The Ghost Pooper

 

As expected, we had a very quiet Thanksgiving.  I say very quiet because the Saturday after we went to Charlotte to see Tony Jr., Marie and the boys.  Talk about direct opposite!  The house is busy, active, happy and loud.  There were  boys everywhere!!

Coleton and Anthony go to school two days a week and learn online the rest of the week.  Owen goes to daycare.  Owen is talking so much better than the last time we were there.  He doesn't say, "I" or "me," he says "Owen,"  as in, "Owen want more."   He plays outside with the boys and goes down the sliding board all by himself.  Yesterday, he was kicking the soccer ball into a net and swinging at baseballs.   They are so cute.  

Coleton is getting straight A's and Anthony is reading at the first grade level.  They are a blast to be around.   But, I know why old people don't have babies.  I don't know how Tony and Marie handle it all.  They are both working from home, helping the kids with school work, taking care of the house, taking the kids to various sports activities and not sleeping much. 

I had a fun conversation with Anthony yesterday.  It was all about the "Ghost Pooper!"  I heard a small "toot" when Anthony was drawing.  He asked me if I smelled anything because he smelled "poop."  

We started talking about who might have pooped when he told me it was the "Ghost Pooper," who drops in from time to time.   You never see him, you just smell him!  Leave it to Anthony to come up with a great story.  

We watched a really sloppy Browns Game and then came home.  Dixie was glad--there's only so much tail grabbing she can take.  

David and Tony Jr., will be visiting in three weeks to have another Swegle Golf Tournament.  Tony Sr., shot a 94 last week, so the boys better bring their "A" game.  That trophy isn't going anywhere. 

So, Christmas is coming up.   Marie asked me what I wanted for Christmas and I told her a granddaughter.   From the look she gave me, I'm guessing that's not on the Christmas list.  

That's OK, we have the boys!

This is from last year, so they are all one year cuter!

The Covid Book

 

I feel like I have been underground for the past few months.   Cape Fear Voices is publishing a book about 2020, specifically, how Covid affected the world.  I have been glued to the computer researching the international impact,  Very recently, I meet with one of the owners/editors to put picture collages together and gather additional information about the year in general.  I found a lot of material in the way of political cartoons that I think will add a great deal to the content. 

Today, the press release about the book came out:

PRESS RELEASE

 The Great Lockdown of 2020: “How I Survived” - published by Cape Fear Voices

Someone on Facebook recently stated that they didn’t want to set their clock back one hour this Fall, as we do every year, because they didn’t want to give 2020 another hour. Another wanted to know if that offer from Momma to knock me into next year was still on the table. It’s been that kind of year for everyone.

From local earthquakes (that’s right, we had one of those in the Cape Fear region in 2020), to a record number of hurricanes, to uncontrollable forest fires out West, locust swarms in Africa, a massive bomb blast in Beirut, political discord and division on a grand scale, to the type of pandemic we haven’t seen in over 100 years – it’s been a year for the record books. Whew! And there’s more to come.  No one today wants to remember 2020. But one day, your grandchildren will want to know, “What did you do during the Great Lockdown of 2020?” (To steal a famous, rhetorical, question from the movie, “Patton.”) Well, you won’t be able to tell them you went out to eat or to a movie. You won’t have a story to tell about that great vacation you took. Maybe you could tell them how clean the house, garage, and yard look these days.

Gerald Decker and Eric Mens, co-owners of  Teen Scene Inc, which publishes a free monthly publication in the Cape Fear region called Cape Fear Voices, have collected individual stories from around the world, across the nation, and possibly even your neighborhood.  They have also garnered the support of local writers such as Bev Haedrich and Lon Anderson. Several North Carolina writers have joined the effort, including Artie Kamiya, Don Lucas, and Bruce Manicelli. Additionally, the National VFW and nationally known writer, Andrew Carroll (“War Letters” and “Behind the Lines”) have granted permission to include some of their articles about life during the pandemic. Helping with research, writing, and editing are Ken Formalarie and Jan Morgan-Swegle. 

The book will attempt to capture, for posterity, the year in glimpses from individuals. It is not our story to tell. It is the story of the nearly 100 people from around the world who submitted personal stories for this publication. Eric Mens commented that the book is “our attempt to document history for the next generation.” He also stated that while the book is still in production, we have already started getting book pre-orders from our writers and loyal readers of Cape Fear Voices.  

We are a nonprofit 501 (c) (3).  All operating funds come from donations or ad sales. Book sale proceeds will cover the cost to continue publishing Cape Fear Voices and our teen publication, The Teen Scene. If you would like to order a copy of “The Great Lockdown,” please email editorcfv@gmail.com or editorteenscene@gmail.com. 

I was very surprised and pleased to see my name in the release.  I certainly did not expect that.  

This has been such a good experience for me.  I have worked with very talented people and I have learned a great deal.  I continue to write for the paper (I missed the November issue due to the research work) and I hope that one of my articles, "The Distance Between Us," will be published in the book.  The story is about Tony and I going to Cleveland to see Jenna's children and how we had to keep our distance and not hug or have any type of contact.  That's the visit where I cried so hard I didn't think I had any tears left in me.  

I am also working the the Advisory Board on ways to generate revenue for the paper.  The Plain Dealer used to publish personal events under the heading of "Celebrations."  I pitched the idea to the Board and they thought it was a good idea so I will be working with the web designer to get it up and running.  

In other news, we are on our way to Charlotte the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  We missed Anthony's birthday in October, so we are taking his gift and having a very small party.  It will be good to see everyone and get out of the house.  

It has been an odd and difficult year.  The high's and low's were incredible.  I so hope that 2021 is better for  us all. 

From our home to  yours, Happy Thanksgiving.   🦃

Stuff In General

I was silly enough to think that once the election was over, we wouldn't be hearing so much Trump stuff.  Boy was I wrong.  We, as a country, seem just as divided as before and now it feels like we have two Presidents--the good guy and the other guy. 

It will be interesting to see how this whole thing turns out.  

I have been busy with the Cape Fear Voices Covid 19 book that the team wants to publish.  It will be a book about the virus and how it played out around the world, around the country and in Wilmington.  My research efforts were geared toward the International section and I learned a lot about how countries around the world responded to the virus.  It was interesting work.   The book should be out by January and I am excited to see how it turns out. 

I'm working on pictures now for the book--showing how Covid affected everyday life.  I'm also doing layout and design work for the Cape Fear Voices paper.  It keeps me busy, but it also keeps me tied to the computer.  

It's been pretty quiet around here.  David, Brenda and Alex won't be coming up for Thanksgiving this year.  Brenda is still not feeling well and travel would be difficult for her.  She is due in March and we can't wait to have a new baby to spoil.   

Speaking of spoiled--Dixie is still having a hard time with changing the clocks back.  She wants her 7:00 p.m. chew stick at 6:00 and gets annoyed when Tony makes her wait.   A few days ago, I was in bed watching TV and she was in her bed on the floor near the wall.  I guess the light bothered her so she sat in front of it and barked until I turned it off.  Once I did, she went right back to her bed and went to sleep.  It's really no secret who is in charge here!

Tony has been doing a lot of cleaning in and outside.  Last week, he was power washing the patio and sent me a message:

Isn't he creative!!

Here she is....the person in charge!

Sharing a glass of wine

Chilly at the beach!

So we will have Thanksgiving alone and that's OK.  It will be fun no matter what we do.  Next up, Christmas........ug.

 

Possessed Computer

If anyone is trying to read the post called, "Rembrandt," please click on the words, "read more," in the left hand corner of the blank post.  For whatever reason, my computer decided not to print the text.  Who knows why.....only the computer!
  

Rembrandt

 

Beautiful Beaufort

We spent a few days in Beaufort, South Carolina thanks to a gift from Tony and Marie.  They gave us a visit to Rhett House, a B&B that is celebrating its 200th birthday this year.  We had to delay our visit due to hurricanes and the virus, but we finally went and had a wonderful time. 

We really had no agenda and I think that was why we had such a good time.  We went where the days took us.   We took a horse drawn carriage ride through the area with Kate the driver and Angus the horse.  I love looking at the mansions.

There were a ton of restaurants in the area, but one was very special.  It was called, "Hemingway's."  It was under another structure and smelled of mold and old stuff.  The bar took up most of the area and so did a huge fish tank.   There were funny signs hanging on the back walls and the whole place had a "like it or leave it" attitude.  On our first visit, the bartender was talking to a friend of hers who was sitting at the bar.  Tony and I were the only other people there.  The friend was also a bartender at another place and she was sharing a story about the local "ho" who came into her bar with no pants on, just a thong.   Well, it didn't take long for Tony and I to be in that conversation!!  The bartenders, who seemed rather rough, turned out to be fun young ladies.  It's amazing how first impressions can be so off the mark. 

We also enjoyed interacting with Taylor, the young lady at the front desk at Rhett House.  Everyone there was so accommodating, but Taylor was the best.   The day we left, we gave her a small gift, a sea glass bracelet;  she was so surprised she cried.  She is someone who puts all of her efforts into doing a good job.   

The weather and the water were beautiful.  We walked (well, I sort of hobbled) to the visitor's center and museum.  South Carolina is full of history and beautiful mansions but it was the trees that captured our attention.  They were at least 300 years old and really big.  There were a few trees that were planted in one yard, but the branches grew across driveways and paths into someone else's yard.   Some of the branches were so big that they dipped onto the ground and started to grow upward again.  They were majestic. 

The Rhett House had gardens in the back with tables and umbrellas so we shared some wine there and listened to a tour guide talk about the area.  In the morning, we had breakfast on the veranda.  

We had a really great time, but it was good to get back home.  Dixie stayed with her Godparents and discovered ducks on one of her evening walks.  We got a message telling us that she was enamored with them and wanted one as a pet.  She'll have to settle for a stuffed toy duck!   As usual, she had the run of their house and ate very well.  

We will go back to Beaufort, maybe even the Rhett House, it's a really beautiful and peaceful place. 

The backyard garden

Our bathroom at the Rhett House

The living area/bedroom at Rhett House

Angus and Katie chatting about Beaufort!

Rhett House, going into the garden

A mansion on the tour with beautiful trees

The tree branches laying on the grass

Wine, in our Beaufort glasses

The tour guide 

The visitor's center and museum

Goofy signs at Hemingway's

In honor of 2020, "Blink if  you want me!"

Dixie got a  new, fluffy bed-she likes to tip in 

and then lay upside down in it.  Goofy dog. 

Getting Busy

We are doing a quick trip back to Cleveland this weekend for Emma's first communion.  So it's in Friday night, communion and party on Saturday and out on Sunday.  After that, we go to South Carolina to stay in a B&B.  Just what retired people need--a vacation!! 

The weather is absolutely beautiful now.  This is when I love North Carolina most.  The mornings and evenings are cool and during the day, there is a soft breeze.  Flowers are still blooming and it's nice to be outside.  It will be cold in Cleveland, but that's OK--it's Cleveland!

I am still writing for Cape Fear Voices, but I am now doing some research work as well.  We are putting out a glossy magazine in January, 2021 about the effects of Covid so I am researching the international aspect for another writer who has been nationally published.  It is interesting work.  International will be the smallest section of the magazine so it is a good way for me to learn how to research and how to work with another writer.   

There are several of us on this project and we have our meetings via "Zoom," an online application that allows you to have virtual meetings.  You can see everyone on the call, but you are in your own home.  Thank goodness Brenda had a legal meeting when she and David were here visiting so she downloaded Zoom to our computer.  I felt positively computer savvy!

We are going into what I call "birthday" mode.  Starting in September, we have several family birthday's that take us right through December.  For the grandchildren;  Alex turned 3 on September 26, Anthony will be 6 on October 5, Sam will be 12 on October 15 and Zach will be 9 on October 18.  

Tony and I watched the first presidential debate and thought that T-rump did a great job--of making Biden look good!   I can't wait until T-rump is out of office and prosecuted for all of the laws he has broken as president.  

The fact that he paid $750 in federal income tax for two years just really put me over the edge.  It reminded me of 1976.  I was widowed that year and found out that I had paid more in federal taxes that Richard Nixon because he "donated" so much to his library.   There is something fundamentally wrong with this country when stuff like that can happen.   

Dixie is doing well, but we can see more and more gray hair coming in around her face and on her ears.  She will be 8 in January, but is still very much a puppy.  She will be vacationing with her Godparents while we are in Cleveland.   That means home cooked chicken meals,  sleeping on whatever bed she wants and having the run of the fenced in backyard.   Look out, bunnies, she won't be leashed!

And so, that's about it in Leland.  We continue to hope that a Covid remedy is found quickly and that no more people have to die because of it.  

One of my favorite pictures of Alex.  Happy Birthday, 3!