When my kids were younger and we walked the neighborhood trick or treating two sets of our neighbors would sit together next door in the driveway with drinks passing out their candy. I can remember telling them that one day I would join them. Three years ago I did. My neighbor, Sid, thought my driveway was bigger and so it became the new Halloween hub. Three sets of neighbors came and a couple of my friends. I made a big crockpot of soup and rum punch and we sat there passing out candy.
Apparently, it is now a tradition. We did it again last year, but I refused to make anything. I told people it wasn't a party and to BYOB. It was a fun night with great conversation and good drink. It lasted long past Halloween for some of us and while we had plenty of candy left over we didn't have any liquor left. This year the only neighbor still left is Sid, who apparently mentioned the tradition to the new neighbors. Our old neighbors from next door are coming back too and suddenly it seems like a party instead of just passing out candy.
Yesterday while working I received a text from my old neighbor, Chuck.
Chuck: "Are we still on for tomorrow night? If so, what time? Are you going to cook? If you are, I don't like fish. Soup is good, but I'll need a sandwich too."
Me: "Yes, we are still on. My god, Sid has told the entire neighborhood I think. What is left of it that is. No, I'm not cooking. I'm dieting and am on Weight Watchers. I'm starving. Fish is good though, and had I thought about cooking I might have made that. Good thing you gave me a heads up. Too hot for soup. I might put out some snacks like veggies and fruit which are zero points. Come to think of it, maybe I'll give that out to the trick or treaters instead of candy. This is BYOB. Bring chairs too. And some spook."
Chuck: "Jesus Christ! Points? Did you use a keyboard to type all of that? I'll bring KFC and sit down wind from you."
Me: "Cruel. I might knock you over and devour the KFC."
Chuck: "Mission accomplished if you do. What time? I'm thinking 3:00 pm so we get the good seats."
Me: "Before dark whatever the hell time that is. I don't know. 6:00? But of course you can come earlier for good seats as long as you bring the seats."
Chuck: "Okay. You're throwing a party. No food. No booze. No seats. You don't know what time it starts and you don't know who is coming. Sounds like fun. Boy, howdy!"
Me: "First of all, this is Sid's party in my driveway. Second of all, I'm serving a rum punch I just now found online because of your whining. Second of all, the last time I made food you and I were the only ones who ate. I'll make some snacks. Come at 6:30."
Chuck: "Well, it seems your diet has made you a little edgy. Why can't you take diet pills like everyone else? And you used "second of all" twice."
Me: "So I did. Oh, my. Lack of food."
Chuck: "I have two for one coupons for Cici's Pizza buffet wanna go? You can go jogging tonight to burn off the calories."
Me: "Gee, you're so supportive. Pizza is too high in points, but thanks for the offer. As for jogging? I only run when someone is chasing me."
Chuck: "I would loooooove to sit and text all day, but I have stuff to do. Julie just wanted to know what time."
Me: "Well, I've got to go to the grocery store now for all the recipes I've found to make food for tomorrow night thanks to you."
Chuck: "Don't do it for me. I'm on a diet too."
Should be a fun evening. Happy Halloween!
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Friday, October 30, 2015
The incident
Yesterday I did some Christmas shopping while my friend ran errands and returned items to various stores. It was a lovely day and when she dropped me off I took the dog outside where he promptly sat down in the shade. Since it was so beautiful and since I had just picked up some library books I plopped down a chair under the oak tree and settled down. Elliot sat down next to me and we settled in for some relaxation.
Which lasted all of three minutes the amount of time it took for a noisy truck to come down the street. Immediately Elliot jerked and jumped up, but I was able to grab the handle of his retractable leash and rein him in. Back down he went next to me, and why at that point I didn't pop the switch to hold the leash in place is something I shall forever regret. Instead I would lean over and take his collar in my hand each time a bus, a truck, or people came down the street. It was all good for about forty five minutes. Just a woman and her dog in the shade.
I was looking through Instagram when a truck pulling a huge boat came driving past the house. Like a shot Elliot was up and on the move. I went to grab the leash, but instead got the leash as it was spinning out of the handle instead of the handle itself hooked to my chair. I tried to stop the retracting, but it just zipped through my hand as he ran toward the moving vehicles. Suddenly pain registered in my head sort of like this: OUCH! OUCH! OUCH! I've read enough articles about the dangers of retractable leashes to know to let go. Despite the thought that I could be sending my dog to his death by vehicular dogslaughter. I let go.
I jumped out of my chair as fast as Elliot had jumped up to chase the truck/boat. The entire time I was screaming NO, ELLIOT, NO at the top of my lungs. The driver of the truck must have heard me. He stopped. Elliot by now was at his boat's wheels barking and chasing, but when the truck stopped Elliot took that to mean the vehicles had surrendered and so he stopped. I marched toward the dog thankful he was till alive and undamaged. The driver slowly pulled off and away. Elliot stood still watching me advance realizing his moment of freedom and power had cost him. As I reached down to grab the leash, shouting and screaming at the dog, pain in my right hand and fingers registered. I looked down to find several blisters forming quickly on each of my fingers, the worst on my index finger. The pain was suddenly intolerable.
I marched back to the house with the dog following behind me. I would like to say with his tail between his legs, but he must have felt all was well. He trotted behind me through the yards and into the house where he looked for a treat. The entire time I was ranting and raving and still yelling NO, but small sobs were coming out too. I got into the house and examined my hand. Each finger had marks and blisters. The index finger looked like a worm had attached itself to it.
I washed the hand quickly and put ice on it. By now I was moaning and crying. I couldn't stop. The pain was horrific, and I have a high threshold for pain. I was pacing back and forth in my kitchen and the dog thought this a game. He went to jump on me and I lost it. I shrieked like a woman who had totally lost all control, which I was. He jumped as if I had hit him with an electric shock, looked up at me, and thought, "Holy, shit, I've really done it this time." and he slunk out of the kitchen.
I ended up lying down in the bedroom pressing the ice pack to my hand. An hour later the pain was still horrific. I was still moaning and crying. I could not take the ice off of my hand without the pain kicking in with a vengeance. I knew I needed to do something so I did what I always do. I Googled it. I looked up wounds from a retractable dog leash. The consensus was all the same. Put aloe on it.
I have an aloe plant started from a shoot my mother gave me some twenty five years ago. Recently my husband took it out of its pot and planted it in our front yard. I watched a YouTube video on how to cut an aloe plant, took a segregated knife outside, and followed the directions all with my left hand, my right one still wrapped in ice. The pitiful sobs were still coming out of me, but I managed to slice one of the stems and slather aloe all over my wounds. It did help in pain relief.
My first attempt at wrapping the burns didn't work so well. It worked enough for the aloe to do its magic and then I took a shower washing the hand very carefully. By now Darcy was home and I enlisted her help. Finding unexpired antibiotic cream was not so easy. Every tube we had was one or two years old. I finally gave up on that and used medical supplies leftover from my mother (I have an entire bin of the stuff) which included Xeroform, a wound and burn medical gauze.
Elliot avoided me most of the night, and Darcy took over his care. When my husband came home later, way later, that night I showed him my wrapped hand looking for some loving sympathy. Instead, upon hearing that it was a retractable leash burn, he hiked up his pant legs to show me one he too had received recently after getting tangled up in Elliot's. Something tells me we have gone about this dog raising all wrong.
First on the list of purchases we need to make this Saturday, right before Halloween candy, is a new un-retractable leash.
Which lasted all of three minutes the amount of time it took for a noisy truck to come down the street. Immediately Elliot jerked and jumped up, but I was able to grab the handle of his retractable leash and rein him in. Back down he went next to me, and why at that point I didn't pop the switch to hold the leash in place is something I shall forever regret. Instead I would lean over and take his collar in my hand each time a bus, a truck, or people came down the street. It was all good for about forty five minutes. Just a woman and her dog in the shade.
I was looking through Instagram when a truck pulling a huge boat came driving past the house. Like a shot Elliot was up and on the move. I went to grab the leash, but instead got the leash as it was spinning out of the handle instead of the handle itself hooked to my chair. I tried to stop the retracting, but it just zipped through my hand as he ran toward the moving vehicles. Suddenly pain registered in my head sort of like this: OUCH! OUCH! OUCH! I've read enough articles about the dangers of retractable leashes to know to let go. Despite the thought that I could be sending my dog to his death by vehicular dogslaughter. I let go.
I jumped out of my chair as fast as Elliot had jumped up to chase the truck/boat. The entire time I was screaming NO, ELLIOT, NO at the top of my lungs. The driver of the truck must have heard me. He stopped. Elliot by now was at his boat's wheels barking and chasing, but when the truck stopped Elliot took that to mean the vehicles had surrendered and so he stopped. I marched toward the dog thankful he was till alive and undamaged. The driver slowly pulled off and away. Elliot stood still watching me advance realizing his moment of freedom and power had cost him. As I reached down to grab the leash, shouting and screaming at the dog, pain in my right hand and fingers registered. I looked down to find several blisters forming quickly on each of my fingers, the worst on my index finger. The pain was suddenly intolerable.
I marched back to the house with the dog following behind me. I would like to say with his tail between his legs, but he must have felt all was well. He trotted behind me through the yards and into the house where he looked for a treat. The entire time I was ranting and raving and still yelling NO, but small sobs were coming out too. I got into the house and examined my hand. Each finger had marks and blisters. The index finger looked like a worm had attached itself to it.
I washed the hand quickly and put ice on it. By now I was moaning and crying. I couldn't stop. The pain was horrific, and I have a high threshold for pain. I was pacing back and forth in my kitchen and the dog thought this a game. He went to jump on me and I lost it. I shrieked like a woman who had totally lost all control, which I was. He jumped as if I had hit him with an electric shock, looked up at me, and thought, "Holy, shit, I've really done it this time." and he slunk out of the kitchen.
I ended up lying down in the bedroom pressing the ice pack to my hand. An hour later the pain was still horrific. I was still moaning and crying. I could not take the ice off of my hand without the pain kicking in with a vengeance. I knew I needed to do something so I did what I always do. I Googled it. I looked up wounds from a retractable dog leash. The consensus was all the same. Put aloe on it.
I have an aloe plant started from a shoot my mother gave me some twenty five years ago. Recently my husband took it out of its pot and planted it in our front yard. I watched a YouTube video on how to cut an aloe plant, took a segregated knife outside, and followed the directions all with my left hand, my right one still wrapped in ice. The pitiful sobs were still coming out of me, but I managed to slice one of the stems and slather aloe all over my wounds. It did help in pain relief.
My first attempt at wrapping the burns didn't work so well. It worked enough for the aloe to do its magic and then I took a shower washing the hand very carefully. By now Darcy was home and I enlisted her help. Finding unexpired antibiotic cream was not so easy. Every tube we had was one or two years old. I finally gave up on that and used medical supplies leftover from my mother (I have an entire bin of the stuff) which included Xeroform, a wound and burn medical gauze.
Elliot avoided me most of the night, and Darcy took over his care. When my husband came home later, way later, that night I showed him my wrapped hand looking for some loving sympathy. Instead, upon hearing that it was a retractable leash burn, he hiked up his pant legs to show me one he too had received recently after getting tangled up in Elliot's. Something tells me we have gone about this dog raising all wrong.
First on the list of purchases we need to make this Saturday, right before Halloween candy, is a new un-retractable leash.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
2015 Fall TV Preview
Every year I get excited when the new fall season of television starts. What will catch my fancy? What writers will blow my mind? Lately, though I've been discouraged as networks don't give many shows a chance. Still I keep on watching. Here are my ratings, after trying to watch each show more than once, from 1-10 of the new shows:
- Best Time Ever With Neil Patrick Harris - Out of all the same old, same old shows that the networks have rolled out this year this little half hour show is the BOMB. Fun, live, crazy, unpredictable, and full of celebrities, it was touted as revival of shows like Donny and Marie, but it is more than that. Hidden camera pranks. Comedy skits. Game shows. It has it all with Neil Patrick Harris as the host and the performer. My favorite is the surprises he pulls on real people with episode 3's Mike Long, a dad who wanted to let his four kids know how much he loved them, as my all time favorite. It is short, sweet, and just plain fun. Rating: 9
- Blindspot - There is tons wrong with this show about an amnesic woman who awakens in a duffle bag in the middle of Times Square with tattoos over every inch of her body except her face. But there is something about it that draws me in. The woman has the name of an FBI agent tattooed on her back so that of course leads to her helping the FBI try to solve why that is, and every week we get some more information about her past. Rating: 7
- Blood & Oil - I really wanted this to be good for Don Johnson's sake (and btw his face lift is way better than his ex's Melanie Griffith), but after years of Dallas and 2012's Vegas with Dennis Quaid this drama just doesn't cut it. Lots of beautiful people. Lots of sex. Lots of backstabbing and family squabbles. Hey, network guys, THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE. And done better. Rating: 4
- Grandfathered - As I've stated time and time again I'm not much of a sitcom fan unless the writing is really great. I watch very few sitcoms. That being said this is one that I tried because it had John Stamos and what is not to like about that? While I say it is a step above most sitcoms (Two Broke Girls for sure), it isn't top notch. The first episode wasn't bad, and I thought it might have possibilities, but episodes two and three told me that wasn't going to be the case. I hear it isn't doing well and probably won't be around much longer, and I'm not surprised. Rating: 5
- The Grinder - This show, on the other hand, is my fav of the season. Great plot line; actor who has played a lawyer for eight years comes home to his real law family after his show is canceled and tries to join the firm because, well, he's been a lawyer for eight years. Hilarious. Three great actors in Rob Lowe, Fred Savage, and William Devane (does he look good, or what?) and they pull it off. Savage's character's frustration with his brother, "the actor", is spot on and Lowe does the Grinder well. Rating: 9
- Life in Pieces - I did have a few laughs at the first episode, but wasn't impressed. This sitcom told in four segments has major stars, Dianne Wiest and James Brolin, and is touching in its own way. Lucky for me, I tried more than one episode and found that it was much better than that first episode. Rating: 7
- Rosewood - This show is scoring well in the ratings, and while it isn't rocket science television, the humor between the two main characters keeps us watching. Rosewood is a medical examiner for hire and helps out the police, especially one main detective. Sound familiar? Uh, hello Forever, my show that got axed. Only difference in these two shows is location, writing, and lead character. In Forever he couldn't die. In Rosewood he is dying. Rating: 7
- Limitless - Leading where the Bradley Cooper movie left off, this show works because of the humor. The lead character, taking the drug NZT which makes him a genius and sort of a super hero while under the influence, is hilarious and doesn't take himself too seriously. He works now for the FBI in exchange for his dad's new liver. Bradley Cooper makes a few appearances now and then as his character from the movie who has created another drug that counteract the deadly side effects of NZT. It is enjoyable TV. Rating: 8
- The Player - My husband and I were confused through the first episode and had to do some rewinding to try to put it all together. By the end of it we gathered that Wesley Snipes is a guy who hires the main character, Alex, a security expert, to try to stop crimes while Snipes' wealthy clients bet on whether or not Alex will succeed in time. A gamble with lives at stake. Hmmmm. Meanwhile the subplot has to do with whether or not Alex's wife is dead or alive. Apparently this show has already been on the chopping block with only nine episodes being ordered, downsized from thirteen. My thought while watching was, don't these people have better things to do with their money, technology, and brains? Like helping people? Doing good for mankind? Rating: 6
- Quantico - So far, after two shows, I'm interested. The premise is different, the action jumps all over the place, and there is tons of plots. Who is good? Who is the terrorist? What happened before, after, and now? Rating: 8
- Scream Queens - I tried to understand this show, but holy, mother of all new terrible shows, I couldn't do it. I know it is a spoof, but one, I hate horror films, and two, this is just plain awful. Why must we watch a show with college kids who are shallow, stupid, and certainly not worth the tuition their parents are forking over. ? Ugh. Hate this. Rating: 1
- Code Black - I stopped watching halfway through the first episode and decided that I was over medical shows. After years of Chicago Hope, ER, and my daily dose of General Hospital I just didn't care. Rating: N/A
- Heroes Reborn - I loved Heroes, but it went downhill fast and the writers had no idea where to take it. This "rebirth" of the show and some of the characters just isn't grabbing my attention after only one episode. I don't care anymore. The only interesting character was the girl that went in and out of comic books, but I don't think that will be enough to get me to keep watching. Rating: 4
- Minority Report - Well, I liked this drama, but it too is on the chopping block. Again, adapted from the movie, it takes place fifteen years where the movie left off. A trio of "pre-cogs" who can see the future help a police officer stop murders before they happen. Lots of cool special effects and the pre-cogs are interesting. I like it. Rating: 8
- Dr. Ken - A laugh track, silly shenanigans, same old characters, butt jokes, and inane writing. Typical American sitcom. Dr. Ken is funny. I'll give him that, but I'd rather watch The Grinder. Rating: 5
- The Muppets - I wanted to like this show. I loved the Muppets show back in the day, but this isn't that show. While the episodes have gotten better since the first one I'm not sure it will continue to hold my attention or space on my crowded DVR. Rating: 6
- Supergirl - This just debuted on Monday so I've only seen one episode, but it's fun. I love Glee's Melissa Benoist as the title character, Superman's cousin, who was originally sent to watch over him, but who instead spent years on another planet where time stood still. Now she is younger than her cousin and realizing her strengths. Add in Ally McBeal's Calista Flockhart and you get a lighthearted, hour of fun. Rating: 8
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
From the archives - Ruth Wellington
I don't remember what year this started, early 2000's, but Kelly had this picture of herself all wrapped up in a fur and she gave herself the name Ruth Wellington. We thought that sounded like the name of an advice columnist and we started the column on my blog. Even my mother got into submitting questions for Ruth. All of these questions and answers were tucked nicely into a file marked "ruth", and I thought this would make a nice laugh after my weekend football entries. And I'm certain that if anyone has any questions, ole Ruth could be persuaded to make a comeback.
As for your fear that you will feel like part of you is missing, it won't be a problem. A sixth toe is a nifty conversation piece if you don't mind having it hang awkwardly off the side of your foot if you find someone who would actually want to discuss it with you. It's really just a "spare" that nature gave you. You won't miss it at all. Do you miss your hair when you get it cut? Have you ever missed that thin layer of skin you slough off every day? Ever long to see the fingernail clipping you lost back in 1973? Of course not. In fact you will probably be able to fit into a smaller shoe size post-surgery, you lucky girl! I feel certain you will not regret this decision.
Ask Ruth Wellington
Dear Ruth Wellington,
First of all I would like to tell you what a huge fan
of yours I am. It's not so much that I
really like you as much as I am 800 pounds.
Anyway, I was recently at my 17th birthday party, which we celebrated at
my family's estate at the Itchy Pines Trailer Park in Tuscaloosa, Alabama - we
have TWO lots, one without a trailer on it!
My mother was serving her famous Cool Whip surprise, when she lifted up
her dress, AND SHE WASN’T WEARING ANY UNDERWEAR! My question, then, is
this. Is it ever acceptable to serve Cool Whip surprise on paper plates?
-----Chef Concierge, Radisson Hotel & Suites – Tupelo
Dear Concierge,
You are only 17 years old and already working in the fast and glamorous
world of concierging? You must be quite
the go-getter and not just in terms of
your trips to the buffet at the Sizzler! Yes. Not only is it
acceptable to serve Cool Whip surprise on paper plates, it is preferable, as
Cool Whip can, under certain circumstance, strip the finish of most china and
all Pfaltzgraf dinnerware. Thank you for
writing.
*****
Dear
Mrs. Wellington:
I appreciate your advice so much. I hope you can
help me with my problem. I am a very refined lady of a certain age, and I
always like to do the right thing and comport myself in the proper
manner.
At times though it seems that nature is stronger than I. At the most inopportune times I have passed gas and have been mortified. What do you suggest I do? Waiting for your answer.
At times though it seems that nature is stronger than I. At the most inopportune times I have passed gas and have been mortified. What do you suggest I do? Waiting for your answer.
-----Miss Ann
Dear Miss Ann:
First of all let me say that I am MS. Wellington, not Mrs. Wellington, well not anymore. When in social situations, it might be preferable for you to excuse yourself to an isolated patio or the front seat of an unlocked car and release your flatulence in privacy. Or try Beano. It worked like a dream for my 4th husband, Henry. Of course Henry was such a nightmare that flatulence was his best quality, but that's a story for another time. When all else fails and something slips out, turn around, stomp on the floor and exclaim, "I do believe I hear the mating call of the Arkansas Barking Spider."
Dear Miss Ann:
First of all let me say that I am MS. Wellington, not Mrs. Wellington, well not anymore. When in social situations, it might be preferable for you to excuse yourself to an isolated patio or the front seat of an unlocked car and release your flatulence in privacy. Or try Beano. It worked like a dream for my 4th husband, Henry. Of course Henry was such a nightmare that flatulence was his best quality, but that's a story for another time. When all else fails and something slips out, turn around, stomp on the floor and exclaim, "I do believe I hear the mating call of the Arkansas Barking Spider."
*****
Dear
Ruth,
Forgive my bluntness, but just what are your credentials and experience for advice giving? Do you have any references?
-----Curious in Davenport, IA
Forgive my bluntness, but just what are your credentials and experience for advice giving? Do you have any references?
-----Curious in Davenport, IA
Dear Curious:
Nothing wrong with being blunt. You Iowans are especially so, so I hear. My experience? Well for 25 years, people who know me, and those that don't, have
received my advice. I've had no complaints. My credentials? Well, I don't have much of what you Midwesterners call
book-learning, but I did graduate from the school of hard knocks. Oh, I know
that sounds cliched, but in my case, it's absolutely true. References? Do you want to ask the millions and millions of people I have
helped over the years? Well, I am sorry but I don't have time in my busy day to
send you all the names and addresses. If I took time out to compile such a
gigantic list, I wouldn't have time to change lives and offer hope the way I
do.
*****
Dear
Ms. Wellington,
I have a terrible time finding shoes that fit.
My pedicurist charges me extra. Everyone says I should have my sixth
digit removed, but I'm afraid I'll feel like part of me is
missing. What would you do?
-----Toeing the Line in Tennessee
Dear TLT:
I say ask one of your friends who has had some orthopedic or plastic surgery recently to recommend a surgeon to you. That's right, have it removed! My goodness, you can't buy shoes, we're talking about shoes, girls; you're shelling out more money to the beauty salon; well it's all too much to imagine.
I say ask one of your friends who has had some orthopedic or plastic surgery recently to recommend a surgeon to you. That's right, have it removed! My goodness, you can't buy shoes, we're talking about shoes, girls; you're shelling out more money to the beauty salon; well it's all too much to imagine.
As for your fear that you will feel like part of you is missing, it won't be a problem. A sixth toe is a nifty conversation piece if you don't mind having it hang awkwardly off the side of your foot if you find someone who would actually want to discuss it with you. It's really just a "spare" that nature gave you. You won't miss it at all. Do you miss your hair when you get it cut? Have you ever missed that thin layer of skin you slough off every day? Ever long to see the fingernail clipping you lost back in 1973? Of course not. In fact you will probably be able to fit into a smaller shoe size post-surgery, you lucky girl! I feel certain you will not regret this decision.
*****
Dear
Ms. Wellington,
I am a recently divorced housewife (I still don't know
why) and I am in need of work. It is most important that I look the part
and would like to know how I can achieve a look like yours. Please don't
let me down.
-----Puffy Pastry
Dear P.P.
I am flattered that you want to copy my
style for your career girl look. And bully for you, getting out into the
workforce again. I, too, have been divorced and every now and then also wonder
how it could have happened (again)? I can't give you all my beauty and fashion secrets, but here are some definite
must-do's for the woman just starting out:
- Splurge on shaving razors! You can do without that dessert after lunch and then channel that money toward good razors. Nothing mars an otherwise lovely lady like nicks and ingrown hairs.
- Stay away from dark colored liquors. Red wines and blackberry brandy are okay, but for hard liquor, stick with vodka, gin, rum, silver tequila and everclear. Clear liquors promote vitality and help keep the pounds off.
- When putting on your nice outfit in the morning, remember that the best accessory is a smile. It goes with everything!!!
Monday, October 26, 2015
Monday NFL recap - week #7
Steelers: The worst thing about watching the game on the computer is no rewinding. The second worst thing about it is losing. Ugh.
- Interceptions - Holy throw the ball into the wrong hands! Two interceptions and almost a third. Landry Jones got to see how how it is to play a full four quarters of a NFL game.
- Jones - Well, he can throw. I'll give him that. The offensive line didn't do well protecting him in the fourth quarter so I can't fault him for his fumble, but he was very inconsistent throughout the game.
- Defense - At some point you knew the defense was going to deflate. Let's hope they got it out of their system this week because next week is Cincinnati.
- Roethlisberger - Did people really think that Big Ben was going to play this week? I guess so because his not playing made headlines. I knew he wasn't going to suit up this week, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him on the field next week. He practiced this week in full gear so he is definitely on the mend and the Bengals game is huge. It would be a welcome relief for sure.
- Oddity - After the game was over the computer feed started to fade out and then came back. It showed the token female sideline reporter standing on the field searching for someone to interview. She shook the hand of Tomlin as he passed by and then she just seemed lost. She kept looking up at the booth, maybe as if asking what should she do. The camera stayed on her and we could hear on field communications. Then the camera cut to Landry Jones being interviewed by some guy in a Steelers cap and then it cut to Alex Smith as he accepted congratulations from people as he walked off the field. Finally it came back to this poor woman who held her microphone in front of her like a shield as players passed by her, leaving her interviewless. The feed then cut out.
Other:
- London Game - Oops. I thought the game wasn't televised in the US, but apparently Yahoo got those rights for the first ever livestream. Plus, I hear the game was a great one.
- Colts Game - I went to this game on the computer after reading about the fans booing Andrew Luck. Really? Come on, people, I talked about this a couple of weeks ago. If you don't have faith in your players then stop going to the games. Booing your quarterback at home? I don't like it, but maybe it got through to the team because once I tuned in Andrew Luck marched down the field like the pro he has shown he can be. The Colts scored and then kicked the onside kick. That in itself was entertaining with all the hot potato bumping and tossing of the football, and good lord three Colts players touched it, but the Saints recovered and ended the game.
- Cockiness - This is my word of this football season. All the media hype of teams have fallen short due to ignorance, injuries, and cockiness. I'm all for teams and players believing they are the best of the bunch, but stop flaunting that. Shut up and go out and prove it, because when you get cocky, show off, and fall short, well, you look like an ass. And that goes for all that cocky dancing in the end zone and after making a play too.
- Dan Campbell - Can I just say how much I enjoyed the Dolphins interim coach at his postgame conference? He had no filter, was fidgety, and was definitely not coached well in how to speak in public, but I loved his honesty, his football talk, and his realness.
- Tampa - The team came out burning, scoring 24 points like bam, bam, bam. And then I'm not sure what the heck happened as my back was to that game while watching my Steelers. Next thing I knew it was 27-24 and Tampa was stopped in the red zone and having to kick a field goal. When I turned around at the end of my game the score was 31-30 and Washington was high five-ing all over the field. I'm hoping Tampa didn't get cocky.
Sunday, October 25, 2015
NFL picks - week #7
Last Week - 8 - 6
Overall - 49 - 43
Seattle over San Francisco - Well, this one wasn't a hard one.
Buffalo over Jacksonville - This game is being played in London because...yeah, why? So it will be played earlier then the other games and will not be televised for those of us living in the States. Go figure.
Minnesota over Detroit - I don't know. I like Lions Matthew Stafford, and I'm glad he got his win last week after his benching of the previous week, but there is so much more wrong with this team then the quarterback. Both of these teams are probably even matched in my book so it should be an interesting game.
Atlanta over Tennessee - The Falcons got beat last week. They won't be this week.
Indianapolis over New Orleans - My cousin, known as Captain Colt at Lucas Oil Stadium, had a birthday before last week's game. In his honor I told him I would pick the Colts to win...this week. So I am.
Pittsburgh over Kansas City - Watching this one via the computer so I hope I get to see how this Landry Jones character plays.
St. Louis over Cleveland - Another toss up, but I like what I'm seeing from the Rams. They had a period of darkness there for a couple of weeks, but I think they found the light now.
Miami over Houston - The Dolphins made a coaching change and kicked butt last week. The Texans? Yeah, I'm not sure what is happening there.
New England over Jets - Here I go again not picking the Jets. At least I should be able to see some of this game on my Redzone channel. Maybe see just what is so great about these Jets.
Tampa Bay over Washington - I had Washington and changed to Tampa at the last minute. I feel the win!
San Diego over Oakland - Phillip Rivers was on fire last week and he didn't win. While the Chargers are one of those wishy washy teams right now this is a big rivalry in the area, not to mention for the move to LA. I took the team I've seen.
Giants over Dallas - This is, as always, a big game and a toss up. I went with Manning as I'm known to do.
Philadelphia over Carolina - Sorry, Cam, I know you don't like me choosing over you, but I keep feeling there is something with these Eagles.
Arizona over Baltimore - The Cardinals have lost the last two games. I don't see them losing another one. But then again the Ravens could just come out hot on Monday Night football. That time slot always brings out the best in teams.
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Wyndham Ocean Boulevard.
No wonder working people like business trips. This was the view from my room on my "business trip" to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I've never been to Myrtle Beach. Had no idea what to expect. I chose it because it was a few hours drive from where my daughter goes to college and because I had yet to visit this area where we have several Wyndhams available. It was a win win all the way around.
We arrived late on Wednesday evening. We had no trouble finding the Wyndham Ocean Blvd. on the main road running the length of the beach. Ocean Blvd. has four towers. It was confusing coming in late at night and trying to find the registration. We entered the tower four parking level and found that the lobby there was closed for the night. Signs told us to register across the street and when we entered that parking garage we found it full. We ended up parking back at tower four and hauling our luggage across the street to tower two where we registered and where we stayed.
My suggestion would be to add more signage. I found out the next day that tower two has a nice area for parking, unloading, and registering, but I never saw any signs to point us in that direction. Instead after I checked in I had to walk back across the street, find my car, and drop off the parking pass so that my car wouldn't be towed. It wasn't that big of a deal, but I was exhausted from a day of traveling and would have appreciated a better way of unloading.
I love coming into Wyndham after hours because you bypass the desk where the staff berates you into attending a sales meeting. The front desk staff was fabulous. Jasmine, a Steelers fan by way of her boyfriend, couldn't have been kinder. She could see my exhaustion. She got me into my room, recommended places in the area to eat and shop, offered to help me with my luggage, and even offered to walk back across the street to put in my parking pass. I would have let her, but it was a rental car and I had no idea how to tell her what it looked like or where the damn thing was parked! She gave me her number and I did look her up twice and both times she answered my questions and helped me out. She was such a vast difference from my experience in Edisto Beach. It made me excited just to be there right off the bat.
We had the two bedroom unit. I had upgraded from a one bedroom even though we only had two of us. I wasn't sure at the time who was coming or how things would work out. I like the two bedroom for size anyway too. It was very spacious. My unit was exactly like my brother's unit in layout and furniture. We were on the third floor and he was on the fourteenth. I much prefer the lower level as there was less wind and a better view of the pool area. He had a lovely view of the ocean, but I thought my view was good too.
The units are located in an enclosed outdoor area meaning there wasn't a roof in the corridor area. You entered the elevators from the lobby and you exited on your floor outside within an enclosed area. We were close to the elevator and we had an ice machine on our floor which was an added bonus as all of the units never have the ice machines turned on when we arrive. Our kitchen was a nice size with everything we needed. The unit was clean and everything worked. My washer and dryer were new. I used the broom once to sweep up sand in my bathroom. We only used the master bedroom. I did use the second bathroom once to wash off the terrible sunscreen my brother bought us, and I continued using that shower after I discovered it was easier to shave in. The second bedroom was never touched although we did talk about sleeping in a different bed each night.
Three of the towers are on the beach. The fourth is across the street. There are also cottages, but I never did find them. I explored all of the towers and decided that tower two is certainly the nicest of the four. It has more amenities including the cafe, the bar, a huge lobby with movie rentals, an activity center, and fire pit. The fire pit was lit each night from seven o'clock until eleven o'clock and guests could roast marshmallows and make s'mores. There were cushioned concrete benches around the pit and we had some nice conversations with other guests as people came and went. All of the three towers are together separated by the different outdoor pools. They were easily accessible.
We were given plastic bracelets upon our arrival to wear when on the beach and in the pool area. The bracelets were smart. They are like all of the bracelets kids wear to support their favorite causes. Much better than the paper bands that you can't take off and on. Because they were plastic we could shower in them and really never have to take them off. While we never had anyone question us in regards to the bracelets I was told that security usually stood at each entrance leading to the beach checking bracelets. I never saw security there, but I did see many of them roaming around the resort.
All in all this was one of, if not, the best Wyndham resort I've stayed in. I loved the unit. I loved the location. I loved the resort itself. I loved the staff. Each time I review one of the Wyndham resorts I discuss three topics: One, problems in my unit. I had none in this resort. Two, things Wyndham did right. I thought they did a top notch job and most of the things I talked about above. Three, Things Wyndham can do to improve. I have only a few recommendations that would have made it better (don't I always?).
Things Wyndham can do to improve Ocean Boulevard
- Screens on the balcony doors - I'm sure this falls under some safety category, but I would have loved to have been able to keep my door open all night for the ocean noise and sea air. I opened it every time I was in the unit, but there was no screen so we got the usual night time bugs. Screen doors are probably broken more than anything else in a unit, but I would only put them on during the fall months.
- Phone Calls - When owners check in during normal business hours they are directed to the desk where the membership staff (not sure of the correct title) work on you, at first nicely, and then not so nicely to attend an owners session. They call it different things at each resort; workshop, breakfast, update. They offer you money to attend and then when all of that fails they take your number and inundate you with phone calls to change your mind. When owners check in after hours they get the phone calls. Our phone calls, since I checked in after hours, began before nine. Really? I checked in late at night after a full day of traveling. That should be noted by the front desk somewhere so that the membership staff can chose to call at a better time. I was awakened by the call and not happy. I ignored it because the phone was out in the other room (something Wyndham does right! No phones in the bedrooms) and I was snugged under my covers. Ten minutes later the phone rang again and continued to ring every ten minutes for the first hour and then every fifteen to twenty minutes for the next three hours. I made a point of going with my brother to the desk where the nice young man got to work on both of us at the same time. Didn't matter. The phone calls kept coming. I finally answered and spoke with "my representative" who was not happy that I had spoken with my brother's rep. I cut her off and refused the owner's pitch. This didn't stop them. They called again and eventually sent a sales person to my front door under the guise of "bringing me my free welcome gifts". Which he refused to give me unless I invited him in and talked to him. His answer to my annoyance of the phone calls? "Unplug the phone."
- Sales pitches - Carrying on in this vein...when owners say no thank you to attending an owners session, let them be. I can't attend every sales pitch for every Wyndham I visit. I have attended more than my fair share. I am a high ranking owner and can not use the amount of points that I have. I'm not buying any more. I'm not. It isn't going to happen. My brother and I inherited this timeshare and have to sell points to friends and family to try to make the monthly payments as it is now. We aren't going to buy anything more, and telling me you can show me how to lower my monthly payments is a crock. Also, telling me there are new updates isn't doing it for me either. For the most part, now that Wyndham offers webinars online there isn't anything new that the sales team can inform me of that I don't already get online. I'm tired of the lies that are told to get me there. I'm tired of the amount of time I'm told it will take only to have that time doubled. I'm tired of the nasty breakfast that is served. Some resorts do a great job of this owners session, but most of them do not. When owners say no thank you, let it go. The guy that came to our door was a nice enough man, but when he realized we weren't biting he got annoyed and that just makes me annoyed. Owners are using this as a time away. If I want to deal with more points I'll come to you.
- Parking and Signage - I talked about this above. The parking was excellent really. I've had to pay at some beach resorts due to the small amount of spaces to park. There was plenty of parking for us, but the directions to unload and check in were not clear. Add some of this so that owners don't have to lug their belongings across the street and so they know where to check in.
Friday, October 23, 2015
Fall Break Myrtle Beach - Day 3, 4, and 5
The next day Susan dubbed a beach day. She was up bright and early securing an umbrella and chairs outside our resort. The only thing we had forgotten was sunscreen so she sent my brother out to get us some. He was gone a long time.
When we were kids and teens and we vacationed by the beach my dad always forgot his swim trunks. Every time. Without fail. Every vacation he would disappear while we were playing on the beach to "buy some trunks" and every vacation he would return with the trunks, flip flops, and tons of other items that we would never use again. It got to be comical within our family.
Rusty returned from the sunscreen run with water shoes. He was quite proud of them as he strode up to our chairs handing over the bottle of sunscreen. He told us all about his bargain store find and then proceeded down to the water to try out his new purchase. I put on the sunscreen first. As I rubbed it into my legs I remarked about how dry my legs were as huge chunks of white began flaking off the more I tried to rub in the lotion. The lotion itself was thick like zinc oxide and it wasn't until Susan started her own sunscreen bath that we realized the flaking was due to the lotion. No matter how much we rubbed it refused to soak into our skin and caused white balls to flake off of our bodies. It was certainly a bargain store find and quite gross.
I mostly stayed under the umbrella. Gabby and Madison disappeared. Susan and Rusty walked the beach. By mid afternoon we packed up, showered off, and headed out to find a place to eat. After some arguing by the anniversary couple and a stop at a place we vetoed, we ended up at a great place that had actually been recommended to me by Jasmine.
She had told me about the place for watching the football game on Sunday before I left. The entire place was covered in Steelers paraphernalia except for one back wall that had hundreds of large stuffed characters. I ignored that wall and concentrated on the rest of the place.
The lunch was awesome. The sandwiches were huge. The fries were hand cut and homemade. The sweet tea was southern. We all agreed the place was a hit especially when we exited to find a putt putt course next door. Rusty talked the guy down to discounted tickets and we played eighteen holes.
We went back to the beach after putt putt and then back to the bar after the beach. We skipped dinner since we had eaten so late and we played cards well into the early morning. The next day the weather was cooler. I wore jeans. We spent the day at the Broadway on the Beach a sort of Disney Village tourist type place with kitschy eateries and shops.
In the evening we went to a small mall where I made Susan help Madison buy a winter coat and some boots. That took two hours. I should have stayed in the car with my brother. Shopping with Madison is a chore, but Susan had no trouble joining in the festivities.
We did find a coat and boots much to my relief. I've been worried about my poor Floridian daughter freezing this winter especially since I witnessed my cousin's first winter at Syracuse University after living in Arizona. We ate at a pizza place on the way back to the resort. It wasn't very good despite it being a local hang out. Cards were played again. The girls watched a movie, and Rusty and I watched football.
The next day Madison and I checked out of our room and spent the morning and early afternoon wandering the beach, the resort, and talking with the family. They weren't leaving until the next day, but I had to get Madison back to school. Our drive back to North Carolina was much easier than our arrival drive. I listened to football and Madison slept most of the way. We got back a little before seven. I checked into my hotel and then dropped Madison back off at her dorm. Saying good-bye this time was harder for me then when we did it the first time. I think it would have been hard for her too, but her roommate and friend were waiting for her in the dorm excited to see her and that helped. She will be home for Thanksgiving.
When I left for Florida the next morning it was 33 degrees. I was thankful Madison had a winter coat. My Steelers shuttle driver was there to pick me up from the rental car place just like he said he would be when he dropped me off that first day. We talked football all the way to the airport just like we did last time. He told me to look him up again next time I visited my daughter. The flight back was uneventful. The weather beautiful. When I got home my youngest daughter was there with her arms flung wide.
Darcy: "I'm so glad you're home. I was like one of those kids who secretly wishes she had parents to tell her what to do. Dad let me do whatever I wanted. I didn't like it. I needed some discipline. Don't leave me again."
So nice to be needed. I must take more of these business trips.
When we were kids and teens and we vacationed by the beach my dad always forgot his swim trunks. Every time. Without fail. Every vacation he would disappear while we were playing on the beach to "buy some trunks" and every vacation he would return with the trunks, flip flops, and tons of other items that we would never use again. It got to be comical within our family.
Rusty returned from the sunscreen run with water shoes. He was quite proud of them as he strode up to our chairs handing over the bottle of sunscreen. He told us all about his bargain store find and then proceeded down to the water to try out his new purchase. I put on the sunscreen first. As I rubbed it into my legs I remarked about how dry my legs were as huge chunks of white began flaking off the more I tried to rub in the lotion. The lotion itself was thick like zinc oxide and it wasn't until Susan started her own sunscreen bath that we realized the flaking was due to the lotion. No matter how much we rubbed it refused to soak into our skin and caused white balls to flake off of our bodies. It was certainly a bargain store find and quite gross.
I mostly stayed under the umbrella. Gabby and Madison disappeared. Susan and Rusty walked the beach. By mid afternoon we packed up, showered off, and headed out to find a place to eat. After some arguing by the anniversary couple and a stop at a place we vetoed, we ended up at a great place that had actually been recommended to me by Jasmine.
She had told me about the place for watching the football game on Sunday before I left. The entire place was covered in Steelers paraphernalia except for one back wall that had hundreds of large stuffed characters. I ignored that wall and concentrated on the rest of the place.
The lunch was awesome. The sandwiches were huge. The fries were hand cut and homemade. The sweet tea was southern. We all agreed the place was a hit especially when we exited to find a putt putt course next door. Rusty talked the guy down to discounted tickets and we played eighteen holes.
We went back to the beach after putt putt and then back to the bar after the beach. We skipped dinner since we had eaten so late and we played cards well into the early morning. The next day the weather was cooler. I wore jeans. We spent the day at the Broadway on the Beach a sort of Disney Village tourist type place with kitschy eateries and shops.
In the evening we went to a small mall where I made Susan help Madison buy a winter coat and some boots. That took two hours. I should have stayed in the car with my brother. Shopping with Madison is a chore, but Susan had no trouble joining in the festivities.
We did find a coat and boots much to my relief. I've been worried about my poor Floridian daughter freezing this winter especially since I witnessed my cousin's first winter at Syracuse University after living in Arizona. We ate at a pizza place on the way back to the resort. It wasn't very good despite it being a local hang out. Cards were played again. The girls watched a movie, and Rusty and I watched football.
The next day Madison and I checked out of our room and spent the morning and early afternoon wandering the beach, the resort, and talking with the family. They weren't leaving until the next day, but I had to get Madison back to school. Our drive back to North Carolina was much easier than our arrival drive. I listened to football and Madison slept most of the way. We got back a little before seven. I checked into my hotel and then dropped Madison back off at her dorm. Saying good-bye this time was harder for me then when we did it the first time. I think it would have been hard for her too, but her roommate and friend were waiting for her in the dorm excited to see her and that helped. She will be home for Thanksgiving.
When I left for Florida the next morning it was 33 degrees. I was thankful Madison had a winter coat. My Steelers shuttle driver was there to pick me up from the rental car place just like he said he would be when he dropped me off that first day. We talked football all the way to the airport just like we did last time. He told me to look him up again next time I visited my daughter. The flight back was uneventful. The weather beautiful. When I got home my youngest daughter was there with her arms flung wide.
Darcy: "I'm so glad you're home. I was like one of those kids who secretly wishes she had parents to tell her what to do. Dad let me do whatever I wanted. I didn't like it. I needed some discipline. Don't leave me again."
So nice to be needed. I must take more of these business trips.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Fall break - North & South Carolina - Day 1 and 2
North of Florida the states have a fall break. It is usually in October and is a chance to what? Breathe? Enjoy the changing colors? Get ready for the end of the grading period? I've come to think it means this is what we give you instead of a week at Thanksgiving. Enjoy!
Madison had a fall break of two days and since those two days were Thursday and Friday that gave her a four day weekend. I decided to visit her at this time instead of parents' weekend which is really only a Saturday and the morning of Sunday. My brother and his family wanted to get away to a warmer climate to celebrate their upcoming 25th wedding anniversary and so we all agreed to meet in South Carolina to utilize our Wyndham points.
I arrived in North Carolina at 9:45 a.m. and by the time I got my rental car and drove to the university, it was almost eleven. We met downstairs and spenthours several minutes just hugging and kissing. She looked taller. She looked happy. She was very excited to see me as I was to see her. She had been cleaning her room so we went upstairs while she finished that job. I folded her laundry for her. She had several hours before her last class so we left to get some lunch.
She said it felt odd to be riding in a car and to be outside the confinement of the campus. We ate and then did some shopping. She needed personal items and food. We also did some winter clothes shopping. We hauled everything back up to her dorm room and put it all away and then I drove her to her last class. While she heard a lecture on mythology I drove around the campus and finally sat under a shade tree to enjoy the cooler temperatures. Most of the campus was packing up to go home. It reminded me of moving-in-day only in reverse.
We were on the road to South Carolina by 4:40 pm. It was not a great time to be on the road in the triangle. We spent over two hours on Interstate 40 going 5 mph. We passed the time talking. Madison told me all about college. I filled her in on home stuff. At one point I asked when it got dark here and Madison told me not until 8:00. By 6:45 we were in complete darkness.
Madison: "I don't know. I don't really see the outside world until I go out and then I never know what time it is."
I'm not good at traveling the unknown by myself. I thought I did fairly well for my first experience in channeling my inner Mary Anne, my mother-in-law who travels the world very nonchalantly.
Madison being with me helped too. It was as we got off the interstate on to a two-lane road that I got a bit nervous. That is also when my husband called and asked where we were, and upon hearing where we were told me we were heading the wrong way. I lost it a bit there, but Madison pulled me back together and my husband admitted we were fine (after he pulled up google maps).
We traveled about an hour in complete darkness on the two-lane road in the middle of nowhere. Once I put on my bright lights just to see what was around us and discovered absolutely nothing. Woods. Crops. Nothing else.
We made it to our destination without my hands getting clammy. It was after 9:00 pm. I was exhausted having been up since 5:00 am. We parked, checked in, went to our room, and fell into bed. The next morning, having been awakened at an ungodly hour by the phone ringing every ten minutes (more on that tomorrow), I got up and made the coffee that is provided by Wyndham. It was quite delicious and that was with powdered creamer. I drank two cups while sitting out on my balcony.
Madison slept. She probably would've slept the entire four days if I hadn't awakened her every afternoon. She had asked me to bring her favorite stuffed animals, Elmo and Cuddly, and she was in heaven with them, me, and a big bed with lots of pillows.
I had a breakfast place recommended to me from Jasmine, my Steelers front desk clerk, and was texting the address to my SIL after they landed at the airport. I was starving and so were they, but my brother wanted to relive his traveling days with our parents and pulled into a Waffle House.
Rusty: "Text Cara and tell her to meet us."
I did so reluctantly. The food was awful. Susan had a creepy crawler in her food which at first the server tried to tell her was a hash brown. Then it moved across her toast. They made her another plate. They did not comp her meal. We ate despite the nasty food because hey, it was day one of ourvacation Fall Break.
After my brother got checked in and unloaded at the resort, we hit the beach. That is my SIL's favorite place and she was determined to spend as much time there as possible. The tide was out and the wet sand was like walking on concrete. It was great. If I had known the sand was going to be so hard I would have worn my tennis shoes and would've been able to walk for miles. As it was we walked two miles. The day was beautiful.
We ended up sitting in rocking chairs that overlooked the water conversing with a gentleman who had retired from driving a bus in Washington DC after 41 years. He was a Wyndham owner and he told us about many of the resorts we need to visit and gave us good tips about using our points. The resort should hire this guy to sell points! We had cocktails afterward at the bar where we talked fantasy football with the bartender.
We had a delicious seafood dinner at The Flying Fish that evening and relaxed playing a board game in our room. I decided I could get used to this Fall Break stuff.
Madison had a fall break of two days and since those two days were Thursday and Friday that gave her a four day weekend. I decided to visit her at this time instead of parents' weekend which is really only a Saturday and the morning of Sunday. My brother and his family wanted to get away to a warmer climate to celebrate their upcoming 25th wedding anniversary and so we all agreed to meet in South Carolina to utilize our Wyndham points.
I arrived in North Carolina at 9:45 a.m. and by the time I got my rental car and drove to the university, it was almost eleven. We met downstairs and spent
She said it felt odd to be riding in a car and to be outside the confinement of the campus. We ate and then did some shopping. She needed personal items and food. We also did some winter clothes shopping. We hauled everything back up to her dorm room and put it all away and then I drove her to her last class. While she heard a lecture on mythology I drove around the campus and finally sat under a shade tree to enjoy the cooler temperatures. Most of the campus was packing up to go home. It reminded me of moving-in-day only in reverse.
We were on the road to South Carolina by 4:40 pm. It was not a great time to be on the road in the triangle. We spent over two hours on Interstate 40 going 5 mph. We passed the time talking. Madison told me all about college. I filled her in on home stuff. At one point I asked when it got dark here and Madison told me not until 8:00. By 6:45 we were in complete darkness.
Madison: "I don't know. I don't really see the outside world until I go out and then I never know what time it is."
I'm not good at traveling the unknown by myself. I thought I did fairly well for my first experience in channeling my inner Mary Anne, my mother-in-law who travels the world very nonchalantly.
Madison being with me helped too. It was as we got off the interstate on to a two-lane road that I got a bit nervous. That is also when my husband called and asked where we were, and upon hearing where we were told me we were heading the wrong way. I lost it a bit there, but Madison pulled me back together and my husband admitted we were fine (after he pulled up google maps).
We traveled about an hour in complete darkness on the two-lane road in the middle of nowhere. Once I put on my bright lights just to see what was around us and discovered absolutely nothing. Woods. Crops. Nothing else.
We made it to our destination without my hands getting clammy. It was after 9:00 pm. I was exhausted having been up since 5:00 am. We parked, checked in, went to our room, and fell into bed. The next morning, having been awakened at an ungodly hour by the phone ringing every ten minutes (more on that tomorrow), I got up and made the coffee that is provided by Wyndham. It was quite delicious and that was with powdered creamer. I drank two cups while sitting out on my balcony.
Madison slept. She probably would've slept the entire four days if I hadn't awakened her every afternoon. She had asked me to bring her favorite stuffed animals, Elmo and Cuddly, and she was in heaven with them, me, and a big bed with lots of pillows.
I had a breakfast place recommended to me from Jasmine, my Steelers front desk clerk, and was texting the address to my SIL after they landed at the airport. I was starving and so were they, but my brother wanted to relive his traveling days with our parents and pulled into a Waffle House.
Rusty: "Text Cara and tell her to meet us."
I did so reluctantly. The food was awful. Susan had a creepy crawler in her food which at first the server tried to tell her was a hash brown. Then it moved across her toast. They made her another plate. They did not comp her meal. We ate despite the nasty food because hey, it was day one of our
After my brother got checked in and unloaded at the resort, we hit the beach. That is my SIL's favorite place and she was determined to spend as much time there as possible. The tide was out and the wet sand was like walking on concrete. It was great. If I had known the sand was going to be so hard I would have worn my tennis shoes and would've been able to walk for miles. As it was we walked two miles. The day was beautiful.
We ended up sitting in rocking chairs that overlooked the water conversing with a gentleman who had retired from driving a bus in Washington DC after 41 years. He was a Wyndham owner and he told us about many of the resorts we need to visit and gave us good tips about using our points. The resort should hire this guy to sell points! We had cocktails afterward at the bar where we talked fantasy football with the bartender.
We had a delicious seafood dinner at The Flying Fish that evening and relaxed playing a board game in our room. I decided I could get used to this Fall Break stuff.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Late NFL recap such as it is
I didn't get to write a Monday NFL recap because I didn't get to see the games. I was on vacation a business trip and the few times that I saw a television the only game available was the Cincinnati game. Thank goodness I wasn't near one for their post game locker room interviews! At some point I got to see an ESPN report that told me Michael Vick was hurt, but the reasoning was sketchy at best and it wasn't until my phone alerted me that I knew we were on our third string quarterback. By the time I left South Carolina in route to taking my daughter back to North Carolina it was after three o'clock. Luckily for me, the rental car had a XM station and I got to joyously listen to the rest of the Steelers game. The rest of the games were on various dials so I was able to listen to the overtime games and the later games. Here are a few of my observations:
Landry Jones - I don't know this guy. I didn't watch preseason. I didn't see him play this week. But he came in under pressure and did what he was suppose to do. He threw some nice passes to Martavis Bryant and got the win. This week he will start against Kansas City. Hey, if you really want to prove something you have got to come off of the bench and show the world what you can do.
Antonio Brown - He told Michael Vick to not be afraid to throw the ball. "Trust me a little bit, let me make some plays and lets get a victory." Everyone in the media went nuts again calling out Brown for rocking the boat. Pfft. I said the same thing to Vick sitting on my couch and yelling at the television. Brown will make the plays. Just get him the damn ball. Not that Brown isn't a bit too cocky. Defenders are studying him make no mistake about that. Eventually he wasn't going to make his over one hundred yardage. Now with Bryant back in the line up this might just free up Brown to get back to doing what he does. Trust me. He likes the spotlight. He wants to be the greatest. He won't like Bryant getting all the press this week. Get him the damn ball!
Defense - Another fine job for the boys in the D. Held the number one team to the fewest points of the season. Considering that these guys are banged up and missing key players, I tip my hat to what they have accomplished so far these last three games.
Uniform Policy - October is breast cancer awareness month and the NFL goes crazy with pink. Pink headsets. Pink socks and shoes. Pink armbands. I mean, how much money is being spent on all of that pink that could be going toward research instead? Then all of this week we have heard about Steelers De'Angelo Williams who has lost his mother and a couple of aunts to breast cancer. Before the season started he contacted the league and asked to be able to wear pink throughout the year instead of just in October. To honor his family members. The NFL, who has a strict uniform policy, turned him down. Instead he dyed his hair pink. Bam! A much bigger statement in my book then a pair of pink shoes. You certainly notice that hair and now that the world knows the reasoning behind it? Priceless. The press, however, went nuts. You would have thought the NFL was a monster after all of the things written. Listen. There are rules. We have written about the NFL and their rules for years and most of the time we are annoyed they aren't following them. Well, now they are. The rule on uniforms is written in black and white for all players, coaches, etc. If the league gives in to one player, then they will have to do it for another. Instead they said no. Williams shrugged and found another way to honor his family. Done.
And then who pops up? Another Steelers player. This time Cameron Heyward who wrote the words "Iron" and "Head" on his eye black that players use to reduce glare from the sun. He did this in honor of his father, former NFL player Craig "Ironhead" Heyward. Sigh. See. Give in to one and then you have to give in to another. The league fined Heyward for disobeying the rules. He paid it and then did it again. He has since met with the league and agreed to follow the rules instead opting for selling the eye black stickers to raise money for the cancer that took his father. I got tired midweek of all of this nonsense regarding uniform policies. In the scheme of things the NFL has WAY more to worry about than honoring deceased family members. Again, I say, follow the damn rules!
Peyton Manning - Wow. The press has seriously written this guy out of the game. Interceptions in every game? He's hurt. He's done. He's washed up. He can't lead. It is a harsh media world when it comes to the NFL. I wouldn't count out Manning just yet. At some point we all go downhill people, and I can't wait to see it happen to all of those naysayers.
Johnny Manziel - Another off the field incident which may or may not involve smacking around a woman. It did involve alcohol, something Manziel certainly should not be around. The NFL will meet with Manziel this week or sometime soon. Maybe he should go into the meeting dressed in pink.
Landry Jones - I don't know this guy. I didn't watch preseason. I didn't see him play this week. But he came in under pressure and did what he was suppose to do. He threw some nice passes to Martavis Bryant and got the win. This week he will start against Kansas City. Hey, if you really want to prove something you have got to come off of the bench and show the world what you can do.
Antonio Brown - He told Michael Vick to not be afraid to throw the ball. "Trust me a little bit, let me make some plays and lets get a victory." Everyone in the media went nuts again calling out Brown for rocking the boat. Pfft. I said the same thing to Vick sitting on my couch and yelling at the television. Brown will make the plays. Just get him the damn ball. Not that Brown isn't a bit too cocky. Defenders are studying him make no mistake about that. Eventually he wasn't going to make his over one hundred yardage. Now with Bryant back in the line up this might just free up Brown to get back to doing what he does. Trust me. He likes the spotlight. He wants to be the greatest. He won't like Bryant getting all the press this week. Get him the damn ball!
Defense - Another fine job for the boys in the D. Held the number one team to the fewest points of the season. Considering that these guys are banged up and missing key players, I tip my hat to what they have accomplished so far these last three games.
Uniform Policy - October is breast cancer awareness month and the NFL goes crazy with pink. Pink headsets. Pink socks and shoes. Pink armbands. I mean, how much money is being spent on all of that pink that could be going toward research instead? Then all of this week we have heard about Steelers De'Angelo Williams who has lost his mother and a couple of aunts to breast cancer. Before the season started he contacted the league and asked to be able to wear pink throughout the year instead of just in October. To honor his family members. The NFL, who has a strict uniform policy, turned him down. Instead he dyed his hair pink. Bam! A much bigger statement in my book then a pair of pink shoes. You certainly notice that hair and now that the world knows the reasoning behind it? Priceless. The press, however, went nuts. You would have thought the NFL was a monster after all of the things written. Listen. There are rules. We have written about the NFL and their rules for years and most of the time we are annoyed they aren't following them. Well, now they are. The rule on uniforms is written in black and white for all players, coaches, etc. If the league gives in to one player, then they will have to do it for another. Instead they said no. Williams shrugged and found another way to honor his family. Done.
And then who pops up? Another Steelers player. This time Cameron Heyward who wrote the words "Iron" and "Head" on his eye black that players use to reduce glare from the sun. He did this in honor of his father, former NFL player Craig "Ironhead" Heyward. Sigh. See. Give in to one and then you have to give in to another. The league fined Heyward for disobeying the rules. He paid it and then did it again. He has since met with the league and agreed to follow the rules instead opting for selling the eye black stickers to raise money for the cancer that took his father. I got tired midweek of all of this nonsense regarding uniform policies. In the scheme of things the NFL has WAY more to worry about than honoring deceased family members. Again, I say, follow the damn rules!
Peyton Manning - Wow. The press has seriously written this guy out of the game. Interceptions in every game? He's hurt. He's done. He's washed up. He can't lead. It is a harsh media world when it comes to the NFL. I wouldn't count out Manning just yet. At some point we all go downhill people, and I can't wait to see it happen to all of those naysayers.
Johnny Manziel - Another off the field incident which may or may not involve smacking around a woman. It did involve alcohol, something Manziel certainly should not be around. The NFL will meet with Manziel this week or sometime soon. Maybe he should go into the meeting dressed in pink.
Sunday, October 18, 2015
NFL picks - week #6
Last Week - 11 - 3
Overall - 40 - 37
New Orleans over Atlanta - I just felt that Drew would win it at home, and I was right.
Cincinnati over Buffalo - I hate to see the Bengals go 6-0, but the Bills are so wishy washy every week that I didn't feel I could count on them.
Denver over Cleveland - I'm not one of those who is chucking to Peyton Manning to the elderly home. Who would you rather have in charge? Johnny Manziel who was involved in yet another issue this past week or Peyton Manñing?
Chicago over Detroit- This was like flipping a coin. I took tails.
Tennessee over Miami - Maybe the bye week and a new coach will give the Dolphins the win. I apparently didn't feel that would be the case.
Minnesota over Kansas City - I like what I've seen from Teddy Bridgewater. The Chiefs have lost their running back with Jamal Charles tearing his ACL. Plus I was drinking Carribean Coladas beachside when I made these picks.
Washington over the Jets - Which might explain this pick, but I haven't seen the Jets play yet and the Redskins (oops) are fighters. The
Pittsburgh over Arizona - Sigh. I'm not really feeling this one, but after yelling at my Steelers buddy last week about having faith I couldn't not go with my boys.
Houston over Jacksonville - Another coin toss. Again I went with tails. Hmmm...I always say pick heads. Hope that doesn't come back to bite me.
Seattle over Carolina - I'm not counting out the Seahawks yet. I think they got the players and today they'll get it together over Cam and company.
Green Bay over San Diego - The Packers are on a roll and the Chargers are wondering where they are going.
Baltimore over San Francisco - The 49ers are hurting. Bet they are rethinking that firing of Harbaugh now.
Giants over Philadelphia- Again I'm going with a Manning.
Friday, October 16, 2015
From the archives - Things I miss
I'm on...wait. What am I on? I'm sure my husband and youngest would say vacation, but I wouldn't call it that. I'm visiting my eldest at college. Checking in on her. Making sure she really is as happy and stress free as she looks over facetime. Replenishing her supplies. The fact that she is off of school for a few days and we are traveling to Myrtle Beach? That's work. I'm checking in on my Wyndham's. Making sure they are kosher for guests that might want to travel using my points. My brother is hooking up with me there for the same reason I'm sure. It just happens to coincide with his daughter's vacation and his 50th anniversary.
I'm on a business trip and not sure how much blogging will get done in betweenbeaching, swimming, shopping meetings, software updates, and classes so I'm pulling out more archive entries from my first blog. I'll blog the trip later when I return.
I'm on a business trip and not sure how much blogging will get done in between
May 2004
Things I Miss
- Seeing my Dad
- Starsky & Hutch, Charlies' Angels and Donny & Marie
- Coaching my OMCC kids
- The comfort and security of thumb sucking
- Slumber parties
- Nursing my girls
- Going to McDonalds on Saturdays with my Dad and Bob Wellmeyer
- Bowling on Saturdays and going for ice cream afterwards
- Summers in the Oak Meadow pool
- My brother's eyelashes and how they turned into little stars when swimming
- Christmases with the Smith family
- That first time of falling love
- Playing Barbies
- Falling asleep on the couch while my parents watch golf on TV
- Opening a new box of Crayola crayons
- Pizza Oven pizza
- Peeing in the shower with our bathing suits on at work
- 8200 Pine Creek Dr.
- Aces Basketball games
- My friend Karen B's funny humor
- Riding the bus
- Being pregnant
- My Dad's cigars and his little black books
- My family at the Highlander Pool
- Getting to pick and sing songs in Mrs. Waite's music class
- Ding Dongs
- Seeing without contacts
- Being friends with Michelle
- My kids as babies and then toddlers
- Playing cards
- Wacky stickers
- Watching John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Larry Bird, and Terry Bradshaw play sports
- My wooden little people set
- Singing songs out the bedroom window with my friends
- Shooting hoops in the driveway
- Marathon bars and Zots
- My tooth before it cracked
- The "dant dadadant dant" knock we always did before opening the neighbors door and going inside
- My purple fire hydrant
- Chili nights with Sharon Lea
- Putting on plays and shows in my backyard
- 45 and 33 records
- Winning ribbons for swimming
- Mr. Wooten's high school classes
- Lifeguarding
- Parking the car in front of my old house
- Meet the Creeps
- Visiting in my Aunt Helen's kitchen
- Riding in the back of a station wagon
- The old oak tree at Oak Meadow
- Nance's Store
- Working Friday nights at the Courier
- Watching home movies with my Dad
- Friday nights at Clearwater Beach
It's funny to read back through that list. It's great to see how some of the stuff I missed is back in my life. I played Barbies with my girls. I've opened new crayons. I've had Pizza Oven pizza every time I got back home. Thanks to Facebook I'm back in touch with Michelle, Karen B., Mr. Wooten, and many of the Highlander Pool crowd. Ding Dongs are still around although I don't eat them. I'm seeing without contacts thanks to surgery. I play cards much more especially with my girls. My wooden people set, while not fully all together, ended up back here with me and my girls played with it. I can find Zots now. My tooth is fixed. I have the tapes to Meet the Creeps and it brings me to teenage giggles still. I have my 33 and 45 records and a player to play them on. Ah, life. Sometimes it comes full circle.
Here is my list of things I miss now in no particular order:
- Talking with my Mother
- My girls being little
- Drinking water from the faucet
- Little Magnum
- The companionship and communication of having a job outside the home
- Ghosts in the Graveyard
- Wearing flipflops all day or going barefoot without my back and knees hurting
- My neighbor Howard
- Sleeping on my stomach
- Euchre games with the OMCC group
- Jumping on the bed
- Knowing the people who work at my gym
- Hugs from my Dad
- My permed, long hair and wearing kerchiefs in it
- Swimming laps
- Walking the dogs with Garnet
- The Evergreen Acres bike trails
- Kissing Madison at night
- No responsibility
- Chatting and laughing with Murphy
- The lifeguard room at Oak Meadow
- Fall weather
- What is what like when I didn't have hot flashes
- Swim practices
- Making leaf houses and playing outdoors all day long
- Eating ice cream for dinner
- Hanging out with Kim and Steph
- Teaching kids to swim
- My skinny body
- Living in Indiana
- Believing in Santa Claus
- My huge purple sunglasses and my Shit Happens sunglasses
- Working with Mr. Lane
- Looking in the mirror and not seeing deep circles under my eyes
- My youth
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