Home Is Where The Kids Are

It's taken a few weeks to get my thoughts together regarding the Cleveland trip and get the blog updated.  I went back to work the day after we got back and it's been busy, busy, busy ever since.

We had a great time!  We stayed with Donna and Bob.  Dixie didn't poop in their house this time, but she did manage to find a pair of Donna's sandals to chew up.  Don't let Donna tell you she can't cook.  She did a great spaghetti dinner with all of the extras the evening we got into town.  Chris and Shannon and Emma came by and we got to spend some quality time with them.  We enjoyed hearing Emma put Bob in time out!

 

The four of us went to Pier W for dinner one night.  I love that place.  The food was good, downtown Cleveland lit up at sunset and we got a few pictures on the outside patio.

 

We also went to a winery in Canton, called Gervasi's.  That was cool.  The grounds were beautifully kept and their wines were good. 

 

Rose and Joe just got back from Italy, earlier in the week and we saw some terrific pictures from their trip.  The artwork was amazing.  They saw many of the pieces I studied in Art History class.  How I would love to see them up close and in person--of course, I'd want to touch the sculptures and that probably wouldn't go over well.

We also caught dinner with my sister, Fritz and her husband, Steve at Lockeepers.  There was one thing for sure...we ate well while we were in Cleveland!

 

Tony and I headed up to Geneva on the Lake (without Dixie) to spend time at one of our favorite places.  We got a gift card from Donna, Bob, Rose and Joe for our 25th vow renewal for the visit and we really relaxed.  We went to the beach and I got some rocks.  I love rocks.  I'm starting another rock garden here in Leland like I had in Strongsville and Tony was nice enough to carry some of my "treasure" back so I could start assembling them in the yard.  It was so nice to kick back and relax.  We went to some of our favorite Ohio wineries and found a few new ones that we will certainly visit again.

 

After returning from Geneva on the Lake, we met our niece, Sarah, and Steven, her significant other, for lunch at TGI Friday's one day and then went to visit my sister, Lynn.   She bought Dixie another "Stretch," a soft play toy, that Dixie loves.  She has already "loved" two or three of them to death. 

 

The highlight for us, of course, was seeing the grandchildren.  I almost want to call Ben, a grandperson.  He is SO tall....coming almost up to my chin and explaining the video game he was playing on his Kindle to Tony.  Jon was a great host and we enjoyed seeing everyone. 

 

It felt like every minute of our visit was scripted and scheduled, but we found a minute or two to relax on Donna and Bob's deck.  The guys smoked cigars and we planned our next shopping outing.  Donna, Tony and I went to the Tremont area (Bob had a previous commitment.)  We had lunch and then Donna and I went to various boutiques.  We had a blast.  Donna picked out a "cover" for me that I just love.  You can wear it over a tank top or a more formal top and it just drapes over you.  Very cool.   She really has the potential of a great career in being a personal shopper. 

 

All in all, it was a fun, fun trip.  OK, Dixie threw up in the car, but, hey, overall--we enjoyed our time in Cleveland.

 

Here are the highlights:

 

This is Emma teaching Tony how to use his phone

Spaghetti Mouth!

Bangin' Hair

 

Ready for my close up, Mr. DeMille

Finally, best friends

Approaching Gervasi's Winery

 

Forget us, forget Cleveland in the background...it's all about the drape!

My personal shopper and me

Home...and distant memories

 

Laurencia's Winery

Mr. Sam and Mr. Ben....our "babies???!!!"

The Devine Miss P

Zach....our littlest love

 

 

Papa and his boys...all playing video games--all trying to teach Tony the finer points of blowing things up, killing space aliens and the basics of thumb dexterity!!

 

 

 

 

A Summary of Our Cleveland Trip--But Ellie First!

Tony and I had a really good time in Cleveland.  We stopped in Charlotte on our way up and saw Coleton and Anthony.   Wow....Anthony is huge.    19 pounds and just starting to crawl.  Coleton is doing great in school and with potty training.  He's a comedian.  He tried to pull off Tony's mustache. 

 

Of course, one of the highlights of the entire trip was seeing the Cleveland grandchildren.  They are all big and beautiful, but I got a big kick out of Ellie and her expressions.

 

I will blog about the whole trip in another entry,  but for this blog enjoy the many faces of Ellie:

 

Computer Whiz

Good Hair Day

Pondering her future career as a ballerina

 

Betty Davis Eyes

Getting Ready to Prank Zach

Happy Girl

 

"I'm Number 1," She Says!

 

 

Next Blog....Papa's Boys!

First Comes Like

There is a commercial on TV that makes a lot of sense to me.  I think it's for a dating site, but I get so wrapped up in the characters I forget to see what is actually being advertised.

 

The commercial says that love between two people doesn't happen immediately, it comes after you have known someone for a reasonable amount of time and have built some   level of trust when you are self disclosing to each other.  It comes when you determine what you have in common.  Love comes when goofy things you do make the other person laugh.  But before all of that....first comes like. 

 

To me, "like" means, "hey, I'm interested in getting to know more about this person."  Like is looking forward to the next time you are together.  Like is identifying the other person first as a friend.   Like is the basis for the next steps to love.  I think a lot of people don't take enough time to "like."

 

But not me.....

 

I am "in like."   I am in like with a 34 year old attorney from Florida. 

 

David brought Brenda to visit with us and what fun we are having.  She is educated, funny, accomplished, well mannered,  accommodating and has an easy, throaty kind of laugh that makes you smile.  She fit in with us like a long, lost puzzle piece that is finally found. 

 

As usual, any time there are more than 2 Swegles in the house, the cornhole game comes out.  On this warm and breezy day, Tony and I played against David and Brenda.   Let's just say that youth was on their side!!    During this series of play, if you looked up the word, "suck" in the dictionary, you would see me trying to hit the cornhole board and failing miserably.  But it was fun. 

 

In addition to Brenda, we also met Betty, her dog--who took an immediate liking to Dixie's bed and the couch.  Dixie was not pleased, but managed to get along well with Betty and Bernie.  Bernie was glad that Dixie had someone else to chase this visit and he got a lot of rest.

 

I have to work today, but we enjoyed a nice meal at the City Club last night and a wine tasting at our new favorite place, The Tasting Room.   Tony, David and Brenda are going downtown to see fireworks tonight. 

 

This has been a quick visit, but hopefully, we will get together again soon.   It was easy to fall in like with Brenda and I'm guessing that loving her will be just as easy.   But, first comes like.

 

 

Betty says, "ah....I like Dixie's bed....."

When Dixie asked Betty to vacate her bed, Betty accommodated by laying on the couch...Dixie is not amused!

The camera setting was off, but don't let that sweet smile fool you.....she's a killer at cornhole!

 

 

Check out that determined look on her face....

....and see her laughing at my form

"I hope she misses, I hope she misses....damn...right in for the big score.

 

I hope these two fell in like before they got to this point!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Words; A Think Piece

When you work in a hospital; there is always the possibility of experiencing death.  Even though in my position, I only interact with patients for a short period of time, I have come to think of them as "my" patients, just like the doctors and nurses do. 

 

That happened last night.  I met a family from Pennsylvania who came to North Carolina for a "dream" vacation.  The "family" was a husband and wife and his sister.  The sister had not had a vacation in years and worked very hard throughout her life.  She always wanted to see the ocean and come to North Carolina.  Her brother decided to make that happen and brought her down here to enjoy the beach, the ocean and the warm weather. 

 

They arrived in North Carolina on Tuesday and unfortunately, his sister wasn't feeling good.  By Wednesday evening, she was in the Emergency Room for treatment. 

 

Her brother told me that this was also a "healing" visit.  He and his sister had not been getting along lately and he wanted to change that. 

 

At 67, she was alert, alive and funny.  She had on a Depends diaper when the EMS crew brought her in and she joked about it.   She pointed at me and told me when I got older, my day would come to be wearing these ugly, terrible things.  Holy cow, I am only 4 years younger than she...when is "my day" coming??? 

 

In a matter of hours she started to decline.  Her vital organs started to fail and all of a sudden, she was "tubed," meaning she was on a ventilator and not breathing for herself. 

 

She required so much care that it was hard to get visitors back to be with her.  It was many hours before her brother got back to her room and found her not responsive. 

 

Her brother was devastated because he never got to say words to her to heal them--to make them feel better about each other and their relationship. 

 

He told me that their last words were angry.  She didn't want to come to the Emergency Room and he was adamant that she go.  He said that they should have had their last words before coming to the Emergency Room.  Years ago, when they were happy with each other and with their respective lives. 

 

I told him that his last words to her were those of concern and a wish to ensure she was healthy and well and that in her last moments, I was sure she thought of that.  But, I wasn't sure.  I didn't know really, what she thought. 

 

She died.  She died without ever speaking to him.  Without ever seeing him for one last time and seeing the tears in his eyes. 

 

I started to think about last words.  What would my last words be in this life, on this earth?  I don't know.  Do you?  I don't know now, but I am thinking about it. 

 

 

Billie Holiday

Tony and I went to the Red Barn Community Theatre last night to see the play, "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill," a review of Billie Holiday's songs and life.

 

I'm not a big jazz fan, but Billie Holiday was a legend.  She had no formal voice training, but sang the blues with haunting sincerity and a sadness that made her seem lonely and afraid.  With white gardenia's in her jet black hair, she was a vision.

 

Billie  only lived 44 years, and it was a hard 44 year life sentence.  She was deserted by her father when she was very young, was raped at 10, jailed as a teenager for prostitution, addicted to drugs before she was 20 and, after singing in "blacks only" jazz clubs (like Emerson's), was one of the first black women to be the featured singer for an all white, big band, singing with Artie Shaw, who was one of the biggest name stars of the time. 

 

She suffered from racial discrimination at every turn--often not being allowed to use the bathroom facilities at major clubs and events where Artie's band played.  But, it was drugs that brought her down.  Hooked on heroin, she went back to Emerson's Bar and Grill in Philadelphia.  Her voice took on a gravely sound and her songs were laced with sad snippets of a hard life.

 

The play was a one woman show and for an hour and a half, LaRaisha DiEveyln Burnette, delivered her version of Billie.  It was good. 

 

We stopped at the City Club after the play and then at a new place we found, called The Tasting Room--it's a wine store with a tasting area and out back, there is a small place to sit and listen to music.  We met two new couples and had a really good time comparing notes on wine and getting to know them.  

 

It was a fun night.

 

 

 

Blue Moon

I was not working today so we decided to explore a place that we have passed many times, but never frequented.  It's called Blue Moon--a large diverse shopping experience.  It's like many small local businesses grouped under one roof.  They had everything from cold gourmet sandwiches to framed photography and artwork.  It's a really nice place that showcases locally made jewelry, greeting cards, clothes, woodworking, soaps, spices, paintings, sculptures, baby clothes and many other things that you "just can't live without!!"  I really enjoyed spending time going from "store to store" seeing what they had to offer.  But, we didn't buy anything...maybe next time when Donna is in town!!

 

After that, we went to a gallery next door and saw some really out there things!!  Anyone interested in a $3,000 pink piano???   How about a painting in red of ladies (probably of the night!!) for $16,000?   Or, an engine  from an old B 17  with twisted metal parts on the back.  Not sure how much that went for, but I sure couldn't figure out where we would put that if we were serious buyers!!

 

All in all, it was a fun day that started with lunch at one of our favorite places, Indochine.   Tony is not a big "Chinese" food person and I have only ordered pepper steak when I have gone to various Chinese restaurants, but this is different.  This is good food with great portions.  It is Thai/Viet Namese food.  We always get the chicken fried rice and it is really good.  They give us enough in a serving to feed us for lunch the next day. 

 

In the back, they have a Tiki Bar,  Eastern World statues, grotto like seating and plants that give you the oriental experience. 

 

What a fun day.  A hot day, high of 98 degrees, but a fun day all around.  Tonight, Tony is making "CHA  BEE CHAY" a favorite dish with shrimp, lime juice, peppers and other stuff that I could probably name if I spent more time in the kitchen.  NOT!  It will be perfect in this hot, hot weather.

 

Enjoy our day:

 

 

Voted the best "overall" restaurant in 2014 and 2015

 

Entering the Gate of Happiness

Oh yeah, they look happy!

 

Ah, the Goddess!

And the devil....

OK, yoga poses!!

 

Am I getting it???

Fish in the pond!

Happy Man, he just had lunch!

 

 

Blue Moon...

Want a pink piano???? Only $3K

Ladies in Red???  Only $16K

Tony doubts that this is really a B 17 Engine.....too small!!!  Too pricey!!

 

 

 

Moving Parts

Life is full of moving parts.  Schedules, commitments, appointments, demands.  It's like you put together the same puzzle everyday only to have it back into pieces at the end of each day.  And so, you start over.  And the next day, you start over again.

 

It feels like you have to try to squeeze in things that you want to do, things that are important to you and things that make you better.  These little things don't fit into the big picture that is the puzzle of your life and you are left trying to fit them into the cracks of the puzzle.  It's hard.   It's life.  

 

Not much has been going on lately.  We had some excitement at work a few days ago.  A thirteen year old girl was bitten by a shark at a local beach.  She was with some friends  and they were all on  boogie boards in waist deep water.    Two six feet long bull sharks swam next to her board before she realized they were there. 

 

One shark bit a big piece out of the left side of her board.  She was startled, but even more so, when a second shark came up on the right  side of the board and bit not only another big hole in it, but  her foot too (which was dangling in the water.)  She managed to kick the shark with her other foot and dislodge herself from its mouth.  The whole time she was doing this, she managed to stay on what was left of the boogie board.

 

By this time, her friends were yelling and her father and a number of others ran into the water to get her and in doing so, scared the sharks away.  EMS brought her to the hospital for stitches in her toes and the top of her foot.  All things considered she was very lucky...and very small--she stood about 5 feet tall and couldn't have weighed more than 85 pounds.  In true "Spin City" fashion, the next day, the  local newspaper reported that one, four foot long shark was responsible for the attack.  They ran a picture of her board showing the two big bites out of it.

 

In other news, I had my last golf lesson on Friday.  We did pitching and putting.  I managed to make a 30 foot put and that felt good.   I'm not Tiger level yet, but I really enjoyed myself.  It was 92 degrees out there but I had fun.

 

Summer is really here.  We are expecting temperatures in the high 90's by the end of the week.  Tony, Dixie and I have been spending lots of time inside.  Dixie had her spa day last week and I think her haircut came just in time to keep her cool. 

 

As day time turns into evening, we have managed to get a few nice sunset pictures.  You can just tell that another hot day is on the horizon.