Sunday, July 31, 2011

Suspicions


Dear Diary,

Mom and Dad went to a place called Hagerstown yesterday for dinner and a movie. 
They went without me. 

 I could have sworn I heard them say they wanted to get away from it all.  
Does that include me?  What do you think?!  

I guess they felt guilty about leaving me here all alone, because  they returned with a new toy for me.  Well..  they said it was for me.

  I have my suspicions though...  and I'm thinking that it was actually for them. I had to fight tooth and nail to get it away from them as they tossed it back and forth, making it squeak and trying to keep it away from me.

  I'm tired now... and I just want some alone time with my their new toy.  Gracie.

Friday, July 29, 2011

It Would Be A Sin

While our flowers are scorching in the summer heat...





Other, more useful plants are thriving.


Gary's tomatoes should be ready in a matter of weeks... 


And our grape harbor is overflowing with glorious, delicious grapes that are READY!!  What to do with these grapes?!  There are tons of them!  


And they are oh-so-sweet!!!


It would be a sin to let these go to waste.  I'm open for some good wine recipes or jelly.  Anyone???


Ever so gently, a rain fell before our evening walk this evening, and the heat wave was replaced with cooler temperatures and air that is much easier to breath.


 God decided to show off a bit and painted a beautiful rainbow in the sky.  





We dodged a few huge raindrops, but it didn't amount to much.  Gracie, who usually cringes at anything water related, didn't seem to mind. 


Waiting for your recipes...  :-)

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Life Is Good


Everything I do, I consider how it will affect Gracie.  

Seriously.

Whoever thought that I would one day be owned by a dog?!

When I come in the house after being away, I drop everything to greet her.   When I leave to go somewhere, I feel guilty, leaving her alone.  

No one eats dinner until she gets hers. 

Does she need to go outside?  Is she cool enough?  Does she have fleas?  Better check her tummy.  Are her ears clean? Is she comfortable?  Does she want her blanket?  Is she too hot with her blanket?  If I move in bed, will I disturb her?  

*Sigh*

Will she mind if I sit in her recliner for a few minutes?

Dear Diary,

Finally!  My own human slave.  I think I have her right where I want her.  Sad eyes = guilt.  Pacing = taking me outside.  Rolling over = belly rub.  Raising right paw = hug around the neck.  Chickie Bird in mouth = playtime.  Gumby in lap = more playtime.  Begging = morsels of food tossed in my direction.  Pretending to be asleep in bed = me getting the entire middle of the bed.  Life is good.   Gracie. 


PS  I am feeling so much better than yesterday.

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Busy

We continue to be busy in our new business.  I'm loving my job and each day is a new challenge.  Word is getting out.  People know we're here... and that's half the battle.

 Today we attended a Senior Expo at the Mall.

In planing for our very first trade show/expo appearance, I ordered hundreds of pens with our business info on.  Unfortunately two weeks after I placed the order, the pens had still not arrived.  "We'll make do without them," I said.

But just as everything else has worked out in this whole business endeavor...  the UPS truck pulled up to our door yesterday and guess what?  

Yep, you got it....


We had pens!!  

Since we're just starting out, we didn't have a professional trade show set up, so we had to improvise.  We had our video otoscope to show peeps what the insides of their ears look like.    There was candy, business cards, magnets... well.. you get the picture.  And speaking of pictures...


In other news...  the ants have returned and they mean business!  Gary insisted I put ant traps in corners where they were coming in.  I hesitate...  because I'm afraid Gracie will find them.  But I was careful and put a chair in front of them.  


"Gracie," I said.  "I have to go back to work.  Now you stay away from the ant traps!!"  


We shook on it.


But when I came back over, she showed signs of being interested in where they were...  So I took them up, then I sprayed the parameter with lysol.  It used to work for me..  Don't ask.  

Afterwards I caught a stray ant lugging a chunk of poison back to its home.  It seemed disoriented and kept going in circles, so I ended its miserable life. 


Dear Diary,

Note to self:  Don't puke in front of mom just minutes before dinner.  There's nothing like hearing 'oh gracie...  you poor thing...  you're sick...  I'll not feed you tonight so your tummy will feel better.'  Yea.  That'll work, Mom.  I feel better already.  Gracie.



Friday, July 22, 2011

It's A Girl!


From the moment she was born, our granddaughter Rissa has brought so much joy and love into our lives...  

and today she stopped by the office with good news.  


Her, her Mommy and her Daddy had just come 
from the hospital.


This is Rissa's baby sister...


I'm not sure if she would have been so quick to pull the pictures out and show me had the results been different.  

You see, Rissa's motto is, 'Girls Rule, Boys Drool'... 

 and the only boy she'll tolerate is her cousin Jake.  


So come December, Grammy and Pop-Pop will have a new bundle of love to start spoiling all over again. 


Dear Diary,

There's talk of another baby.  I think Mom and Dad are getting me a puppy.  I'm probably not supposed to know, so I'll act surprised.  Let's see...  let me practice..  'oh my!  what do you know about that!!?  A Puppy!  Can I keep him?'  ahem  Ok, let's try this again.  'Mom! Dad!  You're the best!!  Does he come with toys?'  I'll keep working on it.  In the meantime...  I have to try and stay bug free or they might change their minds.  Gracie.





Thursday, July 21, 2011

Prayer for Sis

My sister Lindy is one of those people who speak what they think and you can like it or not...  but you never have to wonder what's on her mind.  She's 8 years older than me and she was married at 15 and had 2 kids by the time she was 20.  Another came shortly after.  

As a child, I'd visit my married teenage sister and I can remember her making chocolate chip cookies and she'd make a huge one just for me.  

When I became an adult and married, I moved into the little green house right beside of hers.  We were neighbors for a very long time.  She introduced each one of my babies to their very first Oreo cookie...  and as they grew up, when she'd see them outside she'd rush out of her house with the cookie bag in her hand to treat them. 

 She visited me almost every day, giving me an adult to converse with amidst the crying babies and dirty diapers.  She was always giving - but on her terms.  I knew never to take advantage of her generosity or she'd let me know!  

We'd ponder over Days of our Lives and Friday's cliffhanger, and talk about what we thought would happen come Monday.   Our long talks would lead us to believe that we'd solved all the worlds problems at the end of the day, and that we were the only ones who had any common sense at all.  It was too bad everyone couldn't be like us! lol 

 Christmas lights would go up early and instead of being hung on the road-side of her big white farmhouse, the side facing our house would be brilliant and complete with Santa and his reindeer and tons of multicolored lights.  All this so my kids could see them when they looked out the window.  

The years have passed, and when I got divorced I moved and I'm no longer her neighbor.  Memories of quiet country summer evenings on the back porch swing watching the brilliant white stars dance around in the black night sky and laughing at each others jokes - are over.  Thanksgiving Day comes and goes now without one of us at the others house begging the poultry seasoning.   The Christmas Decorations have been sold at yard sales and our daily conversations with coffee and cake have become weekly phone chats with the subject being mostly aches and pains.  

Time stands still for none of us, no matter how 
unique we feel we might be.

 She doesn't like her picture taken, and would cringe if she knew it were on the Internet.  So I honor that request begrudgingly.  She wants her rotary dial phone back and wouldn't think of carrying around a cell phone.  When I tell her about my blog, she shakes her head.  She doesn't understand Facebook or Twitter and doesn't want to.

Lindy is a brittle diabetic with a lot of other health problems as well.  On the forth of July, something happened to her eyesight and now she can only see partial in each eye.  Thinking it was from her diabetes, she was sent to Morgantown for a surgery.  But yesterday she was told that it wasn't from her diabetes, but that she had had a stroke.  They wanted to keep her and run tests, but she refused to stay.  She said she gets homesick, but hopefully she will go back for the testing like she should.  

It must be horrible to lose your eyesight.  I can't imagine what it would be like to hear the sweet voice of my granddaughter and not be able to look into those big blue eyes.  

If you think about it..  please say a prayer for my sis.  

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Ear today... Gone Tomorrow?


Boy it's been hot.  But Gracie still insists on her nightly walk.  It's like being in an oven.  Whew!   I usually never have my camera with me anymore but I always have my phone so I count on it to give me a so-so picture if I see something I want to capture.


Like this sunset last night.  It was a lot prettier than the picture.  But hey, what do you expect with a camera phone?


 Gracie's still trying to get used to our running in and out of the house all day and disturbing her peace and quiet.  Today I walked in at lunchtime and she didn't even get up and grab a toy to greet me... she just laid there curled up at her window and looked at me like I was being a real pain.


Yesterday my ex boss called.   He was upset with me because I had left my customers know where I'd moved to, and they are coming to me instead of Miracle Ear.  The conversation did not go well, and in the end we parted on a not-so-good note.  Some day I'll do a post on that particular subject, but tonight I'm too tired.     


Rumor has it that our carved ear is getting complaints that it is 'advertising' our business, and may be going to the board -    One of the board members just purchased a set of hearing aids from us and doesn't seem to have a problem with it ... he lives right across the road... but Geesh.  People need to get a grip!  So, if we have to get rid of the ear, Do you have any other ideas of what we can put up to make an impact so people will know where to 'turn here' without actually advertising?  Gary was thinking maybe a big bear that points toward our house.  What do you think?

Business has been good...  and one of my biggest fears was that we would not get noticed where we are.  But we have had a lot of business from walk-ins.  Go figure.  

A customer and her hubby brought us lunch the other day after we heeded her advice and ordered a ramp with hand rails to be put out front.  The lunch was totally unexpected but appreciated just the same.  We meet some of the kindest people in our business !

Thank you all for your sweet comments on my last post...  It really made me feel good.

I hope everyone is having a great week!!

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Summer Stuff and Killing Gracie

Sometimes it's hard to juggle life, and make sure to include those who mean so much.  


My husband is my best friend I can't imagine my life without him in it.  I probably don't tell him enough, and sometimes I take him for granted.  Gary, if you're reading this, "I love you."



Then there's Gracie, who demands attention 24/7 in her own little way.  What was my life like without her in it?  I seem to have forgotten.


The grandkids are a blessing so huge and I can't help but smile just thinking about them.  God has been so good.


My kids, my friends, my siblings.  The list goes on and on.  How did I survive before they were in my life?


But life is funny, you know.  When one door closes another opens, and when it's one person's time to leave another quickly fills the void.  


I've had people pass in and out of my life, but their memory stays. Mom.  Dad.  Uncles. Aunts.  Friends. Relatives.  All made an impact.  All have a place in my heart.   


Then there's you guys...  my Blogger friends...   
with so much wisdom, humor, and love to share...


It seems the older I get, the more I realize what's really important in life.


It has nothing to do with fine cars, designer clothes, or exotic vacations.  It's more like a close game of Scrabble with my hubby, a five minute conversation with my 3-year old grandson Jake, blowing bubbles with my Rissa...  


Or taking time to read and comment on blogs.  
Me - Bored?  Never!




Dear Diary,
Ok.  I think I have all the evidence I need.  Mom's going to spend some time in the big house after I turn her in for trying to kill me.  Yes, diary... you heard it right.  Oh sure, she tried to make it look sweet and innocent.  'smile big, Gracie...  we have to take a new picture today'.  Yea right.  Her hand went straight for my throat and that's when I knew for sure.  It was the Pooping on the floor or the  turning her in for the m&m's  I don't know what  could have led her to this extreme behavior. I never do anything wrong.  Gracie.



Thursday, July 14, 2011

Rambling

The week's winding down, and I still have to pinch myself before I head out the door in the morning to go to work.  I'm heading next door and I'm my own boss.  Someone once said that owning your own business was a lot more work.  No truer words were ever spoken!  I'm exhausted at the end of a day.  But I've never been happier with a job!!  

Do you remember the post I did on my middle son, Justin?  Well, Justin is working in the movie theatre now, selling popcorn and movie tickets.  He's proud to be working... but even more proud that he was able to get his family in to see Cars 2 Free!  He treated Rissa and Jake with free popcorn, huge soda's and candy of their choice.  Little noses were pressed against the candy counter and Justin kept saying, 'pick out whatever you want.. anything at all.  I'm buying'.  There were a few mishaps...  like when Jackie (son #1) handed Lindsey (daughter) the huge coke and the lid wasn't on tight - coke spilled out all over Lindsey and Rissa who was standing right beneath the coke.  Ick.  The kids were a little restless in the movie..  It was hard for them to follow... not as good as the first Cars.  But we didn't tell Justin - I don't think I've seen him that happy in a long time.  Then Rissa and Jake were running and playing after the movie outside of the theatre and Rissa fell and skinned her knee.  She screamed a blood curdling scream and  Justin came running out to make sure she was ok.  She was.  She just needed a band aid.  

Jess (DIL) and Justin (#2 son)

Rissa and Jake
Jake was so worried about her.  He kept asking her if she was ok - she screamed 'no!  get away!!!'  and he said, 'Rissi, let me blow it for you...'  So cute!!

Dear Diary,
I sniffed out Mom's Peanut M&M stash... they were hidden in a basket right by her chair.  I barked.  I nudged.  I barked some more.  Dad said, 'What is she barking at?'  Mom said, 'I don't know.'  (but she did)  Then Mom took me aside, put my face in her hands and got real close.  'Thanks for getting me in trouble,' she said.  (She's supposed to be on a diet)  And so I'M to blame that she is sneaking M&M's???   No surprise there.  Gracie.




Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Opening Day

It felt weird hearing the radio guy talking about us from the little transistor radio as we sat, waiting for the phone to ring.  
"visit gary and bobbi today at All About Hearing... grand opening...   blah blah blah"

We were dressed and ready for our big day.  But it was quiet.  



Suddenly a tinge of fear swept over me and a thought of nobody ever walking through the doors became a reality.  I'd lose my house and my car and Gary would lose his big screen TV.  Gracie wouldn't do well on the streets.  


What had my positive thinking got me into?


Then in walked Earl, a former Miracle Ear customer who'd found us!  He wanted his hearing aid checked out.  Yes!!  A free service - but at least we'd be busy. 


When he was on his way out the door, another couple were on their way in.  A test and a sale!  And then another!!  If you enlarge the above picture you might be able to see our half page ad that went in the paper yesterday...  


The phone began ringing, and appointments were scheduled...  All in all, I'd say our opening day was a success.

Thank you, my friends for your continued support.  I appreciate it more than you can know!!!