Thursday comes early this morning

[ToddDH]

It's 0540 hrs. darktime and I need to get my daily post out of the way as I'm going to be tied up most of the day.

Yesterday was anything but one of my better days. I finally concluded the Good Lord didn't want me mowing. I got out my trusty Husqvarna Lawn tractor that had just recently been completely tuned up and got ready to go to work. I noticed I needed gas, so I took the 5 gallon can, put it in the trunk and drove the seven miles into town to the service station. I get the container out of the trunk and next I remove the spout.

Now, I always carry two wallets in my back pockets; one my shield case in which I carry not just my retirement shield but also my driver's license and my Amex card, the other being the one in which I carry cash and the other cards I use more often such as for gasoline. I reach for my wallet in my left rear pocket and it's not there. Darn! No Shell discount today! Then I reach for my shield case with my AMEX card. It's not there either. Duhhhh.................

I disgustedly get into the car, drive all the way back home home, get my wallets and return to the station and get my gas! Upon arriving home I get on my trusty Husqvarna and get to work. I get the smaller front yard done and start working on the back and my adjoining extra lot. While mowing around some bushes, some limbs knock off my not cheap prescription sun glasses. Well, I stop to pick them up and can't find them and I figured I'd run over my them and chopped them in a million pieces. They are only about six months old. Problem was, I couldn't even find the pieces. Finally, after ten minutes I find the glasses in one piece and they're only dusty. Life is good, at least for about five minutes. I get back to mowing.

Within minutes I somehow manage to run over a little hillock where used to grow a large bush. Whonck! Long story short, I think I bent the shaft. I just sit there thinking, "Lord, couldn't you have convinced me not to mow without costing me so much money?"

Nonetheless, it's a new day today, Easter weekend is coming up and I am truly blessed. Today I take the car in to have the A/C repaired. But then with 127,000 miles on a vehicle, one has to be prepared for such things to happen. I'm sure it won't be cheap but it beats four years of new car payments!

Hope everyone has a wonderful "run up day to TGIF" and I'll check back later.

BTW I would request the prayers of those so inclined for both a Holy death and the acceptance into God's Magnificent Kingdom of a dear friend, Susan, the wife of another dear friend both of whom are widely known throughout the world of journalism. Susan is soon destined to end her hard fought battle with cancer. She is not expected to make the day. They live in your neck of the woods Trip, up in Cambridge. She went under Hospice care a week ago and made her final posting on the Caringbridge web site (a site for people with problems such as hers designed to facilitate communication with friends when individual communication becomes too much). True to form, it was not in the least morose and was quite humorous. Susan is indeed a treasure. I thank you in advance.

Prayers continue as well as a prayer for Blessings on all of you.

Todd

[rollerdonna]

Morning Todd,
I hope you don't mind, but I had a few chuckles at your expense, over your stories of yesterday. Put me in mind of many a dream I've had where you're just trying to do one thing, or get somewhere, and anything that can go wrong will.... Sorry you had such a rough day.

Also sorry to hear of your friend Susan. I hope she has a peaceful passing and that you will always have fond memories of her....

Meanwhile, here in Pictou County the weather is awful on this April Fool's Day, but then, what else is new? Today it's 1C and pouring rain, but I guess I can be thankful that we don't have the kind of flooding I'm seeing in the Northeast U.S. Prayers sent out to those of you affected by this...

I'm off for my last 1/2 day this week. One of my schools has added a "Professional Day" to their Easter weekend, so I don't have to go there this afternoon, there will be no kids. Looking forward to a long, relaxing Easter weekend, and hopefully, some much better weather!

donna

[beenie weenie]

Good Morning CruiseMates!
Todd, your story sounds familiar... same sorts of things happen to d/h at least once each mowing season. Must be a guy thing. Which is why invariably I end up mowing most of the time . It's a good thing you guys are so darned loveable (most of the time anyway lol).

Speaking of d/h, last night I had a major flashback to our married life prior to the advent of GPS. When I would get a very brisk, curt phone call informing me that everything is screwed up, mapquest and google directions are wrong and d/h has no idea where he is and they are all plotting against him to keep him from getting to his final destination. Only last night d/h's GPS was plotting against him as well. I asked him where he was...the response, "hell I don't know" I said are you on the interstate? "yes" east bound? "no!, north bound" What interstate? "I-76", mile marker? "hell I don't know". I said well find out.... "#16".

I grab a map and realize he is nearly to Youngstown, OH. Needless to say this not the most direct route to our home from Pittsburgh. I have the audacity to ask that since the GPS and road signs were all obviously conspiring against him, had he bothered to consult a map? Then he told me the evil conspirators had somehow gained access to his car and removed all of his maps. I asked him if he had considered stopping at a gas station and perhaps purchasing a new map... his response was "We have lots of maps at home, we don't need to waste money buying more"

OK so at this point I am figuring how much money we would have saved in wasted gas if Christopher Columbus had bothered to stop and buy a $2 map or ask for directions.

The logic is so illogical. I hope he comes home soon... otherwise we'll miss him.

There was lots of drama yesterday, d/d was working hard learning to ride her bike without the training wheels, that was a major theatrical production, we enrolled the kids again in gymnastics and karate. Looks like another busy summer. Both kids will be doing that as well as d/d playing softball, then dance in the fall. Then last night d/d unexpectedly yanked another tooth out of her head... the tooth fairy needed to borrow some cash from me. I was down to my last $5 bill.

The house looks as though a bomb went off as usual. I can't seem to stay inside on these beautiful days. Its supposed to get up into the 80's today and I am hoping that my Husband made it to his hotel in Richmond last night and decides to come home so I can get a hand dragging the trees and brush the neighbor and I cut down back to the brush pile to be burnt. Perhaps he can also go chasing d/d down the road on her bike assisting her with this major rite of passage (losing the training wheels).

Well folks that's all from the funny farm. Hope you all have a glorious day.

[Henry43]

Good morning from sunny NY where its 50 degrees .Sunday its expected to hit 80 ,I can't wait .

A terrific thursday is wished for all

[Luanne Russo]

Good morning everyone from a sunny, warm Texas. The humidity moved in last night, so I had to close up the house, and even run the air for a few minutes. We are suppose to storm tomorrow, and then cool off a bit.

Our trip to Austin yesterday was successful. We spent most of the time trying to find a hotel for our business trip in May. Austin traffic is a nightmare, and Jim needs to be able to get to the post, without spending several hours in traffic. We finally found one that will meet our needs.

Picking up Joe's stuff was painless. The police officer said that I was taking it very well. I told her that I had cried a million tears, but now days I just do what I have to do.

The bags we received are grocery bags sealed with crime tape on it. There are six bags. We did not open them as I was assured that it was everything we came for. I put them in Joe's old room, and may or may not open them one day. The point was not to so much see the stuff, but to have everything back home where it belongs.

We also stopped at the cemetary on the way home. So many headstones have been added since we lost Joe. He is surrounded by young men who did not make it back from the war, as well as our Vet population who seem to be dying at a fast rate.

Today I clean, and pay a few bills.

My prayers continue for those in the flood areas.

I hope all of you have a great day.

Luanne

[ready2gonow]

Mornin!

I'm achy! The weather is changing. If only it meant that all the pollen was moving out. Well, maybe the rain will wet it down a little, I guess that is the best I can hope for. I don't think the rain is to come until tomorrow, but it sure feels like it is going to get here sooner.

Not a lot going on here. DH will take the car to have the AC worked on. We have a 2003 Honda Civic with 278,000 miles on it. I can't believe how little we have had to do to that car. Just routine maintenance. The AC is the weakest thing on that car, and in this neck of the woods, the most essential! This afternoon I'll take my DIL's mother to Houston for a doctor appt. I always enjoy our time together, so I'm looking forward to a nice visit.

Yesterday I made not 1, but 2 trips to the DAV, with clothes that I haven't been worn in too many years! I had 2 bags ready to go in the morning, and dropped them off first thing in the morning and then realized that I needed to pull more items out of the closet, before packing for our cruise. Actually the bags made it to the DAV, but the second load went to a woman I met close to my size, who will use what she can, and take the remainder to her church. Either way, I know someone will get benefit from them. Better than the clothese taking up valuable closet space!

Todd, I think yesterday was the day you were to stay in and play on the computer. I tried not to laugh, but it was funny! There are days like that. I hope today is a better day for. Maybe set your sights a little lower. I will certainly keep Susan and her family in my prayers.

RD, enjoy your long weekend!

Beenie, are all men alike? On one of our trips I was driving and DH had the map (before we had a GPS). Even with the map, he routed me the wrong way. I pulled over and grabbed the map and said "You're useless!" That was probably a little harsh, but I was a tad frustrated. His response was "I don't want to be useless, I want to be a genius, again."

Today is supposed to be another nice day, so I will enjoy it!

[Trip]

Hi Kids,
I am waiting for the sun, and hope it shows itself soon...The week can only get better, with 80 degrees by Sunday..watching the news, is heartbreaking, to see what Mother Nature has done to the area....If you can belive, part of I-95 is shut down through Rhode Island..imagine if you needed to go south..the poor homeowners there, have fish in thrie basements

I am off to the dentist later today, to get crowns..if you hear screaming, I apologize....

Todd, my sympathy to you and Fran, on the loss os Susan, it's never easy to say goodbye..

To esch and every Cruisemate...make it a good one.

[Kuki]

Good Morning cruisemates! My 5 month escape from the realities of winter is 24 hrs from being over.

The sun's already warm, and the mowers are out preparing "my hole" for all the golfers. Today I have to wash the floors, clean the bathrooms, take in the patio furniture, and start covering furniture to get the place ready to "lock and go".

All the real-life hassles I've left at home are there waiting for me to deal with. Can't say I'm excited about returning to dig through that pile.

[CruisinK n J]

Good morning from sunny Southern California. The rain the media made such a fuss about never materialized, at least not here. Still sweater or jacket weather, though.

Todd, my condolences to you and Susan.

Not much happening today. I hope everyone has a nice day.

Judy

[Mike M]

Good early afternoon:

It's a beautiful day. Yesterday, the ice officially went off the lake. I was working on the yard and when I looked a couple of hours later I saw the sun glistening off the water. Also, Spring has officially arrived. Last night when I took Kramer out for his last doo-doo of the day I heard the wonderful sound of frogs croaking. I loved it.

Today is more yard work. I guess I can't be Al Bundy and leave Christmas lights up all year. There are no more snow banks so I'll have to get them down today.

I guess I'm lucky in the "Direction" route. My wife is the one who is directionally challenged but will ask. I have a strange ability to know North, South, East and West even on a cloudy day or night. I can also "usually" figure out street and address grids. However, I am not one who thinks it's emasculating to ask for directions.

I hope everyone has a Fantastic Thursday!

Take care,
Mike