Last Minute Packing

Most of the things on my list are done except for the things that can only be last minute.  Linda and Vic will take us to the airport tomorrow.  We leave at 10:24 and arrive in Denver about 3 hrs. later.  Can't wait to get there!  Today we'll get some balloons and a card and cupcakes to take to the hospital for Richard.  He will be 40 tomorrow.  On a sad note..I just read that Maeve Binchy died.  I'll miss reading her books.  I hope to post from Steamboat Springs along with pictures...later...

Crazy Time

Things have been more than crazy around here.  We found Richard, Jr out on the floor of his house Wednesday evening and after several hours in the ER, it didn't look like he was going to survive.  He has been in ICU since then, but made a turn-around yesterday and things look like they'll be fine.  He will have a long rehab.  It came as we were readying to leave for Colorado and we weren't sure if we would make it.  It seems like we will go on time as there isn't much we can do for him now.  We'll be in daily contact as will his brothers.  Needless to say, I have a lot to do to get ready for a month away.

Nothing to Say

I'm posting just because it's what I usually do and I get flack when I don't post.  However, that said, I have nothing more to add.  Okay, I did go to the chiropractor this morning and won't be seeing him until September and I went to Krogers.  I got a few things we need for this week.  This afternoon we'll be going to the gym and that's all I have.  I'll likely report something similar tomorrow.  Hopefully when we got to Colorado I'll have a few more interesting posts....later...

Olympic Fever

I'm getting excited about the Olympics...can't wait.  Very hot and humid here and can't wait for cool, dry air.  Not much going on here.  Jack and Donna will be here to cut the grass today and I'll also pay them for August.  I'm trying to clear out all perishables from the frig.  I got up early and went outside to do a bit of weeding, etc. before it got too hot...nothing else to report....later....

The British Open

I always root for Tiger, but when it became apparent he wasn't going to win I really didn't care.  I really like Adam Scott and also Ernie Els.  Els won as Adam got 4 bogies on the last 4 holes.  I was happy for Ernie.  He hasn't won a major in quite a while.  I felt sorry for Adam, but that's golf.  On other happy wins...the Reds won all weekend!  Not much going on here.  It's hot.  I'm starting to make lists and get a few things together for Colorado.  Back to the gym today..it'll be tough as we haven't been in awhile due to grandkids and other company....later...

Childless

We took Eric back yesterday and that's it for the grandkids this summer.  We leave for Colorado on the 1st and we have a lot to do between now and then.  Today I'm just hanging loose.  I finished all of my library books and will take them back this week.  I borrowed a book from Anne which is really Muir's book and will read that this week.  I'm taking my Kindle to Colorado and I put 3 books on it so far.  One is a Linda Fairstein mystery, her newest and 2 others that I wanted and I'm taking my list of "must reads" along to add to as needed.  One of the neighbor girls is going to water my plants and Linda will come over once a week and do the humming bird feeders and just generally check around.  I also need to get rid of all of the food in the refrigerator!  I don't really have a lot in it at this time that needs to be gone..just fruits and veggies....later...

Charter problems

For 2 days we had no phone or internet.  Charter came out yesterday and the whole street was out.  It's fixed now.  We went to the mountains yesterday with Eric.  It was 15 degrees cooler up there with no humidity and a sweet breeze.  It rained a lot last night..so they say.  I didn't hear a thing.  We're all acting kind of lazy today.  I guess it's the weather.  It is gloomy out with more rain expected.  I'm doing Eric's laundry as we take him back tomorrow.  Nothing else going on....later...

Very Interesting Day

 We celebrated by birthday yesterday because we were all otherwise engaged on the actual date.  First we went to Rafferty's and had a very nice lunch and then went to see Woody Allen's new movie, Lost in Rome.  As per Woody Allen, it was a bit quirky, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.  At one point in the movie the actors were in the Roman Baths when it began to storm.  A bit later in the movie there was more thunder and we realized it was going on outside the theater.  It kept up and then Bam!  All was dark and it sounded like we were hit.  A short time later they announced they would get it going in a few minutes.  I assume they had a generator because we did get light.  It took a bit longer and I went to the restroom and looked outside to see a horrendous storm and the road looked like a river.  After sitting back down they then announced it would likely take longer and we would be free to go if we chose.  They then gave everyone 2 passes for a later date.  We weren't going anywhere in the storm so just stood in the lobby and watched it.  Then they announced our movie was back.  We watched the rest and at the last few minutes the sound of the movie went off and we got a local radio station.  We all just burst out laughing.  Anyway, Linda didn't like the movie at all except she did like the scenes of Rome and Bev thought it was cute.  After that we went to Panera for some coffee and dessert.  On the way home we stopped at some lots where Bev is thinking of building.  Got home shortly after 6.  The boys liked the Spider Man movie and got home just before us.  Today..not much going on.  R and ERic have gone to the store.  I'm going to make chicken salad and read...later..

Change of Plans

Today the guys, R, Eric, and Richard are going to lunch and to see Spider Man and Linda, Bev and I are going to lunch at Rafferty's and to see Lost in Rome.  We didn't go on my birthday because Bev was moving so we're making up for that.  I'm not sure about the rest of the week because rain is expected to come in which may cancel our plans for the mountains.  The good thing is that it is supposed to bring some cooler weather.  Nothing much else going on.  As soon as we take Eric back we will be getting ready for Colorado....later...

Company Gone

Our company, Tom and Karen, just left.  We had such a nice time!  The 3 of us went to lunch and to The Heritage Center in Townsend on Saturday while R. went to Va to pick up Eric.  We mostly just hung out and talked, but yesterday we played Apples to Apples and then last night we watched the Reds and that was a super game.  Go Reds!!  I'm cleaning up and doing laundry.  Tomorrow or Wednesday we'll take Eric to the mountains.  On Thursday the 3 guys are going to lunch and a movie while I go out with the girls.  That's all folks!

Dog Lovers Lament

They never live long enough!!  Maggie's dog, Zoe is a lab mix and is 15, I think.  She has leukemia, but that isn't really the main problem.  She has arthritis very bad and her back legs are giving out.  She is such a sweet dog and never complains.  his morning she could barely walk and Maggie is wondering how much pain is she it.  You never want your dog to suffer, but it is so hard to make a decision.  She's calling her vet today to discuss options.  The reason we don't have a dog at this time is because we were just devastated when we lost Wolfie and Cheyenne within a month of each other.  We felt we just couldn't deal with another loss at this time.  At some point we may get a dog..I just don't know.  I miss having a dog, but I'm not able to deal with another loss.  On a happier note...it's raining again here and will only get in the 70s today.  That does make me happy.  I'm busy in the kitchen making dressings for the 2 salads I'll serve this weekend.  R. has gone to Knoxville to get ingredients for all that I need.  In a bit I'll go over to Linda's to get a few more peaches for the dessert I'll make tomorrow night and then clean my bathroom and do a few other things.  When R. gets home I'll make some dips for appetizers I'll serve....later....

Busy Week

I'm getting the house ready for our company on Friday.  I'm almost finished upstairs with just the bathroom to finish up.  I'll do the downstairs tomorrow and Friday and also do some preparation for food we'll be eating.  I'm having salads both nights since I don't want to cook.  Friday will be a seafood salad with shrimp, scallops and mussels and Saturday will be Cobb Salad.  I'm making peaches foster for dessert on Friday...just like bananas foster, but with peaches and Saturday will be strawberries with whipping cream over pound cake.  R. is going to Knoxville tomorrow to do all of the food shoping.  We had quite a rain last evening and it's a rainy day today with a high of only 82.  I love it!! It is still too humid and it would be perfect if not for that.  I really enjoyed my few days in Cincy with Anne and the kids and I met Steve...very nice!  I loved the pictures of Eva and the video was hillarious!  She is destined to be an actress.  I'm off to fiinish the upstairs....later....

Quick Response

Our internet was out all day but is back now.  I just saw Muir's pictures of Eva.  I can't wait to see the video.  I'd love to go to the zoo with her.  The pictures were great!  I'll post tomorrow if we have service.  today I just cleaned in anticpiation of guests this weekend. 

I'm Back

I took Max back to Cincy and stayed at Anne's for the weekend.  I had a very nice time in spite of the extreme heat.  It was 104 and Friday and 105 Saturday.  yesterday it was only 100  and was a bit less humid and it did cool off a bit in the evening.  Today when I left it was in the 60s and breezy.  I expected to run into some rain in Kentucky and tennessee, but didn't.  I'm home now and I hear thunder in the background.  R. said he lost power 4 times last night.  He has the a/c off and it's okay..still too humid.  Tomorrow I have to do some major cleaning as we are getting company this weekend so the a/c will definitely be on!....later....

Oak Ridge

Today we go to Oak Ridge to the WW II museums.  Max is very much into this and he is anxious to see it.  Other than that we will just come home and chill out.  The movie, Brave was fun and we all liked it.  The new theater is very nice...a huge improvement over the old one, but the entrance is quite a hike from the parking lot which is hard for Richard.  If they had a few benches along the way it would be fine.  We did our fireworks last night and saved some sparklers to take to Madison.  We have no phone service.  It has been out since yesterday morning.  We also lost the innernet in the afternoon, but it is back this morning.  I called and a Tech is coming over tomorrow morning.  Max and I will leave around 9 tomorrow.  I guess I wasn't awake yet when I posted yesterday and said we would be heading to Ohio today.  .....later....

Happy 4th of July

We'll be going to see Brave this afternoon and then grill hamburgers and hot dogs.  Max and Grandpap got sparklers, some smoke bombs and 2 other things that are colorful.  We did some of the sparklers last night.  We may get some rain this afternoon.  Also, we have no phones.  I don't know why, but I do have my cell phone.  Tomorrow morning Max and I will head to Ohio and I will come back on Monday....later....

Swimming at Miss Linda's

Yesterday was a cooler day...just 94 and it was cooler than that in the mountains.  We had a nice drive up and a nice picnic.  We played some Sorry, Uno and Crazy Eights and sat in the cool water.  When we got home Baxter showed up and immediately bonded with Max.  It was really cute.  He even jumped up on the couch with him which he has never done.  Max was out shooting at cans and Baxter would pace back and forth until he came back in.  We tried to send him home as it got later, but he kept coming back.  Finally Max took him out and told him to go home and then we closed the door and the gate so he couldn't get back in.  We're hoping to see him again today.  This afternoon we'll be going to Linda and Vic's for a swim...Max and Grandpap just left to get some sparklers and Max want to get some smoke bombs.  We'll see if he can talk Grandpap into that....later....

To the Mountains

We;ll be headed to Metcalf Bottoms soon for some swimming and a picnic in the mountains.  It was 105 again yesterday, but today is only supposed to get to 99.  We did get a bit of rain last night and again this morning.  I headed to the store this morning and it was raining then.  I have everything packed up, but R. has to get the chairs and pack up the van and Max is still asleep so I need to make him breakfast.  It should be 10 degrees cooler in the mountains and the water will definitely be refreshing....later....

105!!

Yesterday's high of 105 beat the record of 104 reached in the 1930s.  All I know is that is was a scorcher.  I went to the store early and then watered and stayed inside.  Today we'll be heading out in a bit to pick up Max.  It will be a busy week....later....