, here I am typing on my new HP Pavilion computer.  Jerry, the set up man, came today, put it all together, and although I am on a learning curve, I think this just might work.

Yesterday as I sat at the podium at Phipps, Mark, Curt and I began to talk. Curt was looking for a new pillow because he had a stiff neck.  Remember when you could go into a store and just buy a pillow?  No more.  I have tried many different kinds.  I have one for sleeping on your side.  That worked for a while.  You had to buy two for the price of one...$60.  I didn't want two, wasn't even sure I wanted one.  So I asked...I don't want two, so can I have one for $30?  No, you have to buy two or pay $60.  This was at Kohls.  I found a woman looking at the same pillow, so we bought two and each paid $30.  That pillow was good for awhile, but when I wanted to sleep on my stomach, it was a problem.  Foam or feather, though I'm not sure what kind of feathers they are.  Foam gets hot, so I went with feathers.  Paid a lot again.  Within six months it was flat.  I put it in the dryer to try to fluff it.  Nope, didn't work.  Ended up at K-Mart and bought one for $10.  If necessary, I'll replace it every six months.  What ever happened to a good pillow?????

Wonderful fourth of July.  Had to work, but went to Linda and Scott's for dinner.  Scott grilled burgers and everyone was there.  Had a wonderful time playing yard games, eating, watching fireworks and watching Scott, Matt and Mike so excited about setting off the legal ones in the back yard.  A great night for all, I think.

Remembering things about my childhood.  Remember hot summer nights when you would sleep on the porch?  I do.  I remember window fans when we had no air conditioning. Did you ever ride a bicycle down a hill and feel the wind on a hot summer day?  And the Goodie Bar man and the sweet sound of his music.  Doors unlocked and left open all night.  Gone are the days!

Alyssa went to see One Direction last night with Cheryl's daughter, Sam.  Matt had a semi-final tournament ball game.  They lost that tournament.  Katie had to work, but she is getting ready for her performance in West Side Story.  Soon after that will be another road trip, this year to the Grand Canyon.  Getting so excited...even going on a smooth rafting trip.

And the good news?  This computer has run an ongoing spell check! 

Saturday NIght

I am excited...it doesn't take much.
I worked today.  Saw some weddings, a bridal shower.  Again, amazed by the footwear of women.  I watch The View.  Yes, I know, shocking, isn't it?  I am so tired of Barbara Walters, can she just retire right now? I realize that she broke some "glass ceilings"  for women, but she is pathetic right now.  She looks fragile, forgets what she is talking about.  But I digress.  One of the discussions was about women's shoes.  Did you know that the average amount of time a woman can wear the dress shoes that are out there today is 15 minutes?  Yes, 15 minutes.  I'm sure I mentioned my sprained ankle, for which Scott did nothing to help me.  In fact, he turned away from me, leaving me to twist my ankle and turn it a very ugly color.  Again, I digress.  So, when women come into Phipps in these incredible shoes the events staff warn them.  This is an old building with uneven pathways.  Be careful.  Most go in with these shoes and leave carrying them and going barefoot.  And to watch them walk is interesting to say the least.  But I have to say, the shoes I had on when I sprained my ankle were very comfortable.  Katie and I share them...aren't they pretty?  Well, I hope to post a picture, but I am in the break in the hockey game, so we shall see.
I came home from work, listening to the Pirates on the radio (we lost in the 11th inning), watched the game when I got home, then turned to the hockey game.  And exciting Saturday night, can I just say that?  And the hockey game is going into overtimes, just as Steve predicted.  I also shined my shoes.  This, as pitiful as it may seem, was a very relaxing night for me.
Oh, yes, and Matt got called up for a pony league game (insert neighing).  He did well, it seems.  If he makes a lot of money playing baseball, will he reimburse me for road trips?  I think I mentioned that he brought up on a road trip...."What will we do when Mia dies?  Oh, wait, by that time Katie will be driving".  Sigh of relief from the back seat.  Me, going to my happy place.  Group hugs all around.
Plumbing.  Let's discuss that one.  Doing the laundry, water backs up in sewer line.  It has happened before, but plunging has corrected the problem.  Not so this time.  Liquid plumber.  No good.  Let's move to the big guns...ok, wrong phrase...move to the ultimate solution...the snake.  Finally released the plug (tree limbs are a pain) and now all is fixed.
Okay, about time for the next period in hockey.  I want the Blackhawks to win.  They have a neat logo.  That's what it comes down to. 
Did I mention that Katie got a job?  She did.  I'm not allowed to say where or post it on facebook or get the blimp that is in town to hang a banner.  Kids.
By the way, they used to have spell check on here, and apparently they don't anymore.  I don't proof well and where is Linda when I need her?  After this is posted, she will tell me what I missed.

People

No, I am not going to break into a song.  The picture is one that I took at Phipps today.  A man brought his parents to Phipps and they parents walked along the paths together hand in hand.  They smiled, they spoke to people, but they also sat on the bench in the Sepentine room and watched.  They watched as the families came from the butterfly room, with excited children, and yes, excited parents.  They smiled, they nudged each other.  And as the woman looked tired, the husband reached over and took her hand in his and stroked it lovingly.  And as you can see in the picture, he became tired and as their son took her hand, she gently took her husband's hand and led him along.  It's one of the wonderful things about working at Phipps.  It allows one to observe.  It allows one to see the joy through a child's eye.  It's showing them the wonder of a butterfly emerging and flying for the first time, often from their own finger.

So, New York City, 2013 has come and gone.  I knew it was going to rain, so rain ponchos became standard.  Forgot the umbrella, however.  Scott drove us the the Megabus stop and we arrived an hour early so we could get the front seats on the second level of the bus.  And we did.  Somewhere along Route 22 it began...that pesky rain.  And it continued....however, it stopped long enought to load the crew at State College.  And when we arrived at the rest stop...well, that was an experience.  Our driver became frustrated and pulled onto the grass and told us to hurry, we had 20 minutes.  The women began to take over the men's room...that's all I'll say.

Hard rain began about 30 minutes outside of NYC, and all I could think was how would we ever get from the bus stop to the hotel.  Fortunately, the rain stopped long enough for us to get our suitcases and get a cab.  And the hotel sold me an umbrella.  Which was a good thing. 

We unpacked and decided to go for a walk to stretch our legs a bit.  Can you say monsoon?  I don't actually know the definition of a monsoon, suffice to say that Linda's umbrella was blowing inside out, the rain came down horizontally and the street was flooded in a matter of 10 minutes.  Matt loved it.  Stood in the rain as we huddled attempting to keep dry.  Matt only had one pair of shoes...can you say boys and puddles?  So, we headed back to the hotel and as we reached the door, the rain let up, so off we went for yet another try..

We made it to Ellen's Startdust Diner.  What a wonderful experience!  Waitstaff singing to us, us singing with them, decent food and a great way to forget about the rain...until we left the diner.  Back to the hotel for what else?  Swimming.

Katie visited colleges, Matt came to the Sony Tech Center, we saw Newsies and Blue Man Group.  We paid an exorbitant amount for a cab back to the hotel after Newsies just to get out of the rain.  We took the subway to Blue Man Group thanks to the expertise of Linda. 

The Holland Tunnel was closed due to the rain, it came down in droves.  Umbrellas, ponchos, wet shoes on the air conditioner, being blown dry with the hair dryer.  Matt to NHL store, Katie to SoHo for shopping, Katie exploring the city on her own, swimming in the pool at the hotel....it was a good trip.  It really was.  The sun came out Sunday as we left the city.  Of course.

Came home to have Peppi's again, this time with Tammi.  Always good to catch up with her and feed my face.  Back to Phipss, baseball and hockey.  Pens lost, Pirates lose and win.  I hope the Pens win tomorrow.  Fingers crossed.