Hey John…

I just spent 45 minutes writing this blog and then poof it was gone while I spell checked.  I find this editor and this sensitivity to be too hard to manage.  Plus I have to type in this teeny tiny window.  It is a shame I can’t write this and then copy and paste it in.  Not a high quality blog spot if you ask me.  I see room for improvement.

So now, how to begin again.  It is just like you gave a lecture to a class and then they all looked up and said “say what?”.  So I will give the shortened version.

Today began with cleaning with Charlene.  I have gone back and forth on whether we should keep this cleaning cost in our time of cutting back.  Well today proved to be a success again.  We cleaned the whole house.  She gave me the incentive to pick up stacks of junk and tidy spots I kept ignoring.  Gabe and I have been a little lazy.  Maybe it is due to the time change…or maybe just March blues.  Today had a purpose and the house looks great.  That is well worth the money. 

Here are some picts from the camera.  First is Sophie from out walk with Kathy yesterday.

This is a shot of a bright blue gas stove like flame on a log in our fire.  You can sort of see it.

After cleaning today Jane picked me up from the auto body shop to take care of your car.  I guess it will take about a week.

We then walked with Barb H. and her dog Marley in the fore ground.  You can then see Shiloh the hound and a bit of Ginger’s back side.  Chester was camera shy today.  So the three of us had the six dogs.  Quite a dog party.  Marley was playing alpha male for half of the walk.  Poor Satori was right in the middle of us seeking safety.  Eventually Marley found out that Satori was fun and they spent the rest of the time romping together.  Sorry to say that Satori took a wrong turn on her leg and now she is limping like Chai had been.  I’ll see how she is in the morning.  It may just be leash walks for a few weeks. 

Here is an ice free Huntington River form the Cochran road bridge.  We are expecting a night of rain.  Not sure what will happen with Night Riders tomorrow night.  Again, we will see what tomorrow brings.  Many people have said they have had enough of this winter weather.  I think the sun’s warmth makes people want more.  I have centered myself in just the right spot for March.  I have spent many grumpy March months before and now I just will flow with what comes.  I want to see the earth warm slowly and the mud deepen.  This truly is a flaky fickle month.  I know it and will just except it.  We truly have no control over the weather.    

Look who is in the paper!  And Hannah is wearing her Sam button!  I am happy they got such great publicity.  It is a good article and many pictures.  I also like the headline about “soaring”.  I often think of Sam soaring.  I can just picture him.  Soaring is a good word for what happens at Talent. 

Dave helped Gabe with his board and bindings.  Gabe was like young grasshopper and Dave was the master.  In checking out the board Dave saw that it was de-laminating.  I guess it may fall under warranty.  Too bad Gabe has to give it up.  He was just saying how happy he was with the board and how he wanted it for next year.  On the good side…he will be getting credit for a new board.  Luckily we found last years board and waxed and assembled the bindings on it this evening.  The other board will be returned to the manufacturer.  Dave said that it could have easily been destroyed on a good hit and then it would have been hard to say it was a defect.  I think Gabe should join in some program to test out equipment.  He rides his stuff hard.  Tonight I replaced the stopper for his boot.

We also visited the chiropractor (yeah) and got a new mesh for Gabe’s lacrosse stick.  Practices will begin in April at Mills River Park.  I guess the high school team will also be there because their field needs repair.  I like that park because they have a dog walk area so I can walk the dogs while Gabe practices.

Tonight was teen yoga.  Fun…I love those kids and they have good energy. 

Okay…that is it.  I will keep my finders and toes crossed as I post this.  Sleep well John.   love…d   

Hi John…

The more I write these notes the more I wonder what I actually do.  It is funny because I am busy through out the day however when I actually sit to write you it seems all so dull…or I can’t say everything that I did due to sensitive material.  Hmm.     

Morning was spent with a nice walk at the river shore with Kathy and Sophie.  It was fun catching up with Kathy.  The dogs had a doggy time.  Satori was so happy to find a dead squishy mole.  You could tell she was proud of herself.  She is always finding them.  When I returned I had to wash the dogs (mole smell and all!).  It has been weeks and Chai had been getting a bit smelly.  They are so soft now.

My big task was finally taking the time to get your Prius to the shop for an estimate on the deer damage.  I am so naive about body repair…the estimate was more than I expected.  So I gathered the needed paperwork and went to see Brenda in town about the insurance.  She was great.  We are set.  I now have to get the car to a repair place and then they will need to do a full evaluation.  I realized at my first estimate you probably never opened the hood so who knows what is damaged underneath.  Luckily the car is not needed right now.

I went grocery shopping and got Gabe from school.  I made some bread for a snack.  Then to yoga at night.  It was a good class.  Spring is definately in the air…even as the snow was falling. 

The Richmond Bridge closed today.  Now it begins.

Love you John.  ….d

Hi John…

Not sure why we keep springing forward and falling back.  Maybe there is someone who just likes to tell everyone what to do.  Think about it.  Okay all you people of the US of A tomorrow your clocks will be changed.  Just do it.  That’s it.  I’m the boss.  I wonder even if you know what time it is right now.  Imagine that. 

Tonight no pictures.  I know it is fun to see them however it is a royal pain to put them in.

Morning was spent walking dogs with the Kenney’s.  I love those walks.  Just as we were walking up the field we noticed Julie had a deer leg in her mouth.  Now that would have been a good pictures if I was thinking.  This is the same deer leg they uncovered in the cold of winter.  I kicked it far over the cliff.  So here is Julie with the hoof swinging back and forth.  It was a funny sight.  Tim had to do quite a bit of coaxing to get her to drop it.

Talked with Max today.  Well I woke him at 1:30 (more like 12:30 if that guy didn’t tell us to change the clocks!).  He made homemade seiten last night.  Didn’t you tell me you made that once?  He said it was delicious.  I told him it sounded like the Red Bamboo restaurant.  He actually made some seiten chicken wings.  He then told me Mathtew L. is visiting him.  He has had a great weekend with him.  They figured it has been about 7 years since they hung out.  I guess Matt will go on to Law school or some poli sci branch.  He has always been a good debater…just for the sake of argument.  Max made sure he showed him a good time and introduced him to some wierd friends.  Pratt is a bit different than Penn State.  I’m glad they reconnected. 

Max said Abbott will show up around Wednesday.  Then he is heading with some friends to Liam’s house near the shore for his week off.  They may make it down to Cape May.  Reptar is fine and has to wear one of those Elizabethan collars.  He seems okay with it and is not going crazy.  Maddox the cat is hyper and cute.  No other people news with him

Your parents are heading to see Sis and Phil to celebrate Phil’s 80th birthday.  Happy Birthday Phil!  I swear if I looked as good as your Dad and Phil look when I get to 80 I am only going to eat chocolate cake, chicken wings and Pepsi for all my meals.  They are amazing men.  I guess they look like that because they don’t eat that stuff.  Hey, I said “chicken wings” twice in this letter.  Maybe I will make some veggie ones soon. 

I spent some time cleaning the yard.  Yes, we can see grass in many spots.  I did some yoga just for me in the barn.  Gabe had a good day at Bolton.  Kristin joined us for dinner.  I made potatoes and veggie hot dogs.  One of Gabe’s favorites.  Along with asparagas and strawberries (not together).  Quiet rest of the night.

For some reason Gabe was mumbliing Louie Armstong’s “It’s a wonderful world”.  I love that song…who doesn’t?  I played it on You Tube for them.  Then I saw Rod Stuart sung it.  They both said “who’s Rod Stuart?”.  Hmmm.  Oh well I guess that may not be necessary to know. 

Well I’m off to sleep.  love…diane                   

Hi John…

A week ago this morning we talked for the last time.  Hope all is well with you.  We are doing just fine.

Gabe spent the day slumming with his friends at Austin’s.  He never even made it up the mountain today.  I think it was too much to get it together.  He went to Savanna’s birthday party tonight.  She is Garrett’s sister.  He said it was a good party….just hanging out (again).   

It was a sunny Spring-like day.  I took 3 walks.  The first in the early morning with the dogs.  Starting Monday it will not be pleasant to walk on our road with the extra traffic due to the bridge closure.  People will have to travel farther leading to a sense of urgency and with faster speeds.  I may have to drive the dogs to the start of the trail.  I’ll see.

My second walk was at 9:00 with Elizabeth.  It was good to reconnect again.  The last walk was at 2:00 with the dogs again on the trail down Duxbury.  It was a day to be outside and soak up some sun.

In between those times I visited with the Haddocks and made cookies for Chris C.  I wanted to thank him for his kind deed.  Just as I started to make the cookies I realized our town is being taken over with Girl Scout cookies.  I am sure his house had their fair share of sweets.  However, I had to continue since I started and I had to give some away because Gabe & I could not eat all of them.

Jen, Avery, Morgan and I went to the Liz Lerman Genome dance event at the Flynn.  Remember we got those tickets?  Well, I thought who would like to share them with me?  I thought of our dancer friend Jen.  She had already given Avery 2 tickets so we made it a foursome. 

It was interesting.  Saying that I know is not a compliment.  Modern dance is hard to figure out sometimes…like those foreign art films.  There was some cool video work and story telling.  Those aspects I really liked.
 
We went to Sakura’s for dinner beforehand..  It tasted so good.  I have not had sushi in a long time.

With more time to spare we stopped into Muddy Waters.  I saw Julia (mighty the lady) and she is mighty tall.  I think I fit under her arm.  She is beautiful and graceful.  Sorry I forgot a photo.  That would have been a nice comparison to Jen & I.

It is pouring rain right now and the mud is rising.  I have to go figure out how to close up the septic hatch.  The light is on for the first time since you have left and I know it is the rain seeping in.  I will take a look tomorrow.

I forgot to tell you that yesterday at the book sale I opened a box to put on the tables and it was full of unopened (clear wrap sealed) books on scientology.  Apparently there was another box just like that…all unopened.  I thought it was odd since we get used books.  They would not let me put them on the sci fi table (ha ha)…they had to go in the religious section.  I do beleive in aliens (given this vast universe they must exist)…its the trapings of the doctrine I have issue with.  People need structure I guess.

Good night John.  love…diane