PRESENTS!!

I honestly don't think that anyone can see a box wrapped in pretty paper and not scream...."PRESENT!!"

 

I got some wonderful things for my birthday--things that came in pretty boxes and a colorful gift bag.  I got my absolute favorite gifts--pictures of my grandchildren (all 6 of them, in two different photos)  and tons of cards and letters.  I got some original artwork from the grandchildren in Cleveland that I treasure and an updated photo of Jenna and Jon with the kids. 

 

Take a look:

See my photo of Coleton and Anthony?   On the other side are cards and letters from Ben, Sam, Ellie and Zach.   In the back are cards/letters I got from family and friends (although, the jury is still out on one that says, "90 Wonderful years!!" HA HA)

 

The wooden art piece is from Tony, done by our neighbor, Stu Friedman, otherwise known as Dixie's Godfather!  It is made of Maple Burl and looks like marble.   I love it.  It's smooth and cool to the touch.  My Brighton jewelry pieces (a white stone with silver starfish on it and a separate starfish (my favorite)  from Tony are resting on artwork by Ellie!

 

See the "butt" card on top of the paper that says, "5?"  That is from David, who gave me permission to take 5  photos of him that I can put on the blog.  Little does he know that I'll be hiding in the bathroom when he comes out of the shower!!

 

 

I had a wonderful birthday and thank all of you for thinking of me.  Tonight....a crab leg dinner.  It's good to be 63 (sort of!!)

 



I Turned 63 Today

Time is an incredibly odd thing.  You can watch it go by without really seeing anything,  you can wait it out with no idea of the outcome or you can surrender to it.

 

I think for many years, I was fighting surrender.  I didn't want to get "old," because my idea of "old," was terrible.  I remember Jane Fonda (oh, please say you remember, too,) getting a tee shirt that said, "This IS What 40 Looks Like," because so many people commented, when she admitted her age of 40, said, "you don't look 40."  Jane wasn't "old."  She was trendy.  I want to be trendy. 

 

At the hospital, I hear many people telling me that when I get to be their age, I will suffer from this or that.  I look at their arm band and see that I am already 10 to 15 years older than they are.  "Well, you don't look it," they reply; and for that I am glad.

 

But, this year, I have a different outlook.  Maybe it's because I will be retiring soon, maybe it's because of a book everyone at Novant has to read, called, "Being Mortal," or maybe I'm just tired of fighting the inevitable.  I am 63 and this is what my 63 looks like.

 

Tony made it a wonderful day.  We went to Sunset Beach to have lunch at one of my favorite places, Fibber McGee's.  We strolled into boutiques and a bookstore and even stopped in at the Planetarium.  Tonight we're going to watch the Browns beat the Buffalo Bills in a pre-season game.  He gave me two Brighton pieces for my necklace--a white bead with starfish on it and a silver starfish.   He also commissioned our neighbor, Stu, to do a wooden art piece for me since I love the work that Stu does.  It was a wonderful gift.

 

The game is on now, so I will finish by saying....today, blog words....tomorrow....pictures of presents!!!

 

I turned 63 today.  I guess that's a good thing. 

When The Swegle's Entertain....Here Comes The Rain!!

It's no secret that during the course of our marriage, almost every time Tony and I hosted an event, rain was the biggest and constant uninvited guest.

 

I thought for awhile it was Strongsville, but now I know,  it's us.

 

Our niece, Sarah, and our "hopefully soon to be," nephew, Steven, came to visit us this week.  They had one thing on their minds:  GOING TO THE BEACH!!!!

 

Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate.  It rained, it poured, it monsooned, IT RAINED!!!   The few minutes it didn't rain, we got high 90 degree muggy, stinky,  air. "The kids." even played tennis in the pouring rain.

 

But, we did find other things to do.  Sarah and Steve surprised us with Cleveland based tee shirts.  Mine is like a 5 day weather forecast you see on TV.  But, anyone who has spent any time at all in Cleveland knows that at any given time, the weather can and will change.  So, the "forecast" on my shirt goes from 78 degrees one day to snow the next day. It's SO Cleveland.  Tony's is a "real Browns" shirt....and anyone who knows our story will understand what I mean.

 

Sarah and I got manicures and pedicures while Tony and Steve visited the USS North Carolina battleship downtown.  It was the first time my nails were shellaced and they look really good. 

 

We went to a place called New River Pottery.  It's kind of an Old Time Pottery place, but with tons of beachy things you can decorate with and all kinds of out of the ordinary stuff.  Sarah and I got "no shoes" sandals.  It's like a decorated band that slips over a toe and goes up to your ankle.  It will look great with our pedicures.

 

We went out to dinner a few times, watched movies at night, did lunch at McGrooders and stopped for Baskin Robbins ice cream.  Sarah and Steve finally got to go the beach on Wednesday, the day before they left.  Of course, the day they left is sunny and beautiful....it's the Swegle weather curse.

 

I must admit that the little girl I took shopping so many years ago has grown up to be a beautiful, charming, career-minded young woman.   I think that growing up, she kind of got lost in the mix of my mother's grandchildren.  She wasn't the first grandchild like Jenna, she wasn't the only boy grandchild like Joey and she often shared time and attention with Katie, our family's special needs baby.  I was happy to see her shine in her own happy light.

 

Time went to quickly by and we are all headed back to our routines.  Dixie is going to miss the extra loving and belly rubs that she got and we will miss the laughter that Sarah and Steven brought to our house.  

 

Dinner, our last night together

 

Personally, I think we make Steve look good!!!

Real Ketchup lovers....Steve didn't get it either!!

 

 

A huge spider stopped by and ultimately caught a dragon fly.  Sarah was a bit spooked by the spider, who wouldn't be????

 

 

 

Red toes and fat feet!

It's all about the nails!

 

 

 

Love the look!

 

 

 

No manicure for Steven, but we love him anyway!