Glad to be Home

Boy am I glad to be home. A week wearing closed toe shoes destroyed my feet!

I may have grown up in the snow, ice, cold wet rain of the Pacific Northwest, but we chose to retire from the military someplace warm. Someplace where I can swim in my pool 10 months our of the year.

I didn't see the sun for 5 days!!!! I wore a sweater over a sweater!!!

It was important that I go visit Washington State. My father is dying from Congestive Heart Failure and Parkinson's Disease and a host of other complications that accompany these diseases. As I mentioned in that post, I didn't think I would see him alive again.

Then my darling sister presented me with a new niece!! Beautiful little girl born October 13. So at trip to the great wet North was in order. To see the little girl and to visit with my father. (pictures of baby shower will be coming soon). We had over 50 people there and this baby shower did not end until after 9 pm!! (yes, we do party a bit)

While I was there, this little miracle was born, 6 weeks early in Ohio.

Meet GK #3 (grandkid #3). All is well, even if she was a little early. 5 lbs, 1 oz, 18 inches.

I'm not here...

Hello....hi...uhm, yup I am here..kind of.

I am actually out in Washington State right now visiting my family.

See, my sister had that cute little baby girl and I had to come out and get lots of pictures of itty, bitty fingers, ears, toes...

but damn, it is cold here. I don't do cold well.

I will be back to my lovely corner of the world on the 11th.

Stay tuned for lots of pictures of itty, bitty fingers, ears, toes...

Welcome!!

Welcome to this world little girl. Kaylee, you look just like your mommy! (sorry Dad, don't see that much of you in her!!)My niece was born Monday, October 13.

This is my only niece actually, I have 3 nephews. Think of all the girly stuff she will get!! My poor sister, after 3 boys how in the world will she figure out the plumbing of a little girl??

I will actually get to hold her and snuggle her in November! Woo Hoo!!

I'm Home!

Whew! Made it home last night.

Visiting family out of town is always fun. While I complained the whole time about how cold it was there, it was a nice visit. My only complaint is that I wish it had snowed while we were there.

Just a little bit, you know. There is nothing quite as magical as a cold December night, when the snow is gently falling from the sky. Blanketing the world. It is always so quiet.

So it did snow, yesterday, while we were winging our way back to Florida. Just my luck.

I May Not Have Thought This Out Completely...

Hmm...

We are getting ready for my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary Party. I am thinking that we may have a slight logistical problem.

See, since my father went back into the hospital a few weeks ago, he doesn't travel real well. So we decided to move the party from a large venue to their house and "supposedly" cut down on the guest list. Only close friends and family.

I, of course, was in Florida for the planning part. My sister was here in Washington State. My sister and mother were in charge of the guest list. It seems we only cut down the guest list by two or three people and that is because they are out of town.

Big deal most people would think. Three bedroom house, enclosed heated garage..all is good.

Yup, three bedroom house, built in 1946...it only has one bathroom.

And even if we did order a Port-A-Potty, it is only 28 degrees.

Anyone have an extra coffee can? Or some depends?

October Already?

OMG is it really October already? Halloween is only 29 days away, then Thanksgiving, then Christmas! Sheoot!! Only 84 DAYS til Christmas! Can you believe that?

Are you done with your Christmas shopping yet? Have you even started? I have like one small item for my mother.

On top of everything else, we will be flying out to Washington State for Thanksgiving. Yup, flying during one of the busiest times of the year! To snow and cold! I live in Florida for a reason, I don't like the snow and cold. I don't like having to put my hands into thingys that are supposed to keep them warm and then just make them wet. I don't like not being able to wear sandals and flip flops. (do you have any idea how cold toes can get in flip flops in the snow?)

But it is all for a good cause. Besides Thanksgiving, we will be celebrating my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary. Looks like we will be having quite the get-together, if we can get my father out of the house.

Did I mention that they don't know that Not A Grampy and I will be coming out? Total surprise! I really like surprising my parents!!

Haunted Chair

I just got off the phone with my mother. They live in Washington state, where I was raised. They have had a pretty rough year, but my mother had me in absolute hysterics a few minutes ago.

My father fell and broke his hip last year, this is after a 72' Blue Spruce tree crashed into their house during an ice and wind storm.

Now, mom and dad went to stay in a motel, which ended up lasting 4 months...insurance covered it but contractors really took advantage of the elderly. Two weeks after getting into the motel my father fell and broke his hip. Surgery, rehab you name it he has been through it. But, he and my mother both have been able to keep a sense of humor, which is part of the reason our telephone conversation today was so funny.

Mom got dad one of those lift chairs. My father has always had "his" chair, he watches TV in it, naps in it, etc. Since he broke his hip he has had some issues with balance, and getting in and out of his chair. Mom has had to lift him in and out. Anyway, the chair was delivered last week.

I guess dad fell asleep in his chair. At 1:30 am, Mom was sitting in her chair watching TV and reading a book. From what she says, you really shouldn't fall asleep in the lift chairs with the remote still in your hand. The chair moves very slowly and is very quiet. She is minding her own business, reading her book and the next thing she knows a sleeping man is being thrust onto the floor. Yup, he even stayed asleep until he hit the floor. Split his forehead open, blood everywhere. He is trying to figure out what happened, mom is trying to figure out what happened, meanwhile the chair is raised up fully.

I'm sorry, but I can just hear the chair now..."okay folks, did you really think I was going to sit here all night and not do anything?" My father swears the chair is haunted, mom thinks there may be a problem with the remote...maybe it is too sensitive. Come on people, it is 1:30 am, you are elderly, go to bed...I am threatening them with a babysitter!!