flood recovery and Washington, D.C. trip

Nashvillians and Tennesseans have risen to the occasion and we have survived the great flood of 2010. Many millions of $$$$ will have to be spent to FIX us, but it will happen. FEMA learned a lesson from Katrina and were johnny on the spot when Nashville flooded. I am feeling a bit of survivors guilt because we were so unscathed.
The only thing I can think is that just because we didn't suffer damage...it doesn't mean that God likes us better than others. That's all re: the flood.
Al and I have returned from traveling by bus to Washington D.C. with (as he says) the old people. We went with seniors from Donelson. It was a very nice trip. We saw all the monuments in Washington plus two of the Smithsonian buildings....the National Gallery (all art) and the natural history museum. My favorite memorial was the Korean war memorial. It was very moving. We went to Arlington and saw the changing of the guard and laying of a wreath. When they played Taps, if you didn't feel something, you weren't alive yourself.
Naturally, Al loved all the memorials. The Roosevelt memorial was very large. The only building we didn't explore was the Washington Memorial, apparently it is undergoing a repair. Lincoln and Jefferson both made you catch your breath.
On the way home we stopped in Staunton, VA. to see Woodrow Wilson's birthplace and library. Very impressing.
Naturally, we were glad to get home to sleep in our own bed even though all the hotel accommodations were fine.
Since coming home I've been trying to catch up on my yard work. The tomatoes are getting big but the squirels and rabbits think the lettuce and beans I planted are just for them. Not much of a crop there.
Last weekend we went (with the Quinns) to the Tennessee Renaisance Festival. Of course the heat was 90plus but there was lots of shade. I've been wanting to see that for several years. The castle was quite interesting. It was one of those things that you only have to do once. I won't have to think I'm missing any thing next year.
That's all, folks. Till next time

Water, water everywhere....

I was surprised to see that I've not blogged for a few months. So, what's been happening. Travel to Florida to see that branch of the family tree. All are well, thank goodness. Boys are getting bigger every day. Soon J-L will be looking down on all of us.

We are getting ready to bus (with the old folks) to Washington D.C. next week.

This week in Nashville the big news is the flood. Heavy rains Saturday and Sunday left many parts of the city under water. The Cumberland River overflowed it's banks and went into the stores and businesses on 1st ave. The Harpeth in Bellevue flooded and many residences in that area are, if not totaled, in bad shape. Even the elite section of town....Belle Meade...got flooded. I wonder if Al Gore's house suffered any damage. The trouble in our city is that there are many creeks and streams that flo into the rivers and dams. They overflowed and consequently there was just too much water coming too fast.

This a.m. was the first I've been out personally to see the divestation. Percy Priest Dam was almost up to the walkways on the bridge. The river downtown crested at something like 57 feet. The highest previously was 43. So, lots of damage. Even our new symphony hall lost its 2/5 million dollar organ and a couple of grand pianos.

It's a mess and leaves the peoplel who were unscathed (like us) feeling a little guilty not to be sharing in the rest of the city's pain. As of last night 14,000 households were without electricity. The mayor was telling folks to only use water for drinking and food preparation. We have two water purification plants and one was damaged.

Opryland Hotel had to evacuate 1500 guests and cancel all activities until damages can be assessed and repairs made. OpryMills Mall was underwater.,etc. etc, etc.

So, here I sit detailing all the damage. It will cost millions, maybe billions of $$$$ to get every thing back to normal and there will be millions of lost revenue right at the start of the tourist season. I see a tax increase in our futures.

That's all, folks. Till next time.

I

I'm sorry....

I'm sorry...how many times have we heard that in our lives? Too many to count, I'll bet. From the time our kids are little we tell them they have to say they are sorry when they hurt someone, either with words or fists. After a while it seems those little words loose their meaning.

We've heard lots of I'm sorrys in the past. Politicians, actors, Letterman, etc, etc, etc, all have said those words when they have been caught doing something inappropriate. I'm getting tired of hearing it.

The latest is Tiger Woods. He's sorry for the hurt inflicted upon his family, his fans and his profession. Even if one didn't listen to his media apology (I didn't) it would be difficult to miss it because it's been played adnausium many times in the past week. I asked a friend if he was going to tune in for the big moment....he said he had something more important to do...he was going to watch paint dry. Ha. Ha.

One thing I did catch in the reruns was Tiger's admission that he didn't think the rules applied to him. This flaw in his character is our fault...his parents (he's a special child), his fans (isn't he great?), the media (the best thing to happen to the game since Palmer).

Way back when...in my working life....the middle school I worked in had cheerleaders....those special girls (thought special by their mothers anyway) who bcl (before cheer leading) were nice little girls just like any other 7th grader. After bcl they became prima donnas who thought they were better than their classmates. Ugh and double ugh. Once one of the princesses said to me..."You don't like cheerleaders, do you Mrs. Steinmetz?" My reply was that I loved cheerleaders. What I didn't like were people who thought the rules didn't apply to them.

You get the drift, don't you. The rules apply to everyone. Social mores shouldn't go out the window because of a person's position. And yes...I think this applies to Presidents and wantabee presidents, political persons at every level, talk show hosts, and I could go on and on. But I don't need to, do I? I also think the rules apply to me personally.

I once had a friend? who was having an affair. I lost respect for her. She was not only cheating on her husband, but setting a terrible example for her children. I personally never wanted to do anything that my children could use as an excuse for bad behavior. It must be ok because mom did it. I hope I (and also Al) have always set good examples. People are going to "mess up" cause that's what people do, but my behavior wasn't going to give anyone the "green light" for misconduct.

So in the midst of sounding "holier than thou" I take public "I'm sorries" with a grain of salt. In the words of the master..."go and sin no more." We are all voyuers and the mass media feeds into our interest.

I hope Tiger Woods and all others are rehabilitated and use their misdeeds to grow into more responsible adults.

There I go again...another soap box climbed. Till next time.....

snow/viruses/etc.

I can't believe it has been two weeks since I last posted...but dates don't lie, do they? Since the Haiti blog...poor Haiti...all our medical supplies have gone to another mission effort...a Haitian doctor on his way to Haiti. We'll go when we can...probably in two or three months. Things aren't well in our Haitian parish and news is spotty, but we continue to pray and send money to international aid organizations...we do what we can.

Since my last writing...we have had visitors from the north...the Paters and RoseMary visited over MLK day as Karen didn't have to work that day. The Paters had had a bout of the stomach virus...first Isabel, then Karen, then Bela...the week before they traveled. We were instructed tp keep the tree up and we did Christmas again when they arrived. The Christmas tree up for a month is a little long for me, but we did it. I didn't mind the tree, but all the other Christmas decorations were getting on my nerves. Anyhow, we had a birthday party for Isabel and then Christmas for all. Naturally, everyone got more then they deserved...but it was fun. About the fourth day of their visit, I (who never get sick) got the stomach virus. Nothing to do but let it run its course. I was in bed for a whole day...well, between the bed and the bathroom as my insides were trying to escape my body. The second day of my virus...Al got it and he spent the day in bed. By about the fourth day....I was feeling some better but not completely over the nasties. On that day...RoseMary got it. She was also a sick puppy. Not a good way to spend a vacation....for anyone.

The visitors went home on Saturday and made it in the usual 12 hours. I was almost 90 percent better by the sixth day of the crud, but it's been a week and a half for Al and he is still feeling Not so good. He's not suffering the intestional stuff, but has no energy. I always worry about him. He has not got a good immune system and it always takes him a long time to bounce back when he gets anything.

Then this weekend...Friday till today (and probably longer) Nashville got an expected snow. We got about 4 inches and ice under and over the snow. The road crews have been trying to clear the main roads, but all the subdivisions are still locked into their ice. I predict there won't be any school for at least 2 more days. Al is feeling like a prisoner, but I told him I was in good shape...I had ocupational therapy and a good book as well as the good old television.

Sunday...this day...we still haven't gotten our newspaper and it may never come...We missed mass two Saturdays in a row...first for the virus and then for the icy roads. We decided the "discretion is the better part of valor" and know we'll make up for it at another time. For church people...missing church 2 weeks in a row....I know the world won't come to an end over this, but it surely feels strange.

I guess this is it for this time..ta ta.

Haiti, etc.

Poor Haiti. Lots of aftershocks after the earth quake of yesterday. Ten people from our church were scheduled to go to Haiti on a medical mission on this coming Saturday. I'm sure they won't be going. Pictures coming out of Port-a-Prince don't look good. Haiti--the poorest country in the western hemisphere....corrupt governments...over populated...no work. I'm sure we'll get a report soon on what's happening to our sister parish. I'm not sure where it is located geographically in relationship to the capital, but Haiti isn't a large country and we have always been told by our folks that getting there from Port-a-Prince is a long and difficult drive.
It has always surprised me that the Dominican Republic a country which shares the island with Haiti has such a different economy. I believe it must have something to do with their governmental structure.

The days ahead for the Haitian people will not be easy ones. We must remember them in our prayers and send them any aid we can.

On to other topics...my art class started yesterday. I only had four students but I know that I'll be getting some more. I'm chalking it up to the weather...another freezing day in Nashville. The only trouble with students not starting together is that you are playing catch-up for the rest of the session. Trying to keep everyone together is difficult when they don't all start together. Ah, well...I won't be giving grades so everything there will come together.

I got my compost container all together and I'm ready to start composting. I'm trying to decide where to put it. I don't think I want it under the deck...so I'll probably put it in the back of the yard. The book says put it near the garden but I don't think I want it that close. I don't want to have another "thing" for the yard guys to work around.

The Paters and RoseMary are due to come in sometime on Friday. They are driving. It's a long hard drive to middle Tennessee no matter where you come from so they will be tired and cranky when they get here. Since we will be doing Christmas with them when they come the tree is still up. I did put away many of my nativities...just left a couple out. Trying to baby proof what Isabel can reach. I don't know how long they are staying, but we are glad for the visit. It's nice to see all our far away children and grandchildren even for a little while.

Sorry to read that flag football had to be postponed due to chilly weather. The weather situation is very strange. The first 12 days of January 2010 have been the coldest here since the 1940s..I think that's what the weather people have been saying. However, we are due a break in the cold weather this weekend. Temps predicted in the high 40s...Now that's more like it.

Got to go. Till next time.

Oh, NO...Snow!!!!

This second day of 2010 we discovered upon looking out our windows that a few flakes of the cold fluffy stuff was falling...so we immediately went into our middle Tennessee madness mode. "Well, we'll have to go to Kroger and stock up on milk and bread." Also...remember when I worked for the state and on a perfectly good day someone in the office said we'll have to close up early because it's snowing in Clarksville" or my personal favorite..."there's a blizzard out there."

Ah, yes, we are crazy here in middle Tennessee...I can't speak to the snow in the highlands or storms in Memphis...but here in Nashville..one snowflake and we go nuts. I usually say if a flake falls in Memphis...we close schools in Nashville.

Well, today is Saturday and there is no school, but I predict that if we do get even a dusting of snow by midafternoon the entire town will be shut down.

The first snow in Nashville experienced by a transplant...anybody above the Mason-Dixon line...is something they long remember. Sort of like "what were you doing when Kennedy was shot or the world trade center fell.." we remember. Having spent years in western PA when snow was serious business, we get a little snooty in regard to the mania our neighbors show when there is anything more than a half inch on the ground. In fact less than that engenders some craziness.

So, in our superiority we say..."This is nothing. I remember when we had three feet of snow fall on Thanksgiving one year...yes, we didn't see the ground till April. Probably an exageration, but who is going to say it "ain't so?" We start to remember like our grandparents did...yes, Billy, we walked to school in two feet of snow (uphill--both ways).

Like I say, it's fun pretending.

So, for today or right now....it's a few flakes...not even as much as a snow globe shows...but who knows what the afternoon has in store for us. It's a prefect day to stay inside and read a book.

Till next time.....

reflections

Tis the season...for reflections. The year is almost over. It's been a hard year for some....what with job losses and deaths in families. No job losses for us, but death of a sister. So, I've been somewhat sad over these holidays missing my sister. In the midst of all the hubbub of visitors and cooking etc, always at the back of my mind is that we have an empty space in our heart.

I'm noted as the family optimist, so I try not to let these negative feelings get in the way of other people's fun, but I won't say it's been easy.

Travel plans...last year we visited Florida, Pennsylvania, Maryland and the Biltmore. We had visitors from PA and Fl.

Our baby, Isabel, will be two on January 1st. Where have those two years gone? Fast for her parents I know.

All the grands are growing up....J-L is 14, but still a little boy. I shouldn't say little as he's taller that all his grandparents and his Mom. Dad is still got height on him, but I'm sure it won't be long before those two are seeing "eye to eye." Anton and Chris...also growing like weeds. They haven't hit their growth spurts yet, but it will soon happen. Maura Quinn...all legs and getting taller each day. I think we may get a 6-foot girl out of her.

Presents are always a problem with the kids. We don't buy toys...never have...books when they were younger, clothing now and then. Our gifts to the younger members of the family have always been $$$ for their college funds. As we have a teen and another one coming up this year, those college days will be here sooner than one might imagine.

With 5 grandchildren...Christmas gets expensive...they also get a smaller $$ gift for birthdays. We know that none of the children needs anything...toywise or otherwise...lucky kids, so we are happy to contribute to future college expenses. Who knows how expensive it will be by the time Isabel is ready for college. If her mom is still working at Pitt, they should get a little tuition break. Anton says he's going to get a sports scholarship. One can only hope.

We know that however it happens...all theses children are college bound. They are all bright. We thank the Lord for their health each day.

And for our own health also. Health problems come with age but at the moment, we are "holding back the devil" healthwaise.

No one knows what next year will bring. The New Year's baby is coming tomorrow night. I personally don't ever want to know what's coming around the corner. I just want to face each challenge with grace and dignity.

As I told an aquaintance when she asked how my year had been...."It had it's ups and downs...like everyone's." We just pray for more ups than downs. Till next time.