Leave 'em Laughing

Today it was goodbye.  I thought about all of the silly jokes I've laughed at, the many hugs I received, the wisdom, and the feeling of accomplishment - as the elderly person sitting across from me would cry because they could hear their spouse for the first time in a long time.  I'm hoping for many more years

 of the same...

I left the new person notes, tied up some loose ends, vacuumed, dusted, and put up a sign saying the office will be closed for a week.  

Our friends from Sears helped us to leave doing what we like to do the most...

Laughing...

Job Security and The Truth

Dear Diary,
Mom won't find you this time, diary... not under this pillow.  The nerve of her, sharing you with the world....


Anyways -  big happenings in our house.  Mom is saying that I'll be losing my job of watching the house, come Friday.  She says the house won't need watchin' since she'll be home all the time.  What the...??  


What about - 'oh, gracie.. i need to go to work so i'll have money to buy you bones' or 'gracie, you know i have to work otherwise you wouldn't have a place to sleep at night'?  Where'd that go?  


Now, she thinks this'll make me happy cuz when she leaves to go to work I put on the sad - I can't believe you'd leave me here all day by myself - face.  When in reality... the minute I see her car go up the road, I run for the garage door opener, retrieve the battery operated Barbie Dream car from inside, and ride around with the wind in my ears and the sun in my face.  


Places I've gone:  The Pet Store where I eat cookies from the bin to visit the less fortunate, the dog park where I pick fights with black dogs mingle with others of my kind, and the dairy queen where I pig-out dog-out on vanilla ice cream and french fries.


I guess this foils the plans I had of visiting California to see my boyfriend Samson in the future.  I even had an extra battery charged up for the trip out.  Grrrrr...


  Mom doesn't know the truth about me. 


 And Diary, dear Diary...  Don't you dare tell her!!!

Winding Down

This week I'm winding down.  Cleaning out my offices.  

The Testing Room

I'm slowly pulling down photos, special signs, all things that say 'bobbi and gary work here'...

The reception area

  When I first worked here, this was my desk (above).

The repair / work room

  This (above) is where I did a lot of my own 

marketing and paperwork.  

When I tell people I'm leaving Miracle Ear to open my own business, many of my friends are saying "I thought Miracle Ear was your business."  LOL.  No, it wasn't.. though sometimes I felt like it was.  

Thursday is my last day.  It will be sad.  A little scary...  But a new beginning.

SSC

For Christmas I got a new camera.  

One of those SSC's. 

 At first I liked it.  

Then I realized it wasn't as good

 as my old one. 

Okay, Gracie.  Smile.

Darn SSC! 

Stupid-Slow-Camera

RIP

It was before 6 AM when I felt something tickling my left hand, waking me from a sound sleep.  "Grammy...  are you ready to get up?"  I wasn't.  Gracie was.  I was outnumbered.  

I needed to vacuum the floors today.  It had been too long and dust bunnies were no longer hiding.  I like to sprinkle baking soda on my carpets, so my vacuum cleaner won't smell doggie.  So today I was extra generous and poured baking soda thick, not caring that it was giving the furniture a fine film.  I'd be dusting afterwards so it didn't matter.  Vacuuming is not my favorite thing to do.  It's bend here, twist there, move this chair, crawl under the bed, pull this out ...  blah blah blah.  I noticed the red Panasonic vacuum was accumulating some white dust on the outside of it.  Hmm...  it doesn't usually do that.  It must be really dusty in here - I thought.  When I was 3/4 of the way finished (and it takes me about an hour all together to do the whole house), I decided to turn the vacuum off and investigate.  Maybe the bag came loose.  CHOKE - CHOKE COUGH - COUGH...  Dust everywhere!!  The bag had ripped and the vacuum was covered in white dust inside and out.  I wiped the sweat from my face and lugged it outside, scolding Gracie and telling her to "STAY" on my way out the door.  Pulling off the bag to put a new one on, I saw that I was going to have to clean it all out so I went inside and got a bucket of water and some rags.  After cleaning it as best I could, I put a new bag on and turned it on.  COUGH - COUGH - CHOKE!  Still, dust everywhere.  That's when I lost it.    RIP Panasonic Vacuum cleaner.

Dear Diary,


Good grief, the day I had was not fit for a dog.  First of all, Rissi was here last night and this morning.  It was all about her - of course.  'Rissi, let's pick flowers', 'Rissi, lets swing on the swings', 'let's play barbie castle, let's have cookies, let's go for ice cream, let's chase fireflies'  Grrrrrrrrr. 
After she left I was happy to have Mom's lap - finally!!  But she had other plans and one which I am not the least bit happy about- pushing that noisy machine around the house and causing me to run from one room to the other searching for peace and quiet.  Suddenly, something happened...  and she threw open all of the windows, then left.  She came back later with something called an animal.  Now, I'm an animal - or so they say - and I investigated this new addition and and if it's an animal, I'd like to know just what breed of animal it is.  Oh - and when dad told her he brought the beaten and battered Panasonic back to life, she said she didn't care, she was still keeping the animal.  What does all this mean?  Am I going to have to share Mom's lap?  Maybe not.  She took that animal all around the house and it made noise just like the other thing that she tried to murder teach who is boss.  I'm tired and confused.  Going to bed.  Gracie.

I Thought I'd Lost You!

I guess everyone's tired of seeing my wildflowers....  but that's all I have for now...  Nothing else is blooming yet.

Butterfly pictures, compliments of Gary.

It's been a busy time.  Next week is my final week of work, then a week off, then my new business will open.    Today we went to WCBC studio to record "Listen Up" segments for  radio.  This is just one form of advertising that we're going with.  

The newspaper will be covering our grand opening and maybe our ear carving.  

Our meeting in Fredericksburg,Va. was great.  The Hilton we stayed in was luxurious and clean and the meeting was top notch.  We met a couple who used to work for Miracle Ear, who had left there to go on their own... just as we are doing.  They had so much to offer.  We were given their card immediately and told to call anytime.

I'm starting to get really excited!!  

This morning I took Gracie over to the 'home office' and, as I often do, I turned her loose with her leash still attached, after pushing the door closed.  I started looking through some things on my desk and taking care of some business, then I turned around and called for her and I noticed the door was wide open!!  My heart dropped!!  We live along a busy highway and it's always been my fear that Gracie would get out and run onto the road.

Dear Diary,

Mom.  What can I tell you about her?  She's a little do-de-do-do ~insert twilight zone theme song here~  She came out of the office today first yelling "Gracie!"  

then it was "H-e-l-l-o  g-i-r-l. . ." i-n s-l-o-w m-o-t-i-o-n ~ ~  then she GRABBED my leash and hugged me real tight like she'd never let me go and  she kept saying things like, "I thought I'd lost you!"  Geesh.  I was just laying on the porch getting some sun and watching the guys cutting down trees along the highway.  She really needs to get a grip.  Gracie.

Party Time?

No better way to celebrate Father's Day than to spend time with Gary's family...  

Enter - Bethlehem Pennsylvania. 

We spent time at the Downs OTB with his Uncle Victor where I won over $100 on scratch off tickets.  

  

Gary's daughter Stacy and her boyfriend Vinnie met us there  and then we all went out to dinner.

After lugging our bags up two flights of narrow, filthy, steps - Hotel #1 smelled bad and looked dirty.  

 Hotel #2 was passable.  

The Casino was fun, but I'm sure glad I'm not a true blue gambler.  I'd be living in the streets.  I lost the money I won on the scratch offs and then some.  

Gary's daughter Stacy is always so thoughtful and never forgets her dad on special occasions.  I'm so glad she came from Jersey to spend the day with us!

Today before heading for home, it was brunch with Gary's mom.  After good conversation and a few good laughs, we were homeward bound.  

It's good to be home, but tomorrow we're on the road again.  Fredericksburg, Va. for a business meeting.  I'm tired.

Dear Diary,

I knew it would be ugly.  The word 'vacation' along with suitcases and a lot of belly rubs and cuddling could mean only one thing.  Mom and dad were leaving me again.   Lindsey and Rissi came to spend time with me and take me out to potty. But I was still sad. They're home now... but there's talk of them leaving me again tomorrow.  I'm torn between being sorrowful and sad or throwing a big 'ol 'my parents are away party'.  Who's in? Gracie.

Daddy's Hands

One bitter January afternoon, my mom sat warming her hands by our pot belly stove as she instructed my dad as to what he needed to pick up at the grocery store.  I was about five at the time. "Can I go?" I asked.  Dad was a quiet man, and about as easy going as you could get.  He nodded and I ran for my winter coat, hat and gloves. As dad opened the door to the blowing wind and slippery rocks that served as steps to take us to our car, I remember him taking my little gloved hand in his and telling me to be careful.  Though the ice was thick and the snow pelted hard on my face, I never felt more safe than I did with my hand in his on that blustery winter day.  

My dad was not perfect.  He drank too much on the weekends and sometimes stayed away from home just a little too long on Friday nights. 

But he had a wonderful, giving heart and I wouldn't have traded him for all the perfect dad's in the world.

He died way too young, at 53, and I miss him still today.

Me and Dad

Blogoversary > A Conversation With Gracie

"Hey Gracie, today's our blogoversary, girl.  It's been a year since we've been blogging.  Can you believe that?"

"The only thing I can believe is that you you're getting a lot of laughs at my expense.  But I guess that's nothing new." 

"Ah, Gracie.  Don't be like that.  You know it's all in fun.  I wouldn't hurt you for the world.  You're my baby, Grace!"

"Yea... um hmm...  Don't get me started."

"Gracie, our wildflowers are getting color.  Let's share them with our blogging buddies...  Oh no.  I forgot my camera.  I'll  use my phone.  There we go.  Now stay still and quit trying to yank me across the yard... I need to get this picture."

"Yea, yea... It's all about you and what you want.  See that fire hydrant up along the road?  Good smells are always radiating from there and every once in a while I get a whiff.  Now c'mon... take your stupid pictures and then let me do something I want to do for a change."

"Gracie, is there anything you'd like to say to all of our friends out there in Blogland?  It's been a year now you know...  they know a lot about you since they've been reading your diary."

"What?!  My diary!?  You're letting everybody and their brother read my secret thoughts, my dreams, my annoyances... humph!  What kind of a mom would do such a thing?"

"Aw, Gracie.  You're so cute.  I just like to share your cuteness with everyone.  And you know... only the dearest of friends are reading your diary.  They understand... and they love you just like I do."

"Oh, so does that mean they're going to clean my ears, submerge me in soapy water, leave me in a hospital to be cut open, sewed up, then cut open again, yell at me for leaving chickie bird in the middle of the floor, and do all kinds of other bad things to me too?"  

"Gracie, you know I take good care of you and all of that stuff was for your own good.  Now be nice....

...and tell all the sweet people thanks for their kindness throughout this past year..."

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!  Now, if anyone would like to send me a toy, a treat, a puppy...  send it to...."

"GRACIE! That's rude.  Now say goodbye."

"Grrrroood- bye."

Humiliating Me In Public

Dear Diary,
I've noticed Mom has no problem humiliating me in public and posting pictures of me scared and wet while I'm not at my best.  You know what I'm talking about. Moi? During the torrential downpour that just about did me in on Sunday? Remember? She decided it was 'for Gracie's benefit' to take me to the Heritage Days Festival. Did she find it funny that I'm nose to nose with the big black dog that I detest and have to be cordial to, in light of the consuming storm surrounding me?!  Did she think that yanking on my collar and holding me tight would keep me from tearing that black lab from limb to limb?  And she knows I don't like water, yet she marched me right out there through the storms fury to find yet another scary safe place away from the rain.  Humph.  Okay, it wasn't quite as horrible once we got settled there and it was dryer...  BUT I just read her fancy blog about the day ..  
 ha-ha-ha Mom,you are such an idiot a jokester.  Oh... and listen up, peeps.  Sure she shared pictures of ME sopping wet, terrified and humiliated.  


But Now - let ME share a few pictures of my own.

BEFORE

AFTER

bwhahahabwwabawwa!!!!

Uh oh.  Here she comes. Looks like I'm in deep doo-doo.  Pretend I'm sleeping. 
Later alligator.  Gracie.

Weight Watchers and Rebecca's Giveaway

What a nice week we're having here...  The days have been sunny and beautiful.  

I've started Weight Watchers Online once again.  

And these fresh fruit bags that are leftover from my yard sale are coming in handy.  I'm thinking there are no WW points in these..  and they are so good!

I've recently stumbled on a beautiful blog which I had been following for quite some time but didn't really visit that often.  I'm glad I decided to go there, and I intend to make it one that I visit often.  And I will confess...  I was encouraged by Rebecca's blog post about WW and that is why I decided to return.

Rebecca, over at A Gathering Place is having a giveaway and you really have to check out her blog and this gorgeous pillow.   

I hope everyone is having a great week and a beautiful day.

A Body Part

Who would've thought that a tree stump would 'sell' a house.  But this one did.  That was in 2006.  What do you think our intentions were.... for this stump?  

If you guessed 'have an ear carved out of it'  

YOU ARE RIGHT!

Due to circumstances which I won't get into at this time, our plans of a business did not materialize back in 2006... and our tree stump only served as a safe haven for bunnies, bugs, and... woodpeckers?

Gary looked out the window last month and noticed a woodpecker pecking away.  

Then again another day... and another...

"He's carving our ear for us.." I said.  

Okay, so he wasn't carving our ear.  See the bench in the background?  We were walking past it last week and Gary said, "Too bad they won't let us put a sign on the bench to advertise our business..."  (It's right in front of our house).

The next day we got a letter in the mail offering a plaque to be put on one of the benches for a fee, of course... with our business name on.  "YES!  WE'LL TAKE THE BENCH AT 700 NATIONAL HIGHWAY.."  We sent them a check right away.

Pop pop takes Rissi out to show her what the woodpeckers did to our stump.

Hoping to find Mr. Woodpecker

"C'mon Pop pop.  Will you make bucka for breakfast now?"

And so...  our grand opening will be in July.

And the stump has been stamped 'off limits' to Mr. Woodpecker.  Soon there will be a body part (an ear) growing from our yard.