buy nook or crook . . .

Friday night, after dinner at Carrabba's, the 9TS and I wandered into Barnes and Noble in search of the newest model railroad magazine.  Did I ever mention that the 9TS makes model railroads?  Yup, indeed he does.  So while he was scanning the periodicals, I was nose deep in journals.  I want them all.  every.single.one.  And since I couldn't decide amongst all the pretties, I left them be, and went in search of the now long lost 9TS. 

I found him standing entranced in front of the Nook display.  (Now might be a good time to insert that when I met the 9TS, he was not much of a reader, but since Katie and I always seem to have our noses buried in one, he too started to inhale typography.)  The resident Nook expert proceeded to extol the virtues of said Nook.  So she . . . meaning me . . . who held e-readers in great disdain . . . paper ruling all . . .  began to melt.  It was after all, a hairs breath away from my birthday and who could resist 92K and counting free titles?  Really!  

Saturday morning, the 9TS officially wished me a happy birthday, and off we started on our usual Saturday routine.  During the day, I noticed sentences like, "I need a new book to read."  or "We should have picked up a new Brad Thor book." or  "So how much do you like your Nook." and such.  By 4:30 we were back at B&N buying the 9TS his very own, non-birthday, Nook.  And happily, we could meld them to the same account so whatever books he buys or rents, appear on my Nook and vice versa.  Over night, we were a two-Nook household with Katie asking if they offered text books as well.  Gah!

It was a good birthday, with a bucket of Cherry Slices . . . my personal favorite which are almost impossible to find and I usually resort to carefully picking all the red ones from the 'assorted' bags and relishing each bite of red goodness, leaving the lemon, lime and orange for the rest of the world - and a copy of Playhouse by Pink from Katie.  Love me some Pink! 

A hand-made card from Sue.  A perfect kitty card from 'Susan and Jeffrey' aka Joanie and Edd.  Some really cute e-cards and a plethora of facebook well wishes.  Toss in some just-out-of-the-oven apple crisp with vanilla ice cream and I was indeed a happy camper.  Thank you one and all.

Pardon me now while I put my nose back in my Nook!!!

911

Everyone remembers where they were that day.  I was at Katie's middle school counting money from our fund raiser when the news shot across the television.  We all stopped and just stared.  And there in front of us live, was the second plane heading into the tower.  Mouths open we watched like we did as kids at the Saturday morning monster movies at the movie theater,  riveted in horror, unable to comprehend what was on the screen.  One of the teachers wandered in, in tears.  Her cousin worked at the WTC.  She was in shock.  Non-functioning.  Slowly throughout the next several days and weeks, the enormity of the event sunk in and along with it the feelings of helplessness, violation, fear and finally born from the ashes, strength.  God bless us all and help us to use that strength to find peace in this world.

911, is also, she said in a tiny voice, ripe with guilt, my birthday.  More on that tomorrow.

a day in the life of the medically hounded 9TS . . .

Wake at 4:30 a.m.  4:35 a.m. wake grumpy wife.  Eat breakfast, shower and hop in the vette for a 2.15 hour drive to the other side of the state, dodging speed traps and bored Staties.

After a quick check by Dr. K,  head down to apheresis.  That's their name for sucking the blood out of one arm and putting it back in through the other.  Why you ask?  To remove some of the white blood cells to make sure everything is OKEY-DOKEY before first round of vaccines.  Isn't the 9TS glad his wife shares?  Is there no privacy in a the man's life?

11:30 a.m.  Down to the Moffitt basement for a Philly Chicken Cheese sandwich . . .

12:15 p.m.  Back up to the 3rd floor to the Clinical Research Unit for more lab work, leaving wife and camera behind.  Hooray!

Bad news, no one told the 9TS that after the vaccines are injected, there is a six hour wait before being released.  Bummer. 

Wife gets tired and appears with camera: Another bummer . . . worse than no one to play fetch with.

labwork:

Infusion:

Vaccine shots:

It seems even she-with-camera-welded-to-right-eyeball didn't want to watch the seven needles.  Some wife she turned out to be.

Dinner:
Hospital Cafeteria food leaves much to be desired. Spaghetti and meatballs.  Sort of.

Schedule:  Report back to CRU every hour for vitals.

Departure:   8:15 p.m.  YAY!!

Arrival:  Home  10:45 p.m.

Snore . . .  snore . . .  snore . . . snore . . . snore . . .  snore . . .  snore . . . woof

Labor Day . . .

we had our world famous Labor Day Weekend family pool party and BBQ blow out yesterday and not one single shot was taken.  How did that happen you ask?

Well, it might have been because Katie, the 9TS and I were busy dancing the Watusi,  the Swim, the Frug, the Bristol Stomp, the Pony and the South Philly Shuffle in the kitchen while grooving to some oldies.

Or it might have been because we were making turtle brownies, baking beans, tossing pasta salad, roasting corn on the cob, grilling dogs, hamburgers, chicken wings, ribs, frying french fries, wrestling coleslaw, chilling soda and beer, putting out the condiments and slicing ice cold watermelon.

Or maybe we were busy drowning each other in the pool, playing bumper cars on floats, blasting water falls out of doodles,  cannon balling and generally lowering the water level in the pool by several inches.

Or wiping sweet juice off our faces, sucking sticky BBQ sauce off fingers, gnawing on bones, and most generally wallowing around in over fed bodies.

Or maybe we were too busy catching up with Stacie, Jackie, Joe, Stephanie and Kaitlyn.  Stories were flying, tales told, histories caught up upon.  

No matter what the reason, it was fun, and I am ready to do it all over again next year. 

Oh and the best thing . . .  the house is still clean, the deck still sparkles and life is good.

Yesterday, the 9TS and I scrubbed, bleached, sprayed, whisked, and exfoliated the pool deck.  Today it rained.  Makes you chuckle . . .  God's sense of humor.

Today, I cleaned the house . . .  you know company is coming.  Family really, because they're the best.

And after a major grocery store run, all is ready for tomorrow.  YAY!!!

And so I finally relaxed and played:

Many thanks to:  Manu, Dawn Inskip, Anna Aspnes and LB_Typewriter!!

may the spirit be with you . . .

Today I dragged the eyeball rolling  9TS to Cassadaga.  If you are not familiar with it, Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp is the oldest active religious community in the Southeastern United States.  It is also on the National Register of Historic Places.  Enough reason for my camera and I and the cynical sloth, to go day tripping.

A beautiful day in the neighborhood.  I immediately wanted to move in here:

Or if not available for immediate occupancy, maybe here:

I am loving this town.   

Meanwhile, the 9TS, whom I had to drag out of the gift shop (surprise, surprise) was pointing out other signs like this:

and this:

and even this, which happens to be my favorite:

and don't forget this:

but I was busy shooting here:

 and here:

and, of course here:

But my favorite spot was here:   Spirit Pond!

We wandered all over until I was afraid the 9TS would lose his eyeballs all together and we headed back to the car.

Don't tell, but I am going to sneak back over week after next and get a reading.  I am fascinated!  Oh, and after leaving the gift shop, I smell like patchouli!!!

Pippin . . .

need I say more??????