It's alive!

When my little birds were really little birds my mother-in-law...aka Namby...used to tie up a man's handkerchief into this "shape", and play a game with them. She would hold the hankie in her hand and pet it like "a little mouse" and when the little birds would come close to pet it she would make it "jump" up her arm. This, of course, has caused much laughing AND screeching over the years!! Every little bird in the family has had a visit from this mouse at one time or another.



Well, the other night grandlittle bird, Cailyn, was visiting with Namby and D'dad and was introduced to the "little mouse". She of course screeched each time the mouse would "jump" up Namby's arm. Finally, Namby untied the hankie to show her that it was not real. After that grandlittle told everyone about the "little mouse". She even talked Namby into letting her sleep with it. She snuggled with it in her arm all night!

Tonight grandlittle went upstairs to get ready for bed when she suddenly screeched to her mommy that something was running around in her bedroom...and it must be the "little mouse...it's really alive!" Our littlebird, of course, screeched for her "daddy" to come and rescue them. And so begins a very comical 15 minutes or so.

After determining that the "hankie...little mouse" was maybe a "little chipmunk", my honey came downstairs and got a broom. He wanted me upstairs...for support I guess...as Cailyn was screeching...my littlebird was screeching...and I was supposed to calm them down. Well, I climbed up on my littlebird's bed where the girls were hiding and explained to grandlittle what was running around in her bedroom. It was not the "hankie...little mouse" but a little chipmunk like the ones she sees running around outside in the flower beds. It wasn't going to hurt her, and it was just as scared of her as she was of it. GP would get it, not to worry. I turned to leave and shut the bedroom door. Uh-oh...I forgot that the door "locks" and can not open once you shut it tight.

Why this is an uh-oh is because all the rooms connect upstairs...that was the only door that provided an escape route without having to pass through where the chipmunk was "cornered". My littlebird was beginning to get a bit screechy again. So what did I do...I bailed!!!!! I went back downstairs and thought I would just leave the master chipmunk catcher to do his task. What did he need me there for???

After a few minutes I heard littlebird calling for me to bring up a bucket. Here's when it really gets funny. I am sorry now that I did not record any of this! I took the bucket upstairs and found that my honey had blocked himself and the chipmunk...which at this point has been correctly identified as a small squirrel...in one section of the bathroom. In this small section of the bathroom is a toilet and a sink, closed off with two pocket doors. There is not much room in there! All I could hear was my honey jumping around and laughing while whacking the floor with the broom!

I told him I had the bucket so he slid open one of the pocket doors to get it and...oh no!!!!...out comes "Rocky"...right towards me. So now I'm screeching and jumping on grandlittle bird's bed. "Rocky" obviously was not the brightest squirrel in town as he turned and ran right back into the section with the pocket doors. Trapped again!!

My honey in his ever-so calm manor, managed to capture "Rocky" and send him for a swim down the toilet towards the septic tank. We knew this was the right course of action because if you remember back when we first purchased the BlessInn, our realtor told us to periodically throw a groundhog into the septic to keep it working properly (see "Not This Groundhog's Day -July 2009). Although this squirrel was quite a bit smaller than a groundhog, my honey figured it could help out somewhat...given we have been having septic issues lately!

So, my honey saved the day once more! Oh, wait...littlebird and grandlittle bird are still locked in the bedroom. A hero's work is never done! It took him just a few seconds to "unlock" the door, save his princesses and save the day.

I hope grandlittle bird can fall asleep in her room tonight. Maybe she and Mommy will have to snuggle together in mommy's bed. I am sure that is where I will find them in the morning!

Menopausal Insanity

I have heard it said many times that once you reach menopause you begin to become even more forgetful. This fact has always been a little unsettling for me because I already suffer from daily memory loss...sometimes making life a bit scary for anyone living with me. LOL!

My latest brain hiccup happened just a few days ago. It struck me as so comical, I thought it worth a blog. Here goes...

Jessie, #3 littlebird, has a computer that crashed a long time ago. I kept telling her to bring it to the house, and I would take it to my favorite computer shop in our little town, but she kept forgetting. (Maybe this thing is hereditary...yikees!) Anyway, I knew this particular shop had done a lot of work at the church, and they are dependable.

Well, one day...several weeks ago, when I was picking up #3 at her apartment she surprised me by remembering her computer. I placed it in the back of the TBird, behind the seat, knowing one day I would just drop it off when I was out and about.

About a week ago I passed the shop, but it was pouring rain and I had a miserable cold. I chose not to stop. Wouldn't you know I saw Jessie that very next day and she asked it I had dropped off her computer yet for repair. I sheepishly told her no, but that I would...I promise!

Yesterday I made an appointment at the doctor's right after work to FINALLY take care of lingering symptoms from that cold I mentioned. I had a few extra minutes and knew I would pass right by the computer shop, so I planned to stop.

All the way there I was thinking about #3's computer...how I did not have a power cord for it, and maybe I would have to buy one before they could even get started...and also how I did not know her password to sign on to the computer, and would that be needed. These thoughts consumed my mind all the way to the shop.

I soon arrived, and parked on the street outside the shop. I turned to get the computer from behind my seat. Now take a moment here and get this visual...it is so important! I just spent the last 5 minutes obsessing about the computer and the issues I may incur when I got there to drop it off. I parked the car, turned it off...and turned around in my seat to grab the computer in its place where I had tucked it away several weeks earlier. OK...stop right there.

Here's when I realized my mind was not with me that day. I was not driving the TBird. I drove my honey's car to work that day. No TBird = no computer.

And definitely NO MIND!!!

See you later!

This past Saturday my mom passed away peacefully around noon. Because it was so sudden, I have been trying to process it all, and I must say, struggling a bit while working it through. She led a good, long and busy life, 88 years, but had not been ill, so this passing took us by surprise.

My little birds all came home to the mother nest. Of course. Funny thing about the timing...this past week we had already planned to be together. We were going to a family friend's wedding, and little birds Leigh and Will had already taken off work and planned to come home. I guess "Mimi" decided now was a good time to check into her new room, since we were already gathering.

My very smart grand littlebird Cailyn, has been trying to figure out what is going on. She will be four in just a few days, so it is a bit challenging to explain. Here are a few conversations she has had over the last couple of days. She never ceases to amaze me with her ability to process information...well beyond her years.

Cailyn "Mommy, why are you crying?"
Mommy, "Because Mimi died today and went to heaven to be with Carter."
Cailyn, "Oh. Well, some people go to the dentist, some people go to the doctors, and some people die."

Auntie Leigh, "Tomorrow we will go to see Mimi".
Cailyn, "How do we get there?" (after all, Mimi is in heaven, she was told)
Auntie Leigh, "Well, her heart and spirit are in heaven. Do you know what a spirit is?"
Cailyn, "No,maam."
Auntie Leigh, "Well your spirit is all your love and feelings...that's what is in heaven with Carter. Mimi's body is still here, asleep."
Cailyn, "Where is her head?"
Auntie Leigh, "With her body."

Cailyn, "Grandy, we are going to see Mimi today."
Grandy, "Well, actually you won't be able to see Mimi. She is asleep in a pretty shiny grey box. But the lid will be closed so you can't actually see her."
Cailyn, "Is it like a bed box?" (having been told Mimi's body is asleep)
Grandy, "Yes, just like a bed box. There is pretty pillow inside, and a blanket with roses on it. It looks just like a bed inside."

She has certainly helped to bring a smile to our faces these last few days,and made it all just a bit more bearable.

The other thing that makes this all bearable is this. My daily devotion on the day my Mom passed said that as Christians we never have to say goodbye. We can instead simply say see you later.

So..."See ya later, Mom!"

Crazy August Days

This summer sure has been an odd one, at least weather wise. We have had such a wet summer. Hot, then wet, then cooler, then hot again. It has also been an historical summer given we have had an earthquake and a hurricane within a week!!! I know my friends from MN (the two L's)who relocated here must be wondering 'just where in the heck are we living!'

Last Tuesday I took my Mom to the doctors, so I left work early. After her appointment I went back to the church to finish up a few things before I called it a day. As I was sitting at my desk I suddenly felt "dizzy"...like I was swaying unsteady on my feet...only...I was sitting down. I didn't think a lot about it at the time as I am a diabetic and thought I was experiencing some sort of "sugar dive". Not until I got home did I realize what I had felt was an earthquake! Never in my lifetime have I ever experienced one here on the east coast. As my friends on Facebook were saying, it gave new meaning to Carol King's hit "I Feel the Earth Move"! Most bizarre!

Then, on Saturday and Sunday we experienced the effects of Hurricane Irene. We were so fortunate here at the BlessInn, compared to some of my friends along the east coast that have experienced some damage from flooding and hurricane force winds. Other than being without power for 17 hours...and a soggy yard full of branches...we got through the weekend unscathed.

I posted a few pictures below of our creek and yard on Sunday. My honey has been busy with clean-up and reinforcing the levy he has been working on all summer to hold back most of the water when the creek floods...which is several times a year. All of the water this weekend continued on its way to contribute to the flooding of the Delaware River.

We are...once again...counting our blessings, knowing it could have been much worse!

Whoopsie Daisy!

My honey and I took a trip to MN for a wedding and to visit old friends. The traveling part was filled with frustrating moments. I feel a pattern here with my family and traveling. Maybe it's time to just settle in at the BlessInn and let everyone visit us. I kind of like that idea!

So we head out of our little local airport and when we arrive there was a delay with takeoff. Of course. We finally got on our way, but since we were going through Chicago we were already concerned. We do not have a great track record at Chicago. Nope...not at all. After checking our tickets we realized we had only 15 minutes to catch our connecting flight. This can't be good.

So my honey and I made a plan. He is the KING OF CARRY ON! I like to check anything I possibly can. So his bag was stored under the plane because nobody's bags really fit in the overhead compartment, now do they? I am totally confused by the CARRY ON concept...other than it is free! But you then have to stand in line and wait for them to retrieve your bag...kind of like a mini version of the luggage carousel.

So, here was the plan...I would "run ahead" and tell them at our connecting flight that they needed to wait for my honey...and of course his golf clubs...while he waited for his bag. Sounds simple. We were at a gate at the far end of G and I had to get to a gate at the far end of H. So off I went "running" out of the gate as fast as a 50-something...out of shape...over weight woman can run while carrying her tote full of everything she might possibly need for a 4 hour travel day. Do you have the visual?

So I'm plugging along...huffing and puffing...going as fast as I can...when uh-oh...my rubber soled sneaker stuck to the floor and the momentum kept my body moving forward. I know I am about to fall...but typical in a time like this...it is all in V..E..R..Y....S..L..O..W....M..O..T..I..O..N. I finally landed...first knees...then elbows...then kind of rolled on to my belly. Geesh...I hate when that happens! I looked up and at least 400 pairs of eyes were looking at me sprawled on the floor. I quickly jumped up...laughing...saying I'm ok...I'm ok! I really did not know if I was ok...but everything seemed to be in place. I picked up my bag and off I went....realizing "OJ Simpson, I am not!"

I arrived at the gate, out of breath, saying "did I miss the flight!?" The gate keeper said "no" and hurriedly opened the door for me. I asked them to please wait for my honey....who was right behind me...and of course his golf clubs that just had to make it on this plane. He had a 3:30 tee time after all! I got to the plane and asked the flight attendant for a glass of water. As I am walking down the aisle of this very large and FULL plane...drink in hand...every person looked like I was next on their "hit list". I figured they were upset thinking the plane was being held for this woman who just came from the bar! As I approached my seat apologizing for having arrived so late someone said..."well, we aren't going anywhere anyway...the generator is not working!" So...why was I running again????

My honey finally arrived and settled in next to me and I shared the good news of our delay...and the story of my "trip" to the gate. At this point I was beginning to feel every point of contact with the floor...and places that hadn't hit the floor! After waiting for an hour for the generator to be fixed they had us deplane. They moved us to another gate where another plane sat waiting for us...a miracle for Chicago airport!

Oh, I forgot to mention that once again I had coordinated flights so that we could meet our little bird, Carrie, in MN...landing at the same time. My honey kept stressing to her that she had better be at the luggage carousel waiting for us because we had a 2 hour drive to Alexandria...and he had a 3:30 tee time! Well, she was at the luggage carousel...and we were still in Chicago sitting on a broken airplane! The best made plans...

We finally did arrive in MN safely, met our little bird and got on the road arriving just in time for my honey's tee time.

I am a little sore...no a lot sore...but happy to have arrived and to visit with the friends I missed so much!

Sisterhood of the "Traveling Pee Your Pants" - the journey's end

Our last two port days were in Nassau and Freeport, Bahamas. I had been to both of these ports twice before, as had Sissy, but M3 had never been either place. Of course...we had to show her the straw market...there isn't much else to do...or see...in Nassau.

On the walk towards the market, we went in and out of a few shops searching for trinkets to take home. I did find some cute necklaces and bracelets for the girls. The littlebird girls are always easy to shop for. Years ago, every time we (my honey and I) traveled, we would go to the local Hard Rock Cafe and get the girls and Will a teeshirt. After one trip one of them "suggested" we get them something else besides the famous teeshirts. They were certain they had plenty! LOL!

Will and Lex always present a problem for me. Will has such a unique taste that I never quite know what to get when it comes to shirts and such...and my honey is always telling me he has too many teeshirts...so there went that idea. My honey also sent me with explicit instructions NOT to buy him any wooden mugs at the straw market. Dang...I had hoped to get him a full set this trip! ;)

So, my choices were limited...very limited...unless I wanted to buy them each a Coach knock-off. Now the upside to that would be that they would not want them and would give them back to me!

So, I bought Will a shotglass with some Bahama slang on it....and my honey...are you ready for this??...the only thing you can buy the guy who has everything...the guy who does not want teeshirts...or wooden mugs...are you ready???...a genuine...handmade...magnatized...bottle opener for the mancave!!! Wow...was he excited!! LOL!!

The next day we arrived in Freeport...where we had determined we would spend the day on the beach. M3 had insisted that the only thing she wanted to do on this trip was go to the beach...so off we went.

Now...I love the ocean...I mean I really love the ocean. The ocean excites all of my senses...all at once...the smell of the ocean...the sound of the waves crashing against the shore...the breathtaking view of a horizon that seems so vast...the taste of the salt water (hmmm...not sure about this one)...and last but not least...the feel of the warm sand between my toes.

On this beach, however, my senses were overloaded with...the smell of diesel fuel...the loud rumbling sound...and ungodly sight...of one of several tour boats parked directly in front of us for the ENTIRE time we were plopped on the beach. At one point M3 was almost plowed over as she stood knee-deep in the water moving back toward shore slowly...then more quickly...then at a more determined and focused pace...as the stupid boat continued to come to shore at the exact spot where she was standing. I wish I had a video...priceless!

Then there were the vendors selling...of course...beautiful handmade jewelry...and "ocean shells" (not sure what other kind there are)...and teeshirts with a "lifetime guarantee"! Now I wonder...how would one go about returning one of these teeshirts if dissatisfied? What are the chances of finding the exact vendor who sold it to you...and one with a photographic memory who would remember you because he was not handing out any receipts here people.

We returned to the ship...quite worn out after our big beach day...and decided to hang out in the room for a while...order up some room service...and chill. We unanimously chose one thing on the menu...PB&J with a glass of milk. Perfect end to a perfect day!

All of these are memories we will rehash again and again over the next 50 years while we go on many future "senior citizen" sponsored bus trips, cruises, and all-inclusives. I say "senior citizen" because...a) we are all "seniors" and of course "citizens"...b) we will need a tour guide in the future to help us plan our excursions as we seem to have had some difficulty in this area...c) they always give you name tags so you don't forget who you are, where you are going, and the name tags are a "free pass" that get you back on the ship...no need for all that other identifications stuff that we can't remember to take with us!

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pee Your Pants...three sisters...three friends...forever!

Sisterhood of the Traveling "Pee Your Pants" - part 4

So...we are still cruising. I did not realize how long it took to get from Baltimore to Florida...but on this cruise ship it was 3 days!

The day after my birthday (day 3 of the slow cruise to FL) was a quiet...do nothing...relax all day...read...sit by the pool...play Bingo...and teach my sisters a card game - PHASE 10. (I will mention here that when my family first moved to MN we spent every Sunday night enjoying family game night...and we played a LOT of these types of card games. This particular one is littlebird Will's LEAST favorite. I can't play it without thinking of him. Love you, buddy!)

We must have been a little "stir crazy" because as we sat sipping our drink of the day, sunning on the deck (maybe it was heat stroke) we came up with new nicknames for the three of us. I know...it seems silly...but we sat there giggling about it anyway. We decided that from this day forward we would be known as "CMP"...you know...just as sweet as the sundae with the same name...Cocoa (Chocolate) Carol...Marshmallow Marcia...and Peanut Patty. Three middle-aged women...laughing our butts off...another "had to be there...pee your pants moment"!

So..."anywho"...we finally did arrive in Port Canaveral, FL. Now, M3 had never been to Universal Studios, so we had decided before we set sail that when in FL we would do the park...CMP style. The cruise line offered a package deal...tickets and bus ride...but M3 said she could get us tickets through her work for a great price...and Sissy said that the park was only about a 1/2 hour ride from the port. So...we got our great priced-2 park-tickets and got off the ship thinking we would just catch a shuttle or cab for the short ride. We hailed a cab...and once on our way was told the ride was a little over an hour! Long story short...we ended up paying a "little" more than what the cost of the package deal was, but had a great chauffeur, Roger the cab driver!

We headed to Universal's Islands of Adventure park first...as we had to experience the kid in each of us. Our first ride was a "raft ride" called Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barge. I had been on this ride with my kids several years ago, and remembered what a blast we had...and how wet we had gotten. I guess I did not emphasize the WET part. Sissy and M3 were not prepared for the drenching we received!! It took us the rest of the day to dry thoroughly. I actually went in the ladies room, removed my shorts and rung them out! M3 tried to dry hers with the hand dryer. On this very hot Florida day it was refreshing, that's for sure!

Our favorite ride in this park, however, was The Cat in the Hat. We were so inspired that we bought teeshirts to commemorate the day!



After a few more fun experiences in the "kiddy park" we wandered around in circles trying to find our way out. After three times circling the park we finally pulled out our map and found the exit to head towards the other park...Universal Studios. Here we again each chose a ride to experience. All day I had been stressing the fact that I did not do roller coasters. I was more than willing to sit down in the shade somewhere while the sisters enjoyed their thrill ride...but roller coasters are not my thing...and you weren't getting me on one. Yeah...right.

We assisted the "Men in Black" but of course had the lowest points for alien attacks of the people in our car. We helped E.T. get home on the "E.T. Adventure". We took a boat ride in Amity and was attacked by "Jaws". And then there was the last ride..."Revenge of the Mummy". Now anyone that knows me knows that I do not do scary. I don't like monsters and such...but the sisters insisted that this was not scary. Uh..huh. This was also a roller coaster, but Sissy insisted it was a "very mild coaster". When do I stop believing what she tells me???? Hadn't I already learned my lesson with the "1/2 hour ride from the port to the park"?

As we are weaving in and out of this very dark maze while in line the room is filled with creepy-looking creatures. Nope...not liking this at all. Then suddenly M3 says..."uh-oh". I followed her eyes and there posted on the wall was a very large sign warning us about the severity of this ride with quick turns...and reverses, extreme speed...and jerky movement! I immediately turned pale and wanted a drink of water and fresh air. There was no exit at this point...no escape from this dungeon of doom. UGHHHHHHHH!!!!

We get on the ride...Sissy is very apologetic saying she "did not remember it being a fast roller coaster". Her gauge for measuring speed is definitely different from mine. We started out ascending...s..l..o..w..l..y...up towards these double doors that I was certain were going to open revealing a drop straight down to hell. NOPE!!! Instead our car jerked to a stop and flew backwards so quickly that I could do nothing but hold my breath and squeeze my eyes tightly shut...while the tears rolled down my face. These were not happy "pee your pants" tears.

I do know one thing...I will NEVER go to an amusement park with my sisters again. I was not AMUSED!

So...we leave Universal behind...and headed to our cab for the long ride back to the mothership. Now...when we disembarked there were signs all over reminding us to take our cruise ship card and picture ID with us so we could get back on the ship without a hitch. We talked about it as we were walking off the ship assuring each other that we all had the required items with us. Well...that just was not the case.

Sissy was leading the pack and breezed through security without any problem. I was right on her heels and did the same. We were walking ahead...20-30 steps in front of M3 when we hear this "Oh, no" and then "step to the side, M'am". Guess who lied about having her picture ID with her...the oldest...and apparently most senile one!! Whoopsie! Just a small delay now as security had to walk to the ship with her cruise ship card and verify when they swiped her card that the picture matched the face of the woman "near tears" holding up the rest of her cruising buddies. Thank goodness they did see a resemblance even though we were all looking pretty disheveled...you know...like we had spent the day running through the rain then tried to dry our hair by whipping it around while flying through the air at the speed of a bullet.

CMP...Coaster-loving Carol...Mindless Marcia...Petrified Patty.

I'm gonna Call My Parents and tell on them!!! Some things never change.