Daddy

This week, had my dad lived, he would have turned 74. He died in 1999 at the age of 66 after a three year battle with cancer. You know how I feel about cancer. It sucks. I hate it. He fought the disease with so much determination.

My dad was an interesting character. He truly was; on many levels. He certainly wasn't the most perfect father in the world, but he did his best to keep us all fed, housed, and protected from the bad stuff in the world. I miss my dad. I miss his crabbiness sometimes the most. I sometimes wonder if he truly knew how much he was loved. I remember the last time I told him I loved him. It was the day he died. He was ornery right up until he could no longer hold on to his life. I looked him those big blue eyes and told how much I loved him. He smiled. It's a smile I will never forget.

I miss you Daddy. A lot.

Beach Etiquette

There's truly nothing like a day at the beach. Sun, balmy ocean breeze, clean seawater, good food, and good companions. Life is good. That is until those without good beach etiquette arrive and feel the need to sqaut right on top of you. What is it about people who feel the need to sit so close you can feel the heat radiate off their skin? There's tons of space, but you want to snuggle with me? Move the hell over!

I always get to the beach hours before anyone and in doing so can enjoy the peace and quiet that the beach and sea can offer. I love watching the sun come up over the water; it glistens so pretty. When it's this early you can hear the gulls as they chatter among themselves. Peaceful. Relaxing. I sit near the inlet so I can watch the boats come and go. There's nothing like it.

And then they arrive. All one million rude beach goers that want to sit right on top of me. They move in with all their unnessary beach stuff. None of them know how to put up and umbrella so it stays put. None of them understand that sand should remain on the beach and not flying randomly about as they shake out their towels or run by you at 60mph. None of them understand that there are designated smoking areas. None of them understand that we don't throw the trash around. And finally while we are outside, we really do not have to shout at each other. Quiet indoor voices work well.

So come and enjoy the beach, just be aware that there are certain rules you should follow.

Happy Birthday Lexy!

Happy Birthday Lexy! Lexy is one of our Goldens who happens to be turning 8 this weekend. Because Caitlin is heading out of town this weekend, we celebrated her birthday early. Jill and Josh were here for the weekend, so they added to the big celebration. Now this may sound strange to some, but birthday are important around here, no matter who might be the one having one. And Lexy is one special dog.

Lexy hails from the Tulsa, Oklahoma area. We got her when we were so lucky to have lived there 8 years ago. (There’s just so much love for Oklahoma here that it’s hard to fit it in to one sentence) NOT! Oklahoma was a hard move and no one was happy. We were forced to move at a time when my dad was terminally ill, and I hated every mile that separated us. Caitlin hated us for making her move, and Daniel went along for the ride. So in order to cheer everyone up I got the idea to add one more Golden face to the family. So I gathered up a measly $200.00 (a cheap price for a dog those days) and headed out to the nearest Ostrich farm, and got us a dog. Yes, Lexy comes from a long line of Ostriches. OK, not really, but she was born on an Ostrich farm. Perhaps one of the reasons for the cheaper price, I suspect.

She has proved herself a loyal and wonderful pet over the past 8 years. She’s sweet, smart, and has provided us all with more giggles and love than I could ever have imagined any one dog could provide. Life would not be the same without her. Happy Birthday girl! We love you.

Bodies: The Exhibition

Today’s day trip took us to the South Street Seaport in New York to see the Bodies Exhibition. To help you see what a body really looks like on the inside, this Exhibition uses real human bodies that have been preserved so they do not decay. (Thankfully, or it wouldn’t have been so enjoyable)

The Process: A human specimen is first preserved according to standard mortuary science. The specimen is then dissected to show whatever it is that someone wants to display. Once dissected, the specimen is immersed in acetone, which eliminates all body water. The specimen is then placed in a large bath of silicone, or polymer, and sealed in a vacuum chamber. Under vacuum, acetone leaves the body in the form of gas and the polymer replaces it, entering each cell and body tissue. A catalyst is then applied to the specimen, hardening it and completing the process.

This method of preservation creates a specimen that will not decay. This offers thousands of unique teaching possibilities for educators at all levels, including medical professionals, archeologists, and other scientists.

The whole exhibition was awesome, although Caitlin thought it just “ok”. The kids learned and had fun and isn’t that what counts? Lunch and shopping added to the time there. Cool day!

Amish Delights!

This week my sisters and I headed to Lancaster, PA, kids included, for an educational experience among the Amish. My sister Gidget’s kids had no real idea who the Amish were, so a trip to a ‘real’ Amish farm, and a buggy ride through the Amish countryside would be just what they needed. So off we went. Of course, no trip to the country would be complete without mom. So we got an early start and with Lola (my sister’s GPS) guiding our way, we headed to PA!

No trip to Lancaster would be complete without a trip to Wilbur’s Chocolates, which was an issue in the heat (It went as high as 102), and a visit to the pretzel factory, yet another issue in the heat. (The place was at least 106 and packed with 26 little 5-year-olds who were there to roll out their first pretzel).

With a little lunch under our belts we headed out for a buggy ride with Abe. Abe was an older Amish gent who was more than happy to charge us $10.00 a head for a quick 15-minute buggy ride. They may not live like we do, but they certainly know how to charge for it! Then it was back to the hotel, settle in, and think about what might occupy our time in the evening heat. Miniature golf! The kids had fun, mom groaned about the walk, and the mosquitoes thrived off our flesh!

The next day we did a little shopping, a little lunch and it was a joy ride back home through the “beautiful Amish farm lands” with Lola leading the way! I may sound a little sarcastic, but the truth is, I always have fun with my sisters and the kids; no matter how hot it gets or how lost we may find ourselves. My sisters are truly funny awesome people.

Making a Difference

Jim, Cait, and I recently attended the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” walk in the park across the street from our home. We walk every year in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Light the Night” walk which raises money to help a cause dear to our hearts. My dad and Jim’s dad died of leukemia. So we walk for my dad, Jim’s dad, and for a cousin of mine, who to date is healthy and in remission. (Thank you God)

We decided to expand our walks this year and walk not only for those who have succumbed to this disease but for those who have survived. Jim is a survivor. This fact didn’t really click until recently when the national cancer registry contacted Jim for a survivor follow-up. He beat thyroid cancer and is doing well. We are thankful. So we walk to help others. We will continue to walk. We hate cancer in this house. We don’t like what it does or how it sneaks into people’s lives, robbing them of so much. So we will continue to help when we can. We like knowing we are helping to make a difference.

Fact: Every five minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer.
Fact: Every ten minutes someone loses the fight.

http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org
http://www.cancer.org

POST NOTE: We apparently helped to raise just shy of $7,000.!! :) Thanks Tracy for organizing us and taking the lead for something so damn important!

Fun in Baltimore!

I recently took a three-day vacation and headed to the Inner Harbor in Baltimore. I took my sister Sue, my niece Jill, and my nephew Josh along with me. My niece and I were the only ones who had ever been to the harbor, so we were the official tour guides. We stayed in a Marriott hotel right on the water (my usual place when visiting). WE HAD A BALL!

From the very minute we landed, until we landed back at home, we laughed; we ate great food, and saw many things. The kids loved the dolphin show at the aquarium the best, of course. We even did the learning thing and headed out to Fort McHenry. Now I love this place, but my niece Jill thought it was “stoopid”. So much for the learning vacation.

We even managed to do some shopping at Fell’s Point, another place I absolutely love spending time at when I am down there. The best part of the trip for me was watching my sister Sue on the Ducks Tour when every child on the tour consistently blew their little noisemaker quackers. Sue barely tolerates children as much as she barely tolerates noise. Jill and I chuckled watching her screw up her face with each “Quack”. I loved every minute I had with Jill and Josh. I cannot wait to go again!

The Smells of Morning

I love the fresh smell and sounds of morning, especially during the summer months. I’m usually out on my deck by 6am and greeted by the sounds of birds, the occasional tinkling of my wind chimes, and most times, pure morning silence. The smell is fresh, unless a skunk has passed through the area, which thankfully is rare. What is it about familiar sounds and smells that gives us such peace?

I remember as a kid waking up some mornings to the smell of fresh cut grass, and the sounds of the lawn mower (both power and non-power). I remember feeling safe, knowing my dad was out and about getting chores done. I remember the sounds of small motor boats skimming over the water on the lake we lived on and the sounds of the kids in the neighborhood outside playing games. I can remember the smell of fresh coffee and bacon wafting up through the house; my mom hard at work in the kitchen. They were all normal sounds and smells in my normal little world. Perhaps this is why I love the smells and sounds of summer. They take me to a place where the world was right and good, and I felt safe. The smells and sounds of my mornings now take me to the same place. I love my deck in the mornings. Peaceful, quiet, and safe.