Award! Me? Cool!

The Rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you.

Thank you Lynne! Although I don't write as much as I used to, I do try my very best to keep it honest.

2. Copy the logo to your blog. Done.

3. Link to the person who nominated you for this award.

http://lynne-tnt-ii.blogspot.com/ Lynne is heading out of blogger for a sabbatical ... and then going private. She'll be missed while she's gone! Please come back.

4. Name ten things about yourself that people might find interesting.

Many of these my regular (& old -- no, not older, just from before) readers will probably find this a bit boring ...

1. I was engaged twice before I kissed the frog that turned into a handsome prince. Then married him!

2. I turned to police & fire dispatching as a way to meet new people and spend time with adults after moving to the then rural community I live in.

3. I worked in the parts department of Cycles 128 (seems like a hundred years ago) and could find any part for any motorcycle that a customer requested. Could have had lots of dates too, but, alas, I didn't.

4. I'm sure I've forgotten pretty much everything I used to know about motorcycles!

5. I owned and rode my own motorcycle when I was 21 and after just 96 miles and one fender bender ... I brought it back to the shop and sold it!

6. My efforts to educate children about disabilities began in a grassroots way that included myself and one other mom and snowballed into researching a formal curriculum, working with the school district to purchase and implement same, and I am pleased to say is still in use in the local districts.

7. The Z Girls all love the color pink! And usually one of us is wearing it.

8. Golf. Need I say more?

9. My SIL & I have played the same KENO numbers when we meet for lunch at a favorite restaurant for many years now. The numbers where chosen by my SIL during one of my birthday lunches ... my birthday, lucky 7 and 69. I have one $100.00 playing the numbers on more than one occasion.

10. I have lived in three homes my entire life. My childhood home, my young adult home and my married home. All three are within ten minutes of each other.

5. Nominate ten or as many as you can -- Honest Scrap Bloggers -- include their blog links.

Robin http://yellowbrickroadtwo.blogspot.com/

Lisa http://cw2smom-wearinmyheartonmysleeve.blogspot.com/

Mortimer http://mortimerscafe.blogspot.com/

Jon http://lonestarconcerto.blogspot.com/

Karin http://fleecenikfarm.blogspot.com/

Jodie http://dornbrau-dustbunnyclubofnorthamerica.blogspot.com/

Vicki - 2 http://havenwoodhouse.blogspot.com/
http://mymaracas.blogspot.com/

Cathy http://cathy-daretothink.blogspot.com/

Donna http://donna-justme.blogspot.com/

Lisa http://mlraminiakcomingtoterms.blogspot.com/

Group! http://womenon.blogspot.com/

Mary http://rejectedtruth.blogspot.com/

Well, that's my list of links. BUT. I am leaving some of Lynne's links in, because you know, links are a good way to go out, meet new folks, visit folks we've been missing and build community among ourselves.

Carlene at http://horseshoebend2.blogspot.com/
Dawn at http://bbubblyb.blogspot.com/
Joann at http://joannsnewjournal.blogspot.com/
Linda at http://findingfootprintsinthesand.blogspot.com/
Lyn at http://lyn-britsblog.blogspot.com/
Sheri at http://justanotherday-sheri.blogspot.com/
Sugar at http://alittlebitofsugarplease.blogspot.com/

6. Leave a comment on each of the blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.

Oh gosh ... I went to visit all of the links I posted and totally forgot to let them know I've nominated them! I'm off to do that now! ** Gave up** Got through four or five and blogger was having some AOL moments.

PS -- It's perfectly okay to accept your award and not pass it on. Sometimes that's fun too!

Just Some Flowers -- 'Cause I've Nothing To Tell Tonight

A daylily blooming in a bucket ... of daylilies that had been removed from my back yard garden.

I finally couldn't stand the overcrowding and on July 4th (nope, no parade, no fireworks for me!) I removed all the plants, drove to Lowe's and purchased new plants and soils and paving bricks and ... wow! all sorts of things for not too much money, came home and made myself a new flower garden in the back yard.

Funny, the first day I accomplished so much in two and a half hours that I was surprised at myself ... and invited a friend over for dinner ('cause Emily was in Maine at her boyfriend's and Dave was in New Hampshire on a mountain bike ride). My friend, her daughter and my Amy and I took off to the movies to see The Proposal with Sandra Bullock and What's His Name ... oh gosh we laughed and laughed.

Then on Sunday Amy & I took my nephew Landon bowling -- three year olds are so darned cute! -- and then it was home to do some more garden work. I completed the garden Sunday late in the afternoon but my two and a half hours on Sunday accomplished one quarter of what I'd gotten done on Saturday.

This body is getting ... er ... not old, exactly, but old!

Queen's Tiara Iris Lacy Ruff Iris

Looking to the woods next to the house, just a corner of the new garden. A tiny Astilbe in front of the iris and just behind them a small holly bush I transplanted from out front. The deer were having a field day with the front garden!

Just Because

Emily on the stairs of Boston Common with one wing of the State House in the background.

Just because I love this photo, I'm doing a 'hit or miss' posting. I might hit upon something of interest or it might be a total miss. C'est la vie!

Emily and I took the Blue Line in to Boston on Tuesday, a relatively dry, but not terribly sunny day, although there was a minute or two of sun ... any of you that follow me on FB know that I have been whining my sorry self to death (and you too) about the dammed rain all month long in June. As on June 24th there had been four days with sun. Only four. Pffft. What's up with that?

Emily and I headed into Boston to meet Amy at the State House where she is interning for a local state rep this summer. We packed sandwiches, chips and cookies for a quick bite to eat on Boston Common just across from the State House.

The trip in was uneventful as was the walk up Beacon Street to the General Hooker entrance of the State House, but we did have to stop and rest for a minute. It was getting muggy and we were in lightweight, layered clothing ... needed to shed a bit.

Amy wasn't in the office when we arrived, she was at one of the Legislative Aide seminars, Tim Cahill was speaking, and so we plopped ourselves in the nice, old, wrinkled leathers chairs in the teeny, tiny lobby of the senators office area. Talk about small! Wow ... in the office there are four desks occupied by four employees ... and an intern or two and you can imagine how cramped quarters can get.

It was really nice to see Amy in a different environment. We walked to a small convenience store, purchased some drinks and then headed over to the common where we found a nice quiet spot to eat and chat.

A quick visit, but we enjoyed every moment. Emily and I hiked back down the hill to Government Center where we picked up the Blue Line back to Beechmont in Revere ... and then home.

A quick trip, but fun. Emily would like to do it again! So, we will, right after her six weeks of summer work study are finished. Yikes!

The Dome. Tours of the State House and the dome are available weekdays for free!

Emily and Amy.

Coworkers Behaving Badly

I have to sanitize this a bit -- sorry.

Two days a week we have an extra person on duty to assist with higher levels of activity; answering phones, directing calls, calling out to other agencies, assisting folks at the window.

One one day a week, B works with the direct supervisor in this department, who works the desk to 'keep in touch' with the inner and outer workings of a 911 center. This helps the supervisor measure what does and doesn't work and allows a fresh perspective from that office when TSHTF.

On the second day, B works with R who is 'just a dispatcher' as we dispatcher/911 operators are often referred to. (this is one reason I am happy to just work per Diem in the room now)

R is a nice enough person, but sometimes, R is crotchety. Curmudgeon isn't always accurate a term for R, but we use it often enough ... to R's face even.

Well, R passes gas all day long. ALL. DAY. LONG.

It's disgusting really and while the rest of us can be out of the room while R is doing R's thing, poor B can't get up and leave. B has to stay and work regardless the odor emanating from the other side of the room. On more than one occasion, this gaseous excretion problem has been brought up to the boss ... by B, by me, by others.

Apparently you just can't do anything about a person who, while having this problem, continues to eat, oh, I dunno, four or five jalapeno peppers with lunch. Even Beano has its limits.

But shouldn't said person be spoken to? This is a delicate subject, but come on! Go to the dammed bathroom. Fart. Come back. But please, stop spreading your smelly farts all over the room, not to mention no one wants to use the chair R sits in ... eeeeuuuuwwww

Let me move on to the latest. R is actually quite humorous and funny -- always nice to me. We share a laugh a day at least and if R gives me any lip, I hand it back on a silver platter. It is our coworker relationship and we've been getting along fine for years on just that level.

But R cannot be nice to B. Pretty much ever. For no particular reason that one can figure other than the insult that there has to be another person in the room to 'assist' during busy times. This is surely taken as a personal affront ... but it shouldn't be B that suffers because of it, it should be the boss. Bossman is the one who wants to extra person on duty.

Anyway ...

For years we worked in the worst room in the building (until a big addition and upgrade six or seven years ago). It was tiny, crowded and dirty. One person could work in the room on a good day. On a bad day we'd squeeze in, elbow to elbow, chair to chair, two and sometimes three of us! When we moved into the new big room ... we all felt elated that we had space to move, new chairs, new consoles, new everything! WOW!

Over the course of the last few months, Bossman has been working on setting up a new console. More ergonomic, less height for less craning of the neck ... that sort of thing. Everyone has an opinion, myself included. Bossman has been asking for feedback and suggestions but reminding all of us that he may not be able to make changes on this console, but the second one may be a better set up because of the first one. Makes sense ... he had the 'back up' console put in first so we can try it out and see how we like it.

So, all week, B and R and others are talking about the new console. Likes, dislikes, etc. B mentioned that there really isn't all that much area for writing ... and that if we had a busy day, we couldn't fit two people at the console. Valid points, both.

Late on Friday, after I settled down from the car accident and had time to really think and breath, B and I were chatting and she brought up those points to me. I told B that it wasn't that big a deal, those really hectic, busy, crazy storm and disaster days don't happen often and remember the room we came from? We can figure it out!

We should all keep a positive outlook and be thankful for all that we have now, that which we didn't have before.

Then B told me something that has had me pretty po'd all weekend. The Bossman left early on Friday and shortly after that, B & R were talking about the new console again. (we're all pretty tired of discussing it ad nauseam) and she brought up her concerns about space.

R told B, "You'd complain even if we gave you the rope to hang yourself with."

At which point B stopped talking to R except about work related items. But I know B well enough to know that B was terribly hurt by the remark.

And all I can think is: Who says that to a coworker? Forget that. Who says that to anyone?

Fairy Godmother

Today we celebrated Jazmine's Christening and first birthday.

St. Paul's church was founded back in 1878 or 1879 by estate workers of Irish extraction. From 1878 on through 1990 every priest at the church was of Irish descent. Until this priest ... who is decidedly French! Father Goudreau made the baptism interesting with his history of years past when mothers would come to the priest after the birth of their baby for a blessing, of baptisms performed on Sundays during mass, (but people will give one hour to God a week and so we don't do that anymore) He talked about water being the symbol for life and he included the little cousins in the process. They all carried the gifts and the accoutrement to baptism.

The service was lovely and my sister-in-law and I thought the priest was interesting enough and the church was lovely enough to almost get us to go back. We even talked about going together one Sunday.

After the baptism we all packed into our cars and headed to Lynch Park in Beverly for a cookout and some relaxation. Although honestly, it's a lot of work for someone to get the tables (it's a first come, first served deal), reserve the area with chairs, coolers, tables, grill. Today was a gorgeous day.

Jazmine's mom, Jamie had spread the good news that they are expecting their third!! later this year and we are all very happy for them. Food, cake, gifts and games for the little ones ... a pinata, donuts on a string, sack races ... all fun.

And then the clean up. I didn't do much other than put a few light things into bags. The neck and back are pretty good today -- although I did come home and sleep for two hours -- and then Jamie and DJ gathered us a round to make an announcement.

"Thank you everyone for coming. You all know now that I am expecting our third and today we'd like to ask two of you to be the next baby's godparents." My sister-in-law raises her hand and quips, "pick me! pick me!"

Then Jamie asked Emily if she would be willing to be the new baby's godmother? Emily says, "Sure, why not?" which got a few laughs because every one knows Emily isn't terribly effusive and she's limited in how she expresses herself, but she was beaming from ear to ear.

After she asked Emily, she then asked DJ's sister, Heather if she would be the godmother.

Too.

And Heather said, "I am so honored." Jamie explained to all of us that she had spoken to the priest and asked him if two godmothers would be welcome rather than the traditional godmother and godfather and he was quite willing and enthusiastic.

We all said our goodbyes and on the way home Emily was chatting about the new baby.

"Whatsit Mom? Boy or girl?" We don't know Emily. "Jamie know?" No, Jamie doesn't know. She doesn't want to know. She wants to be surprised. "Me too." "OoooH! I so happy!"

"I goin to be a Fairy Godmother!"
Emily & Amy, Lynch Park 2009

Just Call Me Crash

I took a vacation day today in order to attend a forum co-sponsored by Massachusetts Parents Advocating for Change and the Merrimack Valley Dept of Disability Services -- DDS (formerly DMR, Dept of Mental Retardation). The forum ran from 9:00 am to noon with a continental breakfast and beautiful view of the golf course ... on our first sunny day in a month of gray.

The forum was put together in answer to parents requests for information on programs and services available to their children with special needs who upon turning 22, are out of the local school district and into the adult world of services. And service providers.

It was a worthwhile attendance for me. I had no idea just how many choices are available to Emily (and her family) for programs and services from day rehabilitation services to vocational training and support. While I think I have a clear view of what I'd like her future to look like, I'm certain Emily's is somewhat different; it was good to have the feeling that others can accept my clear view and are willing to work with both Emily and her family to make her dreams and goals come to fruition.

As one presenter said, "Sometimes we meet them way down at the bottom of skills ... and then we simply take them along with us to where they want to be." I have no doubt that these speakers, advocates and worker bees have the best interests of all the young adults they provide services to ... in their hearts and daily lives.

There was a young man there. Okay, he's in his 30's ... and he spoke about how parents need to let go of their dreams for their child and let the child dream and grow. And let them make mistakes. And let them learn from their mistakes. He has made many, but he has learned from them too.

Amazing young man. He is an intern at the State House -- my oldest had mentioned him to me just two weeks ago. John was at one the Legislative Aid Seminars that she attended. And she wondered did I know him? I did not.

He gave those of us in attendance a few tips: "Listen! Listen! Listen!" He went on to explain that without the support of his family, friends and workers he would not be where he is today.

He told us to remember that we should think outside the box, take the time to really get to know our kids and who they want to become and most importantly we should believe in the person we are supporting.

How wise and smart he is. He ended his speech by telling us that "Right now I am living my dream! I couldn't ask for more."

I left the forum and in very heavy stop and go traffic I mulled much of what I had heard, read and seen today. I was flipping between discouragement and encouragement ... the budget has been slashed and slashed and it looks like the Governor will be passing a budget that will have many young and older adults losing placements or having less services due to huge deficits and no way to meet them.

I was driving along next to a Burger King set at the front of a strip mall ... with a large parking lot behind it and at the back of the lot there is a Panera Bread and an Ace Hardware store. Completely stopped, I opted to let a woman pull out of the parking lot at the end near the Ace store and wham!!! My car was rear ended. It was quite a jolt, but I didn't think there could be too much damage.

Looking into the rear view mirror I saw a smallish car with an older woman driving it. I promptly pulled into the parking lot and she followed me in. There were no easy parking spaces, so with my mind telling me 'this should only take a minute' I pulled into an easy out handicap parking space with the intention of her pulling in behind me ... I'd hop out, get her info, check the damage, if there was any and be on my way.

It was not to be. As I was pulling into the space ... CRASH!!! and this was a big one, the woman hit my car again, but this time, she hit the driver's side passenger door stoving it in and tore the running board nearly off the van. She managed to wedge her car between mine and another car that was parked in a handicap space ... and neither one of us could get out of our cars.

Within two minutes of each other, I was involved in two accidents.

The 'OH!!!' from the diners at the outside tables at Panera Bread was audible! I sat in my car, stunned ... for a minute or two and then started to collect my thoughts. I should call the police. Shouldn't I? I should call my husband, shouldn't I? I should get out of the dammed car ... but first I called David and then the police. Knowing they police were on the way and after three different people stopped to be sure that first I was okay, and then she was okay I managed to crawl across the front seat of the car and get out. Pen and paper and reg and license in hand I walked to the back of my car where there was barely a scratch to the bumper! But the driver's side ... oooohhhh. Ouch!

The police arrived and asked, "were you the one hit?" Yes. "well, how'd this happen" I told him first, she rear ended me, out there (pointing) at the street, while I was stopped in traffic. His eyes open a bit wider and the grin just hits the corners of his mouth ... and then when we pulled in here, I don't know what she was doing, but suddenly she hit me again! "You mean the same lady hit you twice?" Yes. He nearly Buwuwuwuaahhhahaaaaa'd in my face but managed to contain his emotions.

I said, "Is she all right?" He said, " Everything but her driving is all right." Oh my gosh ... and then the Fire Department arrived, two on the rescue, four on the engine, and although my back was hurting I refused transport. Emergency Departments are for emergencies and an achy back can be treated at a primary care docs easily enough. But while I am waiting for the notebook computer to come up so that I can sign a treatment refusal and HEPPA sheet ... they ask how'd this happen.

Have you ever seen six firefighters all trying not to laugh at the same time? Well, I have and it was killing me ... so I gave them permission to guffaw away. And oh, they did!

Eventually the FD left, the wrecker arrived and the lady who owned the convertible Mercedes in the parking space that had been it as well was able to move her car out ... The officer let me drive my car home but told me not to drive it 'around'. Like I felt like driving home, even.

I arrived home somewhat the worse for wear and although the officer had told me I would have to file two accident reports and open two claims, I was kind of hoping I wouldn't. The good news is the lady and I have the same insurance company, the bad news is there are four separate claim numbers. Two for me. Two for her.

As the afternoon progressed so did the ache in my back ... moving up into my shoulder blade with the numbness and tingling and down into my left arm, over the elbow, down the forearm and out the ring finger. I called the doc's, headed over and was given a couple of prescriptions and an x-ray requistion. Off to the hospital for a c-spine series, back to the pharmacy for the scrips and finally, at long last, home to rest.

At some point, this very nice, older woman, all made up and in lovely clothing came over to talk to me. She explained to me that she drives in and out of Boston for treatment of her esophogeal cancer and that she's had a problem with her car before. She told me where and when she bought it and how it acts up and she can't control it. Honestly? I think her foot slipped off the brake and onto the gas ... and she can say what she wants.

So I ask you? Who's having the bad day? Me? or Her?

Just call me Crash.

My Staycation Has Me Stymied

My Staycation has me stymied. There's no money for a spa for the deck, a pool for the back yard or a Corvette to cruise in ...

What to do? What to do?

We live in an area truly rich with history and there are beaches, famous and not-so-famous within twenty minutes of home and as far away as a couple of hours drive. Connecticut with Mystic Seaport and two casinos ... Providence, Rhode Island with it's wonderful gourmet offerings as well as lively entertainment ... Boston, Newburyport, Cape Cod ... the Mohawk Trail.

... the mountains of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont are a stone's throw away (as the crow flies) and all three states offer enough recreational activities and relaxing opportunities ...

... right here on the North Shore there are gorgeous beaches, hiking and biking trails, short trips to great shopping and eating as well as historical cities that offer art, theater, museums.

So, let's see, I live smack in the middle of the six New England states and I am wondering how to spend some time off this summer.

There has to be something wrong with me.

I'm still struggling to write for my seemingly defunct, but not quite yet dead, blog.

If I think on that a little too long I get this strange and weird idea that I should somehow start the charge for a class action suit against AOL and its' treatment of us ... but that's just silly. Lots has changed in several months and I've noticed that some folks are posting their blog links on their wall in Face Book, which makes sense.

I'm still finding this blogspot system a bit cumbersome and although I thought I had it all 'down' I've found that since I was absent while sick, I've got to get my own system back in order.

Drat. Sometimes I think I should just give it up, but then I think of all the time and energy we all have put in to the effort and I think ... that's silly too. So I'm hanging in, wishing I had something worthwhile to share with an audience that may be more than just my old AOL neighborhood and friends. Seems to me that AOL J offered just that, a neighborhood feel and here, it's a different culture and something I'm struggling to learn.

Probably just me and my never sleeping mind on over drive again ...

And on the 25th day of June, we finally, finally during the late afternoon saw the sun peek through the clouds. I guess that means that officially, in 25 days we've had just 4 days of sun.


Mackey just celebrated his 7th birthday yesterday with cake and presents! Happy Birthday Mackey! You make me smile.