A Life Well Launched

We went to Florida to see David, Brenda and Alex.  The weather all the way down was picture perfect--bright, pretty clouds, breezy and comfortable temperatures. 

We stopped in Lake Mary, Florida, to see Joyce, our sister-in-law and her family.  Joyce raises and trains Golden Retrievers and introduced us to her new puppy, Rhys (pronounced Reese.)  He is a bundle of energy and is a beautiful sunny color. Dixie stayed with her Godparents, but I wish we could have seen her interact with Rhys.  She may be smaller, but I think she could have given him a run for his  money.

And then we saw Alex!!!!  (OK, David and Brenda too!)  She is just as beautiful as we remembered and still quite small and feminine.  She speaks well now since she got tubes in her ears.  She is a walking, talking little question mark and approaches new things by saying, "Wuz Zat?"   She loves books and constantly points to the pictures with her question.  Once you tell her what she is looking at, she will try to repeat the words.  

Alex is learning English and Spanish at the same time.  Brenda told us that one day in school her class came in from outside playtime.  All of the kids were thirsty and the teachers were giving them water.  They kept asking Alex if she wanted water, but she didn't answer.  Then she saw the water and pointed and said, "agua!!"  

She knows the alphabet to the letter "D" and counts in English and Spanish when she and Brenda get to the steps at school.   I understand that "six" is her best number.  Not bad for an 18 month old!  She is just a little doll. 

Tony, David, Brenda and Alex went to the "Fun In The Sun" airshow.  It's the second biggest airshow in the country.  All of the Swegle's had their eyes in the sky and had a great time.  The Blue Angels performed and there was a cool dog fight with the Red Baron.  It was 92 degrees and a perfect day for an air show. 

David did a great job feeding us--doing a pasta dish from the restaurant where he worked so many  years ago and then doing ribs and chicken with his steamer.  

They have some really great ideas about finishing the backyard, including an extended enclosed lanai, fire pit, tropical and colorful plants and tile flooring.  

Talking to Brenda and David about their future plans, it occurred to me that they have a life that is well launched.  They have short and long term plans and goals.  They know what they want in their careers, their individual lives, their marriage and for their child and future children.  They work hard for what they want and have positioned themselves for success.  They support each other unconditionally and it is truly heart warming to see.

They are off to Slovenia soon to explore the Swegle side of the relationship (after recently going to Texas so Alex could meet her extended Ramirez family.)   It sounds like a wonderful adventure.  I only wish Alex was a bit older so she could remember the trip.  Knowing Daddy, he will take lots of pictures so she can see the sites later on.

And so, we get ready for Easter and a visit from our nephew, Chris, and his family.  

Here are a few pictures.  We had so much fun with Alex, I forgot to take volumes of her every move!

Reading with Papa, "WUZ ZAT?"

A beautiful girl 

The Slovenia traveling outfit!!

Oops, this is supposed to be a heart from the airshow...I forgot to turn

 the picture (just turn your head to the right!!)

Alex in her "bubble" fish outfit

  

Tails, Wind and Doctors

I can't believe that Tony's birthday was in February and we are looking at April already.  As always, the time has gone quickly by and we seem to be running, running, running to catch up with it. 

Donna and Bob left on March 1, making every effort to beat a winter storm warning that could have left them driving in rain, sleet and snow.  I have been looking for an economic report for March for this area, as I'm sure it will show a downturn since Donna and I haven't been shopping.  

Tony and I have been doing a few things.  We went to a night club in downtown Wilmington called Tails, where our friend, Greg, from the City Club, works.  Stepping into Tails is like stepping into old Hollywood.  It's grand, over the top, and richly decorated.   We enjoyed our time there and I'm sure we will be going back. 

Last week, we went to the beach for the first time this season.  The temperature here was around 60 degrees and the sky was perfect.  We got to the beach which was basically deserted and were greeted by 15 mile an hour winds and flying sand.  It was 57 degrees there and really cold.   But, the beach is the beach and we had fun.  We saw a woman walking on the beach with a winter coat and right across from her, was a woman in a wet suit surfing.  How's that for seeing both ends of the spectrum?

The other thing that has been taking up our time, is of course, doctor's appointments.  Mine mostly, but Tony did see our primary care doctor and was deemed healthy.  My skin therapy treatments are back up to 3 times a week and yesterday, I had a CPET.  That's short for cardiopulmonary exercise test.  You start out doing a breathing test (which I have done before) and then move to a stationary bike with an oxygen tube attached to your head with a helmet and bars.  It reminded me of old orthodontist equipment that was used to straighten teeth.  After you get hooked up with that, they put a fancy "clothes pin" on your nose to block your airwaves.  

Decked out with all of this, you are supposed to peddle the bike, getting the pedal level up to level 60 for a sustained period of time.  My peddle level kept dropping to 53 or lower, which extended the time of the test, as you have to maintain 60.  While all of this is going on, the test administrator is increasing the the level of resistance on the bike peddles so it is harder to get them to move.  And for 6 minutes they are measuring your heart, lungs and muscle reactions.

Needless to say, after getting off of the bike, your legs are like jello, you need water and are very, very sweaty.    

Hopefully, this test will finally answer why I am short of breath all of the time.  Everything else in terms of medical stuff is on hold for now.  I had a biopsy in October and will return in April  or early May for a follow up and next steps.   

We are going to Florida in April and will see our sister-in-law, Joyce as well as David, Brenda and Alex.  After that, various family members from Cleveland start to arrive from Easter to the 4th of July, and we will be in Hilton Head in June. 

Enjoy the photos...more later.

As you walk in, you see a white piano, 

comfortable seating and decorative lighting

In the middle of the room is a beautiful, elaborate chandelier 

The entrance is draped with heavy curtains

Here I am in one of the back rooms enjoying some wine

Here's the lady on the beach with the winter parka!

72 And Still Going Strong

I didn't know my grandfathers.  One died when I was very young and the other wasn't in our lives.  Watching Tony and his grandchildren makes me realize what I missed not having that relationship in my life.  

Tony tells nonsense stories to Coleton, Anthony and Owen. He reads to them, face times with them, plays games and draws pictures for them to color.  He used to play with Ben and Sam when they were little by having them sit at the top of the steps and roll a ball down the hand rail.  He would turn around so it would hit him in the butt.  Now, that, was entertainment!  "Papa said butt!!!"  They would giggle!

And with Alex, it's all about the mustache!  She loves to feel it.  She can say, "Papa," now and that makes him very happy. 

Tony turned 72 on Sunday but I secretly think he is still 50.  He plays golf, works at the golf course, still does yard work, small home repairs, puts things together, is still painting beautiful pieces of art and drives to Fayetteville for disabled veterans taking them to doctors appointments at the VA hospital.  

Tony got all kinds of cards, good wishes and gifts for his birthday.  All of the kids and grandkids called or face-timed him for his birthday, which was his favorite gift.  

We went out to dinner with Donna and Bob again this year and on Sunday, I took him to Tarentelli's, one of our favorite Italian restaurants.  

He is 72 and still going strong--and we all love that.

Playing games with Papa

I can say, "Papa" now!

They all still laugh at Papa's jokes

Papa and his girl

Papa takes time away from Dixie to face time 

with Tony Jr and the kids.  She's not happy

Dixie is examining Tony's birthday gift from us

Here's Dixie reading Tony's birthday card with him.  

   

The Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, North Carolina

Yesterday, we went to the Airborne & Special Operations Museum in Fayetteville, near Fort Bragg.  Donna and I were prepared for the museum to be small, old and musty, but, since both Tony and Bob were in the  military, we decided to fore go boutique shopping for a day and do this with them.  

WOW....were we wrong!  The museum is fascinating.  It's big, bright and filled with memorabilia and artifacts from every modern day conflict in which the United States participated.  Plus, there was a special exhibit because this is the 100th anniversary of  the end of World War 1.  

You enter the museum by passing a statue of an American soldier named, "Iron Mike."  Iron Mike was commissioned in 1960 and finished and dedicated in 1961.  He is 15 feet tall and weighs over 3,000 pounds.  His look and size reminded me of an art class that I took years ago.   I learned that Kings and Emperors used to have statues made in their images, but they had the artist significantly inflate the image so they appeared to be huge and powerful.  The statues were displayed far and wide to people who never saw the ruler in person.  They were made to instill fear in the people so they would not revolt.  Any country who got a look at Iron Mike would think twice about taking on America.  

You can't help but be proud as you are walking through the exhibits.  America declared "total war."  War efforts were not just the job of soldiers.  If you were a good and true American, you did something to help win the war.  And, no job was too small.  The political posters were really historical pieces of art that captured the feeling of a nation.  

In addition to the exhibits, there was a movie about World War II, we saw when the American and allied forces took back Burma, landed at Normandy and jointly fought in Europe.   It was loud, proud and dramatic.  When you saw how far across Europe the German marched and dominated and then looked at where the Japanese took hold, it's hard to image that the allied forces could win.  

There were various exhibits about certain military missions and special forces.  I have a whole new respect for people who parachute out of a plane into enemy territory and I can't even image the fear they must feel as they step up to the open door and step out into a sky filled with bursts of light from gun fire.  

Tom Brokaw talked about the people in the war effort of World War II, he called them the "greatest generation," and after seeing this museum, there is no doubt that they were. 

The "soldiers" on display were amazing in the detail that went into making them, especially on their hands.  You could see veins, wrinkles and finger nails.  It was almost spooky to stand so close to them and look into their eyes.  I half expected someone to break their pose and say, "boo!" to me as I examined their uniforms and equipment.  

We spent some time in the Viet Nam conflict section.  How odd to see the "conflict" from this side instead of what was on the news.  Oh...that must be where the term, "fake news" came from.  

After almost two hours, we headed out to lunch and back to the Cape Fear Winery.  Unfortunately, the winery wasn't open, but we did get to see some peacocks.  We'll be back.  

It was a wonderful day and a real learning experience.  I wish our fathers could have been there with us. 

Here are some memories:

This is all 15 feet of Iron Mike

I wish you could see the detail on his face.  

It was every one's responsibility to win the war

This war poster talks about liberty, civilization and humanity

If you couldn't fight in the war, it was your 

responsibility to buy war bonds and fund it

This was outside of the World War 1 exhibit

Examples of World War 1 uniforms

You decide....life like or creepy?

Tony hunkers down with some troops looking for an ambush

"Over there," he says "I see something!"

And what did he see?  A soldier in the bushes with a

 gun trained on his position

Here is the soldier that is hiding....we've spotted him now...

Gliders and planes hung from the ceilings...threatening and proud

 Tony points out Okinawa (where he was stationed overseas) to Donna, and Bob scopes out the German occupation in Europe

Donna, Bob and Tony sit in jump seats ready to jump 

out of the plane and activate their parachutes....I'm glad I'm the photographer!

Images of a soldier and an aid from Viet Nam

Only the peacocks were at the winery

As evidenced by peacock poop on the tables!!

The wise vineyard frog says, "Come back soon!"

Owen Is One

We had another milestone this weekend, Owen turned 1.  Sunday, David, Tony and I went to Charlotte for a post-party celebration.  

Owen is turning into quite the character.  He doesn't say much, but his facial expressions speak volumes!  He loves to play with his older brothers and still loves food--any kind of food!

Owen, like his brothers, is the image of Tony Jr when he was young.  Watching  all of them interact reminded me of watching David and Tony Jr when they were little; especially when they were playing table soccer.  I think we had a game like this years ago.  Tony Jr has been teaching Coleton and Anthony how to play and during our visit, he took on David.  It was like stepping back in time, 30 years ago.  There they sat, cross-legged on the floor, arms moving, laughing and groaning when the other scored a goal.    They may be in their mid-30's, with families of their own, but at that point, they were just "brudders" playing a game together and having a blast. 

We got on the road after dinner and cake and are looking forward to our upcoming Fayetteville trip with Donna and Bob.

See the highlights of Sunday's Charlotte visit:

The competition moved from the golf course to the corn hole game

with Tony Sr and David

Oh look, we have room for more grandchildren 

Tony took the first match, but David came back

 to win the after dinner game

A roaring fire in the chiminea while the clambake took shape

The clambake, clams, chicken, corn and potatoes

Owen, the birthday boy

Anthony, my "Sunny Boy"

The "loot" from Owen's party on Saturday

Anthony and Papa

"Brudders" playing table soccer.  "Daddy" is still there to

 keep the peace, just like he was 30 years ago!  Thankfully, neither

 of the boys had a melt down when they lost the game

Hello Family

We are right in the middle of Donna and Bob's visit.  In 3 weeks they go back to Cleveland.  I feel like we haven't done everything we wanted to, but we have packed in a lot of fun during the time they have been here. 

David was able to come up for a few days to play golf with Tony and Bob and to go with us to Charlotte for Owen's first birthday.  

As always, when two Swegle's are playing golf, the "3 Men and a Bond" trophy is up for grabs.  It has been with us for quite some time and I would be very disappointed to be looking at an empty space  near the fireplace if Tony lost it to David.  

Happily, experience, skill and perseverance won the day and by one stroke, the trophy is still with us.  

While "the guys" are on the links, Donna and I continue to massage the economy.  We found a boutique called "Mermaid's Cove," and bought a few "necessities!"  We met a salesperson named Jessica and were talking to her about tourists and how people often don't realize how what they are wearing makes them look.  Naturally, the conversation drifted to Wal-Mart and the crazy get-ups people have been seen in while shopping there.    I told her that I used to work in an Emergency Room and some of the outfits I saw there were outrageous as well.  She said, "how funny," my father works in an Emergency Room.  Earlier in the conversation, she told us that she used to work at Compass Pointe as a sales assistant.  Suddenly, it clicked.  Jessica is the daughter of my favorite Novant charge nurse, Richard.  He told me once that his daughter worked at Compass Pointe when he found out we lived here, but I didn't realize she had moved to another job.  Jessica, Donna and I laughed about the coincidence and I wrote him a quick, "luv you/miss you" note.  

Donna and I started the day at my breathing test doctor's appointment.  Quite a  few blogs ago, I described what a breathing test is, but I had forgotten how much it takes out of you.  It makes me breathe even harder after it's over and just makes me tired in general.  I go back on Monday for results.  I still feel like I am in "explore" mode when it comes to all of this health stuff.  We have made some discoveries, but no one is sayings, "OK, here are next steps."   It is, indeed, frustrating. 

After a quick lunch and more boutiquing, we met the guys at Latitudes (the golf course restaurant) for dinner.  What fun we had listening the the details of the golf match and sharing our shopping stories.  Hey, when you buy something at 60% off, you brag about it!!

Coming up, Charlotte tomorrow for Owen's birthday, a trip to Fayetteville to see a military museum, Valentine's Day at the Inlet Restaurant and a trip to Cloud 9--a rooftop bar that gives you an incredible view of the city.  

David took over cooking duty and made us "Blackbeard's Petticoat," 

a crab, vegetable and pasta dish.  YUM

Tony chows down on BBQ at a "food truck"

Tony tees off on the last hole--getting ready to re-claim the trophy

Bob, Tony and David

Tony wears his, "3 Men and a Bond" golf shirt presented by David for

 Christmas and proudly holds the trophy--it's coming back to our living room!