Melancholy Monday --- I mean Tuesday...(Note:this was written earlier and not published. Hence it is out of sequence according to my other blogs.)

I wrote a draft blog (I never published it) a while back where I described feeling "Melancholy". Today is another one of those days...

The world is a crazy place. My job situation has been up in the air the past few months. Life is a jumble.

We are heading out soon to fly to Florida to see our two younger sons and visit with them.

I am still recuperating from laser surgery for varicose veins.

It's amazing how many things can come into your life and sideswipe you and the emotional range from one end of the spectrum to the other is unbelievable. I keep watching Jim to see how all these things affect him. Men don't. Why is that?

Working backwards here is what has led to my melancholy.

This morning I went to my computer and saw a note from my son (Bryan, the one with the grandchildren) stating they have decided not to come down to Florida while we are down there. Though we had hoped for at the very least a weekend visit, short and sweet, it would have been a chance for all of us to be together. They usually drive down one day visit one or two days and drive back. While I am devastated at not having the chance to see my grandsons, I am sure the current gas situation ($4/gal) or their reasoning is justified something other than that of the the cat needing to get fixed, which is what he said in his message.

I state the above at the risk of making our other sons feel a bit put out because it would seem I am only interested in seeing my grandchildren. Seeing our children AND grandchildren is a HUGE thing for me ... as they live in Florida and Georgia and we still live in NY!!! We have little family here and we were supposed to move closer to them two years ago. But with the economy changes, and the house not being ready to sell, we are stuck here.

Which brings me to the next great news I received...

Yesterday I learned that my one boss is cutting my hours so I will only be working four days a week a.k.a. part-time. That in itself is not too bad -- at least on the surface. I really would like only working four days and have three off.  But when I went down to talk to our HR Dept. to see how this cut affects us, I was shocked. No more life insurance, no more disability insurance, even though my contribution to my heath insurance would have dropped; it won't now.

I can't complain too much because I am paid well for my responsibilities. At least I will still have insurance. But I know from the past any negative blow, even when expected, is still a shock and causes some major adjustments.

I still give thanks to my Provider for he has always provided. Many times in many ways. I try to always remember there are those worse off than me. Therefore I am grateful. I may not like the situation, but I am grateful.

The other thing that plays on the back of my mind is the laser surgery I just had...did it work? I don't seem to notice that much of a difference. I do know the vein has been shut down and others are picking up the blood flow, but the veins in my calf are still showing...maybe more time is needed. Then there is the experience I am having with this vascular group that I chose to do the procedure. While I bragged about their expertise. I realize now that was only attributed to one person in the group and he was not the nurse or the surgeon! So as the weeks have gone by, I see more and more incompetence with this group. Is that why my leg does not appear to have had the result I expected? To be fare, I'll give it some time.

The historical news in the world since Sunday night is the capture and assassination of the beast of a man named Osama Bin Laden (or for some reason, Usama, on Fox). This man ravaged the world, mostly US citizens and those who helped them for more than 20 years. He was the same age as I am. That hit me...Through my years, I have mellowed. How could one person have so much hatred, and evoke so much devastation in his 54 years? I guess the one main difference is he served his god and I serve mine. One justifies hate and the other love. Amazing to me that some say our paths lead to the same end. I think not.

I want to grieve for this man's soul because somewhere along the way he was deceived. He never learned the truth and he sought honor and eternal life by destroying everything in his path --even the poor woman he used as a human shield in his last attempt for survival. Power can do some ugly things to people. Money too. Unfortunately he never learned that there was another life chosen for him yet he chose not to take it. There are many out there doing the same. Not all are in the news or are having such a devastating impact on the world, but they are heading down the same path and my heart grieves for them.

Well, this is a gloomy piece if I must say so myself. But they say we have the power in each of our own minds to see the glass half empty or the glass half full and while this post may leave you thinking I am really down. I am not.

Within the next two weeks I will be in sunny Florida, with Jim, Aaron & Corinn and Dan. We will walk, hike, swim, laugh, eat and share some great stories.

The gifts I bought for my grandsons are shoved up in the closet for another time.

My recovery from laser surgery will not hold me back from my endeavors and WILL eventually be an improvement.

My job frees up a day to do what I want! Whether it be staying home reading a book or helping a friend, it will be MY choice.

Jim will be working soon and that will bring some relief to our finances as well.

While the world appears to be in a death spiral. There is a plan, there is a God who cares, and I know what happens in the end.

For those of you who think I have been duped to believing in fairy tales....I am in my own little world and I like it there very much....if I am wrong -- I have nothing to lose.

Florida Escape

Earlier in May, we headed to the Sunshine State to visit Aaron, Corinn and Dan for some R&R   ... at least that is what we originally planned. Aaron & Corinn decided to move to a house before we arrived so we helped them get settled.

It is funny to see your kids enjoying the work they dreaded when growing up.

For instance, if we had asked Aaron to dig out a drainage trench and remove the roots so water would flow away from the house, well we can just imagine the resistance we would have gotten. But look below! And please note the garbage bags lining the street. See how the yard is devoid of grass? Well, those bags -- all 45 of them -- are filled with the leaves that smothered any blade of grass that tried to sprout there.

Hopefully some grass will fill in the bare areas at some point.

The house is really nice with a big back yard for the dog to rummage around in. (There is a bit of grass back there, but its very sparse.)

They have lots of room but now just need the funds to furnish it.

The neighbors seem nice enough. One loaned Aaron his garbage pails to collect leaves! He is also an avid motorhead, so Aaron introduced him to his dad while we were visiting.

It was fun helping "set up house" with them. One thing I wish I had is a lot more money to buy a few things: like some patio furniture for the back deck, maybe a nice swing for the huge back yard; and some furnishings and decor for the inside, like a dining room table or a snazzy kitchenette set. I ached to go shopping at garage sales!

This trip also included an introduction to the newest member of our family, "Jem". She's a little silkie terrier mix that is just adorable! I am afraid we wore the poor pup out with all our walks.

On Dan's side of town, while his place is now a small one-bedroom apartment, it overlooks Lake Howell. He has great view instead of a back yard.

It's hard to believe the wild life he has outside his window. A family of raccoons live in the tree. A white heron-type bird comes to "fish" every morning. Those cute little lizards dart across the paths, up the walls and through any crack they can find. The squirrels are scrawny by comparison to NY squirrels and run rampant in the woods. And the fish actually jump out of the water in the morning!

 Once on my daily walk, I spotted this unusual sight through the trees. They turned out to be students from Full Sail working on a project. The one young man just happened to be Dan's neighbor. No they are not walking on water, but are standing a the pier.

This is Dan literally "at work". He is of this age of telecommuting and has his whole office in his livingroom. (Three monitors, yes 3!)

He just has to turn his head to look out the sliding glass doors of his apartment to see the peace and serenity beyond.

He is on the second floor and has a screened porch to which he can open the doors and get fresh air on those few days that the weather is not blazing hot and humid.

The walking path to the beach, pool and boat launch runs along the back of Dan's building. There are some great sights to behold on the way to and from these areas.

 I love all the lush green growth on this path. As you come to the end near the pier, you get a Narnia-like feel as you wind out of the forest...

 This opens up into the boat launch circle next to the pier.

This apartment complex must be praised for the beautiful landscaping and thoughtful design that went into the creation of this place.



Here is one of Dan's newest acquisitions, his 2010 Mazda M3 hatchback.

It is the second car he had ever owned. His other one served him well for a used car. Dan tried to run it into the ground but the thing never died...that a credit to good old American engineering!

Leaving on a jet plane...

Today I made our flight reservations to go visit our two younger sons in Florida. This is probably our only destination vacation for the year and a respite from the jobs and winter weather. We so look forward to the warmer temps but not as much as the time spent with our boys. (Yeah, yeah, I hear you all saying, "Boys? They are in their twenties, when are you going to call them men?" It's a carryover from my mom who called all men more than twenty years younger than she "boys". Jeepers!)

Dan, Bryan & Aaron the day Dan moved to Florida.

While we are in Florida, Aaron and Corinn are moving into a new house they will be renting. With a cat and a dog, they are looking forward to having their own place away from smoking neighbors. We will be helping them move while we are down there.

It is so funny for Jim and I to think about the many times our kids have moved compared to us. Jim moved once in his childhood. I never moved from the house I was born in. We met and married and in our 30 plus years, have moved from our childhood homes to our two apartments and then to the home we are in now. A mere three times!

All Dan's belongings fit in his car!

Moving Aaron's couch up to the second story apt.

Bryan moved to college in New Jersey to two different places, then to Potsdam where he also lived in two different apartments, back here and then to Long Island, then to Florida and to Georgia and while in GA has moved twice. Aaron moved from here in NY to Florida and has relocated twice since moving there. This one will be his third move. Dan moved from here to Florida to live with Bryan & Jess to attend college. He and Aaron moved into an apartment together so Dan could finish college and then they moved into another apartment before Dan moved on to his own apartment just before Aaron got married.

That's Corinn's dad helping Jim move his son-in-law to be.

Bryan we helped move all the but last two times. Aaron we moved both times and Dan moved himself with Aaron this last move. The really funny part is just about ALL the places they have lived since moving out are bigger than the home they grew up in and we NEVER had any family help us move. Only once did we enlist the help of a friend and it was mainly because he had the truck!

Maybe this is why my back is giving me so many problems as I get older...I have learned I can no longer lift, shovel or push ANYTHING. So I will happily pack, unpack, cook, clean but not move one box or piece of furniture while I am on my working vacation.

Hope I can get to the pool to relax my sore muscles! ;)

Florida or bust...not!

Family Vacation

Jim and I drove over 15 hours straight through from New York to Georgia in our new car

over Labor Day weekend to see Bryan and Jess' new home.

Their new home is situated on five acres in the suburbs of Atlanta in what could be called horse country. Ranches and stables and horses were everywhere we traveled. The home is a ranch with three bedrooms, a full basement, large familyroom/office, living room, three baths and a large eat-in kitchen. A lot of space!

Aaron & Corinn and Dan drove up together from Florida to join us. 

The boys shared their rooms with us. Of course this came at a high ;) price for us grandparents.

Country living has been a dream of both Bryan and Jess and after 10 years of living in tiny to large apartments this has been a dream come true. Bryan has taken on landscaping and deforesting the yard of poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. Of course with country living comes the unexpected guests who come to visit. Like the two tiny ring neck snakes. The huge lionlike dog that wandered through their yard during a rain storm, deer with baby fawns and the like.

Jess has been filling cabinets throughout the house and finding more cabinets and closets than she ever dreamed of having. Some are STILL empty! Elijah and Asher now have their own rooms and have their own taste in decorating.

There are also three areas to "retreat" outdoors if one wishes. My favorite was the screened porch with a large swing. Asher, Elijah and I spent many moments there birdwatching and reading together. (Thanks Elijah, for using your new hammer to tap in the nails that were popping up in the floor. Grandma's toes appreciate it!)

At one point as I sat on the front stoop (big enough to hold two large rocker chairs and small table with numerous trucks and toys, I thought how nice it would be for the boys to have riding toys to play with on the huge yard. Bryan must have read my mind because a one night after dinner he had Elijah entertain us with is new driving skills.

(Note:mower blades are not running while Elijah is driving.)

You can also catch a glimpse of the hammock they bought for another relaxing place in the yard. Great place to read, rest and hang out with little boys!

This brings to mind another thing new for this family -- climbing trees! The yard has some great ones and Elijah was just too eager to show his climbing skills.

The weather cooperated the whole time we were there. So we set out for some walks through some of Georgia's many trails. This one was an easy one so we were able to carry on conversations without having to worry about tripping over roots or stones.

Of course having the family together meant lots of meals together. We went out to eat several times for breakfast or grab a quick lunch or celebrate a birthday or two or three with dinner. (Dan, Aaron's and Asher's)

There were projects to work on:  Bryan's new grill, Elijah's new sword, using his new tools from Grandma and Grandpa, yard work to be done with new hedge cutters, etc.


It was a fun time, a relaxing vacation, a time to catch up with the kids and time to get to know our grandsons. (One is as goofy as ever!)

Now that Asher is speaking more clearly it is really amazing to hear what he has been thinking!

Now we look forward to repeating the adventure in November when we all gather for Thanksgiving -- again at Bryan and Jess'. For now...farewell and safe travels.

Goodbyes after breakfast.

Aaron & Corinn as they headed back.

Note: On previous blog it was mentioned that we would be taking the minibike down. Due to problems with our truck, we had to postpone that until Thanksgiving :(.