travelers all

So, Carla and J-L are going to Brazil. AND the Paters (with Isabel) are going to Italy in June?July? Wow. lots of traveling. Al and I are done traveling for the time being. Florida in April and to Pgh and environs in June. Guess J-L had to get a passport. Isabel did too. Once children (I guess you can't count Jean-Luc a little child anymore) were included on the mother's passport.

Got to see Jennifer B. She has a long row to hoe for recouperation. It doesn't seem fair for one person to have so many health problems. Thank goodness for John. He's a brick. John is fixing the bathroom up...taking out the tub and putting in a shower for J's return. She will have to have lots of pt. I'm afraid it will be very slow.

got to go. Hope all the travelers have a fun experience. Ta ta.

Star Trek

Hello, all you Treckies out there. Al and I saw the new movie this afternoon and all Treckies will be pleased. It was terrific...action from the first scene to the last scene. I didn't quite get the time travel stuff, but hey, who wants to let that little thing get in the way. The story was good and the special effects fabulous. That's all I have for this time, guys. Bye.

communication?

Last Friday I met my friend Sally at the Mt. Juliet Library. She was taking down her pictures and I was putting up my pictures. After we completed this little job, I asked if she wanted to go for coffee. She said sure. She had to go to the Post Office and I had to visit my doctor to discuss an insurance issue. We agreed to meet at the McDonalds by Publix. There is a new McDonald at the Lebanon Road-Mt. Juliet intersection...so after my chore was finished I headed to McD's. I arrived before Sally and decided to get coffee and wait for her. Since you know how good I am with cars, every time I saw a car that remotely looked like Sal's, I thought "here she comes. I'm thinking how long does it date to buy a stamp. Where is that girl?"
After half an hour, I decide we've missed each other and head home. When I get there Al tells me that Sally had just called and she was waiting for me at the McD's in Hermitage. We finally connected via the phone and she said she forgot about the closer McDs as she never shopped at that Publix.
Later when we talked about it--face to face--we both laughed. She said if she'd sent me an e-mail or called on her cell, we might have been able to drink our coffee in the same MickeyDs.
I said, "let's not bet on that as we did talk face to face and still got our wires crossed....and no electricity was involved.
Communication in the age of computers, etc. is very difficult even when one is talking with another face to face. It was a silly moment.

travels and troubles

It's been a while...We traveled to Florida to visit kids and grandkids. Lots of fun...lots of baseball games. We enjoyed ourselves. When we got home we got a call from Uncle John that Aunt Jennifer had fallen in the kitchen and broken her hip. Bad News. As Aunt Karen says...Jennifer can't get a break.
So, while away Jennifer had hip surgery and now will have to go somewhere for rehabilitation. I'm sure she is not a happy camper. We feel awful for her. We plan on visiting all the Yankees in the family toward the end of the month. I'll be glad to see Jennifer for myself. It is hard being away from Aunt Rose, and the Bennetts and also the Paters and little Isabel. I don't want to live in PA anymore, but it would be nice if we could see everyone more than twice a year. This goes for the Florida Steinmetzes also.
Today is dentist day. Al went this a.m. and I've got a 2/30 appointment.
Sunday the Quinns came for dinner. Maura was putting on her makeup in the bathroom. I think our house is the only place she gets to do that and I was hurrying her along because I needed to use the convenience when I complained about my itchy head. She said, "Grandma, maybe you have head lice."
No, I most certainly do NOT have headlice. I just have an itchy scalp. Dr. Maura couldn't give me any other diagnosis.

Got to go. Till next time.

My baby boy had a busy--tiring day

Just read Bill's blog....oh, my gosh! We get up equally as early...and we also cram much activity into our days, but (big but) we usually take naps in the afternoon. AND, we don't have to work in a day of employment into our schedules. I also had a Dr. appointment this week. Nothing serious. Blood pressure a little high, even with meds. We (she and I) are watching it.

My big chore this week was painting the bathroom doors. After a few years the white begins to look dingy and yellow. This is a job I've been telling myself had to be done for at least 2 years. It's done now and looks bright and clean. Also took the opportunity to really CLEAN the bathroom. I almost hate to go in there now as I don't want to mess it up.

The big expense for the week was a new furnace and air conditioner. Al is always proactive and our heat and air when checked the last couple of years were only working at 80 percent capacity. Bad news. So, the King decided it was time to get new. Since this HUGE purchase is coming out of my (what's mine is mine and what's his is mine, too) savings acct...I said I wanted equipment that wasn't noisy. We got quiet...the guys were here two days and did a good job. Our tax guy said if we were going to get new h/ac to make sure we got one that qualified for tax incentive next year. So, here I sit with quiet heat and air///programable controls and much less money in my acct. Oh, me....we are helping to keep the economy rolling.

Speaking of economy rolling. It looks like the Steinmetz's are doing that too...what with sports equipment, cameras...etc. Somebody has to do it, huh?

Worked in the yard yesterday. It's spring...I hope for good this time. I was going to put my couple of tomatoes in before Florida visit, but the King advised against it. He said wait till our return. As usual, (even though he doesn't think so) I'll take his advice and wait.

Got to go. Till next time....

Easter Stuff

Hope all had a beautiful Easter. We had Mass at dawn at St. Stephen. It was cold, but lovely. Our helper priest, Father Theo, is from Africa. Al and I were debating as we left home at 5:30 just how cold it would have to be for him to decide to have Mass in doors. But he was a trooper and we had it on the soccer field behind the church. Lots of people attended. I thought many of the children weren't dressed warmly enough, but that "grandma" thinking. Maura Q was dressed warmly enough, but still needed my afgan to keep warm.

Next week Maura's first Communion. She's definitely geared up for it. I told her that yesterday was her last time to be a baby. After next week, she's a young lady and must act like one. She's getting there.

Soccer for Maura was last Saturday. First game. She's enrolled in the Nazorrean league. Her team is for first and second graders. They have 9 players...6 girls and 3 boys. Of course, her team, the Blues lost 5-1, but noone seemed upset by the defeat. Lots of running around and since most of her team had only practiced twice, it wasn't expected that they would win. They looked to be having lots of fun. Joan says it's an 8-game season. One practice a week and one game.

We went to Joan's for Easter lunch. I made a couple of dishes. Maura played her Piano Guild pieces for us. I was surprised at how well she played. She had to memorize 6 little pieces. She and her teacher have already had a practice run at the testing and she did well. I'm surprised at how much she memorized. She may have a talent for the piano. J says no fussing at practicing.

What would I write about without M? How bout the boys? Only a couple more week till we visit the Florida Steinmetzes. Can't wait.

Till next time....

funny, ha ha

It might not be funny to others, but I laughed for half an hour...when I saw a commercial for a product (can't remember the name) which was intended for Parkinson's sufferers...In the warnings, which they must report also, was the note that it might induce "compulsive gambling." I thought this was exceedingly funny and told Al I was going to check his meds to see just what was making him buy those lottery tickets. That's a joke, too. He's not into lottery tickets.

Anyhow, as my lord and master says, it doesn't take much to make me laugh. I surely hope not. People who don't laugh, especially at themselves, are missing out on a lot. Laughers live longer. Well, we may not live longer, but we have more fun while we are here.

That's all, folks. Till next time.