Christmas 2012

My Christmas wish for you is good health and happiness today and always.

 

Gumby in New York

December 15, 2012 

Another Gumby moment, especially for you.

   

Norfolk

Nothing to say, just photos.  Closure is a good thing.

Saturday

Today is the actual inactivation ceremony.  I decided yesterday that I wasn't going to attend, mostly because of the anticipated traffic.  Imagine another 8000 people on the highway trying to get off at the base, not to mention the parking.  The driving down here is somewhere between frustrating and an accident waiting to happen. The only roads I've driven are 5 lanes wide and no one seems to know that they have a turn signal on their steering column. Impatience runs rampant.  Horns are blowing before you can get your foot off the brake and onto the gas pedal.  I'm so thankful I don't live here.
The local NBC TV station is carrying the inactivation live on their website so I'm going to watch it this afternoon.  The most meaningful part of this journey for me was the actual tour of the ship.  I needed to walk where my husband walked, see where he worked, ate meals and slept for 6 months. The stories that my tour mates shared w/me on Thursday gave me so much incite into what life was like for the men, especially the men involved in the tragic fire.  It's helping to heal whatever questions, wounds and/ghosts were still there, hiding beneath the surface in my mixed up brain and broken heart.
I saw on the news this morning that there was a special memorial ceremony yesterday on the flight deck for the men who survived the fire.  I never could have made it though that one.  There were shots of men weeping.  So many memories.  I know that a widow of one of the men lost was going to be there.  God bless her.  She was just a baby when that all happened, like me, and she went through hell.
This morning the breakfast area in my hotel was filled w/Navy vets.  Nice to see that so many men have kept in touch and are sharing this reunion.  They're all old men now by today's standards.   Funny we don't think of ourselves as old, except maybe when we look in the mirror first thing in the morning and see our gray hair, puffy eyes and droopy faces :)

Bucket List

I believe that God puts us where he wants us, that's His divine power. In human terms I also believe that He sometimes puts us in the right place at the right time. Wednesday and Thursday, this all came together.
Wednesday: on my flight leaving from Baltimore what are the chances that the man sitting next to me and another man sitting in front of me would be Navy vets who were serving on the Enterprise at the same time as my husband?
Thursday: With God's guidance, I made it to the base without incident. It was a melancholy moment when found myself standing in front of that giant legend of a ship again after 43 years....thinking about that now, I realize that I was a "child," the same age as my grandson. Life was good, life was an adventure but in that life I was also clueless as to what life had in store. I was naive. I believed that everyone was good, people were always honest and no one would hurt me.

This computer keeps giving me error messages so I think I'll close out for now. Know that who-ever is reading this, I'm thinking about you, happy knowing that you're my support, my rock

Happy Thanksgiving

My greatest gift has been your friendship.  For that I'm truly thankful. 



November 1st.

I hate this

These are the kind of times that make me want to sell my house and head west...west to fires and earthquakes no doubt but this weather scares the dickens out of me. I've done everything I could think of to make riding out this storm an easy ride.  I have water, food, portable radio, camping light, matches, a full tank of gas, emergency numbers, meds, money, important papers, storm doors in place, the laundry all done, a sleeping bag in case it gets really cold, plastic for the windows....God help me if I have to use it......the staple gun for the plastic.  Again, God help me if I have to use it.  I'll probably have a stroke trying to deal w/that kind of emergency.  Everything from the yard is inside, including hoses and hose reels, clothes line etc. etc.  I tried to think of everything.  The only thing I couldn't bring inside are the 40 - 50' trees in front of my neighbor's house that always worry me when we have high winds.  If they fall my way, they're going to take out my power lines. 
I know I'm being a chicken but sometimes, it sure isn't fun when you're alone.

Wednesday, October 23, 2002

 

Works for me

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-Xl17B-Z0A



Nicks/Celtics Game last night.

No need for words I guess..................
....except that our team, the Celtics won!

Before and After...another project completed.

Here's the chair that I got at a rummage sale for $15.00 last year.  My original thought was to use it on the screen porch but when I got it home, I discovered that it fit me so well and was quite comfy, I'd rather have it in the living room.  I just have to find the right cushion for her now.

Tuesday Night Throwdown

For me, that was worth staying up late last night.  Two alpha males circling the ring!

Just checking - I'm not sure how to do this.  So this is a test sort of.

My back yard, about a month ago.

Today my mood is happy, joyful, thankful, and whatever other adjective describes a woman who's had a good day.  When I'm feeling this good, I don't hesitate to purchase whatever catches my eye or my heart.  After a productive day at the hospital this morning, I visited my favorite little book store down town and purchased this book.  I'm hoping it's a narrative of the kind of life that I always imagined for myself.  What makes it special to me is that it's set upstate on Lake Champlain, the north country and the lake that are both near and dear to my heart.  I'll be happy to know that someones dreams really did come true. 
http://www.amazon.com/The-Dirty-Life-Farming-Food/dp/1416551603



Bonnie Blue.....

Have you met Bonnie Blue? 
12/30/11

Remember this?



Millie and Bella

They've settled in quite nicely.

William F. Buckley

"Barack Oboma, knight of the peevish contenance illustrated William F. Buckley's axiom that liberals who celebrate tolerance of other views always seem amazed that there are other views."
                                                                             .....George Will

Gotta love it!

Paulette Bunyon

So I went out and bought my very own chain saw yesterday.  Now if it would just stop raining, I could get some much needed yardwork done.

Meet Millie

Millie arrived about a half hour ago.  She'll be here until the 18th.....

BIG DOG!!!

 

All's Well That Ends Well.....

Well, here it is. I finished the antique quilt this morning around 10:45AM.  It took me 2 1/2 hours to make and apply 10 yards binding to the front of the quilt and then yesterday I worked from 7:00PM until 11:00PM tacking the binding to the back.  I only did three sides last night, my eyes, neck and back were too tired to finish.  After a chiropractor's visit this morning, I came home and spent another hour or so finishing things up. I hope to be delivering the quilt to it's rightful owner some time this afternoon.  I'm posting photos of the front, back, a close up of the quilting seen from the back of the quilt, a spot of my blood that will stay w/the quilt and a close up of the original hand sewing that was done by the creator of this "Lady of the Lake" quilt.  There has to be hundreds, maybe thousands of hand stitches made over 100 years ago.  I'm so impressed at the talent and love.

P.S.  I made a guesstimate of how many small triangles were hand stitched into this quilt....over 1000.

My beautiful niece got married

 

 

 

My niece, my brother's granddaughter, got married in South Carolina yesterday. Conspicuously absent, to me, is my brother.  I knew he wouldn't make the effort to attend.  It's ok because Marianne's husband Lew (pictured at the right) has been a fantastic grandfather to all of Jimmy's kids. He loves them and is very supportive.  They in turn, adore him.  That's Jim on the left, all grown up and a grandpaw already!  His wife Tammy is next to him.

Mother Earthy

I'm feeling very mother earthy.............yesterday I made 4 1/2 quarts of chicken stock for the freezer.  Boy, did the house ever smell good!  Later on today I'm getting the last of the tomatos into the freezer for the winter. 

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words......

Inactivation P.S.

An "official form" from the US Navy for the inactivation ceremony invitation arrived in my e-mail this morning.
They said my request for invitation had been approved and I had to fill out some more forms and that was it.  After I stopped crying, I sent the forms back.  Looks like this journey is a go!  One more thing off my bucket list.

After 43 years.............a glimpse at closure

I went on the web-site this evening just to see if there was any new information out there and I found a new icon to click "Homecoming."  This was the picture.  The sight of this ship pulling into San Francisco Bay is a memory I'll never forget.  Along w/the photo were forms for tours of the ship, official invitations to the ceremony, maps of the base, a gate pass for the base, rules and regs..etc. etc.  I believe I followed all of the instructions.  I now have a reservation to tour the ship on November 29th....I've printed out the gate pass and invitation to the inactivation ceremony.  I can't believe this is all happening.  Now I can make hotel reservations.  I have to find out if I can get on the base in a cab, if not, I'll have to get a car or drive there.  I had decided to fly last night.  It would still be pretty cheap to rent a car for 2 or 3 days.  At this point in my life, I can spoil myself.
After 43 years I'm getting closure on a 29 year chapter of my life.  Now I just have to remember to

B     R     E     A     T     H     E

15,000 people are expected to be in attendance at the closing ceremony.  I'm felling like I did in 1969 when I realized that I had to find one sailor in a crowd of over 4,000 getting off the ship.







I Really Need a Hug

What a day.  Things were going along just fine and I was about to make my last phone call of the day at the food pantry.  One of my colleagues stepped into the office and pulled a card from our file.  She placed it in front of me and said something to the effect ..."this man says he only comes about once a year, can you help him?"  No problem.  He came into my office sat down and began to tell me that he only needed the essentials.  Nothing that needed to be cooked.  Only pop top cans etc. etc. 
Do you have access to a stove so you can cook? I asked.  "No" was the answer.  He just wanted things that didn't need to be cooked or refrigerated and could be opened easily as he didn't have a can opener.  His speach was very difficult to understand.  Finally, I asked the man to just wait outside and I'd find things that he could use.  When he was in the waiting area, my friend and coordinator of the pantry said that she knew who he was and that he was homeless and lived in a tent.   That's when I lost it.  I started tossing everything I could find for him into bags, all the while crying and mumbling that no one should live in a tent.  The more food I found for him, the more I cried.  I was a mess.  How do these things happen to people?  No one should have to live in a tent. 
This man, David, said that he ate a meal at the Salvation Army every day and I saw that he is getting some social services but still, he doesn't even have a can opener. So much is wasted in this country.  So many people are hungry and frightened.  It breaks my heart.  I need to grow thicker skin.  This stuff is killing me.   My friend gave me a hug afterwards and asked me if I cry at sad movies which made us both laugh but honestly.... I COULD USE A HUG RIGHT NOW.....a hug that lasts about 12 hours or so would do.

Bummer!

 

This is about all I accomplished yesterday....other than finding a simple route to the Albany Amtrak station.  No more fear of being out of my comfort zone.  Amtrak will now be a welcomed option. The city was hot, humid and oppressive.  I've never been so drained of energy from the heat. Just walking became an effort and that shouldn't be.
Norm Lewis was not in the play yesterday, he's in LA filming a TV series.  I was told he's commutes back and forth on the weekends. I understand his taking on another job, Porgy & Bess ends on the 23rd. of the month.
I can't even begin to tell you how disappointed I was.  He's the reason I made the trip.  I had my picture of him with my cousin Margot along w/me so he could autograph it for her and my old picture of him w/Gumby.  So very disappointed.........I can't begin to tell you.

I take that back. Something good did happen yesterday.
Somewhere a little north of Peekskill I saw a bald eagle perched on the bare limb of a dead or dying tree right along the Hudson River.  I couldn't believe what I had just seen and was dying to get my hands on a computer so check if they actually live in this area.  I did exactly that as soon as I got home. They do nest along the Hudson River and right in the area that I had see this magnificent bird.  Awesome!  I was an absolute "hawk-eye" on the trip home but all I saw were lots of heron, geese and ducks. 
http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/9382.html

P.S.  After hearing your voice, I'm not so sad anymore...thank you.

Singing In The Rain

Just my luck.  The weather forecast for Wednesday is "Heavy Thunderstorms." 
The last time I saw Norm on Broadway, it poured all day.  I was soaked to the bone.  Unbrellas are useless when the wind is blowing.  This is not going to be as nice a day as I had hoped.  Oh well, I'll stop complaining and make the best of it.

A bit of my history for you..............

I just put in an official request for an invitation to the Inactivation/Decomissioning Ceremony for my husband's ship, the USS Enterprise CVN 65. It will be at Norfolk Naval Station. I'm making this trip if it kills me. That ship made a huge impact on my life.  I thought for a day and a half that I was a widow at 21 as my husband was on the flight deck often.  Before he was deployed, he told me over and over again, "I'm on the safest ship in the Navy." Somehow, I didn't quite believe that going over to Viet Nam was "safe."  He also told me that if anything were to happen, I should call the base and the Red Cross.  Well, when the explosion happened, panic broke out back in in San Diego naval community.  I called the base over and over again but no one knew how many men were dead.  Finally, someone told me that Washington would know before San Diego so he gave me the number and I called every hour, all night.  By dawn, they knew my voice and would say...no mame, you husband isn't on the list at this time. It was a day and a half before anyone could make a call home and that was just to say I'm OK and let the next sailor use the phone.  I don't even know if it was a phone....it was on loud speaker. There were over 4,000 needing to call home.  A one minute conversation was enough.  Twenty-eight men lost their lives, ove 300 were injured. Thankfully, Bill came home. I can still see that mighty ship passing slowly under the San Francisco Bridge. It looked so small...then after what seemed like hours, we began to see the outline of the men standing on the ship. It still makes me cry

Stella's got her groove back

OY VEY! Looks like I'm back to my old self again. Planted beets this morning, mowed the lawn, weed whacked the driveway and around the house, cleaned up the debris, got some tomatos from the garden put up and in the freezer and just now I finished sanding one of my new kitchen chairs that didn't quite fit under my little table. Needed to sand about a half inch off the seat. Didn't think it would take so long but then again, I was sanding 'cause I don't have a plane........maybe that's a good thing......me with a plane in my hand, I could do some real damage. Time for a cup of coffee.

Perfect Corn on the Cob

Here's how to have a perfectly cooked ear of corn right from the microwave, no fuss, no muss. 

I have a small microwave so I cook it longer.  It works! 

Yum!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxiUarir5RA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnBF6bv4Oe4

Peace

Peace, acceptance and calm have settled into the very core of my being.

Knowing now that I did the best I could with the tools I had at the time,

I’ve forgiven the many mistakes that I've made along my life’s path.

I no longer judge others.

I no longer criticize. 

Who am I to judge, lest I be judged in return?

I accept who I am.

I accept who you are.

I accept circumstances. 

Everything happens according to God’s plan.

I no longer question His judgement.

Each of us is at a particular point in our lives.

Finding and accepting inner peace is a blessing that maybe comes only with age.

None-the-less, it’s worth the wait.

All of the pain, all of the struggles and all of life’s joys are just stepping stones to the calm that settles inside you when you’re quiet and alone with your thoughts in the fourth quarter of this game called life.

2/10/12

 

OYE

Dear God.  I put down 520 pounds of topsoil this afternoon.  On top of that, grass seed and then some more topsoil.   I'm so tired I can't see straight.  Why do I think I can still do what I did  so easily when I was 30 years of age? 
It's getting there.  Time to sell the house and move into a luxury apartment where all I have to do is pick up the phone when something needs to be done around the house.  
Thank goodness I have lots of ice for my back and a bottle of my favorite Merlot, sliced cheese and pepperoni and crackers.  
Tomorrow is another day.   Hopefully I'll be around to see it.

Mason and Nala

This is a photo of my friend's grandson Mason and his dog.

She entered this in the Daily Gazette photo contest.  I hope it wins!

(I like dogs but not this much!)

Leroy and Anne Merrihew, married August 6, 1939 until his untimely death in 1955

Anne Merrihew - April 11, 1916 - August 6, 2000...she died on what would have been her 61st. wedding anniversary. Here she is at age 82 and as she always used to say "Not bad for an old lady"