Sunday, January 29, 2006

A Dreary Sunday Afternoon

It's drab and dreary outside, but I'm staying busy inside.

Didn't mention the outcome of the Olympics Contest. We were supposed to learn on Tuesday, 1/24 the outcome of the contest. I did get an e-mail saying that "due to the overwhelming response...." the committee needed more time to make their selection. So, they are supposed to let us know on Monday or Tuesday of this week. I guess that was good news. Means my chances are slimmer than I had hoped for, but at least I'm still in the running.

My husband won $15,000 this week playing slots in Atlantic City, so maybe some of his luck will rub off on me!!!

Friday, January 27, 2006

Ginger, The Redbone Coonhound


 Tonight is Ginger's turn. She is our 6 year old Redbone Coonhound. About 7 years ago a Redbone wandered onto our property and even though my husband was adamant about 'No Dogs', he gave in. Rusty was irresitble. He had such a unique personality. Very independent but loveable. He would do things like go to the neighbors corn field, pull up an entire stalk of corn, drag it home and lay down in the back yard and contendently eat the corn off the ear off the stalk. I was always waiting for our neighbor to shoot him! But such was not to be, 13 months after he arrived, he was killed by a car out on the road. Pete and I were both heartbroken. 

Again, Pete said no dogs, but I persisted and found Ginger on the Internet. So one Sunday I drove off to Ft. Wayne, 4 hours away. I came home with 3 month old Ginger. She was much like Rusty, but definitely has her own personality. There are a dozen or more differnt sub-breeds of Coonhound. English, Blue, etc. They, of course are bred to hunt racoons, and other, bigger game. They have the second most powerful sense of scent, second only to Bloodhounds. Unfortunately, few people know them because they are generally owned by hunters who keep them locked up in kennels with no activity except to come out to hunt. They typically aren't socialized to humans. But, wow, do they make wonderful pets. They are not a guard dog, they would lick an intruder to death, but they are excellent watch dogs, they will let you know when someone is on the property. They love children and other dogs. Cats are subject to how they were raised. So, you can see that I am smitten. They are beautiful, the color of a bright, new copper penny. Big brown eyes that have that hound dog plead to them. Very, very trainable. Ginger gets anything after the 2 or 3 try. So, that's my animals, Ginger and Romeo!!

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Romeo The Stray


Well, I had a little struggle tonight getting on Blogger. Anyone else ever have this problem?? I had to go out and get to it through Yahoo. Hmmmmmm.

Tonight, since I've figured out the photo thing I want to show the world my other loves. I've got many. The next two are my animals.

This is Romeo, the kitty who came in from the cold. Actually, it was May, so not very cold. He was passing through our yard one day when my step-daughter, Kate saw him. She went out and he didn't run off as most of the local cats typically do, all being very wild. He had that purple collar on and was super friendly. Not very hungry, no fleas, so in pretty good shape for a stray. Kate and her husband John checked with the neighbors, no one knew him. They took him to the local SPCA and found that he was chipped. His chip said he was from Dayton, Ohio, 50+ miles up the road. We called the owner and she lost him 3 years ago!! She didn't want him back, so Katie begged her father to keep him. Pete said okay, which was amazing given that he is allergic to cats.

We had a big discussion when Kate and John moved to their new home and she wanted to take him with her. But, Romeo is an amazing hunter and very useful around our place. Kate and John live in a subdivision with no roaming room, so they made the best decision and left him with us. He has turned out to be wonderful pet. Very affectionate and yet a great hunter. So, he has a new home, until he decides to roam off somewhere else!!

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Busy, busy

Haven't had much time to be at my desk for the past week +. Today was no exception. It is hard to be away so much and keep up with the daily stuff. And Julie keeps telling me that we will likely not get replacement admin support when Debbie has to leave. So, that is quite depressing. I am so glad I am toward the end of my working life instead of the beginning. I would really be depressed if I was facing for the next 30+ years what the kids are facing today. Life in general and work in particular is no fun anymore. Too many stresses and uncertainties.

Switching gears, I'm going to try and post a photo again. For some reason, the last time I tried this, it just didn't work. I guess I need some tips, although the process looks simple enough. I'm going to try, again, to get Alex's photo up. Let's see what happens!!!
Looks like it worked!!! Yeah. This is my beautiful grandson on Thanksgiving Sunday!!!!

Now that it seems to work, I might have to go a little crazy here with photos!!!!!
This is my favorite photo of Alex. He has already outgrown this outfit, but it was sooooooooooo cute while it lasted!!! Aren't babies wonderful??!! Never having had any of my own, I am so enjoying him, which I know, I know, is totally different from having your own child day in and day out, but it is a terrific joy to finally get to enjoy a little one like this.

I never get to see enough of him and he doesn't live that far away, but time is the enemy. Just since Christmas so much has changed. He can grab his pacifier now and put it in his mouth himself. He turns himself over either on to his back or onto his stomach, either way. He grabbed the table cloth this past Sunday and could have pulled it off the table, plates, food and all, if we had let him.

I could go on forever, I must stop .

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Another Sunday

It's another Sunday. I like Sundays. I tend to sleep in and wake up very slowly. I try to have nice, mellow days on Sunday. Saturdays are usually my run around days. Yesterday it was a little busier than usual. Bill, my brother-in-law is in Columbus for training for a new job. So, he made the drive down to visit for the day. We called the kids and they came out . Got to see Alex for the first time since Christmas. It was a very nice day. I enjoy Bill's company. He's very socialable and easy to be around. No pretensions with him. So, it was a good day.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

On the Road

Currently in New Jersey for work, makes for long days and sometimes exhausting work, but nice for a different pace. Meetings didn't start until 9 AM today, so that was nice, I didn't have to get up at 6 AM with a 45 minute drive. Had breakfast in my room and a very nice leisurely morning.

Pete is going round and round about his job. Just when he's ready to start up the service business he gets a call about a possible job that takes him back out on the road but pays really well. They want him to wait 2 weeks before they give him and answer and we're just not in a position to wait 2 weeks, because of cash flow. So, oh the agony of it all. I just wish he'd make up his mind and get on with it.

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Maybe Not

Well, so much for a good idea that didn't go over. It's been a week, and not one single person responded to my invitation. Oh, well, I'll just keep blogging away for no apparent reason!!

Leave tomorrow for NJ for work. A week so close to the Big Apple with little or no chance for a visit. I'm bummed. That city draws me like a magnet. I just love it, but it's not as much fun if you're by yourself.

I'm dreaming now of two weeks in Europe, hopefully in 2007. January 1 2007 I start getting 4 weeks vacation. I think I'll put in a timeshare exchange request for anytime between March 1, 2007 through December 31 2007 for Paris and see what pops up. Then back that week up with an exchange request for a week in London. I should have enough points by then for a free flight over, so, another inexpensive trip to Europe is on the horizion.

Enough for now, my grandson is beckoning me.

Sue

Friday, January 13, 2006

Waiting to Hear From Friends

Well, now I know the blog invitation did go out. I was beginning to wonder. Pat said she didn't get anything, but tonight there is a mention of it from Karen, so she obviously got it. And, I sent one to myself as a test, and I got the test message tonight, a couple nights after I sent it. Wonder why the delay. Anyway, I just hope a few folks at least are interested in trying this.

It was a hectic week. The slow period at work is over. Now back to the grind. I love it that way, but still, I like being able to relax occasionally.

I leave for NJ on Monday evening, for 3 crazy days of project work at the J&J headquarters. I always want to sneak into NYC when I'm there, but have only done that once. Maybe this time I'll just do it!!!

Sue

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

An Idea for this Blog

As I said in my original post, I've been trying to figure out why anyone would want to 'Blog'. I've made a couple of entries and wandered through other posted blogs, but didn't quite 'get it'. Last night, late, as I was trying to fall asleep an idea finally came to me. This tool could be very cool for some of us who currently don't do a great job of staying in touch. If I can convince each of you to occassionally make an entry, and share your life with the rest of us, it would be like an on-going Christmas letter.

So, I'm inviting Nancy R., Karen S, Diane K, Sandy S. Barb Z. and Pat F to participate. Yes, I know, a couple of you really don't like sitting in front of the computer, certainly not as much as I do. But if you would bookmark this site, and if everyone agrees, we can come up with a new name for this site, and then we can just share.....as the spirit of sisterhood moves us. If you enjoy this site and feel so moved, everyone could invite their friends to participate. Who knows, eventually we could have a really big group, talking about lives and girl things.

First steps, let me introduce you to each other. Nancy R. has met Karen S and lives in the same town as Barb Z, although I don't think they have ever met. Karen S. knows Diane, K., Sandy S., Pat F and she met Barb Z at my wedding, if she remembers. Pat F. knows Karen and Sandy. So, not everyone knows everyone else. I'll start with Nancy R.

Nancy R. is my oldest friend, not by age, but by lenght of knowing each other!! We met in the 8th grade when she joined my 8th grade homeroom class. I remember thinking at the time that she looked just like Haley Mills....remember Pollyanna and the Parent Trap!! My hand shot up when the teacher asked for someone to share their locker with her. We've been friends ever since. She married her high school sweetheart, has 3 children and still lives in the St. Pete/Tampa area.

Diane K. is the next in line. I met Diane in 1968 when I started my first 'real job' at Ohio National Life Insurance Company in Cincinnati. I remember that she was the first friendly face at Ohio National. I still giggle inside when I remember in our 'youth', waking her up at 7:30 AM on Saturday mornings to go shopping at Findley Market after she had been up very late the night before, hanging on the Hill! Diane lives in Maine and I rarely get to see her. :(

Karen S. became a dear friend when we met in Alaska in 1973. Twice we managed to date the same guy and Fairbanks is a small enough town that we both knew it. Yikes!! Somehow, over the years our friendship endured and we have had many great adventures together. She was the lucky one who got to retire early and move to Wisconsin with her husband, John. Her daughter, Gretchen, still lives in Alaska so she has a good excuse to visit there on a regular basis.

Pat F. I met shortly after I returned from Alaska. I had such a wonderful experience there that when I returned to Cincinnati I was looking for some way to recapture the experience. I found that in the Sierra Club and Pat and her husband Lynn became close friends through the club. She is my walking buddy, when we can find time. I'm going to try and hike as much of the Buckeye Trail with her as I can, a 1200+ mile loop around Ohio!!!

Barb Z. and I worked together at Hoxworth Blood Center. We didn't really get to know each other until the weekend we both rode in the MS 100 bike ride. When we arrived at the Lebanon YMCA for the evening we recognized each other and struck up a conversation that has kept going. She and her husband Steve have moved from Cincinnati to Florida to Colorado and then back to Florida. So keeping up with her has been a challenge!

Last but not least is Sandy S. One Sunday morning on a Sierra Club bike ride I happen to ride along side Sandy. She and I struck up a conversation and have stayed in touch since. Again, she is one lady I don't get to see nearly enough of, and Virginia is not typically where I get to travel to. But she and her husband Jim and son Adam have a wonderful home there and we do get to visit occassionally.

So, the common thread amongst you is not just me. I do seem to enjoy the company of strong, self-reliant women who know how to speak their voice and enjoy life to the fullest. I hope you will participate and we all get to know each other a little more and stay in touch better than what is typical. Even if you don't enjoy the computer that much, just try. Let's see what life this site can take on for itself!

Sue

Sunday, January 08, 2006

Big Day for Cincinnati

I'm not usually a football fan, but today I'm paying attention. I've paid some attention this season, since the Bengels have done so well. I never go to games, which usually I 'll go to 1 or 2 Reds games each year. But football is too cold and too boring in person. I never seem to know where the ball is. I can watch it on TV, as long as I've got something to read.

So today at 4:30 we'll watch the game. I hope they win. The excitement is fun and everyone at work gets worked up. I went grocery shopping for just a few things earlier today and everyone in the store had Bengel colors on, or something Bengel. I bought pizza so we wouldn't have to put out much work for dinner.

We'll see what happens.

Friday, January 06, 2006

Back On Line

I've missed several days because my compuer went down, but I'm back now, and for the first time, with high speed DSL. Yeah!!! What a difference. I love it and am so glad we finally decided to do this. It also forced me to take the computer in to be repaired. It was still working, but with lots of hiccups.

Had to get back into the routine of work. Yuck. I just wasn't in the mood at first, but there are new projects on the horizon and they will be a real test, so this will be a good year.

Got all my plans made for the trip to Florida, so that is ready to go, now I just need to wait until February.

Gonna go for now.