...window to the world

Apparently, not the neat job I anticipated when installing a window. This is why I am not a contractor! Bob and the big guy worked hard to get it to look like this!

And now we have a view! Window frame in the near future.

...going, going, gone

Here's the latest on what is happening around here. Notice, I have food and utensils all over the place. (Notice, you know who, will not give up his cheese and PB crackers, despite being loaded with salmonella!!!) I can't find my spoons. And sawdust everywhere! What a joy. The Big Guy has been very busy, but needed some help this morning with some heavy cupboard demolition. Thank you Mr. B.

I get to use power tools!

A new VIEW!

...what lies beneath

Here is a sneak peek at our new kitchen light fixture! I think it's called the shabby/chic/make do/austere look! I think it will catch on!

This tells you how long it has been since we've seen the actual original wall! Libby wanted her name on the wall too!

We suspect that this picture was drawn by our four-year-old number one daughter, about 1979. Or else it was a visiting Mayan....perhaps a long lost clue to the universe!

Here is the corner, minus wallpaper and tile.

And here is the same corner; finally primed.

I have no clue how long the stove has been in this position before we moved it; I did not take a picture of the floor! As you can see, the formica on wall is disappearing, slowly but surely. I can't believe people put formica on the walls!! Maybe I'll try something new on the walls....like...paint?

...and heeeeeere's Bob

Well, here is my main man of the hour, Bob the Builder. Bob is doing all the woodworking for my new cupboards. He and I don't always agree, but that's part of the fun! To be honest, however, he knows far more about what he's doing, than I do! And I usually end up compromising some way.













And here is "Pup", Bob's companion and helper. He carries the wood around! He's a chow mix and very, very friendly!

Here's the layout, pretty much to scale as to how the kitchen will be, you see the back of the sink cupboard, which will be under the window; and to the back you see the new cupboards which will be on the corner that never had any built-ins.







Here is the corner cupboard with my BREAD BOARD! I love this pull out feature. I've been using the one I have forever; it comes in so handy. This one is exceedingly heavy and as smooth as glass! There will be pull-out shelves behind the doors.







And here is the counter where the sink will go....somewhere in there. We are moving the sink ten inches to the left, to accommodate the refrigerator to the right. Bob is making all my drawers very deep, 'cause I have so much stuff!





Next....What lies beneath!

...bye bye old kitchen, hello dust!

Just as all good things must come to an end; so too must old kitchens give up their linoleum and formica and make ready for the new! And, I'm talking REALLY old here. Everything in the kitchen is original to the year the house was built, 1958. And we've been stuck in the fifties ever since!

This corner is is being torn out completely and the refrigerator will be there instead. (Can you get enough of that yellow formica?) However, to give it due credit; this formica has withstood unbelievable stress over the years and come out looking like it did in 1958. It has had hot pans and firey pot holders thrown on it, been used as a chopping block and step stool, suffered through years of canning and vegetable prepping and has maintained. I wonder if there is such a durable product like 50s formica anwhere in the world today.

Here, for example is our lovely combination of wall formica (yes, we actually had the SAME formica on the wall), plastic tile, and our ever so lovely linoleum! A lovely combination! The subtle mixes of grays, yellows, golds, reds and whatever else is showing, certainly makes a statement, does it not?

Here is a closer look at the actual flooring. Notice the bright red splotches of color spattered throughout? Sort of reminds you of blood-spatter, doesn't it? Well, actually, there was a time when number one son fell and cut his chin on the "big wheel". Remember those? His aunt Judy was visiting at the time and actually got down on her knees to wipe up the blood, until she discovered it was part of the floor!








Coming next, meet BoB the Builder.

...ewwwww....accident...really!

Yes, I saw the dead skunk in the road on the way to the store. I think the poor thing had just expired. I always feel so badly about roadkill...if they would just learn to use crosswalks.

Anyway....I have in my mind that on the way back, I have to remember the skunk, because it is at the turn at the HS and you can't see it. Unfortunately, there I was, rounding Reno, melting ice cream cone in hand, jammin' with Morrison and the Doors (c'mon baby light my fire) when...BUMP. Yikes...(and other expletives). Maybe it won't be so bad.

10 seconds later this gawd-awful smell is spewing from my car. I pull into the garage and five minutes later pull out again, because now, the whole house smells like skunk. I cooked with garlic tonight (lots of it) and now I have a garlic-skunk smell all over the house. Yummy. Well, the car is out tonight and it's too damn hot to open the windows, so the A/C is just recycling garlic and skunk odors. Ain't summer grand?

...home

Well, Katt finished his blog today. He's been so busy unpacking and sharing his adventures with Duncan. We had a wonderful time and are most thankful for a safe trip. Not quite the same here, but we're all together. Maybe Katt will continue his blog...he may not travel as much anymore, but I'm sure he can find some adventures around home. Pictures of the trip are here, but only for a short while.

http://www.photoshow.net/jbroadtrip

...back again

Wow...been awhile, but like the proverbial old penny, emphasis on old, back again.

Actually, I'm starting a temporary blog for our Arizona trip, Katt is writing it. You can check out www.kattstravelblog.blogspot.com for his take on our "adventure". At least, I keep telling him it will be an adventure. Hopefully, I will be able to grab some of those WiFi things out in the desert there and be able to post. Hmmm....I don't think we're too far from Area 51....I might end up grabbing something other than the WiFi thingies. My girl friend told me to head to Sedonia AR. She claims it is the center of some weird, magnetic, portal, black hole experience or something. Yeah, well, we'll just see! Hello, Mr. Serling!

...new york, new york

Here She is...Lady Liberty. Even after visiting Ellis Island, it is hard for someone like me, who has enjoyed the priveledge and freedom of this land, to imagine what the immigrants went through to get here. One third of the children died before they ever saw Her. Women and children flocked to this country, carrying a few items, sometimes with only the clothes on their backs. Men came in hopes of finding work and sending for their families. The pictures and journals at Ellis Island reflect not only the hardship of their journeys, but the hope and desperation of a new life. I am humbled at the strength and courage of the people who gave up everything they owned to find passage to a new beginning.
Times Square during the day and
Times Square at night. This place just bustles with activity and you can find the best hot dogs here!






















The entire Times Building is surrounded by these wonderful lights. I new I had to have this picture. I couldn't help thinking of the "Three Days of the Condor" scene where Redford threatens to turn his information over the Times...we were right there!

Of course, no trip to NY is complete without seeing Harlem and the Apollo!









This is Engine 54, right on the corner of our street, 48th Street and 8th Avenue. This engine was the second one to respond to the WTC on 9/11. There were 15 of 18 men on duty that day, and all responded. Not one firefighter made it home that night. They have a lovely display of their pictures on the wall (no pictures allowed.) You can see where family members bring little momentos to tack onto the wall. The men who man the station now are so very young. They would no more get back from a call, when another one would come in. They were constantly in and out of the station. Getting out and onto the street was a major accoplishment in my book. I think firefighters in NY are like their brothers all over the country; however, they certainly know the severe consequences of their jobs when they lost 343 men in just a few hours on 9/11. Dedication and pride at its best. Believe it or not, this was the part of the trip, seeing these men respond as often as they did, knowing their history and dedication, which moved me the most.

Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. I actually thought it was Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons! They had one portion of the play where the Four Seasons made their debut on Bandstand. Overhead, you saw the actual footage of the film, below you saw the actors mimicking the movements exactly in sync. It was awesome!

What's a town without chocolate?

Flowers are the best bargain around and little shops are found on just about every street corner.

Our hotel, a lovely clean building and only a short walk to Times Square.

What a wonderful town!!! We're making plans to return already. I never dreamed I could possibly even like, let alone fall in love with a city. It is an amazing, delightful buffett of people, taxi cabs, hotels, ads, colors, sounds, smells and shopping. The town has more history than one can even imagine. From Lady Liberty, standing in the harbor, to its cornicopia of Broadway shows, it never stops. It is a city of people, people and more people. Over nine million. It has over 40,000 cops (more than the number of troops we have in Afghanistan.) The NYFD answers 300 fire calls a day. Amazing doesn't even begin to describe it.

And I got the answer to a most queried question....Who is buried in Grant's Tomb. Actually, it is General Grant and his wife, Julia.

...on non-bowling

Since we have soooo much free time around here now, Dad and I thought about joining a bowling league. How simple is that? Find a bowling alley and sign up. WRONG. Apparently, no one really wants just two people. You have to find your own group. There was one league for "seniors" on Thursday mornings, but they have already started and we would be four weeks behind. We visited several alleys, including a rather seedy joint in Alliance, but to no avail. On Fridays, Eastbury has a "senior" fun bowling day for only six bucks. We went to check out the crowd, but hey….they were like in their 80s! I’m sure they bowled far better than us, but c’mon! We’re just looking for an "over forty crowd"! (By the way, I beat Dad in both "practice" games we played.) So much for bowling. Maybe Tango dance lessons????

...Mom's little girl

Here you go Lisa...hoping this works for you. We're having a good time, truly! Love her to pieces.

...tripping in Retirement Land

Our first retirement journey went well, we visited our friends in Iowa. (Corn, corn, and yes, more corn!) We managed NOT to kill each other during the 11 hour trip, so I think that is a major accomplishment. Half the fun of traveling is trying new eating experiences. Why eat at Denny’s and Bob Evans when you can enjoy a little local flavor. Lunch the first day of traveling was at a bar in a little off-road town called Utica, Illinois. Downtown consisted of one "main" road, no traffic light, and two huge grain storage buildings. However, we found a bar called "Scoogs Bar and Grill". The plaque over the door proclaimed that this establishment survived the tornado of 1994. Thank goodness! Just a regular local bar, a little dark, long wooden bar and some booths on the side. However, the appetizer of the day, sounded interesting, so, why not? Deep fried pickles! They were awesome! Pickle spears, deep fried and served with a side of ranch dressing. You just kind of dip and eat. The waitress was great, the place friendly and the food delicious! (We passed on Duffy’s Tavern, since it seemed to be the local biker hangout.) (We also passed on Jimmy Johns Sandwiches, since it was in the gas station.)

Iowa found us in the Quad City area, the only place the Mississippi runs east to west…interesting little bit of trivia. (And yes, it is a mighty river!) Dad almost got arrested trying to enter Arsenal Island, a military establishment. This establishment houses the largest house run by the government, next to the White House. But hey, getting lost is half the fun of traveling! And Dad does have that "look", you know! Actually, we were only trying to find the museum, but the guard didn’t have a sense of humor. Thank you, Qa'idat al-Jihad fi Bilad al-Rafidayn. That’s all right, we Americans will muddle through this, just as we always have.

Ahhh…..Did I mention the Riverboats? Yep, three of them, right there in Iowa. I dropped about fifty at each of them, which is actually a good day for me. They were a little disappointing, a little grungy, small, and dirty, but the machines worked!

Lunch on the way home found us at a place called Shoops. If you are ever in Illinois or Indiana, do stop at one of these places. They slap their hamburgers on the grill in round balls, freshly ground and never out of a box. There was a flurry of activity with French Fries and Burgers being tossed from the kitchen into baskets while the waitresses scurried around, shouting out orders. The young grill cook was awesome! The buns are twice the size of a regular hamburger bun and the burger still overflows the bun. We sat at the counter, of course, since that is the only way to experience good old fashioned diner dining. Great food, great place!

Well, we’re off to pick up our fourth member of the family. I’m sure he’s been lonely and will be excited to be home!

...welcome to the United States of Mexico

Yep, I'm very unhappy about rewarding illegal aliens with benefits earmarked for US citizens and legal immigrants.

Here is my letter to Senator Voinovich and Senator DeWine:

I am sadly disappointed that you voted for and approved S 2611. I feel as though you and many other representatives are exchanging this country and its good citizens' heritage for a quick fix to a very complex problem. Personally, I would rather see the money that will be spent on refunds, welfare, social security, and educational benefits for illegals sent directly to Mexico, if need be. As it is, the Mexican government turns a blind eye toward the millions escaping its borders while failing to solve its own social problems. Now it is our problem.
It is simply mind-boggling that every Senator who approved this bill apparently does not know the meaning of "illegal". Those who enter this country illegally are criminals and this bill rewards their illegal activities. Additionally, it is a slap in the face to those who jump through hoops, learn the language, have legal jobs, pay taxes, and educate their children to become legal citizens.

Along with many, this is one issue that I will remember next election.

...life with Isabella

This post is for Isabella's Mom, just so she knows we've got a handle on her...sort of. I wonder if there is a market for precocious five-year-olds? I'll check with Ebay.

Day 1: On the way down, while listening to KIDS on satellite, we heard a new version of an old song. Apparently, it is now politically correct to sing, "Baa Baa White Sheep". Gheez. Have we taken this a little too far? I suspect that when the rhyme was first written, the wool from a black sheep was far more valuable than that of a white sheep. Besides, baa and baa goes far better with black than white. White loses the rhythm, somehow; but, we all know that, don't we?

Her first "job" was to help papaw picking up sticks in the yard. He kept her busy for quite a while. I think we might burn the debris tonight and have a bonfire with hotdogs and marshmallows. Isabella is concerned because we don't have a table down there. For a snack, later, she had five pieces of bread, without the crusts, and strawberries. OK. A little strange for my taste. We watched a "Scooby Doo", of course, and "The Last Unicorn". She crashed about 10:30, with Duncan at her feet. It's quiet right now, but I suspect that will change in a few minutes!

Day 2: Up early, of course. Breakfast is 2 bowls of rice crispies, one bowl of oatmeal, bread, grapes and milk over a period of an hour, in between cartoons and lite-brite. Off to the park and Isabella makes a new friend, Jazz'mea. Back home and work in the garden with her garden tools. Lunch is at Subway with her being very polite and ordering her own sandwich and cookie. She now searches her own movies and shows on the remote and knows how to rewind to watch those ever so funny shots, like Scooby farting. OK. OH, yeah, it was Scooby Doo 2 tonight. She crashed a bit earlier tonight, with papaw right behind her.

...nano nano

Well, I am positively in Music heaven, right up there with John, Bobby, Bill and Johnny. I finally got my little Nano I-Pod and I love it! I'm still working on playlists and stuff, but I'm sure it will work out. I-Tunes is going to break me, I'm sure. I may have to get a job! ....Nah, I'll work it off at home!

...you want breakfast where?

...breakfast at McDonalds

A quick and simple breakfast after church, that is all Jim and I wanted. I walked over to McDonald’s while he went to the BP to get gas. Easy. He wanted pancakes and coffee. I wanted pancakes and coffee.

Conversation.

CLERK: Good morning, can I help you?
ME: Good morning. Yes, I’ll have two orders of hotcakes and two coffees.
CLERK: You want two hotcakes?
ME: Yes, I want two orders of hotcakes and two coffees.
CLERK: Do you want cream and sugar in your coffee:
ME: No thank you.
CLERK: You only want two hotcakes and coffee?
ME: Yes, two orders of hotcakes and two coffees. I don’t want just two hotcakes.
CLERK: We sell hotcakes by one, two or three.
ME: I want two orders of hotcakes and two coffees.
CLERK: Two hotcakes.
ME: No, there are two of us. Each of us wants an order of hotcakes and coffee.
CLERK: That will be three dollars.
ME: That doesn’t sound right, I think I owe you more money.
CLERK: Well, if you only want two hotcakes and coffee, it is right.
ME: I don’t want two hotcakes. I want two orders of hotcakes and two coffees. I owe you more money.
CLERK: (fiddles with the register). OK. Three dollars and eighty cents.
ME: (at this point, I want to either start laughing or reach across the counter and shake her). That still doesn’t sound right, but OK. (I give her the exact change, because I’m afraid she can’t break a dollar.)
ME: (waits patiently to the side)
CLERK 2 brings out two huge bags and two coffees and sets them in front of me.
ME: I don’t think this is my order, there are four containers. I wanted two orders of hotcakes.
CLERK 2: We put one pancake in each container.
ME: Why?
CLERK 2: It’s the same thing as two orders.
ME: You have one hotcake in each container? (Secretly, I want to shout, "What is WRONG with you people?" However, it is the Lord’s day and patience is supposed to be a virtue. Actually, an order of hotcakes is three cakes. I’m wondering about their math skills.)
ME: (I merely shake my head and take the bags.)
ME: Home. Yep. One pancake in each container, cold, because they didn’t have their little pancake companions to keep them warm. Oh, surprise, the fourth container has two hotcakes in it. Must be a bonus.

...retirement?

I think something just might be wrong with this picture. I was up at my usual time (6:30), I am dressed, I am doing laundry and it is only 7:05. I suppose I actually have to have some kind of dinner ready for Jim, also!

I cried all day yesterday and was totally wiped out by 10:00 pm last night. Everyone at work was so very kind dropping by with well-wishes, little gifts, baked goods and cards. Two of my friends, Tina and Michelle, put together an awesome memory book for me, including pages and pages of written wishes from everyone. I am not just leaving a work place, I am leaving a family.

...it's a wacky world

OK…it’s getting crazy out there. Muslims are killing and rioting over a cartoon. Nevermind that any public figure, be it religious or political is public domain…even God has had tacky tasteless jokes printed about Him. Have the Catholics risen in unison and burned buildings because the Pope has made the papers in cartoon form? How many Baptists killed their neighbors when the papers were making fun of Oral Roberts? G. Bush signed an agreement with India to exchange nuclear secrets…providing they keep nuclear power and weapons separate….yeahrightsure. We’re selling our country’s security to terrorists, despite what the right-wing conservatives will have you believe. Why not hire the Taliban as Secret Service Agents for the President and crew? Cheney shot his friend in the face. Do we even want our vice-president in a position where he could get shot, let alone be the shooter?

Now the good news….number one granddaughter is moving only two hours away!!!! Yeah!!!!!

...on Googling

Google, in its search for the almighty dollar, has egregiously erred in its decision to prohibit Internet searches in its China market. Chinese will only see government sponsored sights when searching Internet databases. Google succumbed to Chinese government pressure and decided to limit freedom. However, at the same time, Google refuses to submit to a United States government subpoena of its records on searches for child pornography. In other words, it is certainly OK by Google administrators to allow creeps to view and download child porno (clearly against US law) but it will not let Chinese citizens the freedom to search for the truth. It’s OK to promote stalking and exploiting children, but not OK for a Chinese citizen to search the truth in current events or history. It is OK for someone to get their rocks off while viewing a child in a compromising (and never consensual) position, but not OK for a Chinese citizen to learn about democracy. Google is pathetic and a disgrace to this county’s long fight for human rights. Maybe they need to do a search on "freedom" or "war" or "human rights" or "capitalism". New World Order, here we come.

There are hundreds of search engines on the Internet, many of them better than Google. www.dogpile.com, www.ixquick.com are two good ones. I suggest you BOYCOT Google, I am….I won’t be Googling anything.