Merry Christmas to All

Good grief, as Charlie Brown would say. I have not been on here for months. Sorry 'bout that!

Hope everyone has a very blessed and Merry Christmas and a prosperous and Happy New Year!

Unpacking

Today I got lots of furniture moved and boxes unpacked ready for the trash. Whew! Got to move when I get the groove! Even repacked Christmas items so the boxes will fit up the pull-down steps to the attic. Hubby and I got the guest bedroom ready in case my mom comes down to stay after the reunion (or anyone who wants to visit). Everything is shaping up. Yeehooeey!

2009 Third Annual Family Reunion

Can hardly wait. Going to PA for my family reunion. The theme this year is Slovak. Happy to see some relatives and not so happy to see others. But will endure to the end! Got candy bar wrappers made and got everything wrapped yesterday. They have the Slovak logo and colors and the date, etc. and will make nice souvenirs. A sleeve was added to save the wrapper for your memory box. Too cool. Thanks to Kim Elliott of www.KimsKandyKreations.etsy.com. Will write more after I return. Later, Gater!!!

WHAT A DAY!

Well today has been very interesting and it is only 12 noon. I decided to go to stores I hadn't been before, you know, learn the area a bit. Well, I went to the dollar store to buy 1 thing and ended up with lots of things! But they had such good deals, I will tell my husband. Coming out of the store I spotted a little dog, some type of sandy and gray long haired dog, maybe laso opso (?) or something. I tried to give the dog a bone I had bought Gracee but she licked it and went on her way. I couldn't let her wander around alone, so I asked some customers and they didn't recognize her. One fellow told me he had seen her way down by the IGA where I had to go to get milk. I thought, my husband's going to kill me as I swooped her up and placed her in my car. I went into IGA to customer service thinking they could make an announcement in the store for the owner. They were so busy I didn't want to leave the dog in the warm, now almost hot, car. So, I took off to go home. Then thought maybe I would check with the pet shop around the corner from the IGA. They said no one reported a missing dog and then we gave her some water and found she was a female and had been fixed. The sales woman told me where I might take her and even suggested a neighborhood nearby. So, I got in my car and the little dog seemed to settle down in back on Gracee's blanket. I decided to check a neighborhood closer and parked my car. I was going to start knocking on doors but saw a couple of men working across the road. I picked up the dog and started across the road. As soon as the dog saw the men she started growling. Oh, boy, I thought. Then a white van came toward us with a woman yelling, "That's my dog!" When I gave the dog to her, she called the dog by name as the dog's little tail wagged almost as fast as a fan blade!!! She said that when she opened her door, the dog just darted outside. She was so happy to find her. And I thanked Heavenly Father for helping me find the owner! Then I asked Heavenly Father to help me recognize when help does come from Him. Whew!

Then on my way back I decided to try different roads (although I'm not familiar with the road I was supposed to take back home anyway). I found myself on Hull Road!!!! I'm going to tell my husband that if we settle here and buy a home that is where I want to live. That is so coincidental!!!! Cool!

One thing unique to Fayetteville is that one road is not named one name. When you come to an intersection and cross it, the road changes names! Hmmm.... Hope I can get used to that! Also, in stores, you take your cart right to the cashier's side of the register and they empty it as they ring up items. That is so nice!!!

I think I could get used to this place after all! Until next time....

Trip from KY to OH

We stayed with my husband's sister and her husband for a week at Fort Knox, KY. It was great because she was pregnant with her first (a son and it took her 7 yrs. to get pregnant) and had not met Tracey before. They got along great as "Aunt Punkin" and Tracey yelled at each other and played with each other. It was so fun to watch.

Then we took a bus from KY to OH to visit my husband's other sister and her family. I got so sick on the bus ride. When we pulled into the bus station (I had never been in one before), I went into the restroom and there was only 1 stall that you didn't have to deposit money to use. I opened the door and it was clogged. I couldn't stand it any more and just got sick on top of everything else! I felt bad but there was nothing I could do. Boy, did I feel sorry for the people who had to do maintenance for the bathroom facilities!!!!

We had a wonderful visit. My husband's sister had a daughter born 6 mos. before our daughter and they played so well together. What a joy to watch them. We found that when we played music, they would sit side by side on the sofa. They would keep beat to the song by our daughter rocking side to side and our niece moving forward and back! How cute they were. It was so much fun.

My husband's parents also came for a visit and they drove us from OH to PA. My husband had a 30 day leave and was getting ready to be restationed in AK (he was in the Air Force). We stayed with his family so they could get to know our daughter better. We had nice visits with all of my family as well. Everyone fell in love with our daughter. She was so cute and very intelligent. She started talking when my mother and I visited my Aunt Mary Kuziak. I believe she had a toy or ball that went under a piece of furniture. I said, "Get it," and our daugter repeated me. That was just the beginning of speaking that would also start her speaking for her brother (I was about 3 months pregnant and found out right before we left TX).

Our visit home was very much needed since we would be in AK for 2 1/2 yrs. and wouldn't have the money to travel back to visit our families. Chip flew out before me to find a place for us to live. Tracey and I flew out after by ourselves and that is another story altogether....

Finally Moved!

We finally moved across town after months of packing, cleaning the old house (got a full deposit back) and cleaning the new house. Curtains are up in the living room and dining room. Still have many boxes to unpack but all is well. Gracee has taken the move very well. I have started taking her to the dog park each day and at 12 noon she reminds me!!! She has doubled in weight and size since we rescued her at 9 mos. of age in December (and they said she wouldn't grow any more!). During the move Chip ended up in the hospital with a stomach ulcer (duodenal). The stinker had all the signs and he waited until he hardly had the strength to stand to talk to our pcp about it. He was sent directly to the urgie care center where a blood test was done and stool sample. He was sent from there by ambulance to the ER. He was in the ER a few days due to lack of beds, was given 4 units of blood and had surgery to stop the bleeding. Whew! He spent about 4 days in the hospital. I was terribly worried but upset with him at the same time. He is in the health care field (physician assistant/instructor) and knew all the signs yet did nothing until it was a life or death situation. I've heard health care workers are the worst patients and he proved it true. So, I really had not help from him at all during the move, but that was okay. I've done it in the past, although I realize I'm much older now and some things were hard for me to do! I packed everything and we hired movers so we wouldn't have to bother members of our church as we had done with past moves. Everything worked out just fine albeit a few scratches and nothing being put in place, just everywhere! With Chip still recuperating, it has taken to take care of some things around the house that I just can't do by myself. And each day comes and goes....

Packing, packing, pooh!

Well, I'm packing for my next move across town. Hate it!!!!! And, the dog thinks she should be helping me and it is funny to see her grab the tape in her mouth and rip it right off the box I just taped!!!! She hates the sound of the tape coming off the roll. She is hilarious to watch. After packing about 6 boxes today we're taking a rest. Gonna get some good old Nutrisystem lunch! Yech! We will probably be on NS for only 1 more month to cut back on spending. And while we're moving Chip starts his part time job working in a clinic at least 1 day a week. So, that will take him away from the packing, not that he would actually pack a box, mind you! I'm so used to doing everything myself he would probably be in the way or not do it according to my expectations. Poor guy. If all goes well, we will move 4/20. I'm getting 2 estimates for local moves. We're just too old to move an entire household of goods by ourselves! And my back has been paining me every now and then. Don't know if a disc is slipping or what! But it hurts like the dickens when it does! The garage is just about full of boxes now and the rooms are slowly getting full. Oh, fun, fun! Well, let me go and eat my lunch. Have a great day! Teener

Well, my next flight experience was from Texas to Kentucky (the first was from Pennsylvania to Texas). I was 19 and a couple months pregnant. My husband was getting stationed to Alaska and we were stopping to see my sister and brother-in-law at Fort Knox. At least this time I had my husband to help me with our daughter who was now 11 mos. old. I got so sick on the landing and had to use the bag we all check for when we first sit down on the plane! I was so embarrassed to be sick in front of a lot of strangers. Then when we left the plane, I didn't know what to do with the bag and went to hand it to the stewardess. Her comment was, "Ew, just place it over there." So, I placed it on a book shelf and left the plane even more embarrassed than before! Not the happy experience I had the first flight! But, overall, the flight was good since we traveled as a family.

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I remember my first time flying. I was only 18 yrs. old and never been anywhere far from home. To go to another city was a big deal back then. But, my husband finished basic training and I wanted to join him. I was scared to death. I had my baby daughter with me which took my mind off of myself at times as you can imagine. Back then she had her own seat and I didn't even have to pay a fare for her! We were seated next to an elderly gentleman who was exactly that. He was worried about me and proceeded to tell me he had flown numerous times during his life time and I had nothing to worry about. He even talked to my daughter and tried to amuse her. My daughter was a great baby and she traveled well. I hadn't really prayed in some time but found myself praying like crazy the entire flight! (Hey, I still do that today when I fly!) I remember the stewardess brought a wings pin and gave it to my daughter. That was so cute. I must've blocked it all out since I don't remember the flight at all, unless it was just that nice man talked my ear off the entire time and took my mind off of the flight! Thank you, Lord, for him! Anyway, I've flown quite a bit since then and still don't look forward to the experience!

Now I am packing to move to the other side of town! Can you believe it?

I have lived in Pennsylvania, Texas, Alaska, New Jersey, then back to Texas, then back to Pennsylvania, then to Virginia, to Maine, back to Pennsylvania, then back to Maine, then back to Pennsylvania, then back to Virginia, then to North Carolina. Whew!!!!! I'm tired!

Okay, this is my first time blogging, thanks to Suzie!! Thanks, dear friend!

I have moved around a lot in my short life (LOL!) and will be moving again. I feel like it may not be my last one, either!

Last year I moved from another state and the year before I moved from another state! Yikes! I should have my own moving company! I'm getting very good at packing and loading trucks and even cars!

Anyway, since moving my 11 yr. old labrador retriever passed away from cancer and 2 mos. ago I got a shephard mix 9 mo. old from the local no-kill shelter. I call her my sassy brat! Who knows what she did for 9 months, but it is obvious she had no discipline! The world is her playground with no rules, as far as she is concerned! I'm working on that, though, with firm discipline and training classes at Pet Smart. It's been tough, but I'm going to be the pack leader if it makes or breaks me!!!! LOL!!!

Well, let me close for now. I'll write more later. Teener