Ready

All packed, ready to leave at 6:30 am tomorrrow for Hawaii. Hopefully I'll be able to post from there, but I'm not sure. Aloha!!

Mighty Quiet

Mike and I took Teddie and Theo to SFO at 8:20 am. Twelve hours later she called saying she was safe and sound at 34 W. There was an empty seat next to her on the 6 hour leg, so Theo didn't have to wiggle around on her lap the whole time. Teddie said everything went well, which is good news. I fell asleep today in a mighty quiet house. It's supposed to be in the mid 60's tomorrow. Yeah.

Oliver Haiku #2

Today for the first

time, baby Oliver felt

cold Wisconsin air

Oliver Haiku #1

Baby Oliver

Tenderly wrapped in blankets

Bids his friends farewell

Grateful

Gratefully I type my happiest blog yet. Baby Oliver is on his way home from Milwaukee after 9 weeks at Wisconsin Children's Hospital . He would never be making such a trip without the love, care, and prayers of hundreds of people. A big thank you to the medical team (army) that provided him with lifesaving attention and to everyone else who uttered a prayer on his behalf, and helped his family in so many ways. Miracles do happen.

Whirlwind Weekend

Highlight of yesterday was going over to Grandma B's to visit Great Aunt Mary, who was visiting from the frozen tundra of Wisconsin. Other family members had the same idea and Teddie and I got to see long lost cousins and in laws. Aunt Cindy and Uncle Dan brought Danielle and Charles down and Andy and his two boys were there. As we were buckling Theo in the car sea Aunt Victoria and her daughter drove up. It had been over 10 years since they had seen Teddie and no one, including Mary had ever seen Theo. We had a great time and Teddie posted some great photos from our time there. On my side of the family we have already seen Uncle Mike and Patty, Uncle Matt and his family, and Jane, Darryl and Jeff. Theo has been quite the little flirt and very friendly to everyone. Today we walked the dog at 7:00 am, had visitors at 10:30 am, went to Grandma's again from 12-2:30, and were at Matt and Robin's for a delicious dinner by 5:15. Not an easy task when you have a one year old. He never did take an afternoon nap, but fell asleep in the carseat on the way home. Intermittent rain all day continuing for the next few days.

Courtesy of Teddie

This is a tunic style top to go with black skirt or ??? (but not these brown corduroy pants.)

The reddish Chico top is a bit large. It's in the hot water/dryer right now. Purse will match all the other black clothes.

Who is this double chinned turkey, anyway???

Wakefield

Ran errands all day, in preparation for trip on Friday. Two different banks, post office, grocery store, HR Block, two visits to the insurance agent and a six month cleaning at the dentist. (Oddly enough I did NOT go to the dump!) What amazes me is that everyting I need to go to is within 1 and a half miles of my back door. The day was so full of sunlight that I walked to the dentist, meeting up woith Teddie and Theo at Wakefield School's playground. The first time I relaxed was when I lay in the dentist's chair, reflecting on the town that I have grown to call my own. I could see the American flag waving in the treetops as I felt the hygenist scrapping away. I re-warded myself for a "no cavity" visit by going to the consignment shop and purchasing LOTS of new clothes/shoes for my upcoming trips. (Lots of black for Greece.) Hopefully I can talk Teddfie into taking photos of some of them.

Update

It's been a week. I know I've slipped a bit... but I subbed everyday last week at local middle school and had to be there at 7:20 am. The days flew by and I loved the work. Co-workers were the best and atmosphere was pleasant. I was pooped out by 4:00 pm and in bed asleep at 8:30. I did finish reading The Road by Cormac McCarthy. It was disturbing, intriguing, and dismal. I enjoyed it in a morbid way, but I neglected other things to finish it. Yes, I would recommend it, because the writing was so bizarre. Only went swimming once. Celebrated the big one last Saturday night. That was fun. Snow is melted and green is finally visible once again. I'm sure there will be more white, but for now my half inch daffodil shoots have hoodwinked me into believing that spring is two weeks away. Still missing my invisible husband. Leaving Friday with Teddie and Theo for CA and tropical points beyond.

Dismissal

Flakes flew sideways all day long,
Double panes blocked winter's song.
When, at last, the bell rang hard,
Students jammed the swirling yard.

I was in a classroom on Tuesday, gawking out the windows with everyone else.
I'm going out in one minute to warm up the car before I go to my third day of work this week. Temperature outside 8! ( I love 3 day work weeks!)

Summer in February

Yesterday AND today I walked from the South Pavillion to the Narrow River on my favorite beach. Both days were sunny with multiple frothy waves rolling in on top of each other. Yesterday I walked solo, passing others plodding headfirst into the wind. Today was calmer. Teddie joined me, pushing Theo in the big wheeled stroller that Aunt Mary gave her. Definitly nice to walk on the beach in 40 plus weather... especially in the beginning of Feb. (Tomorrow the weatherman predicts more snow!)