PS . . .

I almost forgot! As we left dinner at Johnny Appleseed and walked through the lobby of the motel a group of at least 20 kids were in the middle of Bible Class! Only in the South on a Sunday. It was pretty cool. I can't imagine a bible class being held in a hotel lobby anywhere else.

Leg numéro deux. . .

We drove through 7 states yesterday in our allotted eight hours with stops. Today we'll only drive in four! We're in the Shenandoah Valley with the Blue Ridge Mountains to the East and the Piedmont to the West. The sky is beautiful with early morning clouds lit up by dawn's early light. (Can't help myself, I love clichés!) Had one of our best walks ever last evening when we stepped back in time to New Market during the Civil War. What a beautiful little town. Gracious homes with verandahs, wonderful parterres, comely people and some gun shot holes where the Yanks shot their way into town. I believe that the battle of New Market was the last time the South won a battle during the war. If we get back here early enough next Tuesday I hope I can convince Puppy's Pop to visit the battle field and the museum. He doesn't like going to the battle fields because it is very uncomfortable to remember what took place on this beautiful land. Battlefields of the Civil War are truly hallowed ground. Time to get back to marveling as the scenes unfold.

Last leg for today . .

We are in Virginia and had to turn on the air. It is really, really hot when you were crazy enough to leave home in long sleeves and jeans because it was 31degrees this morning. It has to be at least 80 outside right now; clear, dry and cloudless. Only 2 small snafus so far. Foolishly thought we'd stop for gas in West Virginia. First stop, the station was closed. Of course, it's Sunday in the South. Fared better at the next exit but went the wrong way on the exit. No matter, we turned around and found a full time truck stop so we are fine. So far getting almost 18 mpg on the Ram. About 30 miles to New Market and some libations, food and a walk!

Another wow . . .

We're just outside of Hershey, PA and the weather has been spectacular. I'm pretty impressed with the live traffic on the iPad. It warns you of problems, clocks your speed, let's you check the traffic and weather. In any case it's pretty interesting. I didn't set it up for directions because the GPS is working fine and talks to us. This is so cool; we just crossed the Susquehanna and there was a house boat floating by. We are about 60 miles from Maryland under a strato-cumulus sky! Time to go back to watching the world between the mountains.

Busy week . . .

I would hate to be on the horns of this dilemma.

It's not even 9am and Puppy's Pop is out washing the Dodge Ram. Hmmm . . . must be something in the works. He can't be trusted. I'm sure he'll be loading things when I'm off to lunch duty. That man still scares me. I should know better than to worry about his shenanigans after more than 46 years but he still puts me on edge sometimes!

Had company Wednesday. It was nice to share pizza with Grampa's younger brother, his wife and Bijoux. We always have a good time chatting with them. She brought me some dishcloths that she crochets. I love them. They do such a good job washing dishes and clean up just fine in the wash. Last evening my younger brother's wife stopped in to drop off some puzzles and I gave her two puzzles that were a bit easier than one of those she left for me. I've been challenged to put a hard 500 piece together and I will eventually take up the challenge. It's the painting by Monet, Woman with Parasol, all pinky, bluey, purply undefined impressionist colors. It should be fun. Glad it's only 500 pieces. The last 500 I did drove me nuts because it was strawberries and blueberries. Grampa had to help me finish up! But I also broke down and bought a 1000 piece Springbok called Lucky Roll, all dice. Love the colors and defined edges!

Sterling school had a voting session for 7th and 8th graders at their town hall yesterday. Malloy (D) won for Governor; McMahon (R) for Senator; and the incumbent Courtney (D) won for Congressman. That may just be the way the November election turns out. We are in a world of doo-doo. It probably doesn't make any difference who wins. There isn't a decent candidate running in our neck of the woods. There is one good guy running for State Representative in Norwich, Coutu, but I won't be able to vote for him. We have a bunch of do-gooders with nary a brain between them running for office in both parties. The exceptions to that will be defeated because they aren't promising to give the takers my money!

Starting to get ticked off so I'll just end with my latest saga. Ordered a prescription refill from CVS in Plainfield Tuesday. Went to pick it up Tuesday and was told, after I had politely waited in line and the girl had searched in vain, that it couldn't be refilled because the due date was the 12th. I explained I couldn't wait until the 12th and she said she would get an over ride from the insurance (Caremark, which is part of CVS.) Told me that if she had problems getting the over ride she would call me otherwise I should pick up the prescription Wednesday. No call so I stopped yesterday to get the prescription. Again I patiently waited in line and another lady finally searched in vain for the medicine. This time I was handed over to another lady who said that I had to call in to get an over ride from the insurance. I explained that we had already gone this route. As I was starting to fume we agreed that she would call the insurance and I said I would call too the minute I arrived home. I called and explained in no uncertain terms how angry I was that I now have to make 3 trips to CVS because they can't get their act together. The lady was very nice and after 15 minutes of hassle on the phone she said I had to call CVS and tell them that the over ride would be available for one day (that's today.) I called and they are supposed to have my prescription ready today. I may go postal when I stop on the way back from Groton with Kiddo if it's not ready. It's very tiring to be surrounded by incompetence.

Quote: Oppose not rage while rage is in its force, but give it way a while and let it waste. ____Shakespeare

OK, Willy, I'll give it a try.

Comfortable day . . .at home, even though not at home. . .

Even though the weather is damp, cool and wet I had a wonderful, warm, comfortable day with my kid sister. It is always a pleasure to share lunch and a trip to the farm for ice cream. It feels good to see each other on a bit of a regular basis. She and her husband looked good and as healthy as I could wish. None of us are getting any younger but our spirits soar when we can get together and laugh and review old memories. The drive only takes me about an hour and ten minutes because I go late in the morning and return mid afternoon. Our ride to the farm from East Granby is a beautiful, curvy, New England at it's best road and we enjoy the scenery and our company! I know I probably talk too much but it feels so good to be able to just talk about any subject with someone who was and is a part of my whole life. We talk about people I'd almost forgotten and commiserate on the state of the country. Yes, it is so nice to have brothers and sisters. They know what forged us and probably understand us better than any one.

Quote: I regard that man as lost , who has lost his sense of shame. ___Plautus

And there is rarely any sense of shame to be seen in this era. How sad.

So much good stuff . . .

All kinds of neat things have been happening. Thursday after lunch duty I went to Richoni's for lunch and the French Onion Soup was the best I've ever had. Now over the years I've eaten in some pretty fancy places in France and New York but this was the absolute best. Chef Aaron, you rock.

Friday got a little screwy because after lunch duty I went to daughter's home, sat back with a nice cup of java and National Review. I had plenty of time because I was only picking Kiddo up at 3:00. What a monster mistake :( Daughter came home at 2:30 and asked if I had picked up the Kiddo because he had a half day, first Friday of the month. I thought I would die. She went to get him and he was as happy as could be because he got a chance to go to Sunshine and had a great time with his friends. On top of that he learned about some new game cards he just had to have so when we finally made it to Moosup (only an hour and a half late) he asked me if he could finish reading the First Grade Dick and Jane book. He knew that if he finished the whole book we'd go to Target to get something for doing such a good job. That kid read out loud to me for almost an hour; ate a whole hamburger from Riverview, not chicken, a hamburger and then we were off to Target. I now know how to play Yugioh but I must admit we play it using Calvin Ball. I can't even figure out how to play reading the directions! Of course he beat me good. But that's just super fine.

Also on Friday my cousin Charles drove to Moosup from Long Island to bring us two boxes of pistachios. I couldn't believe my eyes. One box was fresh from the trees. That's just about impossible because they go bad very fast and cannot be shipped fresh unless . . . you have cousins determined to get them to you. His sister's husband packed them up just before they took their Southwest flight back to the East coast from the pistachio plantation in California and he drove them to Moosup as a fast as he could. Puppy's Pop and I spent over an hour husking them because some of the husks were rotting. We managed to save 99% and I've put them on some old window screens on the porch to dry out. They are salubrious. We also have about 16 5oz bags of roasted pistachios to pass out to my brothers, sisters and cousins. How cool is that? Most of the roasted nuts are Plain and Salted but some are Chili Lemon and also Roasted Garlic.

And that is not the end of the good stuff! Grampa drove to Exit 28A on 91North in Massachusetts to pick up my Vermont Folk Rocker. Yes, yes, yes. I've finally got it . I've wanted one for at least 20 years since the first time I sat in one at a Vermont rest stop on 91North but I just couldn't get myself to pay the price. Well I finally just ordered it. It was going to cost about $300 to ship it from Starksboro, VT south of Burlington but Jim Geier, the designer and builder, makes a trip twice a month to Exit 28A to deliver the rockers free of delivery charges or taxes. Since we had Kiddo here I couldn't go with Grampa for the 10 am meeting and he went all the way up to the border for my rocker. It is the best Birthday, Christmas, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day gift ever. I just absolutely love it. It is the most comfortable rocker in the world. I am certain of that.

Well, time to go feast on raw pistachios before I make supper.

Quote: If we find not repose in ourselves, it is in vain to seek it elsewhere. __From the French