It's been a long time coming

Funny how something like blogging can become addictive and yet life can get in the way and what was once fun falls by the wayside.

So much has happened since my last post in October. The holidays were different this year. Although my Aunt was greatly missed it was nice to have all her family over for Thanksgiving. My second cousin even gave us something really extra special to be thankful for - she told her Mom (and the rest of us) she is pregnant with their first child. Daddy-to-be-hubby was given rounds of handshakes, congrats and some good natured ribbing. She is due in April so we are in "waiting" mode.

Our immediate family also expanded at the end of the year. We added another dog to our family. Madison Nicole is a lovely, bouncy, floppy, fluffy, liver and white English Springer Spaniel pup. She joined us a day before New Year's Eve.



I had been trying to convince Jon for some time that Dani, our lab mix, would do better with a friend around. Dani loved playing with other dogs and I felt was feeling lonely when there wasn't any other dogs around. I kept equating it to being an only child (something I'm expert in) and how parents of multiple children say it's easier to raise more than 1 child because the kids play with each other instead of bugging you (which Dani was doing...bugging us).

On Christmas morning I pulled a few things out of my stocking when I came across a package addressed "To wife, boy and dog". Inside was a small stuffed dog toy. I looked at my husband with a puzzled look on my face ... "It's a token. You can trade it in for the real thing." I squealed with joy and hugged him. A puppy! We started looking on the Internet thinking we'd probably find one in a couple of months. Lo and behold I found a batch of lovely Springer pups in Pennsylvania. We called and arranged to come see the pups. The owners were a lovely Mennonite couple who ran not only a dairy farm but a bed and breakfast. They took us through the cow barn to the back where the puppies were kept. I changed my mind about 3 different times. They were all so cute I could have taken any one of them. At first my heart was set on cute little Cara-Lee. She had a paler brown right where her eyebrows were so she had a very expressive face. Then I thought maybe Courtney was the one. She was the runt of the litter was just too cute for words. Then I realized I was selecting a puppy in the wrong manner. So I watched all the pups together and realized that Christy was the most interactive, the most alert and the one we should pick.

We didn't take her right away as we had a family dinner the next day and I didn't think it would be fair to leave a new puppy home alone all day. So we arranged to pick her up on Sunday. What should have been a 2 hour trip up became an almost all day ordeal. I took Patrick with me but Jon had things to do at home. So we thought having a cell phone and a GPS would be enough. However, about 5 minutes away from the farm the GPS ran out of battery and I had to go on memory. Of course when we drove up it was pitch dark so things looked a lot different in the light. Luckily we found the farm and picked up our little girl.

Now the trip home. I asked the owners for directions back since the GPS had died on me. I also found that my cell phone had died so my hopes of calling Jon and having him give me directions were dashed. I tried the directions given to me but things again started to look unfamiliar. I drove for a bit and we finally decided to stop for lunch. We started back out again and after quite a bit of driving (in what turned out to be the exact opposite direction than I needed to go) I stopped at a gas station for a map. Once we had the map we were on our way. Madison (aka Maddie) was amazing. She didn't cry too much, loved climbing over Patrick (although we had brought a basket for her to ride in) and slept pretty much most of the trip.

I am still amazed to this day how well Maddie and Dani get along. We introduced them on neutral territory. Dani sniffed the new addition a bit and then proceeded to wonder off to sniff other smells (actually a good sign). Dani had to learn to be gentler with the puppy than she was with her other playmates. She learned pretty quickly that the puppy was for her. I feel that she has become a calmer, more obedient dog since we've gotten Maddie. Part of it is she has one of her kind now, part of it is her sitting by Maddie's side when I'm teaching Maddie her obedience lessons (so in turn it is reinforcing it for Dani). I'm sorry we didn't do this sooner.

Two dogs certainly can be challenge at times (like walking) but I'd never have just one dog again. Having two has actually made things easier because they entertain each other instead of demanding my attention all the time. 2 doggies twice as much joy.

Christmas in October

The house wasn't decorated in red and green or with twinkling lights. Instead appropriately done in pumpkins and fall colors. Carols weren't playing but soft classical music did provide a little background noise. Snow had not fallen and neither had the temperatures - high 80's was out of place this Columbus day. So what on earth would make one think it was Christmas in October? The gifts.

Many gifts were given and received that day. The plus side of it all was no messy wrapping paper or ribbons to clean up afterwards. Instead they were the gifts of time, spirit, love, and ease.

Time - This gift was given to me. I can not express my thanks enough for this gift. Especially because I expected to be robbed of it instead I was given it. I am highly allergic to cats. So much so that more than one cat in a house (no matter how immaculately kept) will send me sneezing, wheezing and blowing from any house which in they reside. This past Monday was not the case. I was given the gift of time and not a single allergy symptom (during or after my visit) during my time spent with my Aunt, Mother and cousins. I had prayed that I might last 20 minutes (my usual length of time before symptoms make me so miserable no one wants to be around me) or a little longer -- I never dreamt that I'd last more than 6 hours. I had maybe one little sniffle the whole time. I was able to spend time with my Aunt and Mother in the same room. I was able to just sit alone with my Aunt and send her all of my positive energy so that she could use it to ease her journey a little. I was able to spend time going through pictures of the family with my cousins and I was even able to hopefully comfort my one cousin a bit when had too much liquid love to hold in anymore. I don't think another gift could have meant more to me that day than the gift of time.

I was also given the gift of time the following day. My boss and co-workers gave me the peace of mind that my absence would not effect them especially since we were rolling out a new software system that very day (a major undertaking and one that never goes 100% smoothly). I thank them too for this gift as I needed to be with my family of birth more than my family of work at that moment.


Spirit - This gift was given to all of us in the house. The giver was Rainer, my Aunt's Hospice nurse. Her calm spirit, her kindness, her caring mirrored my Aunt and was the perfect match for her. But Rainer not only gave this and her attention to my Aunt but to all of us. Some might say she was doing her job but I would argue that yes, she was but she put so much of her spirit into it I felt she was a gift. She was the one that first used the word gift to me that day. Little did I know that it would be an underlying theme.

She also gave my cousin the gift of being a daughter that day. My cousin who is also part of Hospice had been taking care of her Mother but she also needed to be a daughter. Having Rainer there to give my cousin the gift of being a daughter when my Aunt (and my cousin) needed it most was just what the doctor ordered.


Love - This gift was given by all to all. I've never felt a house so full of love. It was literally palpable. My Aunt was surrounded by many that loved her - her 2 daughters, 2 granddaughters, son, dear sister, niece and close family friend. Whether or not we were in the same room at any given time you could feel the love for my Aunt emanate from every corner - inside or out. I am convinced that all this love made my Aunt journey a little easier for her. I can't vouch for others but feeling the love in the house [watching each person talk to my Aunt, stroke her hand, give her a kiss or a small hug] just made it a little easier for me too.

Ease - This gift was given to my Aunt. She assured us that she felt no pain during her final journey. I did not expect this and was more than surprised to hear her several times tell us she didn't have any pain. I never imagined that the process would be painless but if there is one gift I could have given my Aunt at this time it would have been that - ease.


As with all Christmas mornings, the fun must come to an end and usually does when the first new toy is suddenly broken. My Aunt passed away before the clock could strike the first hour of a new day.

Suddenly the bright lights of Christmas in October seem a bit less bright. The soft music has stopped playing and weather has even turned a more appropriate October temperature. The world seems to recognize that my Aunt is no longer in it and it too is mourning her passing.

Lessons are to be learned from every moment in our lives. The lesson I have learned from what to many may seem like a rather sad experience is to be more like my Aunt. She saw the good in everyone and everything. (Which was truly amazing since she wasn't always afforded the same luxury - she was on the receiving end of not always the good in life. She definitely made lemonade from the lemons life gave her. ) I've also learned that a great sense of humor will take you far. My Aunt had that and still managed to chuckle and crack a joke during her final journey. If I've learned anything from this experience it is to give more gifts in my life. Give the gifts of humor, love, kindness and caring. And also to look at the good in things in bad situations (although I lost my Aunt I received many gifts that day). The gifts will never take her place but if I know my Aunt she would have enjoyed the gifts too.

Of course the greatest gift was given by my Aunt. Ever the nurse she decided to give her body to cancer research so that a cure maybe found. "You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you." -John Wooden. Then my Aunt in her death lived a perfect day.

Look Mom, I can swim!

A little over a year ago, a sweet little four-legged bundle of energy and love entered our lives. An 8 week old Black Lab mix puppy was chosen to round out our family. She has brought us nothing but joy and laughter ever since.

She has made me look at things differently - flooding of our basement this past winter was laughed about when I found her sticking her snout in the water and blowing bubbles; her natural curiosity has reminded me that life is to be explored; she greets each day with a fresh outlook and makes me realize that life is just that, a gift each day.

I enjoy taking her for long walks around our home especially areas that have access to water. Being a Lab she is drawn to water (even puddles). However, her reluctance to go beyond the shallow water has been something I have vowed she would overcome. Today was the day!

Patrick and I started out small - taking her to a local stream that had all depths along it's path. She was fine with walking in the water but if her paws could not touch the bottom she'd turn back to shallow safe sections. We started by coaxing her out little by little with one of her dog biscuits. Sometimes she'd reach for them and other times she'd just panic and turn back.

I think her panic was caused by an early incident last winter. Early December on a warmish day (well for December) I took her down to Liberty Reservoir. After an almost 2 mile hike I knew she would need some water. Finally found an area where she could get a drink. She walked in the shallow part for awhile but no amount of stick throwing or "go get it Dani" was going to get her out to deeper water. Then all of a sudden she took off light a bolt - started running around on the ground and play growling. She then just ran towards the shore and jumped in. However, where she jumped in was much deeper than where she had originally been playing. The look of panic on her face was due to not only the depth (and lack of ground beneath her paws) but also the shock of the colder water.

Recently we've been benefiting from the drought this summer. The water is, in some places, a good 30 yards below it's normal water mark. So what was the deeper part of water is now dry land. We are able to walk along the shoreline as if we were at the beach. Many of the areas have had nice shallow areas for her to play in. The dog biscuit tossing into water bit has gotten her to go out up to her belly but no further.

Recently Patrick has made it his goal to get her to swim in the deep part....more importantly like doing it. The other day he found a nice area where it was shallow and gradually got deeper. Hooking her leash on he was able to coax/pull her out and get her to swim a little.
I tried to get her to go out the following day by throwing one of her favorite fetch toys in the water. I started out shallow and worked my way further out. Unfortunately I threw it a bit too far and the old panic set in (although she did swim for a second before it dawned on her). Her toyed floated in Liberty Reservoir taunting us. Nothing I could do would get her back out there to fetch it. Great, $8.99 down the drain. Happy ending! Next day we went back and it was still floating in the same spot. Luckily a kind young guy was fishing and when asked "hooked" her toy and reeled it in.

Today Patrick once again reinforced his work with her. She actually swam quite a bit. First on the leash and then free of the leash. She loved fetching her once "lost" toy and bringing it back to shore. At one point Patrick came out and she even swam without him in the water with her. My once "big soppy girl" (as Jon calls her) has finally found her inner Lab and learned that the deeper water can be just as much fun as the shallow end.

Remember the Food Lion Forget the Alamo

I've often seen the bumper sticker on vehicles proclaiming "Commit Random Acts of Kindness" but today I actual experienced what it feels like to be on both sides.

A late trip on a Sunday afternoon found me in the parking lot of Food Lion with a cart laden full of groceries. I noticed that the cart corral was overflowing and someone had just added one more to an overgrowing mass of carts. They were already sticking out far enough to take up part of the parking lot. Although I had groceries in my car and I was anxious to get home I decided someone had to do something. I looked around and didn't see any of the bag boys so I decided that I was just as capable of pushing the carts in a bit better so folks could maneuver the parking lot better.

I guess I'm not destined to be a bag girl or a cart pusher as I struggled with trying to get the long lines of carts into some sort of order. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a mother with a small child get out of her car next to the cart corral. Very much to my surprise she asked if I needed some help. I graciously accepted as I was struggling to get things under control. Then an older gentleman saw what we were doing and grabbed a stray cart, added it to his and came over to lend a hand.

What would have taken me quite a bit of time to struggle through took no time at all with my new accomplices. I surveyed our work and found we had managed to make 3 very neat rows of carts where they had once been a jumbled mess. I thanked them both for their efforts and hoped that they walked away feeling as good as I did.

I have in the past taken something upon me to do that was not "mine" but this time it was multiplied 3 fold. I was more pleased by the 2 total strangers (one with a small child in tow and the other with his wife waiting patiently in the car) just stopping what they were doing and pitching in than I was with my initial efforts.

This experience shall stick with me and hopefully continue a ripple effect for days, weeks, months to come. I will endeavor to use this as a touch stone in my life. Next time I get impatient in traffic - "Remember Food Lion" will be my mantra and I will remember how good it felt to give of one's self. Next time I see someone coming towards the door - I shall mumble "Remember Food Lion" and hold the door for them. No longer will cry be "Remember the Alamo but instead Remember the Food Lion!"

One curmudgeon coming up!

Well it's official - I'm old. No, there is no getting around it. It has nothing to do with my pending birthday but instead it has to do with my outlook. I'm not depressed nor am I bothered by the number 4 repeated twice.

I wouldn't say that I'm bothered or angered more just disappointed. Let me explain.

I have been fortunate to experience several Broadway shows (on Broadway), others were touring groups with half the original Broadway casts, or others such as seeing Yul Brynner in "The King & I" before he died or Carol Channing in "Hello Dolly" one last time. I see this as a perk of being an only child (cost was not the issue it would have been in some families) and a big drama lover (some would say drama queen). I lament over days gone by. I was introduce to the theatre (yes, spelled the British way on purpose) when you still dressed to attend. You held your applause until the end as not to spoil the whole experience and you were treated to the talents of Rogers and Hammerstein, Stephen Schwartz, or Andrew Lloyd Weber. Gone are those days - just dust in the wind (to borrow a contemporary tune). *sigh*

No longer do people feel that going to the theatre is a special event and out of respect to that event and to the actors performing they dress accordingly. Of course people don't dress to dine out either but that is another blog all together. Not only is not dressing in your "Sunday best" an option but many folks feel that jeans are appropriate for Lerner and Loewe as it is going to Lowe's Home Improvement store.

Okay, I could possibly curmudgeonly deal with lack of appropriate dress but I can't excuse the lack of originality on Broadway these days. No longer are we treated to sheer sing-along-ability of Rogers & Hammerstein number, the sexy footwork of Fosse, banter of Gilbert and Sullivan, the genius that is Lloyd Weber. No, instead we are "treated" to the likes of Disney and bad Hollywood movies being turned into...*gasp* Broadway musicals.

I'm not saying there aren't still a few new shows on Broadway but the majority of shows these days there and touring are not what they used to be.

So as I said - it's official. I've become a curmudgeon. Moaning on about "the good ol' days", shaking my fingers at "kids today" and their lack of appropriate dress (although there are plenty of adults that fit that category as well) and general waxing poetically about the past glory days of Broadway.

Well, this ol' curmudgeon is just going to use modern technology to reminisce of days gone by:



So raise your glass to one more curmudgeon in the world and just allow me to enjoy the "golden days of yesteryear" while the rest of you enjoy the new modern theater.

Star Light, Star Bright

Trying ever so hard to come up with just one thing I like about fall. I most definitely do NOT like the cooler weather. I am a girl of summer at heart and these sudden drops in temperature don't sit well with my body. Lesser humidity is a plus I will admit.

Being out with the dog the last couple of nights I may have figured out the one thing I can like about fall - the night sky. Yes, the night sky is there no matter what the season. However, the summer it isn't as clear due to humidity - in the winter it is just too darn cold to stand out there for long and star gaze....so fall and spring have to be the winners.

Once the humidity dies down it is amazing to see how many stars are in the sky. I see more now that we are in a bit less of suburbia than when I lived in Ellicott City/Columbia area. Less city lights to hide the beauty of the night sky.

As Dani goes on her eternal hunt to find that elusive ground hog or rabbit or deer that had the audacity to step into her "territory", I gaze upon the heavens and just marvel. The dog could probably run off and explore the whole neighborhood while I enjoy looking at the constellations. The clear nights we've had lately have just been beautiful (although admittedly a bit cooler than I prefer for only the middle of September).

I understand why Galileo was so captivated by the stars. It does make you wonder (is there anyone or anything else out there?), it does put things into perspective (how small we are in comparison), it does give you a sense of a power greater than yourself.

Doubt I'll ever take up star gazing proper (with telescope) but I will now look forward to my nightly walks with Dani so I can commune with the clear fall night sky.

Acorns keep falling on my head...

While my poor husband was slaving away at work (on a Sunday no less), Dani and I decided to take advantage of the BEAUTIFUL day and take a walk. We headed over to Soldiers Delight and proceeded down the Red/Orange/Yellow trails. The weather couldn't have been more perfect - blue, blue skies, low humidity, plenty of sunshine, and a gentle breeze blowing. Although it was still too warm to feel like autumn, there was signs all around that fall was on its way.

You could see leaves were starting to change and fall. I got to wondering why some years it seems like fall is ablaze with color and other years it almost seems muted and dull. According to what I found online (at the SUNY-ESF site) the amount of water and temperature has a lot to do with it. So I have a feeling this fall will be one of the dull ones as we have had such a dry summer and unless it suddenly rains enough to get the water table back up..... well, let's say it is highly unlikely.

At one part of our walk we walked through one heavily oaked forest. Poor Dani just didn't know what to do. The acorns were falling already and I think this was the first time she experienced the sound and sight of falling acorns. She kept running from side to side of the trail trying to figure out what that sound was and chasing the acorns that fell. She kept taking off trying to chase after acorns thinking they were animals I think or maybe it was just because the movement caught her attention. I kept waiting for one to whack her on the head or back but she managed to make it through the forest without being attacked.

Fall has been a time of year that is good and bad. Early fall is nice because the humidity drops, the sky becomes bluer and some days still feel like summer minus the humidity. The changing color of the leaves are beautiful but I find the less hours of sunlight and that thing are dying off makes me think of the Greek myth of Pershephone.

Pershephone by *AutumnsGoddess on deviantART

But as I grow older I learn that every day, every season, every moment has it's worth. So this fall I will enjoy the falling of the acorns as well as the leaves. But it is going to take me a lot longer to appreciate the wonders of winter.....brrrrr!