JFK - Part 2

Okay, so as if yesterday wasn't enough of an adventure, today was just as "fun (?)". I slept a few hours in the hotel room...not soundly because I was afraid I would oversleep and miss the shuttle back to the airport. Since JFK is so busy, I wanted to make sure I was at the airport at least 2 hours ahead of schedule....now I ask myself "for why?".....

I tried to check in at the kiosk, but the kiosk didn't remember that I was there the day before and did not want to recognize anything I tried to enter. I was then directed to the lady at the counter...who...for 45 minutes...tried to get me a ticket. After looking at the paperwork I had -- which comprised of my boarding pass from Sunday (which, obviously was no good) and an "interrupted flight voucher" which I received from the UNhelpful clerk at the desk at gate 23 the night before -- the woman told me that my flight had been completed! Yup...that's what she said..to which I replied "if it was completed, then why am I standing here still trying to get to Charlotte, North Carolina!!" There was some consulting with the other ticketing agents who finally helped her issue me a boarding pass...which I hope would work once I walked the 2 miles (really, it seemed like it) to gate 23.

Again, there were delays. The flight that was to have left at 8:30 a.m. still had lots of people in the waiting area wishing they could get home. The weather was very gray and wet! But, again, we were told the delay was more due to the extensive air traffic than the weather.

My flight was to have left at 10:30 a.m.; however, at 11:30 a.m. we were still waiting to board the plane. Finally at 12:30 p.m., we were allowed to board the plane, only to find out once they had us trapped on it, that we would need to sit on the plane at the gate for a while. That "while" turned out to be one and a half hours. Lunch of peanuts and cookies was offered after about a half hour. The pilot told us that some of the airplanes sitting on the tarmack had been waiting for take off for 3 hours....one of them happening to be the 9:30 a.m. flight!! Oh joy!! Around 2 pm, our plane got in line with the others on the tarmack and with approximately 30 planes in front of us, we waited, waited, waited to take off. We finally landed in Charlotte at 4:30 p.m. And, much to my amazement, when I went downstairs to baggage claim, there was my suitcase waiting for me in the Delta Baggage Office!!!

One thing to remember....avoid JFK at all costs!! I'm sure many reading this blog has been through similar situations. Fortunately, this is only the second time I've run into delays. Most of the time my flights happen without incidence! However, I do think that Delta needs to get a letter informing them of this...as many on the plane were talking about. Oh, while waiting in the terminal to board the plane, a lady came around with a business card asking people if they would go on-line and rate the airline and airport. When she asked me, I gladly said yes!! They should know, after all!!!!

The Big Apple Adventure

Greetings from JFK International Airport....well, right now it is the Days Inn. I'm actually supposed to be in Charlotte, NC trying to find my car in the East Deck Parking Garage.....HOWEVER......

I had a wonderful time visiting my daughter Melissa and visiting with her and my 3 grandchildren. But, alas, the time came for me to leave and catch my flight out of the Bradley International Airport. Looking at my itinerary, it appeared that this flight was going to be direct to Charlotte. No mention of a connecting flight or lay over! Yay!! Upon arriving at the airport, we were all greeted with the notification of a delay. Not a long one, we all were told. It was just that there was so much air traffic on this particular day, that we would have to wait for a while. My flight was to leave at 5:30 p.m.; however, we did not board the plane until 6:15 p.m. Once boarded, the pilot came over the speakers to tell us that we would need to sit on the tarmack for another 30 minutes -- which turned into approximately an hour. No big deal, I told myself, this was a direct flight so there was no fear of missing a connection!!

The flight attendand came around with bottles of water and snacks while we were waiting, waiting, waiting for air control to release our take off. Finally, we got the release and we would only be 7th in line to take off! We taxied out to get in line and waited, waited, waited! Finally, the speakers told us again, that we would now be taking off! The co-pilot informed us that this was a 30-minute flight to JFK airport from take off to landing. We got to what looked like Long Island below us and we circled, circled, circled waiting for permission to land. Again, we were told, all this delay was due to an extremely high volume of air traffic.

The flight attendant then came around and asked us what our connecting flight destination was to be. I politely informed her that I did not have a connecting flight, that I was staying on the plane and continuing on to Charlotte, NC!! The young gal that sat across the aisle from me confirmed that because she, too, was to stay on the plane for Charlotte. We both then were politely told back that we would need to get off the plane because this plane was continuing on to Rochester, NY. Oh, there must be some mistake we told her. We only had one boarding pass and it said "Hartford, CT to Charlotte, NC". Nope....we had to get off the plane and check at the gate desk for the correct plane to take us to Charlotte.

There were three of us on flight 6702 who stood helplessly in this huge JFK airport looking at the departure and arrival boards frantically checking for our connecting flight to Charlotte. There were none listed on the board. We finally got to speak to an attendant at another gate who told us that we had missed our connecting flight!!! W H A T?????????????????? We didn't even know we had a connecting flight!! It seems that with all the air traffic delays, we had missed the plane that was waiting for us at JFK. We were supposed to walk off one plane and board another and that plane got tired of waiting for us!!! The next flight to Charlotte would be on Monday morning at 10:30 a.m. And to top it off, we were told that we were not eligible for any hotel or meal vouchers!! (Delta just merged with NW Airlines and they have all this hype going on on how they are going to be better, blah blah blah....well, this is not a way to show it!) We were on our own...either sleep in the airport or find a hotel. My budget couldn't really handle a $100/night hotel room (yup...there were none found for less...), but there was no way I was going to sleep in those uncomfortable chairs in the terminal.

I headed down to baggage claim to get my luggage and found the belt where the luggage would be unloaded for flight 6702. I waited and waited and waited and waited. No luggage. Oh no!!! It was probably still on the plane! Yes, that is precisely what happened I was told at the Claim Office. My luggage would be delivered to my home on Monday sometime after 7:30 a.m. Hmmm, my luggage would arrive home faster than I would!!! I hope they leave it at my house until I get there, or who knows when I'll see it again!!!

JFK is a HUGE airport!!! In order to get to the Days Inn, I had to take an airport train to an area called Federal Station where all the hotel shuttles wait for you! I was asking all the "safe looking" people I saw (you know, the ones with kids in tow) if they were going to the same place and could I please follow them because I had absolutely no idea what I was doing! Some said NO and there were a few angels out there who said YES. Bless their heart!!

I'm in the Days Inn ... with no luggage. That means no make up, no hair brush, no clothes, etc. I did get a complimentary toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash and deodorant from the front desk!! I've asked for a wake up call at 6 a.m. I hope they remember! Breakfast is available in the lobby, which is a GOOD thing!!

Fortunately, I won't have to take the airport train back to the terminal. The Shuttle Man will drop me off right at the terminal! Horray for me because I seriously don't think I would be able to find my way back!! Let's see what adventures await me tomorrow! Good night all!!

Snow Thunder!

Snow thunder, the weatherman said. I had never heard of it...have you? In any case, early this evening as I was sitting on the couch crocheting, I kept hearing what sounded like thunder...but it was snowing, so I thought I was imagining it. Nope. The weatherman said it was snow thunder! Huh, who would have thought!!! These pictures were taken at 10 pm. The snow flakes were huge (little snow?), and there was about 4 inches on the ground already! You can't make out the middle picture so well. I was standing on the front step looking up toward the corner light and it was snowing like crazy!! I was almost tempted to stay outside and make a snowman, but I wimped out!! This is the second snow we've gotten this year with any accumulation. The nice thing is that by the weekend, the temps are going to be in the upper 60s!! Yay!!!

Order in the Court

Okay, so I left you hanging regarding my jury service (they no longer call it "duty" because they would prefer you look at it as a service [positive] to the system rather than a duty [negative]). Let me say, first, that Mecklenburg County has a beautiful court building. The facilities are state of the art! At 8 a.m. I reported to the 5th floor and was signed in. The area where we signed in -- all 119 of us-- was the jury assembly room. This was the "holding" area until we were called in by groups of 30-45 to be interviewed by the court lawyers and judge. There were 3 large seating areas with 42" plasma TVs, a mezzanine with pinball machines and pool tables, and a cafe area with snack/soda machines, popcorn machine, and tables to sit at. This was the area I mostly spent my time until the group was "called to attention" when more names were chosen to be interviewed. I met a very nice young lady, Genea, and we talked and talked, played cards, went to lunch together....this really helped pass the time! There was one calling in the morning (I was not called), one at 2 pm in the afternoon (I was not called...by this time thinking I was off the hook), and then the last calling at 4 pm. Guess what....I got called! Thirty of us were lined up out in the hall and roll call was taken. Made me think I was back in school! We were then marched off to one of the courtrooms. We were all seated on bench seats in the audience section of the courtroom. The court clerk then called 12 names and they were assigned seating in the jury section. They were interviewed in front of the rest of us. The case being tried was for DUI. One by one, the selected jurors were interviewed ... were they or any of their family been arrested for DUI...was anyone in an accident caused by a DUI driver...was anyone associated with MADD or SADD....etc, etc. As individuals were eliminated, more from our seats were called to replace them. By 5:30 pm, the jury had been selected and there were 6 of us remaining on the bench seats, of which I was one of them. So, the 6 of us had fulfilled our "service" for the next 2 years (before we could be selected to serve again) and the selected jurors had to report back to court the next morning! This was fine by me because at work we were trying to get all paperwork done for end of year reporting! But I did make a friend out of it, and we plan to get together soon! All in all, it was a very interesting procedure...one that I had always wondered about and wished I had been called for.

Snow..Major Headlines

Yes, we got snow. More in some areas than others. The max just southeast of Charlotte hit, I think, about 5 inches. There has been more news on the local tv channels about the "snow storm" than about the inaugeration! Since it was such a news headliner, I just had to take a picture of the mounds of snow outside my house.

I half expected to see that the birds made a snowman out of the snow in the bird bowl when I got home this evening but, to my disappointment, they did not ! And, by the time I got home, the snow had totally diasppeared!

Winter Weather Alert!

School's
Now
Out
Wow!

Yep...all the schools are closed today because of the major news headline....SNOW!!! Yes, all 2-4 inches of it...yes, I said inches!
I'm heading out the door to go to work in this "major blizzard"!

Jury Duty

Well, I can't get out of it! About a month ago I got a Jury Summons that said to call the day before my scheduled jury service to see if I was still needed. Today was the day to call....and, yup, I've got to show up at the Mecklenburg Court House at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow morning....in uptown Charlotte...at the height of rush hour...to find a spot in the parking garage. I know that this probably sounds trivial, and I probably wouldn't be freaking out if I knew how to navigate around uptown Charlotte...BUT I DON'T...MUCH LESS DURING RUSH HOUR!!!!
This should be very interesting....I'll keep you posted.

Birthdays

Well, in approximately 50 minutes, it will be January 7th and the birthdays of today will have passed! For me, I'd rather forget that I just celebrated my 59th birthday. The cliche, "you're only as old as you feel" has some truth to it, because, fortunately, I am in good health and do not feel 59 at all! The best part of each birthday since 2001 is that my first-born grandchild, Emmalee, was born on my birthday! She turned 8 years old today! She was full of excitement when she called me this morning to wish me a happy birthday. She was exuberant as she recounted that she was served breakfast in bed and got to open her presents first thing this morning....Hannah Montana gifts, Taylor Swift CD, pj bottoms, jewelry, watch, etc. What a special time for an 8 year old!! I am so glad that we share the same birthday! Thank you, Andrea and Melissa for calling to wish me a happy birthday...thank you, Dan, for the email. Thank you to my friends for the birthday greetings, and to those who bestowed gifts. However, take notice that this is the last birthday I will be having....there will be no more...I refuse to turn 60 next January!!!!

Merry Christmas (past) and Happy New Year (future) 2009

Yes, I can definitely tell that Christmas is over. As Maestro and I walk through our community, there are very few Christmas lights left up on the houses. The weather today hit just about 60 degrees, so we could see more families removing Christmas lights....even my friend, Mary, started taking her decorations down today. Christmas is definitely over!! It was fun driving through not only our community, but nearby ones, to see the beautiful display of lights! Very festive...and I even got into the spirit of Christmas by putting my little country tree in the front with white lights on it! I trust everyone had a wonderful Christmas and wish for all a blessed, healthy, prosperous, loved New Year to you all (y'all).

I purchased a metal wire "all occasion" tree when I went to Blowing Rock a couple months ago. It's a great tree that stands approximately 36 inches tall. (I'd show you a picture of it, but for some reason, my computer does not want to read my Kodak card...bummer!) Not your typical Christmas tree, but I love it!! On each holiday, it will be adorned with proper attire. I am presently on a search for Valentine decorations for it.

Now that January is here, it seems that already the days are much longer and I can just tell that Spring is just around the corner. Why, even the forsythia bushes have started to bloom! Crazy!!

Surprise! Surprise!

Babygirl has pretty much resigned herself to living upstairs; Maestro lives downstairs. Once in a while Maestro will venture upstairs to check out things. Once in a while Babygirl will venture half way down the stairs to see if the "black beast" is still hanging around! I think Maestro thinks Babygirl is a big, fluffy squirrel!! When Maestro and I take walks and he happens to see a squirrel, he just about dislocates my shoulder as he makes a bee-line for it. Well, the same thing happens if he sees Babygirl peeking down the stairs. I'm not sure just how to convince him that she is not a squirrel. If I am upstairs and Maestro follows me up, Babygirl dashes under my bed and hisses at him. He is very curious about her and sticks his nose under the bedskirt to get a better look. When I go upstairs each night to go to bed, I tell Maestro, "Go to bed" and he pretty much understands and finds his spot in the kitchen or livingroom to curl up in and that is the end of it until I come down the next morning. He really is a good dog--even if he and Babygirl don't get along....yet! Babygirl, on the other hand, sleeps on my bed, starting out on my chest, and then curls up next to me. The other night, I was awoken by loud barking and chasing! It seems that Babygirl decided to get off the bed and, lo and behold, Maestro had decided that he was going to come upstairs and sleep on the floor next to my bed!! When she jumped off the bed, she landed on Maestro; Maestro began the chase! Babygirl didn't know in which direction to run--first down the hall, with Maestro in pursuit, and then back into the bedroom!! After much barking and hissing, I managed to convince Maestro that his rightful place to sleep was downstairs!! Now I better understand the term -- Scaredy Cat!!!!

The Nutcracker - Ballet

Our Red Hat group went into "uptown" Charlotte today to see The Nutcracker! I had never seen it before...and I didn't realize what I was missing! The ballet was mainly performed by the North Carolina Dance Theatre with music by Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. We went to the 2 p.m. matinee and I wished that my granddaughter Emmalee could have joined us! There were so many young girls in the audience, totally enjoying the show! Emmalee has taken ballet for several years now and I am sure she would have been very familiar with the beautiful and graceful moves by the dancers! My, oh my, those dancers were so light on their feet...they looked like feathers floating down to the stage! After the show, it was fun to stand in the lobby and watch all these young girls (and even some young boys) prance around imitating the ballet they had just seen. There were young students included in the production...some even younger than 7 year old Emmalee!! If you ever get the chance to see the live production of The Nutcracker...I encourage you to go and take your children!! This "young" woman thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the fantasy!!

Just One More Poem...

I've always enjoyed writing, but as I got older, other things distracted me...quilting, crafts, etc. This is the third poem I wrote and found in my papers recently. As we are in the holiday season, I cannot help but wonder if the majority of people realize what it is we are really supposed to be celebrating. The emphasis from retailers and media is materialistic "things". Things we think we need...must have; but after we have them, we tire of them quickly. Just look at the toybox of toys your children have. I'm sure alot of them were "must haves" at the time, but now they are stored in a box and mostly forgotten. I get tired of the commercials that say that in order to be happy we have to have this pair of jeans, or that car, or this special perfume. That was the reason for composing the following poem.

"Tis the Season"

Yes, it's come around again

to that time of year

When, as you look around you,

the world is "selling" cheer

The brightly colored decorations

all glimmer in the store

The trees, the lights, all catch our eye

commercials say "You NEED more!"

We make up our gift lists

and check the papers for a sale

Only 15 more days 'til Christmas

have the cards gone in the mail?

We're sure to do our baking

for there's parties to attend

The children's Christmas program --

Oh, not old Scrooge again!

Yes, this is the time especially

we find ourselves "strung out"

But wait a moment, take a break

What IS Christmas all about?

Reflect upon that wonderful night

in Bethlehem, so long ago

When a certain babe was born in a stable

and the stars had a special glow

The stars shone so very bright

the shepherds stopped to stare

Then angels told them to begin

their journey over there

Little did the shepherds know

this child was born to die

That He'd be punished for our sins

but then, rise up and reign on High

Yes, Christmas time IS here again

and the world would like to see

Us focus all our attention

on just the festivity

Oh, there's nothing wrong with enjoying

the holiday and festivities

Just remember WHY we celebrate

I'll tell you -- listen, please

What we really need to realize

as we celebrate Jesus' birth

Is that He came to offer salvation

to everyone on earth

The greatest gift ever given

was to all of us from God

Accept His gift -- You'll be glad you did

He's Jesus Christ, the Lord!

Jesus truly is the "The reason for the season!" May you all have a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas 1975

Well, I wanted to scan the picture that goes along with this poem, but I seem to have misplaced the printer driver disc. You know, this getting "older" stuff is for the birds!!! Anyway, a while back I shared a poem that I wrote quite a few years back and told you that I would share another one. Since it is now December, I decided to pull out the poem that I wrote a couple of years after I gave birth to Melissa (our middle child). Andrea, the big sister, drew a picture that goes with the poem. Andrea, the artist, drew a beautiful picture of me holding the baby next to the decorated fireplace and the Christmas tree next to it. Stockings are hung on the mantle and a fire is blazing in the fireplace. Melissa decided to come into this world on Christmas Eve day! Andrea was being cared for by her grandparents, and I wanted to be home for Christmas for her. And, guess what........ ta da........drum roll........the doctor let me go home the next morning as long as I promised not to do a thing (like I would be able to...HA!).

CHRISTMAS 1975

I still remember it so well

so now to you I'll tell

My story of Christmas 1975

When the true meaning of gifts came alive.

My Christmas shopping was finally done

Right down to the very last one.

Each gift selected with the greatest of care

I sighed as I plopped into my favorite chair.

Preparations had to be made weeks before

Decorations, the tree, and -- yes -- vacuum the floor.

The cookies, breads and mince pie were all made

And each piece of clothing in my suitcase I laid.

Plan ahead -- freeze your meals, the information sheet read

So visions of meatloaf danced in my head.

The names and phone numbers were all written down,

The goodie bag, lollipops, and a brand new nightgown.

I had everything in order, so I took a bow

Even the doctor said "Any day now!"

Would I be early, or would I be late?

Like a child waiting for Santa, I just couldn't wait!

Tom was instructed where the gifts he would find

And then I said, "Dear, I think it is time!"

So Andrea was taken to Grandma's -- everyone's eyes were a-blurring

At 2:30 Christmas Eve morning, not even a mouse was a-stirring!

Christmas Eve morning, at 10:05

Melissa Joy Goodwin finally arrived!

Our gifts to the family would all be given...

But this was God's gift -- sent from Heaven.

Our tiny baby girl was perfect through and through,

Mom and Dad were exhausted, but very happy, too.

Andrea, too, would have a gift that would please some...

A sister she could love for many years to come.

The second gift that came our way,

Was being able to go home on Christmas Day!

Wow, it will be 33 years ago...and it seems still like it was last year! How the time does fly. Now Melissa has three children of her own! Andrea, I wish I could have scanned your picture...even at such a young age, you were very articulate in your drawing!

Poetry

Okay, like I said yesterday, I've been sorting through "stuff"....and I came across a file folder with some of my poetry that I wrote YEARS ago! I bet some of you didn't know I dabbled in writing poetry. I'm not sure about my son Dan, but I do know that my two daughters do not like the cold north weather. In fact, my oldest, Andrea, and I were talking about how depressing winters in the north can be. I struggled with the winter doldrums as well, which provoked (or should I say "inspired") me to write the following poem (as well as inspired me to move south!!). I never gave the poem a name!!

Lord, the summer has gone

and now Fall has left

all the leaves on the lawn ...

to be raked.

The mornings are becoming a bit cold

but the afternoons are warm,

and I'm getting too old ...

for all this work.

The trees are now all bare

of its leaves and the sky grays

but I don't care ...

I try to convince myself.

Lord, all Your beauty around begins to die

yes, to die, and You know me --

I get depressed and want to cry ...

and wish it were summer again!

And colder now the days do grow

the air so crisp

then comes the snow ...

Bring back the warmth!

Then, as I sit and contemplate,

and complain to the Lord

He says -- "WAIT ...

Focus on Me instead!

As you see the leaves

falling from the trees

Think of the tears that fell

as I was praying on my knees ...

in Gethesame.

As the days turn cold and the dew

turns to frost,

Remember My love for You

Will never grow cold ...

You are My child.

And as you look at the trees, now bare

remember the tree I bore

because of my care ...

for every one of you.

And, yes, it seems so painful to see

the beauty around you die.

But new life comes from Me ...

for I had victory over death.

Let the snowflakes that fall and blow

serve as reminder

that I have washed you white as snow ...

forever."

My friend, look all around you

and thank the Lord

for winter, fall, spring, summer too

for in each season

you can find a reason

to praise Him for all He's done ...

for you.

"Love Deeply"

I've been unpacking stored boxes, de-cluttering, reorganizing, sorting through, etc. etc. and have come across some interesting things I had forgotten about. I took the time to read through some of the papers that had been packed away and wanted to share this one. There have been times when I've questioned just what "love" is...in the human sense of the word. I know what God's love is, and nothing we can do or feel can match the love of God ... the "abba Father" love ... but, at times, I question the "eros" and other "loves". When you have loved and that love isn't returned, when you have loved and lost that love, when you love your children and they do not love in return...do you stop loving? Do you shut yourself down to human emotion? I'm being human in saying this...I'm sure there are times in your life when you have questioned the same thing...so do not judge...leaving the judging to God. In any case, I had kept this excerpt from a book as a reminder to never stop loving. The words are powerful as well as the concept behind them.

"Love Deeply"

"Do not hesitate to love and to love deeply. You might be afraid of the pain that deep love can cause. When those you love deeply reject you, leave you, or die, your heart will be broken. But that should not hold you back from loving deeply. The pain that comes from deep love makes your love ever more fruitful. It is like a plow that breaks the ground to allow the seed to take root and grow into a strong plant. Every time you experience the bitter pain of rejection, absence, or death, you are faced with a choice. You can become bitter and decide not to love again, or you can stand straight in your pain and let the soil on which you stand become richer and more able to give life to new seeds. The more you have loved and have allowed yourself to suffer because of your love, the more you will be able to let your heart grow wider and deeper. When your love is truly giving and receiving, those whom you love will not leave your heart even when they depart from you. They will become part of your self and thus gradually build a community within you. Those you have loved deeply become a part of you. The longer you live, there will always be more people to be loved by you and to become part of your inner community. The wider your inner community becomes, the more easily you will recognize your own brothers and sisters in the strangers around you. The wider the community of your heart, the wider the community around you. Thus the pain of rejection, absence, and death can become fruitful. Yes, as you love deeply the ground of your heart will be broken more and more, but you will rejoice in the abundance of the fruit it will bear."

(By Henri J. M. Nouwen, From The Inner Voice of Love, published by Doubleday)

Stuck in a Truck

Today I decided would be a great time to get my boxes upon boxes of "stuff" cleared out of the storage unit I had been renting. When the townhouse was put on the market, I was told that the townhouse should be "de-cluttered" as much as possible, including my personal stuff...pictures, excess dust collectors, etc. So, having no garage or basement, I found a self-storage place not far from the townhouse to rent short-term. Upon arriving at the storage unit, I had a decision to make. Either make MANY trips back and forth, loading and unloading my compact car, or rent this handy-dandy small box truck that was on the lot. Hmmmm.....I decided to ask about the price for using it just for the day. It made sense to me to make ONE trip and pay the $45.00. Gas prices are still well over $3.00/gallon here, not to mention the wear and tear on the Versa. So, okay, it's a deal. I loaded up the box truck, drove it home, and unloaded it. Cool!! Maestro was begging to go for a ride (he LOVES to take rides, head hanging out the vehicle window, wind blowing through his hair!!!) so I loaded him into the front seat of the box truck, rolled down his window a bit, and locked his door! When we got to the self-storage facility, I got out, locked my door and proceeded to put the truck key in the drop box. OH NO!!!!! Immediately after I let the keys drop into the box, my heart sank. Maestro was still in the truck...with his door locked. I couldn't get the key out of the drop box. I started to panic. The self-storage facility had closed for the day. I didn't even know who to call because the paperwork had to be deposited into the drop box too!! Maestro was barking at me because I hadn't let him out of the truck yet! What in the world was I going to do??? Everything in the box truck was manual. No automatic door locks, and the manual lock was about 3/4 of the way down the inside of the door. There were no runner boards on the outside of the truck for me to stand on. Okay, take a deep breath and think this through. Since Maestro's window was rolled down about 6 inches, maybe I could reach in to get to the lock. No, I'm too short and no runner boards. Maybe I could drive my car next to it and stand on my car....no, the other truck was parked too close. Maestro is getting frustrated with me because I hadn't let him out yet!!! I go back to my car and look to see if I had anything that I could stick in the window to try to reach the door lock. Golf clubs....no, they were too long to manipulate. Finally, I found a support from a wire shelf that had been removed from the kitchen closet. I'm not sure what in the world that support was doing in the back of my car, but I was glad it was there because I was able to reach it into the window and pull up the lock button!!! Thank goodness!!! Maestro was happy to get out of the truck!! My panic attack was over!! After that episode, on the way home, I treated him to a hot dog at Nathan's! He deserved it!!!!

Technology Challenged

It should be simple...We ARE in the age of technology!! It IS a time when we can purchase a computer, laptop, printer, etc. over-the-counter. Don't you think we should be able to just "plug and play"?? Well, that is what I assumed yesterday when I suggested to Mary that I hook up her wireless printer for her. Who knows how long ago she bought it and it was still in the box. It was just begging to be united with her laptop!!! How could I say no??!!!
So, the unpacking began...instructions, disc, cables and cords. After all, I've hooked up my own computer and wireless router...this should be a piece of cake! Things were going very smoothly ... UNTIL the install program asked for some information that neither Mary nor I had any clue what it was. I tried to cop out at this time by suggesting that Mary wait for her son-in-law to do it, since he was the one who set up her wireless router. Mary had a different plan...hey, girl, you started this and we ARE going to finish it!! :-)))) So, it was suggested we make a call to Linksys. I am NOT a phone person, so this was not high on my priority list. Mary IS a phone person and so we found the phone number and the fun began!! First a call to Linksys to see if they could provide us with the missing information needed to connect to the wireless printer. The young man tried desperately to help us, exerting so much patience up to a point....then he suggested we pay $9.99 so he could take control of the laptop and do it himself. Of course, we declined. Then we were transferred to a young lady from Philippines...who also tried to help us. She was at the end of her shift, so with compassion for the sleep-less, we decided to pay the $9.99 and let her do it!!! Okay, so we got to the point where we had the information needed, the computer was hooked to the printer with the USB cord, and we finally got the printer to print. Yay!!!! She was done with her task and wanted to go home to sleep! Now, she says, unplug the USB and print wirelessly. Should be easy enough....but it did not work. Exasperated, she declared it was now HP's fault and we needed to call them. Mary dialed the number, and we again gave control of the laptop to a young lady from India. Ohhhh, steps 3 & 4 were not completed with the printer set up....easy enough....and VOILA!!!! we were able to print WIRELESSLY. What should have been sooooo easy, took up approximately 4 + hours to complete!!! What happened to easy, do-it-yourself technology? Maybe that comes with the next purchase!!! Enjoy your Monday!

Balloon Festival

Last Sunday afternoon, my friend Mary and I went to Statesville to the 35th Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival. Not having been before, I was not sure what to expect. Statesville is kind of a hick town with a small airport, so I guess I thought this was going to be some small event with maybe 3-4 balloons. When we got there, which was way out in the sticks, we were parked in a large field alongside the airport. There were no balloons in sight. Great, I thought, I'm spending $8 for a look at a couple of balloons but, hey, they probably have vendors with great "fair" food!! We brought lawn chairs, as the website suggested, and hauled them on our shoulders through the large parking lot field. Beyond the tree line at the side of the field, there was another field with food vendors, and white event tents set up all over the place. To one side was a stage...but not one balloon in sight!!!

We bought food tickets and a wrist band for the wine tasting tents. There were three local NC wineries set up so you could take your Balloon Fest etched wine glass and taste their goods. Muscadine and Scupponaug grapes are plentiful in NC, so one of the wineries had quite a few of those wines. The other two wineries had the traditional chardonney, pinot noir, etc. All were very good! We then found our way to the food vendors to check out what they had to offer. The smells made me think of the Woodstock Fair....peppers, onions, sausages all cooking and enticing you to try some. The gyros and deep friend mushrooms; traditional burgers and franks; and, of course, french fries. We found a vendor offering gyros and wraps. Their french fries--which they called butterfly fries--were made by putting the potato on the end of a rod which was attached to an electric drill. After the potato was put on the rod, a disk was placed on the end and the potato was "drilled" against the disk to produce thinly sliced potatoes (much like you would use an apple peeler attached to the table). The long trail of these sliced potatoes were put in the hot oil. They were very crispy and delicious!! We found a place to plant our chairs by the stage and began our feast. We were entertained by the "Cookie Band". The band of about six afro-american men provided music from the 60's and up. They were very, very good.

At 5:00 pm, the announcement was made that the final ascension of the balloons was about to take place. Mary and I looked around at that point, because we had not seen one balloon yet, and wondered where in the world the balloons were. Well, let me tell you, all of a sudden you began to see these amazing yards and yards of cloth began to take form. Why I didn't bring my camera with me is beyond me, so I "borrowed" these pictures off the internet, but the pictures are a true representation of what we saw. There were approximately 40-45 balloons that began to fill with hot air all along the back of the area we were sitting in. It was totally amazing. The colors were spectacular and it made you wish you were the one in the basket taking off. They were so graceful as, one by one, they lifted up in the air!!! Before you knew it, they were all gone. Mary and I both decided that this was an event to put on our calendars for next year. We found out later that on Saturday evening, they have what is called a "balloon glow" where some of the balloons are tethered and as they fill the balloon with the flames, the balloons glow!

Needless to say, this was not some hick event. It was very well organized. Most years, we found out, there are at least 50-60 balloons at the festival. If you have the opportunity to look up in your area to see if there are any hot air balloon festivals, go to it. Melissa and Andrea....your kids will be in awe as they see these balloons fill up with air and take off!!!

Voila! Laundry Hutch....

Voila...the laundry closet turned hutch is 99% done. I know, you probably are looking at the pictures and thinking "it looks done to me!" Well, there is a story behind it that didn't end well, and the result is that there are some minor fixes that will need to be done...but either by myself or someone else. It's nothing I can't live with right now, but the carpenter that I hired turned out to be a slackard...(is that a word, and is it spelled correctly??) He dragged the project out and was not the craftsman he claimed to be. But, all in all, I am pretty satisfied with the end result. It is far better than the bi-fold doors that were there before! It adds to the kitchen instead of distracts from it as the "closet" did. If you know anyone who has a laundry closet right in their kitchen, I would be glad to share with them the picture and article I found in the Southern Living magazine that described this project. Sorry, no plans came with the article, but a carpenter would be able to look at look at it and figure it out. Now if I could only get the kitchen cleaned of all the sheetrock/construction mess, then I could actually throw in a load of wash and sit back and enjoy!!

JUST ABOUT DONE!!

WOW...What a transformation!! The laundry cabinet (hutch) is 99.9% done! What a difference from the before picture! I was actually able to get a load of wash in! The stain is on and tomorrow the carpenter comes back to put the polyurethane on. He is going to paint the wall, put the knobs on the cupboard doors, and any little finishing touches needed. The doors hiding the washer and dryer are bi-fold and then slide into the side of the cabinet so they are out of the way when open. I wanted the country rustic look and the stain came out exactly the way I envisioned it. Now to put the house back together...lots of dusting to be done, vacuuming, floor washing...and I can't wait to see what the kitchen will look like with the table and chairs back where they belong!