Road Trip!!

March not only brings the promise of spring, but for the Swegles...road trips!

 

Tony Jr. went to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for GMR Marketing to get started on the final planning of the summer Olympics.  Tony Sr., went to Charlotte to help Marie with the kids and David and Brenda came up from Tampa for Easter.

 

I worked on Easter Sunday, so we had our Easter on Saturday.  "Easter" morning started with an Easter basket hunt for David and Brenda and then coloring eggs.  It brought back many fun memories.

 

We had one of Tony's terrific Easter dinners, with ham and all of the trimmings and then the corn hole battles begin.  This time we're serious....Brenda and I are taking the guys down! 

 

Easter Morning was early mass for the Catholic Swegles and off to work for me.  The "kids" left shortly after that.  A short visit, for sure, but a fun one.

 

Bernie, Betty and Dixie got along well.  Bernie is getting his revenge by sleeping on Dixie's bed in the living room, while Betty has taken over her (Dixie's) throne...the hassock between our two chairs.  It's a good sharing lesson for Dixie, something she is not used to doing!

And so, as they say is the rest of the story...the Easter dinner was great, as was the company, but Brenda and I fell to the men in corn hole, 21 to 9...and I didn't contribute one point.  It was all Brenda.   We all had a good time.

Anthony bundled up for an Easter Egg hunt

Anthony unbundled!

Coleton is ready for the hunt!

 

 

Uh OH....Betty on Daddy's lap....this could be trouble...

Future Mrs. Swegle kicks Mr. Swegle's butt in corn hole!  She's a quiet winner!!

Our Corn hole Tree says, Dave and Brenda....Brenda says, "this is where I belong!"

 

OK, we're losers....but at least Brenda put points on the board...I didn't even get close!

Check out Brenda's egg coloring technique...and the bling!!

Some of the finished products...love the chick!

 

They found the baskets

Betty...just lounging around

Bernie says, "can anyone control these bitches?"

 

 

Dixie reclaimed her throne....she says, "send those dogs home, Daddy!"

 

 

 

 

 

A Grand Picnic

One of the best things about being in a relationship is knowing that the other person "gets you."  You know, they understand why you do things--or why you don't and they don't question it.  They know what makes you tick--what makes you smile and what makes you cry.   Tony gets me.  OK, sometimes I tell him he doesn't, but he really does.

 

He got me today.  I went back to work last Saturday--it was supposed to be a 4 hour shift, but they needed me for 12 hours.  I worked Saturday, Sunday and Monday--12 hours each, so by today, I was beat and didn't plan on doing much. 

 

Tony called from running errands and asked me if I wanted to have a picnic.  Did I ever.  I love picnics almost as much as the beach, but I tend to criticize flying, crawling and creeping bugs.  I don't like picnic with bugs.  They annoy me.  I could put an entire piece of whatever we are having to eat 10 feet away from us,  specifically for the bugs, and those damn creatures will come after our food anyway. 

 

But, like I said, Tony gets me.  We didn't eat on the ground; we had our picnic in the Grand Lanai here at Compass Pointe--a huge building dedicated to entertainment and social functions with tables and chairs and a sound system and all of the conveniences of home.   We enjoyed the view of the pool and man-made river and walked around in a beautiful sun filled day.  It was a great idea and a great picnic. 

 

I am back to work tomorrow; refreshed by our wonderful picnic--today, a picnic and soon....our first trip to the beach which will cause a million smiles!

Doesn't everyone have a picnic with a white table cloth, lit candle and wine in front of real palm trees, a stone fireplace and a huge mounted TV?

Tony says,
"Here's to our indoor picnic..."

Me too!

 

The view from the Lanai

The left side of the man made lake

The right side of the lake...still divided

 

Look at those clouds!

Tony by the lake

Golf lessons on the front lawn of the Lanai

 

 

Let Freedom Ring

I love clouds

Home Again!!

 

 

Update

There is nothing like feeling good--getting up in the morning ready to challenge the day; meeting what comes head on and ending the day happy and knowing that you were on the top of your game. 

 

I haven't had that feeling in a while.  A few weeks ago, it was pneumonia...or maybe a bacterial infection in my lungs...or maybe a severe flare of my skin problems...or maybe....the list was endless.

 

At about 2:30 a.m. on Friday, I had Tony take me to the Emergency Room,  from which I was admitted to the hospital and stayed until Sunday afternoon. 

 

Today, I did follow up appointments with my Primary Care Doctor and the physician's practice that saw me while I was hospitalized.   I will be having another CAT scan on March 31 to get a better idea of what is going on.  Right now, there is so much inflammation and bacterial infection that no one can see what is really making me have pain. 

 

I have another follow up with  the physician's practice who will read the cat scan on April 4 and then, hopefully, we will have a plan of action that will get me back to 100%.

 

I am a lousy patient.  I don't like being sick.  Tony has been a trouper driving me around and in general, taking care of me.  He knows that I growl because I don't feel well.   He is a much nicer patient than I. 

 

Thanks to all who sent prayers and good wishes to me.  More updates soon.

 

 

From My Team at Work

From Tony

A picture of Dixie that I put on  my hospital night stand to make me smile

New Addition--It's Official

A few things have to happen before you officially join the Swegle family.  There has to be a beautiful ring, a proposal, the promise of a wedding, and most important--you have to have your name added to our Corn Hole board. 

 

Introducing our newest addition to the board--Brenda!!

Tony does the finishing touches....

 

 

TA DA...the finished product!

 

 

 

We are so happy to have her in our family.   She not only adds much to our family, she looks good on the board!

 

Lots has been going on of late.  The nurse who lost her son in the car accident that I wrote about last week has returned to work.  We had a conversation last night about Caleb and finding a new normal.   The family is working through their grief and getting ready for the upcoming trial.  Both teenagers are being charged with misdemeanor manslaughter, car theft, and theft of personal items, as various things that belonged to Caleb were pawned and the pawn ticket was found in the possession of the teenagers.   It's one of those situations where no one wins and everyone loses. 

 

Donna and Bob went back to Cleveland after two months down here.  We had a great time and finished their visit with dinner at a new restaurant in Southport, Olivers.  It was right on the water and had great food.

 

Dave and Kathy Henderson came to visit as well.  Tony and Dave worked together at Parker Hannifin.  They are a fun couple who are celebrating the birth of their second grandson.  Their daughter, Lauren, and her husband live in High Point, North Carolina.

 

Work has been "crazy" literally.  12 hour days, 4 hour waits to be seen by a doctor and high volumes of people coming in every day.   It is sad to see children as young as 8 being admitted for mental evaluation, but we have had several.  Add older people who have taken serious falls and lots of car accidents and you have a stressful environment.

 

Spring is on the way and temperatures are on the rise.  I feel funny about complaining about two months of cold weather, after living in Cleveland for so long, but geez, January and February did get cold down here.   Pretty soon, it will be time to go to the nursery and get flowers for the yard, something that always makes me happy. 

 

March brings Tony Jr going to Rio for Olympic planning and Tony Sr will be going to Charlotte to help Marie.  The month will be gone in a blink of an eye. 

 

It's like the ash tray my father used to have; it had the saying:  "Time marches on, damnit."  Now I know what that means!