What's next? Locusts? I REALLY don't like bugs, Lord, so can we stop at just two natural disasters and forget the plagues?
Although the actual hurricane, Irene, wasn't as bad as we had been prepared for, we got water in our basement. If Jack and I hadn't jumped on it first thing after breakfast, we'd be underwater now. It never got deep; it was just a constant stream of water, well, constant streamS of water coming up through the floor, in through the windows and walls. Our neighbor on the left has 6-8 inches of water in their finished basement. Our neighbor across the street has a completely renovated basement that was done a few years ago after the sewer backed up into her basement - so deep that her second refrigerator wad literally floating. She sent me a photo that year of Ole' Faithful gushing out of her basement toilet. And that happened again this morning. Not quite as bad as last time, but she was SUPPOSED to be on vacation in Virginia this week... Imagine if it was spouting lime that with no one there for a week...
It can always be worse; we just have to keep telling ourselves that...
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
5.9 Earthquake in Mineral, VA...
... and we were evacuated from our building!!!
I was in yoga class, in the middle of some stretching, and we felt the floor move.
It was more than the rumble of a truck passing in the street below. This was, for lack of a better word, "different."
It felt shakey, like a truck, vibrating up and down, but it was also swaying back and forth. You know how they say, "Once you feel it, you'll recognize it!"? Well, that's true. To a point.
We knew it was something more than a big truck. But we never expected it to be an earthquake!
We finished another 3 or 4 minutes of yoga, and were just settling in under our blankets for a 15-20 minute nap (this is "Yoga Snooze" class, after all!), when the sirens went off and they evacuated the building!
I grabbed my flip flops and my clothes and my work I.D. and ran out of the building to my assigned spot. The 4th floor meets on Pier A, on the right side, about midway. My purse, keys, and phone, and all my money and credit cards, were at my desk. I could get on the train, and get home, but I couldn't get into my car. I could walk from the train station to my house but I couldn't get inside.
And besides that, it was H.O.T. outside today - I was wearing a t-shirt and some capri-length work out pants that were a heavy jersey. It was so warm that an hour later, by the time they let us back into the building, I needed a shower! (Keep in mind, after Yoga Snooze, I don't normally need to shower; it's not a class in which we really exert ourselves all that much!)
I haven't seen any news reports yet from the epicenter - I don't know how much damage was done there - but apparently this earthquake was felt as far south as South Carolina and as far north as Rhode Island and/or Massachusetts, depending on the news media you subscribe to... I must say, though, if I felt it as strongly as I did, and it was nowhere near a 5.9 in Hoboken, NJ, then I can't imagine what "The Big One" must have felt like!!!
And, quite frankly, I don't want to know...
I was in yoga class, in the middle of some stretching, and we felt the floor move.
It was more than the rumble of a truck passing in the street below. This was, for lack of a better word, "different."
It felt shakey, like a truck, vibrating up and down, but it was also swaying back and forth. You know how they say, "Once you feel it, you'll recognize it!"? Well, that's true. To a point.
We knew it was something more than a big truck. But we never expected it to be an earthquake!
We finished another 3 or 4 minutes of yoga, and were just settling in under our blankets for a 15-20 minute nap (this is "Yoga Snooze" class, after all!), when the sirens went off and they evacuated the building!
I grabbed my flip flops and my clothes and my work I.D. and ran out of the building to my assigned spot. The 4th floor meets on Pier A, on the right side, about midway. My purse, keys, and phone, and all my money and credit cards, were at my desk. I could get on the train, and get home, but I couldn't get into my car. I could walk from the train station to my house but I couldn't get inside.
And besides that, it was H.O.T. outside today - I was wearing a t-shirt and some capri-length work out pants that were a heavy jersey. It was so warm that an hour later, by the time they let us back into the building, I needed a shower! (Keep in mind, after Yoga Snooze, I don't normally need to shower; it's not a class in which we really exert ourselves all that much!)
I haven't seen any news reports yet from the epicenter - I don't know how much damage was done there - but apparently this earthquake was felt as far south as South Carolina and as far north as Rhode Island and/or Massachusetts, depending on the news media you subscribe to... I must say, though, if I felt it as strongly as I did, and it was nowhere near a 5.9 in Hoboken, NJ, then I can't imagine what "The Big One" must have felt like!!!
And, quite frankly, I don't want to know...
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Lots to catch you up on...
I spent 4 days in Boston/Cambridge last week. I traveled up there on business and for the first time, I found something that said spouses can't travel with you... didn't want to get in trouble, and he was working anyway, so this trip didn't work out for a side trip to Cape Cod (sorry, D & A!). He said for the rest of the summer, he's free to accompany me, so we'll see what, if any, trips I can schedule quickly... Here are some photos from this trip, along with some notes...
This was my view from breakfast at the ArtBar in the Royal Sonesta Hotel, BEFORE I walked out without breakfast - 35 minutes I sat there, without even a cup of coffee! And when I complained to the hostess, she stopped a waitress who looked right at me, shook her head "no" and didn't come over to take my order. Another 15 minutes and I was outta there!
The waitress who refused to serve me...
The view of the lobby wall when the elevator doors open - I like those pictures!
South Street Station on Thursday, on my way home.
A mural on the wall, done with tiles, in the hotel, on the 2nd floor. Apparently the hotel is known for having art on display all over the hotel; you can even take a self-guided tour of the art... There were a few pieces that caused me to think, before I knew it was "art," "What on earth is that and when are they going to finish it??!!??"
Appetizer at evoo, in Cambridge: Lourdes' Burratini with Drumlin Farms' Arugula, Kimball Farms' Cantaloupe, Cucumber, Red Onion and Toasted Pine Nuts
My hotel room at the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Opposite the bed, to the right, was a corner window that let in a LOT of light - loved that, even though the view was of the Galleria and PF Chang's...
On Sunday, August 7th, Mom turned 39 (again!). I threw her a little surprise party at our house. She knew I'd invited my baby sister and her family, but she didn't know I'd invited my cousin and his family, and my husband's family, too! She was very surprised when they all arrived! Here are some photos...
We put together an appetizer of tomatoes, roasted red peppers, red onions and mozzarella, drizzled with evoo and seasoned, on a bed of fresh basil. Personally I could have eaten that whole plate, and nothing else, and been perfectly happy!
We had cavatelli and broccoli, sausage with peppers and onions, mini sandwiches, cole slaw made from the red cabbage from our garden, three bean salad, potato salad, and a tomato salad my sister made.
My little great niece, at 13 months old. Apparently we had to be sure not to draw attention to her barettes or they would be torn out of her hair!
My SIL, mom and one of my nieces.
My sister and her beau.
My niece's hubby (she's the one in the photo above), my sister's beau's son, and the baby's daddy, who's married to my other niece (they're twins!).
Mom blowing out her candles - my sister got red candles that sparked colored flames!
Mom with my cousin - he's more like a brother to me than a cousin... His family couldn't come, dang it - his wife and son were working, and his daughter was away for the weekend with some friends. Yes, it's my fault, I left invites to the last minute...
Hubby and me!!!
This was my view from breakfast at the ArtBar in the Royal Sonesta Hotel, BEFORE I walked out without breakfast - 35 minutes I sat there, without even a cup of coffee! And when I complained to the hostess, she stopped a waitress who looked right at me, shook her head "no" and didn't come over to take my order. Another 15 minutes and I was outta there!
The waitress who refused to serve me...
The view of the lobby wall when the elevator doors open - I like those pictures!
A mural on the wall, done with tiles, in the hotel, on the 2nd floor. Apparently the hotel is known for having art on display all over the hotel; you can even take a self-guided tour of the art... There were a few pieces that caused me to think, before I knew it was "art," "What on earth is that and when are they going to finish it??!!??"
Appetizer at evoo, in Cambridge: Lourdes' Burratini with Drumlin Farms' Arugula, Kimball Farms' Cantaloupe, Cucumber, Red Onion and Toasted Pine Nuts
My hotel room at the Royal Sonesta Hotel. Opposite the bed, to the right, was a corner window that let in a LOT of light - loved that, even though the view was of the Galleria and PF Chang's...
On Sunday, August 7th, Mom turned 39 (again!). I threw her a little surprise party at our house. She knew I'd invited my baby sister and her family, but she didn't know I'd invited my cousin and his family, and my husband's family, too! She was very surprised when they all arrived! Here are some photos...
We put together an appetizer of tomatoes, roasted red peppers, red onions and mozzarella, drizzled with evoo and seasoned, on a bed of fresh basil. Personally I could have eaten that whole plate, and nothing else, and been perfectly happy!
We had cavatelli and broccoli, sausage with peppers and onions, mini sandwiches, cole slaw made from the red cabbage from our garden, three bean salad, potato salad, and a tomato salad my sister made.
My little great niece, at 13 months old. Apparently we had to be sure not to draw attention to her barettes or they would be torn out of her hair!
My niece's hubby (she's the one in the photo above), my sister's beau's son, and the baby's daddy, who's married to my other niece (they're twins!).
Mom blowing out her candles - my sister got red candles that sparked colored flames!
Mom with my cousin - he's more like a brother to me than a cousin... His family couldn't come, dang it - his wife and son were working, and his daughter was away for the weekend with some friends. Yes, it's my fault, I left invites to the last minute...
Hubby and me!!!
Monday, August 08, 2011
From Shelf Awareness...
Good Advice: Live with More Books than You Read
| "He should live with more books than he reads, with a penumbra of unread pages, of which he knows the general character and content, fluttering round him. This is the purpose of libraries.... It is also the purpose of good bookshops, both new and secondhand, of which there are still some, and would that there were more. A bookshop is not like a railway booking-office which one approaches knowing what one wants. One should enter it vaguely, almost in a dream, and allow what is there freely to attract and influence the eye. "To walk the rounds of the bookshops, dipping in as curiosity dictates, should be an afternoon's entertainment. Feel no shyness or compunction in taking it. Bookshops exist to provide it; and the booksellers welcome it, knowing how it will end." --Economist John Maynard Keynes, as quoted in a Canberra Times piece headlined "Bookshops about more than just purchasing." From Shelf Awareness, Friday, August 5, 2011 - Volume 2, Issue 1525 |
Saturday, August 06, 2011
You will be missed, Mr. T.
If you're friends with me on FB, you might have seen that my friend's dad died this past Thursday. I'd like to take just a minute to write a little something here in honor of Mr. T.
Mr. T., I didn't meet you until 1981 even though C and I had been friends for three years already. I'd met Mrs. T. at the end of freshman year, for just a minute or two. You and Mrs. T. made me feel so much at home when I came out to KCMO to visit C in 1981. We alll hit it off spectacularly well. We talked and talked, I never felt uncomfortable spending time with the two of you while C was at work. I felt at home at your home.
I remember when you told me about C's eye. What you said was that you'd been looking through his things for my number so you could call me because you knew he'd want me to know and you knew I'd want to know he'd been hurt. You were so worried about your son but you took the time to tell me what you knew, reassure me that C was okay, get me the room number and phone number for his hospital room...
Then when I came out for C and D's wedding, you rode back to the hotel with me from the rehearsal dinner. That's when you said I was like a daughter to you. Mr. T., you'll never know how much that meant to me; my dad had passed away the year before so hearing that... well, you'll never know how much it meant to feel that I had another "dad" out there if I needed one, to know that someone else loved me ...
I invited you and Mrs. T. to our wedding but you watched the boys so C and D could come. Thank you for that. I wish you'd been there to celebrate with us, but thank you for letting C come. That meant a lot to me, that he was there.
I had always talked about you and C with J, and we promised that if we retired and drove cross-country, on the motorcycle or by car, we'd stop in MO to see you and Mrs. T. I'm so sorry that I won't be able to spend time with you, but if the timing works, I'll stop by and see Mrs. T....
I know your life wasn't easy. I know you've had some health issues, especially these past few years. I'm so sorry for any pain or suffering you went through. But knowing you're with God now, that brings peace to my heart. Hearing from C that your children were with you, that it was easy, that brings comfort to those of us missing you.
We will miss you, Mr. T. Say hi to my dad, will you?!?
Mr. T., I didn't meet you until 1981 even though C and I had been friends for three years already. I'd met Mrs. T. at the end of freshman year, for just a minute or two. You and Mrs. T. made me feel so much at home when I came out to KCMO to visit C in 1981. We alll hit it off spectacularly well. We talked and talked, I never felt uncomfortable spending time with the two of you while C was at work. I felt at home at your home.
I remember when you told me about C's eye. What you said was that you'd been looking through his things for my number so you could call me because you knew he'd want me to know and you knew I'd want to know he'd been hurt. You were so worried about your son but you took the time to tell me what you knew, reassure me that C was okay, get me the room number and phone number for his hospital room...
Then when I came out for C and D's wedding, you rode back to the hotel with me from the rehearsal dinner. That's when you said I was like a daughter to you. Mr. T., you'll never know how much that meant to me; my dad had passed away the year before so hearing that... well, you'll never know how much it meant to feel that I had another "dad" out there if I needed one, to know that someone else loved me ...
I invited you and Mrs. T. to our wedding but you watched the boys so C and D could come. Thank you for that. I wish you'd been there to celebrate with us, but thank you for letting C come. That meant a lot to me, that he was there.
I had always talked about you and C with J, and we promised that if we retired and drove cross-country, on the motorcycle or by car, we'd stop in MO to see you and Mrs. T. I'm so sorry that I won't be able to spend time with you, but if the timing works, I'll stop by and see Mrs. T....
I know your life wasn't easy. I know you've had some health issues, especially these past few years. I'm so sorry for any pain or suffering you went through. But knowing you're with God now, that brings peace to my heart. Hearing from C that your children were with you, that it was easy, that brings comfort to those of us missing you.
We will miss you, Mr. T. Say hi to my dad, will you?!?
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Home Re-Do - in My Dreams...
Oh, my, someday, when I can do whatever I want to do in my house, decorating-wise, without having to explain to my husband "why" I want to do it, I'm going to do this: painted wood floors [For some reason although I was able to save a photo or two from her blog to my desktop, I am having trouble posting it here so please click through to her blog and look at her painted floor project.]
I LOVE IT!
Although most times my traditional decor leanings have been in line with J's, lately I find myself wanting to go either the cottage route (see painted floors above) or the neat and clean and more modern look of the Petersiks (Young House Love). Oh, my, all that white and gray with pops of color around the house!!! See here for an example of what I mean: Tea Time - and to top it all off? NO CLUTTER
It took YEARS to get color on my walls and now I sort of want to go white again? Go figure.
It must be the impending onset of menopause...
(That may ALSO be the reason I am itching to just throw out everything I own and start all over...)
I LOVE IT!
Although most times my traditional decor leanings have been in line with J's, lately I find myself wanting to go either the cottage route (see painted floors above) or the neat and clean and more modern look of the Petersiks (Young House Love). Oh, my, all that white and gray with pops of color around the house!!! See here for an example of what I mean: Tea Time - and to top it all off? NO CLUTTER
It took YEARS to get color on my walls and now I sort of want to go white again? Go figure.
It must be the impending onset of menopause...
(That may ALSO be the reason I am itching to just throw out everything I own and start all over...)
Monday, August 01, 2011
I'm Not Alone!!! Thanks, Kelly!!!
One of my favorite scrapping bloggers feels as I do about books vs. readers... Just thought I'd post a link to Kelly Purkey's post about her love of real books...
I especially love when she says: "Give me my books!!! I admittedly sleep with books in my bed and call me old fashioned but who wants to wake up face to face with a computer. Give me my books. Let me keep my bookstores."
I especially love when she says: "Give me my books!!! I admittedly sleep with books in my bed and call me old fashioned but who wants to wake up face to face with a computer. Give me my books. Let me keep my bookstores."