Farther Along - The Grascals

Good times are a-rollin' . . .

Look at the photos from the bottom up. First - the parachute and rigging before he packed it. Second - take off. Third - return. Fourth - reassembled.

Spent a leisurely Sunday reading and appreciating the gorgeous weather. Late in the afternoon we went to visit friends in Oneco and after wine and snacks we were off for dinner. Didn't get home until 9:30. Nice time. A neat glass of Lemoncello, some chocolates and good conversation. Wonderful way to spend a Sunday.

As Puppy's Pop was flying and I was getting in my 2.1 miles Oneco Grampa and grandson stopped in. After the flying and walking the 7 year old showed me the parachute he has rigged up for his "drag" bike. Oh what fun. He took it apart to show us the design, packed it and drove off so he could come flying back and release the chute. Too perfect. What a treat. This young guy is so knowledgeable about all things vehicular and speedy.

We left for a pleasant ride to Sturbridge, MA. I wasn't able to get the flying twirly thingamajigs but I did find some Aeroprops that fly really well and, of course, the ubiquitous balsa gliders. Also picked up a volleyball set. With all the other stuff we've got from years gone by we should be all set. On the way home we had a delicious lunch at Java Jive on 169 in Woodstock. I love a place that is so small you can watch the cook prepare your food!

Just came in from playing horseshoes. When Grampa and I play he has to give me a 23 point handicap. How awful is that? I have about a 3% average. Gross but still fun. I haven't really played in a couple of years so I'm trying to get back in the 6% range : )

Quote: No man is free who is not master of himself. __Epictetus

The Good Life . . .

Puppy's Pop took this photo of the Rose of Sharon that had almost been destroyed in the Spring by the deer. It's a beautiful blossom. Thank you younger brother and wifey!

Kiddo and I spent our last summer vacation day at the Mashentucket-Pequot Museum. This was completely his idea and after we got there I knew why he wanted to go back. He loves elevators. Where ever we go he wants to use the elevators and I always insist we walk up and down the stairs but at the museum the only way up to the top of the tower, about 22 stories, I think, is the elevator and he gets to run it if we go early enough and there is no one else around! So we started out up in the tower all by ourselves. He was in heaven, almost literally. I'm not over fond of elevators but he's an excellent driver and guide. We also made a tour of the museum proper before we paid out last summer visit to his favorite restaurant, Pizza Palace in Groton. Spent the rest of the day racing weird cars down the driveway.

Kiddo started school Thursday so I also went to Sacred Heart to help out with lunches. His opinion of school, " First Grade is awesome!" We went to Richoni's after school and even though he had eaten his entire lunch he ate chicken again before we headed home. Great start to the new year. Saturday he left with his family for Cape Cod and Grampa and I went to Coventry, RI for the final horseshoe get together. He and his partner won $70 for 4th place for the year and then they also came in 4th at the play offs. Wonderful food and friends. We had an excellent day. The weather has been perfect for almost 5 days now. Even the night sky is beautiful with Jupiter rising before the Moon in the East.

Don't want to dwell on a dreary subject but I will say that I've finally perked up after dragging butt for quite some time. It seems that my thyroid has been acting up for about a year and my new lady, Jessica, has figured it out. I've started taking a mild dose of Synthroid each morning and I feel at least 20 years younger. That's a good thing. I had been feeling like a 100 and now I feel like 47! Way cool.

Almost time for Mass and then have to prepare my list for next Sunday's Tournament. Only have to pick up some odds and ends and clean the garage. That should do it. We're going to Sturbridge tomorrow to see if we can find some flying twirly thingamajigs for me and the kids.

Quote: Wishes run over in loquacious impotence; will presses on with laconic energy. __Lavater

More good rain . . .

As you can see the Tamarack on the right is quite sickly. The photos show the bare branches and the needles that have almost completely denuded the poor thing.

Spent a goodly part of the morning taking photos of the tamaracks. One of them is dropping needles like crazy and this is only supposed to happen in the Fall. This is the second year and because of all the rain and wind in the last few days the ground is covered with needles that we are tracking all over the house. We have a couple of people interested in taking down the trees but I'm not sure we should go with a cousin or friend who is not insured. These are big trees and both are leaning and I surmise that these trees don't have a huge root system. Just a tiny bit scary. We'll see what happens. I hate to have them taken down because they feel like part of the family but they also shade the roof too much besides the fact that one of them is seemingly dying. I'll have to keep bugging Puppy's Pop and see what and when we're going to do something.

Went shopping at Big Y and bumped into a friend I haven't seen in a few years. She and I taught at NFA together and both left to have our first babies. Eventually she ended up teaching in Brooklyn while I went to Killingly. Her daughter Amy went to AHS with our son and is a science teacher in Dartmouth,MA. We talked for so long that my shopping trip lasted almost 2 hours! But it was nice to see her. She's trying to recruit me for the Learning After 65 program at Quinebaug. I'm really not into guest lecturers but someday after Kiddo doesn't need me anymore I may audit some college classes or even take them for credit. I shouldn't be surprised about how little I know but you'd think that when you're pushing seventy you'd know a lot. Wrong, wrong, wrong.

I haven't done my one hour of walking in the house in ages. Today will be a good day to catch up on my audio book!

Quote: There appears to exist a greater desire to live long than to live well! Measure by man's desires, he cannot live long enough; measure by his good deeds,and he has not lived long enough; measure by his evil deeds, and he has lived too long. __Zimmermann

Much needed rain . . .

Elmendorf Air Base really is out there somewhere!

For the second very rainy, windy cool day in a row it hasn't been too bad. Managed to see Carolyn, my favorite PA who is leaving the Walk In at the end of September. She agreed with my new lady Jessica at the new Plainfield Backus Medical Center and so I'm pretty happy to have found someone that Carolyn likes. She is going to be working in the ER nights so she has more time with her kids. She has two young ones and a third on the way. Very nice lady. I wish her well. But I will miss her. She has a very mild personality where as Jessica is rather vociferous and doesn't take any guff. At least she's close to home and has been an APRN for a number of years and has a very good reputation.

On top of that I actually felt like cleaning today. House almost sparkles. Even Puppy's Pop got into the swing of things and made himself another work bench, this time in the basement. He's getting lots of exercise just going up and down the two flights of dangerous stairs. Since we've been using the dehumidifier it's quite comfortable. Certainly not great looking but still bright and dry.

I've got to lose 5 to 10 pounds so I'll be going back to counting calories and cutting out sweets and carbohydrates. Problem is I tend to not really figure out the calories, I just guesstimate. But if I just stop my bedtime snack I can probably lose a few pounds in no time. But . . . I love my bedtime routine. Pooh : (

Time to think about supper. Pepper steak, I think, with rice. I'll finish up the tasty white jasmine rice before I go the brown rice gig.

Quote: Joy, temperance, and repose, slam the door on the doctor's nose. __Ben Franklin

Flying in the rain . . . Getting soaking wet . . .

This is most amazing. Here I sit in the Dodge Ram writing on the iPad while outside grown men are flying their control line planes in a soaking rain. The rain isn't supposed to let up either and they are out there blissfully unaware that they should be inside not out playing in the rain. Grampa had a good first flight and I lucked out because his friend Damian, a very nice Irishman from the Boston area is taking my place. I thanked him profusely for coming to the Contest here in Lee, MA today. He and his wife and 2 young boys just got back from the Philippines and stopped in Hawaii for a breather. They had a wonderful trip. He's a very engaging young man.

I must admit that there are few people I absolutely despise and one of them came from Bristol for this contest. He's the same imbecile who was at the contest in Texas last year. He is the grubbiest individual I've ever met and a cry baby to boot. Never even flew in Texas and I'm betting he has some excuse for not flying today with the rest of the "real men." As I write the rain is coming down harder and harder but it looks as if they'll be getting in their second flights soon.

We left home at 7am for the 120 mile trip. I was certain the weather would make them postpone the contest and we'd be able to take in the Norman Rockwell Museum which is about 7 miles from here. I always underestimate the male compulsion to pretend to be having a good time. Right now the wind is blowing things around so that just adds to the festivities. I'll continue this story in a bit. Time to watch the fun since Puppy's Pop moved the truck so I could have a front row seat!

The contestants decided not to take anymore flights so they all were judged on one flight. Puppy's Pop won first place in intermediate and was told he should move on up! That's so funny because he really just started intermediate. We'll be packing up soon and will definitely stop for food.

Bad weather . . . good day . . .

There is a rainbow in the middle of the photo. I believe that Elmendorf Air Force base is behind the rainbow!

Crazy weather. Did get some rain but not enough to help the garden and the poor rivers only enough to make it muggier than the devil. Took a ride to Richoni's for lunch. I know I'm prejudiced but I really enjoy going there. Michael makes a fantastic Margarita and daughter makes the best BLT's. That's all I need to keep me happy. We took a ride to Stonington Borough after lunch because I needed a Quimper Faience fix. To my chagrin the store no longer exists. I guess it closed in 2006. I've gone such a long time without a fix that they had to close shop. I can get what I want on line but it's just not the same as browsing in the beautiful atelier. That feels like another life ago. I'm guessing that the last time I went I was with Angie. How I do miss her.

After we got home I dug out the crates of old bottles Grampa and I had finagled out of the ground near the big rock. I finally cleaned up about 30 of them. Pretty neat stuff. I love the little ones, especially if they're blue. It's such a chore to clean them because I have nothing small enough to get inside many of them since the openings are long and narrow. But with old shaved down tooth brushes, pipe cleaners, bottle brushes and Q-tips I didn't do too badly. I still have another batch to clean but the bottles are fairly large in comparison to today's batch. I keep wanting to get back to eBay but I haven't put my mind to it yet. Maybe I'll do something with a lot of our old junk this winter; a good pastime besides my puzzles, hooked rug that I've been working on for over 5 years and it's small :( , and my reading. I'm finally reading James Joyce's The Dubliners on the iPad. Gutenberg Press has all of the old books for free as ebooks. Pretty cool.

Bring Kiddo to the Children's Museum in Niantic tomorrow where we'll meet his Monday and Tuesday summer camp buddies. Can't believe that he starts school next Thursday, August 26th. Seems inhumane. But I'll go and start my lunch duties as I did last year. I am looking forward to seeing some of the ladies I worked with at his school. We've corresponded a bit by email and it'll be nice to be with them again.

Quote: At sixty a man has passed most of the reefs and whirlpools. Excepting only death, he has no enemies left to meet. . . . That man has awakened to a new youth . . . Ergo, he is young. ___George Luks

Need rain . . .

Power plant that was built and never put on line. Surprise!

Yea! I must be all better. I spent yesterday afternoon in the garden pulling old plants and weeds and then even played horseshoes. I'm still lousy at horseshoes but I'm one heck of a good weed puller! Not too sure what to do with the Indian corn so I'm just letting it dry up on the stalks. We've got at least 6 pumpkins coming along nicely; not too big but not little either. Just got a very short haircut. It's been driving me crazy. The muggy weather and the last haircut which wasn't short enough had me looking like a wild woman. Now I'm back to normal, what ever that may be.

Started to call all the brothers and sisters to remind them about the Horseshoe/Cribbage Tournament September 5. Have the food all ordered too so we're looking good. Just have to hope the weather is good. But if it rains we can move the tables into the Hot Rod garage and Moosup nephew has a really nice tarp we can use. It may be the last year for the picnic tables. They're starting to rot out. I'm going to look at a table made of Trex. It'll be expensive but should last forever. No rush.

Should be doing some house chores but not sure I'm in the mood!

Quote: An egotist is a man who talks so much about himself that he gives me no time to talk about myself. __H. L. Wayland

Better . . .

Officially completed the antibiotics but the cough still crops up a few time a day. Slept through the night without all sorts of pillows propping me up. Hip, hip hooray!

Kiddo turned 6 on Friday and after he and Grampa came back from fishing, 3 tiny pumpkin seeds, we had a little party for him; ice cream cake, Mighty Beanz gifts and helium balloons. He really enjoyed it and it was fun. His big party will be next Saturday at Chucky Cheese in New London. He's all excited. He's been reading out of the old Dick and Jane series and surprises himself with how much he can do. He's sounding out the words really well so he's even reading the names of his Mighty Beanz (old fashioned Mexican Jumping Beans but with all sorts of characters. What a money maker.)

Went for a walk at the Sterling School yesterday before spending a lazy day at home. Not too much going on. Will take Kiddo to the Children's Museum in Niantic Wednesday so he can meet up with the gang from his Summer Camp (Stepping Stones Day Care.) That should be fun. I think we get to go inspect the shore line. We spent Thursday at the Dinosaur Place with Moosup niece and her children. I was pretty pooped when I got home.

Just bumped into my cousin A. who lived next to next door when her kids were little. Her daughter A. has Crohn's disease and needs a shot once a week that costs $1000. My Obama cousin is really worried about how the new health care mandates will affect her daughter's care. It took over two years for the medical profession to find out what was wrong with this beautiful young mother of 2 children. She has been extremely ill and isn't over it yet.

The Primaries were somewhat of a farce. Such a waste of taxpayer money. At least David Griffiths ended up winning his democratic primary and will most likely be our Judge of Probate for a few years. That was about the only plus. We'll see what November brings.

Quote: Live with wolves and you will learn to howl. __Spanish Proverb

Got life . . .

It's official: bronchitis. My new lady Primary Care declared it was't pneumonia because the x-ray showed my lungs are perfect. So that's the good news. They made me do some kind of breathing with a mist machine for 5 minutes, then gave me an inhaler and nose drops and antibiotics. Should be good to go for another 67 years. Still feel like merde but that's better than the last few days. Will go hang out in Groton tomorrow.

Had the x-ray at the old Ames Plaza in Norwich. Backus has taken it over with all sorts of out patient services. Very nice and efficient. We had a nice lunch at Old Tymes. Usually go there for breakfasts but tried their lunch menu. Not too bad. I had a BLT, iced tea and Grapenut pudding. Grampa had coffee and catfish. We had a chance to speak with Janet Peckinpaugh, the former newswoman at Channel ? but I didn't think that would be good form as I have her opponent's political signs up in our yard! Both she and Daria Novak, the endorsed candidate, are hoping to run against Joe Courtney our very liberal Democratic 2nd District Congressman. I hope everyone will get out to vote in November and throw most of those incumbents out, out, out! Peckinpaugh was taking a lunch break at Old Tymes and did say hello to Grampa before she left.

Quote: There is an infinity of political errors which, being once adopted, become principles. __Abbé Raynal

Sick and tired of it . . .

On the way to Fairbanks.

So sick and tired of this cough. I did walk my 3 turns around the Dog Track this morning before we headed to Lizzy B's for a muffin and coffee. A friend of Grampa's stopped by the track with his grandson and we had a nice conversation about flying and the drags. Nice kid. Only 7 years old but knows so much about racing. I'm sure he'll be racing himself fairly soon. They're already looking at a Junior Dragster for him. His Mom has some sort of dragster too. I believe his Dad's truck is in the 7 second category.

In any case I called the new Backus Primary Care Clinic on our street to get an appointment for this cough which has been hanging around for more than a week. Just as I seem better it starts back up again. The girl asked who my Primary Care doctor was. I said it wasn't them but Carolyn at the Walk-In. So . . . she said no appointment. Okay, says I,"How am I supposed to get an appointment?" I explained that Carolyn is leaving the Walk In soon and I would like to see someone who is close to me, like on Plainfield Rd. The Cardiologists from Norwich also work out of the new Backus Primary Care and they told me I should schedule my appointments here. So. . . I finally did get an appointment tomorrow at 11am. I hope they don't tick me off. We really do have to find someone we can count on. I hate it that Carolyn is leaving. I really liked her. Here I am griping again. Time to quit.

Quote: Our life, exempt from public haunt, finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in everything. __Shakespeare

Harley . . .

Gotta tell 'ya, Grampa looks "real good" riding around on that '78!

Miersable . . .

Well looks like I won't make the VJ Day festivities this year. I hate that. I don't think I've ever missed going to the parade and I've certainly never missed niece and nephew's party. But this "summer whatever I have" started out with a really bad stomach, turned into a terribly bad cough and now is back to a really, really bad stomach ache. So . . . being kind to everyone I'll stay home and perhaps get Grampa to deliver my Smirnoff Ice and Ballet of Angels to the party where he can have some eats and play horseshoes while I have a pity party!

Friday, when Kiddo was here he wanted to go fishing so Grampa and he went off on their own to Porter Pond. Came back with a mud pout ( bull head, cat fish) and a pumpkin seed. They had thrown back a mud pout that wasn't hooked badly and so saved its life. Grampa clean the mud pout and had it for supper along with our regular fare from Riverview. Kiddo got a kick out of that even though he wouldn't take a bite. He fancies himself quite a fisherman as he caught all three of the fish and casts out all by himself. I love it. They also spent a lot of time racing the remote control blue, snazzy car and the hummer around the driveway before opting to work with the flight simulator.

Well that's it. I'm pissy as hell since I thought I was on the mend. At least I had a pretty good night's sleep. That was a plus!

Quote: What is difficulty? - Only a word indicating the degree of strength requisite for accomplishing particular objects; a mere notice of the necessity for exertion; a bugbear to children and fools; only a stimulus to men. __Samuel Warren

Summer cold . . .

Nenana River rocks.

Okay. How sick can you be with a summer cold? Very. It is the absolute pits. I feel like I did those many years ago when I was sick because of all the chemicals I was taking. This is most incredible. But I believe that I may be on the road to recovery. Wow. I never take a nap. I never nap in the pink room. I never wake up and wonder what the heck I'm doing up stairs. So, today I broke all of the nevers. I slept for about 2 hours straight and that's the longest I've slept in quite a few days. The coughing is horrible. It starts in my toes and keeps working its way up to my chest and doesn't know when to quit. I am taking some OTC meds suggested by the Rite Aide druggist and they seem to be helping a bit. I should have money in cough drop companies. I've gone through at least 4 bags. As of this moment I officially hate all cough drops because that's all I can taste. I just need sleep in some way, shape or form. The pink room worked out pretty well because the bed is up against the wall and I can rest my back on it yet still have my head propped up. I may someday break down and get an over stuffed recliner so I can sleep almost sitting up! Can't wait until I can just lie down and fall into oblivion!

'nough complaining for today. After all the orphans in Timbuktu don't even have a pink room! so now I'm ashamed of myself :(

Quote: In sickness let me not so much say, am I getting better of my pain? as am I getting better for it? __Shakespeare (And the answer is: "NO." )

Not too much . . .

Back to Alaska. Naturellement, Denali in the clouds.

Very drab, muggy, yucky, stormy, rainy day for ducks. Supposed to go to the Dinosaur Place and Splash Pad today with Kiddo and friends but we changed our date to next week. His Dad wants to keep him at the Garage for a while this morning so I'll pick him up at noon today instead of ten. He loves to spend time at the Garage and was actually working hard yesterday when I got to Groton. He was busy pulling weeds with his older brother and was doing a good job getting down to the roots. Good worker.

I'll spend my extra time reading. I've almost caught up with my magazines! That's a plus. I'm finally up to date. Spoke with my cousin from Minnesota last night. I was so surprised because they are no longer selling pistachios on line. Her daughter dropped out a couple of months ago. She's been doing it for 23 years and wanted more time to spend on "music." She is an accomplished soprano who is working hard to run and help finance classical programs in Minnesota. She's quite a gal. Of course the pistachios will now all go to wholesalers. I'll miss them.

Grandson and I were outside last Friday after our jubilant fishing expedition with Grampa when we saw a large bird with a white head and huge wing span riding the thermals. It was much larger than the turkey buzzards which were circling around beneath it. Kiddo claims it was a bald eagle and I have to agree with him. We got out the binoculars and saw the magnificent bird in greater detail. By the time I got Grampa down from the plane room our eagle had flown off to the North. That was a first for me, spotting a bald eagle in Moosup. I've seen them in Norwich at the dam but never this close to home. Wonderful!

Almost forgot. I had promised Kiddo during the past school year that we could go to ToysRus to get a big toy when he could tie his shoes for 5 days in a row. At lunch yesterday he made a deal with me. "Hey Meme, since I tied my shoes last week I only have to tie them four more times and we'll have five in a row. So, how 'bout we go home and I'll tie my shoes four more times and then we can go to ToysRus and get something big?" "Good idea," says I. And that's just what we did. Such a charmer!

Quote: As dreams are the fancies of those that sleep, so fancies are but the dreams of those awake. ___Blount

So tall and sleek . . .

Flamingos at Harewood. Last of the England 2010 photos.

Rather unusual weather today. Cloudy, slight wind yet muggyish. But it was good for walking at the Dog Track without a hat. The best part of today has been seeing a magnificent Blue Heron walking along the top of the rubble heap as I was beginning my walk. She stayed there just parading back and forth for a few minutes before gracefully lifting off into the breeze. As I was trekking around I saw two more herons flying overhead. Not sure if it was the same one just circling or if she had a couple of friends flying in. Beautiful birds.

Stopped for coffee and a fresh blueberry muffin this morning before I started my house work. Have a bit of energy today, so I'd best get moving.

Quote: Heaven and earth fight in vane against a dunce. __Schiller

Eating Crow . . .

Guess who feeding the ducks at Harewood Estate.

I got so disgusted with the Norwich Bulletin that I didn't renew our subscription and called them Friday to make sure they didn't keep delivering it. Before I cancelled I called The Day of New London to make sure they delivered to Moosup. The young man said yes. It was all honky-dory and I paid with the credit card. So . . . no paper Saturday. OK. No paper Sunday. OK. Maybe the subscription starts Monday, today. No paper today. I had to leave early today but when I returned we had a message from The Day asking if we had received the paper. If not we were to call and let them know. Grampa called and the lady said they'd have the box in today and we'd get a credit and the paper would be delivered tomorrow. OOPS! We went to lunch at a nice place in Groton called Richoni's and had a beautiful scenic drive up Route 49 to Route 184. Great lunch; Margarita on the rocks with salt and a BLT toasted grinder and Grampa had chowder and fish and chips with a Bud. On our return we had another message this one from Peter at The Day. Sorry, but we don't deliver out your way. We'll send you a check in the mail. Please buy our e-edition. Can you believe it? I called the Bulletin and we're reinstated as of tomorrow. I really like a hard copy of the newspaper. I'm still not comfortable reading on line except if I can get the whole paper just as it is at the news stand on my iPad. And I think that as of right now that means only the New York Times and I'm not paying for that on line. So much for being sick of the Bulletin. I'll still have to suffer but I will do so in silence. I'm addicted to a paper with my coffee.

That damn cold still has me feeling like garbage.

Quote: Wisdom comes by disillusionnment. __Santayana

Cold in Summer . . .

Harewood Estate. Family still lives here but opens part of the grounds and home to make enough money to pay the taxes! Cousins of the queen.

Well, I can't believe it. I've got the worst cold ever. It's down in my chest and in my throat. I sound like a croaking frog. (I hope that's not a pun? It wasn't done intentionally.) Think I won't go to church this morning even though we did go out to breakfast. Don't want to pass this bug on to anyone. They would certainly be miserable.

Middle child, husband and Kiddo stopped in for a visit last evening. That was nice. Don't get to see them in Moosup too often. Next Sunday is VJ Day and I expect that they'll come to the party at the Bonnin homestead. That will be a very nice day.

Will just stay home and relax and try not talking. That is always somewhat painful but talking makes me cough, so I'll have to try to be quiet. Have a doctor's appointment tomorrow early. Perhaps if I'm quiet today I'll be OK to go to the appointment without being catchy! Also wanted to go see younger sister in Granby Tuesday but I certainly don't want to bring them any bugs. May have to wait a week or so 'til I get over this yuck.

Quit getting the Norwich Bulletin as of yesterday. But the New London Day hasn't started our delivery yet. Had to buy a Sunday paper. I hope they get their act together or I'll have to start complaining before we even start having the paper delivered!

Quote: A newspaper should be the maximum of information, and the minimum of comment. ___Cobden