Susan has been a Stepmother to Lindsay and Rheanna with an enduring compassion. Being a Stepmother is one of the most difficult family order’s that can be dealt to a person, especially when the Father is hellbent on the fact that his daughters are perfect in every way. I could go on forever to tell of how remarkable a person Susan is, and to tell you of how she is not only a Mother to “The Girls” but also their friend and confidant, but, I’d rather you see the picture of Susan feeding her little Ava. I know Rheanna had this moment in her dreams to share with Susan. It’s been a journey in our family, a great journey, and it keeps getting better!
Back in Roman times transportation was via horse and cart or horse and chariot. It was determined that it was best to have the wheels set apart at 4’8-1/2″. The reason for this was because when two horses pulled the cart, the wheels left ruts in the muddy streets and so the horses’ asses were measured and it was felt it best to have the horses be able to walk in between these ruts.
After time, somone came up with the idea of moving traffic via rail. Converting the carts to rail traffic was easy because they made the rails to accomodate the new wheels required to adapt to the old carts. It was set at 4′ 8-1/2″.
This standard is used by most of the world. China, Europe and North America, as well as others, but not most of Africa.
When NASA needed to build it’s booster rockets to assist it’s flights. they were built by a company who had to ship them by rail to the launch pad. Bet this is starting to come together for you now eh? Well you’re wrong….The rails dimensions we’re just a part of the engineering that went into play of the width of the booster rockets. While the booster rockets we’re being transferred to the launch site they had to go through a tunnel. That tunnel was made wide enough to handle regular traffic freight, as was the norm worldwide based on height for clearance and width of the tracks. NASA engineers took that into account when designing the booster rockets so they would fit through the tunnel. Imagine placing yourself in the Challenger knowing that the components were built by the lowest bidder, and a horse’s ass!
I have now taken the big tension bandage and the dressing off of my right knee. Just below the knee cap I have two incisions, one on either side of the cap of my knee ~ it isn’t pretty but is sure does feel better having all that stuff off of my leg. I even took a shower today. Up until now I have been taking bird bathes or hanging my big, heavy leg over the side of the tub. Tomorrow will be a whole new ball game in the healing department. One more afternoon of loafing.
Not this one
I haven’t blogged for quite some time now but I have the month of March off on sick-leave so I am going to try to make blogging a new good habit
I am on sick leave because I had surgery last Friday on my right knee. I had a meniscal tear repaired and some arthritis debridement was done. I have a big thick bandage and tension wrap on my knee which stays there for anoth 4 -5 days. It was kind of hard having a bath this morning because I have to keep my right knee and dressing absolutley dry for the next 4 -5 days. I had my head at the faucet end of the tub with my leg hanging over the edge. Bailey kept coming in to see if anything was wrong. All went A – OK! I started my exercises this morning too that I have to do twice a day. When I read about them I thought “simple” but it was not – it will definitely take some time to work up new strength.
On with the blogging.
Tonight I was next door and as I was having a smoke outside with a friend I saw the Little Dipper. Then I saw a shooting star. The friend (Lisa) I was with told me to make a wish. I couldn’t think of anything to wish for……Sweet!
As already stated, our family is about to grow . . . well in January 2010. Rheanna had an ultrasound done last Thursday and she will be having a girl. How very sweet, a lovely little baby girl. I can hardly wait to meet her!
As Sheryle and I were starting our 2nd hour of hiking in the Skatebo Reach trail quite a nasty mishap occured. I was about 20 feet in front of Sheryle and I heard her screaming. One of us, me or one of the dogs, Bailey or Ebony, upset a wasp nest and as Sheryle came along they attacked her- very aggressively! I ran up to her and she was yelling “Get them off me!”. As I started to swat the wasps off, they started to attack me and the dogs – it was scary! But the scariest part is Sheryle is highly alergic to wasp and bee stings. Once we had a bit of control (not as many wasps were stinging), Sheryle got out her cell and phoned Peter who then called 911. I then celled Bob, since we don’t live to far from this trail to have him come to get us. 911 then called Sheryle back to tell her what to do. She did have her sting kit with her so by this time she had already taken and antihistimine. 911 told us to keep moving out of the trail and let me tell you, we were motoring! About 15 minutes later Sheryle then injected herself with her anti sting serum(?). Another 10 minutes later we saw Bob in his old. but much loved, Lincoln Continental. We all climbed into the car and Bob motored towards the Glade Ferry. As we got out of the trail head we saw Search and Rescur on the way in for us. Then we saw another safety fellow on his ATV to direct the Ambulance when got to this side of the ferry to us. All in all there was Bob, the ambulance and paramedics, Search and Rescue, the ATV safety guy, two different Fire departments and a whole bunch of curious but patience people. It seems that we got Sheryle to the ambulance just in time as she was close to shock – she got stung a lot so did the dogs. I got stung on my left cheek, my right under arm pit and my right butt cheek and they all pain a lot right now . . . but I am here to tell the tale! Sheryle is under observation at the hospital but should be out late this afternoon. Apparently she had a lot of wasps still in her clothing when she got undressed at the hospital. Thank you Bob and everyone else that came to our rescue. I live in such a fine place.
As I stated in my most recent blog, I had a fabulous summer for the most part.
Our dear friend Joe passed away suddenly this past July. I loved Joe like a best friend. I believe that Joe was one of my best friends. Joe had a massive heart attack and died instantly. We had seen Joe just a short while back and we had a lovely visit. The three of us, Joe, Bob and myself have spent many afternoons and evenings together chatting and enjoying each other. I enjoyed having Joe over for dinner – He ate well and was a very gracious guest.
Joe was one of the kindest and most gentle man I had the blessing of knowing. He quite often made me consider a different view on many subjects.
Joe was the most doting grandfather I think that walked this earth. He enjoyed Rhianna so much and spent most of his free time with her and her mom, Gen. Joe was also a wonderful father to his daughter Gen and son, Jerod.
Bob and I held the memorial for Joe here in our backyard. A great deal of people came to share their love and loss of Joe with each other. We were told that Joe would have given us the nod approval of his send off. A good friend, Patty, was a very huge help to Bob and I on the setting up of Joe’s memorial – thank you so much Patty.
While back east we did have a moment for Joe with Bob and Jean in their backyard. Tears run down my cheek as I key this.
I miss Joe terribly. I loved Joe – he was a fine man.
I had a fabulous summer for the most part. I had the opportunity to take the summer off, stay working at reduced hours or go on-call. I decided to go on-call since there was so many different events at different venues with different services. I really enjoyed it. I officially start back to work tomorrow – good thing as I am just about out of money.
I had plenty of time for the garden so that worked out well. I do not do very much harvesting as in pickles or canning. I will freeze what I have lots of though or just cure it (garlic, potatoes, carrots, etc.). right now we are enjoying sweet tomatoes and cucumbers everyday. There are plenty of green beans (I don’t like them frozen though), and kale, Swiss chard and squashes. We have been enjoying potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic for quite some time now. The peas, lettuces and spinach finished quite some time ago. New garden treats this year were eggplant and asparagus. My sustainable gardening on the deck proved to be fairly successful. I grew green beans, lettuce, peas, carrots, tomatoes, herbs (all kinds), eggplant and kale in pots all around my deck. I will add to that next year. Morgan and Thompson seed company supply specific seeds for container gardening – I recommend that type of gardening.
Bob and I went on a magnificent vacation to Ontario this past August. We saw a lot of people. Everybody that we went to visit and spend some time with treated us like gold. We were fed very delicious food by everyone. We had the most comfy places to sleep and we got a lot of good visits in. Bob and I are thinking about moving back to Ontario in about five years time. We both like Bobcagen. One of our friends, Adele, was and will be very helpful when we make the decision – Adele knows a great deal about the Kawartha Lakes. I always try to do one thing that I have never done before whenever I go on a vacation. This year it was ATVing. John and Karen took us ATVing all around their property (they have a lot of land) one afternoon.
There was a family reunion while we were back east – Buttfest! My father’s side of the family. I saw cousins that I haven’t seen in at least 30 years. It was great! One of my cousin’s. Barry, is doing genealogy on the Butts and has he ever found out some “secrets”. I am looking forward to the final compilation of his research. Anyways, Buttfest proved to be very successful and a fun event put on by Gary and Donna and Kevin and Dory. It was great that Aunty Kay let us all use her house – the swimming pool come in handy with the heat of the day.
So my summer for the most part was a fine summer indeed. I loved it!!!
I have been having a fabulous summer. I had the option to go on-call with the college for the summer and went with it thinking that I could really enjoy the summer thinking I was going to have lots of free time. I have been working way more than if I hadn’t gone on call but I can honestly say that I have been enjoying it – lots of variety working with different people and at different venues for different events.
I have been very self indulgent with my free time though. I have been doing lots of reading, lots of listening to Audio CD’s, lots of gardening, some hiking and some golfing and hitting buckets of balls.
I felt like I was a year behind in drawer organizing, window washing, generally house hold upkeep and admin stuff which is why I wanted to take the summer off. Who cares, all that stuff is winter work so in September I will go back to my regular job with still being a year behind in household admin. upkeep but I will be able to say what a terrific summer I have had!!