KnitKnacks

« February 2003 | Main | April 2003 »

March 31, 2003

Monday's Adventure

Sooooooooo I misunderstood what "bus" meant when I asked about getting to the Metro....local bus, not hotel bus...catch it out front of the hotel every half hour. It's been a long time since I've ridden a real city bus. I may do it again....we'll see. Anyway, it got me to the Metro which got me down to DC to see what cherry blossoms were out...I thought it was quite spectacular as it was even if I was freezing my buns off. It was cold enough but the added wind around the Tidal Basin kept me from going around to the Jefferson Memorial much less the FDR. I walked back up to the Washington Monument to take some there but both my batteries were kaput....I think there is something wrong with them or my charger. Probably the batteries. I stopped to shop along the way home...nothing caught my eye. I have no idea what I will do tomorrow when I have to check out of the hotel and then spend the rest of day until Greg gets out of work...then it's off to the airport. Guess I'll wander over to the hotel lobby and look for brochures....maps, since I will have the Monster Truck all day.

Posted by frani at 04:15 PM | Comments (5)

March 30, 2003

Sunday Meanderings...

It's snowing....I could have stayed home and seen all of this....well not exactly; we don't have the flowering trees and such. Today's newspaper put the peak Cherry blossom viweing at between April 5-12...hhhmmm and we leave the 1st and possibly come back the 14th? At any rate, a stroll around the Tidal Basin just may be in order anyway....not just for the cherry trees but for another glimpse of the FDR Memorial and soaking in a few words of wisdom .

Posted by frani at 01:38 PM | Comments (2)

March 29, 2003

DC stuff...

Greetings from Gaithersburg, MD...northwest (?) of DC. Not too far. I haven't been gone on "business" since last November...amazing how quickly I forgot all the tricks of the trade AND information about which airport I was traveling through. For instance I did experience a little angst arriving at La Guardia with only a half hour to get my connection at the far end of the next concourse over. I forgot there is no shuttle bus to contend with from the puddle jumper area...that is always a big help. Oh well, no big deal and I quickly got my travel mode back on. Dealing with the many options to get from DCA to Gaithersburg was again something I needed to deal with after I landed .. no big deal..at least I was aware of the options a head of time. I ended up taking an airport shuttle with another woman going in the general area...our driver was from Ghana and he had quite a take on the war, Bush and Saddam. We caught most of it but his accent kept getting harder to understand as he got more excited....also sarcasm is harder to "get" accented. He was a hoot; even though we were a beat or two behind on his jokes.

Greg's rental cars of late seem to be back in the "like a box of chocolates" mode again. Asking for that compact with the expectation of receiving at least a one class upgrade has been difficult to predict at best. For the longest time he WAS getting the compact...then it was a Subaru Outback wagon type thing and here....well sir...how much more patriotic can one get then to be driving a big ole honkin white Ford Escape SUV thing. it's huge...what the heck do we need with one of those??? Ahhhh yes...it all comes clear when we see the PA plates on it and we are returning it to National instead of Dulles....ummm wrong direction fellas...maybe it will get back to PA from there...maybe not. Wasn't there some spiffy Jaguar needing to go back to PA??? Hrumph....

We took a tour of the area this morning...needed to find all the important places for the next several months....from the hotel to work...from the hotel to the grocery store...from the hotel to the metro...from the hotel to the upscale mall...you know...just the essentials. whew...all in a days work.

mmmm I didn't come all this way south to get snow...today will be close to 70 degrees and rainy off and on...tomorrow it's suppose to be cold...and snowy. However there are lots of flowers out on the trees and ground and the grass is greening up nicely...this I like!!

more mmmm...haven't had to use a dial up modem at 48kbps in a lot time either....ooooo wwweee look at that...50.6 kbps...now we're cooking. I think I should consider myself lucky...the hotels in AZ used to get us connected at 24kbps.

Have a good day alll.........

update....Hrumph...that wasn't an upscale mall...the quest continues....

Posted by frani at 10:51 AM | Comments (5)

March 25, 2003

Amazing stuff.....

Wow...the suitcase delivery guy who ran off my driveway and made a ditch actually came back yesterday to fix the rut he made in the lawn.

Wow....we left Greg's car at our local Saab repair place after hours Friday night and it's fixed already this morning. Not a bad deal since it was a surprise to them having it sitting there yesterday with it's clutch on the floor.

Wow...my niece had a baby boy yesterday afternoon...Gregg Steven...my parents would have 5 Great-Grandchildren now.

I saw a robin bobbin' along today.....a friend told me about her neighborhood who has started a tradition of planting flamingos in their yards on April 1st...it's grown to include a couple of streets now. Sounds like my kind of neighborhood.

I think I feel an attack coming on.........of the lawn variety that is.

Posted by frani at 03:06 PM | Comments (1)

March 23, 2003

No Photos, Please

Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh...Springtime in Vermont. Actually, for the next few weeks or so, it's more like eeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwww Springtime on Vermont. It's down right ugly out there. Oh sure the snow is melting and the streams are running full tilt...the ones that aren't flooding with ice jams and sodden debris. What's left of the snow banks is filty and I don't even want to look too closely at what has been uncovered on the lawns. Those first snow storms can come quickly and catch you unaware....there may even be some nasty left over jack o' lanterns revealed. I know some people never got around to raking their leaves last fall and they now have one very soggy blanket of mush out back. Thank goodness it's not visible from the road or else the lawn police would be knocking on our door...umm...I mean their door. Brown ....everything out there is dressed in shades of brown. Dead leaves...wet soggy trees...fallen branches and other debris from heavy snows and ice damage.....fields of dried grasses turned wet and messy. Certainly this side of Vermont isn't being photographed for Vermont Life Magazine However, give us a little time to freshen up...put on some makeup...a little color in our cheeks...a little lipstick...green-up so to speak and we'll be looking beautiful again. Ahhhhh Springtime in Vermont..

Posted by frani at 08:19 AM | Comments (1)

March 20, 2003

Red Flag.....

So in answer to the question " where were you when the US launched it's first strikes on Baghdad?" Well Morey, I was online making a one-way reservation aboard a USAirways flight to DCA...That would be Reagan-National Airport...for Friday, March 28th. Is that considered "last minute"? Am I not to be concerned if men in dark suits and sunglasses hunt me down while I'm exercising at Curves today? hhhhmmm just a thought.

More thoughts: Did I mention the second leg of my flight is a Airbus shuttle out of LGA? That would be a big plane out of LaGuardia in New York City for those who do do speak airport-eeze. It just may not be a question of if this raised a red flag but when "they" will check it out. Actually I should be very concerned if they don't......

Posted by frani at 08:35 AM | Comments (0)

War and Stuff...

The US has invaded Iraq...that has an ominous ring to it to begin with. I don't think I like the notion of being an aggressor and can understand the anti-war sentiment. I certainly don't think there is anyone out there who wakes up in the morning and is excited about the concept of going to war. However, I am also a 54 ( I said 53 yesterday and believed it) Grandmother from Vermont and daresay, I don't have access to all the facts. I have to believe that there is sufficient cause for this war for our government to ignore the UN Security Council actions...I have to believe that the countries not backing us have their own interests at stake but will side in with the US in the long run...please...who would you want to align with, really? I also would rather have my government take these steps now than wait for some other horrendous action ie 9/11. A year and a half ago GW said it was not going to be a short war on terror...a year and a half is a long time to wait for diplomacy to work...a year and a half has passed and have we as a nation regained a sense of security.. will we ever? Saddam Hussein may not have been directly involved in the 9/11 attacks, but I honestly believe he is capable, willing and arrogant enough to take some form of action against the US and our interests. I believe the man is dangerous..he has no regard for humanity as evidenced by his treatment of his own countrymen..why on earth would anyone believe he has peaceful intentions toward us or anyone else? I certainly would not want to be in GW's shoes if he failed to protect our country from madmen and I'd rather he take the heat for striking first than waiting until after we find out just what horrors Hussein is capable of. I don't think we can apply our standards of reasoning and behavior on someone who is incapable of either....Hussein has neither similar cultural nor ethical values as we. I believe the anti-war activists in this case are trying to apply our standards of apples when Iraq is an orange. Now if we were using the same tactics toward, say, France...well then probably I would feel differently. Hitler was an orange....no one believed the rantings of a madman would amount to anything....personally, I'd rather not be that surprised again.

I am still a child of the 60s, it saddens me to believe what I have said. I don't think it's a question of age and conservatism...I am just not THAT old and conservative!

That said....I think it also dispicable to watch it "live on TV"....I won't....it's another one of those things I don't consider a spectator sport. Someone's child is going to be killed today.....

Posted by frani at 08:13 AM | Comments (2)

March 18, 2003

..And Life goes on...

In the face of impending war with Iraq and all it's possible consequences ( I shudder at the mariad of consequences), life as we know it is supposed to continue.

The Annual Rotten Sneaker Contest will take place this afternoon ..the trailer for the news tonight had this as the next "top story" to the war plans with Iraq.

I have been spending the morning making modifying and reworking flights in and out of Reagan-National and Dulles Airports over the next few weeks. Hello? Will those airports even be open and functioning...do we really want to be in that vacinity? Time will tell...in a short time.

Posted by frani at 01:46 PM | Comments (0)

March 17, 2003

Monday Musings...

We attended the wedding of Jaime Fioretti and Mark Robitaille this weekend in Worcester Mass. The church was elegant...the service was very nice...the bride was exquisite...the groom was handsome ...the flower girl was adorable ...the reception was excellent.....and the tear factor rated a 9 so a good time was had by all.

It's SPRING!!!!!!!!!! The snow is melting....the sun is shining...the iced driveway is becoming muddy...this is a good thing today. I'm one of those people who NEEDS the sunshine to feel good. Ok, so it's not officially Spring yet ..soon. I went out this morning and it was cooler in the car than out...this is definitely a good thing.

I just think I'll go out there again some more today....and tomorrow.

Posted by frani at 07:39 AM | Comments (2)

March 13, 2003

Woe is me...

Just when I thought it was safe to go outside again, it's darn cold out there! sigh. Spring will come ..and summer...and I promise only to complain about the heat and humidity as much as I do about this cold winter!

My son has been disenchanted......sigh....I wish he didn't have to see this seamy side of life.

My younger son has been suspended....sigh...I wish he didn't have to see this seamy side of life.

I got my charms and bracelet today...yipee! Must be that Grandma side of me coming out...these are much better than sensible shoes.

I'm taking a zesty orange bread recipe out on a test run today...will let you know how it comes out. ...and no I didn't wear my apron but I should have. Messing with flour wearing black slacks and sweater is dumb.

Posted by frani at 03:39 PM | Comments (3)

March 10, 2003

Thoughts of Spring....

We've actually had some warmer weather around here although today it's back down in the single digits. Brrr.. I noticed a lot of dripping from the ice on the roof. You'd think we would have raked the big snow off before it became ice this year...especially after putting on the new roof...but nooooooooo. Now we have to contend with some ice build up in the same corner where it always forms AND leaks into the hallway by the front door...yup...leaked Friday night. Maybe I'll throw some de-icer stuff up there the next time it warms up.

In the meantime the driveway has been transformed into something akin to a bumpy ice arena.....weeeeeeeee! Try not to hit my car, garage, tree, porch, cat when driving in, thank you. I don't mind though...it's a sign of spring coming! It won't be long now....ice fishing shanties and trucks will have lingered a little too long out on the lake and require the humilitation of being rescued. A layer of mud will descend over everything in sight..ooozing it's way over the landscape. The sap from the maple trees will start flowing.....ahhh... sugar-0n-snow now there is a real spring time treat. I think I will organize a sugar on snow party this year. I think I'll even hunt up my grandmother's donut recipe...where's the lard....where's my apron...where are my sensible shoes!

Posted by frani at 09:27 AM | Comments (0)

Coal to Newcastle.....

~~ So USAir is trying to make ammends for last week's fiasco, cancelled flights and bus bus to Albany; they sent two first class upgrade certificates. Yeeee Haaa! Greg can put those right along side the 120 other ones he has little or no use for as long as he is taking puddle jumpers up and down the East coast. You'd think someone would think that a Gold preferred member wouldn't need upgrades. Heck, even *I* don't need upgrades! ( so sad...I finally took my expired gold card out of my bag and put in the silver...sniff sniff...noooo I didn't take the gold tags off my luggage though!)

Posted by frani at 09:05 AM | Comments (0)

March 09, 2003

Sunday Morning Stuff..

I messed up yesterday and misplaced my blog entry....that should teach me to use draft and save more often.... but alas...I'm afraid it won't.
At anyrate it was difficult to leave the little critters behind..of course we had to have a marathon photo session before I left; Maura is now more interested in taking photos than being in them.. "cheese"...she also a tad more insistant on doing what she wants when she wants too...hehehe byebye! Fortunately what she wants isn't incompatible with those around her ... most of the time. Kieran is extremely tolerant so far; it only took us a few minutes each time for 3 adults to figure out Maura wanted to hold him.....she's a good big sister.

However, it seems just a little too quiet around this house...although, while I was gone the cat barfed ( more than once), the flowers died and no one ran the dishwasher before leaving a week ago....hhhmmm I'm well on my way to having my own stinky science project for the spark The good news is I did have a few packages waiting for me. The toothpaste wasn't exciting but I did order a couple of things from Uptown Flamingo ( oo oo..click and look upper left at my first pop-up image!)

Yea..I'll just be stylin' down in Palm Harbor FL come May...snort.

Posted by frani at 08:33 AM | Comments (1)

March 05, 2003

Pepe Le Pew he isn't!

I hate skunks. They rank right up there under snakes on my list of least favorites ( that's an understatement if I ever wrote one) Must be leftover trauma from a little incident we had with Jay ( the cat) when he beat down our door one 3am dripping wet, screaming and leaping all over our bed from having been sprayed. My eyedoctor wasn't too thrilled I had kept an 8am appointment either but I digress.....

Skunks...seems there is some city slicker skunk taking up residence under the steps here at Demian and Lori's. His aura woke me sunday morning...no one else was quite as offended as I but they did notice. Monday morning at 4:42 am I was awakened again...I thought I was going to gag.......!!!!!! This time the rest of the household could smell it...AND the oders lingered in the laundryroom. Grampa Gary spread mothballs in the rafters and near the dryer vent...I scattered them out near the steps...skunks don't like mothballs. ( so I'm told...maybe it's another of those old wives tales that just make you feel like you are doing something proactive) At anyrate...the smell was abating...there was no sign (fresh smell) of them yesterday...THEN 12:28am this morning he came back...briefly. I think he might have been offended by our lack of welcoming gestures and moved on....hopefully. At the very least I'd like to be assured that if we venture off to the Darien Sports Shop again, the ladies are looking down their noses at my shoes, coat or purse rather than my "aura".

Posted by frani at 07:31 AM | Comments (3)

Home....

It doesn't get any better than this! What a wonderful Homecoming! Maura has been a wonderful big sister already..introduced Kieran to Cookie Monster and Elmo. Hmmm don't think she noticed he has his eyes closed but it's certainly the thought that counts. I'm thrilled I got to be here to be with them all during this special time.

Posted by frani at 06:56 AM | Comments (3)

March 04, 2003

Big Sister Little Brother

Todays' the big day when Lori and Kieran come home from the hospital and Maura's duties as Big Sister really begin. I'm sure she will be very good at it all...she certainly has burping her babies down pat. I think the Grandmas will like everyone in one place for a bit too...Poor Lori and Kieran didn't have many visitors yesterday. Maybe they liked it that way.

WE, on the other hand, went to a place called Timbertown ....now here's a concept I could get a handle on. Basically, this establishment is in business to sell play structures ..wooden and the Tiny Tykes variety. What they have is a huge playland where everything is displayed and you pay your $5 a child and play for as long as you like. There is also a special area for birthday parties as well as arcade and laser tag sections. Jean and I agreed that not only was it a great place for Maura to run off some enery on a cold winter day (rainy spring?...hot summer? windy fall?) but Grampa Gary's antsiness was abated playing too...hehehe.

Posted by frani at 07:33 AM | Comments (1)