Dackel Princess

It’s Great!

We drove all day, saw a tad of foliage from Rutland, Vermont to about Canaan, NH. However, foliage season is really late. And not breath-taking. At least not yet.

We picked up our mail, thus getting Hubby’s new winter bathrobe, and a weeks worth of mail, and then we turned the car toward home. Somehow, it still knew the way!

Upon arrival, we were met by four thrilled beyond words dogs, our house sitter and a house that was quite literally cleaner than when I left it, despite my deep cleaning.

And it felt wonderful.

It meant that I could sit snuggling dogs, and take my time putting things away. Hubby had a TV dinner and I just ate some toast for our evening meal. Very low key!

Bedtime comes in a bit, and I will snuggle up with my three little dackel bed warmers!

It feels great to be home. Out of the car, in my own chair, feet up and surrounded by brown eyed fur babies!

Life is good and it is fabulous to be home!!!

We are half way home. In Rochester, New York. We pulled in about 4 in the afternoon, and got settled in our room. Not quite as glamorous as the room we had in Fairborn/Dayton, Ohio, but nice none the less.(LOL)

He came back and had a menu from an Indian Restaurant. I was game, so off we went. I had a wonderful stuffed Naan.

It had pistachios, coconut and a sweet raisins. Oh my goodness, it was wonderful! I also had lamb in a yogurt sauce and topped the meal off with Chai. (Tea)

Hubby had lentil Soup, Chicken Marsala and Naan. It was all so good.

While we ate they had a Bollywood version of MTV. It was really great, with Indian music and dancing. The dancers and singers were all probably twenty-somethings. Anyway, it was fun, and I really enjoyed it.

Now we are back at the hotel and will crash after we watch Madame Secretary.

Our Last Day

Dayton, Ohio. I never thought much about this place, but there is so much here. So much history. From Wilbur and Orville Wright, to The Packard Automobile, to Wright Patterson Air Force Base, and home to the Air Force Aviation Museum. And all of that, is just the start!

Al Capone’s Packard. His last car.I think you could stay for a week or two and never see everything here. We did go off with our friends Jim and Geraldine, to see a few more things today, but we quite simply ran out of time.

Orville and Wilber Wright.

So, we stopped at a little Pub Restaurant and had lunch and then returned to the hotel to make our plans for the return trip to New Hampshire, and prepare for tonight’s banquet.

We had the annual membership meeting and Memorial service this morning. I teared up a lot. Several of the men who passed this year were men I have known for a long time. Sad to see them go.

However, our organization gives out scholarships to the grandchildren of our members. It was wonderful to see the youth being enriched by all that these heroic pilots have done.

Here is a funny story. At lunch today our waitress was trying to entice us to have bread pudding. Alas, if we had not had such a big and wonderful lunch, we might have indulged, but no….So she asked if we might like to take some home. I said no, because home, was a long, long, way.

She asked where? I told her New Hampshire. A moment passed and then a man came over. “Is that your Cadillac outside?” he asked. “Why yes.” I answered.

“It’s a 2004 Sedan DeVille, right?” he said.

“Yes.” I answered.

“I have a twin to your car! Right down to the color!”

The only difference is that his car had over 200,000 miles and ours just went over the 100,000 mile mark.

I know, small world!

Now it’s time to finish packing and go home.

This trip went really fast.

Revisiting The Caribou

Thursday found the group of Retired Army Aviators and families going out to the Air Force Aviation Museum in Dayton, Ohio.

This group of men had flown Otters and Caribou aircraft during their time in service to our country. This museum has a beautiful Caribou aircraft for all to see.

Hubby and his friend and fellow pilot, Jim. We walked through and saw many other air craft. So many beautiful flying machines, including replicas of the Wright Brother’s Aircrafts. It was simply amazing. And I took a lot of pictures. Unfortunately, too many to put here. But here are a few. In the evening we had a lovely buffet dinner and after we were entertained by a Barber Shop Quartet! They were simply amazing!

Tomorrow we go to Carillion Park, a tour of Dayton and to The Packard Museum. It’s quite a nice area here. We drove through several neighborhoods, and I loved the charming little houses. Definitely a blast from the past.

I am so happy we have come and that for the first time in a long time, things back home have been going well. We finally have a house sitter who fits the bill and loves our dogs as much as we do!

A Christmas Story House

Today Hubby and I stopped on our way to his Army Reunion, in Cleveland at “A Christmas Story House.

It was where the movie all about Ralphie and his wish for a Red Rider Beebe gun for Christmas, was filmed. The house, at one time was run down and on the auction block, when a fan of the movie bought it, and with a true love for the story, began putting everything back as it was. We walked through the rooms, and I could almost hear the characters in my head, as I have seen that movie a million times. I felt like a little kid. I could smell pine, the Christmas tree was all set up, with presents wrapped under it, and there, by the fireplace, was Ralphie’s Red Rider Beebe gun!

They had Pink Bunny costumes for people to try on and taking pictures was encouraged.

It was one of those things, I have had on my bucket list and and here I was!

The movie was made in 1983, on a shoe string budget. It was released to theaters for only two weeks, before MGM shelved it.

The real luck, for people like me who love this movie, is that Ted Turner bought the film and started running it on TBS. And a Cult Classic was born.

Happy Birthday, Uschi!

Today is the Birthday of my best friend, Uschi! We have been friends for a very long time, and our friendship has deepened, and now I think of her as a sister as well.

Uschi dear, I hope that your birthday is a good one and the year ahead, filled with sunshine and happiness! I send all of my love and many, many hugs!!!

Happy Birthday Uschi from Dackel Princess Maribeth on Vimeo.

New Englanders!

Here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about New Englanders…

Forget Rednecks ….

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don’t work there, you live in New England .

People are really nice up here. And helpful!

If you’ve worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in New England.

Well, I never have (fat thighs), but I have seen this!

If you’ve had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you live in New England.

Guilty!

If Vacation means going anywhere south of New York City for the weekend, you live in New England.

Yeah, so what about it?

If you measure distance in hours, you live in New England .

That is true. Hubby and I are talking about our vacation and didn’t speak miles, just hours.

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in New England .

You mean you know someone who hasn’t?

If you have switched from ‘heat’ to ‘A/C’ in the same day and back again, you live in New England .

Just this morning.

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in New England .

I’m getting better at winter driving. Hubby is still the best!

If you install security lights on your house and garage but leave both unlocked, you live in New England.

Funny, but this is pretty true, especially the further north you live!

If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you live in New England .

One of the first things Hubby #1 taught me.

If you design your kid’s Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in New England .

Very true. Halloween is usually pretty darn cold.

If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph you’re going 80 and everybody is passing you, you live in New England.

I think Connecticut is the worst place, but really, all over New England thins is true.

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in New England .

Oh yeah, trust me. When the potholes are filled with snow and ice, the ride is a lot smoother.

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, you live in New England .

Oh man! This is so true!

If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in New England .

Just ask Hubby.

If you find 10 degrees ‘a little chilly’, you live in New England .

I am just waiting for the cooler temperatures!

If there’s a Dunkin Donuts on every corner, you live in New England .

Just down the street!

If you think everyone else has a funny accent, you live in New England .

Well, I strive not to speak with an accent. But…

If you actually understand these jokes, and forward them to all your New England friends, you live or have lived in New England.

OK, people. This is how it is!

Happiness Is…

It’s funny. Recently I was asked about happiness. Did I find it easier to be happy now that I am, ahem, “in my middle years”?

I answered quickly, that I was happy and I didn’t think too much about it at the time, but in the last few days, while doing mindless housework jobs, I’ve had moments of great clarity.

I looked up into the bright blue skies today, and felt such peace in my heart. So many wonderful things are happening around me. Some days I sit back and just feel the love and the happiness. Reveling in it.

In my youth I tended to feel anxious, and not always happy. I tending to look back, to regret so much. I always worried about every little thing.

In my middle years I live each day and enjoy the heck out of it. Seeing my daughter and granddaughter living their lives, seeing their happiness, it just doesn’t get much better.

Hubby and I are settled. We know each other so well, and share our life, as we have for the last 27 years. He is still the first person I want to talk to in the morning, and the last person I want to talk to at night. After all these years I still enjoy sharing life with this man.

My doggies are wonderful, and bring so much enjoyment to my days. In fact Lili is becoming so much better, that I believe one day she will be as easy to be with as the dackels are.

All this thought about happiness, made me think of this song, a favorite from long ago. Kick back and enjoy.

Parallel

Saturday is always a day when one must get up and hustle a bit, so we can get dressed and down to the Post Office before noon. On Saturday, our Post Office closes then and if you don’t get there, you have to wait until Monday.

So after my shower, I asked Arnie if he wanted to go for a ride and the two of us hopped into the Highlander and headed downtown.

The area around the Post Office was packed. Not even one spot to park in. I drove around the corner one time and I was driving back around the Post Office, when I spotted one spot.

It was a nice spot, but it would mean I would need to parallel park, and I thought to myself, “Well, old girl, time to give it a go!”

So I pulled forward, cut in and backed into the spot. Slowly I went until I saw the car was aligned. I put the car in park, kissed Arnie’s head and hopped out. It was then I realized that I had perfectly parked the car! I mean, spot on, perfect!!!

Now the only reason I mention this, is that I have not been able to perfectly park a car since I sold our Jeep. That vehicle was really easy to parallel park, the Highlander, well, not so much!

Which is why, I felt thrilled! And you know what? I did not see one person I knew to share this with. No one. I got back into the car, looked at Arnie and I told him. Now, Arnie is a sweet and cute doggy, but he could have cared less.

I arrived home with this news and Hubby seemed nonplussed. So I came up and put it on Facebook. I think I got three likes.

Okay, I know. I am 56 years old and I should know how to parallel park and do it at the drop of a hat, but I confess, I am challenged.

So I decided to write it down here, so when I am old and gray, I can look back and see that at least one time, I was able to park perfectly!

Detail

Have any of you had your car spiffed up and detailed? You bring it in, full of donut crumbs and coffee stains, and hand it over to people who will clean it up for you. You pick up the car 6 hours later, and it is like a brand new vehicle. Then you fork over $150.00 for this service.

Well today I vacuumed, washed, treated the leather seats, did the windows, (Hubby took the car to the car wash for a super wash and wax) and then I finished with the carpet freshening and window polishing.

I came up stairs and sat down and thought that $150.00 was worth all that I had just done! In fact, I’m booking in a hot bath tonight so I can soak away the aches in my hand from this cleaning.

Now the Caddy is beautiful and ready for the trip. Hubby is changing the oil tomorrow, and filling the gas tank. Then we begin packing the old girl for this trip.

I sort of feel I should have named the car before now. After working so hard to make her pretty again, I think she really does deserve a name.

I came up stairs and sat with a tall glass of water, and thought long and hard about the work I had just done. Call me extremely happy with a job well done.

But next time, I want to get paid!

Author: Dackel Princess