"The Time Has Come, the Walrus Said...

...to speak of many things. Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings. (And why the sea is boiling hot, and whether fish have wings.)"

Time to update ye olde blogge with stuff and nonsense that has gone on in my meager little life since I last posted on Tuesday.

My sister lives in a lovely, lovely home in the country in central Illinois. She has a sunroom in the back that looks out over their estate to their flower gardens, vegetable garden, bird feeders, woods...to bring nature into their mornings. I have only my tiny backyard and covered patio. It ain't much, but I do so enjoy sitting back there to watch the flowers and birds and other local wildlife (rabbits, squirrels, and sometimes raccoons and opossums) just to be outdoors. Unfortunately, over the past few years, the patio has been the recipient of all of the clap-trap from the house/yard that had no other place to be, so my forays into nature have been somewhat cluttered. All spring/summer, I have worked here and there to get it cleaned off but have been hampered by heat and humidity. Yesterday, I took advantage of a bit of a break in the weather to make some more strides in getting it cleaned off and clean up some messy lawn areas that needed to be trimmed. I can tell the difference. Not sure anyone else can, but I really, really hope to have it done before my family arrives this next week. Wish me luck!

While my grandchildren have been in California visiting their mother, their custodial family in Indiana packed up their home in Muncie and headed for northern IL/southern WI, hoping to find a house to rent so their stepmother could begin a new job at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI. It's all been a whirlwind of activity for them. I got word yesterday that they found a place in Zion, IL, which is a northern suburb of Chicago, near the Illinois State Beach on Lake Michigan. Thus, when the children return "home", it will be to a place they've never seen before. Their house in Muncie is the only one they've ever really known, so it will be different for them. In one sense, I am happy that they will be out of the Muncie area; in another sense, I am devastated that they will be that far away from me. (It's a grandma thing.) As painful as all of this has been, I have no choice but to TRY to roll with the punches--and God knows, there have been a bunch of those over the past year!

I've been nursing a sour belly for the past few days--a result of meds. (My bro-in-law complains of the same things with the same meds.) Silly me. I get these bouts about every 6-8 weeks and figure it will go away soon, so I eat normally, then suffer longer because of that. I'll learn one of these days!

I am trying to pull together a birthday party for my granddaughter who will turn 8 on August 6th while being here in Plainfield. With family all spread out, it will be tricky. Robin wants a kitten and a cell phone--neither of which she is likely to get--but we'll try to make it a special day, anyway. (Interestingly, it will be hard to make Robin's birthday any more "special" than all of the days the children have had this summer. Not too many kids have experienced the things they've done this summer, from days on the beach, to touring wineries, panning for gold, camping in the Sierra Nevadas, visiting a famous aquarium, riding on Boardwalk rides, feeding ducks and beggar squirrels, and swimming in a pool, among others. Not bad gigs for little kids!)

A couple of my friends have been up against it taking care of elderly parents and injured spouses. Never fun. I pray that things let up for them a bit. Summer is supposed to be more carefree. (That's what we've been led to believe, anyway!) Ryan and Mike--keep the faith!

Tour

Today, I went with a large group from my church to tour the American Art exhibits at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, then tour the Lilly home (Oldfields) on the grounds. Eli Lilly founded a major pharmaceuticals company after the Civil War. His sons and grandsons eventually inherited the company. The beauty of the Lilly family is that they have been MAJOR philanthropic contributors to Indiana in general and Indianapolis in particular. The opulence of the house and grounds is actually somewhat modest, considering the fortune that the family amassed. It had all of the loveliness and grandeur of mansion-homes with the European influence that was popular at the time. (1800s.)

The thing that fascinated me most was the fact that the kitchen and butler pantry of the house reminded me a great deal of the same part of the house my family lived in in Oak Park, IL. Same sinks! Same built-ins! The kitchen cabinets were ugly metal, just like our cabinets in OP. The absence of truly modern kitchen conveniences spoke of the times. There just weren't any kitchen conveniences! Wonder how my mother tolerated that old kitchen for so many years...

Megan and the grandchildren will be here in a week, and I'm not ready. The heat has prevented me from getting the patio cleaned off once and for all...and the other interruptions and general laziness have prevented me from cleaning. (Excuses, excuses...)

Looks like I may be providing some child care for the grandkids after they get moved to their new place--wherever that may be--until their school starts. I have committed to it, but a lot depends on their circumstances. Won't know for awhile...

I'm trying to pretend that life is normal, even with the new circumstances. I am doing the best I can!!

Dazed and Confused

I got a phone call the other day from my grandchildren's stepmother. She was giving me the word that she had just received a job offer in southern Wisconsin--that she was accepting it--and that the whole family is moving to that area this next weekend. I was stunned. I still am.

Am trying desperately to make this all not about me, but I feel plenty sorry for myself. I am barely out of the woods from the last emotional setback when this news comes. In the process, I'm learning a lot about me and about growing old alone. It isn't fun...and there simply isn't much out there for people like me. I do so understand (now) how life is about decisions that you make younger in life...that you have to live with the consequences of those decisions, even though you THOUGHT you were doing the right things at the time, with the information you had. Hindsight is 20/20. Wish I could change some things that I did in my lifetime. I might not be any happier now, but maybe I would have found a way to distance myself from the hurts that seem overwhelming.

I could write and write and write, but there is nothing to be gained from blathering on and on. It is what it is. I'll deal with it. I have no choice.

I did enjoy lunch out with the Heffelman grandparents today, then a Sunday School "social" this evening in the country. The purpose of the social was to watch purple martins on the farm of some SS members. The heat was less--less humidity. The desserts were good, the company and converstation was nice, the sunset was gorgeous--and so was the rising full moon. As soon as the birds went to bed, we came home. Lovely, lovely evening.

I don't know what the future will bring. For now, I will have to give it to God.
I am just praying for less stress and more contentment.

Shorter Days

Sadly, I am beginning to notice the shorter daylight on both ends of the days. It's sad, really. In previous years, I would be in a snit to get everything on my summer list accomplished because the summer was quickly winding down and school would start soon. I don't have that rush anymore, but I still feel it a bit. The seasons are not nearly as fun to experience without my family here. In a few weeks, the robins will be gone and life will return to boring without hearing their melodious songs in the early mornings. There is still a lot of summer left, but it is definitely on the downswing. At least I still have my lightning bugs, and the other hot-weather sounds are still with us: cicadas during the day and katydids at night!

I need to find a way to be more productive during the days. It is so easy to slack off when no one is here but me. I'll keep working on that!

Another Day...

We have had a little welcome relief from heat due to extensive cloud cover the last couple of days, but not from humidity. It remains steamy even when cooler. Interestingly, my daughter and son-in-law took my grandchildren to the beach in central California on Saturday...and froze! There are pictures of little Ryan looking very cold. Guess they stayed less than two hours. Meg said they turned the heat on in her vehicle on the way home and stopped for hot chocolate!

A friend was coming over, briefly, today...and I totally took advantage of him. (Uh...don't take that in the wrong way!) I ran out to Aldi's to buy water softener salt. Got six 40-lb. bags and wrestled them into the cart. In the parking lot, another OLD lady helped me get them from the cart to the trunk. (I think she was older than me but didn't have much trouble muscling the bags. I need to do something about my upper body strength!) When my friend arrived, I pulled the helpless female deal to see if he could get the bags to the house. (In truth, I wasn't acting. I really could NOT have managed the bags without a major problem!) Thankfully, the salt is now in place, and as soon as the softener decides to regenerate, I'll have soft water again!!

I haven't accomplished much today. The yard was mowed by another dude. A little laundry was done. I'm ready to get the patio cleaned off. Just need a day without interruptions and distractions to get the job done. When it finally finished, it will be the first time in two years that my patio will be my happy little haven of nature. (If you saw it, you would laugh that I think of it that way, but that silly covered patio was a major draw for buying this house so many years ago!)

Skeeters are out. Got my first bites of the summer today. The earwig problem has dissipated. Now I have to fight the blasted mosquitoes!

To my friends Ryan and Mike who are dealing with loved ones in the hospital, I bid you to keep the faith and take care of yourselves. Taking care of the ailing throws everything else off. Love you guys!

Oh! I Forgot...

In my previous blog entry about the trips we took while in California, I inadvertently left one out. On the day that we went to Napa Valley, we also stopped at a place called the Petrified Forest. (Not the same as the one in the desert elsewhere.) As a result of a volcanic eruption over three million years ago, redwood trees were knocked down and petrified by silica and ash. In modern times, property owners discovered the treasures and have unburied many of them. We are talking about HUGE stone logs. There were other live oak trees on the property that have been estimated to be 600 years old. Awesome! The gift shop at the place was full of rocks, crystals, fossils, etc., for sale. The children got some spending money from Grandma and bought, basically, fossilized shark's teeth. (Ryan kept trying to con me out of more money for things he wanted, but it didn't work.)

It was a little humorous--Megan's pleasure with the place was tempered by the warning that there could be timber rattlers on the premises. "You might want to stay on the trail," warned the gal behind the counter. Needless to say, we did stay on the trail. Then off to Applebee's. It was a great day.

BirdSpeak

Listening to the robins on my patio. They are saying:

Tweedle-dee-tweedle-dum, tweedle-dee-tweedle-dum, tweet!
Over and over.

I will miss them. They will be gone in just a few weeks...

Next?

I basically did nothing yesterday. A number of times, I laid down to watch TV and just nodded off for a few minutes, so I gave myself permission to float.

Today, I decided to tackle the light bulb problem. That may sound silly to some, but my house burns bulbs on a huge and regular basis. I took a trek to Menard's in Camby to pick up the bulbs that I need to get the house illuminated again.

Tomorrow will be a full-tilt attack on things here. Life is good...sort of!

Weather in Silicon Valley

Never thought I'd say this, but the weather in mid-state California--at least in Sunnyvale in the summer--is boring! Every day is the same. In the early morning, it is quite cool with clouds and major overcast coming over the Santa Cruz mountains...then the clouds break up, the sun comes out, and the temp rises to...oh...maybe low-to-mid-70s. Low humidity. Zero rainfall in June and July. It's beautiful, of course...but the lush green of March has given way to brown mountains except where irrigated. I can see how brush fires happen. If I lived there, I would have a sweatshirt and a blanket permanently placed in my vehicle!

California Sights

While I was in CA, my daughter was tour guide, wanting to take me places, etc. I love that...except she was just tour guide for her mother-in-law from Russia...and everyplace we could go cost money. BIG money. I felt bad about that.

Our first excursion was to Monterey. What an interesting-looking place! John Steinbeck wrote about it in his book Cannery Row (which I will have to read now). Our destination for the day was the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We found a place to park at their Fisherman's Wharf, then walked the 1.2 miles to the aquarium (not knowing that there were free trolley rides to the aquarium from there). We saw seals up close and smelly. As usual, it was quite cool by the bay. The aquarium was interesting, but the children got squirrely after a few hours. Megan and Ryan walked the 1.2 miles back to the car and picked Robin and I up so we could see a couple more things. (They got ice cream for us on the way...which was in various stages of melting by the time they got to us.) In the meantime, the aquarium had closed, so Robin and I waited outside. Robbie found a tree to climb. She loved that. My little Nature Girl! We were late picking Denis up from work. He seems unflapped about that.

The second excursion came over the weekend when Denis could be with us. We drove 100 miles or so to Napa Valley to take a winery tour. Sterling Winery. Again, big $$ for the tour. Interestingly, we went through lots of temperature changes along the way. When we left Sunnyvale, it was 71 or 72 degrees. When we went over the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco (a first for the children and me), the bridge was shrouded in fog and the temp had dropped to 60. A few miles north of SF, the temp rose to 81...and was 88 by the time we got to the winery. What a microcosm of temperatures in such a short distance! The winery was beautiful. We took an aerial tram to the top of the valley to an overlook. There was a self-guided tour throughout, with 5 wine-tasting spots. (The children got apple juice at the last stop. Not grape juice!) In spite of the heat, it was really, really lovely! We stopped at Applebee's on the way home. Very nice day!

The third excursion was probably the children's favorite. We drove an hour to Santa Cruz just across the mountains from Sunnyvale. Santa Cruz is a place popular to surfers. There is a nice beach and a "boardwalk" with midway rides. Of course, it is a money pit! Once we found a place to park, we went to the beach. Robin changed into her bathing suit with beach towels around her for a blind, but Ryan couldn't bring himself to do it...so he played in the surf in his long pants rolled up to just below his knees. Silly us! Did we think he could wade without getting wet??? It was relatively warm but windy. Robin played and played and played, dragging seaweed out of the water and making sand castles. Ryan did, too, but eventually got cold. Megan and I protected the dry clothes as best we could so the kids would have something to ride home in. We had hooded sweatshirts for them (thank you, Goodwill!) so that went okay. When it was time to leave the beach, we knew we couldn't get away without doing the midway.

Tickets on the midway were $1 each, but most rides took 3-5 tickets. We were adding things up in our heads. I figured it was going to cost $40 or so just for the kids to have two rides each...until Ryan heard something that was announced. On Mondays and Tuesdays, from 5-8:00, it was 1907 Night (or something like that) and all rides were $1 each!!!! We bought 8 tickets. The kids got FOUR rides each...and we saved $32 by not doing the rides when we first got there! That left enough--and then some--for a snack before we headed back to pick up Denis. Yum!

When we got to Microsoft (late), Denis gave us a tour of the building. He has a private office that is much like a cubicle (no window) with five computers and three monitors. (He says you have to be with Microsoft for five years before you get a window.) They are supplied unlimited drinks and snacks. There are also break areas complete with XBox games, etc....and outside basketball courts, etc. The perks are good! Ryan decided that he wants to be another Bill Gates. Denis and the rest of us told him he'd have to buckle down and do well in school if he wants to be a multi-billionaire. Making the girls laugh in school just isn't going to cut it! Heh heh.

Oh...each day, we learned a new word in Russian. The 12th was Denis's father's birthday, so when he called on Skype (as he does every day) the children sang the Happy Birthday Song to him, "Happy Birthday dear 'dyeda'". "Dyeda" is a child's endearment term for "grandpa"...and it wasn't lost on Sergey. I don't understand Russian, but I noticed that he repeated the term and chuckled in recognition that the children had said it. I like that!

Don't Know Where to Start!

So many stories to tell about my trip to California that I hardly know where to begin. I think I'll start at the beginning and add to it as time permits.

The flight out with the children was not without problems. We were delayed an hour-and-a-half at our connecting flight in Denver, due to weather. We left the gate on time, but because of microbursts in the vicinity, spent the delay time in line on the runway. The seat belt lights were lit. Toward the end of the delay, Robin told me that she had to go to the bathroom and couldn't wait. I flagged down an attendant who talked to the cabin. The seat belt light went off and we were instructed that we could use the restrooms, but to do so quickly. Robin went in and didn't come out! I got concerned. Went to check on her once. She said she was "still going". The seat belt lights came on again and we were instructed to return to our seats. The attendant informed the captain that we still had "one in the restroom". A few minutes later, I left my seat (with the approval of the attendant who had noted that Robin hadn't locked the door). I said, "Robin, you have to come out NOW. They are holding up the whole flight for you!" I opened the door. By this time, she was washing her hands. I'm wondering if the attendant thought Robin was just playing...but the truth is that she'd had diarrhea and understood that she couldn't rush that job! Finally, we took off.

Then, on our approach to San Francisco, things started exploding in my head. Literally. I had pain that appeared suddenly...at the base of my skull, in my right temple, over my eyes...serious pain, from the sudden onset and waves of nausea, that reminded me of the ruptured brain aneurysm deal. I was scared to death. Thought I was having a stroke or another aneurysm or something. At that point, even the flight attendants were strapped in their seats so there was nothing anyone could have done for me. It was my worst nightmare, although I didn't say anything to anyone. I just kept praying that it would go away. I kept testing my ability to talk and move my arms and legs. By the time we actually landed, I was better but not good. I just wanted to get the children to their mother so that if I fell apart, they would be taken care of.

Megan and Denis were to greet us in the baggage claim area...in fact HAD been at the airport for almost the entire duration of our flight from Denver. It seems that the Internet had indicated that we had taken off on time. (Well...we left the gate on time, but spent the delay on the runway.) I can't think of anything more boring than waiting 3-4 hours for a delayed flight! I couldn't call to tell them because we were in the no-cell-phone phase of the trip. When the children and I got to the baggage claim, Denis and Megan were nowhere to be found. Apparently they had gone to the elevators to intercept us but we had somehow gotten by them. I called on the cell phone and they walked back. Happy reunion! (No tears this time.) All we had to do now was pick up the luggage and drive the 45 minutes/1 hour back to Sunnyvale, have supper and go to bed...right?

Wrong! The luggage carousel wasn't working. We waited and waited and waited for the bags to come around. Eventually, it was announced that there was luggage jammed in the works and they were making efforts to free it. All in all, that produced another 1 1/2 hour delay. In the process, Megan made a mistake: she introduced the children to a game on her iPhone to keep them entertained. For the entire rest of the trip, both Megan and Denis's phone games became big deals! FINALLY, the bags came around and we departed for Sunnyvale for a VERY late supper and bed. (Understand that we had no time to eat in Denver. Thank God I had packed a LOT of snacks for the trip!) It was easily 3:30 AM, Indiana time, when we finally put our heads down.

That night, the pain in my head abated but never really got back to normal. By the next day, I was perfectly okay. To this day, I don't know if the problem was with sinuses and cabin pressure or what. I had no pain on the flights back. (Believe me, I was worried about it!)

Christmas Was Made for Children?

There is an old song with that title. "Christmas Was Made for Children." And so it seems to be everyone's favorite holiday. HOWEVER, I think the Fourth of July runs a close second! I'll just bet that everyone who reads this humble blog can remember Independence Day as a day filled with family, fun, heat, and joyously setting off fireworks that made it so special for us as children!

The best part of July 4th is that it occurs in the summer time. Kids out of school! Parents shamelessly tossing caution aside to let the kids run around swatting lightning bugs, lighting firecrackers, and allowing sparklers in their midst! Running through the sprinkler! Grilling hot dogs and hamburgers! Getting sweaty and dirty without getting yelled at! We had corn on the cob straight out of the garden...and/or Mom's creamed new potatoes and peas, also out of the garden. What could be better than that??

Every year, the Fourth of July reminds me of my childhood. That's long gone, of course, but the memories will always be there. We had our traditions. After I became a divorced lady, my daughter and I spent a few years spending the Fourth at Symphony on the Prairie. (Can't beat it for music and fireworks!) Then, when the grandchildren were here, we made our own traditions. We had red, white, and blue cupcakes and sang the Birthday Song to our country before walking down to Hummel Park for music and fireworks. What a great time!

We Americans are so very blessed to live in this great land. We must never forget that it is our patriotic duty to "stand beside her and guide her". Sadly, this will be the first Independence Day of my 63 years of life that I will spend the holiday without family. Still, I intend to do something to honor the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. I lived in a few other countries as a kid. It drove home the message that we should all get down on our knees each day and thank the good Lord that we are, by accident of birth, Americans. Don't ever take it for granted!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, USA!!!

How Did It Get to Be Thursday Already???

Time flies when you're having fun, I guess!

I was out on the patio listening to the cicadas a bit ago. Once upon a time, they bore witness to the "dog days of summer"...but came seemingly early this year. There is also a wren in the neighborhood that tickles me. Wrens are such tiny little birds but just warble their hearts out...and build such ugly nests with sticks going every which way. I do love to hear them, though!

I have started the packing process. Really need to make a shopping run to pick up a few things that will be needed for the California trip. Maybe tomorrow. Unders (as previously mentioned), snacks, a new purse for Grandma, and some travel-size toiletries. Meg has made a special request for some eyeglass cleaner from Walmart, etc. I feel a little less organized this trip than last...or maybe, because I've already made the trip once, I have planned ahead and know what is needed. Have already taken care of the obvious.

One thing that is planned for this trip is mass at one of the old Spanish missions in California. (There are many.) Since my grandchildren are Catholic, I think that will be a special trip for them. I remembered the Catholic tradition that women have their heads covered in church...and then recalled that I am in possession of my mother's black Chantilly Lace mantilla. (Dad brought it back to her from the Orient.) We weren't Catholic, but Mom treasured it because it was REAL Chantilly Lace. Even though the head-covering dictate was lifted many decades ago, I thought it would be nice if Robin could wear her great-grandmother's mantilla in mass at a Spanish mission church. (Robin was born on my mother's birthday. That isn't significant to HER, but it means a lot to ME.) Since one can never tell about children, I am not holding out for a great deal with this. Just thought it would be nice...

Time to hit the sack. I am beging congratulated for how good my house looks. Huh?? Obviously, the congratulator hasn't looked too closely!