tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-101940642024-03-28T17:25:57.099-05:00 justaskjudykenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.comBlogger1677125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-82871994535597042532024-03-11T20:15:00.002-05:002024-03-11T20:15:23.003-05:00There were some big changes here today....<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> My front "garden", and I use the term loosely, was torn out today, to make room for a new tree and some plants of my choosing. Here are some before photos: </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0x7fNN30pGMOhm5q2BKblr7Vich2ZqQ41iPXoicJA-hCqin59bYd2cSLmVqPmg-rD9QFxdZDCi-WUKKalBBzS0734f1HbPC6qfWXniKu2qjF5R2IuRXl_nUidDQbyTbTL9MvMZI67prc3PUJR4f3iw5rEjKtK_6pSlbE-iiAOmQZaQ6QumePw6Q/s4032/before.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0x7fNN30pGMOhm5q2BKblr7Vich2ZqQ41iPXoicJA-hCqin59bYd2cSLmVqPmg-rD9QFxdZDCi-WUKKalBBzS0734f1HbPC6qfWXniKu2qjF5R2IuRXl_nUidDQbyTbTL9MvMZI67prc3PUJR4f3iw5rEjKtK_6pSlbE-iiAOmQZaQ6QumePw6Q/w480-h640/before.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you spot the nearly dead trees; a rosemary plant, a rose bush, and some others I cannot name? Here's another view, where the damage to the trees shows up better. </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIc2aigBYMmu0ulilQ0JNq7L2fKTz_efJUK5XBuf_gv5H9IDaoFE_1-LcXiYQRsoMSu88-c0sXM8747xbe3JsoBNjd3LBozTEIS4ER9DEHVfLnLL1ME9Ca0iej2ekliSx4_skS_OkWfQspYZq0ObYvN_dv8tm_oXQyJFPVuio-9BSgJTO087UXw/s4032/closer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIc2aigBYMmu0ulilQ0JNq7L2fKTz_efJUK5XBuf_gv5H9IDaoFE_1-LcXiYQRsoMSu88-c0sXM8747xbe3JsoBNjd3LBozTEIS4ER9DEHVfLnLL1ME9Ca0iej2ekliSx4_skS_OkWfQspYZq0ObYvN_dv8tm_oXQyJFPVuio-9BSgJTO087UXw/w480-h640/closer.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can't see these in the large photo, but this is the first time in the nearly nine years I've lived here that they have bloomed:</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SQLhlFegRnaW_AxqyaxpE4IYEr6LCSaizg1fk88acK2IoGrc_2pyCBGp04NE9oSLUL6NtIGJkfCXKyM3iuIRTVHu4nXI2AuNA1MPLYLytxOcLQ2vZjZmOxXl_-QKpBnSTCX-vNjQ4MM434dtjmmcfN_qNzyL82OHAvpLh7wOG-xkJ2EMsquMjA/s724/daffs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="724" data-original-width="714" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7SQLhlFegRnaW_AxqyaxpE4IYEr6LCSaizg1fk88acK2IoGrc_2pyCBGp04NE9oSLUL6NtIGJkfCXKyM3iuIRTVHu4nXI2AuNA1MPLYLytxOcLQ2vZjZmOxXl_-QKpBnSTCX-vNjQ4MM434dtjmmcfN_qNzyL82OHAvpLh7wOG-xkJ2EMsquMjA/w395-h400/daffs.jpg" width="395" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It's too bad we could not save the bulbs. Believe it or not, there is/was a peony plant there too. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">This pink tree (I don't know the name of it) is half-dead, and it is blooming better than it ever has. Seems odd....as if it knew its days were numbered!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyU2X79Y-SBkCJQIxIT-bc3iKwhyvgniO52-LMcc3F74squayibE6yO11eg9RD80i1gloOHKgBHK4n_phdICr3a4_zQkYxwEqvsnabtrzASVWNx-XQ3BtNTrxjD_PE8-h1OuAzW5mQzOWjhPO2MtaexVsyHiMt-ylvpUyPGd5j7a1Ffm2ITRqbg/s3273/pink%20tree%20edit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3273" data-original-width="1741" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyU2X79Y-SBkCJQIxIT-bc3iKwhyvgniO52-LMcc3F74squayibE6yO11eg9RD80i1gloOHKgBHK4n_phdICr3a4_zQkYxwEqvsnabtrzASVWNx-XQ3BtNTrxjD_PE8-h1OuAzW5mQzOWjhPO2MtaexVsyHiMt-ylvpUyPGd5j7a1Ffm2ITRqbg/w341-h640/pink%20tree%20edit.jpg" width="341" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">And here is the area now:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVaeB2zJ6kVfibXLMLGsKneyAQEtY9ZaiSJemDFYyCjWx1NWN6bIPmOSIzFGDIHWkADG8-UvRcqAMDCBxvmPlF7o6pxNJGaVSyNSs66M2rsGeBulvweqv5Ac539yQBO_8iMtJc3Ba_gNlIyNk3b8dXI4HvqepbYuLphpqkBqkWFPCs4gFzAVrOA/s4032/empty%20area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEVaeB2zJ6kVfibXLMLGsKneyAQEtY9ZaiSJemDFYyCjWx1NWN6bIPmOSIzFGDIHWkADG8-UvRcqAMDCBxvmPlF7o6pxNJGaVSyNSs66M2rsGeBulvweqv5Ac539yQBO_8iMtJc3Ba_gNlIyNk3b8dXI4HvqepbYuLphpqkBqkWFPCs4gFzAVrOA/w300-h400/empty%20area.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The crew is coming back tomorrow; they will plant a Japanese maple and I'm not sure what else</span>....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">but I will post how it looks later on.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Any suggestions for what to plant?</span></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p></div>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-74255544530533726312024-02-02T19:12:00.000-05:002024-02-02T19:12:03.817-05:00Despite being a widow, I am Blessed in this neighborhood....<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> When we moved here in 2015, I will admit to being a bit unsure of how I would fit in, since many of my neighbors had been here for years. For any of you who are considering moving to an age 55+ neighborhood.....I say DO IT! We joined a few clubs in the beginning, and then Jim ((too) soon was unable to participate in much. So my participation was also limited. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> I did and still do play Scrabble at our clubhouse almost every week; a game I have always loved. It allowed me to make a few good friends and the rest of them are friendly also. I see a movie almost every Saturday, on a big screen, with captions (a must for my ears and eyes). And one a month I get to see a documentary or foreign movie (also with subtitles). These are owned by residents,who nicely share them with the whole neighborhood. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Classes are offered by local professors, at a nominal fee. In January, I saw two lectures about the Foibles of the English family and one on the history of American art, which will be followed by 3 more classes in the coming months. Last week, I went with the Singles club to the Cary Theater to see a Danish movie, titled "Fallen Leaves," and then we all went to a local restaurant for an early dinner. Add to this lunches with friends, haircuts, massages, mani-pedis and doctors appointments.....you can see my life is full!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I failed to mention my physical therapy twice a week, and meals or trivia nights with family. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are over 100 clubs that residents can join; such as clubs for those who came from areas of New York, or the midwest, those who play bridge, chess, canasta, hand and foot, Mah Jong, Scrabble (as I mentioned), Singles, religious or political groups, "Care" groups, whose purpose is to help others. I will admit that there are some cliques, which apparently formed with the earliest residents, and they are hard to penetrate (I'm told, but I have not tried). There are groups for Italians and for African Americans.....and the best part is, you don't have to be from Italy or have come from African ancestry to join any of them. In fact, they all invite cross-participation. You can join cooking classes, estate planning, exercise classes, dance classes....nearly anything you can think of. I had not played bridge since 1971, and I am now taking classes to relearn it. Unfortunately, the bridge club plays at the same time as the Scrabble club, so I will have to deal with that at some point.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">We have two pools, a hot tub, tennis courts, pickleball courts, Bocce courts, a first-class gym, pool tables, dance studios, pottery and art galore!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">You can opt to stay in your home and be alone - if that is what you want - and no one will bother you. But if you need a social life, to keep educating yourself, to keep yourself fit.....Here is where you need to be. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">And when you are widowed, and you need something done or a light bulb replaced, you can have someone do that for you; you only have to ask. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Plus, there is no yard work or gardening necessary, unless you want to do it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I thought my old neighborhood was perfect (and it was), but I am growing used to the idea that I am well-placed in my latter years. I am beyond grateful to be here!</span></p>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-59211454147888386242024-01-14T18:41:00.001-05:002024-01-14T18:41:54.387-05:00A Pause in the Biltmore tales, to tell you about movies.....<span style="font-family: verdana;">I have seen three movies this weekend. Listing them in my order of choice:</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">#1, is The Holdovers, which has been in theaters, and is now streaming on Peacock. The story is about an aging teacher at a boys boarding school in Massachusetts. The "holdovers" refers to the boys who cannot go home for Christmas (for one reason or another) and the teacher who has to stay with them at the school<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=paul+giamatti&sca_esv=598447089&rlz=1CAMWDF_enUS1071&sxsrf=ACQVn08Qxt8ja61PcMgKxMtScChy_PClxg%3A1705273867853&ei=C2qkZbbTM5uh5NoPt4SWiAg&gs_ssp=eJzj4tDP1TeoSk7KMWD04i1ILM1RSM9MzE0sKckEAGVTCGM&oq=Paul&gs_lp=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&sclient=gws-wiz-serp&si=AKbGX_q8wqgll29USULvpLnTh3Tms1DnLMpg3W7lkpKcMu_dXSK_dtFV4HUI7aRa7JtfPG_09Yq3ugxH_Ae0CNOFGtCSWAdiJeZUUhkg2YM8A4Bbb9meUGH3m73raVE9D7QyUIBNn9J9ch8l7xMVl8XZQYJzdfMxezJtlNgMao-dOMH8gM597UBovx9LaCyIw9NfBV6mML61H0VszHiRgu7ftvQfepHHu45UHkBUU6oz7wCU4A77uAcnHhpz6b47NPhdI-7fcXOptvUvU8-1acFKXlRNMuH0RTGZcvw4ofKTMwLBHOZWw1CpTruj7eTDLnwFL31CYAB3thdItw7lUtjKPIa-F-r8mo1DMuuWi0HXSmI0ekmhLM6K3pCdeaGJj_nTzvs7SJHnoupslKBeyRMs7IfnAlh0qy1jFHpZcaAMei5Ya9BvfnHsWoLoxatxGKQGDngJbcVQVrgRvS9H0RqwT0akZSbG_cQ5HB2OlDPRDQjjK4nfPquXz77uXCd6VmIlB02lU_g9P2F20MbzgZBro2tGHPxaNg2aWe0nwglrtit2CVi-K_hFjQE1aInVt9GOUFvSC3sevpxn63cJKvtFtqttXwpWPE-VAu1IVO-FPH4wxWNM7yeFlYbXDFAbr830wKm5k48PbR0QwZ7GjVx53eFyD4SFxq2Q7e0L4I2P9u7A2Tsm6Lz1gW0_ig-qzI18UEBH6ROGAaYa7ZYTfLfPlU6BhZHe6zlUcrEJWlxaJ_nsMs3JRPdp5Cv9xsA2y8cIQYmrb9m5JYsf0kmSJyK-R0GSAvKqv6WCmEZ8DQ5q5X5DsdLJiVLbqCtQW3BCgltvcx1AAqzqIUg3v756eZlT1gNyJ3Z_gvutjrMaNXZyIQwCthaytbdm98BzzX0MlRxfxYxcBAOSCCTYg3Hn4J3slNsSqKYgKkV8tsfDnSSGghaKZbfpvlY4ZxJJNSoqO93n8cZkcvOy6oyIDZZggjFDsKWNME0o-sdvYUrDI-cEQXDavc2CMxwyav-KQYMiWdsYzaaqbvwghSU6lh17gBp0U89Up-qI9sUFNmTyndoLwU59ssdZmBVQgcbkWFRN3S_yBzQBz4xrHB8XoUbUvDX_ygMC3oVHybK4PMKUJIpNlsEoX1vl2iohD01QqfmD3ppRZAbs-FFZuC4V8Y3__AhrVSLPi8mMwbR0zlMcprGuJV9kw87CJSANU2mg8yYMTghg_r0yi1JT6Ck1sPdpnXselvxmXu1jKBxty23YVsQiQ_1OKfFXOai0WR0aSTCe5CBK0rMhi8O1OWwtn7c5Nwz254zFF92-CWzChVPH0XRUpcf73yfd5UILE-FyULQbBiAPjVTIRSCyIoS-haji7oXyyh9hEzvLSXlCSVYPj9yilCyj79pCZQAmXRc5H4v5mRmX_eQSZCugCAYgoddFJOQ8Si4KJJ6-P6RexZjrRp3d92zrl0hOmXLDbkWGfsM5Hv53u1haD-dIboesXIwWHAySHSjgQIv4bDRydyLjr6rhLyHXFAildeCni8qK20VO3LmR-ZKpRhe4cssiQg2XB5PXddXdbDo6KKmVUWaFUpz_J_HUb_a9BQAXqez57sgzDIOYBVVwk18Clyw430u12x5zsq6QgZVPrTJGFu8ZoOn2kVB4NJE74yCg5dk-7oMgC93wELjiySIQizcVcnbEXmsT-Gw7tm5ldEFrxATK4QSf_fyRMGhxIg7a7sgOwTnxsp6aOA55mpdI-htbQbI3TCIQvTaBWSnSyadxBGGEfbH6S7cKMZI3cAjZBFhqMCLTvuKvs_qVz7TOt_6f3GCfJGPl85S67FPtsj1LP_5KM425Zf7OyVbjcpOc5W6r920K0aPmlxDSkSngfTT82DrmhnF3BFOUlxz9uP_7nQ0I_1VhtN0Dfh_E2EsC-iVEmVpDI2c7Wm1EXpcL5bb4fhJ29cU_35LcUBMQtrE_SKitBXJ5dmH3d6GHw5CKd4TBhMoOrMoxAZojCBEqnDwjZG09iBP-ZfJGarHo0awJsQgzLvJjONiAftlYQV01sPMxayqfd2g4YQmbE1K93S2Qt8p1wnw1Asu4b9OliA-3jsenznGfinCPhbLC13mS3Wq_5eZ8B0Xgiye59v1qAVBbTsTxkVH3LzY2aoOZEvgEDW7kozT94KOKSs3ZQ8evnH_d8sLQP2F4bR9Jpy7gt7rv0grssL8y9SMMatMjbxgAKeA9fU6l3lPt7HgOAVtT2sYms40ugtKE2bGDTZbXPBQvofG9Ntzm-CScHGBtxz83_mr9vPqGrSK8Ir3cy_4lnt7TaP6nDz-Qw1eCzm1dSaHdf8jhyCShY9DdhkAmgWSNJnCDmX0CoLVqvWmBeCD6mZDyQZRg4B043CeRHZVduU-MB0vstWWcOIi57RE-YbQb5Vw0rwuLGbWo_H2EO-4jrWlVfwWDR6gwIkKKE41H3f_HexbOZhY0J9aM_nZhF0Z8tGgJPsczqGbWhFKK7KOPCKR2vnBId0iVGkp5KdXhCaiZlNkgytzMarh0HxWgq1d8XV7UAtQUPLK418wMjnYSGh8E07nkxBFMQD7RBrXhfVmTpPm8Se1G3LZaMizoFaM8UbS3kJPWFpradyR61GDu_DfCR5JKY9rFKjeT_v5s&ictx=1&ved=2ahUKEwiI37LLgN6DAxWIFlkFHS9fAmUQyNoBKAB6BAgPEAA" target="_blank">. Paul Giamatti</a> is the teacher, and since he is always a terrific actor, he does the part justice. Others prominent in the movie are <a href="https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tLP1TfIKjEtNEs3YPQSSUlUL8vMS1XIyq9UKErMS8nPKcgAALarC0g&q=da%27vine+joy+randolph&rlz=1CAMWDF_enUS1071&oq=Da%27vine&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j46i131i433i512j0i131i433i512i650j0i3j46i512j0i512l2j46i512j0i512.20490j1j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8" target="_blank">Da'vine Joy Randolph</a>, whom I have not seen in another role, but she is wonderful in this one. she plays the school cook. The boy we see on screen more than any other is<a href="https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a45792712/the-holdovers-movie-alexander-payne-dominic-sessa-interview/" target="_blank"> Dominic Sessa. </a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> I don't want to tell you more about the story because I am hoping that you will</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">search out a way to see it on your own. Believe me, it is worth the time. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"># 2: A documentary about <a href="https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tLP1TdISk8vz7MwYPSSSMrMyVFILs3Ly8xLz0jMVchLLVeozC_KBgDyIA0q&q=bill+cunningham+new+york&rlz=1CAMWDF_enUS1071&oq=Bill+Cunningham&aqs=chrome.2.69i59j46i433i512j46i512l4j0i512l3.20560j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8" target="_blank">Bill Cunningham</a>, who was a NY Times photographer for over 30 years, taking photos of people in the streets, showing the fashions of the day and new trends. He was a fascinating character, and he knew everyone in the fashion industry, as well as all the prominent photographers of the day. You can find the link to this documentary up above when you click on his name. This one is also worth your time. He was a kind man, who lived very frugally (which is hard in NYC), sought to hurt no one, and he had a spark about him that seemingly fired up everyone he met.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">#3:<a href="https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tLP1Tcwz07JTssyYPTiTU0sUSgoSqxUyMkvSwUAc04IxQ&q=eat+pray+love&rlz=1CAMWDF_enUS1071&oq=Eat+Pry&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j46i10i131i433i512j46i10i512j0i10i512l3j46i10i512j0i10i512j46i10i512.25203j0j9&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8" target="_blank"> Eat, Pray, Love</a>, which was filmed in 2010, so it's an oldie. I had read the book</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">by Elizabeth Gilbert, but somehow the movie had eluded me until it was playing this weekend at our neighborhood clubhouse. I was happy that I went to see it on Saturday. Some of the scenery is so lovely, especially in Italy and Bali. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I don't usually see so many movies in a short time, but I recommend all three of these, if you have the time and interest.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">One reason I have not posted much lately is that my fingernails have gotten so long that it is hard to type without errors; indeed, I spent most of the time doing this post by correcting errors and it is infuriating! Abut 6 months ago, my daughter recommended that I get "dip" nails, as they help with brittle, easily broken nails. I love the dip nails, but now, they are growing so well and so rapidly that I need to trim them very 2-3 weeks. I cannot afford to go to the salon that often, so they get too long very quickly. </span></div></div>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-89070728343767819682023-12-30T20:11:00.000-05:002023-12-30T20:11:57.273-05:00Biltmore, Part 2Leaving the dining room, we meandered toward the library....seeing some random decor along the way; a lovely floral arrangement below two important Impressionist paintings, by Monet, I believe.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpmyh4Hr8xXls4_VQDIwbR5wyMWIG3zTV3pRGjSayg9PRl1h9ls_mn2hsTFhuvR9_4gDed2088hZiPS4YfZTlNPJleGxCp7uw5afFLN0sfrH0AZGkdw4QLMRXx7T3zKGDRd3VEkpUkDPSjW-XOMMwvVXiJZezU7kVqobdEcxbK_kBrc8VKwS49Q/s2920/flowers%20and%20monet.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2665" data-original-width="2920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpmyh4Hr8xXls4_VQDIwbR5wyMWIG3zTV3pRGjSayg9PRl1h9ls_mn2hsTFhuvR9_4gDed2088hZiPS4YfZTlNPJleGxCp7uw5afFLN0sfrH0AZGkdw4QLMRXx7T3zKGDRd3VEkpUkDPSjW-XOMMwvVXiJZezU7kVqobdEcxbK_kBrc8VKwS49Q/s600/flowers%20and%20monet.jpg" width="600" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpmyh4Hr8xXls4_VQDIwbR5wyMWIG3zTV3pRGjSayg9PRl1h9ls_mn2hsTFhuvR9_4gDed2088hZiPS4YfZTlNPJleGxCp7uw5afFLN0sfrH0AZGkdw4QLMRXx7T3zKGDRd3VEkpUkDPSjW-XOMMwvVXiJZezU7kVqobdEcxbK_kBrc8VKwS49Q/s2920/flowers%20and%20monet.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;">Below are two trees at one entry into the Solarium </a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpmyh4Hr8xXls4_VQDIwbR5wyMWIG3zTV3pRGjSayg9PRl1h9ls_mn2hsTFhuvR9_4gDed2088hZiPS4YfZTlNPJleGxCp7uw5afFLN0sfrH0AZGkdw4QLMRXx7T3zKGDRd3VEkpUkDPSjW-XOMMwvVXiJZezU7kVqobdEcxbK_kBrc8VKwS49Q/s2920/flowers%20and%20monet.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEhYKeEpNcSK1jit5paPnc7jyOijyhM1v3EZ-p-SwxQqdT_Ofn79QaTfwdB1VmJsNzLf1I4mhKX9TqDYuj1SaibO0KtU1oVk9wZWfMWxc6tGZ8pp25EkMfGI1F-wW6SUwfNQs8KagPMcRW7nOwBz3nmd4Jh8SEYFcCQBSGq6MDnsTY0sKkbMj3Q/s4032/2%20trees.jpg" style="display: inline; padding: 1em 0px;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjEhYKeEpNcSK1jit5paPnc7jyOijyhM1v3EZ-p-SwxQqdT_Ofn79QaTfwdB1VmJsNzLf1I4mhKX9TqDYuj1SaibO0KtU1oVk9wZWfMWxc6tGZ8pp25EkMfGI1F-wW6SUwfNQs8KagPMcRW7nOwBz3nmd4Jh8SEYFcCQBSGq6MDnsTY0sKkbMj3Q/s600/2%20trees.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVTtZx3ofLFg_zli7ZPtfBFwPXPLoZlxicPM-TIAmLAtzjgONJrUcaCIaFTt8dpDzbOXc0cGPRfuDm78DaoD8ZCikuwUaXzRbRtoSnWDejTkLP_p5D_Pvsa6Sd83De7zjblghGxEJAvTcy4-7IHoTwLFWouPEpmSa-vXC-n5TqqKRyrhkDWK4EQ/s4032/fireplace,%20tapestries.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;">Next is the hall of tapestries. I'm sorry I didn't get a closeup, but there were too many people. </a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVz6FHzMQZ_HDz5DWDmWHM3MfWaOiyXxjM48-BPOw_HjGzGM5DT5V1yF-OCXfQWLWe4b_bSO2o81AjnLam41m-B0GYXasip12L53GMLQ0EZlGsIIn4w85GWBQFyc_gIv24qPypvV-DnLCaWOD7cxkB7hvYZQitmKAYzMBo9WOBhxPmRAJ2Y5jXgQ/s4032/fireplace,%20tapestries.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVz6FHzMQZ_HDz5DWDmWHM3MfWaOiyXxjM48-BPOw_HjGzGM5DT5V1yF-OCXfQWLWe4b_bSO2o81AjnLam41m-B0GYXasip12L53GMLQ0EZlGsIIn4w85GWBQFyc_gIv24qPypvV-DnLCaWOD7cxkB7hvYZQitmKAYzMBo9WOBhxPmRAJ2Y5jXgQ/w284-h379/fireplace,%20tapestries.jpg" width="284" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now, I can't seem to make them larger.....what's next? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTA-mj0KIz13RZkH3XGdC2tAO3qxjtR_zzESimEcrcEvPTs4w-TegWHy1KnSXudRK9RCGsSEX7foUGF2sXDKIwreS23xKNe9_IzzhvZ2zUlhMYmJ9sEvXZGv-NxYKxBYF9-R7OtLh-AjBFZntVWVA1VUxtDRL67gL9SReAAGoohi283qeKJqPZg/s2926/portrait.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2926" data-original-width="1812" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTA-mj0KIz13RZkH3XGdC2tAO3qxjtR_zzESimEcrcEvPTs4w-TegWHy1KnSXudRK9RCGsSEX7foUGF2sXDKIwreS23xKNe9_IzzhvZ2zUlhMYmJ9sEvXZGv-NxYKxBYF9-R7OtLh-AjBFZntVWVA1VUxtDRL67gL9SReAAGoohi283qeKJqPZg/w198-h398/portrait.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>This is a portrait by John Singer Sargeant, but I don't remember who the lady is. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This large tree stood in the hall of tapestries.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVTtZx3ofLFg_zli7ZPtfBFwPXPLoZlxicPM-TIAmLAtzjgONJrUcaCIaFTt8dpDzbOXc0cGPRfuDm78DaoD8ZCikuwUaXzRbRtoSnWDejTkLP_p5D_Pvsa6Sd83De7zjblghGxEJAvTcy4-7IHoTwLFWouPEpmSa-vXC-n5TqqKRyrhkDWK4EQ/s4032/fireplace,%20tapestries.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRweOkVvn9IBtK3nmw5alDWI_vYWk5x-S3g8YMQ_BTVMyrpQmD-p-Vq7wsZapWI5nmaVvaHJlIWT0ZEaAbhOCOaRhrkE7pTcjmMElsvu_Jr4-fg9NihL71H0L_ewtE1phjBqNi4h8y7DUH9C91diItXf95-D0OIqor9lobIhkXkFjAuabocfC7sQ/s4032/tree%20in%20tapestry%20hall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRweOkVvn9IBtK3nmw5alDWI_vYWk5x-S3g8YMQ_BTVMyrpQmD-p-Vq7wsZapWI5nmaVvaHJlIWT0ZEaAbhOCOaRhrkE7pTcjmMElsvu_Jr4-fg9NihL71H0L_ewtE1phjBqNi4h8y7DUH9C91diItXf95-D0OIqor9lobIhkXkFjAuabocfC7sQ/w240-h353/tree%20in%20tapestry%20hall.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-71708151125639640992023-12-22T12:24:00.002-05:002023-12-22T12:24:55.537-05:00Our Trip to Biltmore....On Wednesday, my daughter, granddaughter and her fiance piled into a car and drove to Asheville, to see Biltmore in all its Christmas finery. Biltmore is a treat to see at any time of the year, but they go all out at Christmas! The guides told us there are 67 decorated Christmas trees in the house. And the cluster of trees on the grounds in front of the house have 50,000 kights on them. It is definitely brilliant! We had reservations for a 9 pm candlelight tour. We parked in the lot and got on a shuttle bus to take us to the house. Can you believe the driveway is a mile long? In Vanderbuilts' days, it was gravel, but now it is paved, so it takes considerably less than the one hour it took them in the late 1890's, to do it in a horse and buggy. The shuttle let us out right in front of the security entrance (which did not stand there when it was built, nor did the large public bathrooms or the shops. Here are the entry gates (from inside). <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQEGxiHk8kBeQEP4bv4X7bm9PKnkz13CMImKqb9sx0qEAZoFDFsp-pfVdXNL3P5SHWMKLWP7YAetJ2sYOXyD22rh1EurznqfFbsk9tWeSbHeStQq3CV_4LLO99LelX3Rc1JGBJytwYwgm42XFEjjVLX5Lu4RRfKMc4i5I_jCFMEskUV3faypegw/s3024/Biltmore%20gates.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="200" data-original-height="1847" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWQEGxiHk8kBeQEP4bv4X7bm9PKnkz13CMImKqb9sx0qEAZoFDFsp-pfVdXNL3P5SHWMKLWP7YAetJ2sYOXyD22rh1EurznqfFbsk9tWeSbHeStQq3CV_4LLO99LelX3Rc1JGBJytwYwgm42XFEjjVLX5Lu4RRfKMc4i5I_jCFMEskUV3faypegw/s200/Biltmore%20gates.jpg"/></a></div>
Here is the cluster of trees out front. It is a bit blurry, as the shuttle was moving.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEMWgSHebPhU6fA7NIP2CjmH-35qbS4YXy52M2aSAPDUln5Aa1zZs5aTznZgTkazjys_chOMlR423FksifQmxYS99gyMeR0Lp6vGeBPfeyqeXrXcVSwRCQ9ouwlsPI3YXwEzoo-ckFSQBTGL-YA1amE7GRCZOqaYm9Xis_n1NfbFhYNfcuu-X7g/s1615/Biltmore%20lights.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1270" data-original-width="1615" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEMWgSHebPhU6fA7NIP2CjmH-35qbS4YXy52M2aSAPDUln5Aa1zZs5aTznZgTkazjys_chOMlR423FksifQmxYS99gyMeR0Lp6vGeBPfeyqeXrXcVSwRCQ9ouwlsPI3YXwEzoo-ckFSQBTGL-YA1amE7GRCZOqaYm9Xis_n1NfbFhYNfcuu-X7g/s400/Biltmore%20lights.jpg"/></a></div>
Here is one of the turrets on the house. My daughter took this pic, catching the moon above. The house is truly a magnificent sight, whether in daylight or nighttime.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WbZWznaGFYTKiZ7gJ24QuJEL3vUGtnsEnBfcQcqYTYjB7zVjnoDZ9159ZYEiCUuXdZSlT7me_urUP87mVfa_-exYDhkFDe0Dn69di0RbUVNcfu6nkzNvUw1G2Jp6mYqtSZLxB84uJy17JekPPJC11MJw_6sf_TcT1jb_ryUTevOHBuEDFKFVHw/s4032/turret%20and%20moon.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3WbZWznaGFYTKiZ7gJ24QuJEL3vUGtnsEnBfcQcqYTYjB7zVjnoDZ9159ZYEiCUuXdZSlT7me_urUP87mVfa_-exYDhkFDe0Dn69di0RbUVNcfu6nkzNvUw1G2Jp6mYqtSZLxB84uJy17JekPPJC11MJw_6sf_TcT1jb_ryUTevOHBuEDFKFVHw/s400/turret%20and%20moon.jpg"/></a></div>
Here is the entry way to the house, all decked out with trees, garlands and lights galore.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKuLnW5f-Pcvr5yWgNSLKvAJkku1cYdAS43xEAXgNQYK8PPf7FpKU7sLFUvfjzXCJ6-8K0DQf-c6112dzRIKUyZSZOXfib-_vScu7-edrmfNUxtoceUULP4rBh1Jc2rJ_aM20bLkv6oLT0hRdSBYtA9rXpH4NYtL5nKqXmOluysj3M28sZCDNYQ/s2621/front%20doors.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="2578" data-original-width="2621" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKuLnW5f-Pcvr5yWgNSLKvAJkku1cYdAS43xEAXgNQYK8PPf7FpKU7sLFUvfjzXCJ6-8K0DQf-c6112dzRIKUyZSZOXfib-_vScu7-edrmfNUxtoceUULP4rBh1Jc2rJ_aM20bLkv6oLT0hRdSBYtA9rXpH4NYtL5nKqXmOluysj3M28sZCDNYQ/s400/front%20doors.jpg"/></a></div>
The first stop is the solarium, which has many plants and that night, a choir was singing carols. Some were dressed in costumes from the early days of the house. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcdfDtQ2AvKIZtMJ1VkL7xxpZzknTrT3vyJrIMEbZ2d-B1Ovk1rcwB44EwJ_KqEgbc9fxqMiEyzbbAPQi6OdTw_L_hESV02Ty9Hde6lzSNc8bF8154ICc072p2MR4jI7J8-eE1T9nn8O2kn-T6mRYHx8F7IT8ObqFB6SxBcnoJY1Ng1saF_QGiA/s4032/solarium.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCcdfDtQ2AvKIZtMJ1VkL7xxpZzknTrT3vyJrIMEbZ2d-B1Ovk1rcwB44EwJ_KqEgbc9fxqMiEyzbbAPQi6OdTw_L_hESV02Ty9Hde6lzSNc8bF8154ICc072p2MR4jI7J8-eE1T9nn8O2kn-T6mRYHx8F7IT8ObqFB6SxBcnoJY1Ng1saF_QGiA/s400/solarium.jpg"/></a></div>
Next was the billiards room, complete with two tables and a viewing post, elevated so the people could see the play and tell if anyone was cheating. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOBNd6FzpH9fZvAXyXR1ZIwZGAuewwyw6dQw2blSU63l_w-fkuljMoxiApnC3Ku13IfYj-d5y0QqtYsYKtTcxafK7rKHaFc0swc1Xxp8iYoKNyiF2wP7D-q-VBiNKvzLIx-eeW3rx41-38hsOIWe_mMLZ2MXKiXsDuDmn2uv2EEhDgPne45QkmQ/s2227/billiards.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="2227" data-original-width="2178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmOBNd6FzpH9fZvAXyXR1ZIwZGAuewwyw6dQw2blSU63l_w-fkuljMoxiApnC3Ku13IfYj-d5y0QqtYsYKtTcxafK7rKHaFc0swc1Xxp8iYoKNyiF2wP7D-q-VBiNKvzLIx-eeW3rx41-38hsOIWe_mMLZ2MXKiXsDuDmn2uv2EEhDgPne45QkmQ/s400/billiards.jpg"/></a></div>
The first view of the impressive dining room:
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-w7WHPYK6AGfTrapx6QTQD-4LEv0Km4INCU2SwgnZwC5g8CBvrY2fOpvMd1H3dJ_Crz-WK_I_mjjOfEnkYMLy8YugGvoFZ7E-VB8_lNGsqG8q8TrgTdDmyLOwh2xMRSM4hgwGLWLwLvQnyP_74_610I2jsflSjFw-Wh530XacG64YNr6aXCKDog/s2785/dining%20room%201.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="2785" data-original-width="2667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-w7WHPYK6AGfTrapx6QTQD-4LEv0Km4INCU2SwgnZwC5g8CBvrY2fOpvMd1H3dJ_Crz-WK_I_mjjOfEnkYMLy8YugGvoFZ7E-VB8_lNGsqG8q8TrgTdDmyLOwh2xMRSM4hgwGLWLwLvQnyP_74_610I2jsflSjFw-Wh530XacG64YNr6aXCKDog/s400/dining%20room%201.jpg"/></a></div> There are three fireplaces on the end - keeping guests as toasty as possible in the huge room.
The second view of the dining room:
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6y6Tfuw_plfLhOyW-eVe6jsgeyFtc1NLYwqXvUTBM4t-2hUuPmkguohLs-rd8qkzvO8KtBht9xJpi0y6cS0GRUT36RYcOq3SEdrLxVZQEWmAqVZ3NYRuELRuXh9rHMRbCyyoCWfhyF_NVnntjLgMfMEvebFlpr9wf4bpCB-pG6lweBolLlifZ5g/s4032/dining%20room%202.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="600" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6y6Tfuw_plfLhOyW-eVe6jsgeyFtc1NLYwqXvUTBM4t-2hUuPmkguohLs-rd8qkzvO8KtBht9xJpi0y6cS0GRUT36RYcOq3SEdrLxVZQEWmAqVZ3NYRuELRuXh9rHMRbCyyoCWfhyF_NVnntjLgMfMEvebFlpr9wf4bpCB-pG6lweBolLlifZ5g/s600/dining%20room%202.jpg"/></a></div> It is impossible for me to convey in a photo just how large this room is. That table holds 26 people, if I counted correctly, and it is beautifully set.
The magnificent centerpiece! I wonder how many times they have to redo it during the holiday season?
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiAArry0n5iacElx3mQB03LJmCdQufDTZGcDqKerySluzY8UvrmzL4zMZy095WRn_5bvC3kCwG9WHtM9ADwLeoBRgxEUwTnFoZiflaBTKgi-YIAO0T2wSflITpVx8acqszmst_jNz63ErrRQG-0bGoIe3Ug-ER7KTLCmDATu2pKiSDvzcrGcSag/s4032/centerpiece.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="600" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPiAArry0n5iacElx3mQB03LJmCdQufDTZGcDqKerySluzY8UvrmzL4zMZy095WRn_5bvC3kCwG9WHtM9ADwLeoBRgxEUwTnFoZiflaBTKgi-YIAO0T2wSflITpVx8acqszmst_jNz63ErrRQG-0bGoIe3Ug-ER7KTLCmDATu2pKiSDvzcrGcSag/s600/centerpiece.jpg"/></a></div>
Of course, it probably is never really warm in that room, so perhaps they only have to do it once a week.
I think that is all for today. Come back soon to see the rest of my photos.
kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-44156725567961421862023-12-15T13:52:00.002-05:002023-12-15T13:57:17.238-05:00How are things with you?Nothing much going on around here - that's why I have been quiet. But I got a big surprise today. Last week, I had tried to close out Jim's checking account. The teller told me she couldn't close it because we still had a safety deposit box at the bank branch near where we used to live. Because it was one of the first accounts at that bank, they had not charged us for the use of it, but she assured me that if I closed the account without closing the deposit box account - they would begin to charge me for its use.
I was sure that I had cleaned out the box and they had closed it about 10 years ago, when we moved to Cary. But at that time, I could only find one of the keys to the box. So the woman told me to bring back the key if I ever found it.
A while back, in one of my cleaning out sprees, I found the extra key. I put it aside, intending to return it ASAP, but since don't drive that far any longer, it stayed put. So, my daughter and I went up there today and explained what we hoped to accomplish. We decided to open the box (whch I was certain was empty) and guess what???
We found our wills and my adoption papers. I was so surprised that you truly could have knocked me over with the proverbial feather.
In short order, we emptied the box and signed a few papers and they said the account was closed for good. I sure hope so. We have one more chore to accomplish and then all of Jim's financial dealings will be taken care of. I am sure glad I found that key!
Are you ready for Christmas? My small tree is decorated, thanks to my granddaughter Jessica. But the lights for another one have all gone bad. I think I will just decorate it without lights this year. I stll have to do the garland and ribbon on my mailbox.
Many of my neighbors have decorated more than ever before this year. Due to, perhaps, the pandemic, the political climate and the war in the Middle East, we all need cheering up and something to look forward to.
I hope that all of you will have a very Merry Christmas and a much happier New Year in 2024. (I never thought I'd live long enough to see 2024, but I sure am glad I did!kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-6656979428114727632023-10-31T19:51:00.003-05:002023-10-31T20:31:54.493-05:00A Really Big Surpriseā¦..This morning, I got a text from a dear old friend, asking for my address. I thought she just wanted to send me a birthday card so I gave it to her. Much to my surprise, abut 30 minutes later, she and her husband showed up at my door. I tell you that if God himself rang my doorbell, I would not have been more surprised, nor any happier.
You see, my friend has bad some major health concerns as of late and I had not been able to see or talk to her for a month or more. I had been so worried and this really had put my mind at ease. Topping her visit off, she came carrying a big bucket of gorgeous flowers for my birthday. I was so pleased and happy. She knows what I love (and she does too).
We visited for about an hour, and then I had to leave to go play my favorite game - Scrabble. When I got back home, I spent the next 2 hours making flower arrangements. Thanks to my dear, dear friend, I had another great day.
When I went to Scrabble, I took my leftover cupcakes from last night with me, and at break, we all shared 1/4 of a huge cupcake. All my Scrabble mates were happy to have them, and they sang Happy birthday to me. It was the 3rd time I had heard it in 2 days! It's always welcome no matter my age. I can truly say that this year has been one of my best ever birthdays, and I thank all of you who made it special for me. I love you all. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1OmOj6DNB4GD0m2QeJlHj_WjWTqPjF3CxII9N4gwC14WbNpg4Mv0eESRjvEwYcRHIOsH9v8n7DcqhzzuCxzlKrjzfD52qW9ebvW51ciHPhkOJx9sD98t7IV4nd_sxONUzedXXU-VX6d3d26oS3gt_5MuubjwhiSNK4A2A5Q94_ClQw-JNR56mA/s4032/Pam%27s%20flowers%202.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="600" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1OmOj6DNB4GD0m2QeJlHj_WjWTqPjF3CxII9N4gwC14WbNpg4Mv0eESRjvEwYcRHIOsH9v8n7DcqhzzuCxzlKrjzfD52qW9ebvW51ciHPhkOJx9sD98t7IV4nd_sxONUzedXXU-VX6d3d26oS3gt_5MuubjwhiSNK4A2A5Q94_ClQw-JNR56mA/s600/Pam%27s%20flowers%202.jpg"/></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6d_DJVAlK4hFpFWkWRv8Fga1NbcFncP7hd1VOiPXTNb0JnfX78-c7Ck2ExTzvcH3dje5r86RI2Pp0z1Ju43N9dJwWwpzHYlYczpwJ27_j45q9E7ReHyg_RpOA_jH9iNNNiuepBZa3uSm6iIuSx3bfzVzC5zM52_M4IEzjFqjb-OPjMK6HXgDiGw/s4032/Pam%27s%20flowers%202.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="600" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6d_DJVAlK4hFpFWkWRv8Fga1NbcFncP7hd1VOiPXTNb0JnfX78-c7Ck2ExTzvcH3dje5r86RI2Pp0z1Ju43N9dJwWwpzHYlYczpwJ27_j45q9E7ReHyg_RpOA_jH9iNNNiuepBZa3uSm6iIuSx3bfzVzC5zM52_M4IEzjFqjb-OPjMK6HXgDiGw/s600/Pam%27s%20flowers%202.jpg"/></a></div>
kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-11770031633745899172023-10-23T17:01:00.002-05:002023-10-23T17:01:31.792-05:00Our Family Wedding Weekend...<p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Our firstborn grandson, James Crowell, married the love of his life, Caitlin Vereen, on 10-21-23 (my grandmother's birthday). We traveled to Charleston, SC, on Thursday, to prepare for the festivities. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jamie (he prefers James, but he allows me, and his aunt to call him Jamie) introduced us to Caitlin about 10 years ago. We all loved her little giggles, which pepper her speech often, and we loved her almost from the time she crossed our threshold. As the Best Man said, we can't think of a better wife for James. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Jim (Jamie's Papa) wanted mightily to be able to attend the wedding, but it was not to be. However, I am certain his spirit was there, as were his photos and in mentions by the Best Man, James' brother Jordan. The rest of the family was well represented, except for Jim's brother, who was not able to attend due to family illness. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The weather was iffy on Friday; storms were forecast, but it only sprinkled during the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. We were lucky! The rehearsal dinner took place at a venue called <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=sweetgrass+pavilion&sca_esv=575897283&rlz=1CAMWDF_enUS1071&sxsrf=AM9HkKlr_ddLbgR1OXyBLFwBqqgF3WzkwQ%3A1698095546480&ei=uuE2Za_sHMee5NoP8LjOmAQ&gs_ssp=eJzj4tVP1zc0TDa1rCorSzI2YLRSNaiwsEhLNTewSEqxNE41Njc2tDKoSDNKMU4zMDBOSzVONbJMS_QSLi5PTS1JL0osLlYoSCzLzMnMzwMAL-EXSA&oq=Sweet+grass+pavillion&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiFVN3ZWV0IGdyYXNzIHBhdmlsbGlvbioCCAEyBxAjGLECGCcyDhAuGK8BGMcBGIoFGJECMg0QLhivARjHARiABBgKMgcQABiABBgKMhYQLhivARjHARiABBiYBRiaBRieBRgKMgcQABiABBgKMgcQABiABBgKMggQABiKBRiGAzIIEAAYigUYhgMyCBAAGIoFGIYDMh0QLhivARjHARiKBRiRAhiXBRjcBBjeBBjgBNgBAUj3yAFQAFjlRnABeAGQAQCYAaIBoAHNHqoBBDUuMjm4AQHIAQD4AQGoAg_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&sclient=gws-wiz-serp">Sweetgrass Pavillion</a>. It is in a public park under the<a href="https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tTP1TcwsyyuLDdgtFI1qLCwSEs1N7AwTDY0S000N0qzMqhITDNKTQMKJSWZmFhYJqd58RUllqXmpeYoJBVlpqSnAgB0RBP6&q=ravenel+bridge&rlz=1CAMWDF_enUS1071&oq=Ravenel&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j46i131i433i512j46i175i199i433i512j46i512j46i175i199i512l2j0i512j46i175i199i512j46i512l2.6566j1j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#cobssid=s"> Ravenel</a> <a href="https://www.google.com/search?gs_ssp=eJzj4tTP1TcwsyyuLDdgtFI1qLCwSEs1N7AwTDY0S000N0qzMqhITDNKTQMKJSWZmFhYJqd58RUllqXmpeYoJBVlpqSnAgB0RBP6&q=ravenel+bridge&rlz=1CAMWDF_enUS1071&oq=Ravenel&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j46i131i433i512j46i175i199i433i512j46i512j46i175i199i512l2j0i512j46i175i199i512j46i512l2.6566j1j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#cobssid=s">Bridge</a> in Charleston, and it turned out to be nearly the perfect place for the dinner, cooked by an Iron Chef: brisket, pulled pork, potato salad, Mac & cheese, collard greens, banana pudding, iced tea, beer and wine. All of it was delicious, and many people went back for seconds. I enjoyed meeting the brides' parents and her sister, as well as some in the wedding party, and being with all my children and grandchildren. I am never happier than when I am with all of them. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Saturday, the weather was nearly perfect, although I might have preferred it a bit warmer. We dressed early, as were were required for photos at 2:30 pm. The wedding venue - <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=the+alhambra+in+charleston+south+carolina&rlz=1CAMWDF_enUS1071&oq=The+Alhambra+in+Charleston%2C+&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j33i160l2j33i299.13633j0j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">Alhambra Hall</a> was lovely and the grounds were perfect for an outdoor wedding:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2NLJVzRkedWnxAs0_DYTBQ54VYjzOAkMzA1pTcYKt0_2f0UAxRvUsA3AF34_6KwBsOgxr4q3SzLjmixtst0bVONvX5-jV368rs8O8Mx6ZQXaXG7LLP5pNHVQPSuQKo_YtWe4MTzjbr5Et4eF9XTzc8zHyvoIW7kNPt4TsMf0IVkC7DPXBwHxKQ/s4032/the%20aisle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2NLJVzRkedWnxAs0_DYTBQ54VYjzOAkMzA1pTcYKt0_2f0UAxRvUsA3AF34_6KwBsOgxr4q3SzLjmixtst0bVONvX5-jV368rs8O8Mx6ZQXaXG7LLP5pNHVQPSuQKo_YtWe4MTzjbr5Et4eF9XTzc8zHyvoIW7kNPt4TsMf0IVkC7DPXBwHxKQ/w640-h480/the%20aisle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The roses were dropped into the ground (in vials, I assume)....</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_xqFPhe4unK_VeTuVtBcP4VhPBlnED16r-DGc4Srg96IBa8tgS5i-V9EhP_VBfL7-YxLt24GDanZzEcJ7HydlqtGQyIvgB7EFn7Dh6KYVCnSgbDLhtiawbpWhNF22uVhFbmtcvbB_dzdrH2J4oMBzVrwQZlaKomwRAD6atwITnG1kgWfQ-p_Xg/s4032/liveoakss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia_xqFPhe4unK_VeTuVtBcP4VhPBlnED16r-DGc4Srg96IBa8tgS5i-V9EhP_VBfL7-YxLt24GDanZzEcJ7HydlqtGQyIvgB7EFn7Dh6KYVCnSgbDLhtiawbpWhNF22uVhFbmtcvbB_dzdrH2J4oMBzVrwQZlaKomwRAD6atwITnG1kgWfQ-p_Xg/w480-h640/liveoakss.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana;">Do you love these live oak trees as much as I do? What a great backdrop for a wedding! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7IQgdFHGc-_QQCG0ARUjKSaCL3Elo9CcS4hb-bS-inv_KriSktut5u-3VMO10sGJxJH3VDx0zdpKc6TCF0_EUWjtMCUOY6CM06Da39TktNguKzlKSG3DYJziyxAqugpmNOKhJ-drXUhz5Yi8CbvC7Uvr-QYU9hsxCOmTzRUanUrueeStpsjRqg/s2016/The%20newly-wed%20couple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7IQgdFHGc-_QQCG0ARUjKSaCL3Elo9CcS4hb-bS-inv_KriSktut5u-3VMO10sGJxJH3VDx0zdpKc6TCF0_EUWjtMCUOY6CM06Da39TktNguKzlKSG3DYJziyxAqugpmNOKhJ-drXUhz5Yi8CbvC7Uvr-QYU9hsxCOmTzRUanUrueeStpsjRqg/w480-h640/The%20newly-wed%20couple.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The newlywed couple signs their marriage license.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mPirPwaBWyDxMPy9_CkobTnbTwPMKrQ3S8EvpoEjekB5xZpY2uni7nzataNrjCWaAuOjCXrHk7RAuh-t9wpDjKgarz3R-q5_fMd0chO6E5boC9Lj0L_d1Z_l-zdsL_hWC3nxDXoriHRhrZDmGwTh-MzXmi8BS5V69h-pZIp1Wpwv76Q0ALMYVw/s1716/Jess%20and%20James.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1388" data-original-width="1716" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0mPirPwaBWyDxMPy9_CkobTnbTwPMKrQ3S8EvpoEjekB5xZpY2uni7nzataNrjCWaAuOjCXrHk7RAuh-t9wpDjKgarz3R-q5_fMd0chO6E5boC9Lj0L_d1Z_l-zdsL_hWC3nxDXoriHRhrZDmGwTh-MzXmi8BS5V69h-pZIp1Wpwv76Q0ALMYVw/w400-h324/Jess%20and%20James.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><p> James and his precious sister Jessica, before the ceremony. </p></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9VnJuFkwYEht-ewK0YEicGQMapMmv0T1Ur0dIbBuQBZzCY9cEZMGhULT0E-4vUlyH7mdk5mLVzHSvAuX2hOY_KdyUFlQh4aaPv-cIu1A9kH87CgJ9YOl9Bg6cgR0TWEkW9DE1e1TZ8wCuj7-oi3If-j6Ftqjn_2NzEo0BFfPYqFuN0NrZNc7Rg/s2992/Shannon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="1877" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9VnJuFkwYEht-ewK0YEicGQMapMmv0T1Ur0dIbBuQBZzCY9cEZMGhULT0E-4vUlyH7mdk5mLVzHSvAuX2hOY_KdyUFlQh4aaPv-cIu1A9kH87CgJ9YOl9Bg6cgR0TWEkW9DE1e1TZ8wCuj7-oi3If-j6Ftqjn_2NzEo0BFfPYqFuN0NrZNc7Rg/w251-h400/Shannon.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> My beautiful daughter, Shannon, Mother of the Groom.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbEMo8Go29KX5UaOucsfB0vdwfZj6QxzQYtlBvz4m1V54ASLbhqgKZhD0RpUIirYJe76nssbuVVY5c1iEKUeKz7tA0iYMYetjEkelG58byIkklADOY79jyUdXYwI-DTgP4r-_2Qgvt9AMY0jHf7jSv471qwglu3Rn6SYqFAORJluiy67ZkhxazQ/s4032/Alhambra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbEMo8Go29KX5UaOucsfB0vdwfZj6QxzQYtlBvz4m1V54ASLbhqgKZhD0RpUIirYJe76nssbuVVY5c1iEKUeKz7tA0iYMYetjEkelG58byIkklADOY79jyUdXYwI-DTgP4r-_2Qgvt9AMY0jHf7jSv471qwglu3Rn6SYqFAORJluiy67ZkhxazQ/w300-h400/Alhambra.jpg" width="300" /></a></div> <span style="font-family: verdana;"> The interior of the Alhambra</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_LcOUnw2lE0A55Gm6zW6MufHU14maJa6iR2twnMA6nSwxTyulS30RLZq52eGYTaVwuIc0kjS4nhRZ1MgYfTxMkzJihfWmXBhvIqDNOV-v6a-Q3ElCXqzIJr-7ROE4CiYMPxE0bZtA-rtiSvVPK44Zx6VEaDEqD6dRPZjapcBpC43WJ6_S5_BuA/s4032/tables.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_LcOUnw2lE0A55Gm6zW6MufHU14maJa6iR2twnMA6nSwxTyulS30RLZq52eGYTaVwuIc0kjS4nhRZ1MgYfTxMkzJihfWmXBhvIqDNOV-v6a-Q3ElCXqzIJr-7ROE4CiYMPxE0bZtA-rtiSvVPK44Zx6VEaDEqD6dRPZjapcBpC43WJ6_S5_BuA/w640-h480/tables.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">The place cards were oyster shells, each inscribed with the names of attendees. I kept mine! The centerpieces were strings of oyster shells on table scarves (like the ones from the rehearsal dinner). </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGty7_EOA9AJy-RIrdziTAyaGZy7p9aeKoyKKHX69yCSzZ3YfAkG78Jo5jZGc5fcJ_cm12S3dQnAhPkfzCZAH-3TYP35eb3vh0dmLRzmPSxvbHw5ASMNIZAeS8254hf1Ef4H4moUTICd3zqsLqoEJIM8q-W52d0jVz1DWRtHe2CQ_-Tj-lqXy95Q/s4032/Shannon%20and%20James.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGty7_EOA9AJy-RIrdziTAyaGZy7p9aeKoyKKHX69yCSzZ3YfAkG78Jo5jZGc5fcJ_cm12S3dQnAhPkfzCZAH-3TYP35eb3vh0dmLRzmPSxvbHw5ASMNIZAeS8254hf1Ef4H4moUTICd3zqsLqoEJIM8q-W52d0jVz1DWRtHe2CQ_-Tj-lqXy95Q/w480-h640/Shannon%20and%20James.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Shannon and James......</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaZPFGxssOwqFErZvbICECoBrGPV6LdzWFkGTxP7AhM4ukwX0uCDtn8z5U4H3GmA7M1XpxHod-ap4X1irMVBM4Xx3au3oDVdsG2C0vA33i7Ajy0I7ccjR0AJruAvt2i7FVuNajlisim5273oRFNoyrM9ZPwBkBeLSgOVohZa8ML-oe9t7hyb9eg/s4032/cake%20cutting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaZPFGxssOwqFErZvbICECoBrGPV6LdzWFkGTxP7AhM4ukwX0uCDtn8z5U4H3GmA7M1XpxHod-ap4X1irMVBM4Xx3au3oDVdsG2C0vA33i7Ajy0I7ccjR0AJruAvt2i7FVuNajlisim5273oRFNoyrM9ZPwBkBeLSgOVohZa8ML-oe9t7hyb9eg/w480-h640/cake%20cutting.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Cutting the cake! Yummy!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have a few more pics, but I think this is enough for this post. The dance floor was hopping all evening, and I had great fun watching all my grandchildren show off their dancing skills. They are pretty good, especially the girls. I danced a few with them, but my style is strictly 1950's and far removed.from the music we hear today. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I'm looking forward to see the professional pics and those of the rest of the family!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-82411083742049883162023-10-05T17:55:00.000-05:002023-10-05T17:55:05.209-05:00Remainders.....<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Photos taken on the way home from NYC:</span></p><p><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9PLuLsWw-50-NjnjeGgnyHISPnNlX9qpIzQ8V-1gwd8-EpK7jbXVy5DbPYtP38KFCt95ufLZI-iN6ZHLz60BCVL3furo6Ay_YyGPeDyUdeA-89arqxXcdQa5zxljKqQ1EJjq36e5ZXv1lsB40jtmIIYnrmVp_a2puAGqY1e4gZIiL_H-1kXnow/s1123/leaving%20La%20Guardia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="1123" height="329" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha9PLuLsWw-50-NjnjeGgnyHISPnNlX9qpIzQ8V-1gwd8-EpK7jbXVy5DbPYtP38KFCt95ufLZI-iN6ZHLz60BCVL3furo6Ay_YyGPeDyUdeA-89arqxXcdQa5zxljKqQ1EJjq36e5ZXv1lsB40jtmIIYnrmVp_a2puAGqY1e4gZIiL_H-1kXnow/w472-h329/leaving%20La%20Guardia.jpg" width="472" /></a></div></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Taken inside the terminal at La Guardia airport....New York City</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJ1C7NP75lIsOCLIQEjqHLufTcivVtM8jmlV1Db8cz6-W2VTagOGyEDyNMap1WcfokBtiDbpsDJVQczdg3crfBT1zmVlG989sXPA4lSdPjNGySq6qXv3kvNtrQMeb-fl2yIjk20ljP-01uSpJNbiVgDCYS5gEmc58hwtPd9MVLgGCTANtoAN0uw/s4032/density%20in%20%20NYC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJ1C7NP75lIsOCLIQEjqHLufTcivVtM8jmlV1Db8cz6-W2VTagOGyEDyNMap1WcfokBtiDbpsDJVQczdg3crfBT1zmVlG989sXPA4lSdPjNGySq6qXv3kvNtrQMeb-fl2yIjk20ljP-01uSpJNbiVgDCYS5gEmc58hwtPd9MVLgGCTANtoAN0uw/w406-h320/density%20in%20%20NYC.jpg" width="406" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Shortly after take off...showing the density of New York</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzSM0iqCFiNRfMuO53GEt8nDCN_4JQJBNXewJVQR0RxwYijDcL0Ozac_bz1wgCE3JWUqTKjT31Ow5hu1Nu_CKfVI4PMUxv1yB6RD4qTlGmzh392e04uuRFmXHzpeWLDXYD73qU2q0s6UYwaysGJ29009HfOS8_WAiwqKo_dcn2P0J7KxGAEeLPg/s4032/sunset%20near%20RDU.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="561" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhzSM0iqCFiNRfMuO53GEt8nDCN_4JQJBNXewJVQR0RxwYijDcL0Ozac_bz1wgCE3JWUqTKjT31Ow5hu1Nu_CKfVI4PMUxv1yB6RD4qTlGmzh392e04uuRFmXHzpeWLDXYD73qU2q0s6UYwaysGJ29009HfOS8_WAiwqKo_dcn2P0J7KxGAEeLPg/w421-h561/sunset%20near%20RDU.jpg" width="421" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Approaching Raleigh Durham......intense sunset......over Jordan Lake</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5o9foZLOqJivUc2ZreWCvVqCc6fLWaYvtbQJNJEHd-ZsDr6auPLLM39tEETRhDb4Ujncq0v4m1dio7GjlPwNVnlsipiZf32h62qf_OVZc_jCNghQOddawA-DSEmbURzpYus40kToX2Tw3QoJZM1840u248IpPYxpl6AqFrk3Jaqo4Nk1BfLelnA/s2433/The%20Reiker's%20and%20Jim%20and%20me%20in%20the%2090's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1828" data-original-width="2433" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5o9foZLOqJivUc2ZreWCvVqCc6fLWaYvtbQJNJEHd-ZsDr6auPLLM39tEETRhDb4Ujncq0v4m1dio7GjlPwNVnlsipiZf32h62qf_OVZc_jCNghQOddawA-DSEmbURzpYus40kToX2Tw3QoJZM1840u248IpPYxpl6AqFrk3Jaqo4Nk1BfLelnA/w479-h359/The%20Reiker's%20and%20Jim%20and%20me%20in%20the%2090's.jpg" width="479" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"> The people we met up with in Pennsylvania....we didn't get photos then, but this one was taken in the early 90's. Joe, Fern, Judy and Jim</span><p></p>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-77340876515827268932023-09-21T14:08:00.001-05:002023-10-03T20:46:09.737-05:00The Rest of the Trip<p><span style="font-family: verdana;"> I last mentioned Venchis Ice Cream, and here I am sitting outside, waiting for my order.....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBB3gM12a7raFUXsKSXTTIIMW2mHtUlLg4chYDGkqU5csy_dLfVJbabuJK4qW3tDxkt2F9L6mJiB8WJMcNmtqO0BXKJHM9FRDj7o1Ou3vtxHNNhQhBrKObgYyGpl7O4i4Dro952eTqjgy0zWhQpDwWGcY-ojFS7GRkaYsJZJ28DAdMz0hE4DLfA/s3012/Me%20at%20Venchis.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3012" data-original-width="1914" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBB3gM12a7raFUXsKSXTTIIMW2mHtUlLg4chYDGkqU5csy_dLfVJbabuJK4qW3tDxkt2F9L6mJiB8WJMcNmtqO0BXKJHM9FRDj7o1Ou3vtxHNNhQhBrKObgYyGpl7O4i4Dro952eTqjgy0zWhQpDwWGcY-ojFS7GRkaYsJZJ28DAdMz0hE4DLfA/s320/Me%20at%20Venchis.jpg" width="203" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had told the kids to get some pistachio sorbet, if they had it, but no one remembered to order mine. So my older daughter gave me her tiramisu, which was very good. The next thing we saw was the William Tecumseh Sherman monument. the Civil War General.......<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktWsWx3ckxaoBYu7BiDyWXHXRTnFTW0pAIYx8ET17uTDRDDMLACxJqG-JGHsqA8mfPjEm9A8wgqRVjMOyMWV7tvqHmsM3VFWfVKElylySxzhr7xrtNmV-gtpfXugGwZ0xb7hfH1mvngafCZIs_BkLTG2YY9vG3ik9v2NdZFJCPGDZJnp9wgzMEA/s4032/Sherman%20monument.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiktWsWx3ckxaoBYu7BiDyWXHXRTnFTW0pAIYx8ET17uTDRDDMLACxJqG-JGHsqA8mfPjEm9A8wgqRVjMOyMWV7tvqHmsM3VFWfVKElylySxzhr7xrtNmV-gtpfXugGwZ0xb7hfH1mvngafCZIs_BkLTG2YY9vG3ik9v2NdZFJCPGDZJnp9wgzMEA/s320/Sherman%20monument.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>We turned another direction, so we didn't walk close to it. After that, we went back to our hotel. Mind you, I was being pushed in a wheelchair/transport chair the whole time and it felt as if I were in a group of bumper cars at a carnival. The streets and sidewalks are so bumpy, and there are so many people to steer around. Yikes!</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The next day, we passed the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flatiron_Building">Flatiron Building</a>, which is covered in scaffolding at present.....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7G7z49ugRVT7Z9zRWAI4-xBMvjg3SDQTrfEk0VwKtElXveChLCD08Lhk-kBNLRr0Ab9njbC87WNGRE6Qmzwt7d84L5yIs7Lm5_JEf1uZhG08MLRcUrS4vkhcdpzv0Tt2E9-GzMm_3YyUmEf1bldRi5YaNL_UAYTd90KBRkGxZkFtVeTbOv4ZI-A/s4032/Flatiron.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7G7z49ugRVT7Z9zRWAI4-xBMvjg3SDQTrfEk0VwKtElXveChLCD08Lhk-kBNLRr0Ab9njbC87WNGRE6Qmzwt7d84L5yIs7Lm5_JEf1uZhG08MLRcUrS4vkhcdpzv0Tt2E9-GzMm_3YyUmEf1bldRi5YaNL_UAYTd90KBRkGxZkFtVeTbOv4ZI-A/s320/Flatiron.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>A short time later, we saw a commotion on a street nearby. It was strikers from <a href="https://www.sagaftra.org/">Sag-Aftra</a>, marching in the street in front of the group offices.....</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXH_n3Uu6XYR7mxxjariEEM3O6QyPYe-E9n7Sm39YpeHYMVfK0WmcXn0Byqsnwp0lkA_4r2sd4opcDsJ0qVWELy8UrFNKWiHFvBfG0MTLSYTbatxMwjBPES9wJKtEIsiJSQqHwfUOS5_TZErFiJwGu9lgusnHlekkvQL_4JBItIkA1SjNlL5XUjg/s4032/sag-aftra%20strikers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXH_n3Uu6XYR7mxxjariEEM3O6QyPYe-E9n7Sm39YpeHYMVfK0WmcXn0Byqsnwp0lkA_4r2sd4opcDsJ0qVWELy8UrFNKWiHFvBfG0MTLSYTbatxMwjBPES9wJKtEIsiJSQqHwfUOS5_TZErFiJwGu9lgusnHlekkvQL_4JBItIkA1SjNlL5XUjg/s320/sag-aftra%20strikers.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">We watched for a while, hoping to see a famous actor - but no such luck. They were all in hiding that day. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Later, we passed by the One World Trade Center, which we had toured a few years back. We also saw <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=the+oculus+nyc&qs=OS&pq=the+occulus&sk=OS2&sc=10-11&cvid=A9C43C496AED497A85B771A5C454112F&FORM=QBLH&sp=3&ghc=1&lq=0">the Occulus</a>.....</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyHt4c9C5nq5E7ywJj6Mh0IoDPMeUjTJ-dspT9pT6W83oxnnIubWEdjsVisUtYivMK2oVzHmPRII__w-8mxmx3x-qWjtCl1rNYzZmZZNLANeXQlOgMgj14QRmRg0_rOmjnnkImFcEsjqO8ctQiK-gxUYBdrwvfhherpUGRdThP0CdRQmpcr-ejw/s4032/Oculus.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyHt4c9C5nq5E7ywJj6Mh0IoDPMeUjTJ-dspT9pT6W83oxnnIubWEdjsVisUtYivMK2oVzHmPRII__w-8mxmx3x-qWjtCl1rNYzZmZZNLANeXQlOgMgj14QRmRg0_rOmjnnkImFcEsjqO8ctQiK-gxUYBdrwvfhherpUGRdThP0CdRQmpcr-ejw/s320/Oculus.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Here it is from the inside....<br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFW_BypSMw4Hy5BsUSR1O6OVE6sT2mJc2HQ7P-Daetzhf0MtaJdrBnQRgqHVW_py5z8Auq9JOFodOgBfZ0J_b74ea87ByPPqkcXjPfNr9TDPeAMXTMwFlJOcOLkNre-YI6ZXC6DNRHlU1YIvEQAkP2D2bDjopY1HPVfv12O_-kzyX7hztp4GQ-VQ/s4032/Oculus%20inside.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFW_BypSMw4Hy5BsUSR1O6OVE6sT2mJc2HQ7P-Daetzhf0MtaJdrBnQRgqHVW_py5z8Auq9JOFodOgBfZ0J_b74ea87ByPPqkcXjPfNr9TDPeAMXTMwFlJOcOLkNre-YI6ZXC6DNRHlU1YIvEQAkP2D2bDjopY1HPVfv12O_-kzyX7hztp4GQ-VQ/s320/Oculus%20inside.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">I hope that woman didn't mind being in the pic, but since she had a mask on, I suppose it is okay. Here, I am looking from the 3rd floor down to the bottom floor, where they had placed some very odd looking benches for people to sit. </span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKurUYjL91umFXYPiSYO-Nzmr_8K4T6PHxAC1h9H-4yoZWIonLXdREDgz_vokUGaJCFtkJSpkPs6Faq3dr-3G04d_CFUDjngCAA50Kvf5Gly8j2kxXuPMTpn2OVJDbSSmK6V5HiuB4EE5j_dBBPF1-daaVkoGlVj35aeEAshQXTiKUfCCx8NnaQ/s4032/Oculus%20floor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKurUYjL91umFXYPiSYO-Nzmr_8K4T6PHxAC1h9H-4yoZWIonLXdREDgz_vokUGaJCFtkJSpkPs6Faq3dr-3G04d_CFUDjngCAA50Kvf5Gly8j2kxXuPMTpn2OVJDbSSmK6V5HiuB4EE5j_dBBPF1-daaVkoGlVj35aeEAshQXTiKUfCCx8NnaQ/s320/Oculus%20floor.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">That evening, we went to a Spanish restaurant, called ...</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnb7uufIiqa3uNz9vmGf2h5_XIL0u1GCEfTGdIeJDYurNrvGNFGYw5b7DrhHa7zt-ajmNIFY1lYd5N6PWe0Pi5BLulCD8KKUY8IwbEdZJ0GS4V7Jy8X8zklVc3FQmdWHBllykteN4OCRjziXkfR_7pIlSCmTkxZG8LjixWGYlqN5w3Yq4p8aOXsA/s4032/Boqueria.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnb7uufIiqa3uNz9vmGf2h5_XIL0u1GCEfTGdIeJDYurNrvGNFGYw5b7DrhHa7zt-ajmNIFY1lYd5N6PWe0Pi5BLulCD8KKUY8IwbEdZJ0GS4V7Jy8X8zklVc3FQmdWHBllykteN4OCRjziXkfR_7pIlSCmTkxZG8LjixWGYlqN5w3Yq4p8aOXsA/s320/Boqueria.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Among other things, they serve Tapas....Only one or two of us knew what to order, so we left it to the experts...I liked all but one thing and I don't remember what that was. Of course, I had to have a Margarita..... It was delicious! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">Almost as soon as we left Boqueria, we saw another commotion in the streets (can you ever go to NYC and not see some kind of commotion???) There was a police car, an ambulance and a whole squadron of EMS people milling about. A crowd had formed, holding up their phones, and I thought they were watching the EMS crew. But as soon as we passed the police car, I saw what had them enthralled.....</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5sm3em4oE31_8tgcHztHtax21oQ6AiV3Dwuw7vDyPnfDy8WvrHfe-mXcd1D1UEWQy0p-a6NpD_HNC9Ju3AZubnS4wLOcvyAjVOjDT9Fi0iNP4sAWGLKSp3BwFaSJIZUaRhgbDGJ6eh2EbpZ4fi9vH-S2X-Oy44cMzIcprjH5AYWyCeNznHyRZA/s4032/Blue%20Moon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5sm3em4oE31_8tgcHztHtax21oQ6AiV3Dwuw7vDyPnfDy8WvrHfe-mXcd1D1UEWQy0p-a6NpD_HNC9Ju3AZubnS4wLOcvyAjVOjDT9Fi0iNP4sAWGLKSp3BwFaSJIZUaRhgbDGJ6eh2EbpZ4fi9vH-S2X-Oy44cMzIcprjH5AYWyCeNznHyRZA/s320/Blue%20Moon.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">It was the Super Blue Moon - shining between buildings. I was so happy that we saw it and that I was able to get a photo. I posted this on Facebook, so some of you have already seen it.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;">The next day, we were flying back to Raleigh, so we cooled it that morning, eating breakfast at the hotel and for lunch, we walked down a few buildings to Burgerology, where we all had burgers and fries. It was so thick I could hardly get it in my mouth!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLop457nCpwKMeg7O4xH6pm8GjSqk-FrPm5BQyhPQxMZgUDzKEQU_i7X-nQL-meXOMp2UWEfwD2XnfSf4M5J1vVDlFrG2piRenKSMyVwQZTnk_1gqQL1nUmDCd804oQ_7QMKqdHvU-7oRDGV6kUA87Y6bbXhmCHL4yb34LX5dhnKI8Bx1losUQOw/s4032/Burgerology.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLop457nCpwKMeg7O4xH6pm8GjSqk-FrPm5BQyhPQxMZgUDzKEQU_i7X-nQL-meXOMp2UWEfwD2XnfSf4M5J1vVDlFrG2piRenKSMyVwQZTnk_1gqQL1nUmDCd804oQ_7QMKqdHvU-7oRDGV6kUA87Y6bbXhmCHL4yb34LX5dhnKI8Bx1losUQOw/s320/Burgerology.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had opted for sauteed mushrooms as a topping; they were good, but didn't sit well on my stomach for some reason. Then we got a cab to go to the airport (La Guardia). I will tell you about that in my next post. <br /></span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></div></div>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-6363694155365637732023-09-01T18:51:00.000-05:002023-09-01T18:51:14.375-05:00On August 25th, I left home with......<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> my daughter and granddaughter, to go on a week long trip. It was to start in Charleston, West Virginia (where I was born and raised) and culminate in NYC, where my grandson is a student/teacher, getting his PhD in Paleontology. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I was going to Charleston for an all class reunion of my High School (Stonewall Jackson), with grads from 1944 to 1989 (when the school became a middle school.)</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For me, it was my 65th reunion, and I never expected to make it that long.....so many of our classmates have passed away. The all class reunion was held on Sat, evening at the Charleston Civic Center, with 1,050 people in attendance. The planners did a bang-up job! That is not an easy task, and the committee was such a hard-working, well-organized group.....nothing went wrong, that I could see. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">It is always nice to see old classmates, except I was often reminded of good friends who have passed away or didn't make the trip this time. I always miss those who are not there. But it is good to see the ones who are - even if you don't really remember some of them (LOL). Our class had 447 people in it, so it was hard to get to know everyone. And if you didn't own or have access to a car, you seldom saw kids after school, unless they lived in your neighborhood. Charleston had good buses, but some areas required multiple transfers, and so I never bothered to go, except to go uptown to shop. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The reunion was fun; we had a class photo taken, which is supposed to be mailed to us in 4-6 weeks. In previous years, our photographer took the class photo and returned about 10 pm with copies for everyone, but I guess it is harder when you have over a thousand people. As soon as I get the photo, I will post it here and on Facebook. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">On Sunday morning, we met with my birth mother's granddaughter for breakfast at First Watch. It is always nice to see her, and nice for my granddaughter to meet her too. Then we left, on our way to our next stop:</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Cleveland, Ohio, where my brother-in-law lives with his wife and his daughter and her family. Unfortunately, his wife had been taken to the hospital and was facing surgery, so we didn't get to see her this trip. But we went to his daughter and her husband's home and saw their two adorable kids, whom we had not seen in 6 years.Her husband loves to cook, and he put on a Mexican feast for us (although he is Italian). The tacos were delicious and she made street corn which was really scrumptious! Prior to the dinner, we had chips with guacamole, melted cheese, salsa, sour cream and all the trimmings. We enjoyed it all, very much, and mostly seeing all of them and catching up on family news. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After 2 days in Cleveland, we drove to Dubois, PA, where our Best Man and Matron of Honor live, and had brunch with them and their daughter, at a place called Dutch Pantry. I heartily recommend it, especially their apple dumplings (or fritters). They were delicious! I had not seen Cindy, their daughter, since the 70's, when they lived in Colorado, so I was very happy to see her again! We saw Joe and Fern last September, when they came to our home to visit us, and it was special to see them again, and talk of old memories. They seem to miss Jim as much as we do. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After breakfast in PA, we drove to our final destination - New York City. Route 80 from Cleveland to NYC is a good road, and we were lucky not to encounter much construction or bad traffic. We arrived in NY about 5 pm. so traffic was bad there, and it took a while to get to our hotel. After we arrived and checked in, my daughter had to return the rental car (to Brooklyn, no less) and that took her about an hour.....she rode the subway back. My older daughter had flown to NYC that morning, as we were all going to see one of her sons. The granddaughter with me on the trip is his twin. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">We had dinner that night at Patsy's, 256 West 58th Street; it opened in 1944, and was a favorite of Frank Sinatra's. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqh0CRuSLbtCcHIRPMFyv502eoXLgrqUxrIr_6FIIQztv_mS0SurACRo8SdU-h7MYP0O-ESiBAgHMES-VQDG8y2R8d2uZ5mYQfdokxm9WMh61wZNxaEpa-SpVw48i5Q9AI00WFyp6OmIfm7Rv4M1etzm3lV8dckwW3GGycdEf2u0X_wvsIcYfYg/s3568/Patsy's%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3568" data-original-width="2368" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqh0CRuSLbtCcHIRPMFyv502eoXLgrqUxrIr_6FIIQztv_mS0SurACRo8SdU-h7MYP0O-ESiBAgHMES-VQDG8y2R8d2uZ5mYQfdokxm9WMh61wZNxaEpa-SpVw48i5Q9AI00WFyp6OmIfm7Rv4M1etzm3lV8dckwW3GGycdEf2u0X_wvsIcYfYg/s320/Patsy's%201.jpg" width="212" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"> Sorry the menu is sideways - I can't get it turned correctly......<br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2vedhBsYtT4BytgMrTFm1CtyAgB5M84M-4lCFDysRO4crQJNnqZbkZELiiCMnJqFqM2zmDxTNA3SSCVPknawjstihjfSfficFYHGVKPRlp0kUCXIHjVQbeQy38h02HRO32Q06Yc2BDhsrLzTJmFhaS0uEd7O2_z0cZpJCbe22X5cr2uF0gOQhg/s3383/Patsy's%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3383" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2vedhBsYtT4BytgMrTFm1CtyAgB5M84M-4lCFDysRO4crQJNnqZbkZELiiCMnJqFqM2zmDxTNA3SSCVPknawjstihjfSfficFYHGVKPRlp0kUCXIHjVQbeQy38h02HRO32Q06Yc2BDhsrLzTJmFhaS0uEd7O2_z0cZpJCbe22X5cr2uF0gOQhg/s320/Patsy's%202.jpg" width="286" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My chicken piccata, delicious and filling!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgde4qNQhyD4_Bmu6tBT8J9KqJe5vEioi5zJrv5R22sDp_Kj5_Y7UXPVonai-7bTWbC0uwN2EMbmtxcYVhhidAYqc40K4cJyJp5gACr0zActs0ZuZM38rrlpUuIOxY7aGEW91uwdW84RnCStrkzwQZFX3HMwXAFwTuLk19T5v7jM4UvjS7a8zQB8A/s2993/chicken%20piccata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2340" data-original-width="2993" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgde4qNQhyD4_Bmu6tBT8J9KqJe5vEioi5zJrv5R22sDp_Kj5_Y7UXPVonai-7bTWbC0uwN2EMbmtxcYVhhidAYqc40K4cJyJp5gACr0zActs0ZuZM38rrlpUuIOxY7aGEW91uwdW84RnCStrkzwQZFX3HMwXAFwTuLk19T5v7jM4UvjS7a8zQB8A/s320/chicken%20piccata.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The potato croquette was so good! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After dinner, we walked around and went to Venchi's ice cream....well worth the trip. I will continue this travelogue in a few days, as it is too long to write all in one post. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div> </div><br /></div><br /><p></p>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-63631811474584171952023-08-11T16:20:00.014-05:002023-08-12T12:24:10.188-05:00On August 3rd, I had to have gallbladder surgery. I spent 6 days in the hospital......<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Edited below!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">I want to tell you that I had some of the best nurses I have ever dealt with. This was Wake Medical Center - Cary. </p><p>We have had a long history with "Big Wake", as we call it, the large medical center located at the eastern entrance to Raleigh. My youngest child was born there in 1971, and then when she was 2, she spent a month there, due to pneumonia and empyema. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In 2007, when Jim had his massive stroke, they took good care of him for 2 weeks and then housed him in in-patient PT for 2 weeks. He recovered better than anyone could have expected. </p><p>In 2014, I had open heart surgery there, spending 12 days. I did fairly well.</p><p>In March, I think, I was sent there from the Apex ED, because I swallowed a pill that went down the wrong "pipe" and spent nearly 24 hours in ICU, because that was the only bed available. Once again, I got excellent care. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">So when I started having lower GI tract symptoms, that lasted for 11 days, we went to the Urgent Care and they said go to the ED. The one in Cary is closer, so we went there. I was admitted for tests, and as I was patient # 25 waiting for a room, I had to spend one night in the ED. Care was excellent. I had a CS, MRI, Endoscopy, and numerous blood tests, and all of that led them to tell me that my bile duct was blocked with sludge....which usually precedes the formation of stones. I was advised to consider surgery right then, while I was already a patient. I thought about it and decided it might be a good idea to go ahead and get it out, because to delay might bring on a full-blown gallbladder attack, which I know to be excruciating pain, as my mother had it. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The endoscopy made me cough a lot after, and by later that night, my ribs were very sore, as well as my stomach muscles. I worried about how that would affect me after surgery, but it was scheduled anyway for 7 am on the 3rd. Despite the fact that there was an NPO sign on my door, and I knew I was not supposed to eat, when the tray was brought in, I grabbed the coffee cup and downed it - totally forgetting I was not supposed to even have water that morning. Then I opened a strawberry jello and took 3 bites, before it dawned on me I should quit. The upshot of all that was they had to delay surgery by 2 hours. I was sorry for the surgical team, but they seemed to take it in stride, for which I was thankful. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I had anesthesia two days in a row (endoscopy and surgery) and I hate the effects of it at the best of times, but I am destined for "foggy brain" forever, I suppose. The aftermath of surgery was that I was so sore I could hardly get up out of bed. Thanks to modern medicine for pain killers, so badly needed at that time. recovery was slow, and I felt like the proverbial pin-cushion, having had 5 IV's (which kept coming loose) and gobs of other needle sticks. My belly is so bruised that I look like I have been hit with a "cat o' nine tails". But everyday I am improving, and I am so very thankful for good care and proper testing. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Some of the nurses who were stand-outs in my stay there were Jeremy in the ED, </p><p style="text-align: justify;">and, of course, I have lost part of my list, darn it. If I find it later, I'll fill in the lost ones, but here are the rest I can find: Nicole, Nykesha, Dr. Dye (he looks like my first boyfriend!), Katrina and Sabrina. Sabrina is a nurse supervisor and she showed extra care when she came in to help me when my nurses were busy. We got to talking, and she said she thought I should write. I told her, "I write a blog." I gave her the name of it, and an hour or so later, she came back, raving about it. She really lifted my spirits and she gave me a wonderful hug, which I needed. Sabrina, I hope you are reading this someday soon. I will never forget you. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">***I found the rest of my name list of outstanding nurses: Hannah, Sally, Tiffany, Misty, Patty and Michelle in gastro. All of you made a very good impressions on me, and I don't really impress easily!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-55555194352058228912023-07-22T21:48:00.000-05:002023-07-22T21:48:14.263-05:00Trivia Night at our clubhouse<p style="text-align: justify;"> As many of you no doubt know, I live in a 55+ community. We have a wonderful clubhouse with all sorts of things to do. A few years ago, some people formed a trivia club. About twice a year they have a trivia night. Tonight was one... You enter and after paying your $2.00 entry fee, you pick a card to choose a table number. I chose table 3, but when I entered the room, I mistook the table number and sat down at Table 5. I knew a few people at that table, so I felt comfortable there. But soon, I was made to move to table 3. I had neighbors at that table too, so I enjoyed being with them, and met 3 other new people. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The trivia tonight was based on a game show similar to "Family Feud", where you are asked to guess what 100 other people said to certain questions. I think it is called "America Says....", but I have never seen it. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Long story short..... our table won the first prize! Since everyone who enters pays $2, a sizable purse develops. The prize amounts for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes are determined by how many people attend. Tonight, we had 14 tables of 6 (mostly)...about 84 people. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Every one at our table received $10.....so we each made $8, and we had a lot of fun! I did get upset once, when the category was "horses" and we were supposed to come up with the words that made us think of horses (each starting with a certain letter.) I had said the answer to the letter "C" was cowboys, but I was voted down and they put another answer on that line. They were wrong!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">But we still won first place, so I guess it didn't matter. YAY!</p>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-2901055664036361562023-07-17T17:27:00.001-05:002023-07-17T17:29:25.088-05:00I am Looking Forward to Two More Trips<div style="text-align: justify;">Near the end of this month, I am going to Hilton Head with my granddaughter and
her fiancee. I love spending time with them, so this is a special treat. Jim and
I owned a townhouse on Hilton Head back in the late 80's/early 90's. I have not
been back in about 8 years....and I know it has changed a great deal since then.
Jim and I always loved going to "The Earl of Sandwich" a quaint restaurant in
Coligny Plaza, so they have assured me, we will head back there. The last time,
we sat outside . A small creek/lagoon runs under the deck and I looked down and
saw frogs, lizards, small fish and tadpoles. I love being out in nature, so that
was special. That will be a short trip, however. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> In August, my daughter and
granddaughter and I are going back to my hometown (Charleston, WV) for an
all-school reunion. There are over 1000 people signed up, who graduated from
1940 to the 1980's, when the school was changed to a junior high. I doubt there
is anyone alive who graduated in 1940, but almost anything can happen! My class
roster showed 447 graduates in my class (1958) but not many of them signed up
for the reunion. However, we are having a luncheon that afternoon at a country
club, and I expect to see about 30 classmates. We always have a lot of fun at
reunions. I never understand why more people don't attend. Many of us live far
away, but a good many still live in that area, and they still don't come. It's
their loss! </div><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"> When we leave Charleston, we are driving to Cleveland, Ohio, to
visit my brother-in-law and his family. We saw a few of them at Jim's funeral,
but some couldn't attend....so it will be nice to see them again. After that, we
will stop in Pennsylvania to visit our Best Man and matron of Honor, and their
daughter and grandchildren (I hope).
It will be a quick visit, as after that, we
will drive to NYC, to visit my twin grandson, who is there in school, getting
his PH.D. in Paleontology. His sister will be with us, and his mother will join
us in NYC for a few days, and then we all fly home to RDU. It sounds like a long
trip (in days), but it really isn't, as our time in each location is short. I
think I will need a vacation after that vacation!
</p>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-73896544763590695782023-07-01T19:20:00.000-05:002023-07-01T19:20:55.062-05:00July 2 would have been our 59th anniversary...<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sC9nDqJmboTQcS5iRx_bh4gRxKYsx08FD5NX2ehHvqY_qMa0p-Yl0iXDLtvLsST23A0ESCuKJJ81t4-x7WJ1gY8tMX7wbB3Axg38FWPAnZv3GwF7EZ93d44LQg12njyep2JxzBkftnfntjlYtmgxHT520-G2Yk4e-4xu-DAinzPn3o_CPD9mtw/s731/Our%20wedding%20day.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="600" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="731" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sC9nDqJmboTQcS5iRx_bh4gRxKYsx08FD5NX2ehHvqY_qMa0p-Yl0iXDLtvLsST23A0ESCuKJJ81t4-x7WJ1gY8tMX7wbB3Axg38FWPAnZv3GwF7EZ93d44LQg12njyep2JxzBkftnfntjlYtmgxHT520-G2Yk4e-4xu-DAinzPn3o_CPD9mtw/s600/Our%20wedding%20day.jpg"/></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNhoN7tGNN_iSJdi7RdtZK4_RgFLOhyVPlgsVlrXLhmNxlpaDt1mckhQTSDE0VvZ7tGgQifyXk85kjWoJSlodf_f1J5eF45siZaYUNSIeUwdpDvMNwiNRKrErmLYZBXdVfcExEWcBMqnlm9UHqNW55K-32GodDdSYUL9Jpr-H6XoBJSN1qog/s682/Jim&Judyin%20garage.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="600" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="682" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGNhoN7tGNN_iSJdi7RdtZK4_RgFLOhyVPlgsVlrXLhmNxlpaDt1mckhQTSDE0VvZ7tGgQifyXk85kjWoJSlodf_f1J5eF45siZaYUNSIeUwdpDvMNwiNRKrErmLYZBXdVfcExEWcBMqnlm9UHqNW55K-32GodDdSYUL9Jpr-H6XoBJSN1qog/s600/Jim&Judyin%20garage.jpg"/></a></div>
The second photo was taken two years ago, near our 57th year. How can I get through this day? I had so hoped we would make it to #60, at least. On our 25th anniversary, we didn't have a party or go anywhere fancy to celebrate because that was the year we had to pay for a large Rehearsal Dinner for our oldest child. On our 50th, we didn't have a party or go anywhere fancy to celebrate because Jim was not really well enough to travel. So I was counting on our 60th to have the blowout I thought we deserved.
Lesson learned: do not count on the future....it may not happen the way you want it to, and the people with whom you want to be. Make the best of the present time....it may be all you have.
Think kind thoughts of me today.....I need them. I miss him terribly, although I will admit to enjoying a well-deserved rest, after a long time of caregiving. Caregiving is not easy (in the best of times) as many of you no doubt know. I needed a rest - but his death is not the way I had hoped to accomplish it. He is out of what must have been severe pain now, at least, I can take comfort in knowing that.
Happy anniversary to me, and to any and all who may be celebrating today!kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-90062182077308975272023-06-09T14:11:00.002-05:002023-06-09T14:11:55.302-05:00A Trip to Virginia Beach and Richmond<p> Last weekend, my baby daughter and I went to Virginia Beach for a very short trip. The Cavalier Hotel, a landmark up on a hill at the beach, had been remodeled and we wanted to see it as well as the new Marriott on the beach across the street from the Cavalier. </p><p>My husband's aunt and uncle used to take him and his brother to the Cavalier in the 1940's, when he was 5-6-7 years old. It was quite fancy back then, and even better now. The new beach hotel is very nice; our room was terrific and the balcony great (over looking the water), but the outdoors around it was wonderful. An infinity pool, with chaises in the water, easy access to the beach on a sloping concrete ramp, and the sand is packed tightly so that it is easy to walk on to get to the water. There are "clamshells" with 2 chaises for use by hotel guests. They also have an indoor pool. I didn't see a hot tub, and that was the only minus I'd give them. The flowers surrounding both hotels were lush and colorful and varied. I'll show pics later in this post. </p><p>When the old Cavalier was open, they had a pavillion on the beach, with a bar and wooden dance floor. I remember dancing there in the 60's, but by that time, the floor was damaged and had holes in it. Their history reports that at one time, the Cavalier was the largest user of Big Bands in the east; all the big names played there, and it WAS the place to be in the late 20's, 30's, 40's and 50's. Then other high-rise hotels started to spring up and the Cavalier went down in looks and service. The "new", remodeled one mimics the glamour of the early days, although the section on the beach is considerably smaller and has no dance floor, that I could see. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOVHOjcrNGNL60ovYvm2dP-q3kZHzgSICCBFzbvth2Oe8NIo6AUHAInSANHf1caXHYhAmE_4MI4TS6eFkGx3TQAk-Tcpb4tMqT21ktA9DJR79zVUp1xrb5WT1w7wvraXNrGjToUSml3Ojmtlv0fl2uuvX2iV7gQmbxejLyeT78CZT4Cp7tgU/s2182/poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2182" data-original-width="1397" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOVHOjcrNGNL60ovYvm2dP-q3kZHzgSICCBFzbvth2Oe8NIo6AUHAInSANHf1caXHYhAmE_4MI4TS6eFkGx3TQAk-Tcpb4tMqT21ktA9DJR79zVUp1xrb5WT1w7wvraXNrGjToUSml3Ojmtlv0fl2uuvX2iV7gQmbxejLyeT78CZT4Cp7tgU/w410-h640/poster.jpg" width="410" /></a></div>Below is the pool at the Marriott. It was too cool to get in. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8t_TrzgQvdSWH2XtG9yVsL4Q17meCZY1Gdclq_rMsve-KJKL5fzZKxf_bXGVf6fKPzgwajtgmbsIrZh0g5EasFzRUjNpOu8raCgk-9AbIklnXFt62UBDsbyPWI6cTUFMu_pwnWVT48t7JpdIL-6UkS_-PWM9KYrXXCpL7cVFxwmeY6B-dL3k/s4032/pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8t_TrzgQvdSWH2XtG9yVsL4Q17meCZY1Gdclq_rMsve-KJKL5fzZKxf_bXGVf6fKPzgwajtgmbsIrZh0g5EasFzRUjNpOu8raCgk-9AbIklnXFt62UBDsbyPWI6cTUFMu_pwnWVT48t7JpdIL-6UkS_-PWM9KYrXXCpL7cVFxwmeY6B-dL3k/w400-h300/pool.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The view from our balcony, looking back to the Cavalier.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLC85bDjrPSiW3XwjXOjFSR81HH_6gpfJkyFGH9g_bJQzNYLG9fe1WUU6TANUTaL6hWmGiwZt6HCXsA8rxPQv5iq1SwTejMJ38cGQbx1_iVh68p9Nk-7FEWjs33viWhamAV056Sk_ZnhayQaACg9pTn39WbrtlGIaUzKfNq9-SjeoH5GsDgmk/s4032/view%20from%20our%20room%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLC85bDjrPSiW3XwjXOjFSR81HH_6gpfJkyFGH9g_bJQzNYLG9fe1WUU6TANUTaL6hWmGiwZt6HCXsA8rxPQv5iq1SwTejMJ38cGQbx1_iVh68p9Nk-7FEWjs33viWhamAV056Sk_ZnhayQaACg9pTn39WbrtlGIaUzKfNq9-SjeoH5GsDgmk/s320/view%20from%20our%20room%201.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>The view to the beach from our balcony.<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvJ-jgRKemReqVuAM7HLJuyoDotn_BJHXda1SGWIFAnK2fMbG2P-CRUbfqt4WYiMdG_t65OMAFFUqq-0oMM-DtgQ3FiDENEIVTTF4-C8GnIj_dPNiNVlc4OA9LnccRSzOWd6TjA1zA7_yZARC4AfTYFWuKaWIKX9bcKZbxdqG_rmmQ5oNUGk/s4032/view%20to%20the%20beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvJ-jgRKemReqVuAM7HLJuyoDotn_BJHXda1SGWIFAnK2fMbG2P-CRUbfqt4WYiMdG_t65OMAFFUqq-0oMM-DtgQ3FiDENEIVTTF4-C8GnIj_dPNiNVlc4OA9LnccRSzOWd6TjA1zA7_yZARC4AfTYFWuKaWIKX9bcKZbxdqG_rmmQ5oNUGk/w640-h480/view%20to%20the%20beach.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Below is the beach area for the Cavalier.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_T7SvJHs07aBX99cInyS_VXWz53rPoFYvAuJ8AAUXezxyoQl_iYuxweT0FrbhB1FIp2LXldwPFxHsNtkP32HMCZx1XNfX5uylvwdO30xAx_FPNoVC6EFCqQjN310rFOoy_0-EaL2zetxzAROImfjPRS0Mm6nO1J1Z9HsiIME6GeqOHnpyz58/s4032/view%20over%20Cavalier%20grounds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_T7SvJHs07aBX99cInyS_VXWz53rPoFYvAuJ8AAUXezxyoQl_iYuxweT0FrbhB1FIp2LXldwPFxHsNtkP32HMCZx1XNfX5uylvwdO30xAx_FPNoVC6EFCqQjN310rFOoy_0-EaL2zetxzAROImfjPRS0Mm6nO1J1Z9HsiIME6GeqOHnpyz58/w300-h400/view%20over%20Cavalier%20grounds.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>Beach access...easy to navigate...<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkx0UbiNS0o0mMJCALIHYFNTCNelZFs3ePEzhYLqHoXtXprmyJ2KWTlK8oWk43Hbt6LWXM6mCfiOptKHGww6symhCwC0QPNSkTk-7KbvuWDiTkg0hXYhkYoGnpPygZt8PyidsYPKMxf7hrd8EQzpBeraeYiAYu2KQs3SwqZmzwr6kB66Pp4o/s4032/IMG-6260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkx0UbiNS0o0mMJCALIHYFNTCNelZFs3ePEzhYLqHoXtXprmyJ2KWTlK8oWk43Hbt6LWXM6mCfiOptKHGww6symhCwC0QPNSkTk-7KbvuWDiTkg0hXYhkYoGnpPygZt8PyidsYPKMxf7hrd8EQzpBeraeYiAYu2KQs3SwqZmzwr6kB66Pp4o/w400-h300/IMG-6260.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The full moon, from the far eastern end of Virginia Beach. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczG1CtNYHAtlaF9epW56jiTSDbLS_vq4B5PgzjsX92YHq42VCrHgNQk4W9EqbL-MWJccq_0Aahjnaos1LqHToDCw5zbffvoY6iNx6dj5sE1YbOsNfHEjPenW-qMnKPRfRIdXquI4VQ4gBPR2gn34-FhgPnRM8Fqe0LYS5wjnIb1M7-dYy3OY/s4032/IMG-6262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczG1CtNYHAtlaF9epW56jiTSDbLS_vq4B5PgzjsX92YHq42VCrHgNQk4W9EqbL-MWJccq_0Aahjnaos1LqHToDCw5zbffvoY6iNx6dj5sE1YbOsNfHEjPenW-qMnKPRfRIdXquI4VQ4gBPR2gn34-FhgPnRM8Fqe0LYS5wjnIb1M7-dYy3OY/w640-h480/IMG-6262.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>My breakfast: eggs Benedict with tri-color roasted potatoes!<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYPIB27pfVmx4yH4olk0rKEr5WBJeiAsD2x6GedqGsEsPzPbuzcfxid7bb8LRwcsE0X7bdmt23Juck7GoK5KLVfMF_Yxpnkae991XL74vzcjG_HU6B6F94fRuUGXL8_siCphPHfR5KV8DjRUIypEk29rgLCOVhSCMA4uIS-cZrgFeQX9cK-4/s4032/Eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFYPIB27pfVmx4yH4olk0rKEr5WBJeiAsD2x6GedqGsEsPzPbuzcfxid7bb8LRwcsE0X7bdmt23Juck7GoK5KLVfMF_Yxpnkae991XL74vzcjG_HU6B6F94fRuUGXL8_siCphPHfR5KV8DjRUIypEk29rgLCOVhSCMA4uIS-cZrgFeQX9cK-4/w300-h400/Eggs.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div>Hydrangeas on the front of the hotel, on the beach.</div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoiglBNAXDxAPRnDwA4kNZ9U9OlFjjJyJ8FFjEtVGrbktV6JPkVB76sOpxZ5Uiq7hksd8YM5NWuJ-b8b12xcLWIXzAy7Hm7bZWMbwYHjePMV8jbsH_b4V6n9cQJRbmdX8qKA42iMrIUUqpXG2b0EmnmMnoQdFtlTVeyp6CQPsgVd8S-dNhsX8/s4032/bydrangeas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoiglBNAXDxAPRnDwA4kNZ9U9OlFjjJyJ8FFjEtVGrbktV6JPkVB76sOpxZ5Uiq7hksd8YM5NWuJ-b8b12xcLWIXzAy7Hm7bZWMbwYHjePMV8jbsH_b4V6n9cQJRbmdX8qKA42iMrIUUqpXG2b0EmnmMnoQdFtlTVeyp6CQPsgVd8S-dNhsX8/w480-h640/bydrangeas.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-65701875450132267992023-05-31T15:23:00.000-05:002023-05-31T15:23:16.357-05:00Nothing Much Going On Here.....<p style="text-align: justify;"> Going out to eat often, with family and/or friends. I have started going back to some club/group meetings here in my neighborhood, and a few of hem involve luncheons - which I love. My granddaughter continues to feed me - and she is such a good cook that I am truly lucky......from breakfast pancakes to lettuce wraps, her food is excellent! Of course, that means I need to watch my weight gain. Yesterday, I was able to wear an outfit that I had not had on in about 3 years....the pants were too tight. I was very happy to see that I could get them on without too much tugging and pulling. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I continue to play Scrabble weekly, and it is usually the highlight of my week, even when I don't win. Our group includes 4-5 excellent players, and I have learned a lot from them.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">My husbands old friends continue to call or send email and texts, checking up on me. I find that very comforting; especially since I don't know most of them very well. They all remember him fondly and seem to want to keep a connection, even if it is with me, not him. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">My children took me to Key West, as you may know, and before long, my baby and I are going to Virginia Beach for a few days, and then to Richmond, to visit the daughter of my dearest, old friend. She lived with us while she was here in college for a while, and the best house guest I ever had. I have missed her since she moved away, and I don't see her often enough. She attended Jim's funeral, but we didn't have much time to talk, so this trip, however quick, will slake my thirst for that. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Not long after that, we are going to Charleston, WV, to my high school All-Class reunion. I don't know how many of my class members will show up, but I am ever hopeful that at least a few will attend. After that, we travel on to Ohio, to visit with my brother-in-law and his family. I have not seen all of them for 6 years, so that will be a good trip. We are supposed to drive on to NYC after that, but the trip is subject to change (as always). </p><p style="text-align: justify;">After that, the only trip I know of is to my first grandson's wedding in Charleston, SC. That promises to be a fabulous series of events and I am looking forward to that. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Now you know my doings......How are you spending the summer?</p>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-1591141815478230652023-05-17T14:36:00.002-05:002023-05-17T14:36:36.950-05:00Our Trip to Key West, Continued.<p style="text-align: justify;"> We left Key West and drove to Marathon Key, where we stayed in a lovely Marriott named Blue Waters. It had a great pool and hot tub (with a beach view)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WBOZU8_kpKSYDfgqd8JOy7V0f4xsQQG3NEtVYLY0Z-uScbYhIv_UstHwV9wsU9MLhpVVuhMvtq3KP2G78QPkNy_mzRKJvSxEbplB5EA_ob0XnzrI3M_5nMHMpl7g8Ps-r0Kqj-AmHjZgU8HU6UAqTstGU3tqdSAlncC2hfzp0CssU4d_AOQ/s4032/Marathon%20beachfront.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WBOZU8_kpKSYDfgqd8JOy7V0f4xsQQG3NEtVYLY0Z-uScbYhIv_UstHwV9wsU9MLhpVVuhMvtq3KP2G78QPkNy_mzRKJvSxEbplB5EA_ob0XnzrI3M_5nMHMpl7g8Ps-r0Kqj-AmHjZgU8HU6UAqTstGU3tqdSAlncC2hfzp0CssU4d_AOQ/s320/Marathon%20beachfront.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnv5oQlZbNSHxu-IPqpbgKEaJ9gMsRKpbNxOYxX2WhFdL7_PrIBd5_xbC28DU-3cdE83rMlIaBWke-jvYF6EQfyIAAqBmU8YVQaxqpON_xdqhocK4GrTt7pWaQ5gppJ4QSzF7q9KIxbwfJElcPqJ6pdcx79BE54UFn9qMm6HDG62Qo4hfN0o/s4032/Marathon%20beach%20front%20two.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEnv5oQlZbNSHxu-IPqpbgKEaJ9gMsRKpbNxOYxX2WhFdL7_PrIBd5_xbC28DU-3cdE83rMlIaBWke-jvYF6EQfyIAAqBmU8YVQaxqpON_xdqhocK4GrTt7pWaQ5gppJ4QSzF7q9KIxbwfJElcPqJ6pdcx79BE54UFn9qMm6HDG62Qo4hfN0o/s320/Marathon%20beach%20front%20two.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">A fire pit at night time and a nice restaurant space, as well as spacious rooms. I would go back in a heartbeat!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That night at dinner (some seafood place) this was our view:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5iIpO5eTXOMtV3CUN4mngy0vRVQ4M_Q63IfsyUBOLbLwZnwF4sK0y1CSjHAb4n57Wr6ftvScgo3wJkBJz3FhEyY-15g5k1EaFOSs1iz1dS_OOK-L3uxxmIP32pC0NHybIVQQcPP8yvvCH28p3o_jW-s5BsoS5-VHvFIX1jxhsnTVmvn_M3o/s4032/Marathon%20dinner%20view.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5iIpO5eTXOMtV3CUN4mngy0vRVQ4M_Q63IfsyUBOLbLwZnwF4sK0y1CSjHAb4n57Wr6ftvScgo3wJkBJz3FhEyY-15g5k1EaFOSs1iz1dS_OOK-L3uxxmIP32pC0NHybIVQQcPP8yvvCH28p3o_jW-s5BsoS5-VHvFIX1jxhsnTVmvn_M3o/s320/Marathon%20dinner%20view.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I won't say much about the food.....it was less than satisfactory to me.....but it didn't hurt me to miss a meal. However, I did open a can of cashews in the room, and was dismayed to discover they charged $9 for it ( a handful of nuts). I bet they don't sell many..lol!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next day we had a nice breakfast in their restaurant/lobby, and packed the car to drive back to the mainland. We enjoyed the drive back, but we soon ran into huge rainstorms....</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE77PGPMfFijxmA7EQbkQgTn8SnlW1y-TFH1CqjZS5Z_oLNnWdcNa6-dYw2ZHFE6NoVk9z9qf0ZhotbhrwUlOLwcceGr8I76QRMedGrYWSa2wXGC3FX5_-7MKxknZdyxTibeCKRHEuu7E8AHu_9NWUbfaHO_MWVsVhfyCwTmsXCPOIpHpwvM/s4032/storms%20afoot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvE77PGPMfFijxmA7EQbkQgTn8SnlW1y-TFH1CqjZS5Z_oLNnWdcNa6-dYw2ZHFE6NoVk9z9qf0ZhotbhrwUlOLwcceGr8I76QRMedGrYWSa2wXGC3FX5_-7MKxknZdyxTibeCKRHEuu7E8AHu_9NWUbfaHO_MWVsVhfyCwTmsXCPOIpHpwvM/s320/storms%20afoot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div><p>The skies look threatening, don't they? Check this out....</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Y7YbECmqJEhU8Bs4WwFhKmb4RRsn2gydyXpK1cu7Sce6Y_tV6NoGsbOqWLJD5mMObFLA9qxFsWoNUB7G9w-KAsG4uMchC40cp47uSLOA5vMhKMwNNngxlNQELZw8sBjdOxLgwt0ZFz16mXpm7NXFl6P2gyPU42j_u0PqeSiReItttcFhb9U/s638/rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="455" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Y7YbECmqJEhU8Bs4WwFhKmb4RRsn2gydyXpK1cu7Sce6Y_tV6NoGsbOqWLJD5mMObFLA9qxFsWoNUB7G9w-KAsG4uMchC40cp47uSLOA5vMhKMwNNngxlNQELZw8sBjdOxLgwt0ZFz16mXpm7NXFl6P2gyPU42j_u0PqeSiReItttcFhb9U/s320/rain.jpg" width="228" /></a></div>This was a video - but too long to post - so I took a screenshot. The storm was much wider than it looks here, and when it hit the roadway, there was lots of water, buckets, you might say. But it didn't last too long and we drove out of it before we got to Miami. </div><div><br /></div><div>We went on to Fort. Lauderdale to conclude the trip, with the highlight of it - for me at least - I got to see my old friend Mel Day, who retired and moved to Florida last August, and I hadn't seen him since. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLtbv4RKUsZ3iouA8UAjEvyMkhXPKyA13xPUAXM8AXSUptqhksyzsJ2Tpkc1CwFtqKB2BmwvXG0d3H2eQYj3neqL3yeO6BqivKNHtiwbUKWHY4HawyK5owRMZ3lQ5pbl7csGrIxCZFzKvH67ofDNlICl2GyyYet9R9gtS7o78-lPB0J7lsZM/s668/Mel%20and%20me.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="668" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLtbv4RKUsZ3iouA8UAjEvyMkhXPKyA13xPUAXM8AXSUptqhksyzsJ2Tpkc1CwFtqKB2BmwvXG0d3H2eQYj3neqL3yeO6BqivKNHtiwbUKWHY4HawyK5owRMZ3lQ5pbl7csGrIxCZFzKvH67ofDNlICl2GyyYet9R9gtS7o78-lPB0J7lsZM/w400-h258/Mel%20and%20me.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Here we are at lunch - a place called Coconuts - which had a lovely outside space overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, but due to the rain, we had to eat indoors. No problem, I was just happy to be with my friend again. The food was good too!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We first went to his lovely new condo, which, of course is decorated to the nines (as they say), and after catching up, we all went to lunch. Afterward, Aliza and Darren left us to go sightseeing, and Mel and I went to visit his friend Mark, whom I had met about 20-5 years ago in Raleigh. Mark, who has been living in Boston for a while, just moved to Fort Lauderdale with his spouse, and bought a great condo on the Intracoastal Waterway. You can sit in his living room, on the balcony or lie in bed and see all the boats moving back and forth. What a treat!! It's nice to see how "the other half" lives....lol.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I don't mind telling you that I was devastated when Mel announced he was moving south. I have worked for/with him for over 20 years, and he and his family have become my family. Now that he is gone, I don't get to see any of them.....but I hope to remedy that soon. I know they all miss him as much as I do!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The kids picked me up to go to the airport, which was still having a bit of trouble with water on the runways. Our flight was supposed to leave at 8:30 pm, but was delayed due to bad weather in the east, and we didn't leave Florida until 12:30 am; we landed in Raleigh at 2 am. My granddaughter Jessica had to roll out of bed and pick us up, poor girl! I was never so glad to see my bed as I was that night. But all in all, I enjoyed our trip and I thank the person who made it possible. She knows who she is....LOL</div><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-87387845718652367832023-04-28T17:26:00.001-05:002023-04-28T17:28:47.218-05:00Our Trip to Key West, Continued<p style="text-align: justify;">While we were in Key West, we saw a famous landmark....The Southernmost point in the continental United States, and as it says, only 90 miles to Cuba (where I would love to go!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPXMV3_mHUUCdHA6RDHxX66K6xreEjIwAMhs1ml6xAgIPLLtRzRCIRZL0vOBXJIvwDj3kmvbkkKGoOY50_lKrJ4hXvRcSz-B7BqcTg-VuuRSs2vnbk9emZ6lqDdsTyScNht8MDYJeLpZoNTiRpYF10bvAKcdwiARAv4BLrS_XJWL9wmPClRM/s4032/Sputhernmost%20point.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPXMV3_mHUUCdHA6RDHxX66K6xreEjIwAMhs1ml6xAgIPLLtRzRCIRZL0vOBXJIvwDj3kmvbkkKGoOY50_lKrJ4hXvRcSz-B7BqcTg-VuuRSs2vnbk9emZ6lqDdsTyScNht8MDYJeLpZoNTiRpYF10bvAKcdwiARAv4BLrS_XJWL9wmPClRM/w300-h400/Sputhernmost%20point.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We pulled into the parking area of a hotel, so my son could shop for a wind chime. I was struck by the architecture, tile work and sculpture on the front. The rest of it was interesting too, but we didn't get a good angle for a full photo. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb1737j-yt4q6GIsir6kW-mvpoIXP0q6VHQOfQFQW94SYJY4nAFDzDc-sE1NLdvqK-vtpYP_boVam6E88G_9LgTfyNGFw6mxmDG_y1gCRdLsSqnvKdhkhyB_ISetsHPwdxKKRBaV0uYKXLLUWytX2-lFPeWKETLb5qU4dCtTMjxIK6ou1AOk/s2159/hotel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2159" data-original-width="1815" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIb1737j-yt4q6GIsir6kW-mvpoIXP0q6VHQOfQFQW94SYJY4nAFDzDc-sE1NLdvqK-vtpYP_boVam6E88G_9LgTfyNGFw6mxmDG_y1gCRdLsSqnvKdhkhyB_ISetsHPwdxKKRBaV0uYKXLLUWytX2-lFPeWKETLb5qU4dCtTMjxIK6ou1AOk/w336-h400/hotel.jpg" width="336" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We also saw a cannabis dispensary, but they were closed on Sunday....not that I would have bought any....<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRO6LxZRwR7t8-qTZZ-BTHOvfVX8CvlzWBZzpiySbdjRox7eJ2jE09Ga2Ixq5GFcy-AiGX-4E5jW-AZXne1Vc9HFMTGtsF7I85fXMF8jcFNsDY-BP3895UKMBYi-XyrWS322DKNMsOAZ4CdyXZzmzQfmOq73S6ZpCp2oFnEcs_5qwbwA23feA/s3050/cannabis%20shop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3050" data-original-width="1876" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRO6LxZRwR7t8-qTZZ-BTHOvfVX8CvlzWBZzpiySbdjRox7eJ2jE09Ga2Ixq5GFcy-AiGX-4E5jW-AZXne1Vc9HFMTGtsF7I85fXMF8jcFNsDY-BP3895UKMBYi-XyrWS322DKNMsOAZ4CdyXZzmzQfmOq73S6ZpCp2oFnEcs_5qwbwA23feA/w246-h400/cannabis%20shop.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The next place we went was to the former home of Ernest Hemingway. (Ed Rabel, I thought about you while I was there.)<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPSmGGOoUHd1g9hVivZcWaS7EpkzpX6VfPk_VCUVl1UOTfISHo-d-hwuZWHrCCjcAPoQnQAQELFa69KkljKzhLoYh6r7YSWAeVSboQpGrhXbeOa01zMkJDguKe8MleiEGrlzYbkrtQZi-cd2fxCXTiiX8nRm0tHjEUoXPyRz24ZnvAXFi5zA/s4032/%231%20upload.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPSmGGOoUHd1g9hVivZcWaS7EpkzpX6VfPk_VCUVl1UOTfISHo-d-hwuZWHrCCjcAPoQnQAQELFa69KkljKzhLoYh6r7YSWAeVSboQpGrhXbeOa01zMkJDguKe8MleiEGrlzYbkrtQZi-cd2fxCXTiiX8nRm0tHjEUoXPyRz24ZnvAXFi5zA/s320/%231%20upload.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>A model of Hemingway's boat....<br /><div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ClLiZ9D9fs3h37RC3Vqrlvl9yZNxbWsZFsv6UHeIxnTJjw_gShceIEoT1ctEoCTqHn4qjE_NBIGt_XUc48Y9xaqLjJnQMzaGKQDhLcyyNl_q4wSbigKe7B1vRBcTPcIbPco1VjVSsH0McXXFhyf0fwhLjncQIOg4QkE-hXnW1lU71JKu4eA/s4032/upload%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ClLiZ9D9fs3h37RC3Vqrlvl9yZNxbWsZFsv6UHeIxnTJjw_gShceIEoT1ctEoCTqHn4qjE_NBIGt_XUc48Y9xaqLjJnQMzaGKQDhLcyyNl_q4wSbigKe7B1vRBcTPcIbPco1VjVSsH0McXXFhyf0fwhLjncQIOg4QkE-hXnW1lU71JKu4eA/s320/upload%202.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Below is a pic of the author's bed, with 3 of the 6-toed cats who reside there. They were very amenable to being stroked. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-5oozt_GCyj-xIqnZG9H0LvZ0T-xlW_ejbXyEWDkFz5Q734iiytgA0sJIBW9UPJw04PnLy4vHMUy-08NZciPZebbBrJLyQh2uAT8DN6x9sVyq2bgxg8330djNo-1VrqlB5pkciRbcOGfZnfYSU6p0eY-tTyBMvodTvS5Z_JRE8DIMcqF5iU/s4032/cats%20on%20bed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-5oozt_GCyj-xIqnZG9H0LvZ0T-xlW_ejbXyEWDkFz5Q734iiytgA0sJIBW9UPJw04PnLy4vHMUy-08NZciPZebbBrJLyQh2uAT8DN6x9sVyq2bgxg8330djNo-1VrqlB5pkciRbcOGfZnfYSU6p0eY-tTyBMvodTvS5Z_JRE8DIMcqF5iU/s320/cats%20on%20bed.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Hemingway, with Ingrid Bergman, a well-known actress of the day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlkFsArsFZmYnlEYVnlPl_x7AI3qB3zrecHsxomPS7mUXxhDlvM3xNkUfbmWEoEMSFQhi9iUOFvslQzGTUixWPiHhLRCh0CxAQ-Cq7t1OB5oKEbvQ6MMw7FR1qA7RoyMXew4wkuQE7vB6lMVOr5eFgdsERQ9RRKOOwuYvoxfoYhF7QDSD2jc/s4032/lighthouse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlkFsArsFZmYnlEYVnlPl_x7AI3qB3zrecHsxomPS7mUXxhDlvM3xNkUfbmWEoEMSFQhi9iUOFvslQzGTUixWPiHhLRCh0CxAQ-Cq7t1OB5oKEbvQ6MMw7FR1qA7RoyMXew4wkuQE7vB6lMVOr5eFgdsERQ9RRKOOwuYvoxfoYhF7QDSD2jc/s320/lighthouse.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Hemingway, with Ingrid Bergman, a well-known actress of the day.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlnnbqLz3HGXPmsRV3lCfS_T9kD1pwzKY02EXvQ294DX01rD400Bh7e31W50Zx4FfEK0IQN2i2jeeeo-VqyUhBFY-9DEjE1Ya-5g7feqEratMFT6b6spBH__T6YKb17NucJzyGvP_ysvbIQbAnxBT4VR0v4Yg18XSpNCBC3U5MkHzN7GjG0Q/s4032/with%20Ingrid%20Bergman.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlnnbqLz3HGXPmsRV3lCfS_T9kD1pwzKY02EXvQ294DX01rD400Bh7e31W50Zx4FfEK0IQN2i2jeeeo-VqyUhBFY-9DEjE1Ya-5g7feqEratMFT6b6spBH__T6YKb17NucJzyGvP_ysvbIQbAnxBT4VR0v4Yg18XSpNCBC3U5MkHzN7GjG0Q/s320/with%20Ingrid%20Bergman.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>This is a lighthouse, seen from the upper balcony of his home. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwJG_DLfKsoCu5g3wqO4piF6Hy4rN38aPCkdvVt1Ll0bxMo8HkG2UbInRm7NeiMlLVGr2Zfc5AophBA17ctruImmJeyQ1KZU_MjSSO0hdTuP2Yrr-xRFjuGPfcSV2SwFa1aWhRg--MH68yNnrIk-PQfmTfEZcbOUO8CIGaWQZ5lzx7BwzV2I/s4032/lighthouse.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSwJG_DLfKsoCu5g3wqO4piF6Hy4rN38aPCkdvVt1Ll0bxMo8HkG2UbInRm7NeiMlLVGr2Zfc5AophBA17ctruImmJeyQ1KZU_MjSSO0hdTuP2Yrr-xRFjuGPfcSV2SwFa1aWhRg--MH68yNnrIk-PQfmTfEZcbOUO8CIGaWQZ5lzx7BwzV2I/s320/lighthouse.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Hemingway's pool.....can you imagine how many famous people swam here?<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ivCUdOjQbHYrdYG5v1SnukgfXh6O2CqVWCoB3cCYM3TKLM9fcFNjP4IZpjTcR7mlRfMBmw_X1GelsJVbIiAu2V6jwghml-zT8eyJq5xgi3-Gj9h3DAxEBVcAifilLmDxbagYmRcICmtRTp_GuB4KPrU11mIIoEz-q-LAkI-VoQMRt8UNwsE/s4032/his%20pool.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ivCUdOjQbHYrdYG5v1SnukgfXh6O2CqVWCoB3cCYM3TKLM9fcFNjP4IZpjTcR7mlRfMBmw_X1GelsJVbIiAu2V6jwghml-zT8eyJq5xgi3-Gj9h3DAxEBVcAifilLmDxbagYmRcICmtRTp_GuB4KPrU11mIIoEz-q-LAkI-VoQMRt8UNwsE/w400-h300/his%20pool.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I'll stop here and conclude in the next post.</div></div>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-2402500943641477262023-04-22T17:45:00.000-05:002023-04-22T17:45:59.267-05:00Our Trek to Key West<p style="text-align: justify;"> My daughter told me soon after the funeral that she was taking me to Key West, which had been on our bucket list for years. I don't know why Jim and I never made it there together, but we didn't. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">We were supposed to leave last Friday (April 14) and fly into Fort Lauderdale airport, However, due to about 24" of rain, the airport was closed. The only flight we could get left Sat. for Miami. So my daughter cancelled the earlier flights and rental car. Our son was going too, so he came to spend the night before, since we had to be at the airport for a 6:40 am flight. Daughter two said that we didn't have to rush on Saturday, as there would not be many people. Oh, how wrong she was. There were hundreds lined up at 5:15 am when we arrived. She and I had early approval for the security process (but we had to check one bag), so we had to stand in line for that. It was so slow-moving that by the time we get up to the counter, it was too late to get our luggage onto the flight, or so they said. Our son, however, sailed through security and was already at the gate. So we told him to go ahead and board, and we would meet him in Miami. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Little did we know how much later it would be. We had to wait 2 hours at RDU, then go to Atlanta, and wait 2 hours longer for another flight to Miami. By the time we got there, Darren had been waiting for 4 hours (UGH!). But all was well, and we quickly found the car rental and selected a Jeep Cherokee for the trip to Key West, which would take about 3.5 hours. Haha! Our GPS said that due to a wreck on US 1, it would take us 11.5 hrs. to get to our hotel. We were distraught, to say the least.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">However, during the trip, we kept checking, and the wreck was cleaned up sooner that they thought, so the actual drive to Key West took the usual amount of time. Daughter two had also rented a golf cart for doodling around the island, and it arrived with no problems, for which we were thankful. The hotel, a Marriott close to the front end of the island, upgraded us to a 2 bedroom/2 bath suite, with a kitchen, living room and balcony. It was quite lovely, and very comfortable. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">We went out to scout the island and find the perfect spot to see the fabled sunsets on the southernmost point of the continental US. We finally found a place to park the cart, and walked a short distance to the viewing dock. I didn't have to walk, as daughter two was thoughtful enough to take our wheelchair for me! That made it a lot easier, as I could not have walked as far as they did.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggE_qHuitMTZEExfb0W2JX9Nui1MkwH-bHmwF5PcFNSQQsoMYXVW3oG5pZqOTiAGMv7weCskcDuiO1BDKhOeZnp-4QTpk_JF_Xt7tGnooEAfYU0eE-QEvlEdDNlxyEmlbLWLpfyVu2y2VbdwL9Rn5B5nyylSqdk9clxSSKuGeIxBUH5Bhm6nw/s4032/first%20sunset%20pic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggE_qHuitMTZEExfb0W2JX9Nui1MkwH-bHmwF5PcFNSQQsoMYXVW3oG5pZqOTiAGMv7weCskcDuiO1BDKhOeZnp-4QTpk_JF_Xt7tGnooEAfYU0eE-QEvlEdDNlxyEmlbLWLpfyVu2y2VbdwL9Rn5B5nyylSqdk9clxSSKuGeIxBUH5Bhm6nw/s320/first%20sunset%20pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZ19WfjV1FCRnLHnpE7Rr1e8a5L_dfGB0HIRO4m99um-7RMTdABvVMqbgcJpnRsX2cyT2e1xt8f_9ievECfwBN8nOP-njxhneSHyeRVHk6z8yr3dlRJQJJOXzIRzXVh6LJcTrjJ0wfQGf7MCKDmNrI4YBLhSqo1_AMAX4dbNKZH48LJbUyzE/s786/third%20sun%20pic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="786" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZ19WfjV1FCRnLHnpE7Rr1e8a5L_dfGB0HIRO4m99um-7RMTdABvVMqbgcJpnRsX2cyT2e1xt8f_9ievECfwBN8nOP-njxhneSHyeRVHk6z8yr3dlRJQJJOXzIRzXVh6LJcTrjJ0wfQGf7MCKDmNrI4YBLhSqo1_AMAX4dbNKZH48LJbUyzE/s320/third%20sun%20pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMofxl2MuPa0DiKoAZnfo9guDPC1hPsH3rDhp4uXseG7_L9KAWIyBuPsgo2CLRP7SGXJUTQfe2d_iRyWsYoHY-6Vy6MwVryEXoHvfXuQHc6akbbwasUX5yTI3a_dfIXw4s1ncuFPU7ORME2HKKiZl6RvMYftOAX0iBLNED6Vl27vHNyRG-XIA/s4032/2nd%20sunset%20pic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMofxl2MuPa0DiKoAZnfo9guDPC1hPsH3rDhp4uXseG7_L9KAWIyBuPsgo2CLRP7SGXJUTQfe2d_iRyWsYoHY-6Vy6MwVryEXoHvfXuQHc6akbbwasUX5yTI3a_dfIXw4s1ncuFPU7ORME2HKKiZl6RvMYftOAX0iBLNED6Vl27vHNyRG-XIA/s320/2nd%20sunset%20pic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The pics are not in order - they are 1-3-2. I forgot you have to upload the last one first. <div><br /></div><div>During our sight-seeing, I took a few pics:</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoFU6PKyM0xzarNsriZPhtqf0U3bQlXaNaC5YdzETr0HQcQ3jGMSNXCWI09uDG0YPhL1priECdrZxuO55LJMRcmcQO1TBKAj3NklSjAXEbuNRcPRBb0ZXIC7lcu6y6unUP75_wDkVZQ0UsINXMY4xJCLElDPGycKsHYp4zk_OPTMSCraN3dU/s4032/fancy%20yacht.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsoFU6PKyM0xzarNsriZPhtqf0U3bQlXaNaC5YdzETr0HQcQ3jGMSNXCWI09uDG0YPhL1priECdrZxuO55LJMRcmcQO1TBKAj3NklSjAXEbuNRcPRBb0ZXIC7lcu6y6unUP75_wDkVZQ0UsINXMY4xJCLElDPGycKsHYp4zk_OPTMSCraN3dU/w400-h300/fancy%20yacht.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This was not the largest yacht we saw, just the most accessible.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBl-Lx9xtVofj7zNsjVhkKJNa5KUbTid8OTODkolQXJgBLEkWuT5rFapMlSmJNlBQtmdXFVd-5r5V3MiftwMyI3Zbjp0vYTR9qYT0jp4mplwrmo2zTTaCHivwlwDtlchNBK1HKqrSmQVvQcTovpe2nVPY21akFChw3sUMrnO_tQIe4bAKyKrI/s4032/multicolor%20bougainvillea.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBl-Lx9xtVofj7zNsjVhkKJNa5KUbTid8OTODkolQXJgBLEkWuT5rFapMlSmJNlBQtmdXFVd-5r5V3MiftwMyI3Zbjp0vYTR9qYT0jp4mplwrmo2zTTaCHivwlwDtlchNBK1HKqrSmQVvQcTovpe2nVPY21akFChw3sUMrnO_tQIe4bAKyKrI/w400-h300/multicolor%20bougainvillea.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Multicolor bougainvillea.....I love this plant/bush/tree. In Barbados, we saw some that was as tall as a house!<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00IW_9lnu5_dPR78ukqW1KxS2AItSL4uAXIi4e5BZ75K2GtcM78hepcsT1CqFWQvn9ZZ3XZLNLHj9uvAkzUZNqiW6CmPNBpjroEIrDbO4DheNCvyCWvL-37HKCk2eKXW1ym5sdhnBO_3I24n9gBKWT4XDJtBkVTrDLicTDb7hPNjye9VZTGw/s4032/Banyan%20Tree.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00IW_9lnu5_dPR78ukqW1KxS2AItSL4uAXIi4e5BZ75K2GtcM78hepcsT1CqFWQvn9ZZ3XZLNLHj9uvAkzUZNqiW6CmPNBpjroEIrDbO4DheNCvyCWvL-37HKCk2eKXW1ym5sdhnBO_3I24n9gBKWT4XDJtBkVTrDLicTDb7hPNjye9VZTGw/w640-h480/Banyan%20Tree.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> A banyan tree. The first one I ever saw was in Honolulu! It was huge and this one is no slacker!<br /><div><br /></div><div>After the sunset, we found an outdoor restaurant near where the golf cart was parked. I had mahi-mahi tacos. They were blah and I was disappointed. </div><div><br /></div><div>The next day for breakfast, we went to a place daughter two had been to before. Blue Heaven, which has a Raleigh connection. The owner/chef graduated from Broughton High School. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBVDyMsGpcgF02GokOtw3rh_w5arveGzzxT-1Pvx4_FqMTRLplmQ5pYPxbTdsbAEWzd_OKUnrb3snuH2dIUrt9gJnWWJNw-TZFhCPWZ63_qVcNn-a30dIMk6z5NlR3HiHT3Lxv5iZitrPjRza5ZccC6ZEYP85WqsMfXZeV1AklGp6buBJJa0/s807/Blue%20Heaven%20still%20pic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="798" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBVDyMsGpcgF02GokOtw3rh_w5arveGzzxT-1Pvx4_FqMTRLplmQ5pYPxbTdsbAEWzd_OKUnrb3snuH2dIUrt9gJnWWJNw-TZFhCPWZ63_qVcNn-a30dIMk6z5NlR3HiHT3Lxv5iZitrPjRza5ZccC6ZEYP85WqsMfXZeV1AklGp6buBJJa0/s320/Blue%20Heaven%20still%20pic.jpg" width="316" /></a></div><br /><div>I had a short video, but I couldn't upload it. They were very busy, so they directed us to take a seat across the street to their bar, to wait. It didn't take long, and we were walked back to our table. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIi9cj_IILOFQTPF2-fvwR-WBrx2y5u7VxcFRl3hyzj9JpsJyUH2PJ-JgxfoB0ugzveOEqQB0V5D98z5zOMpkHnjNGi-oWeaK3K34lunFA0Q9gGekbN4qJb4YuTDxrVj55K0Rfdb7kU12HU0LDhuUul0ZCys2w9UYEECdFiL4lZGMpyRyGS0/s4032/Blue%20Heaven%20path.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBIi9cj_IILOFQTPF2-fvwR-WBrx2y5u7VxcFRl3hyzj9JpsJyUH2PJ-JgxfoB0ugzveOEqQB0V5D98z5zOMpkHnjNGi-oWeaK3K34lunFA0Q9gGekbN4qJb4YuTDxrVj55K0Rfdb7kU12HU0LDhuUul0ZCys2w9UYEECdFiL4lZGMpyRyGS0/s320/Blue%20Heaven%20path.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The path was lovely and well-kept. <br /><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmtRtFx3tHss7Xh4rChOuJdZCvm3W57doaCMV2L3y2Cti6LjQiSeb1paC9pmsL29uX5NOtPyEDsnumrZzfqjnXiU4UlOM-0YDGI1gvHQ-RcqIXg26GcTsxI406YV5JcC0qz6qS7JtNlNIodr7-49uYop4H1Dd8K06kffBKB3MzdwwS4tFvaY/s4032/table%20at%20Blue%20Heaven.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmtRtFx3tHss7Xh4rChOuJdZCvm3W57doaCMV2L3y2Cti6LjQiSeb1paC9pmsL29uX5NOtPyEDsnumrZzfqjnXiU4UlOM-0YDGI1gvHQ-RcqIXg26GcTsxI406YV5JcC0qz6qS7JtNlNIodr7-49uYop4H1Dd8K06kffBKB3MzdwwS4tFvaY/s320/table%20at%20Blue%20Heaven.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Sundays, they have live-music with brunch, and as you can see, we were right beside the stage. I feared the sound, but they were not too loud and their music had a good beat. I never got their group name. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRtlDcbY5nRV0U_TN2sQ3LY4hSe_RlJo1wd7QrKEdWkQiv6FbPohw1HxYv03h7jx2mY3JE9ZaOsljw2a50vFcDXzNPnK-rNCEaM8VEC6W5fafYEqqq3Iph7d3PTqmKIqALyV79RadHfP-OLpaNEpIUiTOiZWMH_vVsQTWCDMAiMSzAs-k-jo/s815/my%20breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="815" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRtlDcbY5nRV0U_TN2sQ3LY4hSe_RlJo1wd7QrKEdWkQiv6FbPohw1HxYv03h7jx2mY3JE9ZaOsljw2a50vFcDXzNPnK-rNCEaM8VEC6W5fafYEqqq3Iph7d3PTqmKIqALyV79RadHfP-OLpaNEpIUiTOiZWMH_vVsQTWCDMAiMSzAs-k-jo/s320/my%20breakfast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIpJCgbnIHwmuNxw8XLR0DDUA36BZluJSmiThgPj9-fcQXaR16nxjxqTOOwe_oKDgTH0oXuOdb1g0vdx03rjyl_Lt6Iza8pAvDlCwz_GStPEPM0OcSLlVndcoXhXHg2y4gxBsLPH7n4tAphXHmSyW_d2GLBMk-5SMez7EltiL_lAEEzXXmAE/s2567/empty%20plate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2535" data-original-width="2567" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIpJCgbnIHwmuNxw8XLR0DDUA36BZluJSmiThgPj9-fcQXaR16nxjxqTOOwe_oKDgTH0oXuOdb1g0vdx03rjyl_Lt6Iza8pAvDlCwz_GStPEPM0OcSLlVndcoXhXHg2y4gxBsLPH7n4tAphXHmSyW_d2GLBMk-5SMez7EltiL_lAEEzXXmAE/s320/empty%20plate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I chose eggs Benedict with bacon. As you can see, it was delicious, and I nearly licked the plate! The fruit was fresh and sweet!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I think I'll close here and finish in the next post. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p></div></div>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-77263993409061848632023-04-01T23:20:00.009-05:002023-04-22T15:49:08.615-05:00My Life with Jim - Part 4 <p style="text-align: justify;"> I had dreaded the coming of the 31st of March all month. It was to be Jim's Memorial Mass and reception, and I was a bit wary of our plans going awry somehow. I did not sleep at all the previous night...I watched the clock hit 2-3-4-5-6 and then 7. I had taken melatonin, so I was very surprised that I didn't even close my eyes. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">We left to set up the reception at our clubhouse before going to the church. Several of my daughter's friends were there helping, and it was soon clear that we could not have done it without them. Their help was of immense value and I am forever grateful. The photos and memorabilia were set out on tables and a slide show produced by my granddaughter Jessica was tested on 2 large screens. They were so poignant, and brought back so many memories of our lives together, and our young children that I began to cry. As it turned out, it was a good thing I saw them before the Mass and got my tears out then, rather than when the family and friends were there. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">We got to the church and welcomed people in the narthex; so many old friends of Jim's and mine attended, which was truly heartwarming. They came from as far as NYC, Chicago, Cleveland, Hilton Head and Washington, DC. As the last few entered, the priest told us to line up as we wished and follow him into the sanctuary. Our son carried the urn to the front of the church, and we all followed and took our seats. During the Mass, three of our granddaughters read Bible passages and I<i> was very proud </i>of them. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Father Dan did not know Jim well, but he listened to us and a few friends speak about Jim and he preached a wonderful sermon, weaving in a few anecdotes about Jim, which made us chuckle. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">After the Mass, the urn was taken outside the church to the <a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=columbarium+definition&qs=LS&pq=columbarium&sk=LS1&sc=10-11&cvid=435C9049D9FD4AD5B65396403AC2F70D&FORM=CHRDEF&sp=2&lq=0">Columbarium</a>, where his urn was placed in a receptacle which was engraved with his name on the front. There is room for my ashes in there as well, and my name will be engraved there upon my death. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">We then went to the reception at our clubhouse (Bradford Hall). the food had been set up for us and the tables were resplendent with absolutely beautiful flowers! My good, long-term friend Pam Hartigan, working with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bloomworksraleigh/">Bloomworks</a>, did the arrangements for me. Everyone commented on the beautiful arrangements, and the church secretary even said "they were the prettiest she had ever seen at this church!" </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDs0T9uHBi4BaBgI_KugHrPu1ZIGWpPtxREQ_ZewlJTUJW1ulQmI3pj8lLY9m9KlKk_rOxfjVfhwqk6rzCLjty9OmT9-GXd8pBLFi4Fdro2kbm2hpbzodm7R95XJZdTnN9iLEk80O8TupfCOVauEY5cR_W6alo2RyfxlwxgDforAC_QF4lt8I/s1184/Pam's%20flowers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1042" data-original-width="1184" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDs0T9uHBi4BaBgI_KugHrPu1ZIGWpPtxREQ_ZewlJTUJW1ulQmI3pj8lLY9m9KlKk_rOxfjVfhwqk6rzCLjty9OmT9-GXd8pBLFi4Fdro2kbm2hpbzodm7R95XJZdTnN9iLEk80O8TupfCOVauEY5cR_W6alo2RyfxlwxgDforAC_QF4lt8I/w640-h564/Pam's%20flowers.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">People started arriving, and almost immediately hit the food tables, where there were platters of cheese tortas, crackers, chicken salad sandwiches, ham biscuits, crudites and dips, and large trays of shrimp and cocktail sauce, along with cookies, small cakes and lemon bars. I may be leaving something out, but the majority of the food was donated by my very good friend Jill SantaLucia , the owner of <a href="https://www.cateringworks.com/">CateringWorks</a>, which is considered the best caterer in this area and I certainly don't disagree! Her generosity is overwhelming and I am forever in her debt. Thank you Jill, for your part in making our memorial reception a big success. We had many compliments on the food! Bloomworks is a division of Catering Works, so it was all in the family, so to speak. I will add a few more photos later. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2MfkGQpjrDWv1dD1gJYG500-qpLpX3GAoAePDG2lha2tlfILXvhB62rYq3v9ArvH1LAk9GsuW3kyIZ_6fvcPnd5ih3F6QZRAogM3MNYGFXFS-22V9366UEPI7u1vsrTusgCVbiQn0uJj8Qpkp5QKdPo8i1PumKaV43MTryId2C-QrRpKMHk/s4032/Pam's%20urn%20flowers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2MfkGQpjrDWv1dD1gJYG500-qpLpX3GAoAePDG2lha2tlfILXvhB62rYq3v9ArvH1LAk9GsuW3kyIZ_6fvcPnd5ih3F6QZRAogM3MNYGFXFS-22V9366UEPI7u1vsrTusgCVbiQn0uJj8Qpkp5QKdPo8i1PumKaV43MTryId2C-QrRpKMHk/w480-h640/Pam's%20urn%20flowers.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>These were the urn flowers. The urn - a brushed brass box about 6" square, sat in the middle of this arrangement.<br /><p style="text-align: justify;">All the guests watched the slide show and looked at the photos and memorabilia we had laid out.....and I talked to almost everyone there, I think, most of whom were very complimentary of Jim and their memories of him. I introduced two men, one from Raleigh the other from NYC, who discovered that one of them had played on a basketball team with the other's brother. What a coincidence! It was nice to see them connect. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">All in all, it was a very fulfilling day, and I am gratified, because I know it was all exactly what Jim wanted it to be. I thought several times as I looked around the room that it was just a darn shame that Jim wasn't there to enjoy it! Of course, I <u style="font-style: italic;">know</u> he was there in spirit, but he would have loved the food and seeing all the people. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfkZxYjeJLWG1sH-zZWU2aNMSAmvnFOeSDMm1F_fTPfj0stcYKBik31AsYT5IPpbGAhv18o267W-ekqfxu4_0ZgaMumd6TF3n9oGLh3vrUprthasKVzBvgU8qMdkzjwk9imjdJatFflkA7j3ZpYtUvUjYGaO0Ci4SrOvnLtmA2e4LN3RViL8/s4032/Jim's%20cubicle%20larger.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfkZxYjeJLWG1sH-zZWU2aNMSAmvnFOeSDMm1F_fTPfj0stcYKBik31AsYT5IPpbGAhv18o267W-ekqfxu4_0ZgaMumd6TF3n9oGLh3vrUprthasKVzBvgU8qMdkzjwk9imjdJatFflkA7j3ZpYtUvUjYGaO0Ci4SrOvnLtmA2e4LN3RViL8/w400-h300/Jim's%20cubicle%20larger.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFmOTYHkF0lfcNlOUSfb-5fB5ug_ZrbeZNzFgMvLpQ3YqVmALYkog6n2i5BOEEVX-MGW94pwWGVc1bH85ObRNg5a2xRQADT6FsE8CowEIzIaE1hH3IDgGg5SU8kymyZe_fnl-vXqWbbM7P8FOljuAhOVQ8z3tGEW-DrjwfClmIyuMCsYqzvw/s2507/Jim's%20cubicle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2039" data-original-width="2507" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFmOTYHkF0lfcNlOUSfb-5fB5ug_ZrbeZNzFgMvLpQ3YqVmALYkog6n2i5BOEEVX-MGW94pwWGVc1bH85ObRNg5a2xRQADT6FsE8CowEIzIaE1hH3IDgGg5SU8kymyZe_fnl-vXqWbbM7P8FOljuAhOVQ8z3tGEW-DrjwfClmIyuMCsYqzvw/w400-h325/Jim's%20cubicle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-10718710991814608602023-03-16T18:46:00.000-05:002023-03-16T18:46:47.041-05:00My Life with Jim, Part 3<p style="text-align: justify;">After we were married in July of 1964, we decided to buy a house while Jim could avail us of the perks of the GI Bill - no down payment. The following Spring, we moved into a compact, but nice 3 bedroom home in Norfolk, near the Chesapeake Bay. We had a good sized lot and Jim soon learned that home-ownership meant constant maintenance, especially for the lawn. He had been raised in NYC, in apartments where lawn maintenance was not required of tenants. He hated it, but he did what was required. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I set out to make it the floral showplace of the neighborhood. My neighbors all gave me plants from their gardens, and that summer, I planted 7-8 canna lily plants, 7-8 rose bushes and numerous marigolds and zinnias. I had a green thumb then, and the plants prospered, especially after we had a cedar stockade privacy fence installed. Prior to the fence, the plants were in the path of the daily salt spray from Chesapeake Bay, moved by the constant windy conditions on and off the bay. But the 60' by 4' deep flower bed continued to grow well for years. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I shudder now, to think of the decor I bought to decorate the inside the house. It was right up with the times, of course, mostly avocado green, gold and pumpkin. Our couch is now the subject of memes on Facebook - the ubiquitous large print floral and trompe l'oeil patterns of the 1960's, in orange, rust, gold and avocado, of course. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Eleven months later, we found out we were going to be parents. The guest room (one of them) was decorated as a nursery, leaving out color until we knew the sex of the baby. He was born before the capability to find out early. After his birth, in 1966, I sewed red-white-and blue curtains and kept that color scheme until we moved to Raleigh in 1969. By then, we had baby number 2, who arrived in July, 1969, six weeks before we moved. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">The only thing either of us knew about Raleigh was what we had seen on The Andy Griffith Show on TV, where Barney talks about going to Raleigh and staying at the YMCA on Hillsborough Street. At the time, neither of us could have imagined that Jim would play basketball in that gym and our children would attend the "after-school" programs put on by that YMCA. Raleigh proved to be a sleepy small town (back then). We chose to rent a 3 bedroom apartment for a while; not wanting to buy a house there until we learned more about the area. The apartment complex was at that time, almost the northernmost building in the city. Sometime in the 90's I learned that that corner was now the center of the city. It had grown so fast it couldn't be believed if I had not seen it happen. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I achieved the best tan I had ever had that first summer. The pool was just outside our apartment and the children and I went there often. Jim joined us after work. We had never had daily access to a pool, and we both loved it. After 18 months in that apartment, we bought a home across town. Baby three made her presence known soon after, and was born in October of 1971. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Our new home was a 4-bedroom split level, and it had a big yard too, but no landscaping to speak of. I soon learned that the land was full of small rocks, and I would pick them up and throw them into the woods, only to have another layer visible after each heavy rain. It was very discouraging to both of us. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">To be continued.....</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-26117902428094456282023-03-06T20:36:00.000-05:002023-03-06T20:36:01.104-05:00My Life with Jim, Part 2<p>On March 2nd, after 39 days at UNC Hospital, we moved Jim to a Hospice facility in Pittsboro, NC. It was not our first choice, but it was the only Hospice around with an available bed. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">My daughter and I had to leave Jim about 4:30 at the hospital and drive to Pittsboro quickly, in order to sign papers. We waited and waited, and at 7pm, he arrived. After the nurses got him situated, they came to get us, and said...."He is awake, and mad." For a long time, he has had a lot of pain in his hip flexor and leg, related to the stroke he had in 2007. Moving him was torture for him, and he avoided it like the plague. So he was not pleased at being taken from his hospital bed, placed on a gurney, put into an ambulance and taking a 30 minute ride to Hospice. After which, he was taken from the gurney, and put into another bed. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I guess the trip hurt him and he was not happy abut it, so they sedated him to rid him of pain, and by the time we got to the room, he was asleep again. We stayed a while, and after our son arrived to spend the night with Jim, our daughter and I left to eat dinner and go home. But, we said our goodbyes to Jim and promised to return to see him the next day. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">That night, I took melatonin so that I might sleep well. I was so tired that I went to bed early. At 4 am, I awoke, and stayed in bed, in hopes I'd go back to sleep. At 6:40 am, I heard my name just as clearly as if he were in the next room. I sat up in bed and said..."Jim, is that you?" of course, I had no answer, but I sort of knew then that he was gone. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">At 7:15, my daughter and granddaughter came into my bedroom to wake me, and I thought they said "Papa's fine." but further clarification proved he was gone. Time of death was called at 6:35. I have no doubt that he came to say goodbye to me before going to Heaven. It is so gratifying to know that! He was always a wonderful man, and he will continue to look after us, and I am sure of that. </p>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-61285422623136653552023-02-26T11:33:00.003-05:002023-02-28T08:57:14.420-05:00My Life with Jim<p style="text-align: justify;">In August of 1963, fleeing from an engagement which I had broken, I moved to Norfolk, VA to take a new job. I had just graduated from the Charleston (WV) School of Cytotechnology, and I was eager to get into my new profession. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Having lived at home all through college, I was somewhat anxious to break free of my mother's long reach, and simultaneously scared to set out on my own.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I knew no one in my new city, except for a woman I had known in high school and college. She was married to a guy in the Navy, who had also gone to Morris Harvey College. I was making excuses for not calling her: she was married and the last thing she needed was a single girl to mix with, they had two kids, she was a teacher and I thought she would have no time to spend with me. How wrong I was! After 3 months of working and going home to a rented room, Pat called me and chastised me for not calling her as soon as I moved in. "I have a guy for you," she said. Little did I know what an inveterate match-maker she was! </p><p style="text-align: justify;">We made plans to go to a basketball game on the Navy base, as her husband and this guy played on the same team - Sublant.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">She picked me up and we arrived at the base. As she escorted me into the gym, the guys were warming up before the game, and Pat said..."He is the best looking guy on the floor....you tell me who you think it is." I peered at all the guys, and said "It has to be #40." and she answered...."Yes, and if I can't have him - I want you to!" </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A7NjhWNafci2zUjoGFSzf0g82sbLx6pXiVg_ruyeW99dT7tbnP77QwALHgl2-coUksAOA4aPDuRxXvKgPj8hRdIdAaKl8Jyn2TgEzNELSUpjapqZBbWTIBMz9-gp1iL-icnUEktAf-M5uKQWqUNo-9dR8Iu-wTxaC8F7_B3Btwv3QbPvGVg/s512/Jim%20at%20Georgetown%20-%20ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="361" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A7NjhWNafci2zUjoGFSzf0g82sbLx6pXiVg_ruyeW99dT7tbnP77QwALHgl2-coUksAOA4aPDuRxXvKgPj8hRdIdAaKl8Jyn2TgEzNELSUpjapqZBbWTIBMz9-gp1iL-icnUEktAf-M5uKQWqUNo-9dR8Iu-wTxaC8F7_B3Btwv3QbPvGVg/s320/Jim%20at%20Georgetown%20-%20ball.jpg" width="226" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">That was the start of it all. Six months later, we married at the Catholic Chapel on the Norfolk Naval Base. There were only nine people present, including the Priest. We had opted to marry at a time that was completely inconvenient for both our families to attend - mainly because Jim did not want his parents to know that I was not Catholic, and a marriage ceremony without a Mass is a dead giveaway. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">In retrospect, we should never have done that. I had no idea how badly that would affect my parents, especially my mother, not to see me, her only child, married. Oddly enough, his parents found out years later, when someone decided to spill the beans. By that time, we had 3 children, and they didn't care that I wasn't Catholic, at least, not as much as the person who told them had hoped they would be. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">I think God meant for me to be exposed to Catholicism. The engagement I broke just before I met Jim was also to a Catholic. My mom was leery of that and the first guy, but she loved Jim, and so she came to terms with it. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">We have, as I write this, been married 58 and almost a half years. I have been looking forward to reaching 60+ years with him, but it may not happen . I still hold out hope; I know miracles happen, and perhaps God will see fit to give us at least a few more years together. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">It has not always been a bed of roses, of course, but I would definitely do it all again. I have written and spoken about my wonderful children and grandchildren until you are all undoubtedly blue in the face. But I will continue to sing their praises. They have all stepped up magnificently during this hospital stay (35 days and counting) and every one of them has been here to visit and sit with him, some even overnight. They enjoy him, he enjoys them, and it gives me some time off, for which I will forever be grateful. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">NOTE: I know some of this is a repeat, but I feel the need to write, so I beg your indulgence. This is only Part One. </p>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10194064.post-25009229561034514172023-02-09T23:47:00.001-05:002023-02-09T23:47:23.173-05:00It's Always Something - Isn't It?<p> My husband has been in UNC Hospital since January 23rd, his 82nd birthday. He doesn't want me telling anyone about it, but since he doesn't know about this blog post - what he doesn't know won't hurt him. </p><p>I can't say what is wrong; but I wanted you to know that is why I probably will not write a post anytime soon. </p><p>I really hate long hospital stays, either for myself or someone in my family. It takes a lot out of you to sit in a hospital room, day after day. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">On a brighter note: I took my first Uber ride today. The car was so clean I almost thought it was brand new, and the guy drove safely, so it was a good ride. It cost a small fortune, though. Too bad I let my driver's license expire isn't it? I need to make an appointment to get my new license, but the DMV offices are so full of people all the time, I will have to wait months to get in there (and probably take a test.)</p><p style="text-align: justify;">You might ask: How did you let your license expire? Well, it all started 3+ years ago, when Jim was at Duke hospital for nearly 3 months. I had gotten a new license; the kind with the star that will be required before too long, and I noted that it would expire in 2020. That was the last I ever thought of it, apparently. The only time I had to see my license was when we went to the doctor, and we had to show our photo ID and insurance cards. But I never really looked at the card or read it - so I didn't notice that it expired. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">My daughter looked at it a month ago, and discovered it had expired. Subsequently, I went online to our DMV and found out that if your license has expired within the last 2 years, you can get a new one on line. BUT - since I had been such a dummy and let it go for 3 years, I have to go into the office and I will probably have to take a drivers test as well as a written test. I don't know for sure, yet, but I am afraid to ask. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Have you ever let your license expire? Did you have trouble getting it back?</p>kenjuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07342414519714356343noreply@blogger.com3