Having moved south from NH in June 2008, this blog lists things I've encountered, struggles my family has faced, joys, surprises and all things new now that we are in NC.
Wow, I haven't posted in a while. We've planted some plants around the pool. The windmill palm is just about 14 inches tall right now:
We've also planted some Encore Azaleas, which will bloom twice in a season, hence the name encore. Today I planted some ornamental grasses. Blue Festuca Glauca
And some Zebra grass
Bought some banana plants too, but those are in pots for this first month, then will go into the ground
We put on a short drama Easter Sunday, entitled "Three Witnesses".
I know the camera can add 10 lbs, but go figure our church would find one that adds 30! Today was 90 degrees in Durham NC. Pool temp is 59 degrees, the water is greenish and the pollen is on the surface, so it will take 48 hours before it clears up. Who knows how long it takes before it warms up! Gee going in now would be like going to Hampton in June ... naw, that's an exaggeration, it gets to 68 there in the summer doesn't it?
For now, I'll skim and vacuum the pool in anticipation of the day we can actually go in.
I may be in a sketch this Sunday, Easter morning. If we do put it on, I'll post a link to that as well. I spoke to Dad, and said I would ask if one of my sibs might invite him over to view the video. I think you might be able to right-click on the link, download it to your pc, and bring the laptop to Dad's appartment.
Cecile, Dad tells me you check on him daily, you are much better at the whole caring thing than I am. Claire he told me you stayed over last night ... he's just blessed that you guys are all doing what you can ... me? I made him cry, ok, so I kinda cried myself, telling him I miss Mom. I just sneaks up on me, something reminds me of her, and there I am complete surprised by the wave of emotions.
I hope you guys are all doing well, that you have great holiday plans, eat way too much on Sunday and have chocolate overload! We look forward to having all our chicken's in one coop as Liz is coming down on Thursday for her easter holiday. Bek wants to visit App State with a girl who wants to room with her from school ... Rachel just competed in the NC state gymnastics last weekend and ended up in the top 10 of her age group. This accomplishment with her having missed many practices and school the previous week due to a the Norwal? virus .... so we are all doing well. Thinking of you guys often, sending you big bear hugs.
Oh no they didn't ... oh yes they did ... The Brits wonder why we are so (USA) or why some of us were so averse to having the government dictate / control our health care.
I'm on hold right now, with my company insurance company, looking at claims that they rejected. I imagine some bureaucrat in DC telling me they'll get back to me at some future date ... as frustrating as it is to deal with insurance I'm dealing with someone who if they are not nice " Could " lose their jobs ... do I really want to deal with some "entitled" individual who doesn't give a hoot about me ...
Back to the Brits, I worked with someone who came from England, and he said they never had to pay taxes, the 44% taxes were taken off the top by the government, you never had to file income taxes .... but that was over 20 years ago ... 44% taxes?
Do you really want to give the government that much control over your money? OK, so now it's been 1/2 hour ... working with the HSA/FSA people, then our HR person, then this is the second, oops now going back through the insurance phone loop ... Now repeated all that info, and going to the next member service representative ... now on hold, but at least the musac is better ... more calming ... oh yes, let the government do this
I'm walking in 9 minutes ... maybe that will alleviate some stress ....
OK, so many of you asked how I've been. I appreciate the concern, but overall I've been good. Every once in a while the reality of losing Mom will grab me. I usually follow that up with a call to Dad. He's having a tough time, but loves that all of us are checking in. Lizzie went to visit him last week when she was in NH visiting her beau. He was thrilled! They went to eat at the Dairy Bar, and he insisted on paying ... she felt bad, as her intent was to take him out ... but Pepere wouldn't let her. He was just so happy to see her.
I had a dream the week before Mom died, one of my off-the-wall dreams that Lucie just shakes her head at ... what would Freud say? After Mom passed, I did have one evening that the reality just snuck up on me (past tense of sneak?)It left me with a real ache, like the kind I felt saying goodbye at her deathbed. Part of the grieving process, but still surprises you how hard the emotion can hit you out of nowhere. Mom would want us all to focus on positive things in our life. She tried to impart joy and we joked how she would sing to us in the morning ... "It's a lovely day today" or "Good Morning, good morning" ...(put out your best Doris Day / Debbie Reynolds voices) ...
I've noticed a change in my daughters too. I think they realized how fickle / fragile life can be ... don't get me wrong, 85 years with the majority of them healthy is nothing to snicker at, but somehow it seems that there's more consideration from them. More checking in with us, and more "grace" for our quirks than usual. Change is inevitable, now Rachel is driving ... Bek has yet to decide which college she will choose, Liz has a beau, Lucie's job is going gangbusters and I've got a new boss ... nothing stays the same "Everything's been changed ..."
Bekkah got accepted to App State in Boone NC, which was her first choice. She wants to visit/revisit the three colleges to make her final selection. She's liking the UNC Greensboro campus which is about an hour away from home, and ECU is one she and her girlfriends are going to on an upcoming weekend.
