If You Don't Know For Sure....Don't Say It...

Tony and I have always talked about how people of other cultures appreciate it when you make an effort to speak in their language or attempt to translate our thoughts into their words.

 

I learned today that if you really don't know what you are saying in another language...don't say it.

 

A Hispanic elderly woman was brought into the ED today for treatment.  I approached her with the hospital band and said. in my best Spanish accent.."Nambre?" And she answered me with her full name.  I then said some combination of "Oommm bree an no," or what I thought was, "what is your birthday?"

 

The little old lady looked at me in a very odd manner and I repeated it.  Her granddaughter approached me and said, "you just asked my grandmother how many anus' does she have?"  "OH NO," I don't want to know about her anus, I want to know her birthday.

 

In her best English, the little old lady sat straight up, smiled and  told me what her birthday is. And then she laughed!!  Trust me, she did much  better than I in terms of speaking in a foreign language!

Running Around

I think that having Tyson around has had a really good influence on Dixie.  She follows him into the house when he is called to come in.  She stays when he stays.  She has settled down into a routine.  She still has a mind of her own, but we can see her copying Tyson's responses to commands to some degree.

 

That is not to say, however, that they don't have their moments.  They still fight over Tony's attention and try to share food and treats and steal toys from each other.  But, all in all, his training has enabled us to give some positive pointers to Dixie...except for a few days ago. 

 

Remembering my "barefoot romp" through the neighborhood chasing Dixie when Tony was in Florida,  I had to laugh when Dixie got away from Tony and took him on the neighborhood tour, without her leash.  Dixie smells freedom when she is not on the leash and takes off in a heartbeat.  The more you run after her, the more and faster she runs away.  It's funny--unless you are the one running after her trying to catch her before she gets into a mess.

 

To practice her get-a-way, here she is running after Tyson in the backyard, without a leash on either of them.  Enjoy!

 

Here's Tyson in the yard, minding his own business...

Tony decides to give Dixie some exercise...

Dixie would rather bite his pant legs...

 

Dixie literally, runs into Tyson...

Dixie has speed on her side, Tyson has long  legs!

Tyson demands that Dixie back off!  Check out his expression

 

Now Dixie goes after Tyson's "pant legs!!"

Just like in the movies, Tyson says, "do you want a piece of me??"  Dixie runs away!

Now who is in pursuit?!!

 

Breathing hard, each decide to rest...

Dixie watches Tyson go into the house...she has other ideas....

"Come here," you say?"   "I don't think so!!"  And away she goes....

 

Four houses down, Daddy catches Dixie--it's back on the leash for her...

Tyson reaps the "good boy" rewards...sitting on Tony's lap on the lanai!!

 

They are fun to watch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

MINE, MINE, MINE!!!

Last week, David and his dog, Bernie,  visited us.  This week, we have Tony and Marie's dog, Tyson, with us because of a death in Marie's family.  They will be in Cleveland for a few days and we are sorry for their loss. 

 

Dixie has matured bit since the last time she saw Bernie and Tyson and has been pretty good about opening up her home to them, but there are certain things she just won't share--her toys, her food and of course, Tony.

 

Last night, we were going to watch a movie.  Dixie took her usual spot--between us on the couch.  Tyson was a bit put out because everyone was on the couch except him.  He put his head in Tony's lap and cried.  We decided to put some towels on the floor at Tony's feet so Tyson would feel like he was part of the family. 

 

He seemed to like this idea and he set about doing the age old canine tradition of circling on the towels and moving them around before he finally settled down. 

 

It took Dixie about 2 minutes to realize that while she was sitting between us, Tyson was actually closer to Tony than she was.  She jumped down onto the floor and proceeded to take over the towels--laying down on both of them. 

 

Tony has done his best to give each of them attention and affection, but which ever one isn't getting him at the time either cries or barks. 

 

Every morning, we ease into the day with a cup of coffee and relax in our living room chairs.  This morning was no different, except that with two dogs demanding Tony's attention, it was anything but relaxing.  Dixie and Tyson fought over his lap, his floor space and his attention. 

 

I think Dixie decided it was time to assert her authority and show Tyson whose house it really is...she went to his food bowls and peed in front of them.  Talk about the ultimate in marking her territory!

 

It's been fun to watch and I have been keeping my allergies under control.  Maybe next month, we'll go all out and babysit both Bernie and Tyson--now that will really be fun to watch!!

 

My Towels.....

My Toy....

 

My Daddy....MINE, MINE, MINE!!

 

You can be by Mommy, just stay away from Daddy!  (Can you see the sun hitting the bling on my ring!!)

 

 

Today Was Mother's Day

Those of you who know me best know that my mother frowned on athletic activities for girls.  Sweating, running and jumping were things that girls didn't do.    I played basketball and ran track in high school, but my mother considered these things to be activities that were forced on me by the school system, not things that I enjoyed doing.  But I did and I was reasonably good at both.  I don't mean to say that she was anti any sport, but she did have her ideas about what "little girls" were supposed to do. 

My father was a bowler and a golfer and my mother spent many hours telling us how these activities were worthless and only things that men did.   Today, I find it funny that my sister, Fritz, is an excellent bowler, who has attended and won many tournaments.  And,  I have dabbled in golf.  I guess we took after Papa more than Mom. 

I "dabbled" today.  David came up from Tampa a few days ago and we went golfing today.  Keep in mind, I used to golf on a regular basis when we lived in Strongsville with my friend, Joyce.  But, since we have been in North Carolina, it's been at least 2 or more years since I golfed.

We went to a Par 3 course in Southport, which seasoned golfers use to improve their short game and beginners go to learn the game.

The course was in terrible shape, they said that it was affected by various insects, (and we were attacked by huge flies) but it was more than that.  The fairway was overgrown and sand marked many spots where golfers played before us.  But, like David said, it's not about being good, it's about getting out there  and "stinking up the course together."

What a good time I had.  It made me realize that David and I have spent little time one on one over the years and this was a great way to communicate. 

A par three course suggests that you should finish the course with a score of 27 on the front 9 and another 27 on the back 9, so your score should be 54.   Well, I doubled that on the front 9 and more and ended up with a 61.  A terrible score on a par 3, even with the course being so rough.  I topped the ball, skimmed it, missed it and landed in the sand.  I fought off flies, balanced on the edge of a water trap and sweated like someone from Alaska visiting hell. 

But I had fun.  David reminded me that golf, among other things, is a game of rhythm.  Get your balance and rhythm going and you should have a good game.  I had a good game--not in score but in company and memory.  This is a memory I will treasure for a long time.

After the game, we searched out places in Southport to have lunch.  We found a bistro that was serving brunch and had a really good meal together. 

 

My son, David, is a good man.  He is honest, committed, hard working and loving.  He is like his father and he makes me very proud.

 

I had fun today.  I sucked at golf, but for a small moment in time, I enjoyed the sun, the breeze and the challenge.  I enjoyed being out with my son.  It was Mother's Day for me and what a wonderful day it was.

Pot

I used to watch my father cut the grass and trim in the yard.  Every once in a while, he planted flowers, but for the most part, it was maintenance, not creativity.  He would pay me $.25 if I bagged the trimmings and hauled the garbage bags to the garage, but even doing those small things set my mother off.  "Girls," she proclaimed, "do not do yard work." 

 

As I have said many times before, it wasn't until I met Tony that I realized that I could have fun planting flowers and messing in the dirt. 

 

I did that today.  I re-planted my "pot."  Last year, I bought a pot to "play" in.  Something I could either create beauty in, or have a disaster in.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that it turned out well.  It was green and had many different kinds of plants in it.  Some were tall, some were close to the root, but the combination was beautiful.  I felt accomplished.

 

Today, I took out all of the dead things that frost and rain damaged and put in new, living things.  I can't wait to see how it turns out.  I like planting.  I like seeing how color changes our yard.  I like enjoy putting different plants together and create a "look!"  We will see how this turns out, but so far, here it is.....

 

The new plants stand, waiting in line, to replace what I trimmed from the pot

And I trimmed and trimmed and trimmed!

Tony bought two Mandavelia plants--I just love them

The new plants go in....

...and settle into their place next to the palm tree

I hope this pot turns out as well as the last one!

My Favorite Time of Year

I used to think that fall way my favorite time of year....the leaves turning colors, cool breezes and the hint of Christmas just around the corner.  But, I've changed my mind--I love Spring. 

 

Spring in North Carolina is beautiful.  There are azaleas all over, in all different colors, geese fly overhead and chant to each other--probably about how pretty the sky is and there is a constant, cool breeze. 

 

Yesterday, we went to pick out some flowers and look at possible ways to extend the patio area--I'm always looking for more space.  We decided to have someone come out and give us some ideas and estimates.

 

We also had some excitement recently.   One of the things that happens here pretty regularly is controlled burns; thinning out thick brush and removing small trees. That's what we thought was happening the other day when we saw giant plumes of smoke in the sky.  It looked like the "burn" was pretty close to our development, but we were comfortable that with all of the building going on, construction crews had everything under control.   Well, we were wrong--it wasn't a controlled burn at all--it was a fire (under investigation) close to Compass Pointe, but not on our property.  It was bad enough to make not only the local news, but David heard about it in Tampa, Florida!  The news piece mentioned Compass Pointe--gee, maybe this event will put us on future GPS maps!

 

I start working 12 hour shifts on Thursday.  More hours, less days.  I worked Easter, but Tony made us a nice dinner before I left.   Tonight, we're going to the City Club for a wine tasting.  Next week, we're going to take our friends, Jan and Stu Friedman, out for dinner for babysitting Dixie while Tony was away and I was working.   And then, David comes to visit.  He reminded me that I promised to play golf with him the next time he visited, so off I go to "stink up the course" with him!  I am looking forward to it!

 

And so, it's a beautiful day and I'm going to plant the flowers I picked out.  Tony is way ahead of me, but I will catch up!

 

 

Here's Tony making the yard pretty for me

We like to have a tall plant surrounded by smaller, cascading ones

The "pot" arrangement I made last year took the winter pretty well.  I got some small plants to put in the corners

 

"Hot to Trot" watches over the backyard

New flowers by the palm tree

Definitely NOT a controlled burn

 

 

Smoke comes up over the rooftops in Compass Pointe

 

I saw this cloud and thought of a screaming eagle

 

When new homes are going up, there's a lot of dust that blows around...lots of dust

New waterways

It just wouldn't be a blog without a picture of Dixie!!

 

 

 

 

 

DOG FOR SALE....FAST AND CHEAP

As you may recall, Dixie has been sick for awhile.  I think I can safely say she's a lot better.

 

We are supposed to have a frost tonight, so I moved the plants on the front porch closer to the house so they would be more protected.  I was 104% sure I shut the front door, but as I picked up one of the pots, (with my back to the front door,) I heard a "happy bark."  If she could people speak, I'm sure she would have been saying...."ha, ha, ha, catch me if you can."  And she was off!!

 

Down the driveway, over to the next door neighbor's tree lawn, up the sidewalk to the house two doors down and finally, dancing her way across the street to the house under construction.   She was low to the ground and moving quickly.  Every once in a while, she would look back over her shoulder to see where I was and change direction if I was getting too close.  She even tried to jump the plastic barrier around the perimeter of the yard that the workers use to keep the blowing dirt under control.  Lucky for me, it was just a tad too tall for her. 

 

The construction site was full of mud, nails, wood and standing rain water.  Neither of us were wearing shoes.  We must have been a sight with me in my pajamas and her running free. 

 

One of the construction workers left a plastic water bottle in the back yard.  I threw germ caution to the wind and picked up the bottle.  I taunted her.    I made it crackle and tossed it in the air, close to me...picking it up before she could reach it.  I finally let her grip it with her mouth and I grabbed her collar.  BINGO...I had her.  She got a really hard spanking and when we got home, she ran right for her cage.   The dog equivalent of  the teenage speak..."YOU HIT ME!  I  HATE YOU, I'M GOING TO MY ROOM"
 

I'm guessing if she could do that again, she would, but I have a plan... If that happens, I have two choices...one, to put an ad in the 'dogs for sale' section of the newspaper...or, I could convince the Mexican workers that she is a rabbit and would be good to have for their lunch. 

 

The deciding factor will be how much I am offered in both scenarios!

What can I say?  Mommy needed the exercise!!