A Heart Stopping Moment

I had a last few hours with Carter this morning before my journey home began. We had such a fun four days and I was sad to leave. My Uber driver was unable to figure out how to get me to Logan, but he happily took directions from me for the very short drive. All good I got to the airport.

When time came to board my flight I discovered two very tiny Chinese women sitting in my row, one in my seat. I asked her if she was in the correct seat. She asked if I would switch with her and sit on the other side of the aisle. I purposely pick the left side aisle seat because I needlepoint on the plane and that way my needlepointing hand moves out into the aisle and not into the person next to me. I really didn’t want to sit on the other side, but I didn’t want to separate these very old women. So I agreed.

A man was at the window and a nice middle aged women was in the middle seat of my new row. I apologized as I sat down, “I’m sorry I needlepoint and I promise not to stab you.” The man asked me if I wanted the window seat so I would only stab the window. So we all got up and rearranged.

I have done about a third of this giant canvas and I need to work on it everyday to try and finish it in this calendar year. So I stitched the whole flight, packing up my bag right as we landed.

It was great to get home to Russ and Shay who met me with a lot of wagging. That’s Shay, not Russ. Russ carried my bags upstairs and I looked at mail. I called the jury duty number to see if I was required to report for jury duty tomorrow. Thankfully I was released.

After dinner I started to unpack my bags. My needlepoint bag was not in my carry-on. I looked all around the downstairs route to my bedroom. My heart stopped. Had I not put my needlepoint bag inside my carry-on? Had I perhaps thought I had, but instead slipped it down the outside of the bag. Since I was in the window seat I did not have a good view of the floor around my seat.

I know what happens to left onboard needlepoint. I have more than a few friends who have left their stitching in the seat back pocket, never to see it again. I did not have any identification on my needlepoint bag. Not that an airline gives a damn about what is left on board.

I grabbed my keys and went out to my car. Just before I was about to throw up from the thought of having to recreate that whole canvas I saw my needlepoint bag on the front seat.

Now I am happy to be home.

Our Day of Neighborhoods

Carter picked me up in a zip car today and we went to pick up Claire and Norman for a day of touring neighborhoods. We drove to Charlestown which is so fancy now. 37 years ago I went to Charlestown to visit my friend Laura and she made me put a sign in my car that read, “no radio” so my car would not get broken into and my radio stolen. Too bad I did not have the money to buy a house in Charlestown then because it would have been a very good investment.

From Charleston we went to the South end. Carter and I have looked at streets in the South end and dreamed of her living there, but once again they are very far out of reach. Southie was next. Nice, young, hipper, not as fancy. We stopped and had lunch outside since Norman was with us.

Our tour continued to neighborhoods in Dorchester. Uphams Corner, Polish Triangle, Savin Hill, Ashmont. These neighborhoods are more affordable. We dropped Claire and Norman off at home and Carter and I went back to her Beacon Hill Neighborhood for tea at the new darling Beacon Hill Bookshop.

We had a tiny table in the courtyard. We had every staff member wait on us at one time or another. They went out of their way to give me gluten free items. Susu, the creative culinary director took a shining to Carter and offered her a job to work the tea service on Sundays.

We did not get a chance to see the book store because we stayed so long at tea. We couldn’t help ourselves because we were listening to the girls sitting next to us. One girl described a movie with Kiera Knightly that she liked, but when she went to find the book the movie was based on she said she couldn’t read it because it was half about the character Kiera plays and half about farming. Carter and I were waiting patiently for the woman to remember what the book was. When she looked it up on her phone and said, Anna Karenina Carter and I almost spit our tea out. Not a book about farming.

We walked back up the hill and up five flights of stairs to Carter’s cozy apartment to watch a movie. Time to pass out after such a fun day.

Bringing Adults Joy

Day two at Mah Jongg camp with Carter and Claire’s friends was a blast. The day started with Carter and I meeting up to have brunch. We talked our way into having the best booth in the place where we holed up for a good close to two hours talking. Thankfully our waitress had a new trainee so they were kind to let us keep the table so long. I tipped accordingly.

After that long gab fest Carter and I ubered to her office to set up for the second day of class. Sadly Carter’s friend from work, Drean had another class today so we missed her, but everyone else came to play.

Since yesterday was the big learning the rules day, today was the big playing day. The ladies came with snacks and drinks and I was especially appreciative of Claire’s special Arnold Palmer she brought just for me.

They were a smart group so we got lots of games in. There was nothing more joyful than when someone got their first Mah Jongg. The cheers went up for everyone.

We took one break in the playing to have a big group therapy session to discuss a family issue then went right back to playing.

I loved all the friends who came. It gives me great comfort to get to know Claire’s friends and how wonderful they have been at accepting Carter to their group. I hope they all have many happy years of playing Mah Jongg together and are always as happy as they were in these pictures. Sadly Courtney left before our group photo today.

We played longer than originally planned because everyone was having so much fun. After class Carter, Claire and I went to dinner. It was amazing we could still be talking at 8:30 at night after all the talking all day. Now I need a good recovery sleep, but all these cute people will keep my extrovertedness up I am certain.

Boston Mah Jongg

Last Spring Carter and Claire asked me if I would come to Boston and teach their friends how to play Mah Jongg. What a silly question. Of course I love nothing more than spreading the Mah Jongg love amongst their friends. Little did I know that the weekend we would pick would be the head of the Charles. So the city is covered in tourists and rowing fans.

Our class was tonight after work so it was nice that all these young people came after working all week. Carter was able to use the conference room in her building so we had a good place to learn.

Carter ordered dinner to be delivered to her office. As everyone was arriving Carter got a text that the grub hub driver had delivered the food with a photo of it sitting on the loading dock of the seafood warehouse across the street from Carter’s building. Carter and her friend Keves ran across the street to get the order before a big semi pulled up to that dock. The driver did not get the right building, but he left the food at dock 6 which is the number of Carter’s building.

When Carter and Keves got back they alerted us that the order was also missing three Pizza’s. Claire got involved then dealing with the missing pizzas. We just started the learning part of class while we waited for the rest of the dinner to arrive.

I love teaching young people because they pick everything up quickly. They learned most of the basics before we hit the Friday Night wall and everyone went home to rest up for a big day of learning/playing tomorrow. The bonus for me is meeting this fun Boston friends and Norman Clair’s sweet golden doodle who came to class with his emotional support vest on. I hope Norman liked Mah Jongg class.

Take Your Mother to Work Day

I got to go to Carter’s office and meet all her wonderful team members. It made a mother proud to hear how well she is doing and get to put faces with the fabulous people she is learning from.

I am in Boston to hold Mah Jongg lessons with Carter and her friends. Nothing but fun. After seeing her office we walked down the street for dinner at Chickadee. Carter’s best college friend Estelle joined us. I adore Estelle. We had such a fun dinner.

Carter thought it was time I told Estelle two of my classic stories. The first was the Saskatoon story and the second was the lost underpants story. Estelle is a member of the family now that she knows those stories.

Spending time with your grown child and her good friend is about the most fun thing there is. More to come from my Boston days, but now I have to rest up.

Good News — Tell Your Mom

When you are a young adult and something good happens to you because of your own hard work what should you do? It may feel braggadocios to tell your friends or worse post it on social media. There is one person who definitely wants to hear about your successes, Your Mom!

For years Moms have gotten report cards on your work. We have watched you at sports events and cheered you on. We know everything you ever applied for and did and did not get. When you get out of school we no longer get outside feed back on how you are doing in life. So if you get a job, a raise, some praise, a big sale, or a successful presentation. Tell your Mom.

I call finding out these things “adult report card.” No one is happier than your Mom to hear your good news. There is no fear of sounding too boastful. The hard part is that your Mom must also keep the news in the family, but at least you and your Mom can talk about it all you want.

No one is happier for you than your Mom. Having successes mean we did our job well and you are our report cards.

Joyful Joyful

Shay had her check up week before last. The vet noticed that her legs were a little stiff. She suggested that Shay might have a little arthritis. Shay had been slowing down a bit.

So the vet prescribed an NSAID to try and see if it helped Shay feel less stiff. We have to cut a small pill in half, which is crazy, and give it to her with her meal. In two days she was like a different dog.

She was walking perfectly normally and wanting to go on much longer walks. What a wonderful thing. I hate to think that she might have been in pain unnecessarily. She is such a stoic little thing, never complaining, never crying.

She may be 12, which is old in dog years, but I hope she has a bunch more good pain free years ahead of her. If only we could live as long as we were bringing joy to others. If that were the case she would live forever.

The Beautiful Spirit of Connie Kearny

I can’t remember exactly when I first met Connie Kearny, but I feel like I have known her almost as long as I have lived in Durham. It feels wrong to think of Durham without Connie, but sadly that has been the situation for the last two days as she passed away after a long decline with Lewy Body Dementia.

Connie was always a kind gentle southern woman with more style than most. As a member of Hope Valley Garden Club we spent many years at meetings and auctions together. For years I would go to her house, a reflection of Connie’s love of black and white and buy clothes from her. Carter attended her Courtesy Camp at HVCC and would come home full of better manners.

Connie’s husband Phil and I used to joke that he and I were cousins since we shared the middle name of Henderson as we do-auctioneered for Caring House together. Phil and their daughters have been devoted to caring for Connie. Connie was loved by all who knew her.

Her dear friends would bring her to garden club when she was unable to come on her own and they would include her in many activities. It was no wonder as Connie was loved by so many and will be greatly missed by our community.

I am sending love to Phil, Kelsey and Sarah and Connie’s sister Belinda and all Connie’s dear friends who are grieving. Sadly I will be in Boston on Friday when the service for Connie’s wonderful life will be celebrated at Trinity Ave. Presbyterian Church.

Connie’s wonderful spirit is free from the body which failed her, but will live on in the happy memories and lives she touched.

Smart Dog

If you look at social media you might have seen dogs who communicate with humans through the use of buttons they step on that speak words. It is so amazing how a dog chooses from over 83 words to say, “leash outside.” I watched as the dog parent pushed on the words, “water outside now.” And the dog went a lay down understanding that water meant it was raining. So 15 minutes after the rain ended the dog pushed “no water.” And the parent got the leash and they went outside.

Shay does not have a word button board, but there are plenty of words she understands, like go, car and chicken. But Shay also uses body language to communicate with us. Her normal dinner is kibble, some chicken and after she has eat the chicken off the kibble she gets cheese in two servings.

Sometimes she is still hungry and she wants more cheese. She has a stance she does on her bed while she sticks her tongue out for just a second indicating, “I need more cheese.” If we don’t respond she sticks her tongue out again, while holding the stance of one leg in front of another.

We pour a little shredded cheese in her bowl and she goes over to eat and then will lie down on her bed indicating her satisfaction. It may not be the same as pushing a button, but we still know exactly what she wants and how to get it. Dogs are so smart.

Gluten Free Turkey Meatballs

My friend Treat asked if I would share my recipe so I replied with it just to her. Then I got six other requests. So rather than writing it over and over I’ll post it here.

Russ has given up red meat for the most part, that is why I use ground turkey, but honestly any ground meat or any combination would would with this.

Since I can’t have gluten and I did not want to grind up my ridiculously expensive gluten free bread, I saw my jar of oatmeal sitting in the kitchen and thought that might work as a substitute for bread crumbs. Worked great and is probably healthier.

1 lb of ground turkey breast (ground turkey is all the parts including skin so I go with breast.)

1/4 cup of rolled oats

1 onion minced

1 red jalapeño minced

1 clove of garlic

2 T. Milk

2 T. Dijon Mustard

3T. ketchup

Good shake of Worcestershire

1 egg beaten

I minced the onion, jalapeño and garlic in the cuisineart all together. While the onion is still a little big I throw in the oatmeal so it too gets chopped up a bit. Then I add the milk and pulse it twice and let it hang out for about five minutes so the oatmeal can absorb some liquid.

I put that mixture in a bowl and add the mustard, ketchup, Worcestershire and egg and mix well. Then I add the meat and gently mix.

I use a cookie scoop the size of a golf ball to scoop out the ball and place them on a foil lined cookie sheet. I bake the ball at 375° for about 15 minutes. I put the meat thermometer in them to make sure they are at at least 145°.

You can substitute chili sauce for ketchup and add Parmesan cheese to the mixture if you want.

It’s About Time I Cooked Dinner

I made some bean soup last weekend and it kept Russ fed all week as I was out teaching. With a much needed day off today I thought it would be a good idea to cook a dinner of new things for Russ so he will stay with me.

Since I had to go gluten free three months ago Russ has been a good sport about eating what I eat. I know he misses pasta like he used to eat. So tonight I made some gluten free Mac and cheese. The elbows didn’t have the toothsomeness we like, but it was a good vehicle for the six kinds of cheese I used.

I made turkey meatballs with oatmeal instead of bread crumbs and Russ loved them so that was a good idea. The best thing I made was a salad of shaved raw Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, chick peas, Parmesan, dried cranberries, and pumpkin seeds, with a lemon vinaigrette. I want to remember what I put in this since it was good, and I tend to forget dishes I make up as I am cooking.

Shave the Brussels Sprouts in the cuisineart

Peel and dice a butternut squash and roast on a greased sheet pan in a 400° oven until cooked. How long depends on the size of your dice.

Put those things in a bowl and add a can of drained and well rinsed chick peas, cranberries, nuts and shredded Parmesan.

Lemon vinaigrette

Juice of 2 lemons

2 T. Dijon Mustard

1 T. Honey

1/3 cup of olive oil

Salt and pepper

Put lemon juice, mustard and honey in a bowl and drizzle in the olive oil whisking the whole time. Once the oil is well incorporated and emulsified, add salt and pepper to taste.

Pour enough over the salad to dress it lightly.

Crazy Dream

I can tell when I doing too much because I have crazy dreams when I sleep. Last night’s was a doozy. Usually I forget my dreams not long after I wake up, but not this one. It started out with me in a car. I drove it to the car wash where I got out of the car and went around the side the building to use a hose to take a shower – naked.

Thank god in my dream the vision of myself naked was not too distinct or it would have been a real nightmare. Some guy came around the side of the building and told me to drive my car into the car wash. Nothing was said about my showering nakie.

So I went through the car wash and when my car came out the other side I was driving inside a hospital. It was amazing how wide the corridors were because I never hit anyone, although I did come up to a man who demanded I get out of the car and he screamed at me. Thankfully clothes had miraculously appeared on me. I was afraid of this guy so I jumped back in the car and did a u-turn frantically searching for an off ramp inside the hospital.

That is when I woke up. As far as I know I never made it out of the building, but my car was clean as was I thanks to the hose shower and I was fully dressed.

On a better note I had 32 people graduate from two different Mah Jongg beginner classes and 16 from advanced beginner today so my nine classes in four days marathon is completed. I am praying I don’t dream about Mah Jongg, car washes or hospitals tonight.

You Need to Learn Something New All the Time

As a Mah Jongg teacher of thousands and thousands of people every year I see all the different ways that people learn. Over the years I have improved how I communicate information so that people of different learning styles and abilities can all gain as much knowledge as possible.

From teaching children to 80+ year olds all the same material I have gotten enough data points to make some broad generalizations. There is reason children go to school when they do. They are sponges when they are young and can pick things up quickly. Humans continue to get to be better and better learners to a point and then they start to slow down. I find that with the very old it takes a little longer to learn new things, but learn they still do.

The best students at any age are the most curious, wanting to know the “why.” My favorite class to teach is Advanced Beginner Mah Jongg. It is a class helping people learn how to think about the game, rather than just learning the rules like they do in beginner Mah Jongg. The class and I all work on the same hands, but the students work in groups discussing possible moves and then together we discuss the best move.

Normally that class is three days long and what is extraordinary is how over the three days people go from sometimes getting the answer right to almost always getting the answer right as they train their brain how to think about the strategy.

The most exciting thing to me is to see how older students improve at the same rate as younger students. I find that at first older students take a bit longer, but with each exercise it is like their brain has turned on high and then they hold their own. It is a little like the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady wins the race.

The one thing I have come to appreciate is that those repeat students I have who come to a class every year or twice a year make the greatest leaps and bounds in their skills, especially older students. It boils down to the fact that we have to keep exercising our brains in new a different ways as long as we live.

Thanks to my students for teaching me so much about teaching you. It exercises my brain everyday and the bonus is I get to spend time with you.

Joyful, Joyful, Exhausted

Three classes today. I left home at 7:45 AM. Got home at 9:39 PM. Had a big day with 52 new students. But the best part of the day was my lunch break with my two of my favorites, Dell and Holly. Thanks to Mah Jongg I get a chance to make so many wonderful friends.

Nothing feels better than arriving at the home of a previous student, Liz, who got a new class started for her friends and to be greeted by a big “DANA!” And a hug.

I may be exhausted, but it is well worth to have the privilege of doing what I do.

All that being said. I have to get up early and do it again tomorrow, but only two classes and not three. I wish everyone the joy of getting to do something you love that brings others so much fun.

You Have to Advocate for Yourself

I needed a prescription today. My dr. Is very old fashioned and called it into the pharmacy. The Dr’s Assistant called me and told me they left the prescription on the voice mail of the pharmacy. We both knew that meant they might not listen to it for a while.

I waited three hours and checked the online system. No prescription for me in the system. So I went to the store. I waited to be helped and told them my prescription was on their voice mail. The clerk said she could see two voice mails on the system, but the pharmacist had to listen to them. I watched as three people without appointments walk up to get vaccinated before the pharmacist listened to the voice mail.

The clerk told me they then had to check to see if they had the medication in stock. Ten more minutes. She said they had the generic and the pharmacist had to approve the change to generic. She finally did that ten minutes later. At this point I was the only person waiting in the store.

The secondary clerk old me it would be another 30 minutes and that I should sit in the chairs and wait. I politely said I would stand to wait. She then told me to sit down. You can imagine that did not go well with me. I said I was fine standing, but it was five hours since my prescription had been called in and it should take priority over walks-ins with no appointments as it was for an actual illness, not preventative.

So I stood. Standing worked and it was only 15 more minutes, making that visit a total of almost an hour because they didn’t have time to listen to the voice mail without my going there to tell them it was waiting for them.

When the number of pharmacies exploded a number of years back adding one on every corner, they did not expand the number of pharmacy students in the same ratio. There are not enough people to man all these pharmacies. Considering how long it takes to get a degree in pharmacy and then what a terrible job it is to stand in the store with horrible people like me waiting I don’t think things are going to get better anytime soon.

Pick A Peck

That Peter was on to something. When he was sent to pick a peck of peppers it was not a hard job. Peppers are prolific.

When we left for Maine I told my friends to pick my garden to their hearts content. My favorite was my friend Carolyn’s four year old granddaughter who has been visiting my garden annually. She is an intrepid veggie eater and love peppers.

This was the quote from her granddaughter that Carolyn sent me.

When Russ and I got home our fig tree was stripped clean and not a fig on the ground. That was hundreds of figs I was happy people could enjoy.

My peppers, eggplants, tomatoes and zucchini had been well harvested. I was thrilled that the veggies did not go to waste. I just left my aging plants in the garden, ignoring the need to rip out the spent plants.

Today was the perfect day to go clear the garden as it was cool and dry. Before pulling out the plants I had to harvest what little was left. A few small green tomatoes and a couple of ripe tomatoes, one tiny eggplant and hundreds of peppers. Those pepper plants gave and gave and gave. They would probably keep producing until a frost if I were to leave them, but there is no need as I have more peppers than we will need.

One thing that was unexpected were two pepper plants I bought at the farmers market which turned out to be not at all what they were advertised to be, so I have some white and purple peppers. I won’t be pickling those.

Creature Comforts

Yesterday I wrote that fall was coming today. The cool weather did not quite make it as it was the perfect 72°today. But wildlife must have read my blog and thought it was time to take shelter.

This morning Russ went down to get the laundry from the dryer and came back empty handed.

“I hope you weren’t counting on wearing any of that right now.”

“Why, wasn’t it dry?”

“No, I am having to rerun the whole thing.”

“Why?”

“A mouse committed suicide. Not sure if it was in the washer or the dryer.”

Thank god Russ found it and not me.

Then this afternoon I called Russ to come in the dining room. The cutest bright green salamander was trying to climb the French door, hoping to find a way outside. I asked Russ to get a rag to catch him while I opened the door. That salamander saw Russ coming and high tailed it to the sun room.

Russ is so tender hearted he didn’t want to hurt the poor guy when he caught him that he did not close his hand enough and the salamander kept jumping from his hand. It took a while, but eventually Russ got him on his way to the living room and released him outside. The little guy was paralyzed with fear that this giant was standing next to him. Russ was worried he had crushed him. He was fine, but told him not to come in the house again or I might crush him.

Listen up wild creatures. You live outdoors. I don’t care if you think you might be more comfortable inside. You won’t be, not for long, especially in the washer or dryer.

Soup’s On

I hear fall is actually going to show up tomorrow when the temperatures are going to drop. Since we have been living with perpetual summer I am looking forward to some cooler weather.

In anticipation I made navy bean soup tonight. Russ was all prepared to eat the leftover Thai green curry chicken I made night before last, but when he saw the soup he went with that.

There is nothing more I like than making soup to have on hand for lunch or dinner. I know I eat a healthier dinner if it is just a bowl of soup. I do use a smoked ham hock in my navy bean soup, so the amount of meat we each end up eating is less than two tablespoons.

Now that I can’t eat gluten there will be no crusty bread or grilled cheese to accompany soup. That is where I miss gluten. The gluten free breads I have tried are not worth eating with soup since I still remember what real bread tastes like. I will just have to be satisfied with the soup alone. C’est là vie.

Mah Jongg Openings Next Week

Next week I am teaching a beginner and an advanced beginner classes at a country club in Raleigh. The club lets non members fill empty spots in the classes at the last minute. A couple of people have dropped out of their classes and I have a couple of spaces in each of them.

It is hard for me to contact every person who might want to fill these spots, so I am putting the word out here. The classes are Tuesday -Thursday, beginner 9-noon, advanced 1-4PM.

If you are interested in these spots please contact me and I will let you know if they are still available.

A friend contacted me to see if I had a website about where my classes will be. I purposely don’t because dealing with one off students is a lot of work. I normally am contacted by a person who is interested in learning and I tell them to get her 16 people to create a class or I work with clubs who offer classes to their members.

I am sorry to all the people who sit on my waiting list for the chance at a free seat in a class. They just don’t happen that much and when they do they are at the last minute and not everyone is free at the last minute.

So this is a rare opportunity to get into a class if you want.

No Problem Vaccine

Russ and I scheduled our Covid shots for this morning. I also got a flu shot. Russ had already gotten his at his check-up. We arrived at Harris Teeter early and had to wait a bit because walk ups were ahead of us.

Since I had today and tomorrow morning off I thought it would be a good day for vaccinations in case I had a reaction. I got the flu shot in my left arm and Covid in my right and had no reaction whatsoever. Not only did I feel fine, but I didn’t even have a sore arm and I was able to needlepoint without a problem today. I did take some ibuprofen right after the shots just in case.

Russ called from the office in the middle of the day to check in on me and he also had no reaction. As far as we can tell there is no reason not to get your vaccine.

The more of us who get the shots the better all people are protected, especially those who can’t get the shot due to immune issues. You have no idea how many people are under going cancer treatments, or had a transplant. Please consider getting your vaccinations. They are covered by your insurance and not only will you help prevent getting very sick yourself, but you are protecting others.

If you live near a Harris Teeter you get a $5 coupon for every shot you get. Russ gave me his and I walked away with $15 to spend at the store. Added Bonus.

No Problem Vaccine

Russ and I scheduled our Covid shots for this morning. I also got a flu shot. Russ had already gotten his at his check-up. We arrived at Harris Teeter early and had to wait a bit because walk ups were ahead of us.

Since I had today and tomorrow morning off I thought it would be a good day for vaccinations in case I had a reaction. I got the flu shot in my left arm and Covid in my right and had no reaction whatsoever. Not only did I feel fine, but I didn’t even have a sore arm and I was able to needlepoint without a problem today. I did take some ibuprofen right after the shots just in case.

Russ called from the office in the middle of the day to check in on me and he also had no reaction. As far as we can tell there is no reason not to get your vaccine.

The more of us who get the shots the better all people are protected, especially those who can’t get the shot due to immune issues. You have no idea how many people are under going cancer treatments, or had a transplant. Please consider getting your vaccinations. They are covered by your insurance and not only will you help prevent getting very sick yourself, but you are protecting others.

If you live near a Harris Teeter you get a $5 coupon for every shot you get. Russ gave me his and I walked away with $15 to spend at the store. Added Bonus.

What a Day

Well who would have thought that all the democrats and Matt Gaetz would vote for the same thing? Well Kevin McCarthy who made a deal with the devil (read Gaetz) to become speaker was also taken down by the devil.

Ego is a killer and in politics these days too much is about ego. So McCarthy was voted out and who knows what the plan is to get a new speaker. And without a speaker NOTHING gets done.

I would like to propose that as long as congress does not have a speaker, and as long as congress is not actually pretending to do something the American people actually need them to do, they should not be paid. I think we would get a speaker a lot faster is it was costing them something for everyday without one.

We have 45 days until we are right back where McCarthy had us without a passed budget. He gave the right wing nuts too much power to shut down a common sense budget. 15 outliers should not have that much control.

So what the plan congress? I’m really interested in what Matt Gaetz and all the democrats who voted McCarthy out have in common when it comes to a new speaker.

After all this voting out had happened, tonight there was a new story that said that McCarthy declared he was not going to run for the speakership again. That was rich. You just got ousted, who thought you could run again, and win, and do a better job the second time?

It took 15 votes to get the job in the first place. That was a fairly good sign things were not going to go well, and they didn’t. Who pays besides McCarthy? The American people. Our country’s credit rating was down graded earlier this year and the agency doing it cited the mess of a congress as the reason for poor confidence in the American Government’s ability to pay its bills.

So far the congress has only made it worse since then. I doubt credit rating agencies are going to see this speaker vacancy as anything but a failure. Get it together, do your jobs, stop fighting with each other and learn to make compromises.

59 Mighty Fine

Happy Birthday to the best husband in the world for me. Russ Lange is 59 today. Yes, I robbed the cradle and it was the smartest thing I ever did.

There is no one more patient, hard work or loving. He has been a fantastic father to both Carter and Shay. You know he has to be a good person because Shay loves him more than anyone else on earth.

So join me in wishing Russ a great year ahead. He deserves good things as he has worked hard for everyone else this year. I count my lucky stars to be by his side and that he sticks with me. I love you Russ Lange!

Mopping Vs. Mah Jongg

I had a big week teaching Mah Jongg. Nine classes in three days and a whole town of new Mah Jongg players. Yesterday we took my Mom out to lunch and had her back to our house where she and I played a few hands of Siamese Mah Jongg. She told me her friend Gail accused her of getting lessons from me. These were not lessons, just playing. Her Mah Jongg is improving which is good for an 85 year old.

Today we had church where I was the lector. It was two big Exodus chapters to read. One was the story of the burning bush. I warned my minister Chris I was going to be doing two different voices, Moses as a Jewish man, and you know the other, God. Chris just said be careful. I promised Moses would not sound like he was from New Jersey. Our other preacher Alex was actually preaching and he did not know of my two voice plan. When I finished he commended me on my God voice, with the compliment of, “Move over Morgan Freeman.” I always thought God was a woman.

So after all that Mah Jongg and Churching, I came home and needed to do some work around the house. I vacuumed the first floor and mopped the kitchen. I only spent a little over an hour cleaning, but I was worn out from that. So I decided to lie down on the bed and was out like a light for a good two hours.

Turns out I can teach people for nine hours and still be awake hours later, but one hour of mopping and I need a nap. The physical labor is not that different, but the captive audience really keeps me going. If only I had people to entertain while I was mopping I might have gone on to do the rest of the house and not have needed a nap.

My Mocktails Are Out of Control

While Russ and I were in Maine I bought him some fresh pressed apple cider. He used it as a base for a cocktail with bourbon. I tasted it and suggested adding lime juice and a cherry and a splash of ginger beer. It was a winner. He drank one a night for a few nights.

Getting jealous of his drinks I worked on my own concoctions. I could have had one of his. I don’t drink for any reason except that I lost my underpants in 1984 during a bad night of drinking too much and vowed not to drink again untilI found them.

As those underpants are still MIA I mostly drink iced tea, but I can’t after four in the afternoon or I won’t sleep. So when I tire of just water I make a mocktail.

Today at the farmer’s market I bought a muscadine and watermelon drink from my favorite guy in the green trailer who just sells drinks. I used that as my base, added lime juice, a cube of frozen grated ginger, a good shake of turmeric (might as well be healthy), goslings diet ginger beer, and topped it off with two cherries. Crushed ice makes this drink tops in my book.

It’s not too sweet, but is tangy in a perfect way and the turmeric gives it that cocktail feel. I used two cherries because they were the last ones in the jar and leaving one lonely cherry seemed sad.

I wish I liked to drink alcohol because I would love being a mixologist. Combining different flavors to make something new is so fast with drinks. It just takes longer to do it with food. For now I am going to have to be happy making these things for myself. BTW, Mocktail is not in my iPad dictionary and it keeps underlining it in red as if I am an idiot. Get with it, mocktails are here to stay.

Yes, I Do Care About a Government Shut Down

I am so sick of stupid politicians. Today MGT said that the government shut down by the republicans is not as bad as the shut down of the country by the democrats during the pandemic. She went on to say that Americans don’t care if the government is shut down.

First let’s differentiate a pandemic caused by a pathogen to a self made shut down due to congresspeople. Second the man in charge in America at the time of the whole world shutting down was a Republican, number 45. You can not liken this completely avoidable government shut down to the completely unavoidable pandemic shut down.

Not funding the very important needs of the federal government is inexcusable. It is the Republican controlled congress’ infighting that is the cause of this mess and the rest of us are just hostages to them.

MGT, this American does care about a government shut down. Congress should have to stay locked in the chamber with no food until you pass the funding bill. Your shutting the government down will cause the loss of food benefits to some of the most innocent, children. Not to mention all the other federal workers who work to keep our country safe, like the military, and moving, like the transportation department people, and secure, like homeland security. And the capital protected, like the capital police who protected all you congress people during the insurrection.

So please don’t act like not passing a funding bill in a timely manner is not a Big deal. It is, you all are not doing your jobs. You have had more than enough time to do it and you haven’t. Stay at work until you do. We hold you accountable for this mess.

Preachers Needed

I have so enjoyed my three days in Rocky Mount. There is one class to go tonight and then I will head home. Everyone here could not have been nicer. As I have enjoyed some meals with my students before and after classes I have learned about the city and surrounding areas. My friend Catherine, drove me around to see the city. Her husband David was the Mayor for 12 years so I got all the inside scoop on Rocky Mount.

At every meal one thing came up besides Mah Jongg; many churches here are looking for new clergy. I think I was told eight different churches, but I could have gotten that wrong. At least two Episcopal churches and one Presbyterian are doing searches.

I was given the parish profile brochure from St. Andrews Episcopal church because two people on the search committee were in my class. Apparently there are not enough clergy members for all the churches there are.

If you know of any preachers who are looking to make a move, Rocky Mount might be a place for you.(Holley and Paul Broughton, who do you know?)

Being a good minister is a hard job, but if you have that calling I think there are jobs for you. I can tell you that the parishioners I met were wonderful people who you would enjoy spending your time with.

I’ve Run Out of Steam

It’s been a very long day. We ended our last class tonight at 9:30 and thankfully the club let me leave all the games just where they were since morning class starts up at 9:00am. This all being said I am just about dead. I did not have any break today and I have got to go to sleep and do it all again tomorrow.

Rocky Mount is a most hospitable place. Everyone could not be nicer, consequently I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with people and am talking for 14 hours straight. If you know me, you know that is not hard for me to do, but even I need a moments break. So I am cutting my blog about nothing short, so you have less of nothing to read about tonight. Tomorrow will be even long so set your expectations very low for tomorrow’s blog. I don’t know why I warn you since you should have no expectations whatsoever.

It’s Tuesday, It Must Be Rocky Mount

Three Classes a day for three days can only mean Rocky Mount. In January Mark, the great General manger at Benvenue Country Club booked me for these three days. He did an exceptional job filling the classes and asked to go from two classes a day to three thanks to the enthusiasm. How could I say no?

I drove in this morning and taught all three classes, that last one of Beginners which included four men in the class. Their wives all play and want their husbands to play too. I’m not sure it was their idea to come to class, but they did well and endured all my jokes about “racks,” Mah Jongg racks of course.

Thankfully the dear Catherine Combs is hosting me. She is how I got to Rocky Mount in the first place and she does a wonderful job of taking care of me in and out of class. I am not the best guest as I pulled into her house at 9:45 and promptly have gone up to the guest room where I am writing this blog and am going to pass out. Nine hours of teaching and and hour and a half of driving is enough for one day.

I can not complain because the students are delightful, the club bends over backwards to make sure everything goes well and Catherine looks out for me. All I have to do is stand up and teach.

Falling for Fall

Yesterday was the official start of fall. I love fall. As a kid I actually liked the start of the new school year as it was a chance to start anew. Technically fall is the end of the growing season, but I still think of it as the beginning of the year.

The days getting cool enough to turn off air conditioning and open the windows makes me happy. Perhaps because I grew up without air conditioning so the idea of sleeping with the windows open under a blanket, rather than with the windows open, sweating in my sheets might be another reason I like fall.

Russ is also having a happiness for fall feeling. Last night he made an apple crisp, all by himself because he was craving it. That is a purely fall taste.

I am also on the lookout for Christmas presents, which I think is a fall activity. I don’t like to wait until December to search for the perfect gift. December is for parties and so I like to be prepared with all the presents before the parties begin.

I look forward to sweaters, although you practically have to be in full on winter in North Carolina these days to need a sweater. I am at the ready for a cold fall day with my new Maine sweat shirt.

Don’t tell the other season show much I like fall. I am not playing favorites, but I am not unhappy it’s here.

Stay Vigilant

Russ and I went to church this morning for the first time in six weeks of being away. It was a beautiful day —No humidity, just 70° and a blue sky with puffy white clouds. The service was not too long and we came home in the anticipation of seeing the puppy.

Russ pulled the car into the tan river rock driveway and opened the garage door. I got out of the car and walked toward the opening when I noticed the rocks moving. Not exactly the rocks, but a baby copper head whose coloring matched the rocks.

I let out a blood curdling scream, “COPPERHEAD.” Thankfully I did not step on the three foot snake in my gold sandals, with plenty of uncovered foot access. I backed away and Russ grabbed two buckets sitting just inside the garage door to try and keep the snake from slithering into the garage.

Too late. The menacing creature slithered under the Morris minor. I ran to the other side of the car and screamed my head off, hoping to scare the snake out of the garage. Russ stood there with a rake. Russ said the snake was definitely scared of my screaming as it sat head up four or five inches up off the floor. Eventually it made the bright decision to try and get away from me screaming and slithered out the garage, back onto the gravel.

Russ told me to shut the garage door from the safety of the far side of the garage while he stood guard with the rake. Thank goodness we got the snake out, but now I felt trapped in the house.

Be carefully outside. It is copperhead season. If you see me around, carrying a large garden implement, bashing it on the ground, screaming as I walk, you understand why.

Love It At Home

When I was in me teens and twenties I worked hard to make sure I had Saturday night plans. The thought of staying home alone on a Saturday night was the worst possible thought. My attitude was there are only 52 Saturday’s in a year and I need to make the most of them. Wasn’t all the fun happening on Saturday nights?

My parents were always out every Friday and Saturday night my entire childhood. They had standing babysitters. They might not have known which party they were going to, but they knew there was all ways going to be a party. They were my role models for what grown ups did.

Now a days there is nothing I like better than being home with Russ and Shay on a Saturday night. I don’t want to go to restaurants that are full of people who think they need to make Saturday night special. I don’t really want to go to a party and talk to people who are just not that interesting. A small dinner party is fine, as long as it starts early enough and ends early enough.

Today I had a full day of work, driving three hours to work six hours. I am so happy to come home and read my book, snuggle in bed and go to bed early.

Don’t get me wrong, for the right occasion I enjoy a Saturday night out, but it better be spectacular, otherwise staying home is so much more fun. I wish I had figured this out in my twenties. I could have avoided a lot of wasted time with wasted people.

Great Day Back

Teaching Mah Jongg is in my blood. I had a great class of Beginners at Forsyth Country Club today. The class was organized by Laura Huckabee Martin, whose mother Reba is the queen of Mah Jongg at the beach. It is hard to believe it has taken Lura this long to learn, but learn fast she did.

We had 20 wonderful women in the class. They spent the morning learning the rules and listening to the stories of Mah Jongg. We had a yummy lunch and then settled in for them to play their first game. It was very exciting as there were winners at each table. It was especially exciting for me when Laura won at her table. The apple does not fall far from the tree. Reba will be very proud.

I love teaching multiple generations of the same family Mah Jongg. It makes for fun things to do together on vacations and at holidays. I am going to Boston in October to teach Carter and Claire and their friends. Not that they need the lessons, but it will get their friends started with this obsession. Spreading love of the game everywhere.

Last Day Of My Vacation

I may be home, but I feel like I am still on vacation. I purposely scheduled nothing today as I go back to work in a big way tomorrow. I basically took off just under six weeks, but it feels like a year. I started to worry today that I might have forgotten how to work.

I packed my car with all my materials, double checking not to leave anything at home. I have to get up early to drive to Winston-Salem to teach a new group of students who have been gathered together by my friend Laura. Laura’s Mom, Reba is my ground zero Mah Jongg promoter as she is the one who got me to come to the beach to teach. Thanks to Reba I have made ten thousand new friends.

I look forward to teaching in Winston as it is the place of my birth. It will be good to get back in the saddle. I have a busy fall. Next week I will be in Rocky Mount at Benvenue Country club. The manager there told me there are a few spaces in the afternoon Advanced Beginner class and welcomes non-members. Let me know if you are interested in going that class Tuesday-Thursday.

I am off to bed early tonight. It’s like prepping for the first day of school. I’ve got my outfit laid out and I’m ready to go. No more vacation for me.

Is This The Right Job For You?

There was a blood drive at my Church today that I signed up for. I already had two back to back meetings scheduled at church so I thought I would just give blood before my meetings. I purposely scheduled with a cushion of time just in case.

I arrived and saw some friends who had just given blood. One gave me a little heads up that things were not exactly as planned as they were short staffed. No problem. She got me signed in and showed me how to scan my driver’s license which pulled me up on the system and showed I had filled out the paper work.

I got to talking with another church friend and we waited and waited a good while past our scheduled times. Eventually my name was called. I went and sat down at the little registration booth with the cardboard set up for “privacy.” The woman checking me in asked for my id. I said I had just scanned it. “Well, you didn’t scan it with me.” So I went over to get it out our my purse on another table.

“Have you given blood before?”

“Yes…”

And before I could finish my sentence, “Then you should know that I need to see your Id.”

“Well, you cut me off before I finished my sentence. The last time I gave blood was 25 years ago because I lived in London for five years and the Red Cross wouldn’t take my blood because it thought I might pass on Mad cow disease, until now, when the rules were changed. I’m sorry I don’t remember all the procedures from 25 years ago.”

“Well, I’m sure it’s the same as back then.”

I was tiring of her tone with me so I tried to change the subject and I went for the tact my father always took and changed the subject to be about her. In my most friendly voice I said, “How long have you been doing this?”

“Two years, but I think I am going back to my old job, which was so much better.”

“What was that?”

“I was a CO.”

“In a prison?”

“Yes, in Raliegh.”

“Is that a good prison?”

“Not particularly.”

At that point I gave up because I didn’t think that things for me were going to get better if she thought this job was worse than being a correctional officer in a not great prison. Thankfully she was not the person sticking me.

Can You Teach an Old Dog?

For all my life I have been a night gown wearing girl. As far as I can remember I have never worn Pajamas. When I was a toddler I probably wore zip up footy sleepers as we lived in Dayton, Ohio and it was cold, but from the time I can remember no PJ’s for me. I have a thing about sleeping in pants.

At boarding school I was an exclusive Lanz Night gown wearer. It was incredibly unoriginal. One night the fire alarm went off and my whole, poorly named for a girls school dorm, beaver brook, ended up outside in our nightwear. Every single girl had on the same Lanz nightgown in every kind of color.

The worst Lanz Night gown I ever had was a navy blue one. My algebra teacher, Mrs. Elmore, kept looking at my hands and asking me if I was feeling OK because she swore my hands were blue and turning bluer. Despite feeling fine I was sent to the health center where our nurse, Germ, short for Mrs. Germano, declared me fine. The next day Mrs. Elmore asked the whole class if my hands were bluer and they all said yes, back to the health center. This went on for a week. I was worried I was a real life Violet Beauregard. Germ tested me for many things and none came back positive.

No other part of me was blue, just the backs of my hands. I washed them over and over again, but they remained blue. So Germ had me come and sleep in the health center one night to see if she could figure out what was wrong with me. I brought my navy night gown. I went to bed early as there was nothing else to do in the health center and after just a while Germ woke me up. She had come in and seen me sleeping with my hand clasped together between my knees in a curled up fetal position. She took me in the examining room and soaked a cotten ball with rubbing alcohol and rubbed the back of my blue hand. The cotton ball turned blue and Germ was able to make a little less blue line in my hand where she scrubbed. Turns out the dye in my nightgown was coming off on the hands, but no where else because the inside of the fabric was white, not blue.

That still did not stop me from wearing nightgowns. In Maine I had a new nightgown with annoying sleeves so I ended up not sleeping in it. Then I thought, maybe I should try PJ’s. A company I like was selling their summer Pj’s for half price so I thought I didn’t have much to lose. They arrived today and I love the way they look. We shall see if I will be able to sleep in them since I am apparently a very finicky sleeper according to Russ. He can sleep with noise, light, the worst scratchy sheets and a cement block as a pillow. I have to have it dark, silent, clean smooth sheets and just the right combinations of pillows. If I am a mess tomorrow I am going to blame it on the PJ’s.

Social Life Re-entry

Being away for a month you are going to miss a few things, but catching up on things happened fast today. First I had my stitching groups monthly get together. It was Karen’s birthday which is always a big highlight as it is the first birthday after our summer break.

One of my favorite things is hearing about everyone’s travel and Nancy was the winner with her trip to Switzerland. Sadly no photos were taken and I had to leave stitching with not enough time together.

Next Jan picked me up for a dominos party at Renee’s, to celebrate Laura’s birthday and get a chance to see Holley. That was as much fun as could possibly happen at four in the afternoon. It was about the only day this could happen as Theky drove back from Ohio, Nancy drove back from the Cape, Me from Maine and Renee is leaving for a month overseas and Jan is leaving for a three week Sassy Sister’s road trip with her sister. Maybe I will see all these friends next at Garden club Christmas Auction.

From that fun party Jan and I went out to dinner to finish catching up from my month away and her her month here. It was our only chance before she leaves.

I am happy that I had this chance to see so many friends on one day before Mah Jongg classes start up again starting this Friday. At some point I need to open the mail that arrived today from being held for the month, but friends are mor important than mail.

Homemade Gluten Free Pizza, Really a Misnomer

In solidarity to me, Russ did not have any Pizza the whole month in Maine. Not that I was asking him not to. He was free to order pizza anytime he wanted. I even had a Gluten free Pizza at the Samoset, but he had Chicken Parm.

We got home from Maine and Russ unpacked the car and found the bag of Bob Red Mill gluten free Pizza Crust Mix I had purchased at Ocean State. “Please can you make pizza tonight?” I asked him if he really wanted my gluten free stuff. I was happy to make him a real pizza. He stayed with me and said, “no, let’s try the gluten free.”

So I made it tonight. The package was easy to follow. It had a packet of yeast in it. Unlike real Dough it did not need to be kneaded since gluten is what gives dough elasticity. It also did not need to rest as long as dough since we didn’t need gluten to be produced.

After a 45 minute rise I attempted to make crusts. With no elasticity you don’t stretch the dough. You just kind of spoon it into the shape of a pizza. They you Par bake it because it would never cook through with toppings on it. I did the first bake. Seemed OK.

I topped them, one a white pizza with caramelized onions and fig jam (added after cooking) the other red sauce with mushrooms. I used lots of different cheese on both. Then did the second bake which was 18 minutes, a long time in Pizza speak.

They looked good, but the crust was a little thick. They did not fall apart as a lot of gluten free stuff does. The taste was acceptable, but not really like pizza. I need to make them thinner and still make a real crust for Russ. He was a good sport, but why should we both suffer.

A Little Brown Puppy Goes to Maine and Comes Home Exhausted

I love to go on trips with Mommy and Daddy. They don’t always take me and then I stay with Mary. I have fun at Mary’s because I have no idea what I am missing on vacation.

This month long trip to Maine was lots of fun. I got to hike, see wildlife, eat good food, play with friends and sleep. Apparently I did not get to sleep enough.

The trip home was long, even though I had a cushy set up in the back. I am not a car sleeper. I have to be awake the whole time looking out the window. Last night at Icepa’s I didn’t sleep well and was up in the night.

When we got home this evening I came right to my home base bed and passed out. Even though I am sound asleep now I am able to tell you that I am glad I got to go to Maine, but boy do I like being home where I can sleep all day long. Look for me in a few days after I have recuperated.

The Long Drive Day

Going to and coming home from Maine is quite a commitment. Some years I break the trip up by visiting friends along the way. This year Russ drove both ways with me so instead of taking four days to go and come we do it in two with a stop at Russ’ father’s house. Today’s leg is the long one.

I was up early to watch one final sunrise as our view over the gulf of Maine is perfect to watch the sun coming up. We were mostly packed, but I still had to strip the bed and put all the linens in the bag, clean out the fridge and pack the car.

Russ brought everything from upstairs down for me, but I packed the car while he was on a work call. In my best Tetris skilled way I was able to put at least a third more in the car today than we had going up and I could see better out the back today. One benefit to having bought all the Christmas presents is they went on the back seat under Shay’s two beds, thus lifting her up higher on the seat. This enabled her to lie down and look out the side windows which pleased her greatly. Russ and I have decided that we are going to have to recreate this Princess and the pea seating for her from now on.

As the hurricane is coming to Maine it felt like everyone with an RV was traveling south today to get out of harm’s way. Despite the road being full of fifth wheels and sprinter vans we didn’t have any incident on the first half of the trip. We stopped in Worcester for lunch. We got Poke from a place called All In Poke run by a lovely man. It was a much better lunch than our normal road stop.

The second half of the driving was not as good as the first. There were back ups in Connecticut and New Jersey and one epic road rage incident in NJ. The traffic was more or less stopped and a guy about my age in a white Dodge Ram truck with a bunch of Maga stickers came barreling across three lanes of stop and go, with the emphasis on stop, traffic and would have hit me if I hadn’t veered off the road as he wedged his truck in front of me.

Me being me, I honked my horn at him. He, being an angry entitled D#$&, gave me the finger, and then made many lewd hand and mouth motions in his extra large rear view mirror at me. I did not react, which made him even angrier and then he opened his door and started to get out of his truck on the highway. I also did not react to this which made him really mad, but as he started to get out he saw Russ in the passenger seat and he got back in and drove.

Russ had his hand on his phone ready to dial 911. I was planning on driving around the guy on the grass if he got out of his truck any further as the traffic had moved ahead of him. I’m not sure what he thought he was going to do to me, the honker, but I was fairly certain I could get away from him if he was on foot. Thankfully he did not have a gun, or at least thought better of using it. I’m certain my non-reaction face actually read to him as, “I know you have a little D#$&, since you are acting out those motions” and his angry at the world Maga self was itching for a fight. I was not going to give it to him.

As he drove away from me I pulled into the lane on the lane on the opposite side and took the next exit so Shay could pee and we could not be near that poor pitiful man. I wonder what he would have done if Russ had not been in the car? I know that if I had not honked this probably would not have happened this way, but if I had not veered he would have hit us.

Thankfully we eventually made it to Pennsylvania without any more incidents. Now for a good nights sleep before we are back on the road with other people who think they alone own it. No honking for me.

Packing It In

It is always sad on our last full day in Maine, but we packed a lot in. We got in a good walk to the Owl’s Head lighthouse. Since it was the first sunny day in a the last few we were not alone on our trek to the light house. Owls Head has a fantastic view of the gulf of Maine and you can see about 240°of water from the light house as it is set on the eastern most point of our little community.

We could not see our house from the light house, because we are two coves over, but the shore line all looks similar in that rugged rocky Maine way.

In out best effort to clean out the fridge we ate a mishmash of leftovers for lunch. I was still not satisfied with the job we did so I made a frittata with as much as I could and we will have it for breakfast and take the rest on the road.

Cleaning up the house and starting the packing of the car was the least happy part of the day. Then we went to Warren’s house for a last hurrah. Russ had calls he took from Warren’s front porch overlooking clam cove. Warren and I researched and fixed four old typewriters he has to sell. It was amazing how much typewriter knowledge was still in the back of my head.

After we had our last goodbye with Warren, Russ and I went back to Aster and Rose for our last dinner. They have taken the spot as our favorite restaurant. The servers Mary and Sam are fantastic and the food is perfect. Tonight I was sitting next to an actor I could not place, but his face and voice were so familiar. Eventually his name will come to me.

On our drive down our lane we saw a skunk in our neighbor’s driveway. Thankfully far enough from our house. We have had a lot of wildlife sightings this summer. A red fox in our front yard eating an apple, seven white tailed deer in our back yard, a bald eagle that flew right in from of our bedroom window, another hawk who perches regularly on the top of the pine tree by the water, numerous seals, and sea birds and now a skunk. Thankfully Shay did not play with any of them.

It’s time for us to make the long drive home, just before the hurricane comes here. We hope that everyone is safe. A local lobsterman who Russ follows on instagram said he was not worried about the storm until today when all these birds they do not normally see are coming aboard his boat seeking protection. Be safe Maine. We love you.

Foggy Day

I hate that our last few days in Maine are very foggy. It makes thinking about going grey. Russ actually took a little time off in the middle of the day today and we went to Camden for lunch. The cruise ships have been in port the last two days and there have been people wandering around looking lost. Those cruisers fill up restaurants fast.

Thankfully we got a nice table overlooking the harbor, but the fog got thick fast and we could hardly see the opposite shore. There were two old men cruisers eating next to us. Every time the waitress asked us a question one of the old men would answer it.

Two old Lady cruisers who were eating on the other side of the restaurant sent the waitress over with their half eaten dessert to the old men and they ate it. It was a lot of cruise flirting going on. Russ and I decided we liked renting our little house and not having all those people around creating intrigue.

While in Camden we stoped at Main Dog and got Shay a jaunty pink and green quilted waterproof coat. She won’t need it for a while since we are going home Friday, just missing the hurricane. We leave North Carolina in August to avoid hurricanes. Thankfully we will just miss this one. Nonetheless, I am sad about leaving, fog or no fog.

The Last Waining Days

Coming to Maine for a month is a special kind of privilege. I do not discount how lucky we are to get to do this, even though Russ worked almost everyday, which is never the plan. I, on the other hand, do the opposite of work.

Today I had my annual trek to Belfast and got to be treated to lunch by the wonderful Sheppy Vann. Sheppy’s late husband Dick’s family has a wonderful place in Liberty, Maine where thankfully Sheppy still comes for the summer. It’s not too far from Belfast so we made plans to meet there. Originally we were going to go to Young’s Lobster Pound, but the weather did not cooperate so we met at Bell the Cat.

Sheppy, having been the head of the preschool at Durham Academy for many years, knows everyone in Durham, even though she has lived in Nashville for the last few years to be closer to her grandchildren. We had a lot to talk about given the state of things in the world and the worlds that we have in common. For those of you who know Sheppy, she is doing great. She may be 80, as she reported to me, but you would never know it. Sadly, like me, she is going back to Nashville as her season is over, but we both agreed that she should stay until October next year. Why leave cool Maine to return to hot and humid. Wait until fall reaches the south.

I did a little shopping for Christmas presents while I was up in Belfast and I can’t say another thing about that. But I got home late and had to change for dinner.

Warren was joining us for dinner at the Samoset. It was not a clear night so the view of the water was fogged in, but the food and the company was wonderful. There are only two more real days of Maine left for us before we make the epic trip home with the car overstuffed with Christmas presents. Russ is not sure how this is going to work, but I am certain Shay won’t mind the back seat being a little more snuggly.

A Little Brown Puppy Comes to Maine and is Never Allowed to Meet the Dog Next Door

I love coming to our little cottage in Maine. We live at the end of a private drive shared by five other cottages. As far as I know, from taking walks up and down our lane, we are the only part time people.

We have one really nice neighbor, Evelyn, on the side of us that is not connected to our lane. She likes dogs and is friendly to me. She also fills us in on the goings on about the neighborhood. There is a big white poodle who lives on the other side of us. She looks like she wants to have a play date with me when I walk by because she stands in the front door and wags her tail.

My Mommy and Daddy have called out Hello to her Parents, but they run and hide when they do. If her parent walks outside and sees us in our driveway, she runs around the other side of her garage so she doesn’t have to encounter us. We know not to bother them because they have orange cones in their driveway all the time. I am not sure if they think the orange cones makes us think we also should not speak to them when we are outside. They know we are southern from our license plate and therefore speak kindly to everyone.

Today my Daddy was walking me on the lane and the poodle came out with her Mommy and as soon as she saw me she ran into the woods, far far away from us. I wonder what she thought I, as a little brown dog, might do to her big white dog. I am beginning to think they don’t like brown dogs.

Mommy said that when she came home in the car they were walking on the lane. Mommy’s car is very silent so she got kind of close to them. When the Poodle and her mommy realized my Mommy was behind them they ran into the woods and the Mommy stood with her back to the lane, but the Poodle wanted to see who it was. Mommy rolled down her window and said, “Hello,” knowing that the woman would not respond, but just because that is how my Mommy is with people.

We wonder if they can’t hear, or maybe they are painfully shy, but that is not what the neighbors say. It is sad because even though I don’t pay much attention to other dogs myself, the big white poodle looks like she wants to have a friend. Maybe next year they will be friendlier.

The Bet

Carter offered Russ a bet this morning. I had no idea about this potential wager. It is the day that Carter left us to go home to Boston. We have had a great week together. We played games, hiked, cooked, ate, went to museums, shopped, explored, told stories, discussed business, needlepointed, looked at the ocean, saw birds and foxes, played with Shay, all while Carter and Russ also worked everyday.

It was a perfect week. You just don’t get much time with adult children who live in other cities and have jobs. It is hard on a parent to go from having them home all the time, even when they don’t want to be, to having them home on school vacations, even when they really just want to use the washer, to having them have a new home in a far off city.

Of course that is the goal you have been training them for. To be self sufficient, happy and successful. To lead full lives where they don’t need you anymore, or not as much as they did when you had to tie their shoes and wipe their face after ice cream.

We live all of one mile from the tiny Knox county airport where Carter can take the Cape Air flight back to Boston. It could not be more convenient for her to get home. We dropped her off just as the TSA was opening “the gate” to screen the eight passengers. That’s where we had to say goodbye, but since the weather was iffy in Boston Russ and I went to the picnic table outside to wait to make sure the plane went. It ran late, but did go and we got to say goodbye one last time as Carter and the other seven passengers were escorted the 25 yards from “the gate” to “the plane.” We watched the plane taxi and take off before crossing the grass to the free parking.

We walked into our little cottage and I went in the living room and Russ followed me there. I burst into tears. It caught me by surprise and Russ hugged me. “Carter bet me you would cry. I told her I was not taking that bet.”

A Little Brown Puppy goes to Maine and Finally Finds the Beach

The first half of the day was not happy for me. Mommy, Daddy and Carter tricked me and left me home alone. I thought they were going somewhere in the car and tried to go with them, but Daddy put me back in the house.

I had no idea they were going to The Hoot in Northport for brunch. Mommy’s friend Jamie highly recommended it and she was right, according to Mommy. I thought they would come right home after eating, but they didn’t.

Apparently the whole family, minus me, went to the Sail Power Steam Museum. Daddy said it was a cool place run by one old sailor. They spent way too long there which made me mad.

At last they returned home and took me to the beach right by our house. There are not a lot of sandy beaches in Maine, but one of the best is right by our house. Carter and Daddy brought me so Carter could go swimming and then they tried to fly a kite. Mommy came later and I walked with her on the beach. I am very good at walking on the rocks. My family would know this better if they did not leave me at home alone and took me everywhere, even if the places say no dogs, they don’t mean no Shay.

No New Year For Me

I hear it’s been hot south of us. Not far south, but just a state or two away it’s been their hottest weather of the year. I am grateful we are in Maine, where it may warmer than usual, but no one would call it hot.

When we decided last year to come to Maine for the last half of August and the first half of September I more or less broke the life long tradition that the new year really starts at Labor Day. New school year, new TV year, new garden club year, lots of new things start in September.

By staying on vacation three weeks past the “New Year” I am kind of skipping all that new year stuff. I am missing somethings, like the first garden club meeting, or rally day at church, in favor of prolonging summer, while also not suffering the terrible heat.

I know that staying away from “the new year” does not mean it does not come, with the exception of TV, which may never come back if the writers’ and actors’ strike is not settled. I am looking forward to just slipping into the new year already in progress.

I don’t have anyone starting school. I don’t have to go to parents’ night, or buy school supplies. I don’t have to start a new year in September. I can just extend summer as long as I like, or until it is time to come back to work. It will happen soon enough. Until then I hope things cool down for you all south of us, which is almost all of you. I would like to return home to cooler weather, but I fear that might not be in the plan.

I hope the new year has been easy so far. Don’t tell me what I missed. It doesn’t make one bit of difference. I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do. I’m still on summer vacation.

Personalize Your Mah Jongg Card

There is nothing I love more than my Mah Jongg students and friends creating creative add ones for the game. Kelsey Holding has made the most gorgeous customized Stickers that you put on the front of your Mah Jongg card.

This year for some reason the cards from the National Mah Jongg league have started peeling apart. Not good on a year when the price went up 50% and the quality goes down. Kelsey’s sticker helps solve that problem, at least for the front of the card.

It also keeps anyone else from picking up your card and claiming it as their own. As I always tell my students, write your name on your card, yours looks just like everyone else’s. Well, not now, and they are much more beautiful than a normal card.

Here is a an example of what the front of your card can look like. Kelsey has a gaggle of gorgeous designs to chose from as well as many colors. So pick your favorites and she will make you a customized sticker to put on the front of your card. This would make a fun gift for you Mah Jongg group.

Find Kelsey’s Etsy store, Bolding Design by clicking on this link.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1560384443/mah-jongg-card-sticker?etsrc=sdt&utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1694120119904

She Beat Me

One of the bad things about being a Mah Jongg teacher is I tend to beat new players, especially children. Carter learned to play Mah Jongg when she was very little. She was a fairly good sport about playing with me, even when I beat her, but this did not endear a love of the game for her. It did teach her to be a good sport and to learn from her mistakes, which I think is a much more important lesson than winning.

Fast forward, and now she likes playing. It helps that Claire likes to play and soon Carter’s friends are going to learn. While she is visiting us in Maine we have been playing Siamese Mah Jongg. Each player plays two racks and to win you have to get Mah Jongg on both racks.

There is less luck in this game as you have to be strategic to not play against yourself. At first I won every game and Carter was an excellent sport and wanted to keep playing. Then she beat me. It was a thrilling moment to beat your expert Mah Jongg mom.

There is nothing better than enjoying your own grown child. It has been so much fun to have her come to Maine, even if she and Russ work all day. Shay and I try and stay busy. Today I even went and got the car washed while Carter and Russ were both on different zoom calls. It was a little like the pandemic all over again.

Nonetheless it is just great to spend time together, even if she beats me.

A Little Brown Puppy Goes to Maine and Declares Claws Her Favorite Restaurant

It was a hard day today. Both my Daddy and Carter had to work today. As Daddy’s official supervisor I felt like I needed to split my time between him and Carter since she was unsupervised. Mommy is not qualified to do this work since she is really on vacation.

Daddy took most of his calls out on the deck or at his desk upstairs, that meant I was going in and out of the door as well as up and down the stairs. Thankfully Carter stayed mainly on the ground floor where I could keep my eye on her.

Since it was a big work day I lobbied for dinner out at my favorite lobster shack, Claws. They are very puppy friendly, even selling claws branded dog treats, but you know I don’t eat dog treats. I eat chicken. Thankfully Daddy gets get a kids chicken dinner.

Claws has nice bench seating on one side with fluffy pillows. The benches are perfect for me because then I can eat my dinner next to Daddy. It is nice of Daddy to tear my chicken into Shay size pieces. I think I could suggest this to Claws, in case Daddy is not eating with me.

Everyone else had seafood, which I might have liked, but Mommy didn’t want to test it out tonight in case my tummy didn’t like it. No matter Claws is still my favorite place to eat, mostly because everyone there is so nice to me. After my strenuous day supervising I needed a treat.

Right Under Our Nose

We’ve been coming to this part of Maine for about fifteen years. It’s hard to remember exactly the year we first came to family camp at Medomak, but it’s what’s got us hooked on this part of the world.

It’s laid back here, but it also has a lot of interesting stuff, like a world class art museum the Farnsworth, and some really fabulous restaurants like the Aster and Rose, and ocean views, which never get tiring.

In all the many months we have spent here, and specifically, in our time in Owls Head, we have never been to the Owl’s Head Transportation Museum until I was this many days old. How we have never gone is beyond me because it was just terrific.

The museum is on the other side of the airport from us so we never drive by it. It is a bit about planes, but a lot about cars. Not just any cars, but some of the most beautiful cars. Now I love old cars, (and no, they didn’t have any Morris Minors, but they had a huge collections of MG’s).

One of the most beautiful things about these cars were the name plates. Also the pin striping. The wheels of a fire engine were so decorative I was wondering if it served a purpose, like attracting men to be fire fighters.

One aspect of the museum that Carter and I particularly liked was the free motorcycle racing video game. This machine was right my sister Janet’s alley. I can’t wait for her to come visit us next year, as I anticipate we will hang at the museum for hours monopolizing this game. Thank goodness today Carter and I were the only ones in the room riding the motorcycle game. For the record Carter beat me coming in fourth on her best race. I came in fifth on my best race.

Just another fun day in Maine at the Owl’s Head Transport Museum, right under our nose.