Time for School

Tonight, Bentley starts obedience school!! Right, we start obedience school. We thought about waiting a bit but after the adventures and misadventures of yesterday we know it is the right decision. Look at that face. What trouble can he get into you might ask. Just, puppy stuff but enough that we need to deal with it.

He is not a bad puppy. Just curious and frisky with a sense for reading. He likes to pick up a magazine, Time in particular, by the spine and trot down the hall with it in his mouth with his head held high. Then there are the socks that he steals with the skill of a cat burglar. We have to work on these little things and stuff like running off when the door is open and not coming on command. He is a puppy after all and we are old softies who should know better.

Monday the Classic Peanutsstrip was my all time favorite. Take a peek and remember that "Happiness is a warm puppy."

Have a Brat for Us

Sometimes I think that I lead a pretty solitary life and I do. But, I have been blessed with friends and family who fill my being to its very corners. Our friends, the Johnsons, are such people. Sandy, Pete, Claire and Christian have birthdays starting the last week of March, or thereabout, and go through the second week of May. Sandy and Pete also have a wedding anniversary during that period and my Bill has his birthday. So, for several years we would get together during that period and have brats and burgers in honor of the occasions. It was a great time especially for the guys.

Bill, Pete, Christian, Frankie and Geoff

Sandy is what I call "Super Mom," even though her craft skills are lacking sometimes lacking. She can whip up a meal, a batch of cookies, a decadent dessert or an outrageous rum cake in the early evening after spending her morning driving for Meal on Wheels and spending her afternoon volunteering at the school. She is dedicated to missions and mission work in Africa. She and another friend created a successful after school project for the local elementary school. She is very active in her church and book club. She is devoted to her family. And, she works at a regular job. She loves to shop and to travel. She is a wonderful friend.

Claire and Sandy

Pete is steady and one of the most unassuming people I have ever met. He is great with the kids. He coaches their sports teams, he takes them hiking, skiing, camping and other great adventures. Pete starts camping as soon as the campgrounds open and he camps until they close. But, a Bubba he is NOT. He is as dedicated as Sandy to missions and mission work in Africa. He smiles with the most sparkling eyes when he talks about his trips trips there and building houses and schools.

Together Sandy and Pete are a wonderful pair. They love to venture out and enjoy the world around them. Have I said that they LOVE to travel? Whether it is to Priest Lake for a few days or somewhere across country or better yet somewhere out of country, they both are ready to go at the drop of a hat. What a gift they have given each other and to their children -- also their friends and family.

Christian always hamming

Claire being reflective?

It has been so fun watching these two grow from little "pip squeaks" to the bright and fun young people they are today.

We sure miss those times when we shared a brat and those times we shared at Christmastime. The pictures in this post are from our last time we all gathered before Bill and I moved from Spokane. Geoff and Erica were with us as were Pete's parents. (Sandy, Pete, Claire and Christian just returned from a trip to England and Spain. In England they celebrated Jim and Betty's {Pete's parents} 50th wedding anniversary).

Sandy, Christian, Pete, Claire, Betty and Jim

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BILL

Today is Bill's birthday. We do not have much of anything planned. In fact, when we went out yesterday it was with b-day in mind but the weather sorta drove us back home before the requisite items were secured.

The past year has been a big one for both of us but most especially for him. Some how he manages to get through it all while contending with me. For that he should be immortalized.

I have posted this picture before and am again because it captures Bill doing what he likes best -- being at the ocean. He loves the water and he is at peace when he is there. It is a characteristic he passed onto his daughter.

Through all of our struggles, happy times and just everyday times Bill is always steady. He offers unconditional love. He is always there. I am very blessed to be his spouse. Yes, even when his klutzy ways drive me crazy. Happy Birthday, Bill!! I love you.

Nor' Easter with a Surprise

Today has been a very dreary day. We have had storm warnings all day and it has rained most of the day with strong gusts of wind every now and then. We have been waiting for the storm for a few days now and it has come from the south and from the west but it changed it colors and as it headed east the winds changed and are now from the northeast. Or, at least that what the weather folks tell us. We have gotten a lot of rain but I think those to the south and northeast of us are getting hit harder. It has been the type of day when you know should just stay tucked in and not venture out much but that doesn't seem like the fun thing to do. So, we headed over to Lewes and the beach and found a whole lot of other people doing the same thing. The water was not as churning as we have seen other times. The temperature is a little warmer than it has been the last couple of weeks. The most distinguishing thing is that it is a very, very gray day.

Yet, though all of the gray of the day we saw something very amazing -- a white deer. While driving through Cape Henlopen State Park we saw deer grazing where we often see them and there with them was a white deer. We turned the car around for a better look and sure enough there it was -- not pure white but white nonetheless. Yes, there is something special in every day.

PET PEEVE --

Nothing offends me more than someone who does not return phone calls!! It is a rule in this house and is practiced outside of the home to return calls no matter how much we might not want to do so. The only exception made is when calls are generated by computer and that is another whole story. (If someone wants to speak with me then they owe me the courtesy of a direct or at the least the impression of a direct call). But, I wander off topic.

All the time I served as a business advisor I not only returned calls but I harped on the subject with my clients. Whether a response is positive, negative or "we don't know yet," the caller deserves to hear the answer. Retuning the call just might stop those annoying calls. If you don't want to talk with someone call when you are pretty sure that you will get the answering machine or better yet have your secretary or assistant make the call for you. At least a message is delivered. It does not hurt you to return the call but someone might be hurting if you do not even if your response is negative.

Not returning calls is not only impolite, it is unprofessional!!

There, that is said. Enough already!

She Leads the Way

One year ago today my friend, old friend and sorority sister, Terry published in her blog that she turned 60 that day. She told us about many of those famous/infamous folks who also turned 60 in 2006. She went onto say that as the first of the "boomers" we have seen some rather incredible things in our lifetimes. I viewed that post as "This is Our Year" with April 5 being the start of the year because Terry was the first of my "boomer" friends to turn 60. There will be more on the others later in this post but for now I think I will share a few thoughts on Terry. This intro picture is not the best picture in the world but it shows the joy of the day and the year on Terry's face. I love the smile.

Terry entered my life in 1965. She was a year ahead of me in school. Like some of those in other posts I have written of this past year, Terry is a sorority sister. So, the first life long bond. One of the most fun memories of Terry was when she and Sandy invited Patty and me to their dorm room for a party in honor of "Monday 'K'night." I cannot do the events of the evening justice here but suffice it say that other folks on the floor thought we were particularly weird. Terry has been blessed with a tremendous sense of humor and deep contagious laugh. She enjoys life. And, as such, she has blessed us all.

I have never been an artist. I can do some pretty crafty things but a designer I am not. That is not true for Terry. She is a gifted artist and has become quite well known for textile art. I love seeing her projects develop and come to completion. Yes, and there is a little envy from these quarters when I see a finished project of hers. You know, I take a little pride in saying I know that artist when I see she has an entry in a juried show or there is a photo of her work somewhere.

Through the years Terry and I have stayed in touch the usual ways but we also have had some periods where we lived fairly close to each other. Her calm and quiet husband Ray has always been a favorite. Her children are just older than Erica and when they were younger we spent some family holidays together. It has been one of those friendships that is always there whether there is a physical presence or not.

"The devil made me do it," but I just had to put in this picture from 31 years ago. Terry was expecting her daughter Emily. Well, two weeks ago Emily and her husband Cayo became parents of a beautiful baby girl. So, in this 60th year, Terry became a grandmother. What a wonderful birthday present and a wonderful way to end a momentous year!!

Thanks Terry for leading the way for the rest of us souls who turned 60 in the last 365 days. All of our lives have changed in this year. Besides getting grayer, rounder and slower there have been lots of reasons to celebrate and some more serious times. Many of us have retired or will be retiring by the end of the current school year. Several have moved to retire. We celebrate the future.

So, cheers to all of us -- TERRY, Ron, Carolyn, John, Carolyn (2), Mary Ann, Kathleen, Susan, Bob, Vickie, Betty, Sandy, Robin, Krause, Nancy, Joan, Mary and Mary (2). There are a lot of us, childhood, college, family and work friends who are now 60. So many, in fact, I cannot remember all who are but this I know, WE ROCK!! or at least we like to think we do.

From upper right and clockwise: Robin, Susan, Sandy, Carolyn, Betty, Mary Ann, John and Carolyn (with apologies to Susan, Mary Ann & Betty if I rushed the day).

More from Yesterday

The trip to Washington yesterday to see the Cherry Blossoms was great. The trees in bloom are not strong and over powering like oaks but are fine and delicate like heirloom lace. There is strength in renewal and heritage.

These are but some of the pictures I took.

Reflections from the Basin

Just Blossoms

Presidential Monuments and Blossoms

Something I Have Always Wanted to See

We were up early this morning; 4:00 a.m. to be exact. All this for an outing to Washington to see the "Cherry Blossoms." Our plans had been to go over later in the week but I have been keeping check on their peak and because of some warm days last week, yesterday was the day. So, we decided that we would go today in order to see them before they started to fade and drop. For all who know me, you know how I am NOT a morning person especially this early in the morning. But, I have to say that the trip was worth the effort.

We had carefully considered the way we would get to the Tidal Basin area. We would try to get a parking spot at the Jefferson Memorial. Of course, I took a turn too early but all was well and I almost took another wrong turn once I viewed the Tidal Basin awash in the beautiful blossoms. We arrived at the Jefferson Memorial not much after 8:00 a.m. The timing was probably perfect because I drove right to a parking place in front of the monument. We took our time and went to the monument which I had never visited. Jefferson was such a brilliant man and I found the monument beautiful.

From the steps of the portico we looked out and could view the whole basin and the hundreds of cherry trees. We walked part way around the Tidal Basin. We were greeted by students in groups, mothers with strollers, visitors of all sorts, runners, folks on bikes, National Park Service Rangers. It was a good morning and the large crowds had not yet arrived.

I took over 150 pictures today. It seems like everyone else was doing the same and all with the same pleasant smile on their faces. I will post more pictures tomorrow.

We left Washington not long after 11 a.m. and drove to Annapolis for lunch. From there it was home where we both have been a little slow since arriving here late this afternoon.

All-in-all, a GREAT DAY!!