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April 30, 2005
Are you pondering what I'm pondering?
How come my iron died. Yes, I said iron..as in flat iron..as in that thing some people use to take wrinkles out of clothes. Yeah that funny shaped thing that heats up and all. Yeah, well, mine is broken...geesh, the nerve..it's not like it ever got used much, ya know.
How come no matter how much you shake up that bottle of mustard, that first squirt is always watery. I really don't like that and it gets me every time.
How come that "run away bride" let her parents think something horrible happened to her AND have her finace come under such intense scrutiny? I'd be so ticked off with her. I guess she has some issues...goodness if she couldn't face 600 of her nearest and dearest friends and family, wonder how she'll do with the whole internet thing? Calling Dr Phil..
How come with all the recently banned cigarette lighters on airplanes notices, Greg was able to carry one on in not one but four separate flights..ok, only 2 security checks but still. BTW, he didn't realize it was in a front pocket of an old carry-on we rarely use.
snort...finally one of those aha moments when I notice someone's mistake on their listing on eBay. I found it amusing to see a Minton bowl of the Rose/Bavarian Rose pattern being listed as "Minton *Mint on Rose* pattern.
Posted by frani at 03:43 PM | Comments (2)
April 29, 2005
Week's end...
Friday again...packing the car for the trip home.
One day to unpack, wash, repack, return...well, be ready to leave Sunday noon to return after getting home Friday evening/night.
eBay items to unpack, leave feedback, catalog and find space for.
Kitties to nuture...
Yard to tend..actually find someone to tend yard for us.
Attend 40th Birthday party sunday noon...hhhmmm I didn't realize he was that much younger than us. I guess what I mean is I didn't realize he was only 7 years older than our son!!! Farrington ... guess that makes sense when I think about it but it still gives me the willies.
Take time to notice the flowering trees. The route we travel in the morning to drop Greg off at work is through a neighborhood in transition. Definitely inner city but there are homes here rather than buildings. There is definitely pride in the neighborhoods...and there are some beautiful flowering trees and shrubs. A few magnolias looking glorious...flowering crabtrees and some things with long pink tendrils..it's just wonderful to see everything coming to life...in more ways than one. Speaking of which...We travel the roads between Yale-New Haven Hospital buildings..the Children's hospital..many people at the hotel are here to receive treatment or have family receiving treatment. It's sobering at times especially with all the ambulances coming and going. I'll be sitting there waiting in the parking lot and on any given day there are at least 3 ambulances in and out. I saw a gentleman in scrubs pushing the tiniest wheelchair I've ever seen along the sidewalk the other day. Just knowing some child had been in it or was going to be in it tugged at my heart. Again made me realize just how fortunate I've been.
Moving right along...this cold rainy snap we have been having hasn't gotten me out to walk along the waterfront either but I can see that coming in my future; I also have to find the local beach on which to plunk myself during the day. Why hang out at a pool when there is ocean life to be seen. Good weather is coming...right? ( hhmm..guess I won't be complaining much since there are people who saw snow recent;y...glad it wasn't me.)
Well, time to pack up the car. Have a good weekend, Fans!
Posted by frani at 08:35 AM | Comments (1)
April 24, 2005
On the Road Again...
Another fine weekend spent in Stamford; this time it was the start of Maura'a fourth birthday celebration. The weekend consisted of both sets of grandparents, Uncle Mike from Pittsburgh and then Uncle Morgan and Auntie Nora came over Sunday with a very of their germs. they were too bad and I'm sure they left with more germs on occasion than they ever came with. At anyrate, we are back in New Haven at our hotel away from home..this time with a King Studio...I think this room will work just fine.
Back to the celebration: The Grandparents gave Maura a few of her presents because the Grandpas won't be available Tuesday for the "girl princess party". Grandma Jean and Pop Pop Gary gave her a Dora bike with training wheels and real brakes....We gave her a box of princess clothes which I made while playing in the hotel room a week or so ago as well as while I was home. I had fun making them and then had the bright idea that all 10 of her little princess friends should have princess skirts too for the party...so far we (Mommy and Grandma Jean got roped in too) have 5 of them made before running out of netting. Oh yeah...I'll make them them tomorrow and take them with me Tuesday for the girl party. Yup yup yup....
Settling in for the evening...I made corn bread and heating chili for dinner...maybe watch a little 60 Minutes or something else on TV. check the eBay offerings. We just might have a few purchases waiting for us when we get home...;-D
Have a nice evening all and a good week coming up.
Posted by frani at 06:34 PM | Comments (1)
April 20, 2005
Don't like the weather? Politics? Wait....
Let's see....in the late 36 hours it has been in the 20s...the 40s with a high yesterday of 77 degrees..Nice! this morning it was 68 degrees, sunny and very pleasant. Hmmm...
A check out the door...40s and it seems to be more than a bit damp out there. Oh well...I was thinking of running our cars through the car wash anyway...this rain will go a long way toward dusting them off.
Whooooooooaaaaa....anyone up for a game of dominoes? Our Junior US Senator Jim Jeffords has turned the state into turmoil yet again! Noo, he hasn't decided to return to the Republican Party, he's decided to RETIRE! Not run for re-election! Let's see...people are scrambling...Bernie Sanders might chose to run for Jeffords' seat leaving the lone Representative seat open for 2006...ooooooorrrrr Our Govenor might get pressured into running..those Republican's sure are bitter about losing that seat since it toppled the balance of power on the national scene as well. Woe was the embarassment of the state Republican party faithful, so here's a chance at redemption. That would leave the Governor's race wide open. Hmmm...local business bigwigs are salivating at the chance to break into politics as well as some state folks moving on up to higher state offices. Wooowww, I can just feel things heating up here in our little state over the next 18 months...stay tuned.
Contrary to a couple of recent rain remarks...I still hate rain.
Posted by frani at 06:30 PM | Comments (1)
April 19, 2005
Thank you from Ben & Jerry's
Ahhh...I remember the boys well back in the old days of their corner defunct gas station shop in downtown Burlington. pppsssttt..that's one of the answers to their "test" at their factory tour. Soo, go check out the site and find a participating scoop shop to get your free cone today! Hmmmm...I'm thinking Phish Food...no maybe chocolate something (right)...nooooo Coffee!
They sent one of my favorites to the coffee graveyard but I'm happy to report it's #2 on the revival list: From Russia with Buzz, "a completely caffeinated cross of coffee ice cream with coffe liqueur and dark coffee ice cream with esspress fudge chips."
Posted by frani at 08:44 AM | Comments (3)
April 17, 2005
Of cookies and cake....
Yea!...we got our Girl Scout cookies yesterday! Ok, we've been gone alot...and I didn't know the little girl I bought them from, and I really did try to find out who she was and where she lived before now BUT she found me first. Considering the fact that I bought 12 boxes of the things and someone was going to have to pay for them before now, I figured she would find me sooner or later. I guess the few times we were home, we had also put the car in the garage; that didn't help them figure out we were actually here. They said they just figured we were bound to come home sometime. Yum Yum..I like Thin Mints. Oh yeah and one of the Lemon Pastry boxes is already gone.
The weather has been glorious...high 60s maybe even 70...aaahhh Spring. things are greening up around here in spite of the fact I still have leaves all over my yard. Maybe I'll rake later.
Today is Gregory's day...finally we can say we are the same age when someone asks..of course we are also that age where no one asks..they don't even ask if we are seniors...they don't dare! *I*, on the other hand, will ask what the senior age is since I'm all about saving a $ or two. Sometimes we qualify. I didn't sign us up for AARP for nothing, ya know.
Sigh, I sliced open my little finger on an eggshell this morning while trying to shove it down the garbage disposal. I never had them mishap before..am I getting frailer or are eggshells getting tougher?
We're off to look for shelving for the vacuum pots...er I mean extra shelves for the house...have a good day all
Posted by frani at 11:39 AM | Comments (3)
April 16, 2005
Does this mean I have no Accent as well?
Pilfered from Ellen:
Your Linguistic Profile: |
| 45% Yankee |
| 40% General American English |
| 15% Upper Midwestern |
| 0% Dixie |
| 0% Midwestern |
Posted by frani at 08:13 AM | Comments (2)
April 15, 2005
Springtime in Vermont
I Know we aren't the only ones with snow still left in the yard but this is what is left in "the corner" ... not bad this year; it could actually be gone by May. Looks like the Sphinx to me.
~Elmo (pronounced Not Elmo)enjoying his stretching in the sun..hhmmm looks like the snow plow dug up the patio brick sidewalk a tad...either that or someone got too close to it with her car. Just saying. See how there is no sun in there???
Aaaahhh but even *I* get flowers..I won't miss my Bloodroot this year! Look hows it's spread..yea! Someone really should have raked leaves last fall.
Posted by frani at 12:51 PM | Comments (4)
April 13, 2005
Home again, home again...
Hey Fans...I know it's only Wednesday but we get to go home later today. I won't put you through the tap tap tap and snort scratching of last Friday...well maybe not. So far I'm still in the room but the car is packed. Did I tell you about the room(s)? I had asked for an upgrade from a queen studio to a king studio using our Marriott Rewards points ( I'm now not sure that was even possible) BUT I was told it was and then we got booked into a 2 bedroom suite (loft second bedroom) at about $40 a night more than we signed up for; no points were used and still no king sized bed...sigh. Oh well, it was a learning experience but we could get used to this type of room too easily. The cathedral ceilings do a lot for relieving the claustophobia I experience in regular hotel rooms.
Regardless of the room issues....we went to Stamford for the weekend and we ended up going to the Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport, CT. We've seen the sign from the parkway many times and talked about going but Pop Pop Greg actually made the suggestion to go,so off we went. Snort...usually it's Pop Pop Gary who has trouble sitting still and plans events; this was quite a turn about. The weather was great and Maura kept telling Pop Pop that going there was a "really good idea" and thanking him. Re-enforcement is always a plus. The above photo is of the prairie dog exhibit. I noticed the tubes but didn't quite realize what they were all about until Pop Pop and Kieran's heads popped up in one of them. Talk about a close up view of the prairie dogs! Cute. I think this zoo is quite appropriate for this age group ( 4-2 plus 32-33 and 56!) There is just enough variety to keep the kids invloved but not overwhelming and tiring. Peacocks roam freely, there are stone animals to climb on and a carousal will reopen soon. Guess we'll plan another trip back.
In the meantime...a couple weeks home for me is in order. There will be boxes to unwrap but certainly not so many as in previous returns. Our eBay vacuum coffee pot buying has slowed considerably even though we got some pretty nice ones these last couple of weeks. Yes we brought a Sunbeam vac pot with us...brewed mostly Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee here in the room. Nothing to sneeze at there!
Guess I'll check out..gas up the car...do some last minute shopping and hope we get to leave early this afternoon. Have a great day, all and we'll see you from Vermont...where I hope it's greened up some from when we left.
Posted by frani at 10:20 AM | Comments (1)
April 08, 2005
Tap Tap Tap...
So it's Friday, I'm packed up and ready to go. Hhhmmm forgot about having to vacate a hotel room, too. Sitting in the hotel lobby/breakfastroom/lounge isn't so bad with wireless available. Someone want to turn down the radio please? I can't concentrate/read with a radio on.....tap tap tap...la la la la..scratch, snort..I've already eaten my yogurt.
I did arrange for a late checkout but since I was ready to go, I din't see any point in preventing them from getting the room cleaned. Now, I feel better about that...I'm eavesdropping..someone is not happy they don't have a non-smoking room available for them. Hhmmm wait a few minutes, one will be cleaned. The "kid" behind the desk looks and sounds like he is twelve. Here's another thought...maybe I should make some guesses about when we will be back here since there are a few colleges in the area who will be holding graduation ceremonies soon. Update..I made some guesses and made some reservations...I can always cancel or change them..easier than trying to get into a full hotel
I did manage to get the laundry done this morning, though. I think we all should have multiple washers and dryers at our disposal all the time...yeah that's the ticket.
Oppppsss another Update: the 12 year old behand the desk is a woman with very short hair..also young but I had also been looking at her through a mirror... Must have been the radio distraction.
tap tap tap..lalalalalala....scratch snort....it's only 10 minutes later than when I last checked my watch. We have hours to go....
Did I mention we are babysitting the Grandchildren tonight? Yup, yup...Kieran is probably plotting out how many books he'll con me into reading for bedtime. *I*, however, am wise to that ploy and have one of my own...I found a great book at Costco last week...it's an all breed puppy book. Wonderful pictures of puppies with descriptions of the breed for future reference. Kieran has expressed an interest in puppies! Maybe I can get a video of Maura and her hula skirt...hehehe. Grandmas are always plotting.....
Have a good weekend all............
Posted by frani at 12:19 PM | Comments (1)
If I should die before I wake
I received this in an e-mail this morning...yup...this about sums it up!
LIVING WILL
I, _________________________ (fill in the blank), being of sound mind and body, do not wish to be kept alive indefinitely by artificial means. Under no circumstances should my fate be put in the hands of peckerwood, ethically challenged politicians who couldn't pass ninth-grade biology if their lives depended on it.
If a reasonable amount of time passes and I fail to sit up and ask for a cold beer, it should be presumed that I won't ever get better. When such a determination is reached, I hereby instruct my spouse, children and attending physicians to pull the plug, reel in the tubes and call it a day.
Under no circumstances shall the hypocritical members of the Legislature (State or Federal) enact a special law to keep me on life-support machinery. It is my wish that these boneheads mind their own damn business, and pay attention instead to the health, education and future of the millions of Americans who aren't in a permanent coma.
Under no circumstances shall any politicians butt into this case. I don't care how many fundamentalist votes they're trying to scrounge for their run for the presidency, it is my wish that they play politics with someone else's life and leave me alone to die in peace. I couldn't care less if a hundred religious zealots send e-mails to legislators in which they pretend to care about me. I don't know these people, and I certainly haven't authorized them to preach and crusade on my behalf. They should mind their own business, too.
If any of my family goes against my wishes and turns my case into a political cause, I hereby promise to come back from the grave and make his or her existence a living hell.
_____________________ __________________
Signature
Witness Witness
------------------------------------ __________________
Date__________ Date__________
Posted by frani at 08:18 AM | Comments (1)
April 06, 2005
Of Leaks Trash and Entitlement
It's obviously been a long time since I've done any "regular" hotel living. I can't count resorts such as in Brazil or Las Vegas or even a condo in Maui as Regular. I'm referring to the Sunday to Friday business routine...trying to live a normal life while traveling and staying in hotels.
We try to find extended stay type places..Residence Inns and Summerfield Suites tend to top the list becasue of their full kitchen arrangements. Now they may not come with full kitchen utensils but at least there is a stove/oven/dishwasher and full fridge in the room. A bed, a desk, high speed access, kitchen and sitting area are our biggies.
I don't expect anyone to clean up after my coffee making...I'll clean the vac pot thank you. I don't care if they don't vacuum or wipe the floors...just make sure I have toilet paper and towels but if you say you are going to do something, then I really expect you to do it.
The Leak. No One came to check on the leak under the sink yesterday; not that I sat there waiting. I really didn't care that much. So on our way to evening social hour/light dinner, we checked at the desk to find out what was being done about it. "aaaahhhh ..I know what happened there...When you came down to report the leak, she either misunderstood what you said or you gave her the wrong room number but they went to room 811 which was an unoccupied room! 511...we'll get that looked at right now" Ooooooookkkkkkkkkkk...I'm not one to quibble about fault but....well yes I am. Excuse me? *I* gave her the wrong room number?? What? I was out to trick her? Annoy her? I had freaking water where it didn't belong in room 511..I wanted it fixed! Soooo since we didn't want to "fix our own pizzas with our choice of toppings in a microwave" we went back to the room to find our handy dandy maintenance man on his way over....without tools. " What seems to be the problem here?" "ummm....water leaking under the sink...slow draining as well as I told the front desk." My hero tightened the connection with his bare hands no less and voila! no leaking when he ran the water full tilt! Did he not notice water was collecting in the sink without a stopper? Maybe he didn't notice the water was still draining out of the sink as he left the room? Maybe he was only there to fix the leak. Maybe he thinks I'm a moron because I didn't just tighten the connection myself...afterall, he was able to fix it with his bare hands...pesky hotel guests are soooo useless. We'll see how long it lasts.
Oh and BTW...when housekeeping came to clean the room, how come she didn't notice the puddle on the floor near the kichen sink?
I'm sure it's very difficult to deal with the demanding public but I do not go out of my way to make things difficult for the people who "work to serve me". I have to admit I've seen rooms people have vacated...I'm appalled at how they can turn a room into a shambles in such a short time. I've also been disgusted with how people leave a mess in theaters and stadiums...and planes. Oh My goodness, people..airplanes..I can NOT believe people can leave such trash around when the flight attendents are up and down the aisles 500 times asking for your trash.
Ok..that's my PSA for today...clean up after yourselves, you piggies. Maybe then we'll all receive better service when it really matters. ..and before you think me a snob...some of the worse trashed rooms have been at five star resorts and on planes first class and business class can be pretty much trashed as well. Long live the entitled...huh?
Enjoy your day and pick up your litter and maybe even extend that to some stray bottle or can you didn't even leave! ...aren't you embarrassed that we have had to have fines for littering?
Posted by frani at 08:48 AM | Comments (0)
April 05, 2005
What's that again?
Sitting in the breakfast room of the hotel watching the "news" this morning from the "Today" show....
There seems to be a bit of flooding in the Northeast...first of all, *I* don't consider the Delaware River in PA to be the northeast BUT who am I to argue with the news dept....
The reporter has been standing in the water long enough for there to be a 6 inch lower water hash mark on his waders...of course just becasue someone got swept away in the flood waters and died is no reason for me not to trust the news dept.....
A couple of swans swim behind the reporter in the water...the "in house" weather anchors back at the studio comment on his feathered friends so the reporter turns around, looks at them and proceeds to tell us how awesome these ducks have been....excuse me? Ducks?
...and this is the gy we are suppose to get our news from???? Willies. I've become one of those poeple who talks back to the TV...
In other news...
There's longer than a 10 hour wait to view the Pope's body...now that's devotion.
I saw some of Yale Univeristy campus this morning....some very old and very beautiful buildings there. I think I might have to go visit some of the museums and galleries there.
The pipes under the sink in this hotel room are leaking...I thought it was me being sloppy but there was water there even when I wasn't using any...and we all know how I feel about water where it doesn't belong. I reported it to the front desk ...hours ago...guess it won't get fixed today. sigh...funny how the sales person called 20 minutes after my report to see how things were going for us so far...call me again sweetie.
Have a good evening all.........
Posted by frani at 04:20 PM | Comments (1)
April 04, 2005
Greetings from the Elm City
Same project, different city. New Haven may be known as the Elm City but I suspect the elms here have gone the way of many other elm trees in CT over the years...dutch elm disease. We used to have two huge elm trees right by the road at the end of our brick sidewalk at the house where I grew up. I missed them when they succumbed...the real shocker was the huge tree in our neighbor's year that had to come down; it had a 6-8 ft diameter trunk. We all played on the stump after..it was everything from a bus to a pirate ship to a castle and beyond.
As usual, I digress. New Haven....hmmm. I do look forward to each new area with all places to explore. Yup already found the Talbot's outlet and the closest water is a few blocks away. Not bad. Weather should improve enough for some good walks soon. Google maps are pretty darn good too for getting around. Sure I grew up in CT but unless our parents took us someplace or it was on the route to the beach or college, I have no clue.
It feels weird to be back in a hotel as well. We did bring our pillows, a load of coffee beans and the vac pot we had in New London, so that helps. Oh the luxury of traveling by car and not plane. We stopped at The Vine and Table in North Hampton, MA on the way down....wow...all the wines...all the booze...all the sugars..hmmm did I mention yet that I'm into raw sugar as well? yup, I don't use it for baking but I do for most everything else. We picked up a few different kinds of sugar yesterday as well.
I know I am forgetting to mention something but then again, that's the fun of blogging...I can just up and bore the heck out of you several times a day.
The sun is coming out...enjoy the day all....
Posted by frani at 08:44 AM | Comments (1)
April 01, 2005
Noteworthy...or not
I believe I have taken all week to accomplish the things I needed to accomplish this week...isn't that someone's principle or law or something and haven't I asked that before?
The UPS and/or FedEx truck can actually drive by our house and not stop.
The cat is diabolical..he opens the bathroom door when I'm showering and then opens it wider to leave, thus creating quite a draft in there. There is no point to his being there at all, ya know.
March snow melt uncovers more than dog poop...remember that bill you thought you paid? Thank Goodness it wasn't my soggy mail under my snow pile.
I have finished all month end and quarter end paperwork..why does it seem to be more of a pain in the neck than it really is?
I fail to understand why anyone would think Terri Shiavo's condition was anyone's business other than hers and her doctors..much less the government of the United States. I was very sad for her for the spectacle that was made of her life/death. Shame on all of the participants...especially Tom Delay. ..and in case anyone has any doubt *I* would not want to be kept alive as she was..got it? Good.
Oh Oh..it's April Fool's Day...no I don't really miss "the rubber band holding down the kitchen sink sprayer" water in the face trick played on me. Most people would have to change their shirts..I am short so I always got sprayed in the face. It never made Mom very happy and Wifey, less so. (water where it doesn't belong and all, ya know) Hope you all surived all the April Fool Tricks..
Have a good weekend all....
Posted by frani at 10:57 AM | Comments (2)