What Will You Remember

Well, tomorrow is September 1st and in my book when September hits, Summer is over for me. September is one of those months where the weather gets a little crazy here in Ohio. Mother Nature can't decide whether to extend the Summer weather a bit or give us an early Fall. That means only one thing for us...days of hot weather followed by days of cold weather...back and forth.

I sat out on the back porch today for a little while feeding our huge population of birds and looking out at the garden. The weather was chilly, but the sun was out and it felt nice. I thought about the late Spring and Summer months that seemed to have passed by too quickly. It seemed like yesterday we were out there digging up the garden, planting seeds and getting too much sun.

I remembered back in April when we had started the tedious task of doing some landscaping that had taken longer than expected and was delayed a while because Lori had an encounter with poison ivy. I thought the couple of days of her having the "itchies" was due to dry skin, but when the blisters and rash appeared it was declared a full fledged case of poison ivy. That set us back a few weeks, but we managed to get the rest of the landscaping done and left the areas with poison ivy alone.

We had almost finished when it was time for me to make my travels down to Texas. What a trip that was! I had a great time while in Texas and enjoyed seeing the wonderful people I work with again. I was fortunate enough to go to a Texas Rangers game and witness a triumphant moment in baseball. It was a great time and we had some good laughs and memorable moments.

I remember finishing up the flower gardens in June and the two days that Lori and I spent in the back yard digging up the garden. The weather was exceptionally hot and we both got too much sun, but it was well worth it. Our gardens came out beautiful and our vegetable garden flourished throughout the Summer giving us plenty of beans, squash, cucumbers and zucchini. We're still waiting on the rest of the vegetables and our pumpkins are starting to turn orange. we've decided that next year we're going to make the garden double the size it is now.

It was a great Summer all the way around. Although we weren't able to go away for any length of time this year, we still had many great moments and enjoyed the Summer whether it was taking walks through town, enjoying the goods from the Farmers Market or spending time outside in the gardens. It was a Summer well spent.
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A Little Chill

After a burst of hot and humid weather, an unseasonable cold front has moved on through. The chill in the air last night was enough for me to turn the fan off in the bedroom window and I buried myself in the down blankets. I slept better than I have in a long time.

It's funny to think that today's high of 65 would seem like a heat wave in March and I would be running around opening all the windows and doors. However, it's August, and early this afternoon I ran around closing all the windows and doors and broke out some of the Autumn scented candles lighting them and inhaling the sweet smell of Pumpkin Spice. The air is crisp, cold and it has put me in that cozy Autumn mood.

I ditched my plans of making whole grain pasta w/ sauce loaded with vegetables and instead made a huge batch of homemade vegetarian soup. It's one of those days where a steaming bowl of soup will taste heavenly. I sit here with one of my favorite blankets wrapped around me and the smell of the simmering soup is making me hungry. Tonight will be in the 40's and it'll be one of those nights that end with a nice cup of creamy hot chocolate.

It's just one of those days. The cold front is only supposed to last for a couple of days and things will warm up into the low 80's by the end of the week. I will enjoy these next couple of days of cozy weather, bowls of soup and being able to light my favorite candles. It's a nice taste of what I love so much about Autumn.

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Avon Walk for Breast Cancer!

The goal was $5,000.00 and that was hit last week! I'm thinking that Kevin can get $10,000, but we need your help! Whether it's $100 or $1.00 any donation amount makes a difference! And, now, if you donate $1.00 or more to this amazing cause, you'll receive a FREE DealTaker Swag Gift Pack! Together, we can all make a difference! Show you're support! And....starting tomorrow I'll be posting pictures of Kevin training hard for Avon Walk so check back!

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Game Night

When I was growing up we used to spend a lot of time at my Grandparents summer home on the lake. During the day we'd swim, water ski, knee board, lay out in the sun and cook out on the grill. In the evening, after the sun went down, we all sat around the large round table and played endless card games.

There would be bowls filled with cheese curls, chips and pretzels and my grandmother would whip up cocktails (sodas for us kids). After the adults had a couple of cocktails and tongues got a bit loose...well, let's just say that's when I learned how to cuss in French.

Since then I've always loved playing cards, but as time went on I played less and less. When I lived in New York a bunch of us would get together at a friends house, whip up some cocktails and play cards, but that's about it. The simple pleasure of game night seemed to be lost until last night.

Yesterday, early afternoon, out of the blue, I turned to Lori and said, "Lets have game night." I wanted to go all out and break out the cards, Scrabble board and Playstation. I jotted down a list of some finger foods to pick up at the store and finished up what I was working on. The computer got turned off, I made dinner and then...it was game time!

We enjoyed appetizers, tasty beverages, a game of Scrabble (I so kicked Lori's butt), some Playstation and ended the night with a games of Rummy 500. It was fun and relaxing and it made me question why I had given up the occasional pleasure of game night. It's a great way to spend time together and it's fun. We talked and laughed and joked around for hours. I realized that it was an inexpensive way to touch base, relax, unwind and have a break from the 'norm.'

Once the cards got put away and it was close to some shut eye time, we agreed that game night was something we were going to do more often. It's on like Donkey Kong!

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Be Careful What You Wish For

About a year after I moved to Ohio I was working as a preschool teacher in a small church about 20 minutes away. I was having an exceptionally bad week and before I left I told Lori, "Maybe we'll get a tornado and I'll be swept away back home." I thought nothing of it and carried on with my day of lessons and keeping my small classroom in order.

It had been hot and humid that week and the weather channel had predicted storms for that day. The kids ate lunch and had settled down for nap time. A co-worker & friend of mine was in the classroom with me while the kids were sleeping. Her son was in my classroom and she was checking in. The sky was turning an odd shade of dark gray and everything seemed still.

By law there is supposed to be a storm center radio in every daycare or preschool office. If there is severe weather or a tornado warning the alarm goes off and that gives us time to take safety precautions. We had one, but we were unaware that the supervisor had turned it off before leaving because the sound of the alarm annoyed her. Due to this poor judgement, we didn't hear any alarm and didn't think anything of the darkening skies.

Candace and I stood at the windows that went from one end of the classroom to the other and watched as it kept getting darker. The street lights came on and the wind started picking up. First there was hail and then the winds picked up rapidly. Everything turned dark grey as if the clouds came down to the ground. We could hear debris hitting the windows along with the hail. The bushes that were right beside the window were bent over and it sounded like a small freight train. We immediately dragged the cots the children were sleeping on towards the bathroom and went back to the window.

It lasted for about two minutes and when the wind let up a bit I looked at Candace and asked, "Did we just get a tornado?" She said, "I think so." It was still pouring with thunder and lightning but it was apparent that there was a lot of damage. The excitement of it all spread through the building and I ran to the front of the church to view the aftermath. The house on the other side of the parking lot had lost the vinyl siding on the front and the doors were ripped off. Our fenced in playground was gone. Everything had been blown to the far end and the huge tree was uprooted and laid across the parking lot. The other tree laid across the playground.

Large branches covered the parking lot and some cars had damage to them. It was a mess. The phones started ringing off the hook from nearby parents who had either heard about the tornado or seen it. Some had been in the area and had seen it touch down. Thankfully there was very little damage to the building and we had all remained safe.

I got in touch with Lori, who was at work, and then called her Mom, who lives next door, to make sure our area was okay. She reported that it was sunny, but could hear thunder in the distance. She had heard about what happened on the news, but they hadn't been able to confirm a touch down yet.

I had thought about what I said earlier that morning and thought, "Be careful what you wish for."

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More Than A Spiffy White Shirt

Who is this you might ask? Is it some random guy modeling a spiffy white dress shirts from one of our retails stores? No. I happen to know him and his name is Kevin Strawbridge. He's the president of DealTaker and he's participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Yes, you heard right. Kevin has been diligently training everyday because he's going to be walking in Los Angeles for this incredible cause in September on behalf of DealTaker.

*************************************************************

Kevin's goal is to reach $5,000 and he just reached the 75% mark! As quoted by Kevin, "Breast cancer is a big disease, one that still affects far too many people, and I’m determined to do everything I can to help put an end to it. The money I raise will be managed and disbursed by the Avon Foundation Breast Cancer Crusade to help provide access to care for those that most need it, fund educational programs, and accelerate research into new treatments and potential cures. I’ll be just one of thousands of people that will walk up to a marathon and a half over a weekend, raising awareness of the cause and educating even more people."

Show your support! Together we can make a difference!

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Absolutely Nothing

So yesterday, for the first time since May, I stayed away from the computer completely. I slept in rather late, got up and had my usual cup of coffee while sitting on the sofa petting our dog, Tanner, and talking to Lori. That alone was odd because I usually drink my coffee at the computer while I'm officially starting my day. I didn't read any magazines while drinking my coffee, but that was okay because Tanner was enjoying the attention and I was enjoying my conversation with Lori.

It was an extremely relaxing afternoon and I did indulge in a couple of mixed drinks...another thing that I haven't had since May. I eventually made my way into the kitchen to make two of our favorite cheese fondues. We set up the spread on the coffee table and watched a movie as we enjoyed our dinner of bubbly cheese fondue, specialty bread and vegetables. Once we were done I got a very long and relaxing foot massage. I eventually dozed off on the sofa during the 2nd movie and woke up about an hour later.

The rest of day and night was spent doing absolutely nothing. The phone rang a few times, but I didn't answer it. I indulged in a very decadent dessert with a fresh cup of coffee. I will admit that I did get restless several times throughout the day and the temptation to sign onto the computer and do a bit of work was high. However, I had made a promise (no computer) and was determined to keep it.

By the time we went to bed (around 2 am) I was pretty much through with doing "nothing." Lori even noticed my restlessness (me pacing around a few times might have been a dead giveaway...LOL). I reminded her that it's almost impossible for me to go an entire day without doing something productive. I have a hard time doing "nothing" for any length of time. She understands and applauded the fact that I hadn't given in to temptation.

I feel rested and relaxed. I had my day of doing nothing and lounging around. I have caught up on my sleep and I feel rejuvenated. I'm looking forward to a week of having no schedule and doing what I want. I did promise that I would take another day of staying off the computer, but did tell her that it wouldn't be until the end of my vacation. I'm still recovering from yesterday...LOL

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PJ Day For Me

Tomorrow is my first day of vacation and I've decided to have a relaxing day away from my computer. Yes, that means the computer will not be turned on at all! The last time I did this was back in May. I've also decided that I am going to stay in my favorite PJs all day. I have no scheduled plans for the day, but have set forth a couple of rules:

1. I will wake up on my own. No alarm clock needed.
2. I will drink my coffee on the sofa while reading one of the many magazines I have fallen behind on.
3. I will watch as many movies as I want accompanied by a big bowl of popcorn.
4. I will not answer the phone. I pay for voice mail every month and will take advantage of that feature.
5. A hot bubble bath at some point complete with candles.
6. Dinner will consist of my favorite cheese fondue followed by fresh fruit and chocolate fondue.
7. A possible walk through town to my favorite place to get coffee if my knee isn't too bad.
8. I will not think about work.
9. Relax and unwind

Ahhhh.....

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Donuts And Apples

In another month it will officially be Fall...my favorite season! As a native "New Englander" Fall was a big deal for us. I grew up and lived most of my life in the Lakes Region (New Hampshire) and the tourists came out of the woodwork once Fall hit. As a child I remember countless drives through Franconia Notch to admire the vivid Fall colors. I never got tired of looking at the mountains decorated with yellow, red and orange leaves.

One of my favorite places to visit when I lived in New Hampshire was about 20 minutes down the road. It was a popular place to pick apples and pumpkins. I would get their early for their homemade sugar donuts that were still hot when you ate them and hot apple cider. I would hop on the large tractor bed with my empty bag and head over to the apple orchard. I would spend at least two hours making my way down each path looking for the perfect apples to pick and snack on. I usually went a few times before apple picking season was over.

The County Fairs would open up and I tried to go to at least one each weekend. There is something magical about the smell of fried dough and onion rings. I would check out all the vendors and visit the farm animals. I often purchased fresh baked breads, jams and knitted mittens from the elderly women who proudly displayed their goods. I ate too much, but that was to be expected when your surrounded with homemade apple crisp, roasted corn on the cob and chowder bowls.

To this day, I still celebrate Fall with complete enthusiasm. The cornstalks and pumpkins go out on the front porch and we buy bags of apples. I bake apple crisp, apple bread, apple pies and apple fritters to give out to family and friends. I break into my stash of apple, cinnamon and pumpkin spice candles and light them at night when the windows are closed. The chilly nights give me reason to curl up with my favorite blankets on the sofa. During the day the air is cool and crisp and makes it perfect for taking an afternoon walk through town with a stop for my favorite coffee.

It's hard to believe that summer is almost over, but I am ready for the Fall.

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I'll Know When It's Time

In the middle school I loved playing sports and was on the softball and track team. I had every intentions of making my way up the ladder to the Varsity teams. That came to a quick halt, though, when I started having problems with my right knee and I landed at the doctors office. The news was grim and for the next year and half my knee was in and out of braces. The muscles around my knee cap were weak and eventually my doctor scheduled me for surgery.

My father, who had been in karate for many years, had sustained a knee injury that required surgery. After the surgery his knee was never the same and he was forced to discontinue karate classes. Needless to say, he wasn't a big fan of knee surgery and took me to another doctor for a second opinion. This doctor convinced my dad that physical therapy could strengthen the muscles and surgery wasn't necessary. My first doctor disagreed and said that without the surgery I would have problems as an adult.

I went through the physical therapy and in high school continued with softball. I remember during one game I was running down the field for a ball (I was playing center field) and my knee gave out. I crashed to the ground in a great deal of pain. I did get back up and continue playing, but that was the end of my softball days.

I will admit, since then (it's been many, many, many years) I haven't been easy on my knee. I have hiked a couple of mountains, hiked miles of rugged terrain, participated in distance walking in my mid 20's, tried jogging (that didn't work out due to my knee giving out) and other physical activities. I would get the occasional pain, but with a couple days of ice and keeping my knee up I would be okay.

Back in early May when we were deep into our landscape project I was on the steep hill and lost my footing a bit. My knee twisted and, although it was painful, I pretty much ignored it. I went to Texas in the middle of May and by the end of my time there my knee was in complete agony. The ride on the bus back to Ohio was painful and by the time I got back home my knee was the size of half a softball. I kept it elevated with ice and it seemed to get better.

Lori and I started walking every other day to incorporate exercise into our healthy eating lifestyle. At first, it was okay, but as time went on the knee started going downhill again. By the time I got home from our walk I could barely put any weight on my knee. I wasn't too happy about this. I'm not one to sit and do nothing, but my knee was forcing me to greatly limit my physical activity.

It hasn't gotten any better and it's now swollen and most of the time I keep it propped up on a pillow on a shelf that I have on the lower part of my work desk. I keep it iced at times and try to stay off of it. I find that after I get up in the morning it's not as painful because I've been off of it for some time while sleeping. Usually by the afternoon walking on it becomes difficult.

I'm stubborn and won't go to the doctor...not now anyways. I am still convinced that I can heal it at home with regular doses of ice and Advil. I don't like all that doctor stuff...braces, surgery, medications, etc. Lori gets on my case a lot about it, but when I'm ready to go, I will go. I'll know when it's time. Stubbornness runs deep in my family. LOL!

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