Home Sweet Home

Now that I have been home since Wednesday night with nothing to do, I almost wish I had stayed up on the mountain. No, much nicer having my toys around.

Went to lunch with Susie on Friday, but that's the only thing I've accomplished other than the mundane. I am scheduled to work on Wednsday and Thursday.

I have heard that they are predicting snow again this week. Those are almost "fightin' words" at this point.

Pap-Sitting

I stayed to help with dad until Wednesday afternoon and was really glad to pack up and leave. I was going to stay until Thursday but they were calling for more snow and I didn't want to get stuck. Anyway, Larry happened to get home early Wednesday afternoon from work and he said he's stay with him if I wanted to leave. Thank you Larry!!!

Other than watching TV, fixing him food and a little chatting, that's all that happened for 3 days. Not much to do in someone else's house.

He does seem to be getting better than he was probably just because he's eating and drinking fluids regularly. Unfortunately he won't keep this up if left on his own so he will have to be monitored for the rest of his days. Vicki has checked with the V.A. and they seemed to think they could do something with him. Hope she follows through or, I should say, she has to follow through with this because she can't keep him at her house forever.

Dad's Birthday

I poked around all morning Saturday getting showered, shampooed and packed to go to Vicki's to help with our dad.

My gift to him this his 90th year, was to take him to the Bluegrass Concert in Waynesboro, Pa. Darn, nobody else wanted to go with us!!! Vicki met us at The Eagles Club for a quick sandwich before the show and then she went back to her office.

Pap has gotten into the habit of backseat driving the whole way there and back. "You don't have to drive so fast." "There's a turn up here, slow down." " You have to stop at this Stop sign." "There's a red light up ahead." Etc. It makes you want to scream. I'm so glad it's only 10 miles each way.

We got there a little after 7 PM and only about 58 people had braved the snow drifts to attend. Two groups were playing, which consisted of 11 pickers and fiddlers. Almost felt sorry for the lack of participation but the weather was not great.

The music was good and dad enjoyed all the attention for his Birthday, but they played until 11:20PM and I was really getting antsy. Dad entertained himself for 2 1/2 hrs. pulling the string through the bottom of his jacket (it had slipped into the slot on one side) so he passed the time productively. I on the other hand sat idly tapping my foot to the music.

Workng Friday

Actually had my second job this week. A powder room in one of my favorite prints, red and cream French toile. She had painted the wall with the sink a deep red so that saved me from cutting around the pedestal sink. Some days life is good!!!

Stopped on my way home for another estimate. Things are looking up.

Hallelujah!!! The snow is finally starting to melt. But it could possibly snow again on Monday. :(

Tomorrow is my dad's 90th birthday so I am going to see him and then stay over until Tuesday to give my sister a break from pap-sitting. She really needs to get to her office, as it is tax season and she has been working from home because of the snow and our dad. Not looking forward to this but have to do my share.

Yesterday

Yesterday I had a whole day planned around going to Woodbridge for an estimate at 11:00.

I loaded the truck with bags of old books-on-tape to sell at the Used Book Store in Manassas and my camera to take pictures of churches for Rheba. (Her granddaughter is getting married in Nov. and they wanted pictures of churches in this area. Apparently she wants a church that looks like a real church not an ultra modern building.)

Arrived at the estimate house and contractors were working merrily, but no homeowners. Waited 1/2 hr. and called the man's office and his secretary said he had an emergency meeting and couldn't make it home. So I started toward Manassas and stopped at Walmart for a few items and got a call from the secretary saying the wife could meet me at 1:00. So I cut shopping short and in the checkout line, guess what?, phone rings again. Now wife can't make it either.

Went forward to book store and dropped books. They said it would be about 45 mins. to evaluate them and give me the money. So, what does one do to waste almost an hour when one does not need more books? One toddles on over to Ross and shops for an hour of checking out the bargains. Bought a sweater ($6.99), a summer blouse ($8.99), a pillow ($1.47) and, for my sister as a joke, a bug swatter that looks like a raquetball raquet ($4.99). Love Ross!!!

Then I went back and got my check for $34.00 and a store credit for $48.00 (which I don't know what to do with, as I don't need anymore books right now). Maybe I can figure out who to donate it to.....

Next came the church picture taking. Managed to find 5 that seemed worthy, so mission accomplished. On the way home, I kept checking to make sure the cops weren't following me as a possible terrorist. Yes, I can be paranoid.

Long day, so took my usual nap.

Visit

On Sunday, Mike and I ventured over to Baltimore to visit and have lunch with Michael and Mikie. Snow was piled everywhere on the streets and we had to park quite a distance away. Michael came in his vehicle to take us to his place. But before we left, there were backhoes, bulldozers and dump trucks moving and removing all those massive mounds of white stuff and his street was cleared. Amazing what can be done if you are efficient, unlike our Homeowners Asso. which has done next to nothing to plow us out. Cudos to the city of Baltimore.

We had a very nice brunch at Regi's, which is about 1 1/2 blocks from his townhouse. It would be really nice to live in a city and be able to walk to whatever you want. And the community atmosphere was great. Would like to try it sometime.

Big Surprise!!! They are moving back to Charlotte. He has gotten another job offer that he can't turn down and they seem ecstatic to be going back. Their house has not sold so they will be moving right back into the old life they have enjoyed there. Sometimes things just work out. Also they are expecting their first baby in a few weeks but I'm sure they will work all this out just fine. Congratulations Michael!!!!

Another lazy day

I decided not to add more pictures of all the WHITE we are living with on a daily basis. Gets rather old!!! One picture of snow looks like every other picture of snow to me.

I will be so glad to see how many of the 150 bulbs that I planted will actually survive the weather and the squirrels. My neighbor told me yesterday that she found one of them in her backyard. Guess it was a reject or the squirrel dropped it when he was scared away by her dog.

On Monday, I finally went to work and earned some money. Yay!!! The best part was that I got some much needed exercise.

Tomorrow I have an estimate and Friday I have another job. Things are looking up!!!

More milk, bread and toilet paper

Sitting here watching the biggest snow storm of the season start to slowly fall on top of the leftover snow from the snow we had on Jan. 30 and Feb. 2. This is supposed to the biggest one yet with 24 plus inches today, tomorrow and Sunday. Then Tuesday and Wednesday, another 2-4 inches are expected. DAMN GLOBAL WARMING!!!

The only thing good about this is that I haven't had any work scheduled that had to be rescheduled. The bad thing is, I'm not earning any money.

Guess I will add more snow pictures as this progresses.