fur girls – thereisnosanityclause

Counting Down

This is my love muffin, Kasia, as she appeared the other morning.

This is Kasia now, at 7:54pm. Our blinds are down , the volume on the television is way up, and Kasia and Momma are in for tonight. We don’t care for the fireworks and mosquitoes, and missing Zush, we will hunker down and , I am sure, Zushie’s spirit will be here with us. We watch the loudest thing possible and when the fireworks are over, we laugh at everyone in cars trying to get out of here and get home, That is the part worth the price of admission.

Don’t get me wrong. A beautiful display of fireworks is nice. I’ve seen a lot of them, and don’t need to see more. I sooner would stay with my fur girl, for Kasia “is” my firecracker.

Finally

I have been posting this blog for a heck of a long time now. If you have followed it with any regularity you know I put pictures of my girls up.

There’s Kasia

There’s my Sweetheart Zush.

I could get a ton of pictures, and few would come out with the two of them together without someone, more than likely Kasia, looking the other way, and well, if you have children you know the drill. Fur children can pretty much be the same.

Although I am still not really well, I got them out for their walks today, and I guess sometimes God blesses fur Moms.This is my new favorite shot of them both together and I am blessed to have caught it!

Just for me: kids listen sometime, I guess!

Taking A Day

Tomorrow I turn, God willing, 57.

Not too cheesy, considering I was due to check out at 33 from my first cancer.I am fortunate to have Jim, who has stood by me through some hard times.

I am going to spend quality time and prayerful time remembering all in my life, regardless if they are are still with me or gone.It is sad that despite going through everything I have, regarding my cancer history, it still tends to be just another day as you get older.

Please keep prayers going for Zush, who is having paw issues and may have to get a vet visit in tomorrow.The best present I get is every day I wake up and put two feet on the floor and I have both my girls with me.I have been blessed with them in my life.

Putting It Out There

Today, I touched base with my orthopedic doctor and updated him with what’s going on with my leg.

Sitting my desk while I was on my phone,I saw my calendar and realized I’ve been laid up with this for almost three weeks.

Three weeks,two antibiotics…

The doctor told me he wanted me to come in tomorrow so he can actually see what is going on.I realized that I am going to get some peace of mind.Either I am going to have to get admitted and get some stronger antibiotics or I am going to another course of my current antibiotics.After all my cancers and other illnesses,I have always appreciated being healthy.Being over 55,I realize that you have to savor what you have and come back stronger to keep it.I have been laid low for a reason, and, in the end,I know the result is I’ll be back stronger than ever.I am trying to rest and get better,and at the same time,recharge my batteries.Granted there are times the girls and I look at each other, and I know they miss the norm I have established with them, especially since we have been down here full time.I know the first time that we get all out back walking together,it’ll be like we never stopped.

The bay will still be there.Things will be the same.In order to go on,though,there’s one important thing.

“I’ve got to get better.”

We all can’t wait!

A New Day, the Same Ailment

It’s a beautiful day down here at Delaware Bay.I should qualify that by saying, I THINK it’s a beautiful day.

I can see out my front and back windows and it is a pretty day, but I haven’t been out of the perimeter of the house.You see, I woke up this morning and the red that was working to leave my knee?Well, it came back with a vengeance.I am waiting for the orthopedic doctor to call me back as I type this.

It is a pretty day. All my windows are open, no air-conditioning, and a good breeze is going through the house.The girls are in their usual positions, which is always a few feet from me.I had the inspired idea to call my buddy Denise, who was my maid of honor, and it was good to hear her voice.So with the exception of a warm, red knee,I am good.

Sorry for venting, but that is over.Things have got to be looking up!

Melting in Heat

I apologize to anyone who is a regular reader of my posts, but there is only one good reason behind it-the heat.

It seems that the struggle to get out and not have the fur girls or me melt for our quick walks, and then bring us back in to try to recharge,well,it wears one out.It really has wiped us all out, but then again, in this heat,who isn’t wiped out?

My personal theory is the weather will change when school starts and then rain will make recess disappear.

Ugh.

Beating the Heat

There is not enough coolness here to keep us happy**knocking wood that our air-conditioning is still new enough and working**.

I have some large cooked shrimp that I’m going to serve in a salad for dinner, but even as I write this, Kasia peeks behind the curtain to see if we are going out for the afternoon walk.I figure I’d type a little more of this and them try to cajole the girls into going for a brief walk.Zush doesn’t take much heat.She turns around after a while and looks at me as to say, “Can we go home, now?”As I am the type who talks to my fur-girls, I usually tell them it’s just a potty walk and we can go right back.

Far be it from me to go back on my word.

So unless we go someplace air-conditioned, the only way my fit bit zip will see 10,000 steps today is if we go walking in a larger store or something.

It’s too hot to even sweat over something like that.

Good night….

Turning in early tonight, because tomorrow is the big day…I am going to try to get back in to work for the rest of Teacher Appreciation Week. LOL

We had a rough night sleeping last night, as the fur girls always have issues when the thunder and lightning do a number in the neighborhood. I was a bit afraid, I admit. I was watching a documentary on channel 12 and they broke with a National Weather Service Bulletin, advising folks in most of Delaware to head for higher ground.Egad! That was the first time I ever heard that warning televised.

So it’s time for some early evening television, hot shower, laid out clothes for school tomorrow,my medicine, and shut-eye.

Fingers crossed I make it through the day!

Escape from Oz

We have to leave our little Shangri-la for a trip back to the big city tomorrow morning. It is going to be traumatic for me because I am leaving my girls at home.

Our old neighbor passed away on the 17th and we are going up for his funeral.Jim was a close buddy with his son who lived with him. If I had my way, I would have just gone up for the viewing and funeral, and then come back. Mike, Jim’s friend,and Jim both said that if we are going all the way up there, we might as well stay for the luncheon.Oh well. It’ll be good to have Jim socialize and be happy.

My “sister” down here, who lives, down the street,is going to come in to let the girls out a few times through the day and give them their medicine at 3:30. I can’t be leaving them in better hands, but still, I will be missing my kids.

Family Affair

We went out as a family today, for a walk on the beach at the Cove in Cape May.

The fur girls are only allowed on the beach off-season, so we really like to try to take advantage of that when the weather is decent. Decent was an understatement today: the last day of January had us at 50 degrees.

Kasia walked with me, and Jim had the Zush on her leash.We went from almost the end of the Cove at Cape May beach and walked up beach toward the Convention Hall at Cape May. I think Zush heard us say we were going to try for the Hall, and she let us know it was time to turn back.We couldn’t believe that all the rock jetties and pilings that we normally would see between the beaches literally have disappeared.We don’t know if it was beach replenishment or last weeks’ Nor’Easter, but it really was reminiscent of Lawrence of Arabia. There was a lot of sand as far as the eye could see.

We came across a lot of shells that we brought back home and both girls,especially Zush, were beat.

I think it’s safe to say we’ll all sleep well tonight.

With apologies to Simon and Garfunkel

“I was twenty-one when I wrote this song.
I’m 23 now but I won’t be for long.
Time hurries on,
And the leaves that are green turn to brown.”

I’ve quoted this song before in a prior blog.It has gone through my head today as my oldest nephew who lives in Minnesota is 39 today.

Thirty nine.

Where does the time go? I am retired, he is married and has two boys of his own.I used to go out and see him during the winter break from college.He was such a cute little guy and is a handsome man now.

It is so funny going into the retired chapter of your life. I thought I’d be retired, and I end up working.I thought growing up I’d be a Mom, and I have to fur children who I wouldn’t trade for the world.I never, ever thought that I’d be A cancer survivor let alone a THREE cancer survivor, thank God.

Time does hurry on.

I am thankful, on this thanksgiving eve, for every morning I get up with two feet on the floor. I am thankful for my family, but most importantly, I am thankful for my friends.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Pancakes

Down here, we occasionally take in the local civic association meeting and jokingly sit in the back and talk about “Amity”, as in Jaws.

Part of the group of buddies that we made here work with us every third month on the third Saturday at the fund-raising pancake breakfast.The civic association uses it as a fund-raiser and I actually missed working our turn at it when I was working at the ferry.We had been coming to the pancake breakfast since we first came down here, and as we became more involved, we met more neighbors and networked with more folks to learn the “lay of the land”, if you will. It is amazing what a local social event will turn up and what you can learn just from being there and listening.

Of course, I’ll have to get up early and get the girls out for their walk and medicine, so they are good, empty, and tired out. Jim usually gets down there first and I get down there around 7:30 so we set up the coffee and get ready for the first customers.Like many things in this life that you really don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone,with apologies to Joni Mitchell,I am glad I have a chance to get it back.

Fit Bit Interrruptus

Argh….

So I thought it was a normal Wednesday, so I go myself together and got the girls out and then, a study I am participating in Dementia/Alzheimer’s calls. So forget the long walk with the girls, as their study call required me to get home to a quiet spot.

Then I decided that I would try to take the gals out again and what do you think? The phone rings and my next tango with the State of New Jersey was on the line, looking to go twenty rounds with me. Some fun,eh?

Tomorrow we are having friends over for dinner so the girls and I are going to do our stepping in the drizzle in order to catch up a wee bit.

Dreary

Well, we finally had a rainy night last night, and, might I add, it is long overdue.

Of course the summer was long and dry,perfect:the reason was because I was working ALL summer and didn’t have a chance to ENJOY it.Well, I did when I got the chance to get out with the girls and Jim and went for a ride or a hike. Still, the summer went flying by.

Here it is, the first week of autumn, and my first”weekend” off, and of course it is really dreary.I am getting the girls out, and most particularly,Zush and I are taking second walks so I can get a urine sample from her for tomorrow’s vet visit. She is meeting her new vet, and getting her second blood work drawn.

Please work a prayer or send some healthy puppy vibes up for the Zusher tomorrow-she sure can use it!

Optimism

It is incredible what the flip of a calendar page brings.

September is here and my heart is wide open to all new experiences coming down the pike. Change is in the wind, be it good, bad or indifferent…the key element here is change. Change is movement-at least you aren’t wallowing and stagnant!

It is a blessing to get up in the morning and get my two feet on the ground. It’s a blessing to see Jim ok and the furgirls ok. When I take them out in the morning, I say my prayers and talk to family in heaven. I get to walk in a natural area surrounded by beauty. When times are rough, all I have to do is remember that.

If only all were as fortunate as I am.

So I come home..

….walk the girls, and meet up with my buddy Isa, and her precious son,Nathan. I was in a post-work coma, and the girls and I were functioning on auto-pilot.

As we were going down the street, all of a sudden, I hear noise like a young toddler. I turned around, and there’s Nathan and Isa. That was the first time I heard him even to attempt to call. It was really sweet.

Now we are in for the night. Work is done, my 15,000 steps are done… Life is good.

Our Day..

So true to a ” Saturday”, aka, real world Tuesday,there were a ton of chores that had to get done today, but none more important that taking my girls for a swim.

For five days a week, when we walk by the bay, the girls longingly loo toward it, but, unfortunately, I have to remind them that Mom has to go to work today, and we will when Mom is off. Fortunately it was awfully hot, so Zosia had no problems going right in; in fact, she probably would have wanted to still be there now, if I could let her.Kasia also had fun.She is more of a run in and out of the water type of gal.

After we got home, I gave the girls their shower to get sand and sand fleas off of them.They were happy to have more cool water on them.

If only every day could be “Saturday”….

Bachelorette Sad Life

No,

I am not talking about the television show.

My Mother-in-law got a ride back to the city by her son, so I came home from work and am spending the night with the fur girls
.
Sad when the larder is bare and the is nothing really to make for dinner. The girls kept hoping I’d find something to share with them but there isn’t a bone in the cupboard for Mom nor fur girls .

Somehow, I will get through this, and get myself to bed. I am getting a ride to work at 6:30 am tomorrow morning.That’s not too bad though.

Tomorrow’s my Friday!

3rd of July Lockdown

Yup, that is what it is.

Dogs sedated, walked early, shades drawn, television loud. Welcome to fireworks in my world.

Evidently we aren’t worth the actual Fourth of July fireworks, as the bigger shore towns that are oceanfront evidently have dibs on that honor.Well, I can be honest with you, right?

Even before Kasia and Zush came into my life, I could make do with fireworks, say, every ten years.They don’t rock my world.Don’t get me wrong.Yes, they are brilliant and spectacular.One of my earliest memories is being with my family at local fireworks and sitting on the ground with my fingers in my ears.I was never a big fan of noise.

Yet, in the line of ” Man plans, and God laughs.”, here I am trying to make enough white noise so the dogs won’t here the bang of these fireworks. Jim and his Mom are at our friends’ house by the bay to see the sunset and fireworks, and hopefully they’ll enjoy themselves.

The girls and I? Hopefully we’ll be sound asleep.

One Day Weekend

I have off tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

Yeah, I know, you feel bad for me.

I am trying to look at this as a teacher would working through the winter aiming for summer vacation.You take day after day after day and then finally it’s time for vacation.

In my past posts I have made no secret about how I feel about my adopted hometown in the still of late and off-season.It stands to reason that I would be working through the summer to enjoy my time later on.My only frown is trying to keep up quality time with the girls and catching up with Jim’s schedule once in a while.

It is good to be in a job where my mind has to be sharp.My old work buddies would laugh their butts off at me wearing a Time-Life operator’s headset, when I thought I was done with that.

What goes around comes around.

Oh the weather outside is frightful

No, thank God it is not the perfect storm, but the way the girls are shaking, you would think it is.

It started an hour and a half ago, when the storm was 18 miles west of us. Kasia started pacing, feeling it in her paws. Our power went out and we ended up going to McDonald’s’ for dinner, as you really can’t do dinner without a working stove.

We hurried back to be with Zush and Kasia-Zush who pushed me away from the computer so she could hide under my feet.Kasia is about two feet north of Zush. Totally apathetic Dad? He’s watching the Phillies and the Yankees game.

I am going to try to wrap this up and then huddle with my gals on the floors so we can calm down.

Here’s hoping.

The pleasure of my company

There is something to be said for being alone with your self.I mean, not really totally alone, as the fur girls are with me.

It is a beautiful late spring late afternoon turning into twilight,and the air is getting a wee bit cooler, which makes it more pleasant.The screen is open to the back door,keeping the state bug of Wisconsin( tip o’the hat to Terry Quade) AND New Jersey out.The quiet just envelopes your mind and for all the years that you hear people say, put your mind at rest, and you think, this is what they mean.

We just got back in from our post dinner walk and might go out for one more in an hour, but for now, quiet rules the realm. No tv or anything. They’ll be enough later on.And, after all, tomorrow is a work day.

Peace is wonderful!

I’d pay an arm and a leg.

If you have been a reader of this blog for a while, you know I have two fur girls, both golden retriever mixes.

Between walking them and the bakery job, I probably have managed to pinch a nerve in my neck. Bad enough being in the get up to use the bathroom years,now,in addition to that, I am shaking my arms down to get circulation back in there.

Seriously?

I need this?

A friend of mine who is a licensed practical nurse advised me to take some anti-inflammatory medicine and to ice my neck down.I am so desperate I am going to give it a shot.

Whoever said ” Old age is not for sissies.”, well, they KNEW what they are talking about.

Three Days

It’s been three days of heaven.

I had off since Monday, even though I am retired, but the bakery job puts me back in the loop, so I just appreciate the fact of doing what I can with the girls and Jim, hanging around the house, and just appreciate life.

Party is over tomorrow.The bakery waits for me so I have to get up in the morning and get the girls up and going, and then get myself ready for work.I have to figure out something easy for dinner, so, in a sense,it’s like I never stopped working.

Maybe someday…..

The Onslaught has Arrived

I had a day off today.

I have a feeling I may need to take a folding bed to work tomorrow.

The store is having a big 4 day sale to coincide with ALL the population who came down here for the weekend.

Fortunately I don’t start until noon, and that means I get to hang out with my buddy and the girls, and start getting ready for work around 11. I mean, I’ll try to get a good night’s sleep under my belt and get the fur girls out for a few nice walks before I leave.It isn’t easy.Zush is like me and picks up the vibe that I should be home.She’ll walk, but won’t do anything because I am leaving her.Still, I give them a good shot to get out and take care of themselves before I leave.

The schedule for work came out today: I won’t find out what it is until I show up tomorrow.

Let’s hope for once the dice roll in my favor.

Badges

I, according to Fit Bit, earned my New Zealand badge today, meaning I have walked 990 miles sine Halloween.

Honestly I can say I have enjoyed walking it, and honestly it doesn’t seem that much.The girls have been my company through it and I have enjoyed every minute.Now working,I still take the girls with me, but I do miss them when I am not here.We make up for it when I get home,and now we chill together when we come back in.

It is surreal to be getting the badges.I last got badges when I was in girl scouts, some forty years ago.It is kind of cute to be getting them over fifty.

Almost makes you feel like a kid again…lol

You think you can…

…thanks to my FitBit Zip, I thought I was doing something.I could take care of myself.

I am thirty pounds thinner than I was this past October, and was walking up 15,000 steps once I got over my GI attack.

Then came the job,

Nothing trains you for life as a cashier, or life as a veal, as it were.You get to walk maybe six steps once in a while when a transaction warrants it.You get your little scanning gun and record the items on sale in a shoppers basket.Other times you are just doing lifting, scanning, and bagging:all upper torso action.Even with good supportive shoes on, my legs are screaming.Can we walk a little? Nope is the answer. For a 6 hour shift you get a fifteen minute break.When that comes, I haul myself out into fresh air and try to relax away from the store.

The worst thing is I get to come home and I get the girls out for the last walk of the night but it still leave me 500 steps short.It takes little effort to do that, but for legs I thought were in shape, well, they have a long way to go.

I will get my girls out one way or another.I miss them when I am not here, and I am sure they miss me too, or at least our walks.

Hahahaha…A day off.

Since I have resumed a part-time life in the work world,I was looking forward to today and tomorrow, as they were my days off.

I cashed out my till last night and was informed that I graduated cashier training.Great, I thought, since I was hired to work in the BAKERY, not register.The next question asked to me was if I was willing to work tomorrow from either 11-5 or 2-8…**sigh**…so I took what I perceived to be the lesser of the two evils, 11-5, and have resigned my self to sucking back my day off,aka, TODAY.

It’s a beautiful day here and the girls and I have been enjoying the cool breeze.Jim actually got a break from the computer and went out and did the lawn, since it is a nice day.We went down and saw our friend Georgine and the girls adored laying on the soft green grass in the shade.I only wish I could bottle this breeze for August.

Here are some shots of the girls enjoying the shade.Thanks for reading.

Mother’s Day Blues

I miss my Mom.

It doesn’t help that I read Facebook and a zillion posts about Mother’s Day.All that does is make me miss my Mom even more.

Sure, there were different stages of Mom, from when I was young, teenager, young adult, married, and finally, caregiver.There were so many different facets to the relationship since I was the only daughter with two sons.Part of that was made the caregiving a no-brainer, because, after all, she was my Mom, even though, with the dementia, she had no clue of who I was.

Yes, I am a pup Mom, nowhere near the same stratosphere as a human Mom, but it just wasn’t in the cards for me.I know that my fur girls love me, so that is of some comfort to me.My Mom knew Zush, so she is my remaining tie to Mom’s well days.

Happy Mother’s Day in heaven, Mom. I miss you and love you! If you are blessed to still have your Mom with you, hug her tight on Sunday and if you are a Mom-Happy Mother’s Day!

A calorie is a calorie….

..especially when you are averaging 15,000 steps a day.

After my GI bug bout,I decided to come back to walking with a vengeance.So, with the exception of this past Sunday, when we had to go back to Pennsylvania, I had 15,000 steps, at least,each day last week.I did cut myself some slack since we were socializing on Sunday.

It’s incredible when you are so conscious of what you are doing, in my case, walking, how it affects what you eat.I have completed behavior modification in the past with success, only to put weight on when my Mom got sick and I was caregiver for her with my brother,

Now it’s a new day, a Fit Bit zip, warmer weather, and 2,000 more steps for 15,000 for the day.

Pardon me…I have to go walk my girls…and me!

Beauty all around

This morning, while I was walking the girls, we walked down to the bay.It was a glorious day for it here, although the wind was blowing a bit.

While we were out, I stopped and looked out at the bay.We were at an area where there is a bench by the walkway so we sat down and took it the scene.Rather, I did,as the girls laid low and we happy laying in the grass.I took several deep breaths and knew. I knew the direction that I took when I retired was good.My life, for now, is somewhat peaceful and moving away from the city was the way to go. I always loved water, and as I looked out at the bay, I truly felt my soul at ease.

I knew I was home.

Greetings from Undisclosed

It’s been a while since I wrote an Undisclosed update.

I think I wrote more about Undisclosed, I think, before I retired, but since I have been down here full-time, I haven’t really thought about it as” Undisclosed”, although it is still that.It’s weird,because it’s home to boot.

We are adjusting to full-time life here, and we are happy.The girls really are happy because, for now, I am here full-time, that is, not working, so they get a ton of attention.Jim likes to tease me about being a happy homemaker,but after 30 years of waiting on cold street corners and windy train platforms to go to town,there are plenty things to keep me happy.

We both are trying to figure out about working.It is weird,because it is something we know that can’t be full-time, because there basically NO full-time positions here.We’ll decide, somewhere along the way, if there is something we can do.As the weather gets warmer, it’s less of a thought because there are things to get done around here, and when it is nice out, who wants to be outside.

Life is good.

What’s a Dog Mom to Do?

For the first eight years of her life, I had fed Zush Pedigree dry small bites or weight control formula.Then,when Kasia joined the family, we decided to try Beneful dog food.The girls enjoyed it, along with an occasional mooch off of me or treat.

Now,especially off the past month,there has been a lot of mention that Beneful is killing dogs and there is a class action suit in California.It is a two-edged sword, as the girls like beneful but I also love them and want them around.

Homework time.

For the past two days I took what information my fellow dog moms have sent me and also went on-line looking for healthy foods that wouldn’t kill my girls.I found a list of the twelve most recommended foods for dogs that didn’t have questionable or un-American ingredients**read chicken or beef from China** and ended up with Nature’s Recipe dry dog food.So far, mixed with what little was left of the Beneful, Zush has stepped up and ate it .Kasia hasn’t been too hungry so far tonight.

It’s an irony that I have to worry about what food is out there that might be killing my girls. I am indeed selfish that way-I want them with me as long as possible. In turn, I shudder to think of what Jim and I have ingested because of the deregulation of human food in prior years.

It is truly a scary time.

The Object of my Obsession

Yeah, well,it’s not necessarily an obsession but that magic number 10,000 from the Fit Bit Zip haunts me. Really. I know that if I didn’t think about it, I’d probably make the 10,000 with no problem.

The weekend threw me for a loop. I struggled to make my 10,000,but I did.I have seen various articles that sing the praises of house-walking.Ok, no problem.When the weather got single digit, I figured no problem.Somewhere, around the 100th time I walked around my kitchen island, I thought to myself I was losing my mind.House walking is fine when you have a big house.In a house with 1350 square feet, it gets kind of tough.Sure,I make a route so I don’t make myself dizzy.My girls look at me like, “Please don’t step on me, Mom,” and I don’t.Jim encourages me because I am down 22 pounds since Halloween and I am still eating.

Maybe I have to rearrange my furniture to make a house-walking route…hmmmm…we’ll see if that’s do-able…film at 11.

How cold is it?

We savored the day today, as a clipper is due to hit this area especially tomorrow, Sunday and Monday, with a scheduled high of 18 and low of 9. The clincher is the wind chill, which is due to make it feel like -10 to -25.

I am not too stupid when it comes to weather. I will take the girls out tomorrow and then see how bad it is. They might be going to the potty in the yard if indeed the wind really is that bad. If not,I will get them out and get some steps in to boot.

Tomorrow is Friday the 13th and I’m looking forward to only good things this weekend.Stay warm, snuggle with your Valentine, and be safe!

Moonlight feels right, er, cold…

We are down here now, and I had walked the girls for a bit today.There were swaying trees in the wind that scared especially Kasia.I managed to do my 10,000 steps today on my fit bit zip despite that.

As I sat in the house today and heard the wind, I didn’t necessarily want to go back out.Jim took the girls out after dinner and I stayed in here and tried to stay warm.We went out tonight to pick up medicine from the drugstore, and the wind serenaded us all the way up.We got what we needed, came back home, and now are in tight for the night.

It’s a shame thought.The perk of being down the shore off-season is how quiet it is and very peaceful it is.When we were out tonight,I looked up in the sky and saw the beautiful moon and stars. You never had a chance to appreciate it in the city, but down here, it looks wonderful.
The only bad part? It’s so damn cold and windy!

The storm that wasn’t..

…at least not here.

Poor New England got their butt kicked with snow, but I remain oh, so thankful, I didn’t run out and buy eggs, bread and milk.It was a pleasant surprise when I woke up this morning and looked out our window.I slept like crap, probably because I was anticipating a long day.

The girls got out with me, and I capped off the fit bit zip at 10,142, because my legs were awfully tired from 18,000+ steps yesterday.Now I get to get a hot shower, and tuck into fleece sheets.The clipper that is due allegedly coming through tomorrow, so warmth is the name of the game.

Stay safe and warm,friends.Below,the girls on their morning walk.

Hail, hail the gangs all here….

We got through the day and the family is back as a whole.

Zush made it through her surgery,thank God.

We got through the day in different ways. Jim tried to work through the day and did a few things through the house.Kasia went through the day having a hunger strike because she missed her sister: it was the first time in 5 1/2 years they were apart for a good part of the day.I kept going back and forth through the house, praying and puttering and waiting to hear the outcome from the vet.

We got the call and were relieved that she made it through the surgery, as she is 13 in February and at that age we take nothing for granted. We picked her up at 4PM and the weirdest part is the only walk we can do is a potty walk on a leash and then back in. It’s hard because she is a walker, and the colder weather is her trump card.Normally she would run back to the house after a walk, but it’s going to be rough.

We are blessed that we are all together.

Wisconsinites need not apply…

…because it’s not THAT cold here tonight.

Oh yeah, forty mile per hour winds, blowing snow, and with a tip of the hat to my family in Wisconsin and my good friend Terry, another Wisconsinite,it’s pretty damn cold here.

My good friend(yes,I am blessed with a few choice friends) Kathy gave me this big ass coat that she didn’t wear. It is brown, not quite like a puffa coat, but ankle length and very insulated, and with its’ fur collar and cuffs,it is the saving grace of walking the girls in this weather.It was the saving grace in me getting the girls out today and also hitting 10,000 steps with my fit bit.

We’ll see what tomorrow brings….below is what the well-dressed dog walker is wearing these days.

Laying low….

I have about 2,000 more steps to do today and I’d hit 15,000…I probably will get that under my belt before the night is over.

The one thing I have noticed is my legs are really “tired” and “achy” by the time I get done for the day. I need to remember to put the good shoes on when I am walking. Poor judgement when I am in a hurry in the morning and throw my feet in my loafers.

Jim is out at our neighbors, and in a little while, after the current load of way is done, the girls and I will go out one more time for the night. It’s a little harried, as we have to leave for the city tomorrow lunchtime, in order to get up for the Deli’s Christmas party.

Not too much longer, though, and our Sunday night/ Monday morning travel will be over once and for all!

**Whew**

ChristmasLights- Canine

I really had a crappy bus commute this morning coming into work and texted Jim that I was going to blog about it tonight.

Until I came home and got off the bus, and got home and got the girls.

My mood changed.

We went for our pre-dinner walk and we took in the local Christmas lights of the immediate area that we walk in, where there was basically semi-detached, or “twin” houses.The girls are always happy to be out with me, especially in my zip fit bit stage, because they know we will WALK!
We did, and we paused on occasion to take the lights in. I have to watch with the big blow up snow globes, because Kasia gets scared of them.

Below are a few of the pictures that made a crappy morning and mediocre day into a fun night.

Christmas Lights

One of the perks of walking the dogs at night right now is, despite that it’s cold out right now, folks have Christmas lights up.

At my age, I remember the lights my father would put up on our row home porch every year.The tradition was, he put them up in time for my Mom’s December 18th birthday: it was the traditional flip of the first switch.We loved it. It was tradition, it celebrated Mom’s birthday, my birthday and the most important birthday,Christmas.As I got older and my nephew Greg was born on December 19th, I took my toddler nephew Matt out through the neighborhood to ooh and ah at all the lights.

Now I walk the girls at night and there are blown up reindeer and snow globes and God knows what else adorning lawns in neighborhoods.The lights are no longer simple,in fact some of them are LED giving a whole different glow to Christmas.I always look and admire the handiwork that I see in front of me, no matter the amount of kitsch in it, because I remember the lights of the row home 50 years ago and the warm memories with it.

Nothing like it in the world.

What is that thing called sleep?

Sure I am walking a median of 12,000 steps a day, and I am still on a job and worried about things and taking care of Jim and my girls, but,damn, I am always tired.

It seems especially so while this last month is going on and I seriously am dealing with moving matters but I am looking forward to the day when it would;’t be a stretch to stay up until 10 PM and I would feel like my get up and go wouldn’t get up and go.

I cozy up under the blanket and it is my sanctuary,. The warmth cocoons me and I truly hate to leave it in the morning. Fortunately, the girls need to go for a walk.

Can’t wait to sign up for that advanced sleep class!

Eight O’Clock and All is Well

…and it’s bedtime when you have been up since 1:30AM trying to come back up to the city.It’s something that I know I will miss regardless of how painful and tiring it has been.

The weather is due to get chilly again tomorrow so I am going to snuggle down with th girls nearby and try to get a good night’s sleep after finishing this post.My late mother used to call this weather pneumonia weather, as we went from 60 today to 34 tomorrow.

Hope you enjoyed cyber shopping today, and are counting down to old Saint Nick.

Stay warm!

Be it ever so humble

We are working our way up the food chain.

We moved.

We moved things into a storage locker.

We moved into the house.

Time to get boxes out of the closets, empty them, and put some things into the attic until we need them.

It was a good way to spend a rainy Saturday.There is nothing like the sense of accomplishment to know that some things never have to be packed or unpacked again.The sense that you have finally found a right spot or space for things to be stored in, neatly.Sure there are things that actually will need storage within the house, such as a book shelf and the like.

It’s starting to really feel like home.

Yay!

Below is a picture for my friend B, who looks for pictures I usually post for the weekend showing the girls “going home”.Well, B? This picture is the one of the girls, going through the front door at home.

Your kids, fur kids…

I have been constantly harped on by certain folk, who have since been left by me on the wayside, about how I should have adopted children but I was selfish for choosing animals.Oh well….my fur kids are my kids. No excuses.

So I have new sympathy for parents,going through what I have with Zush the past few days.She had her shot, she’s getting her medicine, but she’s still yelping, albeit nowhere as much as she had been. I know I have to know miracles don’t happen, and she’s getting older, and the end result? I just want her to be better.Her yelping gets me.I know she can’t tell me, and I know I have a job to be at and I can’t be with her every minute.I feel like a mom running after a kid with a tissue to wipe its’ news.

Would I change it for a minute? Hell no. I am blessed to have my two girls.

Zosiacare

Too bad my girl doesn’t qualify for Obama care..lol

All of a sudden Zush was in such apparent pain she kept leaving little yelps of pain out to let us know something wasn’t right. My nephew Gregory was kind enough to get over to the vet yesterday and pick up her Tramadol for her arthritis.That, we thought, would have resolved the issue but it didn’t.

This morning was not a fun scene. Zush obviously in pain yelping, Kasia wondering what’s wrong and me crying because, yes, damn it, they’re my fur kids.Managed to get through the day to 1:30, when I could leave for the girl’s 2:30pm appointment.

She was in such pain Jim had trouble getting her out of the car, but she got down and into the vet we went. Evidently, Zush’s spine was out of whack and now, with a steroid shot, and slow bathroom only walks, we’ll have our Zush up to speed in new time.When you are talking about a fur baby that’s 12 years old, well we had a big sigh of relief for our girl.She is the rock of our lives!

Below is a shot of Jim’s arm as he carries our Zush out of the back of the car.

Autumn Saturday

It was a good day here in Undisclosed.

We spent a good deal of the time working on things around the house. I got a chance to catch up on some laundry and actually clean the house.Imagine that.Cleaning MY house.It’s been fifteen months since I’ve been able to say that-clean MY house.

Feels good.

The girls got out a lot for fresh air and sunshine and we all got out for a good family walk. We are in tonight vegging out for rest. We are actually getting a chance to charge ourselves up for the week.

Enjoy what’s left of your weekend!

Hanging Out

Down at Undisclosed, we had a chance today to kick back with a few of our neighbors this afternoon at the Property Owners Association building.

They held a deck party for us today and we had over 50 folks show up.Jim and I are active in the property owners association and know a lot of the folks from working the pancake breakfast.We went with a few of our neighbors and friends for a dinner of either chicken or shrimp lo mein, and fresh pineapple and watermelon for dessert.

It is hard for us to leave, because going back to the city is really wearing on both of us and we would be happy to be down here now.We wrapped up the party and came back home.The girls got their last walk of the night, and now, well, we are hoping we are able to sleep so we can wind up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed to head up to our work week.

Storms-a-comin’

Zush went swimming this afternoon.This followed a trip to our friend Max, and his Mom, Nora, and Dad Mario.It was a pleasant visit and the girls were good, so thanks to the humidity, we took them to the beach.Zush got in the water and cooled off and soothed her aching skin and sore joints. Kasia, Jim and I watched her from the beach…until we saw…

They are calling for thunder showers and boy did the sky show it. Being over by the water, it was truly reminiscent of “The Perfect Storm.”

Now we are all safe and sound in the house after a wonderful afternoon with friends and family.

Have a good weekend! Be safe!

Here’s looking at you.

I have a few hours respite before I have to ointment up my eye to make sure no infection gets in it.

I took the patch off a little while ago, as it’s getting close to the time it was due to come off, but the humidity was making things just a little too much. It was really a culture shock, of sorts, to have the eye open up again. It was as if my left eye got a little stronger because it had to operate solo.Now the two are working together again, although I have to admit it still feels a little weird.

The next twist will be how this antibiotic ointment will be with my vision. They claim that the ointment will hinder the field of vision: I figure even if it does, I’ll still have one good eye going, so I should be ok.

Jeez, I’ll tell you one thing. I’ll be glad when this is all over.Jim has been a sweetie helping me out, and even the fur girls have been kind of good for me.

I just want it to be done.It makes you appreciate good health.

Blog #1,000

“I was twenty-one years when I wrote this song.
I’m twenty-two now but I won’t be for long
Time hurries on.
And the leaves that are green turn to brown….”

Paul Simon wrote these lyrics for a Simon and Garfunkel hit circa 1966 called ” Leaves that are Green”.I thought this was an appropriate start for the blog numbered 1,000.

I started this blog in 2011, when I was 51 years old. I was sharing care-giving duties for my Mom with Dementia with my brother.I was married for 9 years back then. I had crappy knees and was waiting to get knee replacements.And yes, I was thinner,

So on the occasion of this blog #1000, so much has changed.

Mom is gone, I am happily married, next month, for 12 years. I have new knees and a belly because emotion still gets the best of me.I am working on that, though, and trying to get things together.

Jim and I have a new home and we’ll be occupying full-time in a few months.I, knock wood, am on the road to retirement.My girls are still with me: Zush is 12 and Kasia is 5. Jim and I are trying to set up housekeeping and farming down here at Undisclosed.The emotions are mixed at folding up our tent and leaving the big city, but more times than not, we are more than ready to leave it behind.

This blog has been therapy for me to vent and also to keep the memories of what has happened, be it good, bad or indifferent. It also has been a way for me to share my stories and experiences with you, dear reader.Thanks for reading and being here for me. I appreciate the fact that you check in with me and the family. For that you have my thanks and a giant hug.

Thanks!

And to quote the tag line from the Beverly Hillbillies…”You all come back now, hear?”

Malaise

A beautiful night we have tonight, and I took the girls out.

I am back sitting in my parent’s home.I am typing in the room where both of them left this world in. Granted, my mom had passed away in January, but this time of year always takes me to my Dads’ passing in August of the year. So many memories swirl in my head, and they are mine alone, since I was here when Dad passed. Jim and I weren’t married then.

I’d like to think Dad would be happy about the move to Undisclosed, especially since the former Navy man loved the water.You think back about so many things and how you wish they physically were there with you. Yes, I know, they are both here in spirit, but, how wonderful it would have been to see their reaction to things.

Then I stop and think of my Mom and thank God that I still have the memories, because, Mom didn’t.I try to savor every day and everything, and hopefully, I have the memory of happy times for a long, long time in the future.

Until then,it’ll be a daily struggle to cut through the fog of malaise. Clear skies can’t come soon enough.

Road Show

For giving the gift of life, that is, giving blood, my employer offers 4 hours free time in appreciation.

Translation: it’s Friday, I’m in the office to give blood, and leave at 12:30, without losing comp or vacation time.It’s what I have to do to keep my streak of Friday time going, and if I have to give blood, well, so be it.

Hope you have a good weekend. Jim is left packing up the pups and car since I am in the office and once he comes in town to pick me up?

Let the roadshow commence!

Kicking it back

Jim is out on his bike taking in the crowds down here that are waiting for the fireworks that will start in about one and a half hours.

The girls and I are here, resting after a good hike this afternoon in an old golf course that the state has turned back to an Environmental area,that is,they are letting it turn back into a forest! There were new pine trees everywhere, and we saw a bunny but the Kasia girl was sniffing up a storm so the other animals are definitely there.

We had a nice visit with my friend, Duch, her daughter Joanne and her granddaughter, Rachel. Duch had never gotten a chance to see Undisclosed Deux completed and it was a joy to see my buddy and her family. It was even nicer to realize that once I leave work, Duch and I will only be a stone’s throw apart!

In all, a good day, and you can’t get better than that!

I miss the snow.

Yup.

Don’t hate me because I do, but I do. I think back to when it was 9 below and I had to walk the girls and thought, spring will be coming. Spring. Spring got me smiling.The thought of summer didn’t.

Mosquitoes, heat,sweat, public transportation…not rocking my world.It’s my fault that I probably look like crap in a bathing suit, but hey,air-conditioning works.Sure, there’s watermelon, water-ice, pasta salad,water, iced tea,and healthier, lighter eating, but **shaking my head** I am and always will be a sweater girl. I like to be cool to the point of needing a little warmth. I know if I was younger,well, summer rocked. If I knew then what I know now, well, I’d never have to give my dermatologist business for skin cancer checks.

So I will veg out with some iced tea, and sit in front of the fan, but rest assured,I am waiting for October.

Trying…

to relax…HAH!

Although Jim attempts to put it out of his mind, I know I have to start putting things together for the trek back to the city, something which truly sucks.

I will get the girls out a few more times, try to soak the few flowers I have, and wait. If I manage to get a nap out of it, the better.The sad part is that even though I see the end in sight, it always feels five million miles away on a Sunday afternoon.

Regardless, I am going to try to get the most out of the rest of the day.

Have an awesome week!

Last Nerve

Peace and quiet.

I have no human children, but I can understand about peace and quiet.

When you work in customer service all day, ideally you pay attention to those you are trying to help.Pretty sad when you have to quiet them in your head with noise so you can actually pay attention to them instead of the noise that surrounds you.

You come home and would like to listen to television, radio, music, or read and all you have is constant noise. Not that you don’t love your family, mind you, but there are times where I’d give a million dollars for 60 minutes of peace and quiet.

The only saving grace are the fur girls. We go walking and things are nice and quiet.

Ah….if only it would stay that way…lol

The Producers

In order to stay warm, the girls and I are in watching Netflix.

I grew up on Mel Brooks, and saw the original “The Producers”, so when I saw the remake on my browse list, I figure why not? Somehow, though, Zero Mostel and Gene Wilder made the movie memorable for me. Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane, well, I guess I have to tear my mind off the original in order to get into this.

Blanket and bed are next.

Stay warm, friends.

It’s quiet.

It’s 1:17am and I am the only one awake in our home.

Amazing what trying to rebound from slipping and falling will do to you.

I crashed and burned about 9:30pm and Kept my aching body under the covers. I had a scare when walking the girls last night that the ligament behind the right knee was not feeling too supportive and I have not felt that in a long, long time.It’s hard to believe that it’s going to be three years since the knees were replaced.Jim and I both agree that we have to shake off this temporary abode malaise and start getting our act together. I personally am looking forward to having a fully working kitchen again and flatlands to exercise myself and the pups in.

Bring it on!

Below? An almost three year old picture of the knees while in rehab…lovely, right?

Out in the boonies…

I get really frustrated with the internet and the blog.

I know WordPress is normally a pretty reliable blogging platform, but when you are lout here on a mountain, well, you have to hope the gods of the internet are on your side, I guess. I tried to blog last night and there was no way in hell the internet was letting me on this site.

Oh well.

We are having a wonderful time with our friends and enjoying their hospitality.Our girls get along pretty eel with their girls and life is good.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Happy St. Valentine’s Day!

The loves of my life, aka my family, and I are heading out to see our buddies in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

We were going to leave a little earlier, but I should know better:whenever we go somewhere it is like packing a trailer.The girls know a road trip is the offing, because they have seen me pack. Now all that is left is Mom and Dad to shut off the computers and get moving.

Be safe this weekend and have a wonderful St.Valentine’s Day. A special shout out to my buddy, Duch,who has a birthday today…

I’ll check in with you, hopefully, through the weekend.

Stay warm!

Free day depression

Talk about getting a free pass.

My employer has given everyone the day off due to weather.

**sigh**

In the meanwhile I am worrying about Jim making it out to work in the snow and sleet, have been channeling Saint Anthony for something important I seem to hopefully misplaced**God forbid,fear lost** and am just feeling pretty bad.

We are still waiting for the certificate of occupancy for Undisclosed Deux;the stress is still hanging over the two of us like a guillotine.I am looking out at the Blessed Mother statue in my Mom’s yard and the snow is up to her hands.**sigh**

If I didn’t have the fur girls, you can rest assured I would be back in bed…

After the fact.

Through the ups and downs of the week, there has been one saving grace: the thought of being here, together as a family, just to relax.

We went out to dinner tonight and came back early to relax and rest. Jim will get the fur girls out for one last walk of the night.I get to hang out on-line for a little while I am doing wash.It would be nice to be out watching Olympics on television: I guess I can maybe try to find something streaming on-line.

We are just going to exhale and enjoy our weekend: hope you get to do the same.

Weather or not

It’s been a hell of a week weather wise.

I remember worrying g about the cold this time last week when we were headed down to Undisclosed Deux, but somehow we all fared well.Monday and Tuesday were no picnic either, with the office buildings in town turning streets into wind tunnels.

It is allegedly an icy mix now, rain and ice mixed.Tomorrow it is supposed to be sixty and raining.They always say Mother Nature is upset by what we do down here.I am starting to believe it.We’ll go back down today, but I’ll have to make sure to have plenty of towels to dry the girls up and plenty of dry clothes for Jim and myself.

January…it sure keeps me on my toes.

Ouch

We had a few bumpy days.

When the ice was dominant, we both had slips and falls that we are both feeling.The only way that we’d feel better is staying in a hot show for an hour or two.We keep trodding along, though,talking about our newest angst that the builder has stirred up for us.

I will be glad when things are over and we get settled in our new digs.We can only do so much here and it’s time that we actually had a real kitchen again.I am sure the dogs wouldn’t mind running in a year behind a fence to play.Jim and I wouldn’t mind relaxing on our deck. I can hardly wait.

**Hanging by the end of my fingers**

Pretty darn cold

..but to anyone in the mid-Atlantic states, New England and possibly the midwest, this is no shock. You, my friend, like me, are in the middle of it.

Waking up at 7am today had the temperature at ten, count them, TEN degrees.Fortunately it’s due to get up to the low thirties: I never thought I’d see the day where that constituted a heat wave. Jim is smart: he is in Undisclosed Location Deux, where the heat is actually installed, but it is his reward for going outside. Me? I am in here while the fur girls are curled up in their beds.

Hope you are around some hot coffee or cocoa this morning: stay warm.

No year like a new year.

I hope all of you had a safe and happy New Year’s Eve.I won’t go as far as the priest we had for Mass this morning who said something about anyone who needed ice packs…I think he was revealing too much of his age!

Jim had the girls out for a good walk this morning and is up playing his guitar.The girls are curled up peacefully sleeping and I have a pot of home-made applesauce on the stove. Our dinner today will be the traditional pork,sauerkraut,potatoes and applesauce.We need all the luck we can generate with our move this year.

Here’s to 2014-hope it’s a good one for us all.

Rain, rain..

There is nothing like a weather front going through, especially when you have lousy sinuses.

Take that fact, multiply it that I stayed up late to watch the Eagles spank the Bears in their football game.

We got up early today, our bodies sore from putting things in the crawl space,Jim is taking the girls out for their walk and maybe, just maybe, despite the rain, we may not have to rush today.I have to admit,it might be nice: I wouldn’t know how to behave…lol.

Hope your week is good and your Christmas is spectacular.

Thursday..is it Friday yet?

As I sit here I can only laugh because I ended up taking tomorrow off.

I am tired of the stuff going on here and figure the time is better spent at home with Jim and the girls. We probably will go down to Undisclosed and give some stuff to the workmen so they can install it.Next to hanging out here, well,let’s just say that hanging out with Jim and the fur girls is always a treat.My age and waning intolerance for bull is making tomorrow off the thing to do.

Yay for old age! LOL

Quiet Time

My girls gently woke me this morning: one with her pants, and the other with her paws.

I respect leaky plumbing…lol

As Jim is the one they normally would go to, I figured it was my turn to get them out.
It is a breezy late evening, with a wind blowing through the trees. I have a beautiful
Japanese Maple in the front of the house, and even in the darkness, the color of the
leaves are brilliant.I think it is one of the reasons my father liked this house.

When we get down to the new house we’ll have a front lawn to landscape.As we both are
lovers of trees, I am sure that they will a major part of the front lawn. We often
drive in the area and take in what we like and don’t care for in front of other
homes.Ideally, I hope to convey the same sense of quiet and color that I get on this
front lawn.

A piece of it will surely reflect my folks influence on my gardening tastes:of that,
you can be sure.

November is here…

…and the weather outside, color on leaves not withstanding, is more reminiscent of
March.

Go figure!

A busy morning on tap for us gals, both my four=legged and me, so we can do our
household chores and go down to Undisclosed Location II with Jim.

Uh, let me rephrase that…

We’ll, no doubt, spend time in the tile store, major box hardware stores, in’
addition to trying to kick back and relax over the weekend. We’ll see how
far things have hopefully progressed and what decisions need to be finalized
and put to bed.Jim,from the beginning, has said, once we make the decision
on x, y, or z, we have made it and that’s that.I have to keep that in my
mind constantly because it has been a seemingly long process.

Enjoy your Friday!

Day Off?

Well, I wish so…

The only perk is I had a little longer sleeping this morning.

The girls are walked, clothes in the washer, and an appointment in town for 1PM.

After that, home for more walking with the gals and dinner and time with Jim.

If you are off of your job today, enjoy,

Rainy days and Nor’easters…

One thing about us: we always loved the shore in no matter what the
weather. Sun, showers, snow, nor’easters…we are pushovers for the
weather.

We came down last night and had a good seafood dinner that was from our
local Moose lodge.They got new chefs and it showed. Scallops stuffed
with crab meat is what both Jim and I had.

This morning we were out walking the girls, and then went to breakfast.
You have to remember when it’s a holiday weekend here-tables fill up fast.

We’ll stay through Mass tomorrow morning and head back up.

Enjoy your Saturday!

My right arm for a cold front

Sure.

Throw this back to me in two months.

We had our breakfast by the water, where there was a great breeze.
The girls were comfortable, as were we.

Well, a trip to the storage locker and then the dump,and the
sweat is rolling off of us girls, both 4 and 2 legged.Jim is
out catching a breeze somewhere-lucky guy.

We’ll wish you a happy Sunday and a good week, but we’ll be going
under the shadiest tree with some cool water..we gals will
be dreaming of 50 degree temperatures.

Beauty of a day

…and we have tons to figure out.

Why is it when the weather sucks in February, we’ll have a finished house
and say…now what?

We went to buy some Mums this morning and it is a beautiful autumn day,
and the girls and I have been out for a few walks and they went with
us out for the mums. I kind of feel like going down to the bay, but we
are being mellow, so we are kicking back just a bit.

Tomorrow?( We agreed tomorrow…lol)

We have to go to Home Depot and Lowes,check out more vitals for
Undisclosed Deux, and eventually head back up.

Yay Autumn!

Arrgh…

I feel as though I have stayed too long at the campground.

The area we spend 2 days and nights in is small. There is no room to put anything else in.
Yet Shingleman wants to bring another tomato box in to store things…**smh**

I have said all along this was a Shingleman project and indeed it is.
To paraphrase Shakespeare, all the wives and fur children are merely players.

Good Football game

So we watched our hometown team at our neighbor’s house yesterday:in hindsight,
I said we probably should have went straight home and they would have won.
It was a nice time to kick back with friends and hurl **expletive deleted**
at the screen in unison.

The girls got a good healthy walk at halftime from Mom, so we walked and got
exercise.They admitted to me that they wanted us to leave because they refused to
eat their food until we got back.

Topped off the evening with Miss America viewing**spoiler alert** and although I
was rooting for Miss Oklahoma, Miss New York won.

Now back to the grind…. have a good day!

Breezy Saturday

A front has moved in..thank God!!!!

We are enjoying 60-ish weather, and actually wearing sweatshirts at night..great break for us heat haters.

The girls are hanging outside enjoying the air, and I am happy to report that Zush’s panting has died down considerably.

We are off for Mass and to enjoy dinner with friends later on..enjoy your weekend!

Macho men

This morning, I am sitting outside watching the workmen move lumber around.

I’ve been watching the HGTV shows and it’s incredible that actual workmen
working on YOUR project have no correlation to the tv shows.I am laughing
to myself as I type this, because,if a television camera were focused on
these guys now…lol.

The house is taking shape,the rafters are in place and we are waiting for
Dad to come down to be with us so he can see what’s going on too.The one
guy lifting boards stops and rearranges them, then counts them, then…you
get my drift.

I intend to savor the last three days of my vacation, especially since it
has gotten a little cooler, and just breathe!

Have a wonderful weekend.

Meanwhile down at the farm….lol

The girls and I made it down here yesterday, thanks to Daddy,who has to stay up and work for a day or two more.

We had a good night, and managed to stay tucked in until 4:30am, when we universally agreed it was time for an early morning walk. It was awesome. The quietness of the woods and shore, the crickets, and the brightness of the stars made it worth being alone with the girls in nature. It goes without saying that we had a flashlight just in case there were four-legged critters**read raccoons**coming out from the woods.

Now we are back tucked in again, until the workmen come in a few hours to start banging away on the rafters.

Outside of the fact we miss Daddy, life is good.

Happy Labor Day

Unfortunately, with Zush not feeling too well and now I am a little under the weather,well…

We are going to recoup back at home for two days, maybe schedule a vet visit, and come back on Wednesday. Zush is ok as long as she is in cooler air or air-conditioning, but I am hacking, running nose, watery eyes, so I think a little medical stay might be the ticket. Somehow, being down here with both girls and guys sawing at 7am, well…you can deduce the rest.

Happy labor day: we’ll check in with you along the way!

Pretty good day

We started out anniversary day with going out to breakfast.

Unfortunately due to Labor Day weekend, we had to go to a back-up spot, and we both had scrapple with pancakes..**mental note to self-need a kitchen to start juicing again-scrapple will kill you!**

With that literally under the belt, we came back and took the girls out for a bit, and then decided to tackle the inevitable-colors for Undisclosed Location Deux.

We went to Lowe’s and agreed on paint colors for the house**hello?Snowstorm in August?*** and ended up back here with the girls, where we went on-line and found our siding and roof colors.

I think we’ve gotten this married team down pretty well, considering we’ve only done it for 11 years…lol.

Happy Saturday! Be safe this Labor Day weekend!

Eleven Years

Tomorrow is our eleventh wedding anniversary.

ELEVEN!

Hard to believe, although so much has happened in our lives, it has all
happened, so it seems, in the blink of an eye.

Although we had no “human” children, we’ve been blessed with Zosia and
Kasia. We had a beautiful post Victorian twin which we sold this past
June and are actually working toward retirement.We are watching what,
hopefully,will be our last home being built.We’ve buried family and
friends, and have made new ones along the way.It feels as though we have
crammed a lifetime in along the way.

I couldn’t have asked for a better partner through life.Jim is truly
my better half.

Happy anniversary Seamus love you with all my heart!

Tired beyond words..

Incredible when you have to go and take medicines as prescribed by your doctor,
how tired you can get!

Jim and I went walking on the Cape May promenade last night and got in around
eleven.This morning, I feel like I was hit by a Mack truck.The Doctor had
said he wanted me to be bed rest and icing my hip.I think it’s a given that sleep
naturally follows.Yet in my head, I hear my mother saying,”Why are you sleeping mow?
What are you going to do tonight?”

The girls and I are taking the breeze in while Jim is riding his bike..maybe
THEN, a nap….lol

Judging by the calendar

This morning I had an appointment to get my hair done. I like the way my friend does it, so I have been sticking with her.

Jim had said why do I need a hair cut: it really looks nice. Never mind that I sweat profusely when the humidity goes over 85% and needed a hair cut. In addition, the ever popular hot flashes always seem to sway the vote for shorter hair.

True to form, the moment I got out of the salon, the humidity is at 85%,so it was a good call, in my humble opinion.The past year or two, I have been betting a little heavier with the blond highlights, to at least mentally make me feel like summer.As it is August,well, I kept them for one more round. We probably go out later to get the girls our swimming os they’d feel a little better.

At least my fur girls and I will feel pretty good about ourselves-that’s all that matters…lol.

Weather or not..

It’s Friday, which gives purpose to the fact that it’s supposed to rain.

Not that I am complaining, mind you. I went through the barometric
pressure headache that predicted this current patch of weather.The
front comes through, and bang, the headache goes. Amazing that
weather can affect a body: I am constantly amazed by that fact.

The leaves are turning a richer shade of green apropos of late
summer, and even with the overcast sky,it is a pretty day.The breeze
is going through the bushes in the next yard.The girls and I are getting
ready to go for our stroll between the raindrops.

Enjoy the day!

sigh

So it’s Tuesday and a work day. It’s a beautiful day here, and it would be nice to be anywhere
but here.

Jim has to go down to Undisclosed to sign contracts with the builder, and meet with a few more folks.
so I am bachelorette Mom tonite. Hopefully we’ll get some wash done and the girls will go walking with
me and that will be great.Truth be told, I am hoping to get things done so I can shower and be in bed
early.

Bring out more cool days like this.

Sing around the campfire…

We have returned…

Old Undisclosed is officially gone.

It is quite funny to pull up and look at a space that looks better suited for growing a field of corn or something. Our little cottage that was in the rear now stands forlornly in the corner of the lot, wondering what happened, no doubt.

The flip side is as the house is down, the corresponding amount of mud has increased.I didn’t have enough foresight to bring some larger old rug to take care of the messy shoes and dog prints.I am sure ,though, that we’ll be eyeballing the new house as it goes up, and I’ll be able to bring something else down.

The fur girls are somewhat content to be down, although they no longer can run around in reckless abandon, as the fence in the front is down.We have them out walking and they seem to be happy.

Jim will be meeting with the builder later, so it is quite nice to feel,albeit a pin hole,light at the end of the tunnel.

Stay tuned.

It’s almost over…

July, that is.

Undisclosed location(old) and hopefully the foundation will be starting on Undisclosed (new).

As I type this I look out the window and realize how badly I need to reestablish my own roots with Jim and the girls at the new spot. Losing Rochelle was like setting me free without an anchor and since then, I really feel lost. I can assure you that is not a good feeling.

August will be coming.

Colors of summer will be richer and moving toward fall. Hopefully the foundation will be laid and the frame will be up on Undisclosed(new).

My mother always talked about wishing your life away and perhaps she was right. I don’t look at it that way: I look at it as starting the next chapter of my life, for which I am full of hope.

By the way, below is a last look at the Old Undisclosed.

If only..

The heat is continuing here, allegedly through tomorrow night, with the promise of a possible thundershower tonight. Hah! I should be so lucky!

The fur girls and I go out for walks but the three of us come back in a puddle of drool mixed with my sweat.There isn’t enough fluid to keep me moving, and although I know you have to eat, well maybe we should have heat more, as it is a pretty decent appetite suppressant.

As I write this, I am looking out the window and for mid-July, the bushes and plants have lost their true richness of green: they are looking somewhat peaked.

Come on, October!

Quality, not…

To continue with Daniel & Rebecca Boone, we bought a screen house.

We wasted $69 buying a Northwest Territory Brand house. It had a margin for ” mosquito protection”…uh, sure.

Granted, it was an accomplishment for Jim to get it together with my help. The fur girls are wondering what’s going on.

As Jim said, if only they did it right and made it so the net meet the ground, but I guess that was too much to hope for.

We are finished. Jim rigged it so we might have it actually with some support..

Daniel Boone would be proud- not of the craftsmanship but of the labor put into it.

Daniel Boone et al

So I mentioned that a new Undisclosed location is going to be put up soon?
Did I mention they have to shut utilities off in order to get rid of this house? Oh,and did I mention this is one of the rare times we both have 5 days off together ?

Hello Daniel and Rebecca Boone!

No, it’s not exactly that rough, but it truly lives up to the old chestnut about appreciating something /someone when it’s gone…in this case, electricity.

We aren’t really roughing it, after all, Zush is 12 and sweating isn’t my forte’ either, so we got a generator. We figured that eventually living down here, in the land of Nor’easters , tropical storms, and hurricanes, it’ll be of some use.

In the meantime, we are all squeezed into a little cottage; Zusher, Kasia, Jim and myself.

Ah, togetherness!

Happy Fourth of July!

Late afternoon sky

I have a habit of taking a lot of sunset shots. It could be that our Undisclosed location is on a coast known for its’ sunsets.

The fur girls are with us for a final fling in our old stomping grounds- new ones are coming. So rather than go up in crowds to watch the sunset, we are in the back yard relaxing. There is a bit of a breeze and this way we enjoy nature in our own way. An added plus is Zush hangs with me during fireworks! Less anxiety for my girl.

Enjoy the Fourth!

Happy almost 4th

It’s the third of July, and I am ready for a stretch of time away from the city.

The fur girls are laying in front of the air- conditioning, and are waiting for Jim to get home.

There will be plenty of time for reading and relaxation, and just to be away from center city and the tourists . There’s a lot to be said for peace and quiet.

Here’s hoping that no matter how you enjoy the fourth, you are happy and safe!

Sunday at home

We were taking advantage of having a quiet Sunday at home .We got a lot of cleaning done, threw a lot of things away trying to straighten the place up.

Kasia has a new leash so she is out with Zush and Jim. What a difference a non choking leash makes.

Hate that it’s Sunday night. I can only hope we make it down for, probably, the last time before it gets knocked down.

It’s going to be a long summer.

Saturday wedding

We are going to Jim’s nephew’s wedding today.

The showers have stopped, the heat has set in- it must be a June wedding.
Hopefully the bride and groom will have a wonderful day and wonderful life.

Now, if the fur girls make out ok today, well, which I pray they will be, I’ll have a good day!

Friday five

This is a Friday five with a twist: we are, unfortunately, stuck in the city this weekend due to Jim’s nephew getting married. Forgive me, dear reader, if I sound a little caged in.

The furgiirls are resting in the air conditioning. Tomorrow we will go to the wedding, come back to get them out, then go to the reception … I shudder to think what’ll happens if it rains.

I am working the 9-5 shift today. I am thankful to still be employed, even if the drama is a little excessive as it is most of the time.

There is no God** tongue in cheek**- my husband is down to 160 lbs. due to our move.**green with envy**. Amazing how stress handles certain folks in certain ways.

I hate heat. I feel like my Zush girl with her heavy coat. The rain can’t happen often enough to cool things off .

On the flip side, I get to take the train in and stop at Reading Terminal market. Almost makes working a Friday ok.

Have a good weekend!

stormy weather

The calling card of summer in the Mid-Atlantic states is that calling card of the three H’s- hazy, hot and humid.

So far,5 days in, it hasn’t ceased to fail my expectations.

The thought of walking to public transportation in the heat, coming home in the heat, hah..what’s cooking unless it’s cool?Back in the old days I’d go to the local recreation center to swim, but that’s a leisure I don’t have time for any more.

Today the girls are on their second dose of their medicine, which, hopefully, will have them feel better.
They are at home sleeping in front of the air-conditioner.If they are indeed my fur girls, we all will have gentle summer breezes on our mind, not those thunderstorms that my Zusher hates.

I’m patiently waiting on October!

On the bright side, I went past my neighbors roses this morning. It made me smile.

It’s a good thing!

Greg to the rescue

We weren’t able to get to the Vet for the furgirls medicine, but my nephew Greg was available,
God Bless him.

The girls are having reactions to getting bit, so we were somewhat frustrated and watching
them scratch. The Vet said to get them on cortisone to calm the itch.

Greg and I are going to rendezvous to get the medicine transferred for the girls.

What a hero I have for a Godson!

Thanks, Greg!

One if by land

We are on the way back up from Undisclosed to the city. Jim driving, me riding shotgun, and fur girls in the back seat.

The unexpected visitor? Saturday night was the Super Moon, so brilliant and large . We’ll have him lighting the way for us.

Have a wonderful week,

Nothing good

I just came in from walking fur girls.

Jim is crunching numbers for the revamped Undisclosed location. ** holding my head in my hands** and it seems like there is never GOOD news. I hate to say it but I need to find a money tree…**sigh**

We are trying to enjoy our last weekend down here for a while. We have to stay in the city next weekend for a wedding in Jim’s family, and after that? Who knows….

Back at it

Hopefully Jim will have to make a ride to Jersey to meet with the architect today and get the ball rolling on Undisclosed Deux. If he does, I might be leaving early from work.

Why?

Zush.

Zush is 12 years old and has gotten to the point that thunder really, really bothers her. Jim says she has Kasia and she’d be ok. As a dog mom though, I’ll exercise, weather permitting,my maternal instinct to go home to the fur girls and make sure they are ok. I have empathy for Zush, because as a kid, I hated gunshots, loud dog barks, and at fourth of July and other firework festivities, I’d be the one with fingers in my ears,

We’ll see what the weather brings…..

Ugh

We are back on the road from Undisclosed location-@12:30am , since we waited out weather and actually got a little sleep. It also played a factor in that we aren’t going ” home”- we WERE home. Now we are just off to domicile #2. Ugh… Amazing how nausea just sets in at the thought!

Jim has some hot tea and we have only gone about 20 miles so far. Fur girls are tucked safely in back seat, asleep.

Have a good week! Please keep prayers and good thoughts for us-we sure need them!

Rain

It’s been a somewhat rainy week.

While at Domicile 2, I try to work at least 1 box a day, so it is, indeed, a slow process. The fur girls have been patient, so Jim is taking us on a road trip to Undisclosed a little later today. I think I can safely say, the break will help us support mental health.

Have a good weekend!

End of the world as we know it

Actually the 11 year world as I knew it ended June 6,2013 when our house sold and
I was forced to moved to domicile 2….but…

It’s dreary out…really…as in you know the golf ball hail and winds are just around the corner.

I am waiting for the thunder to start, knowing my poor Zush might just get some comfort from
her sister Kasia or her Dad. I have listened to the weather channel and checked out Al Roker
this morning and all I have to say is I am going to run for cover if a tornado comes my way.

Or, in other words, if I see Jim Cantore in front of my building, I’m done.

Do I gotta?

It’s going to be hard to leave the only comfortable current home we have left for right now ** quick don’t blink your eyes or else it’ll disappear too!**

Jim is out riding his bike and I’m getting some wash done. The fur girls are in the yard- which is something I know they truly miss, as in Domicile 2, there is no fenced in yard.

Enjoy your Sunday!

Packing it all up.

Today is my last day in the office for the week.

The grand move has commenced.

Jim and our neighbor have started moving some of the stuff. They threw a few random
calls to me along the way, as I have to work until 5PM. I am sure the fur children
are just waiting for me to get home and see what’s up. There are so many factors
going on at the same time, that if I get through this without getting an ulcer,
I would consider my self blessed.

I’ll be blogging along the way, and ask for your good vibe and prayers, ’cause
Lord knows I need them.

Thanks, Gentle Reader.

Air for everybody

Sunday morning has brought us a pleasant surprise- a cool weather front.

I have shut the air conditioner off and thrown open the windows. Fur girls are peacefully laying around and Jim and I are taking it in before leaving Undisclosed and heading back, unfortunately!

Have a glorious Sunday.

Dog days of June

We came down to Undisclosed location to… get away from city heat and humidity and down for a little breeze.The poor fur- kids pass out under the air conditioning, and we are right behind them. It is only a temporary respite, as we have to get back early to finish packing.

We also lost a good friend today, who fought hard against Parkinson’s ,but lost. Nothing like dealing with loss and heat for a two- fer.

Things have to get better, I hope!

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