Kim's Thoughts
Just a few thoughts I feel worthy of jotting down!
Upstairs, Downstairs, All Around The House
Let’s talk about stairs today, shall we? We can talk about the idea of stairs, what they do, where they lead, and what an imaginative mind can do with them. I have stairs in my house. I didn’t particularly want stairs in my house. But, I have them, just the same. When I was looking for my last house, I looked at homes with and without stairs. I decided the homes without stairs were far more appealing to me. So, when I looked for my current home, I put “ranch style” as a primary criteria. Oh, I did look at a couple of split levels, but knew as soon as I toured them that I wouldn’t want one. Much to my surprise, the home I fell in love with was a two-story Cape Cod – of course, where there is more than one story, there must be stairs. The photos on the realty sites screamed out at me and when I went to see it, I fell head over heels in love with it! The stairs still concerned me, but I decided to just try to get over it. And I have…..gotten over it, that is.
So, before we get into some of the more fun stuff…….why is it that I was so determined to not have stairs in my house? Well, first and foremost, I have a bad knee and stairs tend to aggravate it. So far, that hasn’t been a problem at all. They have a comfortable rise and it doesn’t tend to bother my knee – even when it is irritated already, I just need to take it slower when that is the case. Oh, believe me, I’m not running up and down them by any means, but they aren’t a problem for me.
Secondly, I have a sometimes overwhelming fear of falling. To help me with that concern, I took out the bulky carpet that was on the stairs when I bought the house and replaced it with a nice, low profile, tight runner – more functional, safe, and looks so much better, too! I also ensure I have a hand free to hold the railing and let the dogs go down ahead of me so they don’t accidentally trip me up.
Problem numbers one and two – gone!
The third concern was just fear of an upstairs…….I know, what is wrong with this girl? Well, I only lived in two houses with upstairs living areas before this one (actually, the first few homes I lived in as a baby and small child had upstairs living areas, but I was too young to remember any of them, so they aren’t involved in this story). Both of the homes I’m talking about had upstairs that gave me the creeps. I have no idea why, but I really hated being up there alone and felt creepy even if others were with me. Yeah, one was when I was a child, so you could chalk that up to childish fears and imaginations – there was an attic door that led to a dark, scary attic and railroad tracks that were close by and caused dreams of hobos hopping off the trains and climbing into my bedroom windows (yeah, the weird dreams I have started early in life). But, the other was when I was a married adult, so that is totally unexplainable, except that it was a somewhat unfinished area that we used primarily for storage until my older step-son came to live with us for a while and wanted his room up there, so I really didn’t have a lot of need to go up there.
But, I am not only fully comfortable in the upstairs here, I actually enjoy it! I have a huge dormer in my bedroom (both front bedrooms have them) that I have a lovely sitting area in and really enjoy sitting there looking out the window or reading. It is one of my most favorite spots in the house to sit and relax. I even joke to myself about something that would normally give me the creeps, but doesn’t — when I sit in the dormer looking out the window over the neighborhood, I think of the creepy mother in “Psycho” – hahaha!!! The other image that comes to mind is the old woman in the book “Mill River Recluse”, who enjoyed looking out the bedroom window in her marble mansion on the hill onto the community below – a much more pleasant analogy, for sure.
So, problem number three didn’t need to be overcome – it was non-existent! When I say this house is the PERFECT house for me, I mean that from top to bottom! So, stairs? No problem!
So, we know what my idea of stairs is – or was, until I found these very pleasant stairs. We know what stairs do – they provide a method of movement from one story to another. We know where they lead to in my house – the upstairs living area that consists of my master bedroom with a fabulous sitting area, a guest room, a laundry room, and the full bathroom. Now, let’s talk about what fun imaginative minds can have with stairs.
My brother used to love to slide down the bannister when we lived at my grandparent’s house (the one with the scary upstairs). It was a clear shot from the top to the bottom and there was a circular post at the end to stop him from falling off onto the floor. Lord help him if my Grandfather were to catch him, but he would do it whenever he thought there was a chance of getting away with it! hahaha A bannister is a wonderful thing for the imaginative mind of a child. They can be a super hero rushing off to save a damsel in distress or a fireman sliding down the pole to be whisked off to a fire or a daring circus artist performing a death-defying act – the scenarios are endless! Not that I would try it, but I know the bannister here isn’t all that conducive to sliding down it! The bannister only goes half way up the stairs (and then there is a wall and just a railing the rest of the way to the top) and it ends abruptly (nothing to stop you from falling onto the floor), plus, the spindles are rather small, so might not withstand too much weight on them. So, no bannister sliding fun in this house!
For my four-legged babies – the girls, the stairs are a playground! Katie and Amy wrestle on their way up and down the stairs – at first I worried they would get tangled up and tumble down the stairs and get hurt, but they keep their balance and continue their playful fun. Megan was apprehensive about the stairs, at first. The night we arrived in our new home, she was the first to go upstairs to check out the rest of the house – she’s my nosy one! But, after she ran all over every room up there, I heard her whimpering. I looked up the stairs and she was standing at the top with most of her body around the corner in the bedroom looking down from a safe distance. Her head was hanging down and she was whining! I called to her, but she wouldn’t come down. I went up to see if she’d come down with me, but no dice – she was clearly petrified to go down the stairs. In the mean time, Katie and Amy had gone up and down at least a dozen times. I tried to get her to go with me while I scooched down the stairs beside her – as long as my hand was on her back and I was right beside her, she was fine. We got to the bottom and she ran off to explore more of her new home. She followed the other girls back up and was, again, scared to death to come back down. So, I sat at the top and had her sit beside me and watch the other two go up and down. Finally, she followed them down and has been fine ever since – she just had to be taught how to go down!
NOW – Megan is up and down those stairs all the time! She runs around the downstairs, then up the stairs, runs all around the upstairs, then back down………I hear her race up the stairs and I hear her tearing all around the rooms upstairs and up on the bed and rolling all over the bed and off the bed and race back down! She loves the stairs and really loves being upstairs because that is where the bed is! hahaha All three get all excited when I head up the stairs – they have to race to follow me up and watch me do laundry or curl up on the bed while I get my shower or when I’m sitting in the dormer. When I say “time to go upstairs for bed”, they leap up and run to beat me to the top of the stairs, where they all stand with their wiggly butts watching me follow them up. When I get close enough for Megan to reach me, she stretches out to give me a kiss – like she’s congratulating me on making it to the top – then she quickly turns and runs to jump up on the bed! hahaha
Yes, the stairs and the upstairs living area in my new house are very special parts of the house and our routines! As for having creative fun with the stairs, though – well, that’s Katie, Megan, and Amy’s job. For me, the most creative I get is using them to place things that I want to take up or bring down so that I don’t forget them the next time I go up or down! hahaha Although, I guess you can add the images I get when sit looking out the window in my dormer to the “imaginative” category, but that is more about “upstairs” and not the stairs, themselves……..hhhmmm
The most creative and enjoyable thing I’ve ever seen on a staircase is in an old movie where Shirley Temple and Bill Bojangles Robinson dance on a staircase. It is magical and thoroughly entertaining. Take a look:
http://youtu.be/AjCFYpWDmfM
So, I’ll leave you on that note! Next time you go up a set of stairs, think about what they mean to you, where they go, what wonderful things they allow you to do, what creative fun you might have with them, and……….dance!!!!
Snowball Catch
Yeah, I know – it has been a while since I shared any thoughts. It definitely wasn’t due to lack of things to write……take today, for instance. I just had a blast in the back yard with the girls! So much so, that I just had to get on here and share it!
I need to set the stage…….since I moved back to Albion, the weather has been rather unexpected, to say the least. We had a very mild, and on several days actually WARM, November and December and NO white Christmas! (Boo on the no white Christmas, but Yay on the mild, warm days) Then, we had our first winter blast last week. A lesson I learned was to go out and clear the patio for the girls the next time it snowed. Last week, the snow was light and fluffy and they easily just ran right through it. Well, as soon as it started to melt, some, their foot tracks turned slushy and then froze hard – which made it difficult for them to walk on to get off the patio and out into the yard to do their business. So, since it snowed quite a bit yesterday afternoon and through the night, I figured I had better take my nice “snow pusher” out and clear their path on the patio and the steps down out into the yard. I bundled up with boots, heavy coat zipped up to my eye brows, and gloves, grabbed my snow pusher, and the four of us ventured out onto the patio. There was a significant amount of snow, but it was fluffy, so it didn’t take long to clear them a wide path and clean off the steps.
While I was doing my job, the girls were quite curious and excited about what I was doing. They ran around me and watched and played in the mounds I was creating. Then the real fun started! I got the idea to toss some snow balls and see what they would do. The snow really isn’t right for packing, so they weren’t nicely formed snow balls, but they still looked like a ball. I formed my first one and tossed it at Amy, who was closest to me at the time. She just stood there and it hit her in the face! I cracked up and laughed so hard at her! She came over and put her feet up on my hip, so I could brush the snow off her face. I thought, well, Megan will enjoy a snow ball, so I formed another one and tossed it at her. She leaped up and tried to catch it, but missed. She rooted around in the snow looking for it – of course, it was just powder, so it disappeared, but she was determined to find it! I laughed out loud, again. So, the game began………I formed a snow ball and tossed it at each of them in turn. Amy caught on and began to leap at them to catch them. Katie danced around loving every minute of it. Megan would try to catch it on her turn, root around for it, then take off running like the wind all around the fence line and back in time for her next turn! Katie bounced and danced all over the place – lunging at Amy and barking at the snow balls being thrown at her. It was really cold, so it didn’t last too long – maybe 10-15 minutes or so until I noticed Amy was holding her feet up in alternate steps and I decided they had been out in the cold too long. We went back in the house and they ran all over the place continuing their play time before they gave out and curled up for a nap.
I had a BLAST – I laughed so hard and really, really enjoyed the snow and the fresh air and watching the girls having fun. It was a good morning! I can’t wait to do it again tomorrow! hehehehe
Dream Takes Flight
I have always had a fear of heights – actually, it is more of a fear of falling because if I can convince myself there is no way I can fall, I don’t necessarily mind being up high, although I still get that horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. I’ve gotten myself in some precarious situations where I’ve gone up and didn’t have the nerve to come back down – like once when Ronald had to guide me down the stairs with my eyes closed at the Wright Brother’s Memorial at Kitty Hawk, NC because I just could not make myself start down the spiral staircase. At times, I think it is getting worse. For instance, while I was out Christmas shopping this week, I went up the escalator in two stores and in both cases, I had to take the elevator down cause I couldn’t bring myself to step onto the down escalator – I found them both to be moving a little too fast and both were pretty steep – I just couldn’t do it!
I tell you this for background info to give you some insight into the dream that is the real purpose of this post. I had a dream two nights ago that I can’t get off my mind. It was my typical odd combination of situations and bazaar topics.
I was with a group of people I didn’t recognize and some of them were talking about a local rocker who had died earlier in the day. I didn’t recognize the name, but still took the news very hard. I rushed out of the building to attend the memorial service. I commented on my way out that I had to get there early to see if there was anything I could do to help. The service was being held at a styling salon across the street. When I got there, the only person I knew was Ronald. He told me to sign the register, which was actually a questionnaire that asked for information about my hair – what color it is, when was the last time I had it professionally done, what products do I use, etc. There was also a question about if anyone in my family has ever had their hair done there – Ronald and I talked about how to answer this question and he finally told me to just say “yes”, so I did. The stylists were offering to fix the hair of the attendees, but I declined. Then, a man approached Ronald and I about taking us up in his airplane. Ronald wanted to go, but I didn’t, so I just told him to go on without me. But, the man would only do it if we both went. After a lot of coaxing, I agreed to go. When we got to the plane, there was only room inside for two people – the pilot and one passenger. I, again, offered to not go, but the pilot said that the wing was also used as a seat. I was very upset to hear that I was the one that would be sitting on the wing because he needed Ronald to be his co-pilot. I got up on the wing and held on to the little handles that were on each side of me with all my might. I asked the pilot if he was sure it was safe and he assured me that it was. We took off and I was surprised that the wind didn’t feel all that strong and it was easy to hang on. After a few minutes, the pilot came out on the wing and sat beside me to fly the plane from there. I freaked out and screamed out to him asking why he wasn’t inside the plane. He said he wanted to keep me company so I’d feel more comfortable and that he could fly it remotely and Ronald was doing his part inside. I told him I was NOT comfortable and it was scaring me. We landed and went in to the memorial service. I looked around wondering why I was there – I didn’t know anyone, including the dead guy – even Ronald was no longer there. I was suddenly petrified and felt the need to get out of there, but woke up before I could make my escape.
When I woke up, my heart was pounding, I felt out of breath, and I actually ached from being so tense. A few deep breaths and deliberate relaxing of my muscles calmed me down enough to try to go back to sleep. Sometimes when I wake from a dream in the middle of the night and go back to sleep, the same dream starts back up, again. I didn’t want that to happen this time, so I repeated to myself several times, “don’t go back there. dream something else.” It worked! But, I haven’t stopped thinking about it…….come on, Kim, move on and forget about it, already!
Never Ceases to Amaze Me!
I’ve always known that Megan is smarter than the average dog – REALLY – I mean the girl is always thinking, scheming, and understands everything! But, every now and then, she does something that still absolutely amazes me and makes me realize she has a lot more going on in that brain of her’s than I could ever imagine! Here’s why:
Megan is the toy lover. She gets so much enjoyment out of her toys. Katie doesn’t show much interest in toys and Amy has an occassional spark of interest in a ball or something that makes noise, but not too often. It is Megan who keeps the toys active in our house! Some, she gets right into and it is no time at all before they are in shreds. While other toys last longer – not that she couldn’t tear them up instantly – she just doesn’t! The ones that she “spares” get carried around and loved for several weeks or months before they bite the dust, depending on the toy. The odd one is a small yellow ball. She has had this toy pretty much the 5 years she’s been living with me! She carts it around everywhere, shows it off to everyone who comes to the house, and is very possessive of it. It stopped squeaking a few years ago – something that usually makes her lose interest in any cherished toy – and it is grimy from constantly being played with. I have purchased new versions of the exact same ball several times over the years and she won’t have anything to do with them – she only wants that one specific ball! She could have chewed it up years ago, but never did. Other toys have come and gone, but this ball has lasted and lasted and is the only ball that she will even look at.
Until last night!
I heard her chewing on something behind me and when I checked it out, she had torn a little piece off the ball. I snatched it away from her and said – “now you’ve done it! I’m going to have to throw it away cause you’re starting to eat it!” She got a look of panic on her face and tried to take it back. I put it up on the desk and she tried and tried to get it, but it was just out of her reach. I gave it back for just a minute to see what she would do and she immediately started tearing it up, again, so I took it back. I tried to be sneaky when I tossed it in the trash can, but she saw me do it and got all upset! I thought she might try to get it out of the can, but didn’t – much to my surprise! I tried to get her interested in another yellow one that is out for Amy when she feels like playing, but she didn’t want any part of it!
Then, this morning, she came out of the room that has the box of old toys with a blue ball in her mouth – one of the newer versions of the same ball, except blue instead of yellow, that I bought some years ago and she never touched. She came out all proud and squeaking it and started to toss it around and play with it. I commented on her new ball and she got all excited. When she left it alone, I asked her where her ball was and she went and brought the “new” blue one to me. She hasn’t let it out of her sight since she took it out of the box. She has moved on…….I guess she saw her old one go in the trash can and decided it was gone and she’d better give in and get herself another one! She definitely knows and can think through more than I think she does!
Sentimental Value
I have a lot of things that had belonged to my grandparents – mostly things that were my Grandmother’s, but also some of Grandpa’s things. I am very pleased and proud to have them in my home and have always displayed them prominently or made sure they were in use and not just sitting in a closet somewhere for “their protection”. I get a lot of joy out of using them as they used them. Of course, I’m a little more careful with them than I am with my other things, but I want to enjoy them, as I’m sure my grandparents would want me to.
One piece that has particular sentimental value for me is a mantel clock that was in my grandparent’s living room for many years. My grandfather bought it on a trip to New York City with his bowling team when my mother was a little girl. The team earned a spot in the NY State Tournament of ABC Leagues. While they were there, he found this Seth Thomas electric mantel clock in a jewelry store and brought it home with him. He used to talk of walking the streets of NYC with this clock under his arm. The price tag is still stapled to the bottom of the clock – he paid $22.00 for it! Of course, that was about 70 years ago (give or take a year or two), so that was a LOT of money for a clock!
I grew up listening to the clock chime on the hour and half hour and the sound of it makes me think of my grandparents and the years that we lived with them. I get all warm and fuzzy when I hear the chimes and the clock means a lot to me! So, when my Grandfather asked me if there was anything that I wanted, I immediately told him that the clock would be the best thing I could possibly have because it single-handedly brought up every memory I had of them and that house and my childhood! So, it became mine. And I adored having it in my home.
Unfortunately, a few years after I got it, it stopped working! I searched for an antique clock repair shop to see if I could get it fixed. It broke my heart that it no longer kept time and, most importantly, no longer chimed! I found one near Sanford that kept it for several weeks only to tell me that clocks that old – especially electric ones – can’t be fixed and he recommended I let him gut it and turn it into a battery operated clock that wouldn’t chime. I told him it would sit on the mantle and just look pretty before I would let him do that to it! I continued my search. I talked to an antique clock dealer in Raleigh that said I had to have someone who specialized in electric clocks of that age and that he knew of only 2 or 3 in the country who did that kind of specialized work. He referred me to a shop in Virginia. I contacted them and was put on a 6 month waiting list for service. After about 8 months, I discovered they went out of business. So, I gave up and decided that it would just be a visual treasure and not a musical one!
After I moved up here, I had a hunch and posted a photo on Facebook to ask if anyone knew of someone in this area that may be able to help. I got a few suggestions and decided to call the first one, which was also the one that more than one person recommended. It is a gentleman in Lockport. He said he’d take a look at it, so I took it up to him today. He sounded very knowledgable and encouraging and was a very nice, kind man. I felt comfortable leaving it with him and am hopeful that he can get it fixed for me! I’m excited, but trying not to get my hopes up TOO high – just in case he can’t fix it and I’m left with a broken heart!
My drive to Lockport was a pleasant adventure. I rarely used to go in that direction, which is towards Buffalo. I typically went the other way if I wanted to shop or go for entertainment – towards Rochester. So, I wasn’t sure where I was going or how to get there. I plugged the address into my GPS and headed out Route 31 – I knew that was the most direct way to get to downtown Lockport! But, my GPS really, really wanted me to go via Route 104 (Ridge Road)! Every street I came to, it would tell me to turn right so that I would head to Ridge Road! Geez! I knew how to get to the general area – I just wanted help navigating once I got there! 🙂 It was still an enjoyable drive. It is a pretty day, today – cool, but sunny and bright and very pleasant! I went through downtown Middleport……..I don’t think I’ve ever been in downtown Middleport before! What a lovely little town…..very quaint and quiet with a cafe and a few shops…..small, though – if I had blinked, I would have missed it altogether! The sign entering the town said “Middleport – A Friendly Community” – I believe it! And, it was in Middleport that my GPS finally decided that it liked the way I was going and stopped trying to get me to go another way! 🙂 There were a few other things along the way that I noticed and may have to go back some day when I have more time and check out.
So, thank you to my friends who recommended this guy in Lockport! I hope it pays off and I’ll soon be listening to the beautiful sounds of Grandpa’s clock chiming throughout the day and night again.
So much to be thankful for…..
Just look around you……it isn’t difficult to find those things that you can count among the many blessings you have in your life – those things that you bow your head and give thanks for – those things that give meaning to your life and make every day so very special. Yes, even those who feel that they are at the lowest part of their life and feel they have nothing to be thankful for – even when life feels like it is totally against you – just take a deliberate look at yourself, your life, and those around you. You will find something that you can be thankful for – I guarantee it! And there is always someone less fortunate than yourself – no matter what your circumstances – that you could reach out to and help give them a little something to be thankful for, even if only to do something that makes them smile for just a little while. After all, that is what gives life meaning – what you do for others and, then, what they give you back in return is the icing on the cake!
As for me, I don’t have to look far at all. I never have. I can find the things that I am thankful for without even giving it any thought. I am very blessed to have family that I love dearly and friends I treasure. This year, in particular, I am overwhelmed by my many blessings. Life has taken such an abrupt turn for me and I am still in a disorganized tizzy over it. But, it has brought me back home. I am among family and old friends and familiar surroundings. Even the unfamiliar parts – new home, retirement, etc – are comfortable. Just the fact that I can spend the holidays with my family without having to get on a plane and travel to do it is an amazing blessing! My Mom is driving just a few short miles to come to my house for dinner today and I’ll drive just a few blocks to have dinner with the rest of my family at my brother’s on Saturday. How cool is that?
So, I got up this morning and put a pot roast in the crock pot. Yes, you read that right – we’re having pot roast for Thanksgiving! Sounds funny, doesn’t it? I thought so, too. But, it makes perfect sense for us, this year. As families grow and the little ones become adults and have families of their own, it becomes more difficult to juggle the holidays with old family traditions, new traditions, the desire to have the feast at your own house while still finding comfort in going to the parents house, and then there are in-laws and their traditions! So, to keep from having to eat multiple feasts all on Thanksgiving, we decided to have our holiday meal when we can all get together in a more relaxed setting. We’re doing our Thanksgiving feast on Saturday. Which brings me back to the pot roast! I was thinking of doing a small turkey roll or breast just for Mom and me, today. But, Mom really didn’t want to spoil the anticipation of that big turkey day dinner by having a “sneak peek”, so to speak, today. So, pot roast it is!
Yes, I have so much to be thankful for……..family, friends, the joy my dogs bring to me, a new home, a new chapter in my life, and so very much more! Regardless of what you have to eat today, do what my Grandmother used to do – look around the table and say, “I wonder what the poor people are doing today?” Enjoy the richness that each and every person in your life brings to you. Look for what makes you bow your head in thanks. But, if you truly can’t find something to be thankful for, do something kind for someone else and then be thankful for the smile and gratitude they will give to you in return. Find joy in the little things in life, for they will give you the most to be thankful for!
I’ll leave you with a song by Jen Chapin that I find very calming and that reminds me that it is the joy that we need to find in our lives and when we find it, we need to let it show!!!
Moving On
What a hectic, busy, emotional, etc., etc., etc., few weeks this has been! I retired from my job of 23+ years, packed up my house and dogs, put my home on the market, said good-bye to a lot of wonderful friends, and moved from central NC to western NY! Whew! That’s a lot to take in and go through. But, I came through it all with only a few bruises – hahaha – and am ready to move on! Be sure to read those last few words correctly – I said “move on” not just “move”! It is a figurative statement for getting on with my new life and has NOTHING to do with physically moving — something I swear I will NEVER do again!!! If this whole experience has taught me anything, it is that I don’t EVER want to go through it again – EVER!
So, let me paint a picture of the past few week’s events:
I had my 55th birthday. Attended a wonderful going away party put on by some great friends! I worked my last week at a company I’ve been with for 23+ years. And I put my house on the market!
That may seem like a lot, in itself, but that was all the easy part! Now for the meat of it:
I’m a procrastinator! I typically prefer to do things at the last-minute and usually do them better when I’m on a tight deadline. I’m not crazy about the pressure that puts me under, but it works for me. Going on a trip? Do laundry and pack the night before. Have a report to write? Pull an all nighter or two and do it a day or two before it is due. Get the picture? Well, I have learned (the hard way) that packing for a move this big is NOT something you want to do under these circumstances. I’ve had to move quickly due to short notice in the past and made it work, but if you have the luxury of time, do it a little at a time over a longer period! Unfortunately, I didn’t learn this lesson until I was well into rushing to get an entire house packed and emptied out for a planned move date. I actually could have been flexible with my move date, but I had already set the date, scheduled the Uhaul, and made other plans that were tied to the chosen move date. Pushing it out once I realized I needed more time wouldn’t have been an easy option – and to be honest, probably wouldn’t have done any good because of my tendency to not take advantage of extra time. So, what started out with organized, well labeled boxes ended up with boxes full of a mixture of stuff and labeled with the room that most of the contents belonged in.
I had a lot of help from friends….(thank you!!!!)
We packed the furniture and big stuff on Saturday, but still had boxes to pack and things to do before we could leave Sanford, so the actual move date was Tuesday. That meant that I had three nights in the house with no furniture. So, I had them leave the mattress and my desk chair off the truck so I’d have a place to sleep and something to sit on. It worked out – especially since I had so much more packing to do, I didn’t really have the time to get too comfortable. The mattress on the floor was interesting – it was more comfortable than I thought it would be, but when I decided it was OK to do that, I wasn’t thinking about how difficult it would be to get up off of it from so low to the ground with nothing to grab onto! hahaha But, I made out just fine. And the girls loved “camping in the living room”!
We decided the best way to travel was for Ronald and Lisa to go in the Uhaul and tow the Pony and for me to follow in the mini van with the girls. The girls started out with new seat belt harnesses to keep them safe. If you think the next two photos look like that worked out perfectly, you’re sadly mistaken! 🙂
I got Katie settled in the front seat with her harness hooked up. Then, Megan got in her seat and was content. Then came the struggle – Amy usually likes to sit in the front seat with Katie and that wouldn’t work on this long of a trip, so I tried to coax her into the back seat. The more I tried to get her to get in the back seat, the more frightened she became. It soon turned into a traumatic experience for her and she was shaking and wouldn’t move. I had to pick her up and force her into the seat, get her hooked up, and then sat and held her for a while to calm her down – I held her close, stroked her, and sang to her. Finally, she was calm and content. But – by the time I finished putting other things in the back of the van and did a final walk through the house to be sure we didn’t forget anything and that everything was secure, I came out to find them ALL half out of their harnesses!!! All three had at least one front leg out of the harness and Megan actually had both front legs out and the harness was down around her stomach! Oh, boy – we didn’t even leave the driveway and it was obvious that was NOT going to work! So, I took all the harnesses off and hooked the leads directly to their collars. I know that is not recommended – if something should happen and they get thrown around, it could strangle them. But, I thought it was best for them in this situation and just had to hope nothing bad happened. Then, at the first stop, they all got out and it was major drama all over again with trying to get Amy into her seat! So, I realized that it was far less traumatic for them to sit where they wanted to and move around – they were on Benadryl, so they were mostly sleeping anyway and the design of the van made it so they couldn’t rush out when I opened my door to get out at a stop, so it was fine………and they were much happier after that! It worked out well and was so much less stressful for them AND me!!! Megan didn’t do her duty at all at any stop even though she drank a lot and ate a little at each stop – she finally did when we got to the house, but not on the trip. And Katie never really got the full effects of the Benadryl – Megan and Amy slept or laid still the whole time the van was moving, but Katie still stood at attention right up until well after dark – then she slept a little bit. But, all in all, it was an easy trip for them – that is, after I realized the planned arrangements were too stressful for them.
Aside from the seating arrangement drama, the travel plans worked really well and it was a pleasant, uneventful trip. We left about 7:00 am, drove straight through with only a few stops, and made it to my new home a little after midnight! It took a little longer to drive than usual, but that was to be expected. Ronald and Lisa left from their house and I left from mine about a half hour behind them, so when we caught up to each other at the first stop, it was the first time I saw the pony on the trailer……….it sure was strange driving behind it! hahaha
It was a lovely day for the drive – sunny, beautiful blue sky, warm, gorgeous autumn leaves! Couldn’t have asked for better weather! I just had to snap a few pictures along the way – like the first one below of Pilot Mountain! When my son, Robby, was little and we’d make this drive back and forth between NC and NY, we’d always look forward to seeing Pilot Mountain – we called it the “big boobie in the sky”! hahaha
So, I’m here and settling in. What have I been up to since I got here? Well, we unloaded everything and got it all in the right rooms (for the most part – remember, some boxes have a mixture of stuff that may belong in multiple rooms), I’ve had dinner with my Mom three times, I ran some errands, and I unpacked a little. I keep trying to get myself motivated to unpack and it just isn’t happening. I’ve decided that I am more sick and tired of packing and cleaning than I am of the clutter, right now, so the clutter is not working as a strong motivator to get busy – yet! I also don’t have any deadlines for unpacking and, as I said earlier, I’m a procrastinator and do much better if I’m up against a deadline! The only deadline I have is if I decide to fix Thanksgiving here, so maybe I’d better set that plan to get myself in action! Also, I caught a little cold the first day I was here – I’ve been under so much stress from the move, my resistance must have been low. It isn’t enough to really get me “down”, but enough to keep my energy level a little low. But, I’m doing what needs to get done as it needs to get done and the rest will come!
The only casualty of the move that I’ve found, so far, is my computer! I securely packed all the electronics (computer, TVs, etc.) in the van so it would be safer – guess that didn’t work! My brother picked it up and put it on my computer desk and said “what is rattling around in there?”. He opened it up and the heat sink had broken off and was rolling around inside the case! My nephew is a computer technician, so he got a new part and fixed it, but there is more than just that wrong. When I start it up, it sits on the blue HP screen for 10-15 mins before it fully boots. Bryan (nephew) said that if the jarring broke off the heat sink, then no telling what else got damaged! So, he is going to build me a new one! For now, as long as I leave it on, it is OK and I have my laptop if it totally crashes. I’ve backed everything up onto an external drive, so whatever happens, I’m all set! Then, I had some connectivity problems with the internet and Time Warner had to change out the modems. But, now all is fine – I’m up and running and connected to the world and able to finally blog about my adventures in moving! 🙂
As for the girls: They have adjusted very well. When we arrived late Tuesday night (Weds morning), they ran all through the house exploring every inch and went out and explored their new fenced in back yard. They love the yard!!! Megan had a little drama that first night — she was the first to go upstairs, but was terrified to come back down them! Katie and Amy were up and down and up and down and playing all the way up and all the way down! But, Megan just stood around the corner with her head peeking out at the stairs and you could see the terror on her face!!! Poor thing! I went up and tried to get her to come down with me – I had my hand on her back the whole way, but she was terrified! Once she got down, she ran right back up and then was too afraid to come back down, again! That time, she wouldn’t have any part of my helping her. But, I got her to stand at the top of the stairs watching the other two and she finally ventured down along with them and has had no more trouble since! Her sisters taught her how and now she’s running up and down them like an old pro! Megan loves the window seat and is in it looking out most of the day and when I leave she gets in there to watch me go and is still there waiting to watch me return! I also captured her checking out the fireplace the first morning we were here! She’s been very curious about everything! They already know that we go upstairs to go to bed and down to the basement when we do laundry – as soon as I mention either, they head that way! They were upset the first couple of times I left and didn’t take them with me, but are fine, now when I have to go out somewhere. So, they are doing fine and settling right in to their new routines and surroundings!
So, all is good here…….we still have some unpacking and organizing to do and a lot of new sounds and things to get used to, but we’re content and ready to move on!!! But, you know when it REALLY all sunk in as being “real”? On Friday morning about 4:30 when Ronald and Lisa got in the van to drive back to NC – I watched them pull out of the driveway and head down the street……without me……I realized that I’m where I’m going to be and I’m not going back! For a split second, I got really sad – then the girls got my attention and I turned around and saw them curled up on the couch all comfy and we went back up to bed and I felt good – at home! Life is good!!!
One man’s junk…..
How does the old saying go? “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure”? That is the idea behind yard sales and thrift shops and all kind of stuff like that. Just because you don’t want something anymore or can’t use it, for whatever reason, doesn’t mean it isn’t of any value to “someone”. I don’t think I’ve ever come to realize that so profoundly as I have this weekend. Oh, I’ve had yard sales before and put used furniture up for sale and donated stuff I no longer need or want to various organizations. And I’ve even gone to yard sales hoping to find something I can repurpose and get some new use out of for a small amount of money. So, I totally understand the concept. It just really hit home for me yesterday in a big way.
Here’s the story:
I’ve been blogging about my upcoming move. Well, it is getting down to the wire, here, and I wanted to weed out the amount of stuff I have to pack and haul along with me. So, I planned a yard sale. I spent a few days going through some things to select what I’d like to offer up for sale. I didn’t have time (due to my own irresponsible procrastination) to really go through and put together a comprehensive selection, but it was a good dent and at least put the big stuff out there. I put an ad in the local paper and hoped for the best. The main idea was to reduce the amount of stuff I’m taking with me while also reducing what I end up throwing away (doing my part to save the environment, you know)……..a little extra pocket change was just icing on the cake, so whatever I got, I’d be happy.
I got up early Saturday morning (5:00 am) to finish organizing everything in preparation for the 7:00 am “head start” opening for Facebook friends and the 8:00 am general grand opening! It was soooooo cold — like, a little less than 40 degrees cold — and raining, no, make that POURING! But, I went on my merry way – changing the “yard” sale into a “garage” sale, hoping for the sun to come up with no rain and for it to get at least a tad warmer. No such luck……..the cold rain kept up until a little after 9:00! Yes, I got a few die-hard yard salers – a very few – and a couple of calls asking if I was still going to have it. But, attendance was disappointing, to say the least – even after the sun did come out and the rain stopped. The bad early morning weather discouraged most from venturing out. Between a few friends who came over for a “sneak peek” on Friday night and the few die-hards that came in the rain, I was able to reduce quite a bit and made about $120 in the process, but there was still a LOT left! So, I spent about an hour deciding what really should just go out to the road for bulk pick up and what I’d hang onto in hope that I can find them a home or just give in and take with me. I put a “for sale” photo album on Facebook and posted a plea to non-profits to see if any might want to come get some stuff for their thrift shops. And I dragged the junk I figured no one was going to go out of their way to come get out to the side of the road.
Then came the point of this story……I no more than finished struggling to drag stuff to the street and got back to the garage, when along came a pick up truck. The truck pulled up to the stuff I had set out and began to rummage through it. I thought, cool – glad it might not end up in the landfill!!! So, I walked down to the curb to talk to the gentleman looking for treasures. I joked to him that I wished he had come by just a few minutes ago and save me the trouble of dragging it to the street! He laughed! I had a lovely conversation with him while he gathered up anything with some form of metal in it or that he thought he might get some cash out of. He told me that he and his grandson go around every weekend looking for stuff he can gather and sell for scrap. He explained that he has been out of work for a long time and what little savings he had was all gone, so picking up what others have discarded and selling it for scrap is actually an income for him and helps pay for his very costly medicine. This really warmed my heart and, like I said earlier, brought new meaning to the old saying “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure” for me! I’ve known guys who do that sort of thing for extra cash or for the “sport” of it, but never actually met someone who depended on it for his livelihood. I was so very happy to have helped him out in some small way and really enjoyed our brief conversation. I thought about what else I might have in the “hang onto for now” stuff or that I may not have gotten to in my sorting, yet, that might be of use to him. But, couldn’t think of anything that would give him scrap metal.
And the story doesn’t end there — I put a few other things out there that I figured were probably unlikely that anyone would be interested in and I REALLY didn’t want to hang onto. I went to get some lunch and then took a much-needed nap. When I got up, I looked out and realized there was only a fraction of what I put out there still there! Someone came along and found value in much of what was discarded! YAY — that is a good thing!!!
And I learned one more thing from this………..if I have anything else that I decide will go out for bulk pick up, I won’t wait to put it out the night before pick up day (usually out of courtesy to the neighborhood by not having trash at the road any longer than necessary), I’ll put it out as soon as I identify it so that those who are out looking for treasures have time to find it and save it from going to the landfill.
The value I found in all this? A lesson I’ll never forget!
No Plan……..No Problem!
If this year has taught me anything, it would be that it is OK to not have everything planned out to the most intricate detail. Really, it is…….and I’ve really, truly learned to be OK with that! And, believe me, that is about as far out of my normal comfort zone as you can get! You see, I’m a planner and a little OCD – well, OK, a lot OCD – about the details of everything. I want to know exactly how things will play out, what to expect, and when to expect it to happen. I’ve always been a little freaky with spontaneity. Oh, I can be spontaneous and can deal with it on some level in certain circumstances, but for the most part, I want a plan and a check list and a warm fuzzy feeling that the end result will be what I want it to be.
Then came this year………I had an end result in mind, but until just recently, I had no idea how I was going to get there, when it was going to happen, and how I was going to make it happen according to plan. Because, you see, there was no plan! Yeah, I was nervous, worried, stressed out, and out of sorts. But, I got through it by keeping my eye on that end result. I made minor and major interim decisions that got me closer to it and slowly, but surely, filled in the details as I went. Now, all of a sudden, the end result is within reach — like within 2 weeks of being realized! And I did it all with minimal formal planning. And the further along I got, the more comfortable and less stressed out I was that there wasn’t a formal plan.
Now for the major shock to my comfort zone………I know that in two weeks I’ll be retired and moving back home………I know that I am planning to be all unpacked and settled in by Thanksgiving…….but, beyond that there is NO plan!!!! I am making a major life change and have only made decisions going out about a month. Beyond that……….nothing! The only thing I’ve decided going forward beyond the holidays is to take life one day at a time and enjoy the view! The rest of my life will sorta be like going to the ball park for a Saturday afternoon double-header — take a beer and a dog to the cheap seats, sit back, and enjoy life for all it is worth!
I’m planning to learn to relax and take things as they come. I’m planning to take time to enjoy retirement. I’m planning to make the most of every day by doing things I enjoy and that don’t stress me out. Yeah, I know – relaxing isn’t really in my nature and I’ll surely be bored and looking for something to fill the void that work used to fill. But, I don’t have to plan for that. I only need to plan to deal with it when the time comes. Once I get settled in and get through the holidays and my first full winter in Western NY since the 1984-85 season, I’ll start to consider my options – see what life has in store for me – figure out what will make me happiest. Maybe I’ll start a little business – something that feeds my creative side. Maybe I’ll do some volunteering or maybe get a part-time job at a non-profit – something that feeds my love of community. Maybe I’ll write that series of children’s books I’ve always joked about writing – something that feeds my love of writing. I’ll have nothing but time to figure that all out and decide on the best option for me.
And I’m OK with that! A year ago, I would have driven myself crazy with check lists and pros/cons lists and options listed out by priority – all attempting to ensure I have a detailed plan for my future. Now, when I’m asked what I plan to do, I very comfortably say – “right now, nothing”. And it feels good! And it feels right! And I’m happy as a clam! I know I’ll have a roof over my head and family and friends nearby and what types of things will make me happy when the time comes to find something to energize me. That’s all I need to know.
Well, what do ya know – maybe I got me a plan, after all……..
Thinking about the girls…
I haven’t written about the girls in a while. They used to give me a lot to write about – good and bad – but, they have matured and settled down and I don’t have as many funny stories to tell. They are getting older – Katie is 7, now, and Megan and Amy are both 5 – and are no longer puppies or young dogs. That in no way implies that they aren’t still playful – just that they don’t get into as much trouble as they used to. It is because they are now older and more settled that I am worried about how they will react to being uprooted and moved to a new home in a new state.
With all this talk about moving to Albion and getting a new house and starting a new chapter in my life, I haven’t talked much about what that will mean for the girls. That doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about it and worried about it. If Puddles was still alive, I wouldn’t be at all worried about her. She started out living on Steele Street with us, then moved with me to Deep River Road, and finally to my current home. She went everywhere with me and traveled all over the east coast with me many times. She was comfortable anywhere she went and quickly settled in wherever we stayed. But, with Katie, Megan, and Amy, the situation is different. This is the only home any of them have ever lived in and they are very comfortable and secure in it. Katie is the only one that has ever traveled with me and, although she quickly adjusted when we got there, it still created some anxiety for her. Other than frequent stays at Rae-Zor for doggie-day-care or boarding (which they absolutely LOVE), they really haven’t had to get used to new surroundings. I’m worried that this move will be traumatic for them and that it will take time for them to adjust and feel “safe” again.
I think Katie will be fine — it will cause her some anxiety and she’ll likely have a rough time, but I doubt it will last too long. She is my social butterfly and I’m sure getting to know new people and exploring her new house and yard will distract her and help her cope better than the other two. I’m concerned, but not terribly worried.
Amy is the shy one, but after a while warms up to new situations. It will take her longer than Katie to adjust, but I am worried she may revert back to some of her nervous, scared tendencies that took so long to get her to overcome. Over all, though, I think that as long as Katie is there and she sees Katie is OK, then she’ll be fine, too — they are two peas in a pod and as long as they are together, I think Amy will be OK.
It is Megan that worries me the most. Megan is very much a “home body” and Mommie’s girl. She does fine at Rae-Zor’s and has learned to enjoy her time there, but she really doesn’t like to be out of her element at all. It puts her in a major tail spin when I take her shopping at PetSmart, to Santa Paws events, or other places that she is unfamiliar with and around people she doesn’t know. It really scares the daylights out of her — she gets nervous, clingy, and sometimes even gets sick to her stomach. When we get home, she acts scared and clings to me for hours – sometimes days, if it was a particularly traumatic situation for her. I know that she’ll eventually be fine — she’ll adjust and the new home will become her safe zone. I’m just worried about how long that may take and how she will react in the mean time.
The saving grace will be that we’ll all be together and I won’t be going to work and leaving them alone in a strange place all day. Also, the furniture will all have their scent on it and all their toys and “stuff” will be there as familiar sources of comfort for them. They will also have a huge fenced in back yard to run off their energy in. Maybe I’m worrying too much – maybe it’ll be just fine, but I can’t help it — I know it is going to create anxiety for them on some level.
I need to take them to All Animals for their annual visit before we move, so I plan to take advantage of that time to talk to Dr. Cindy and get her advice. I’m hoping for some medication that will help them on the long drive up to NY (standing at attention and panting at the windows won’t make for a very fun 900 mile drive) and advice on how to help them adjust when we get there.
So, anyway — I’m sure the old girls will be fine, but I know it will be stressful for them, so I need to think it all through and make sure I’m doing the best I can to make it as easy a transition as possible for them! Any thoughts?
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