Archive for October, 2012

Waiting for Sandy

Monday, October 29th, 2012

Waiting for a hurricane is like watching paint dry: it will happen but not soon enough. But in the mean time we wait and watch the news and learn more about tidal surges and barometric isobars. Yes it is raining and it is windy but it is the tides that are doing the damage.

I am with my cousins in DC, whose New Jersey coastal town home is under water. It has been in the family for several generations and was the site of this past summer’s Family Reunion. It holds many of my mothers’ paintings and other family records. BUT, if you live at 6 inches above sea level and the sea is now 9 feet above normal, then something is gonna wash away.  All of those outer banks and barrier islands are mainly sandbars protecting the mainland and could just crumble and wash away. This is the storm that happens every 75 years and reconfigures the terrain.

So we wait, and watch as long as we have power, and pray.

Marathon Man

Monday, October 29th, 2012

Two years in the planning, a long way from home, and a lot of pressure to finish, and HE DID IT!  Steve Morales completed the 37th Annual Marine Corp Marathon (biggest in history) in near record time of 6 hours 8 minutes! YOU try running for that long (at 64 yrs of age to boot)!

The weather was perfect: gloomy and low 60’s. With a looming hurricane, it was miraculous that there was no rain. Praise God! And Captain Morales got choked up when the marine put the medal around his neck. “Well done, sir!”

You can imagine it’s quite a race with all the monuments of DC. There were bands and drumlines and lots of cheering spectators (and cute soldiers).

And speaking of spectators, let’s hear it for the dedication they exhibit in standing there for hours cheering others all in anticipation of ‘their’ runner coming by. Then running to the next viewing opportunity. This is not a job for the weak-willed. Way to go, Debbie, Carolyn, Jeff and super-Julie who ran some of the race at critical times. Well done, indeed!

Williamsburg

Wednesday, October 24th, 2012

This is my third time to Colonial  Williamsburg, Virginia, and next time you just might find me moved in!

You can volunteer, dress up in period costume, and then rent a place on the property.

Hmmmm.

Silver and Gold

Wednesday, October 24th, 2012

“Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.”

That was going back to my early Girl Scout days and is certainly true on this East Coast 2012 trip.

Patty and Doug Halvorsen, our very first neighbors as newly weds, taught me bridge, killed my spiders, and were with me when the nurse called to say I was pregnant with Robbie. They held my hand while Steve was in Vietnam for 7 months, and all those other times he was at sea, ate my cooking, played ultimate Frisbee, and built me a patio cover.  Good times.

Nelda and Ed Cockman were church friends in Huntington Beach and had boys that could play with Robbie and Andy. We were in a small group that would do ANYthing for each other and we still all stay in touch. Forever friends that bounced around a lot but find that Pinehurst, North Carolina fits just right!

Elaine and Cliff Faille who are Pfizer folk, and became friends in retirement as we travel to medical conventions. Crazy Elaine inspires me to come out of my shell, and Cliff and Steve have ‘history” together. They are the ultimate grandparents, and she’s a “Mimi” too! And I couldn’t keep her still enough to get a photo this time!

Headed to DC now to be with cousins who are more like good friends! Precious times with everyone.

Role Reversal

Monday, October 15th, 2012

In Daytona Beach and it’s time…time to get my Dad lined up for a retirement home.  The mind and spirit are not ready but the body is, and we are braced for a fight.  After working with him on a 35 page application for the new VA facility only 5 minutes away, he dug in with all sorts of arguments and fears.  He accused me of coming with the ulterior motive of locking him up. Tomorrow we work on some power of attorney and bank issues. Then another try.

We’ve told him he can say “when” but let’s get our ducks in order.        

sigh

Just Us Kids

Monday, October 15th, 2012

You know what’s great about going to Disney World without your children?

EVERYTHING!

Doing what we wanted to do, when, and how. No whining, no arguments, no rushing, and no sticky hands.  We just played for 4 pure days and did it our way.

I think I need a princess dress!

It Could Give You A Rash

Monday, October 15th, 2012

Humidity – that invisible wall of air that hits you as soon as you de-plane in Orlando in October.

Now the Disney attractions were entertaining but I found my eyebrows not thick enough to hold back the sweat! My power walks looked like dunks in the pool. Clothing doesn’t dry, make-up runs, deodorant fizzles, and hair frizzes.  

We are now moving up the state to Daytona after a great time at the JW Marriott(work) and the Magic Kingdom(play). I am in search of dryer/cooler weather before MOSS grows on my backside!