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Wednesday, April 29, 2009

SAYING GOODBYE

Yesterday was Dad's birthday. It was also the day that he passed peacefully, albeit painfully for us, from this earth...even at the end "calling the shots" on his own, just as he had always lived his life.

Here are some "goodbyes," Dad, from your beloved family...

From me....thinking of "Moonlight in Vermont," beautiful gladiola gardens, adorable English bulldogs, driving through big cities while lying down in the station wagon & listening to Italian cursing in heavy traffic, percussion brushes keeping time on the steering wheel to Benny Goodman, stale PEEPS, king of body surfing, pumpkins, Jeeps...the best Dad ever. Happy Birthday, Dad - I will always love you, will always remember.

From Nan...a posting of an incredible short story she wrote after spending time with you last fall in the rehab hospital after your surgery ~


From niece Lindsey...happy birthday grandpa; we all love you so much, you've given us the greatest gift of all. How many people can say they were born again on their birthday?

From granddaughter Sarah...I love you Guck and you will always be my hero.

From great niece Anne...I sip a Bloody Mary through a rough-edged black straw bits of horseradish gallop over my tastebuds and we pay homage, my vodka and I while the leafy green of the celery tickles my cheek like a kiss from you and your scratchy face and you smile through the bartender’s mischievous grin as I inhale, only air bubbles and sporadic drips of cold water cool my burning eyes.

Monday, April 27, 2009

MONDAY REFLECTIONS

FOR TODAY, April 27, 2009

Outside my window...the evening is dark and warm, a quiet spring night.

I am thinking...of my Dad, of "the flood of memories" as Sarah said earlier today that fill my heart as I pray either for peaceful release or for a miracle...

From the learning room...no time this week for anything "formal."

From the kitchen...a hodge-podge of leftovers from a soccer tournament weekend and baptism open house...snacks, fruit and vegetable trays, Gatorade and granola...

I am wearing...my MHS soccer sweats and a red T-shirt.

I am creating...not much right now as "the muse" and time are challenging me...

I am going...to make a lot of trips to Columbus this week and have a trip to Indiana planned for the weekend ~ we'll see.

I am reading..."John Adams," ~ but in all honesty, concentration is difficult.

I am hoping...that miracles really do still happen.

I am hearing...nothing - sweet, sweet silence.

Around the house...things are peacefully settled.

One of my favorite things...will be welcoming Ellen for her visit.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
helping Hannah maintain the "normal chaos" amidst the "so-likely" loss we are facing...

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...Abby's baptism

Friday, April 24, 2009

FRIDAY FAVORITES

Welcoming Abigail Elizabeth..."officially" this weekend with a baptismal celebration! Put together this "video" as part of the fun.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

THINKING ABOUT MY DAD


I love my father as the stars - he's a bright shining example and a happy twinkling in my heart. ~Adabella Radici

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Monday, April 20, 2009

MONDAY REFLECTIONS


FOR TODAY, April 20, 2009

Outside my window...the morning hides behind an early, dark, and rainy beginning to the week.

I am thinking...of how Dad is doing and his test today, of Hannah's busy soccer week ahead.

From the learning room..."The Artist's Life" has been buried and needs to resurface.

From the kitchen...depending on how things go at the hospital today, it may be a good evening for a simple supper at home here with Mom ~ may put together something in the crockpot before heading to the hospital this morning.

I am wearing...still my pj's as I ease into my morning before the week takes off at a break-neck pace.

I am creating...a custom bracelet and Abby's heirloom bracelet.

I am going...to ODP state training every week now for Hannah (lots of driving, but well worth the trips!).

I am reading..."John Adams," ~ a terrific biography.

I am hoping...Dad had a restful night and that the test today provides definitive answers/solutions.

I am hearing...Hannah get ready for school and the beginning of her busy week...April showers & showers & showers!

Around the house..."recover from spring break" week. :-)

One of my favorite things...will be Abby's baptism celebration.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Hannah's soccer tournament, catching up with friends, continuing to be "Miriam" (Hannah's 'secretary') :-)

Here is a picture thought I am sharing..."The Happy Tree" :-)

Friday, April 17, 2009

ROAD EATS!



Thelma and Louise traveled 2913+ miles in just over 11 days for this unforgettable mother-daughter celebration, spring break, college visit craze, mega-trek. They would not have survived had it not been for the sustenance of certain road trip food, those special "road eats," reserved for journeys such as these. Here are "the girls'" favorites...
  • Nutter Butter cookies
  • Cheez-It Crackers (although Thelma discovered too late that these do not travel well when tossing items carelessly into the back seat onto the snack bag....)
  • pretzel sticks (a favorite of Louise's - although Thelma was known to have indulged occasionally when desperate for something different...)
  • Sour Patch Kids (Thelma introduced these to Louise on the trip - while Louise had tried them previously she never developed a palate for them until this excursion....Louise must admit they are quite good and yes, she did enjoy the sweet yet very sour taste and texture ~ yet, she still is not sure she would ever choose to eat them outside of a long car trip with Thelma).
  • Coffee - Louise's drink of choice (usually a morning drink only, but became a day-long requirement during the drives) - first choice was always Starbucks, but Louise usually would have to settle for BP.
  • Mocha LOCO - Thelma's drink of choice to help keep Louise awake (Louise is usually not supportive of Thelma indulging in energy boosting drinks, but under the circumstances and given the alternative - i.e. car swerving off the side of a mountain - Louise thought it probably was better to have Thelma more on the extra alert and talkative side).
Of course, there were plenty of other "special" eats along the way - dinners not to be forgotten, seafood that is always savored, the best Key Lime Pie in Florida (Hemingways' - Pensacola), checking out calamari here and there to determine favorite spots, and revisiting gator bites once again.

All of this gourmandization was bound to lead to another road trip memory...."best belch" (or perhaps, Thelma will remember it as "foulest belch") -- after dinner at Hemingways'....somewhere along Highway 10 on the way back to Tallahassee, yes, Thelma let it out and then groaned softly complaining that the burp 'tasted like' lobster bisque, calamari, and Sour Patch Kids...hmmmm, yum-oh!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

ANSWERS ALONG THE WAY

Thelma and Louise were faced with many questions throughout this journey ~ how long does it take to get to Ruby Falls? where will Thelma go college and what will she do with the rest of her life? how has Louise survived this long with no sense of direction and no concept of distance?

But these real burning questions were answered along the way...
  • Who is Crazy Ed?
1st, Crazy Ed is most likely the proprietor behind this unforgettable establishment along I-75 in southern Tennessee. Thelma and Louise had remembered Crazy Ed's from previous journeys along the road, but were determined this trip to "track down" the actual establishment and document its existence. They were successful.




Thelma and Louise did not actually have the opportunity to meet the proprietor of Crazy Ed's...no doubt, fortunately.

2nd, Crazy Ed is the name that Thelma affectionately gave to the Tom-Tom GPS unit which provided assistance to the girls along the way. Thelma had great fun with Crazy Ed when she discovered that she could record her own voice - Southern Comfort style - giving directions...."heads up, Uncle Jim, when you get your Tom-Tom back!"
  • Where is Raccoon Valley Road?
Another memory of the girls from previous trips, Thelma and Louise confirmed that Raccoon Valley Road is located in Tennessee, logically not too far from Crazy Ed's. It would make sense.
  • Where can one get the BEST fruit smoothie?
Sonic Drive-in ~ Sweetwater, TN....Thelma and Louise discovered this at midnight the first day of their trip, confirming it the following morning. Wanting to see if their theory was indeed true (or if all Sonic smoothies were the same), the girls did check smoothies in the Florida Panhandle (too sugary and not blended well) and in Nelsonville, Ohio (a close second, but no cigar). Sweetwater, Tennessee Sonic Drive-In -- it's worth the trip.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

A LITTLE ROAD MUSIC

A little road music...one might think it would be a simple matter ~ something to help pass the many miles, to keep the energy of the journey going, to provide some tempo and rhythm to the trek...but ahh, yes, with Thelma and Louise, the battle of the MP3's was an interesting one.

Now it should be noted that for the most part Louise does enjoy Thelma's music and if one were to do a side-by-side comparison of playlists of the two MP3's, one would find numerous duplications - that can be a good thing on a road trip where compatibility is important. However, it should be noted that the one area of music that Louise struggles to accept is rap and...you guessed it, Thelma is a big fan of the genre.

So, you can imagine the scene when Thelma announcea that she has the perfect song for playing as the two of us are rolling through the state of Georgia and Louise begins to hear the beautiful strains of Ray Charles singing, "Georgia on My Mind." "Oh, Thelma," I exclaim, "you don't know how much I love this so..." My words are cut short by the booming beat and words that follow - wait, that's not Ray....what is this? Thelma begins laughing and explains, "Isn't it cool, Louise? It's Field Mob (Louise thinks any group called Field Mob is not a good start...) and they use that old song all the way through but it's so much better. (Louise thinks...better?)

So, rolling through Georgia, Field Mob it is....and several times in Florida - and yes, we hear it again in South Carolina and I'm pretty sure I hear it again today in North Carolina at one point as well.....don't tell, Thelma, but it is kinda growing on me.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

COMING SOON TO A BLOG NEAR YOU...THE ADVENTURES OF THELMA & LOUISE...


Coming soon....Thelma and Louise's NEW Adventure! What can you expect?
  • Thelma's recommended playlist (especially for annoying Louise)
  • Louise's favorite road music
  • Favorite traveling gnoshes
  • Answers to "burning questions" like where can you get the the BEST fruit smoothie EVER? Where is Raccoon Valley Road? And, WHO is Crazy Ed?
Stay tuned - this is one sequel you don't want to miss!

Saturday, April 4, 2009

FRIDAY FAVORITES....one day later

Yes, it can be a "bad" sign when I'm one day behind by the end of the week and there's no chance of catching up. So, I think I'll just throw in the towel and admit that "catching up" isn't an option, LOL! Instead, I thought I'd take a little time out and enjoy some favorites of the week...

I received very special treats in the mail this week. Some of them came from one of my favorite lampwork artisan, Deronda, of DerondaDesigns. Deronda is such a talented designer as you can see from just a glimpse at some of my newest additions ~ thanks, again, D! :-)



Regular season play began this week for our soccer ladies. Thursday's game was going well, but ended up being called with maybe ten minutes to go due to lightening. Still got some good pictures...a couple favorites here ~

Spring090402g Spring090402ee

Posting will be spotty the next week and a half as "soccer girl" and I leave for spring break aka "road trip from h..." LOL ~ "affectionately" called that as we are visiting 5 colleges in 11 days...whew! BUT...no worries, there is still a favorite to look forward to as we will get spend several days amid the rush in what we call paradise...ahh...

Thursday, April 2, 2009

THURSDAY THIS 'N THAT

First...a much appreciated "thank-you" to my March top-droppers from Entrecard for faithfully stopping by. Be sure to do the same ~ stop by and visit these great blogs - you're sure to find some great new favorites!



Next, it's LAST call for the "SPRING FEVER SALE" in the ETSY shop ~ If a title or description has the word "SPRING," or "FLOWER," or "GARDEN," in it, that item is available for a LIMITED time at 15% OFF! Just put your items in your cart, proceed to checkout, and put "SPRING FEVER" in the "NOTES TO SELLER" and then WAIT for a revised invoice (or pay immediately and I will refund the discount to you through PayPal). One discount code per purchase. SPRING FEVER ends at midnight Friday night!


Finally, how can you beat a Thursday "treat"!? But, there is a catch - HURRY!!! Yes, it's a giveaway...that means the chance to get a wonderful something (in this case a sterling silver necklace from Silver Sachet!) for FREE...but you'll need to hustle over to "A Giveaway a Day" before noon TODAY and get the details on how to enter -- GO!

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY