Introducing.....Freight Train

Amy decided she needed some exercise and was going to walk to the river.  I said to take Bennett or Melanie, she shouldn't go alone.

Bennett wouldn't leave my side, but Melanie was up and ready.  We both thought Melanie would go about 5 feet and realize Bennett wasn't with her and then stop.  Nope.

Amy said that Melanie needed some prodding, but as soon as they hit the gate into the park, Melanie took off like a bullet.  Amy was being dragged ~ and since there was still alot of snow and ice on the path, there was slippage.  And, Amy was wearing running shoes so she didn't have alot of traction.  

Amy said Melanie pulled all the way to the river and JUMPED IN!!!!!!!!!!

Getting out of the river

When they got home, Amy was sweating ~ she had never seen Melanie do that before and decided that Melanie should be called "Freight Train".  

Currently, Freight Train is at the foot of my bed.  Exhausted.  We will see if she will do that again. 

Love, Leslie

Greatest Present Ever and Digging Out

There is something nice about the blizzard of the centuary, I can now stay home and not worry about going to work, which is nice.  Plus, you get to play outside.  Lori gave Jim the greatest present ever for Christmas ~ a super cool sled (with a seat on it).

It may look funny, but they had a blast on it on their very steep driveway and street!

I think Drew needs one - they also have a great driveway for sledding!

Nancy sent a picture of the snow from their back door in Davidsonville:

This was halfway through the storm.

Amy and I got out today and did half of our driveway.  We are too old and decrepit to do it in one fell swoop.

I know it doesn't look particularly deep, but it is solid ice.  We have to break it up, then shovel it off.

But, check out our 7 day forecast ~ it will definitely melt sooner than later.  Now if we can just escape any more snow/ice the rest of the winter!

Much love, 
Leslie

PS ~ it took me and Amy 3 days to break up the ice and shovel it off onto the yard!  Amy investigated heated mats, but ~$200.00 for a 5 X 5 mat isn't really reasonable.  But, if we ever build a house or have to redo the driveway, we are going to make it so it heats up!!!!!

The Snow of the Century

The storm is here! Durham is completely shut down, no one is on the road.  I got up this morning to the neighborhood kids shoveling my driveway.  I took the dogs out and a young girl said "I wish I had a shovel" ~ I told her I had one and she was thrilled!

Please note that the grass is not covered.

This is what the parents do when it snows.

The wild bunch ~ please note my blue show shovel and the young lady still standing.

I am listening to the Tony Kornheiser show (love it) and the snow forecasters are still crying for 24 to 40 inches of snow coming to DC. With blizzard like winds starting at 9pm.  I wonder where Jim Cantore is from the Weather Channel. I AM SO GLAD I AM IN DURHAM!!!!!!!!

Love, Leslie

PS ~ Amy is slaving away because the government is still open until 12 noon, at which time they will release all workers to get home.  Whoops, I gave incorrect information!  Since Amy works from home, she is expected to slave away all day.  However, since she has reached her 80 hour limit, she is going to lie down.  It is exhausting.

Self Diagnosis ~ by Mom

Mom pretty much slept the day away yesterday.  It was a holiday, so maybe is was normal.  I took her breakfast and lunch and encouraged her to get moving.  While I was fixing her dinner, she came into the kitchen (still in her jammies) and inquired about breakfast.  I said her dinner would be ready in a second to which she really wondered if I was gaslighting her.

This morning, she informed me that she thinks she has shingles.  I don't.  I can't wait for the dermatologist appointment tomorrow so the mystery is solved.  Mom likes to google her symptoms to see what she has.  Too bad terminal crazy doesn't come up.

I am listening to the Tony Kornheiser show and Kevin Sheean is saying that DC MAY get 3 to 4 feet of snow on Friday.  May I say that I am really glad to be in North Carolina.  It is 25 degrees right now and there is a small circle of ice on my driveway.  Time to go to Home Depot to get some ice melt stuff.  I just looked at my weather ap on my iphone and it says snow here tomorrow, Friday and Saturday.  Hmmmmm.  I think I am going to check NOAA.

I wonder if I can get Mom to help shovel.  Doubtful.

Love, Leslie

Winter has Arrived....Our first Snow!

Since weather is a media darling, our local weather stations have lit up!  It is snowing!!!!

But, alas, the ground is too warm and soggy to allow the snow to accumulate and it is only 37 degrees.  Now tomorrow will be a high of 32 and a low of 16.  WHAT?????????

I texted Zoe and she sent this picture ~ they are getting their first snow in Davidsonville.

But the snow is sticking in Maryland.

I hope everyone enjoys their Sunday!  

Love, Leslie

Taking Down the FA LA LA

I don't know about you, but I find the taking down of Christmas somewhat sad.  And difficult. I am doing this job in steps.  Get the Santas, the garlands, the floral and put them in the dining room.  Then take them upstairs to put into the boxes.  This may sound difficult, but it is easier for me that bringing the boxes down and taking the boxes (filled) back up.  Every time I go upstairs, I take something with me.

All I have to do is close the door.

So far, so good.  And, as I think about it, maybe I should just keep it all there.  Who really needs 3 guest rooms.

Mom had her eye appointment on Monday.  It was to get the shot in the left eye.  Now I don't think those are much fun, but Mom does it.  On this day, I got her up, gave her coffee and got her to take her pills.  Told her she had a 2:30 doctor's appointment and then gave her breakfast.

I go back in at 1pm and she is still in her jammies and asleep in the chair.  I spoke to her, tried to wake her up, she would open her eyes, but refuse to get up.  I finally opened her door to the screened in porch (and it was cold) to get her moving.  She refused.  I slapped her on her arm trying to get a reaction ~ she pursed her lips and wouldn't move.  Amy came in and we got her on her feet.  Using her walker she walked into her bathroom.   I gave her some time and went back in ~ and she had locked the door and wouldn't respond to me or Amy.  Amy had to UNLOCK the door.  Amy was afraid mom was on the floor.  Nope.  She was just mad.  I got mom dressed, Amy fixed her hair and I got her in the car.  She didn't say a word.  
I got her to her eye appointment at Duke ~ she was still not talking to me.  She would close her eyes, kept her mouth pursed up.  She would answer staff - but not me.
She got her shot and I checked her out (we were there 3 hours) and I sat her by the front door so I could get the valet to get the car.  When I came back in, Mom said "I am sorry.  I thought you were putting me in a nursing home.  That is why I acted this way."

Wow.  Really?  She was a pip.

As Lori says, "Welcome to cray-cray."

Love, Leslie

Moving on

I think the drunken champagne picture needs to be moved on down the line.  So I would like to add my take on the new year, in order to make that happen.  My knee doc and my Achilles' tendon doc are kicking me to the curb very shortly!!!  That is great news, AND I have been given their blessing to start riding again.  I neglected to tell them I have already been riding, but what they don't know won't hurt them.

I also finally registered my car in NC finally!  And got a vanity plate. I used to think that was goofy, but since everyone and their mother has a car like mine, it makes it less likely that I will spend 10 minutes freaking out and saying some mild curses when I can't open my car door.  That's all folks. Mission accomplished.  Bottle drinking no longer front page news.  Take that Leslie!!!!

Happy New Year 2016!

I welcome 2016 ~ almost our first year here in Durham and so far, so good.  I am taking Christmas down and planning for next year.  I loved Lori's tree on her buffet in her kitchen ~ I am trying to figure out HOW I can copy that......where will I put that tree?  

I did not stay up to see midnight on December 31st.  I know, wimp, wimp, wimp.  We did have champagne at dinner, though.

The end of the champagne.

I am taking Christmas down.  I always find that somewhat sad.  I love the lights and everything looks so blah when the decorations are gone.  We are leaving the lights up on the deck, though.  We did that in Davidsonville and it was always so cheery.  Plus, our neighbors said they liked the lights on the deck.

I have watched alot of college football.  Does anyone else think there are way too many bowl games?  However, it was nice to watch Navy, Duke and Georgia Southern win their bowl games.

On the mom side, she "tripped" over the blankets on her bed and fell.  No injuries, no blood, no soreness - but she did request a pain pill.  I also took her to the Eye Clinic at Duke for her continuation of treatment for macular degeneration.  She had been telling me for a week that there was a hair or eyelash in her eye, which I could not see, but I knew the staff could check it out.

Her doctor, Dr. Cousins (big wig) said she was seeing a floater and that she had very dry eyes.  So I got eye drops for severely dry eyes and hopefully that will solve the problem.

In closing, we all had a lovely Christmas and, as a surprise for the future, Amy is in the market for a border collie and the border collie rescue people have come to the house to see if we are good dog people.  I think we passed the test.

Can you see my supervisor?

Oh, it is a sunny 28 degrees!  Now it feels like Christmas!!!!!

Jane and Emma

Much love to all!
~Leslie

PS ~ Happy Birthday (belated) to  Drew!!!!!! I have your gift on the table!!!!!!!!!!!! I know, my table, but it is one step closer to the UPS store!!!!!