New Bern

I said in my last post that Tony and I were going to New Bern for our 26th anniversary.  We enjoy exploring North Carolina, especially, sea/river towns, which New Bern is.  I feel like these places are always on summer vacation.  The pace is different, the sky is bright blue and there is a coolness to the constant breeze that lulls you into relaxation.  It was extra-perfect, because we found a "dog friendly" place to stay.  We explored not only New Bern, but Havelock, Morehead City and Beaufort, all in close proximity. 

 

We saw some amazing architecture in New Bern.  It's an old city, with a strong Queen Anne style in some of it's surviving homes.  They have wrap around porches, turret windows and high roof peaks on the second floor. 

 

Since we moved down here, I find myself more interested in sea life and going to various aquariums.  There was a really nice one in Pine Knoll Shores, close to Morehead City.  Unfortunately, the day we decided to go, there were at least four school tours with the same idea.  It was loud, but we took the opposite route of the kids as often as we could and really enjoyed our time there.  I met a professional photographer (who teaches at UNC) and she gave me some tips on getting a better shot when taking pictures in a dimly lit area and through the glass that enclosed the fish.  Her camera looked like a small cannon--the gun kind, not the camera kind.  I found Tony and I  could return the favor to some small degree by helping a young woman who was struggling with her camera.   I know that the visual image you see will never match what is caught by a camera lens, but to me, it is exciting to try to capture the right moment of movement.  To see Dixie jumping and get her on film in mid air or catching a drop of rain fall off of a rose petal are things that make me feel like I am showing people something they may have missed, even though they were in the moment. 

 

This trip was a good "come down" for me.  I took 5 full days off of work and felt really rested.  We walked around a maritime museum, ate at fun restaurants (don't miss, Crabby Patty's!) and had fun being together to celebrate. 

 

We included some beach time in our schedule and as always, I had a great time.

 

Since then, I took another golf lesson, which I totally enjoyed, although my back was bothering me.  This time, I was hitting from the fairway with an iron.  It doesn't sound difficult, but I am having trouble connecting the center of my club face with the ball.  I just have to keep practicing!

 

On another note, I went for my yearly physical when we got back.  Geez, why do I do that?  My bad cholesterol jumped 50 points from my last visit and my blood pressure is still a problem.  Dr. Gettier (pronounced Get-tee-a) gave me a list of things to cut out of my diet (or at least cut back.)   Of course, green beans or lettuce weren't things I have to give up.  It was red meat, starches, pork, butter, chocolate and eggs.  OK, so what is left to eat? Seriously?  I can probably eat the box my cereal comes in, but she will probably put that on the list my next visit.  OK, I've lost 3 pounds, but this is miserable!!

 

I have also become a "tablet junkie."  I see people at the hospital all of the time investigating things on their "tablet" while they are waiting.   I never understood the urge to stare into a hand held device while I am waiting for something.  OK, I got it now.  I can check email, read a book, play a game (I am also hooked on Luminosity, the "brain game app), check the weather, read a fashion magazine, find out what's going on in news around the world and listen to music.  It's amazing.  I was using it so frequently that my battery was low.  I worked from 7 to 7 yesterday and was positively at a loss for how to fill the time when patients weren't coming in. 

 

Today is Sunday and tomorrow is Memorial Day. Tomorrow, we will have a 34 year old son and a few weeks after that, a 39 year old daughter.  How in the world did that happen to such young people as Tony and me?     I'm working on Memorial Day,  of course, but Tony is making one of our favorite meals for us to share tonight.  It's a cool day and a beautiful one.

 

Share our vacation:

 

Hanging out with the locals!

There were lots of bears in New Bern...

...there's another one!

 

A restaurant, right on the water...good food

Johnny Depp?

An old bell on display at the Maritime Museum

 

One of my photos, post lesson

I am fascinated by jelly fish!

Tony was getting a bit "crabby" at the aquarium!!

 

A diver in the shark tank...no thanks

Cool fish

A Frisbee catching dog at the beach

Beautiful waves

 

My star fish bracelet that Tony bought me from vacation

 

  

 

 . . . and back home to the gardenias & red roses.

 

Since Everyone Went Home

It seems so long ago that Tony and I had a routine of coffee in the morning while we were planning out our respective days.

 

With the various funerals and aftermath we have experienced of late, our mornings have been anything but routine.  We kept Tyson for 3 weeks and watched he and Dixie fight, adjust, befriend and finally  miss each other after Tony, Marie, the kids and Tyson left yesterday.  Dixie went room to room today looking for Tyson and for Coleton and Anthony.  She did a lot of face licking (poor Anthony was on the floor doing tummy time and couldn't get away) and chasing Coleton yesterday.  She looked quite disappointed to find that they were all gone. 

 

It was nice having Tony, Marie and the kids here for Mother's Day.  They gave me a beautiful green Infinity scarf and I have tons of things I can wear it with.  David and Bernie sent me  an Amazon gift card so I can download more books and Jenna sent me messages from the kids and a tote bag with art that Sam did in school on it. The artwork looked so professional!! Tony (Sr) fixed us ribs on the grill....yum!!!! All in all, it was a very nice Mother's Day. 

 

On Ben's card, he wrote a note and a PS, that said, "I grew."  I love that!!  It's our own little memory that I am so happy he recalled it. 

 

We did get rainy parts of Tropical Storm Ana yesterday and today.  Yesterday, it was pretty constant coming down in sweeping waves for hours at a time.  Today, it's been off and on.  The plants look good after the big shower, but our roses did take a bit of a beating. 

 

Tomorrow, we leave for a mini-vacation to New Bern.  We are going to celebrate our 26th anniversary there.  It will be a quiet time--just walking around, seeing the sites and having a nice anniversary dinner.  Dixie is coming with us so that should be fun.

 

As always, it's quiet in the house since everyone went home...but, it's a nice quiet.  I can smell Tony's cigar as he walks around the yard and Dixie's new plastic toys make a short, high pitched cry when she bites them--all stretched out on the office floor behind me.  The TV is on, showing a far-fetched lifetime movie and the rain has stopped for now.  I have pictures to remind me of the activity of the past two days and they make me smile. 

 

We call him Mr. Smiley!

The kids and Tony are laughing at Marie doing "Jump Arounds!"

 

My turn--I got a haircut when I saw this picture!

 

The Swegle Family

We love Anthony's "chipmunk" cheeks~

 

Daddy and his boys

I played some soccer with Coleton and Tony Jr.  Sad to say that a three year old plays better than I do

Tony (Sr) was reluctant to do another neighborhood search, so he kept Dixie on her leash--she sill managed to chase Tyson. 

 

Look out Pele....he's got the focus, his eye on the ball and the drive

 

Here's Coleton explaining his airplanes to Dixie

Um....this was supposed to be "tummy time" for Anthony....as you can see, it was also tummy time for Tyson, who took up more and more of the blanket....not sure Anthony is amused!

Here's Dixie not being amused...we put her bed on the patio floor and let Tyson up on the patio couch....she was not happy

 

 

 

 

 

In Three's

It is pretty much accepted that when a person of note, such as an actor/actress, political figure or reigning monarch dies, it will be one of three deaths in a short period of time.  Or, putting it more simply, as my mother used to say, "people die in three's."

 

It does happen, as we experienced this month.  First, Marie lost her grandfather, then Tony lost his Aunt Florence and a few days later, we lost our good friend Tim Guinter.  Tim and Tony worked together at Parker.  He was a sweet man.

 

The loss of these people made me sad.  They were all wonderful people and we lost them too soon. 

 

I think that I am most sad for Tim.  He died at 67 and did not enjoy one day of retirement.  He went right from working hard to  medical leave to being sick and then death.    It just doesn't seem fair for the contribution he made to those who knew him. 

 

Unfortunately, Tony could only make one of the funerals.  He went to Baltimore on Tuesday evening to attend Aunt Florence's funeral on Wednesday.   He was glad he went and was able to connect with his cousins and their families. 

 

People die in three's.  Sad, but true.  It kind of makes you think about living life to the best of your ability. To do the best you can while you are here on earth and to be the kind of person that others will miss when you are gone. 

 

 

 

 

 

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.