Ann and Donna's Excellent Adventure.....

It's been a while since I've written, but grass hasn't been growing beneath my feet!  Ann arrived late on Wednesday the 7th and we hit the ground running.  Since she arrived late at night, I thought a nice walk on the beach and lunch at the Westin might be an easy way to start her stay.  It was a perfect day for a long walk, and lunch gave us lots of time to sit and catch up.  We had enough energy to stop at one of the Tanger outlets on the way home and browse around a little.

I had suggested going to Charleston, which appealed to Ann, so we got on the computer and found the visitor's center and made hotel reservations.  Once things were finalized, we realized they were beside each other!  So, the next morning, we plugged in the Tom Tom and off we go.  The drive up was leisurely and we found our hotel (Hampton Inn) to be well situated.  After checking in, we headed to King Street for lunch and found a wonderful Thai restaurant, Basil.  We ate outside and had a great waitress......she was so good that we asked her where we should have dinner.  We then went to the visitor's center and took a tour of "the peninsula", which contains many of the big, old homes.  After the tour, we took off on foot to cover much of it again.  It was a nice afternoon all the way around......and Charleston is such a pretty city.

For dinner, we took our waitress' advice and went to Pane E Vino, a charming little Italian place.  It was such a nice evening that everyone was dining outside.  One end of the patio had greenery with lights.  The other end had weathered fencing decorated with sheer drapes tied together and decorative ornaments hanging between them - simple but very creative.  Again, we had a pleasant waiter, who provided our laugh for the evening.  We had a glass of wine with dinner...and a few refills.  On one refill he told Ann that he had "heard about those European women!"  At another passing he asked how we were doing.  When we affirmed that "we're fine", he said, "I'll  bet you are!"  We had to laugh!!  As Ann said, "He obviously didn't know who he was dealing with!"

On Saturday we checked out some of the shops on King Street before heading home.  I really did enjoy seeing Charleston again.  I always think Savannah has some nice old homes, but nothing compared to Charleston.  And everything from the hotel to the restaurants worked out perfectly, with very little planning. 

Our only detour was to see if we could find the Charleston Tea Plantation, which we did with no problem thanks to Tom Tom.  It's a small operation but is the only tea plantation in North America.  They have a short video tour, a driving tour around the plantation, and a gift shop.  It didn't take long and was interesting to see, but it made us late for the wine tasting at my local shop.  We walked in at about 5:05 (which surprised me because I thought they closed at 5PM.  They actually stay open on Saturday until 7PM.  The wine tasting ends at 5.), just as he was putting the wine back in the cooler.  Being the gracious guy (and good businessman) that he is, they assured us it would be no problem for us to have a taste of the offerings for that day. So, from the selection, we chose our libation for the evening.  It was then home and a glass of wine out on the patio.

On Sunday I'd already committed to a 9/11 Memorial Concert with Elaine and had gotten a ticket for Ann.  We were to pick Elaine up in her parking lot and were there in ample time.  We waited a few minutes, but no Elaine, which was not like her.  We waited a bit more and then I went to the gate to ask the guard if she might have left a pass for us, thinking she misunderstood our plan and expected me to pick her up at home.  No pass. He called her home three times and her cell twice - no answer.  Finally, I told him we were going to the concert and asked him to let her know if she came home or called.  At that point, I was expecting to see her standing outside waiting for us.....hoping she was waiting for us because she had my ticket!  Again, no Elaine.  By this time I knew something is wrong and told Ann that on our way home we'd stop by the gate again and let them know that if they couldn't call her, they should go to her house to see that all is well.  Finally, in the middle of the concert, I see Elaine come in and sit down.  After it's over (and people stream out four doors) we finally hook up.  As it turns out, she was shopping in the morning and suddenly had a sharp pain in her eye.  She had been in the emergency room all afternoon, until arriving at the concert.  After getting the scoop of the story, the three of us headed to the Boathouse for dinner.  Again, it was a perfect evening to sit outside, catch up and enjoy the evening. After a somewhat harrowing day for Elaine, a good time was had by all.

On Monday, Ann's last full day, we did a bit more shopping before heading to Palmetto Bluff for lunch.  It's such a scenic little spot on the May River and a tranquil place to walk around.  We asked in the Inn about walking paths, of which there are many.  They provided us with a map of trails, which really didn't seem to coincide with anything we could find.  But, we got on a path and walked as much as we wanted.  It was very nice and something I'll pursue on my next visit there.

It was so good to see Ann and catch up in person.  As always, we had lots of laughs, good memories to recount and news to share since our last meeting.  I'll be happy if she enjoyed it even half as much as I did.  One of the nice things was that it was very impromptu, but things could not have worked better if we'd spent months planning it. 

While she was here, my mother was not well with either a bug of some kind or something she had eaten that didn't settle well with her.  By the time Ann left, my mother was feeling better, but upset that her cats were not well (which they aren't - one has an arthritic spine and the other has Irritable Bowel Disease).  So, the second day after Ann departed, off I went to NC again.  I think she is slowly realizing that things are becoming unmanageable for her.....and everything seems overwhelming. We did have a good (rational, unemotional, civil) talk about it on the phone. She said she couldn't "just walk away", and I said that sometimes you did have to walk away.........and that it isn't as bad as it could be, she can come live with me.  If I live to be her age, my only option will be "the home"!  It has to be difficult for her to accept, but I hope she can come to terms with it.....and find something good left in life.  She's agreed to come back with my when I go up again in two weeks for our family reunion.  So, I'm going to try to enjoy these next two weeks of peace, quiet and solitude - Inshallah!

Celebrating Friendship

In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.
Khalil Gibran

The picture above was a birthday card I received last year.  I liked it so much that I hung onto it, knowing there would be a time to use it.  It epitomizes the joy among female friends, which is why I liked it so much.....and this seems just the time to share it.  Suddenly September has become a time for celebrating friendships, which began with my recent trip to visit Jan in August.  Last week I received a call from Ann (Wassanar, Holland) saying that she could visit beginning this Wednesday.......and I'm so looking forward to seeing her.  She had hoped to come sometime this summer, but plans were postponed when Martin's father passed away and his mother came to live with them.  I could certainly understand the circumstances, but we did say that if a window of opportunity opened, we would make it work.  The opportunity appeared when Katie had a month at home before starting her new job.  So, she will be looking after the household while her mum visits me.  The story is a funny one (which I hope they won't mind my sharing)......I heard through the Fox grapevine that Martin had asked Ann what she wanted for their 25th wedding anniversary, and Ann said she wanted to visit me.  Martin said his feelings were a bit hurt but, when he thought about it, it could have been worse!  He's also getting lots of mileage out of it by telling his friends that he's giving Ann a week away from the family for their anniversary!!  Anyway, I consider it my good fortune that it all worked out and I'm really looking forward to her visit.

Even before that, when I was in Seattle, I received an email from Eileen (Loughborough, England) saying that she and Tom would like to visit around the end of September or beginning of October.  Needless to say, I was delighted by the news.  It's been almost 5 years since I've seen Eileen and even longer since I've seen Tom, so there will be lots of catching up to do.  They've been involved with family christenings, grandchildren, etc. so I haven't heard details of their plans......so watch this space.

Ann called on Monday or Tueday before I went to NC to see my mother on Wednesday.  She had become very depressed, I think because she was having great difficulty getting around and possibly being confronted with the possibility of no longer being able to be on her own.   I took her to a bone and joint specialist who gave her a shot in her right knee (which is bone on bone at this point) and sent us to another place to get a support of her left ankle (ganglion).  By the end of the day she was walking better and more comfortably.  That helped her mood, but each time I see her I'm more aware of her frailty.  I'm hoping she will be able to remain on her own as long as she wants to before coming down with me for the winter.  I'm doubtful that she will be able to be on her own after that......although after her fall in "09  I never thought she would be doing as well as she was around her birthday in June.  So, you never know and I'm hoping for the best.

I came home late yesterday (Saturday) and tidied up today.  Tomorrow is cleaning day and Tuesday is cooking.  Wednesday morning is "rest up" before going to PAL in the afternoon and picking up Ann later that night.  While I haven't had much time to make things as "perfect" as I'd like, among friends those things don't really matter.  We'll enjoy our time together and catch up as best we can in the time we have.

Friendships have also been renewed in other ways.  Both today and over the last few months I've heard from friends I hadn't heard from in some time, and it's great to be in touch again.  While it's nice to be in touch regularly, I think time is irrelevant between real and true friends.......whenever the opportunity presents itself, you pick up where you left off.  Maybe it's because I have no siblings, or that I've lived away from my family most of my life, or whatever, I've always appreciated the friends I've made along the way.  As I get older, I'm even more aware of the joy and blessings they bring to my life.

Friendship... is not something you learn in school. 

But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.

Muhammad Ali

Please check the PAL (Palmetto Animal League) tab as I've posted a short update.  

Getting My Groove Back....

It's difficult to return from the carefree life of vacation and get back into the routine of daily life.  My first few days were spent unpacking, doing laundry, grocery shopping, cooking.......getting the basics done.  I had to kind of get myself together for my friend Elaine's birthday gathering on Saturday (Elaine is seated, middle).  It was a "tea" so everyone showed up in hats, gloves, etc.....or not!  You can see by the photo that there were all degrees of variation.  My only hat was a straw one that I bought in Turkey.......and that had fallen in the water and was retrieved by our boat captain.  My intention was to get a colorful flower to add to it, but I didn't get around to it; so, I put it in the car to see if people were really going to show up in hats!  Since many of them did (even cowboy hats!), I plopped it on and in I went.  It was a fun gathering of many friends from my synagogue days and I really enjoyed it.......and it was nice to see ladies in hats!

It took about 3-4 days to get back to my walking, but I'm into again.  It seems to have cooled a little, but I still have to do it in the mornings.  Yesterday was a very interesting day to walk as we were anticipating Hurricane Irene.  It was cooler and there were occasional gusts of wind.  The sky was very active, with clouds passing by at record speed.....even I could tell that something was brewing.  It was like being in the center of a rotation marble. The following photos (by Roddy Medders) were taken off Facebook and show the beauty and drama of what was happening.....keep in mind that the sky looked like this here, where nothing happened.  It's hard to imagine what it looked like closer to the eye of the storm.

Luckily for us, that was as exciting as it got. Yesterday vacillated between sunny and overcast skies, with occasional gusts of wind. It began to rain around 4PM, but it lasted only a short while. Around dusk it rained again, and that was it. I thought it would probably rain sporatically through the night, but it didn't. Today was warm and sunny with blue skies and white, puffy clouds. We dodged another one....and for that we're very thankful.

My volunteer time at Palmetto Animal League has also resumed and a lot happened in my absence, which I was pretty much able to keep in touch with through Facebook.  I've updated the PAL page on this site, so animal lovers (or those who just like adorable photos!) should check it out to keep abreast of the activity.  I continue to enjoy my time there and love being with the animals and animal lovers.......it's a good thing!

Other than that, things have been pretty normal......shampooing carpets, tasting wine at my local shop, searching for my checkbook......yes, it seems that another senior lapse has occurred.  I have no idea what has happened to it (or how long it has been missing) but, since no unusual checks have been written to my account, I assume I've "misplaced" it.  I've looked in all of the usual places and as many of the unusual places as seem plausable, all to no avail.  I'm giving it until Monday to show up and will then contact the bank......and cede defeat!

Vacation Comes to an End

Yes, I'm home again after a terrific vacation.  It was wonderful to get away for a while and see something completely new and different.  As you have come to expect, there are lots of photos, as we were busy each and every day.  From time to time Jan and I would apologize to the other for the "pace" but, when all is said and done, we both hung in there pretty well.  We saw so much that I decided to write a somewhat detailed account (including links to sites, restaurants, etc.), which can be found HERE, and to only cover the highlights in this blog.  To cover both the photos and the write up in one visit might be too much......

Two of the major events were planned in advanced and they turned out to be as much fun as we had hoped.

• The first was to see an operatic production of Porgy and Bess at the Seattle Center.  Neither of us profess to be opera buffs but it was great to see such a professional production of a folk opera with which we were familiar.  It was 3-1/2 hours long, which would take some getting used to, and we both commented on how difficult it would be to sit through a production of that length being performed in another language (although every effort was made to help follow the story line).  It would definitely be an acquired taste, but we did enjoy seeing this one, which was set in the Lowcountry.  I'm always amazed by the mechanics of the scenery, and this was no exception. 
• Our second preplanned outing was a day trip to Victoria, British Columbia.  We took the fast boat (Victoria Clipper), which took about 2-1/2 hours and was as quiet and smooth as could be.  It was well organized and by the time we arrived, we had booked a tour of Butchart Gardens, which allowed us to walk right off the boat onto the tour bus.  The city tour (and our guide) was great, but the gardens were beyond description......you really will have to see the photos, which do not do justice to them.  There were rose gardens, Italian gardens, Japanese gardens and, my favorite, the Sunken garden.  It was really more than the eyes could take in.  Our time there went much too quickly.  We finished our tour and went back into Victoria for a walk-around, stopping in the Bengal Lounge at the Empress Hotel.  From there we went to the Parliament building, only to discover they were giving free tours of the building.  It was lovely inside and we enjoyed the impromptu tour.  From there we wondered back to the boat.  Unfortunately, this was that day of the trip that most travelers experience......the one where you totally zonk out and can't carry on!  On the trip back, I could hardly hold my head up or keep my eyes open.  Since much of the trip back was in the dark, I used that an excuse to let it happen.  It was a late night, but the next morning we were ready to go again.

Other than those events, all other activities were played by ear, depending on the weather, how we felt, etc.  On most days we were out by 10-10:30AM.   I truly enjoyed all of the greenery, the many shades of green that served as a perfect backdrop for all of the colorful flowers.  Even flying in, one is impressed with the amount of greenery throughout the city.  I had no idea I would be there at such a spectacular time.  Everything from Jan's back yard, to the many park, to most homes had something in bloom......it was just spectacular!  AND, we had good weather!  Jan wanted me to be sure to mention that we had NO rain for the whole week.  It usually got up to the mid-70s by the afternoon.  While I found it a bit cool, it was mostly because we have been soooo hot.....and my planning could have been better, but with a few adjustments I was fine.

Another constant pleasure was the diversity and quality of the food, everything from the sweet, fresh berries we had every morning to the ethnic restaurants for lunch or dinner.  It was great!  I requested one meal at a real vegetarian restaurant and we went to Cafe Floria, which is a well known, longstanding veggie restaurant it the area.  The food was diverse, tasty and very attractively presented.  We also had Indian food (several times), Vietnamese food, as well as American fare.  All of it was outstanding and I loved the diversity.

There was so much to see and we covered as much as we could. Our first stop was Woodinville and the wine area, where we toured the beautiful grounds of Chateau Ste. Michelle.  It was there that I ran into the couple I sat with on the plane from Houston to Seattle......who would ever expect that!  I also enjoyed the Ballard locks and fish ladder,our day in La Connor (beautiful little town in the farming area of Skagit Valley) and afternoon in Kirkland, Kerry Park and Parsons Gardens, the Japanese Tea Garden, and so much more. A fun day was downtown where we took a tour on "The Duck", which travels on land and in the water.  They were actually re-purposed landing craft from WWII. So, we had a rowdy land tour, with music blasting and passengers singing and "discoing".....and then drove directly into Lake Union for a tour from that vantage point.  Then, back on land to continue the tour.  It was great.  That afternoon also included Pike Place Market, a panoramic view from the Columbia Tower and a walk-through of the very modern central library.   I know I'm forgetting something, but it was all fun and enjoyable......and we only scratched the surface.

And last but certainly not least, was time with Jan, a long-time friend.  Friends with whom you have a history and lots in common are a real treasure and, once together again, the years of separation seem to melt away.  Our early evenings and leisurely lunches and dinners provided lots of time to catch up and solve the problems of the world.  Thanks also go to new friends, Katie and Frank, who had us for dinner on the night of my arrival.  I met them when they and Jan were in Savannah in March and it was nice of them to start my visit in such a nice way. It's always fun to get together with friends, old and new.  It was a fantastic break for me and Jan was the perfect hostess. I hope she will let me return the hospitality soon.

Quick Update Before Leaving Again

Wanda, Mama and Me

There must be more to report, but I'm just back from North Carolina, where we had a very enjoyable weekend.  I planned to go up for the wedding of my cousin Wanda's son.  Wanda was the only girl in a family of three brothers.  Her mother and my mother were very good friends, so we really wanted to support Wanda when her only child, Casey, got married.  Wanda's mother died of a heart attack several (many....how time flies!) years ago....and my mother found her.  They had planned to go somewhere together and when my mother went by to pick her up, she found her dead outside, near the garage.  Wanda has always thought a lot of my mother and, when we arrived for the wedding, she asked if Mama would act as the "grandmother" of the groom, being ushered down the aisle and seated before the Mother of the Bride.  Needless to say, my mother was touched and pleased.  It was a very sweet thing for Wanda and Casey to do and it made our day.  Mama was escorted to her seat, walking a pace I didn't think possible; but it was the symbolism that meant so much to her and got her going.  It was nice to see.

Wanda, Mama, Casey and Hannah

Casey is just out of high school and, of course, everyone is hoping all goes well.  The impressive thing is that his father was out of the picture pretty early and Wanda, who is very shy and reserved, did an absolutely wonderful job with him.  They spent one Christmas with us and it was wonderful to see their relationship and how well behaved Casey was, even as a child.  Wanda said he has always been rather serious and thoughtful; so, while a marriage at this age makes the older ones of us cringe, we know that he goes into it with thoughtful and good intentions.  My theory is that it's a crap shoot no matter what, so they stand as good a chance as anyone!  We certainly wish them well.

Anyway, after the wedding we went to the reception, where we saw other relatives we hadn't seen in a while.  It was great fun.  We got home late, way past Mama's bedtime, but neither of us complained.

Judge Matthew J. Perry, Jr

On the four hour drive up, I heard a fantastic program on NPR about Judge Matthew J. Perry, Jr.   Sadly, I had never heard of Judge Perry and his biography was given before his funeral on Saturday in Columbia, SC.  As it turns out, he was the first black appointed to the federal courts.....and he was nominated by Strom Thurmond!!  Who would had thought??  NPR carried his complete funeral service, including many powerful reminiscences, and a wonderful rendition of "God Is" by a local choir.  It was preceded by a 2001  interview on Walter Edgar's Journal (a SC historian).  The one hour interview can be heard HERE: Walter Edgar's Journal..  It's a long interview but it's so enlightening, especially about the civil right's movement and that time period.  He also has such a strong, melodious voice with a genteel, Southern accent......for me, it was a pleasure to listen.  If it's your cup of tea, I hope you enjoy!  I found it inspiring.




In two days, I'm off to the land of Chateau Ste. Michelle winery and my friend Jan.  While I feel I haven't had much time to prepare or plan for it, I'm looking forward to getting away, especially from the heat, and seeing something new.  I've visited Jan in Seattle before, but it's been so long ago that it will all seem new again.  My lack of planning has not deterred Jan....she has some really fun things planned......to the point of making me feel guilty. She's sent lists of activities, restaurants, etc......all of which whet my appetite and excitement.  Coming from this quiet little hamlet, I know there will be more to do than we can possibly cover.  It should be a good mixture of activity and catching up......I'm really looking forward to it.

So, it will be at least a week before you hear from me again.  I'm hoping all is well with you and that, in the intervening time, you have as much fun as I plan to have.

Take care....and keep in touch.

A Week of Opposites

This week has gone very quickly, with lots of mixed and opposed feeling and emotions. It began with a welcomed relief from the heat. We had a nice, slow rain for much of two days, which lowered the temperature a bit and gave us a long needed break. While it was dark and dreary, it was well worth it.

Wednesday was my first afternoon behind the desk at Palmetto Animal League and it was great. Some very nice things happened.

• Winston, the black and white dog at my first adoption day, has been adopted for a second time. He was brought back after the first adoption because he marked the house. They had a cat that sprayed and he went around marking on top of the cat.....doing what dogs do. His new family arranged to pick him up when they return from their vacation in August, but they visit him frequently, which I think is great. The children were very well mannered and sooo excited about getting Winston. They stayed with him almost 2 hours, playing with him in the activity room, walking him, etc. It was heartwarming to see and Winston is going to be one lucky guy. 
• Two teens also came in to volunteer. Since they are under 17, their mother will have to come with them, which she was willing to do. Once signed up, they went in to the cat rooms, filled to capacity with kittens, and played/socialized them. It looked like a good time was had by all. 
• A lady who was fostering two cats came in and adopted them.  We told her that it was a case of another failed foster parent!!  I'm afraid I'd be the same way!!  She seemed happy with her decision.
• Another couple had arranged with the director to bring a beautiful, long haired, stray cat in to be checked over because they, too, had decided to take him in.  He was an older cat but very pretty, with a nice disposition.

It was all very heartwarming......and I think I'm really going to like being a part of it.

It seems so much easier to work with animals than people, as evidenced by what is going on in DC.  I can't express how disgusted I am with it all, knowing that it is a contrived crisis that never had to happen.  Let me see if I understand this correctly......the debt ceiling allows us to deal with past issues/pay debt, while budget issues deal with future spending.  Never in the past have these two things been linked......until we have a President that some really want to fail.  Until now, Congress has been able to raise the debt ceiling without major issue because paying our debts has been sound fiscal policy........it should never be used as leverage, especially to hold all of us hostage to the "bizarro" politics of a few (Lord, I hope it's a few!).  And I love it that those who played a major role in getting us here, suddenly understand economics and see the importance of not overspending  (or establishing non-funded projects)!!!  Should you question that assumption, see below (from The Atlantic [http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/07/the-chart-that-should-accompany-all-discussions-of-the-debt-ceiling/242484/]. This is the best representation I've found......I'm keeping a copy in my purse for future discussions!

I don't think anyone denies that the deficit needs to be dealt with or that tax reform would not be welcomed, assuming it is equitable....but to be forced into something when your back is to the wall and by people who have not been in Washington long enough to know how things work, is not the way to do it.  Both parties would benefit from raising the debt ceiling, free and clear, and then sincerely and honestly tackling the deficit. What are the chances of that happening??

Needless to say, I have called and emailed all three of my feckless representatives, as well as protested Joe Wilson's office in Beaufort.  I'm going to have to stop watching the news because it just gets me so wound up and ultimately distressed.  I can't believe what we have become and the negativity behind it all.  It really is sad.

 

“You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they've tried everything else.”

-- Sir Winston Churchill 

 Let's hope we will finally get around to doing the right thing. I've got to go now.  The President asked us to call our congressman and senators again, and, in this district, we really need to speak up.  Keep your fingers crossed for us......even though we're shooting ourselves in the head!

Website Updates:

• A new page devoted to Palmetto Animal League, which I hope you will check from time to time and enjoy.  There are two heartbreaking stories on there now, but with happy endings.
• The Quotes page has been completely updated.
• Three new recipes have been added to the Meatless Recipes page, two under Sandwitches, Wraps, etc and one Indian recipe.  Am having the Pindi Chana for lunch.......yum!
• I hope the "COMMENT HERE"  link is a little more visible.  Comments are always welcomed and I'd love to hear from you.