I Stand Corrected ....

Last night was NOT SuperBowl Sunday. (as I stated in last night's blog post)

But I did have a glass of wine.

And I did enjoy it.

I will consider that a "practice run" for next weekend !

Blah Blah Blah Blah Blog ....

Sunday night ... 11:30PM and I am downright BLAH !

A friend got me started on a book/DVD series called "Tales of the City" "More Tales of the City" and "Further Tales of the City" ... and although I am only thru the book/DVDs of the first sequel .. I AM HOOKED.

In addition to my new found addiction ... I have been on the phone all weekend with friends as we live through a mini-saga of our own.

Which leads me to Sunday night ... with many tasks still undone ... an annoying dry cough which either means a cold is on the way ~ or hopefully ~ I've been talking too much on the phone : ) Hopefully that's it ~

So I am writing this post, under the duress of a mis-spent weekend, but one alas I have enjoyed.

Thanks dear friends for keeping me connected (aka my 'one word resolution') as I head to bed to nurse my cough.

Is it Super Bowl Sunday ?? Somehow I believe I got so caught up in my "connections" that I lost sight of this excuse to enjoy and extra glass of wine tonight =0 But it is not too late .... so I shall.

TTFN !

KARMA ...

KARMA : the force generated by a person's actions held in Hinduism and Buddhism to perpetuate transmigration and in its ethical consequences to determine the nature of the person's next existence


A week ago, a couple of friends and I were having a discussion about KARMA. We used one individual we know as our point of reference for discussion.

Days later ... KARMA is showing itself and there is much more of the tale yet to unravel.

Do you beleive in KARMA ?

I do.

Look, Don't Buy ! ! But ....

While visiting Virginia this past month .. although "visiting" is not the most appropriate choice of word .... I stopped by a few of my favorite fabric stores ... and was in heaven.

Despite the fact that every bone in my body was aching to take home some textile treasures ... I couldn't. Money was tight and there were needs much more pressing than satiating my craving for FABRIC.

As I walked the aisles ... a sales lady whom I had known from my years in VA, suggested I buy a stash of fabric and "ship it home" so as not to have to pack it in my suitcase.

I smiled .. and secretly wished that was an option. But it wasn't.

Then I remembered my camera tucked in my pocketbook. I walked around and found the fabric selections that I most wanted to take home with me. So I did the next best thing .... I snapped a few photos and they made the trip back to NY with me.

Not my #1 desire ... but the photos bring a smile to my face whenever I see them. And that is not a bad alternative ~~~

Oh Puleeeeeeeeeeezzzzz

Today an email was sent to a select few in my office. It was a request. A simple request .. but none the less a bit troubling.

A co-worker said her daughter's pre-school was requesting that folks save the paper tubes from toilet tissue and paper towels. It has apparently been deemed that these items are "safe" for children to use when creating art.

OKAY !! Let's step back a few generations when kids used blunt scissors; ate glue; licked the tempra paints off their fingers and used salmanella laced egg cartons for arts & crafts. WE DIDN'T DIE .... we just built up immunities.

So .. it seems we need to keep things "safe" for today's children ... fine .. seems rational .... except ... Why are we giving them fecal laced cardboard toilet tissue rolls and salmanella laced kitchen paper towel rolls with which to make "safe" art ...?

Just curious..... ummmm, maybe because they have no sharp edges ?!?!?

Tonight is the Night I Collapse ...

I arrived home from Virginia on Saturday evening. Since then it has been playing catch-up at home, at the office and on all the paperwork left over from my time spent down South.

~ The remaining housework will have to wait.
~ The paperwork for the hospital "incidents" has been mailed.
~ My desk at work is 80% clear of the tasks that had awaited my return.
~ And I am halfway through the piles of mail that stacked up in my absence.

A glass of wine is awaiting me and then ... off to bed.

Life is Good ... Life is Very Good ... and ultimately that is all that matters.
Good Night

Happy 70th Birthday to Neil Diamond

OKAY .. let's get this straight before I ramble on too far. I like Neil Diamond ... icon from my teen years. But my dear friend Margaret, is OBSESSED with Neil Diamond.


HEY MARGARET ~~~~~ this one is for you !

Today is his 70th birthday and to commemorate this momentus event ... for Margaret ... I am posting a link from another blogger who notes that Neil Diamond has marked every significant event in her life ... ENJOY !!


"Open Letter to Neil Diamond"

What a Difference a Day Makes ...

Saturday morning ... Jan 22nd ... Virginia

Sunday Morning ... Jan 23rd ... Upstate NY


Whatsa girl to do ?? Shovel snow .... !

Dorothy ..... I found my rainbow

"Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?"




... dreams really do come true.

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow ....

Parting is difficult, but it means we are moving on to the next step.

It has been quite the ride my son ... thank you for bringing me along.

I will miss you.

Love Ya
Mom

Withdrawing from Keyboard Addiction

I love my laptop and waited a long time to get it after my first laptop died. My laptop has created an addiction to "staying in touch" with the world and "information overload." But the laptop was my lifeline to the world while sitting in the hospital caring for Josh.

Yesterday I made a painful decision. I am leaving my laptop in Virginia for Josh to use while he recuperates from his back surgery. It will help him pass the time as he looks for a new place to live (his landlord is going to build new condos on the land where Josh's rental house now sits); he can watch movies on Netflix; he can send his dear mother daily emails about his progress (doubt that will happen).

As hard as it is to leave my laptop behind .... it would be harder to leave knowing my son has too much idle time on his hands during his long recovery.

Farewell my friend ... I will miss you ... but I am entrusting you to take care of my son for me.

Three Giant Steps

Today, the bandage came off and thank goodness the incision looks fine.

Then ... a hot shower.

FINALLY ... the arrival of the twins, Blackie and Brownie (private joke)

Three steps closer to normalcy.

YEAH Josh .... so proud of you !!

Chloe

This is Chloe. She has been a wonderful companian and walking buddy since I moved in with Roger. A gentle spirit.


I am gonna miss you Chloe when I leave.

Monday, January 17th ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Let me alone, Let me go home, Let me go back and start over...."

(This is my intended post for yesterday .. but after a tenuous 18 mile drive from the hospital to Josh's house, I had a glass of wine instead.)

After three very long days in the hospital ... ready to go home.







I proved I can walk.










I reported a pain level under 5.


















And I no longer want the address: Room 2410















Good Luck Josh on a speedy recovery ~~

Love Ya
Mom

More Support .....

Since the announcement of the date of Josh's back surgery, we have received an outpouring of support from friends, family and co-workers. Support comes in many forms ... and today I learned about a new one.....



It is a series of foam lined hard plates; movable back plates; huge velcro straps and strings ~~~ a back support brace. This contraption will be the "support" Josh needs to walk and heal and to get back to as normal a life as possible.

Pain Pain Go Away

If I had one wish at this moment .. it would be to find two pills; one for Josh and one for me. The pills would induce amnesia starting on January 14th until Josh is reasonably pain free.

Amen

Hey Neighbor !

During my 3 glorious years living on Norland Circle ... my best buddy was my next door neighbor Roger aka "George" and his dog, Wheezie. Whenever we saw each other, the greeting was always the same, "Hey Neighbor"

Now, more than 5 years after I moved away ... Roger is still the kind soul and giving person that first attracted me to him as a "best buddy." Roger is generously opening his home to me and letting me use his truck as I go through the motions to get Josh healthy again. What a gem !

Love ya Roger .. I still owe you an apology, but you overlooked my grand faux pas and threw out the welcome mat anyway.

Hey Neighbor ... Thanks

Counting the days

When life is on an even keel, we take so much for granted. There is little variation in our daily routine, predictability. Predictability can be comforting.

Today was not predictable.
Today was not comfortable.
Today was not routine.

Waiting for life to get back on an even keel.
Please hurry ..

Hurting

I run to the window to watch as he leaves in the rain

.... and I pray

I Smell ....

Today as I went visiting and ran my errands .. I could hear folks saying to each other ... "I smell pancakes." or "I smell grilled cheese" or "I smell (fill in the blank with a food item)"

I would nonchalantly go about my business ... all the while knowing I was the subject causing everyone's senses to immediately turn from their present thoughts or conversations to FOOD.

The real culprit .... dum de dum dum ...the hotel microwave .. now banished to the balcony outside my room, where I might add it has a glorious oceanfront view. : )

Yesterday, I was getting tired of cold food for every meal, so I walked to Walgreen's, which is a mile round-trip, to buy myself a "meal" (and I use that term loosely) to cook in the hotel microwave that would feel warm in my tummy. The winning selection from the drugstore grocery shelves was a cup of Velveeta Shells and Cheese. ummmmm

So, at lunchtime today .. I peeled back the cover, removed the foil packet containing the Velveeta cheese, filled with water to the waterline, and placed in the microwave for the requisite amount of time ... 3.5 minutes.

Now .. this is the part I debated about leaving out ... but here goes. Since I had 3.5 minutes to idle away while my shells cooked, I decided to take this time to run to the lobby for my morning coffee which I had yet to have ..and I MUST have my coffee. This would take about the same amount of time that as my shells. So I picked up my room key - my travel mug - and off to the lobby to get coffee.

Gone just a few minutes ... I came off the elevator, coffee in hand, on the 2nd floor and heard a fire alarm in a room going off. WELL - since this hotel only had about 5 patrons in the entire 8 floor structure ... I picked up my pace and started to run to my room.

At the door I could see smoke pouring out thru the door .. OH GREAT !! My door to Room 201 had been troublesome since the first day, but I was not on any time schedule this trip, so I had never reported it to hotel management. Now I was in panic mode because the troublesome door was wasting precious moments.

I finally got the door to the room open .. and when I did .. the smoke poured into the hallway and the loud hotel fire alarms started going off .... SHIT !! I quickly (which I now realize was a mistake) opened the microwave door to peek and as the smelly black cloud of smoke emerged ~ the alarms went into high volume overdrive. SHIT

I ran to my room phone and casually announced when the front desk answered "Hi, this is Andrea in Room 201. I burned my lunch in the microwave, so if you hear fire alarms .. don't be concerned ... its just me." Well - my casual tone was evidently not convincing. In seconds I had the owner and the maintenance guy at my door. The maintenance guy unplugged the microwave - and ran to my balcony.

WHEW !! The smoking microwave was gone...but not the smell. Everything in the room, including all the clothing in my very limited wardrobe .... phew.

I had not unscathed clothing to change into .. so I left to visit friends and run errands .. and hence, the "I smells ...." began.

The motto of this story: When the food package reads "Do not leave this product unattended while cooking." BELIEVE IT ~ sniff sniff

PLUMBER PLEASE ! !

As Jeanne, a dear friend in my book club announced after one meeting "Oh my gosh ! Andrea got thru a meeting without crying."

I was a loner through my school years, content to keep company with my books and sewing machines. After school came college accompanied by two jobs and then marriage, which immediately threw me into the thros of military life.

Military life is not easy, and it can be very lonely. Husband is gone; family is far away; and all the Navy wives are occupied keeping their households afloat single-handedly. But you don't cry ! #1 - Because you are your kids anchor and you don't want them to know there is a chink in the metal. #2 - Everyone is in the same boat so you are no different from anyone else around you.




Fast forward to 2002 ... Navy life and marriage come to a screeching halt. Life becomes free-er and relationships are made out of "because I like you" ... not because "we are in the same boat."

This huge transition brought with it new emotions and the new emotions have brought lots and lots of tears. For the first time in my life "I FEEL" and I let myself feel. If I am happy .. I am overboard with glee. If I get weepy over a sad story or a long ago memory or one of life's events ... I CRY ... and I cry and I cry. I make no apologies ...

BECAUSE IT FEELS GOOD TO FEEL.

Today ... as life reared its ugly head ... along comes Jonathan Jo

Today, as my life crumbled around me, Jonathan Jo introduced himself into my life... and now my burdens are lighter. Thanks Margaret... again and again and again

Jonathan Jo
by A. A. Milne (aka Winnie the Pooh guy)

Jonathan Jo
Has a mouth like an "O"
And a wheelbarrow full of surprises;
If you ask for a bat,
Or for something like that,
He has got it, whatever the size is.

If you're wanting a ball,
It's no trouble at all;
Why, the more that you ask for, the merrier -
Like a hoop and a top,
And a watch that won't stop,
And some sweets, and an Aberdeen terrier.

Jonathan Jo
Has a mouth like an "O,"
But this is what makes him so funny:
If you give him a smile,
Only once in a while,
Then he never expects any money!


To those who have extended prayers, and priceless generosity, words of kindness and words of strength... Thank You. I now know we will get thru this with your warm embraces.

Mixed Emotions

For months and months, we (me) have awaited word that my son would have surgery to restore his ability to walk. The day has come. But my emotions are not elated by the news. The news has come with some grim forecasts .... predominately .... an 8 month recovery.

WHAT ??? A few months ago, surgery would have been laproscopic and recovery - complete and total in minimal time. But now, after many months of waiting for insurance company beaurocracy and red tape ... approval has come. But at a very dear cost. The cost is time. The cost is pain. The cost is % of recovery.

May his path be paved with the out pouring of love and caring from family and friends. May the hands of his caregivers be swift and sure. May 2011 bring a better life in years to come.

I love you Josh ... and I curse the distance between us.

It is for moments like this ......

...that I always have a camera with me.

This little critter, a pure white squirrel, was the highlight of my morning walk with Spike. He was in the woods at the top of my street.

Priceless !

New Year .... New Word

My ‘one word’ for 2010 was WELL-BEING … the state of being happy and healthy and prosperous. 2010 was every one of these for me. Prosperous may not have been in the monetary sense as one would first conclude … but more in the genre of flourishing; healthy growth. If 2011 is anything like 2010, then I have another prosperous year to look forward to.

The word I have chosen for 2011 is …(drum roll)… CONNECTION.
There is a whole big world outside of our own little universe. This year … I hope to become more in tune with my tiny universe and the whole big world out there.

•Mind-body connection: Emotions affect health. Mindfulness. Continued good health is possible only if the mind believes it.

•Social Justice connection: Just because I cannot see forced labor/child labor in foreign countries, does not mean it does not exist. I can make a tiny difference. I can have a voice, by choosing how I spend my consumer dollars. Buying Fair Trade food, clothing and home products sends the message that I CARE where my products come from. I CARE about the people who made/grew them and the environment from which they came. This value holds true for the quality of life for animals who provide for us too. Buy accordingly.


•Connecting to the environment: This earth is “going to hell in a hand-basket” (one of Dad’s common phrases ..Thanks Dad ... I don't think this one will get me in trouble .. tehe .. private joke among the book club) We have used it and abused it. This year I will take my ‘organic – no chemicals’ stand to a higher level. Swap out the paper towels for cloth rags.(Thanks Kate) Cloth napkins instead of paper napkins. ALWAYS remember to take my reusable shopping bags to the grocery store… not ‘sometimes.’ Use that tin can to store buttons or thread instead of sending it to be recycled or buying a plastic storage bin at the Dollar Store. Continue to use no chemical cleaners and beauty products in my house. Continue to use no chemicals in my yard that will pollute our waters. The list of potential action is endless.

•People connection: I am a loner who could stay locked in my house 24/7 for a month and be perfectly content reading, sewing, creating. But that is not how life is. Life involves interaction with others on many different levels. I want to elevate friendship, companionship, dealings, and inter-relationships to a level where I become more engaged when with a person/people, to be more aware, and to pick-up on subtleties and react accordingly. Less texting - pick-up the phone - hear a voice. Less email ... walk to my co-workers office for a face-to-face. I vow to SHOP LOCAL when I have a choice. Not only is this more environmentally friendly ... but it is economically sound and allows for more interaction with those in our own and near-by communities.

In a nutshell, I want to connect thru awareness and proactive action with myself, my family and friends, and the world (people and environment). It is a very very lofty resolution - but I surround myself with friends who have similar beliefs - and that will make the journey easier and much more rewarding. My friend Anne reminds me: “ONE PERSON AT A TIME, WE CAN CREATE CHANGE” …. And thru CONNECTION, I will be a part of change.

Happy 2011