Lew's Logbook: T-Ball

(Lew takes a trip down Memory Lane today. Enjoy! ~ Tracy)

I remember the days when my son, Matt, began his athletic career as a T-ball player. It was so cute to watch those little kids hit the ball off the tee and take off toward 1st base (although some would run to 3rd… so cute). Then the ball would roll around on the playing field and every member of the team in the field would run after the ball and then have no idea what to do with it when they got it.

Today I went to opening day for the Westbrook Little League program where my grandson Eli was introduced to his fellow T-ball teammates.

How time flies.

Below is one of my favorite pics taken two years ago of Eli and me in front of the Portland Sea Dogs stadium just before the game.

Eli, Grampa, and Slugger pose together in front of Hadlock Field.

Big Household News

When I got ready for bed last night, I knew I had forgotten something... my blog post. Oh, well. The sun still came out this morning.

The big household news is that Mom will be returning home on Tuesday! Her inpatient rehab time will be over. My understanding is that some visiting nurses/therapists will be coming to the house for a while — an arrangement similar to when she returned home after her stroke.

Tomorrow I will be taking care of a few things in preparation for her arrival. Tuesday morning will be here before we know it!

Dad 355: Weather, Spouse, Truck

(My father also comments on the lovely weather we've been experiencing. Enjoy his post! ~ Tracy)

 

Derf Here! Another lousy, cold, rainy day here in the Northeast. Will spring and summer come this year? If this stretch of days were in the winter we would be under a high pile of snow. Please get here, Spring. 'Nough said! No more begging.

 

Spouse (Mary Lou) seems to be getting stronger as each day passes. Nothing definite, but should be home sometime in the near future. Keep the prayers coming.

 

Got my truck back from the shop with a new inspection sticker. Also had brakes fixed so ABS light stays off. Also new shocks. It now runs like a new machine. Must drive truck more as I only drove it 584 miles all last year. (It sure beats shoveling after our storms. The beauty of a plow.)

 

Done for the day! Sooo....

 

Until next time!

 

Toodle Pip!

 

Derf!

The Spring That Wasn't

I couldn't come up with a good idea for a post tonight, so I thought I would write about the weather.

We have had some nice days recently. However, the weather so far this Spring has been a bit "blah."

Today it rained.  And it was sort of chilly.

I really can't complain, though. Winter is over and there is no snow in sight for several months.... Hooray!

Another plus:  All of the seasonal ice cream places are open.  Hip Hip Hooray!

🍦🍨🍦

Puzzle Progress

On April 15th I wrote about a jigsaw puzzle that I was working on. Click *HERE* to go the post and see the progress at that point.

I've tried to place a few pieces each day since then, and I think I may actually be able to finish this thing!

It may not look like I've made much progress, but puzzles go faster once you get more pieces together.

My goal is to finish the puzzle by May 7th....

It's good to have goals.

Lew's Logbook: Viet Nam Pool

(Lew shares a little bit of history today! ~ Tracy)

I just came across the movie “Forrest Gump” while I was flipping channels. The scene was in Viet Nam and Forrest said, “One day it started to rain and it didn’t stop for four months.”

I don’t know if I got the dialog exact, but I do remember the rain. We called it monsoon season. We were always wet and had to sleep on the ground in puddles, but there were advantages....

I have a picture of me (far left wearing the glasses) swimming in a temporary pool created by a 500-lb. bomb and constant rain. The other picture is of our company commander (with the M16) standing guard while we washed the stink off with a refreshing dip.

That Gene Skipped Me!

My sister Debbie made some lollipops for Easter and brought them to Mom's room at the rehab center.

There were four flavors: Root Beer, Hot Cinnamon, Grape, and Raspberry. (I may be wrong about the flavors, but close enough....)

Debbie packaged the lollipops in little plastic bags and tied them with colored ribbon. The color of the ribbon signified the flavor of the lollipop.

The lollipops are all gone now, but I did manage to eat a few Root Beer ones myself. (Yum!)

I also grabbed a few yesterday and brought them to work. A couple of the gals I work with were going gaga over them. They loved the flavors and were even raving about the presentation. They asked me if this creativity extended to me, and I answered....

"Bahahahahahahahaha!"

😏

A Shoe Thing

I was not in the tidying mood during the winter months. But now that Spring has sprung, I find myself regaining the desire to declutter.

First up:  Shoes.

I have some shoes that pinch my toes and hurt if I wear them for more than 10 seconds. I think it's time to say good-bye, especially because I have finally found the perfect shoe for me....

I bought my first pair of Dansko clogs a week ago, and I don't think I can wear my toe-pinching shoes ever again. I am ready to buy a few more colors of the wonderful Dansko brand. I may even buy a pair just to wear as slippers. (Okay, probably not, but that's just how comfortable these shoes are.)

Farewell to most of my shoes. I have seen the light.  😊

Dad 354: Home Evaluation

(Mom's carrots arrived today! Carrots will be explained in a future blog entry, because today is Dad's turn to write. Enjoy!   ~ Tracy)

Derf Here! Not enjoying today's weather. High is 40-something and the wind off the ocean makes it feel like a January day. Is Spring ever going to get here? Just asking!

Today Spouse (Mary Lou) made a home visit with an occupational therapist. The visit went well as the O.T. was satisfied that we will be set up to handle the return home. No date has been set yet. Hope we are ready when her discharge date is set. It will keep us busy, but we will be ready.

When is the discharge date? Don't know! We will need to make moves to get the pill schedule and various other scheduled events such as therapy times, etc. Please keep Spouse in your thoughts and prayers. We appreciate them. Thanks!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

Vacation Highlight #6

The final "highlight" of a vacation is often the first day back at the office.

You may have wanted to take an extra day off, but the amount of work waiting for you makes you glad that you didn't.... That was my experience today at least!

Lots to get caught up on = Job security.  :)

Vacation Highlight #5

It's back to work tomorrow. I've thoroughly enjoyed the last five days. I may have to take an extra-long weekend for Easter next year, too!

Today's highlight was going to be a photo of me at Pier Fries, but — ALAS! — it isn't open on the weekdays yet.  Lew and I were surprised, because today is Patriot's Day and the start of school vacation. We got fries at Lisa's Pizza. (Excellent fries, by the way.)

I'm going to spend the rest of my final vacation day working on my jigsaw puzzle and drinking Moxie.  :)

Vacation Highlight #4

Lew and I went to the beach this morning to experience the sunrise.

It was a beautiful beginning to a beautiful Easter Day.

HE IS RISEN!


(I took some photos, but they don't fully capture the magnificence of the event. Plus, the morning sky was blue....)

Vacation Highlight #3

My sister Kim's family gave me a very difficult jigsaw puzzle several years ago. I started working on it but ended up putting it away for a reason I forget now. (I do remember it was our "pre-cat" days.)

Since we've had cats, I haven't done any jigsaw puzzles; the cats would definitely mess it up! But I recently purchased a wonderful product that protects my unfinished puzzle when I'm not working on it.

So I have started working on the puzzle again. It is still very difficult, but I did manage to get around 10 pieces placed today!

Vacation Highlight #2

Lew and I went to the Holy Donut this morning. The shop has been open for only a couple weeks, and it has been very, very busy.... Holy Cannoli!

Vacation Highlight #1

I am on vacation today through Monday! We are enjoying some beautiful weather (finally!) and it is nice to have an opportunity for some R&R.

Got to spend time with some monkeys this morning!

Eli and Adam... my favorite monkeys!

Dad 353: Mentionables!

(The Sea Dogs lost in 11 innings. Enjoy Dad's post!  ~  Tracy)

Derf Here!  Not enjoying the weather on a day that has seen a sunrise then a clouding up. Now a rain shower. The shower started late enough for Lew to watch the Sea Dogs (Red Sox AA team) play 10 innings of baseball. (It was still tied when he left.)

Busy week for me. Some things done... some to do!

Done:

• Took plow off!
• Truck is at garage for brake repair and inspection sticker!
• Made a run to the store!
• Several other interesting unmentionables!

To Do:

• Vacuum!
• Dust!
• Several other interesting unmentionables!

Oh, well — terrible post today! Better next week!

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

COOKIE!

After dinner tonight Lew announced he bought some chocolate chip cookies today.  Chocolate chip cookies... my favorite!

He then proceeded to tell me I could have only two cookies. Apparently he gets nervous if I eat more than two.... Something about compulsive eating, but I'm not sure what that means....

I then asked Lew several questions, after which I concluded I should buy cookies in secret if I wish to eat more than two at a time.

Then I would be a closet cookie consumer.  Even better... a closet chocolate chip cookie consumer.

COOKIE!

Just Have Fun!

The title of this blog post — "Just have fun!" — may have been the advice that sealed the Masters Tournament win for Sergio Garcia yesterday.

When he was putting on the 18th green (in regulation), I was yelling at the TV:

Just have fun! 

You PLAY GOLF for a living!

Lew added:

You're marrying a supermodel! *

Our efforts didn't help Sergio on that particular hole. I guess it took a few minutes for our sound waves to reach him.... He did seal the deal on the first playoff hole.

Congratulations, Sergio! We were pulling for you!

( * We have since learned that Sergio's bride-to-be is a reporter for the Golf Channel. I guess that's practically the same thing as a supermodel.)

Lew's Logbook: The Masters

For those who don’t know, this is the Masters week…the most important tournament in golf.

I know a lot of people would say that watching golf on TV is like watching paint dry, but I thoroughly enjoy the event.... The best players in the world playing on what may be the most beautiful golf course in the world.

At the conclusion of the tournament I will probably have invested 18 hours in 4 days.

Have I mentioned that I am retired?

(Tracy here.... Lew hoped to include a photo of the Augusta National Golf Course, but I saw online that the images "may be copyrighted." So, please click *HERE* to explore what is indeed a beautiful golf course.)

More Chocolate, Please

My office at work is a fairly large room. In fact, I share it with three other women.

Because we have the space, leftover food from staff meetings,etc. usually ends up in our office. (I tell people, "This is where food comes to die.")

Today we had coffee cake and danish tempting us all day. It's just not right. Our coworkers need to start helping us eat all this food.

But one thing we don't mind having all to ourselves: chocolate.

We will never say "no" to chocolate!

I Do Something Crafty

We needed something colorful to hang in a certain spot in our living room, so I made a quilt!

Me!

I actually quilted!

Does it really matter that my quilt is made of paper?  😏

Dad 352: Cindy Brings Her Skills

(Mom told me she walked a good distance today. Enjoy Dad's post!  ~  Tracy)

Derf Here! Another very damp, cool day in the Northeast. Still waiting for Spring. Predicted next Tuesday could be close to 70 degrees. Hope they are not kidding.

Mary Lou (Spouse) is slowly coming around. Hope she keeps going in the right direction. I'm waiting for a call from Cindy (our hairdresser) to tell me what time she will arrive to give Spouse a haircut. Really lucky to have a person such as Cindy who will take her skills to the client when necessary. Very thankful!

Well, the college basketball season is now done. So we will concentrate on baseball. All I have to say is, "GO RED SOX!"

That does it for now. Sooo....

Until next time!

Toodle Pip!

Derf!

A Weather-Induced State of Limbo

I wore my heavy winter coat today.... The weather outside was frightful (song cue!) — it was cold and rainy.  At least it wasn't snowing in our part of the state.

I heard the weather report on the radio while driving home from work. The rest of the week will be marginal, but it's supposed to warm up next week!  Hooray!

I know I shouldn't get my hopes up too high, but I really have to cling to the idea of Spring finally arriving in all its splendor.  Then maybe I'll start blogging about more interesting topics!

Play Ball!

LET'S GO, RED SOX!  😎

Lew's Logbook: Registered Motorcycle

(Lew tells it like it is. ~ Tracy)

I registered my motorcycle this week. We got a foot of snow today. Sigh!!