Seattle & Alaska Here We Come

Since we leave at the unthinkable hour of 3 AM tomorrow from the house I wanted to let those that read me know that I won’t be actually posting to anyone’s Blog while I am away. However, I will be making updates on the trip here, and posting pictures as we travel north.
I am so excited, that I pace around the house, hoping that I have remembered everything. Hubby keeps looking at me and asking what’s wrong? Nothing is wrong, but what if I forget something?
At least my cousin, Janet came up and helped me decided what to pack. I was ready to just bring everything from my winter wardrobe!
My last project is to vacuum the house, and go over the list of dog related items with the house sitters. They are coming over today and we will show them all the things they need to know.
Can you tell I’m excited?

Lobster

Being the Cape Cod girl that I am, (born and raised), I forget that not everyone has experienced the joy of Lobster. Oh my gosh, is there anything better in life? (Yes, dark chocolate, but we won’t go there!)
Yesterday’s menu was Lobster, corn, potato salad and cheesecake. And I must say, of all we ate, the Lobster was the very best.
Since I was a small child I’ve been eating these rather homely crustaceans. I can have a Lobster opened and eaten in under 10 minutes, and that’s on a bad night. I’m usually a lot more efficient than that!
A few years ago we went to an Army Reunion where they had a Lobster Boil on the beach. What fun! But many of the people had never seen a Lobster in their lives. Since I was the expert I went around giving lessons on opening the little beasts and eating them.
Several misguided souls gave up and gave me their Lobster to take care of. (Oh most certainly!)
But my best Lobster story is that my little pal Matina asked me if I cooked my own Lobsters? Why yes, I told her. Then she asked, “Why?”
“Because I love to hear them scream when I put them in the pot!”
I’m still laughing about that one, and after a few explanations to her, I think she is too!

I’m So Excited!

Just a few more days until we leave.
Today my Uncle George and cousin .Janet are coming up to celebrate the holiday. I’m getting fresh Lobster, and corn, I’ve already made potato salad and cheesecake! Should be good!!!
After today I will focus on putting clothes into the suitcases and cleaning the house getting ready for our house sitters. We are so lucky to have a nice couple come and house sit with the dogs when we travel.
I am so excited!!!

Bless Our Troops!!!

I’ve been watching Fox News this morning. And my heart is swelling with pride as I watch our National Guard going into NOLA to help! I saw them carrying ill people to treatment areas. They’ve set up tents and medical triage. They’re passing out food and water and taking care of our own people. I hope next time one of you see a soldier you will remember to thank him/her for their service. God Bless them!

Packing For Our Trip

I have taken out the clothing and started to think about packing. I’ve put this off because like every woman I know, (or almost) I was hoping to lose a few pounds before I left. Ha! I think the stress of wanting to lose weight makes you gain it.
In any case, I got out the clothes and started to think. I need warm clothes, but chic. Now New Hampshire chic are boots, jeans, a turtleneck and a plaid shirt over that. If you are really chic you may wear a bandana, but most people just aren’t that chic, up here.
Well, cruise chic probably isn’t like that, is it? I do own a few things, like a long black skirt, (funeral attire) a creme twin set, (what you wear with the black skirt to the funeral) and black heels (the footwear for the funeral).
Hubby actually took me by the hand and forced me to buy a two piece silk set (Liz Claiborne) which just looks way too fancy to me, but feels so nice on my skin. My friend, Gail, forced me to buy a new Jones New York pant suit which makes me look great, (slim) and hides the weight I am trying desperately to disguise!
They say to pack a swim suit. Hahahahaha!!! Now even though I live near a lake I am so shy that not even my Hubby has seen me dressed in so little since our Honeymoon. I’ll pack one, but it will probably go to Alaska and back and never be used!
Rain coat, jacket, blah, blah, blah. I fear I may go mad, or pack a suitcase that one can’t lift!
Alaska, here I come!

Imperfect

I have come to the realization that I will never be 100% again. Now this is a bit of a shock and something I’ve been fighting for a long time. I’ve always wanted to think, to believe that I was 100%. You know? Everything worked right?
Then I was driving around, (not frivolously, I was doing errands), and it hit me like a ton of bricks. My eye is doing well, I’ve got like 85-90% of my vision back, and that’s good. But it’s never going to be 100%. No matter what.
My elbow, which has had surgery to repair nerve damage, is good, it functions, but has many dead areas and causes my pinkie finger to be numb. Let’s say that the elbow is 75%. Never going to get any better than that.
And this whole medication problem I have, well I’d love it to be side effect free, and do all I want it to do, well that would be great, but this stuff gives me headaches, and makes me nauseous. But I’m functioning at 80%. Which is really good.
Maybe, maybe being less than perfect is okay. Maybe expecting perfection just isn’t realistic any more. Maybe I have to learn to live in this imperfect skin of mine. Maybe being 100% just isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Think of the pressure!