That is over with

The weather turned  lousy. It poured snow down all day and we had a little bit on the roads. People travelled miles to get to the dinner and some got lost. It was a new location this year out in the middle of nowhere. My car and the two following me had to detour around a wreck, an SUV had slid off the road.

It was too hot in the banquet room. The food was so-so and nobody could hear. I had to shout in my loudest voice to be heard above the din. I had a royal headache by the end of the night. The six kids that did show up got showered with gifts and I hope they had fun.

I was rotten this year and sent all kids home with a can of Silly String. Not to be used in the car on the way home, I told them. 

Not sure if we will have it at this location next year or not.

I was tired and had a bad  headache all the next day. I drank only iced tea. I had the mild cod with mashed potato and vegetables. 

My daughter had a new beau. I have nothing to say. I have to adjust.

I do not have one piece of decoration up. I do not have a tree up. I did get the tree delivered Friday night. A pre-owned seven foot tall pre-lit artificial tree. Zoinks!

My living room is full of totes from my daughter's back bedroom (where I stored all my stuff when I had my new floor put in) and her totes from her boyfriend's house. 

My two smaller dogs, Cheech and Chong are back.

My beautiful boxer decided that his territory was not properly marked and proceeded to leave his urine all over every tote in the living room.

I have to find the energy and back muscle to move all the totes into the basement and then get the tree inside the house and put up. My back starts to vibrate like a tuning fork after lifting and moving about two totes. This  is from helping my daughter move her bed and computers and desk and chest of drawers back into the house. Her ex boyfriend dumped everything into our garage. I am thankful he brought her stuff back at all. He could have tossed it out into the yard.

My daughter has wanted out of her relationship for a long time. She always gave the excuse that nobody was there to help him with his new German Shepherd puppy. His cousin and partner are moving in next week.

I really liked her ex boyfriend but I was also torn because both of them are so young. She is twenty and he is twenty-one. They have been dating for 18 months. They are so young to be so serious. He wanted to start a family, she is not ready.

Meanwhile I have to finish shopping, wrapping and fixing food. I work all week.

I am tired and am going to bed. My finger is stinging. For the most part my headache is gone but I recognize a four day migraine when I feel one. It is all just part of the routine. Second verse, same as the first. This ain't my first rodeo.

Life is on Tilt

Taken from a road trip September 2007

My life is still on tilt shift. Still have the boxer. Not one call for him. I am thinking that family number 2 was just notified today about him being available. We shall see what the week brings.

I am now battling a sore throat, aches and pains and fatigue. I am headed for bed.

I ran out of road

On my trip yesterday I took a shortcut to an elementary from the high school. Well, I thought I knew where I was going. I was just driving along, enjoying the beautiful Ohio countryside, snapping away when all of a sudden "BAM!" I ran out of road. Pavement dropped off to gravel in a split second. I wasn't expecting that. I knew then that I was somewhat lost. I found my way, I was going in the general direction, but I do so enjoy new roads that I have never been on before.

It makes up for that dirty, dark, hot and noisy wiring closet that I spent most of my morning in.

The only downfall was I got to the elementary too late. They told me the custodians worked until 2, seems they leave at 1. I got there at 1:12. Drat. They work from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. I guess it is partly to beat the heat because there is no air conditioning in these little elementary buildings.

Wild, wonderful

West Virginia

Some family and I are headed south this week-end. Back to our roots in wild, wonderful West Virginia. We are planning a family reunion on my father's side in August. We are heading down to check out the shelter area and make plans.

The above photo is the cemetery where my father is buried. We don't think he was ever really happy in Ohio. When my parents and others moved to Ohio in the 40's some only stayed a few years, then returned. My Mom refused. She had no family left in the hills of West Virginia.

All 8 of my Mom's children were born in Ohio. I have maybe one aunt (by marriage) that remains in the mountain state. The rest are cousins. Lots of cousins. I may get to see just how many this year.

When we were kids (it took us two cars) we would visit every summer. It was great. We explored all over town. They had RR tracks and a train that went through the little town, directly across from my Aunt's house. I can still remember the train whistle blowing at night and the clickety clack of the cars running along the tracks. It was very mysterious and exciting for me.

They had an old, working hand pump in the back yard. We found it fascinating down there. They had bees and we would bring back honey. And my Aunt made jelly and always gave me a little jar of apple jelly - it was my favorite. We would have to be careful. If we said we liked anything, she was wrapping it up and giving it to us. I am so glad I didn't say anything about the glass cake holder. That would have been a little too much for a ten year old.

Her house was well lived in. It was just full of furniture and stuff that would be there from year to year. We would return and everything would be in exactly the same place and my Aunt would be sitting in her rocking chair in the enclosed sun porch where we would all gather around and talk. Next to that dreadful gas heater. Between the long car ride (none of my sisters and brothers ever wanted to ride in the same car as me, because I was the one who got car sick) and the smell of that gas heater, I was always ready for the outside excursions.

The house was full of old stuff. Calendars from the 50's and so much glass. Two things I didn't care for was the smell of natural gas and the spittoons. Mostly it was a big empty Maxwell House coffee can. My Mom always told us kids, "Do not get between folks and the coffee can." Yuck.

I think the coffee cans are long gone. The houses we visit now are more modern. The hospitality is the same. The pictures are nostalgic. I wonder if they have pictures of me and my siblings from the 60's and wonder who we are. I know I do when I go through the old family album. I will copy the old black & white photos and paste them onto a big poster board for the reunion and maybe I'll finally get to meet some of those kids I have looked at all of these years.

Blown it all skyhigh

I blew out the sky with this photo. Love the lingo. This was from my drive last month. I enhanced the contrast quite a bit to get more color out of the trees.

Do you get a lot of movies, jokes and cute messages in email that have been forwarded a thousand times before they get to you? I rarely (if ever) forward these on to the standard 10 people, but I do try to read them. But when I am busy (and the computer is running slow for who knows what reason!) I don't take the time to read them. I feel bad if it is a good friend and they say "Did you watch that video?"

Uh, no. I had twelve people waiting for either a phone call back or an email back and I was researching 4 separate problems at one time, so no I did not view their cute video. On a slow day and when the computer opens my media player quickly, I'll take the few seconds to watch or read.

I hate days like that.

And, since I am annoyed, how about co-workers who don't look at you before they start their diarrhea of the mouth story. She never checks to see if I am on the phone before she just starts barking. A lot of times she starts dialing when she realizes I am on the phone (shared line). I sit less than six feet away from her. How did a therapist from 1992 put it? Oh, yeah. People who cannot read their environment very well. That's it. I just call them rude and annoying.

My daughter and I went to the nearby University's open house. I keep checking things off my list. I did make a little progress. I should make her do this stuff, not me. But, she mouths off that she doesn't care if she goes to school or not. She thinks that some company is just going to appear out of the clouds in the sky and hire her. Groan.

When my daughter forgot her purse at home today I did not run home and take it to her. She cannot purchase lunch without her i.d. tag. (She can give someone the money and have them purchase food for her, though.) She tried to make me feel bad. This is the 3rd time this school year I've had to run her something because of her forgetfulness. I didn't cave in today. I didn't do it. I let her go without. She did have money. She did pay somebody to buy a pizza for her. But Mom didn't drop everything and run to her rescue. Tough love.

We have a holiday lunch tomorrow. I plan to make my cheese ball and bring cold apple cider. I also plan to bring a hot pepper jelly and cream cheese dip.

Long shadows

Driving home from a late meeting tonight I saw plenty of deer hit on the road. I saw plenty of deer standing by the road, and a few crossing. I was fortunate that I didn't hit any, or as most folks like to say these days "the deer hit me."

I even saw a car being pulled up onto a tow truck after hitting a deer. I think I'll stay off the roads after 6 p.m. until Spring.

My photos load (and display) much slower after I started uploading them in a png format. I think I'll go back to jpeg.

Gravel Road

One more photo from last week's drive over some back roads that still had some color on the trees.

The new first family must get a pet. Word is they will get a rescue mutt. One of the daughters are allergic, so that will narrow their choice. If I ever decide to purchase a dog (rather than rescue one) I would consider the papi-poo. So cute.

It would be tough though, because I found a stray in the 80's and from the research I've done, I determined she was a gray Dandie Dinmont Terrier. It would be hard to turn one of them down.

I would like to take a moment to thank the makers of anti-migraine medicine. Prior to lunch I was as sick as a dog. I thought I would have to go home and go to bed. I took my medicine (currently am using Imitrex, but all have worked for the most part) and some ibuprofen. After a couple of hours (slowly sometimes) I was feeling a heck of a lot better. This evening I am free from pain and can do normal things. It is great to have my life back and not live like some drunk on the couch where sounds and lights irritate me, with a cold washcloth on my forehead or over my eyes, and a bucket by my head.

Quiet

It's quiet here. Sunday morning peaceful. No paper. We seem to have a new carrier for paper and post. Both come later than they used to. Sigh.

I was a paper carrier in my youth. First thing after school. I delivered about 50 papers around town. Collecting was always dreadful. Took most of the Saturday. I didn't deliver the Sunday paper back then. I'm not sure I even remember why.

I am fixing turkey and the trimmings today. Not a whole turkey. Oh no. Just the breast. It is delicious, it is quicker, it is easier, there is no mess. Everybody is happy.

I've slacked off the reading. I finished "Our Iceberg Is Melting". I have not moved on to any others except for the Web Designing one I have been using at work. I've had a houseful this week-end but they are all sleeping, now. I am treasuring it because I know that one day and it won't be long before I am puttering around this little house all alone. I chose a small house because I knew that it would be just me someday. I'll try not to turn into the cat lady. LOL!

The calendar is filling up for the holidays. A party here, a dinner there, shopping in between. Meet us here and meet them there. Then there are the appointments. We look at starting another round of mole removals soon. We took a break for about a year. My daughter has noticed three that have changed and we see her dermatologist this Wednesday. Never fun.

The side of the barn

The sun's rays can hit the side of a barn.

Backroads

I think that is one of my favorite places to be. Driving on a back country road in Ohio taking pictures of the beautiful scenery. I love it!

Senior pictures are taken. The weather was superb. A little breezy and my daughter's eyes get dried out, but the sunshine was fantastic. He took a lot outside. I get to view them Saturday. I have to squeeze it in. I have something at 11:00, view pics at 12:15, (back to the earlier event) then a birthday party at 4:00.

Photographer spoke a lot about the election. (Is there anything else?) He said the perfect candidate should be a gay, black woman. Then he said something about Condoleezza Rice, but I didn't catch it.

No sunshine

Returning from a school in another county on Friday I tried to capture some of the foliage, but the sun did not shine that day. At least not while I was on the road. It is a little disconcerting for me to look to find that I have not posted in four days. I like to read back over the years to see what I was doing last October or last Easter. Things like that. When I don't post, I tend to omit things that may bring back a quirky memory for me years from now. Oh, well. Life gets in the way.

Techno Geeks

Above photo was taken November 2007. Nice drive, nice day.

We are currently dealing with new cell phones. My daughter picked a Blackberry Pearl. I get her hand-me-down. (Razr). Let's face it. I want it for a phone tool. Period. She IM's, texts, takes pictures. She can text quicker than she can talk. See Sunday's (7/06/08) comic strips "Foxtrot" and "Zits". It is a craze.

Wee bit of color

County back road

I took a little drive after work today. Mostly because I have not had the chance to drive around this past month very much. I did most of my work from my desktop computer. Ugh.

I found a wee bit of color on the hills of a back road. The sun was shining and the sky was a glorious blue. There were a lot of yellow leaves and brown. Sing with me "All the leaves are brown..." But the sky was not gray. Not yet.

I watched Mr. Brooks last week-end. It was pretty good. I fell in love with Kevin Costner back in the day when he was in Fandango, Silverado and American Flyers. Until I saw him on a talk show and I about threw up. He was so full of himself and fake I could barely stand to watch. There were some movies I didn't care for that he was in, especially those made from 1993 to 2005. He seems to be getting his grove back, though.

Roaming

Near Salineville, Ohio

My travels today took me to the Eastern side of the state. I was on a back road to Lisbon and needed to stop in at a school near Salineville. It was cool out and the sun was not shining very brightly, the photo is a little on the gray side. Later in the afternoon, the sun didn't shine at all so I didn't even bother with pictures.

This drive brought back some memories for me. I used to drive around in the evenings on back roads listening to music. Back when gasoline was not very expensive and I had plenty of time on my 19-year-old hands. When family got busy with their own lives and their small children and my high school friends had married or gone on to college. I liked to be alone. I still do.

Yonder

Over yonder.

Bit of a headache tonight. It started to rain here. After a super glorious day. I was inside all day so I didn't get to go out and about to see anything. The sun just heated up my little office so that I had to turn the fan on.

Been gabbing with sisters trying to iron out the details of the fall festival and our WV trip. Above photo is where the streets have no names. Like the song. I believe it is called Township Rd 45. Along the area where I found the Redneck bus stop. A dirt road between Keene and Warsaw Ohio. Where the country is still beautiful. I would like to get back out there when the leaves turn, but I can probably count that out. I am going to be looking at the Lisbon run this week. Heading east.

Torrent

Rustic red barn

If that is indeed a hex sign, it is a simple design. I liked the contrast of the rustic red barn against the bright green grass. This was taken today on my drive.

I went to 8 schools today. Most of them I have never been to. I believe I have been to about two of them - many years ago. I know my older sister taught at one and took me with her on the last day of school. I think it was in the early 70's.

I most certainly picked the wrong day to go. I read the paper this morning. They are on the verge of a teacher strike. I met up with some very unhappy people today. And, they didn't take to me very well. After 12 years of providing service to my area schools, I am certainly not used to people looking at me with suspect in their eyes. I called each and every school and informed them this morning that I would be stopping in today to get the serial number from our equipment. And, still I was treated like the enemy. Except for the last two. The second to the last was a Career Center and is not involved in the teacher strike. The very last one I timed my visit with a torrent of rain so forceful there was nothing but pity in their eyes for me.

It was raining so hard when I was in this tiny town I actually thought that perhaps they were getting a mini tornado. I almost skipped it. But, I had 8 schools on my notebook paper and I couldn't stand to be this close and not get the serial number of the last one on my list. I could have driven back to the school on a sunnier and much prettier day, but since Mr. Joe Taxpayer pays for my mileage and my time, I don't care to waste it. So, I got soaked to the skin.

And, I got a migraine. My daughter and I noticed a few days ago that my windshield appears to be covered with some filmy oily substance. The wipers would only smear it. I felt like I was looking through blurry glasses the entire time I drove today. Certainly a headache in the making. All is well, now. I took Imitrex around 4 p.m. and it kicked in by 5.

Redneck Bus Stop

On a back road in Ohio

I took over 400 photos today and I debated and sorted and finally realized that I just had to post this one first. The others are nice. There is some beautiful scenery on the back roads in that neck of the woods, but this one is just worth a thousand words.

Below is a map of the route (in red) that I drove today. That bus stop is on a back road somewhere close to where I pasted the smiley face on the map. Starting out I travelled west on Rt. 36 past West Lafayette. Turned North to Keene, took a shortcut (?) over to Warsaw. It was along one of the Township roads that I saw the setup. I had to laugh and take a picture.

Again, it was just a gorgeous day. The sun was streaming through the trees and the air was just crisp and fresh. I did get a monster of a headache from the sun shining through the trees. Small price to pay for the beauty of it all.

Fresh

Country

I wish you were with me today. I can show you photos and I could take a short video I suppose so you can hear the sounds. I'd have to turn the car motor off and travel into the field or woods some so that I wouldn't pick up the sound of any other automobiles. But what I can't give you is the smell or the feeling of the sunshine country fresh air. And no, I don't mean that country smell. This is the real fresh smell of September in Ohio when it cools the heat of summer off the land and the air is fresh and the sky is blue and there is pure delight when you breathe. That is what I want to share. If we can only bottle it.

There is a candle scent you can purchase called fresh cut grass. Have you taken a whiff of that one? If they can nail that scent down, I wish they could get this fresh country air that I experienced today. Pure heaven. It just took me to another place. A happy place.

I don't know if anyone has noticed but I seem to be missing a once popular topic in my blog these days. It's the "m" word. Shhh. I am not real sure why the decrease. If I happen upon a reason, I'll let you know what it is.

No Man's Land

Old truck revisited.

Here is the old truck with a richer hue to it. It may be a bit too much gold.

I got lost today. In the southeastern corner of Tuscarawas county there are no main roads and no schools. I do not travel there very often. I left a school late this afternoon after I had completed a job and thought to myself "Where does this road go?" Naturally I do this when I have very little gas, have not taken a lunch and needed to go to the bathroom. I drove and drove on roads that were given the names with the likes of "Blizzard Ridge", "Hawk Hollow", "Gravel Lick", and "Toad Hollow".

Why do I do this? It seemed like a good idea at the time. Mostly, I want to escape the wiring closet full of blinking lights and wires and electronic humming. The farthest away that I can get is to drive down a gravel road with nothing on either side of me but trees, trees and more trees. Sigh.

I made my way back with my gas light glowing now and then to inform me that I had better find some petrol. I took care of all said necessities and am ready to tackle the construction zone again tomorrow. Fighting with the telephone company. They tell me it is my equipment. I check my equipment. I move interface cards from one place to another in an attempt to jar something into working. Nothing. No CD light. (Carrier Detect, it's like a dial tone on your telephone). My equipment, my ass! Oh, sorry. That was supposed to be kept to myself. I call my manager back. He calls the telephone company back.

More of same tomorrow. I'll let you know where the fault lies. If it is mine, I'll fess up to it.

The other day while working in one of the school buildings under construction, I was making my way down a long dark hallway. During construction, most of the lighting is not wired and there are ghostly dim bulbs hanging every 50 feet or so casting an ugly glow over the cinder blocks, dust and scaffolding littering the hallway. As I walked along the hall, I heard footsteps behind me. They weren't human footsteps. It was the sound of metal on cement. A sort of metal spring noise, scraping on cement. Dare I look back? They were footsteps alright. I could hear them, clank, clank, clank. I quickly turned my head. There was a guy walking on 2 foot tall metal stilts he used for drywall construction. They were strapped to his legs. I felt like I was in some bad science fiction horror movie.

It wasn't anything sinister. I turned the hallway and there was the rest of the construction crew all busy doing their thing. I ducked into the new closet and closed the door behind me shutting out most of the noise and a lot of the dust.

Here is my contribution to Photo Friday Challenge: "Oddity".

What a cloudburst

Combined images of the clouds

We left to pick up Chessa today. We are dog sitting for my sister while she camps out for about 10 days. She gets involved in the county fair. She is a great baker of pies, cakes and cookies. She used to work in a bakery, but she just has a knack for that kind of stuff. Baking only interests me on a small scale.

Now, short order cooking is another story. I did that at 15 and I do it today. On top of the stove or grill and I am in my element. The more grease the better.

On the way to pick up the little dog it poured down the rain. There was a highway patrolman blocking the road because of an accident and he was turning everyone around. I am thinking to myself 'How in the heck do I get to where I want to go?' I was a bit familiar with the area, but I didn't want to go off exploring on back roads in the middle of a cloud burst. As I turned around I saw a big yellow school bus and decided to follow him. He led me back to the road we wanted to go on. We had a train of cars following us.

Three school levies in my area were shot down yesterday at the polls. Speaking of shooting, the factory in Ohio today where there were 2 people shot is far away from us.

Ohio has 181 under-deck truss bridges similar to the one that collapsed in Minnesota. I was reading an article where the engineers denied a structural flaw and another article where the construction workers denied that construction had anything to do with the collapse. I realize that one life lost is too many, but I can't help but wonder how fortunate we are that more were not lost. I hate saying that because to the loved ones that lost somebody, it sounds crass.

Along those lines it always bothered me when I read in the newspaper or heard on the news a survivor saying "God was watching out for us." What about the ones who did lose a loved one? Were they not important enough for God to watch out for? It is something that has always bothered me, for somebody to say something like that.