Nearly Done...Nearly Beginning

I'm almost finished packing. I got 3 more boxes and 1 more wardrobe box this morning (for free) and then Everything, and I mean Everything, will be packed up and ready to go. I wanted to be totally ready yesterday so that I could 'play' today and tomorrow, but the more I pack, the more c*** I seem to have to pack. It is seemingly unending. I do know the end is near, however. I'm sad, tired, excited, dreading WW weather, trying to soak up every drop of ocean air and coolness I can.

It is sailboat "Race Week" here. The town is buzzing. NO parade as far as I can tell, however, and the Yacht club had a very exclusive outdoor dance/party last night. If you weren't a member of the club you couldn't even pay to go in. Of course we (T and I on our walk) could watch and hear the goings on through the chainlink fence. Most of the party goers were our age, not young things, as I would have expected.

There are tents and boat trailers and RVs around the grounds where the carnival was. Bicyclers going back and forth from the marina to the camp area. In the middle of the morning the sailboats head out. It is quite a site. I've attempted a few pictures, but probably won't show much. It is closer than the pictures portray. I will download pictures when I get my own computer set up again.

The B's got their house and I was privileged to have a look through when the inspector came this morning. It is marvelous. They are so excited and nervous at the same time and rightly so. Little Mouse loved toddling through each room, opening and shutting any drawer or door that was in sight.....multiple times. The back yard is really set up for bbqs, children playing and gardening. >sigh<. The B's are full of wonderful ideas for stamping the place with their own marks. I am very excited and happy for them. They will be happy and busy fine tuning the place to make it theirs.

The B's and T have been extremely kind to me in helping me pack and feeding me and giving me a place away from the boxes to relax a minute. Of course, Mouse's smiles, /hi's/ and waves fill my heart as well. It is good practice for my own soon-to-be grandchildren!!!!!

I do look forward to that and hope that I can be the grandma God wants me to be and the Mom and MIL that He also wants me to be.

My own stress level is high enough that I don't want any more sugar. Yes, its That High! I don't even want to eat, but know I have to, to keep from getting sick. I'm not sleeping well, and know I won't for awhile. I just need to hang in there and get settled quickly.

These are the times it would be nice to have a man around. Yes, to do some of the heavy work, but also, just to sit with, have him put his caring arms around me and say things like, /Don't worry, it will all work out. We're in this together./ I'd lay my head on his chest and sigh, maybe tear up a bit and wrap my arms around him, too.

>SIGH<

Still Moving

Boxes are Piled higher and Deeper. Doesn't that allow me to have an honorary PhD now? I'm glad I was here for summer....two weeks ago. It lasted for the week. It has been rainy and cool and cloudy dark ever since, ranging high 72, mostly in the low 60's, upper 50's. I'm depressed. I want the move over. I want to sleep in a quiet place. I want not to worry about money. I want, I want, I want and I want some more.

Cooler, with Boxes

So, as is with the rest of the country it has been HOT here in OH, though I'm discovering the term is rather relative. I'm at the library checking my inboxes as the cable was turned off at the beginning of the week. My apt is absolutely full of boxes and Lilo is very nervous. I'm having to keep her inside, as she is wandering too far. T and I have enjoyed evening walks. It's nice to have someone to walk with regularly. Last night was the night for feet and ankles in the cold surf. Whew, did it refresh! 10 minutes to go on the internet. Thanks DIL for giving me the idea of the child-proof gates at the door. Keeps Lilo in and the airflow moving. Just letting you know I'm in process of change...big change and everything is coming together slowly.

Yes, Another Parade....

Honoring: The Red, White and Blue!...and POWs, MIAs

Smokey the Bear
Commanding Officer Colin Chinn, Naval Hospital
Clowns

Yesterday was July 4, that truly All-USA holiday, complete with its contradictory highlights of celebration with family, picnics in the park, friends and advertising in the guise of parade entries.

Ah, the parade.

Note the shoes
Doesn't every community honor pirates in their parades? It included political groups with handshaking candidates, (including the Democrats...where were the Republicans?) church VBS promotions (even Jesus sat with some disciples on the back of a farm wagon...LOL...and no, I didn't take a picture!), and the police department, the fire department and their equipment. Ever present were the car clubs (really, how many Mustangs can one view and still be excited?) followed by the tractors, boy scouts, campfire girls, local high school cookie/seat cushion sellers, clowns with balloons, the junk-cart vendors, and the Shriners crammed into their 'toy' cars.

Several entries proudly displayed uniformed armed services personnel displaying the USA, Canadian, British, states flags, and various specialty flags. The Navy made a good showing. There were the Navy jet flyovers, a rescue helicopter flyover with a guy hanging outside the bird to wave to the parade goers, more candy throwing (even the young children got tired of picking up the Laffy Taffy and broken lollipops (suckers?). The predictable end of the parade arrived with the Yacht Club's pirates/sailing ship.

Okay, have I seen it all? This was the longest parade I've seen in OH, perhaps an hour long. It was like watching a slow moving movie consisting of one advertising sign after another. We kept watching because (1) we wanted to see how long this parade would be (2) we kept waiting for the exciting parade entries (which never happened). Whatever happened to those chicken-wire/colored-napkin covered creations, the high school bands (even in summer) providing snappy marches, the dressed up cowboys/girls on prancing stallions, the formally dressed princesses waving their 'princess waves'?

This time I mostly watched the small children, visited with people next to me about why they came to the parade. Even they said it had really gone downhill over the years. Sad. Is part of this because what I remember as a child was all magical and new? Now I'm experienced (old) and cynical. Sigh.

After the parade we walked (we walked everywhere, town is small) to the city beach park where the carnival was set up, the food vendors and specialty booths were set up. Lots of people. More people at the parade, in the park, for this event than even the last one. I saw a few people I knew. Its like I'm finally getting 'into' the place, and now I'm leaving. Oh well, New Adventures. T and I had gyros, sat and watched the people for awhile, then walked slowly back to my place, stopping along main street to browse in the antique shops that were open (no customers...everyone was at the beach!). We both managed to get a bit of a suntan-burn in our wanderings, but nothing serious. The weather was perfect.....perhaps 72 degrees with that slight ocean breeze bringing in fresh, clean air. Upon arriving at my place, we decided on a big glass of limeade, a bit of a rest off our feet. Then we both decided we needed to nap before staying up late for fireworks....remember 'old'?

So T left and I napped about an hour. Then I picked up a cherry pie and ice cream, some potatoes to bake over the grill and headed to the B's where we had a little bbq and played Wii bowling. I WON! I was amazed! I like Wii bowling even if I don't win! I can actually do it without ripping off my thumbnail or falling on my wrist. (See previous blog entries.)

Then T and I went back to the park to watch the fireworks. They started at 10:30 and lasted about 1/2 hour. The spectacular part was that we were sitting almost under them and it was a little disconcerting that the ashes might fall on us, but didn't. Then we drove home. I didn't get to sleep till after midnight since the neighborhood was still celebrating. This state definitely has few restrictions to fireworks! Lilo survived, displaying only a little skittishness.

Sunday Morning

I enjoy that CBS production.

I am back at home in OH, after my dismal trip to Portland and back. The traffic back was horrible. What is usually a 6 hour trip, took me 8. I was exhausted mentally and physically when I got home.

My grand plans to pick up my coveted made-to-order patio bench and my stored belongings in River City and deliver them to WW was a bust. As was every other thing I tried to do, like getting some major repairs done on my car. My credit is at an abysmal low right now. Not that I'm hungry or anything. I still have gas for my car....at least for awhile. My rent for the month is paid. But for the move and the new place and all that, I have minimal funds. It will come, I know. Stewardship again. I'm really trying to change my ways.

Last evening I spent with the B's for Mouse's first birthday! She was delighted to knaw on some bbq ribs, to smoosh cupcake frosting all over her face and hands and grin through all of it. It took her awhile to work off all the sugar. She caught on to opening presents toward the last of the event, and really enjoyed watching bubbles (every-one-year old needs bubbles!) and finally reached out to touch them. Magical. Such innocence and delight! Forgot my camera but dad and mom took some good pictures, so I'm hoping I'll get a copy of a few. Another memory in my book. I gave her a blue elephant. After all, she is 'family;' I was able to be one of the first to see her after her birth! I'm glad her grandma is moving here. Every child needs a grandma near!

I'm tired. Stress, always present, is taking its toll as I mentally calculate and recalculate all my moving plans. Somehow I know it will all happen as it is supposed to, but my mind is a bit clouded by it all at the moment.

The day is a beautiful one and next on my day's agenda is to take advantage of this beautiful weather and scenery for as long as I live in it and go for a walk to enjoy it.

It is summer; time to sit back, enjoy the moment, reflect. Lilo is. She goes in and out the door, first lying on the step and then coming in to lie on the floor just inside the door and looking out. She gets the breeze, but not the heat that way. She is basically an indoor cat! She's my constant sidekick lately. I think she knows things are different and about to change in a big way.

PS I'll also miss the church bells ringing the hour and chiming out a couple encouraging hymns at regular intervals.