Category: Life

Since today was such an eventful day, I thought I would sit down and write everything. I don’t often have such full days, and today has to be at the top.

I was up early and got ready  for my appointment with my retinal surgeon. I even put on a little make up, as I realized I have known this man for 10 years. Ten very important years. If it weren’t for Dr. C. I would never have seen this:

And now two years later:

Anyway, The drive over was and hour and fortyfive minutes. Fortunately, the traffic was light, and I made the appointment on time.

Unfortunately the doctor was backed up. Or should I say the machine was. It is a 64 bit scanner for the retina, much like the 64 bit scanner using the CAT Scan Imaging.

Everything was great and once I remeniced with the doctor about the last ten years and I showed him Savannah. We all agreed that this was a gift.

The drive home was uneventful, and I picked up the mail and some groceries, before arriving back. All was quiet, which I always appreciate when when I am dealing with four dogs.

At 3:30 I left with Anneliese and Arnie to see the Vet. Anneliese needed her stitches out and she wanted to check both of them for their sneezing. They have a little virus, but nothing important.

Anyway, on the way over, I got to an intersection with two sets of traffic lights. I was going down a hill, when all of a sudden the car went dead! I went through a short trouble shooting session in my brain, but then said a quickie prayer.

“Dear Lord, please let me coast through the two lights, across the traffic and into the gas station!”

And I did! I couldn’t believe it. I know if I tried to recreate it, I would be unable to.

I drove home after the Vet visit, and when we got back, Anneliese was coming in and Greta came up to her. Well, Anneliese didn’t want her formerly stitched area sniffed and before I knew it we were in the middle of a dog fight! I kicked them apart and then Anneliese went back for more. I finally kicked them apart and grabbed Greta. That was when I saw the blood!

Yes, Anneliese had quite firmly bitten Greta. I held her paw with a clean towel until her bleeding stopped.

I whipped up dinner, cleaned it up quickly and I hope to get to bed by 9:30 as I am exhausted.

What a heck of a day!

On Saturday I cooked literally all day. By the time I finished and got the dishes in the dishwasher, it was 8:30 and this granny was feeling every one of her 55 years!

Hubby is happy with his Cabbage Soup, and the small batch of potato salad that I made, came out so well! Yum! I also made roasted zucchini at lunch and then sauteed zucchini at dinner. Not to mention the Swordfish, which I broiled!

Don’t get me wrong. Aside from the zucchini, which I am getting sick of, it was great to cook up so much of what I have grown and what I enjoy.

I woke on Sunday to hear that James Garner passed from this life to the next. He was one of my favorite actors, and coincidentally I had just watched “The Notebook” on Saturday. He was amazing. I hope he rests peacefully!

Sunday was slightly less stressful except that Anneliese started sneezing! She is the bigger of the three dackels. Arnie and Anneliese are also sneezing. Just not as much. Lili is fine.

Fortunately, I have an appointment with my Vet in the morning to take out Anneliese’s stitches, so I will have her check this out.

Happy Monday, Everyone!

I was thinking today as I walked Lili for the one millionth time that there are times, events, beauty that are indescribable.

For instance, this morning the rain was comming down in torrents, and blowing sideways as well. And there I stood with the little puppy, Lili, she stood in the puddles on the lawn and eventually she performed. But she did not enjoy it. Her face’s look! No way to describe it.

The next snapshot in time today was when the sun came out, the skies cleared to bright, robins egg blue, and Lili and I went out to get the mail and I carried her around to meet my closest friends. Who, of course, were taken by her amazing beauty!

Then I watched her sleep at my feet. All small, fluffy white, and sweet! My breath caught in my throat and I cried.

We watched the Preakness Horse race and saw our horse, California Chrome win! I took there, in front of the TV jumping up and down and yes, I cried again. Yeah, I’m a crier!

Then after dinner I glanced out the front window and there was the most lovely sunset. But you know, no matter how good of a camera I had, I could not catch the sheer beauty that I beheld.

My day will end soon (Saturday) and tomorrow will dawn a new day. I wonder what tomorrow will bring!

I went to a gathering yesterday at our State House. They had speakers and burgers and hot-dogs. Did I mention it was freezing cold and drizzling?

Well, they passed out fabulous jackets (to keep) grocery totes, umbrellas and I had my picture taken (candidly) with a Senate Candidate. (Picture should be in the paper tomorrow)

Then, I met a woman who had just lost her step dad and was still mourning his passing. I spoke to her for a long time. (Forget the gathering) When she left I squeezed her hand, and then gave her a hug. I felt that if I did one thing right today, it was being there for someone in pain.

Happy Monday morning everyone. How was your weekend? Mine was actually not too bad, right up until dinner on Sunday night.

Hubby had gotten a fresh pork butt roast for me to cook. I looked up how to cook, and did everything that was required, but when I took off the netting and cut into the roast it was almost all fat! We were both very disappointed. And needless to say we didn’t eat too much of the roast. Who would eat roast fat?

I didn’t get my seeds planted as it was cold and rainy and I felt like working inside. So today (Monday) I will be planting my seeds. Stay tuned for information about my emerging garden.

My cousin gave me a present of seeds for antique tomatoes, and of course today I could not find them! I looked and looked. Then came in and sat down and prayed.

“Somethings lost, can’t be found, please St. Anthony, look around” And a moment later I just knew where I had put them, and it made no sense at all. So thanks St. Anthony for the help!

For those that do not know, Saint Anthony is the Patron Saint of lost things. A fine Saint he is too. My prayers to him are almost always answered.

Have a happy Monday, and a great week!

Wednesday I decided to set some goals for this spring and summer. I started today by cleaning our patio furniture. We have those plastic chairs on the patio and after many years the pretty white chairs and table were a grungy gray color with some greening junk growing on it. Personally I was ready to bring them in for recycling, but at the last moment I looked up on Google how to clean these.

I changed into junkie work clothes, got two bottles of Clorox Foaming Shower Cleaner, and an SOS pad and rubber gloves and my rain galoshes. I sprayed, wiped and scrubbed and in just over an hour our patio set looked pristine! I was astounded!

This weekend I need to drive down to Lowe’s and buy my planting soil. This weekend I will be planting the seeds for my garden.

I used to plant a million seeds and then I ended up with too many seedlings for the garden. I went around the neighborhood giving them away. So now I start the seeds I need and that’s it.

It makes things easier for me in the end. This year I am planning to plant more peas and tomatoes. But less summer squash and zucchini. I’m also going to try planting beets and brussel sprouts. A slightly smaller garden would be good.

This year my main goal is to make jams and jellies from the fruit. Especially the peach jam and grape jelly. Those are everyone’s favorites. My supply of the jams and jellies are down.

I also want to get our basement cleaned out. There is just far too much junk down there! Recycling Center, here we come.

Hubby and I have an overnight trip coming up in May. Our house/pet sitter is all lined up and it will be a nice break for us.

What are your plans for the spring and summer?

I’ve been reading a book called “The Ghost Of Flight 401” by John Fuller. I was intrigued about the subject matter, the crash of an Eastern Airlines, L1011. Hubby was an Air Line Pilot, but not for Eastern Air Lines. He also piloted the L1011, and so as I read about the crash, I asked Hubby about the plane involved, and different things that were beyond my knowledge.

The first half of the book was fascinating. The people on board, both crew and passengers, what led up to the crash and then the crash itself. The rescue of those 75, very lucky survivors and the sad loss of 101 people.

Over the next several months, the employees of Eastern Airlines began to report sightings of the dead crew members Captain Loft and the Flight Engineer, Don Repo on board another L-1011. Parts from Flight 401 were reportedly salvaged after the Flight 401 crash investigation and refitted into another L-1011 in service. The Captain merely showed up in quite life like form, but the Engineer, Repo, would show up and try to warn other flight crews of problems with their plane.

I will not tell you how it all ends, but if you are interested in ghosts and aviation disasters, this is the book for you.

All in all, an interesting read

i

On Friday we had a change in the weather. On Friday it warmed up enough, and when we had precipitation it was in the form of rain!

This was totally wonderful, as it took much of the snow pack with it. Currently out driveway is clear and easy to get up and down.

The dogs got out to play, even though it rained, I managed to do up more laundry, an Hubby fixed the lights in my laundry-room!

All in all a productive day!!!

I’m reading a book on the flight of Eastern Airline 401. You can go HERE and read all about it. The most interesting thing are the reports of the two Ghosts that haunted other L1011’s in the Eastern fleet. The book is so good that I stayed up until after eleven o’clock last night reading.

On Friday morning I found a documentary all about the accident, with interviews from some of the survivors.

It’s a good show, so if you are interested in avionics you can watch this.

Forgive

1. to grant pardon for or remission of (an offense, debt, etc.); absolve.
2. to give up all claim on account of; remit (a debt, obligation, etc.).
3. to grant pardon to (a person).
4. to cease to feel resentment against: to forgive one’s enemies.

A while back, I did what I do best in life. I opened my mouth and inserted my foot. It’s not that I meant to, it was just a subject that I tend to have no control over the way I react.

I tried to apologize. I did everything I could think of to make amends, but nothing has worked, and since this occurred I actually have changed the way I handle difficult situations.

I realize that not everyone can like everyone in this crazy world of ours, but I think I am a pretty nice person. I try so hard and this is hurting me.

29 years ago when that impaired driver hit my car, I was so filled with hate and rage, that it all but consumed me.

I spent years in therapy to get to the point where I could forgive the man who did this. It was forgive or die for me.

Now it’s not like I saw him and gave him an easy pass of actually forgiving him. In fact the forgiveness was in my mind and my heart. I will never forget, but I did have to let it go.

I think letting go is part of the forgiving process.

(Isn’t it for everyone?)

Well, I will try to let it go. I do not want to begin a battle. I just need to walk away.

Have you had something like this happen? How did you handle things when after several apologies, you are not forgiven?