Explanation 4 Ted

Now you'll understand why I 'm not home very much. Yesterday I went with Pam C. to Storehouse in Worcester, MA. We left at 6:30 am and arrived home at 6:00 pm, after a brief stop at Belmonts. I was exhausted. Then at 7 pm I went to Sears, still searching for the perfect mower. Today went with Judie (Misty's Judie) to her grandson's graduation at Broad Rock at 8:30 am. Am going at 11:20 with Pam C. to take lunch to Lois S. (who had hip surgery) but I have to be back at 1:45 to get to Mollie's to take her to the doctor. Imagine at age 98 and 360 days having to go to a new doc!! It happens to be a man I have seen and Mollie seemed relieved to have someone going with her... (I'm going to make a big effort to go to her birthday party on the 4th in Warwick.) Then I 'm taking dinner to the Balls at 5:00. She recently had her 4th. By next Monday the Y will reopen pool. I've missed that!! Maybe things will get back to the old routine, where I might even have a few minutes to pull some weeds. I know you're just as busy. Love...

No Pics

Can't figure out how to get photos of recent trip to WI on this blog... Too many different computers in the last three weeks... My brain just can't remember. Had a great time in WI. Hopefully photos will follow.

Unbelievable

That old shark bite, almost 10 years old now, just keeps opening doors. Who would ever imagine that I would be going to speak as part of a contingent of shark attack survivors before the U.S. Congress on behalf of sharks!!!. A man who is also a shark attack survivor called on the phone last night and after a little small talk about missing body parts and Shark Week he asked me how I felt about sharks.

"Honestly," I said, " they're amazing creatures (mean, but amazing). I entered their world at dinner time. I hold no gradges against them."

He was thrilled and then invited me to go with 10 other victims on July 15th to Washington D.C and speak on behalf of a bill that is before Congress and has to do with finning of sharks. I don't know all the details, but I do know that the PEW Charitalble Trust will pay for my ticket there, and my food and lodging. I will arrive on the 14th and maybe leave on the 15th. I say maybe because I may stay a bit longer once I'm there. I thought I would be in RI for the remainder of the summer, but this opportunity just sounds like way too much fun!!

Unpacked

Almost finished unpacking. The turkish kilims are both on the floor in the living room and they're gorgeous. I promise I will take a picture. I'm still waking up at 4 am and am unable to go back to sleep, then about 2 I'm ready for a nap, but so far that hasn't been succesful either. Checkbook is balanced again, bills are paid, the car is filled with gas , I pulled a few more weeds and I've gone swimming twice. My biggest adjustment to American life was when I went to the grocery store. I had forgotten how giant some supermarkets are. I prefer fewer choices and a smaller store, but I do like the fact that I can drive the groceries home instead of lugging them up Ionnanis. In a few minutes I'm going to pick up John (after he does 4 hours worth of work for Judith) and he's going to cut the grass. He has to do it today because it's supposed to rain again tomorrow. Living on his own has definitley brought about some good changes.

Arrived Alive

Long day yesterday. The phone woke us up at 3 am and I never went back to sleep. Taxi came at 6:15 and then the trip began. A bit confusing in the Munich Airport, but other than that, things went well. I arrived home after layovers in Munich and Dulles, with my head buzzing, at 7:30 pm (2:30 am Greek time). Did not get to sleep till 10:00 pm (4:00 am Greek time) and then woke up at 3:00 am (10:00 am Greek time). My first impressions of RI after such a long hiatus are ... that it looks like a rain forest!! So much green and so many trees. Greece is arid and dry and HOT. And it's so quiet here. I got used to garbage trucks banging dumpsters overhead at 2:00 am, car alarms going off for days, and buses and cars passing by our window almost constantly, not to mention the bird that sang all night, the nearby soccer players yelling well past midnight, cats screeching at all hours, and the distant sound of a bugle from the nearby naval facility. Aghia Paraskevia only quieted down in the dead of night. After wilting in the 90 plus heat it's good to feel alive in the coolness. My garden is overgrown with weeds, some up to my waist. I yanked a few last night and will tackle more today. It should be in fine shape in a couple of weeks. I'm happy to be home, but will miss my very attentive and thoughtful husband. See you in 6 weeks, Ted!!

Last field trip of THIS visit.