It's officially summer!

Summer means sunny days, soft breezes, clear blue skies, warm weather and the BEACH. We've had perfect weather over the long weekend and made-to-order.

One of the things that ushers in summer is a day at the CT coast. This morning I went to the beach with good family friends. It was hot in the sun but my girlfriend, her daughter and I crowded under the beach umbrella and lathered on the #30 and #50 suntan lotion. The granddaughter and her school friend were in the water most of the day but I know how cold the ocean is this time of year so I didn't even put my feet in.

We were there until after 5:00 and had a great day.

I'd worked hard in the house Friday and Saturday sorting, organizing and cleaning so today was my fun day. I'm back to cleaning tomorrow morning and again on Tuesday as I took it off as a vacation day. I'm in getting-ready-for-the-Muscovites'-arrival mode. I like to start a month ahead as I let things go when they aren't here. Can you tell?

Now I'm home with Liesel and about to brave a cold shower. Yes, no hot water again. That happened yesterday. I left a message for the plumber enroute to the beach but told him I would be OK until Tuesday as I don't want to ruin his weekend plans.

Update on hot water heater

Whew! I called the plumber (my neighbor) Thursday evening and he came at 8:15 Friday before he went out on his calls. Twenty minutes later he left after installing a new thermostat. So glad that I did not have to replace it.

Horrible Heat in CT and Cold Water

The weather tonight said that it hit 99 this afternoon by the airport. It broke records and the hotest spot in the country.

I watered all of my gardens tonight after getting home from work and since it was not humid, I did not find it unbearable. Now I am one that HATES the heat so that really shocked me.

Of course I had the central A/C on when I left for work this morning and turned it a tad cooler when I came home. The central A/C doesn't do a good job on my second floor so I went to turn on the two units upstairs when I got home. The one in my room needs to be replaced as it just can't crank out really cold air (never could). The one in my daughter's room would freeze you out. I think it died over the winter as when I turned it on, no air came out. Guess both those units will need replacing this summer.

To add to my joyous evening, I turned the faucet on and found that there's no hot water. The joys of home ownership.

Liesel is a winner!

Today I took Liesel to a doggie event where they had doggie games. Liesel won the kissing contest by kissing me and she was the hands down favorite. I really wish I could have washed my face after that event. Next she entered the tail wagging contest. As I was down on the ground talking to her, her little tail was going a mile a minute. Score another win for Liesel. I entered her in the ice cream eating contest but she was no match for the big dogs that could devour the little doggie frozen treat with one gulp. She was very feminine and took a few licks, decided she didn't like peanut butter flavored doggie frozen treat and walked away from it.

There were vendors, animal rescue organizations, a search dog exhibition and dogs up for adoption. My neighbor was there with her 6 year old son and they adopted the sweetest 10 week old puppy that is half Golden Retriever and German Shepherd. She is so cute and laid back. Her husband thought she and her son were at the grocery store. They have wanted to adopt a Golden Retriever so it was OK. She called him and he and their little daughter came and when they left, her husband was carrying their new puppy. All the dogs up for adoption were so cute. There was a dapple dachshund but I resisted. I am a one child and one dog lady. I know my limits (and my wallet).

Liesel and I had such a good time.

From there I took her to a doggie store and she got a new toy, a chew Bongo stick and a collapsible water bowl.

I even took her to Talbots as a scrapping buddy had told me about the dachshund slacks she had seen there. I picked Liesel up and figured I'd just go ask someone to show them to me. Well, I loved them, they were on sale and they had my fat size. I asked her to hold them for me as I had gift certificates but not on me. The saleslady asked me if I'd like to try them on. I asked her how I could do that since I had the dog with me. She gladly volunteered to hold her. Now here was a lady in her late 60's all decked out in a beautiful white blouse and dressy white sweater and I have a black and tan dog who sheds. She told me that she has two greyhounds and didn't care about the dog hair. Off we went to the dressing room. I handed her the dog and in I went to try on the pants. They were perfect. I remarked that the length was even perfect and she told me that they were cropped pants and that's why they were shorter. Works for me. I saw another pair on the rack the dachshund pants were and they were also on sale so I added them to my "hold". She was going to look around for a matching jersey and put it with my pants if she found one. Now I call my shopping excursion a real example of excellent customer service. Everyone in the store, sales personnel and customers, came up to see Liesel and remarked how pretty she was and how placid. Placid is not my dog unless she is exhausted (which she was).

We came home and fell asleep for a short nap. Good day.

Colonoscopy

You all are probably waiting to see where this post is going. Guess it's my public service announcement.

I get together with some girlfriends for dinner and we talk about the usual things - our grandchildren and aches and pains.

I am quite good about going for regular dental and doctor appointments and screenings as an ounce of prevention.... But, not all my girlfriends are the same and avoid the dreaded colonoscopy. Let's face it, the prep is no picnic but it's not painful nor is the procedure. Look at it this way, you get to take a good nap and when you wake up, it's all over.

If you haven't had a colonoscopy and are over the age when you should start getting them, just DO IT! It's nothing compared to colon cancer.

Jeans - Love 'Em

Before I went to work, I mostly wore jeans around the house and when going out to do errands, etc. They didn't show the dirt, could be dressed up with nice shoes, a starched blouse and a sweater. Add a blazer and you were ready to go most casual places.

Then I started working part time and had to switch to dressier pants, a skirt or dress. When I went to work full time, I wore my jeans less and less as I was working Monday - Friday. During the cold months, I usually was home on Sundays and lived in sweats doing laundry, ironing (remember when we ironed everything), cooking ahead for the work week for my family, doing crafts, etc. Fast forward and there was just me (and my dog). I found that some Sundays I broke my routine and had to run out for an errand or groceries.

Two and a half years ago, my boss and I moved to a different location at our company. The big plus was that the building has Casual Friday and that means employees can wear jeans. An email went out today that next week we can buy a badge for $20 that will allow the employee to wear jeans each Monday during June through August. Wahoo! The money goes all to charity. A great idea in my book and I'll be buying my badge on Monday.

Work

On Monday the 26th, my boss told me that she was retiring - that Friday the 30th. Needless to say, I was shocked and very upset as she is such a wonderful person and I really enjoyed working with her. After I shed some tears, I went back to work to tie things up for the day and head out for home. She told her 3 directors that report to her about an hour after we spoke at the end of the day. I guess things had been in the works but we didn't know anything about it until the t's were crossed and the i's dotted.

I couldn't start plans for collecting for a retirement gift or planning an after work happy hour until Wed. morning. The official email wasn't sent out until the end of the work day on Tuesday so I had to wait until that was done. Wednesday morning I got to work and sent out an email about the happy hour at a very nice restaurant around the corner from work. Then I sent out an email about collecting for a retirement gift. Everyone was emailing and calling so that's how I spent my day.

I was amazed at all the contributions that came in and we gave her a hefty gift certificate to the Norwich Inn & Spa in Norwich, CT, which I know is super posh. I also bought another hefty Visa gift card for her and still had several hundred dollars in cash. People kept handing me money even at the happy hour.

We had a good turnout at the happy hour and everyone had a great time. It was a huge success as Kathy is so well liked. It was hard to say goodnight.

A little over a week later we got together as she took me out to dinner for my birthday.

This is week three with her gone and I miss her and it's still just not the "same".

HR is working to fill her position and I hope that the new exec is as nice and wonderful to work with.

Man's Best Friend

Tonight I had a craving for a McD's hot fudge sundae and gave in to my craving. In front of me in the drive through was a Dodge pick-up truck. On the back window was a sticker that said, "My co-pilot is my dog."

A minute or so later, an arm came out of the drive through window with a vanilla ice cream cone. The driver of the truck took it and immediately stretched out his arm so his co-pilot could lick the cone. It was so cute.

The dog was big and when he turned his head to the side to lick his ice cream cone, the profile looked like a lab.

Man's best friend.

Friends

As we go through life we meet lots of people and if we are lucky, a handful or two of them become friends.

We have childhood friends from our neighborhood, school, summer camp, activities and many other ways. As we go away to college, we make more friends. Once we settle down as adults, we meet people and make friends through work, our neighborhood, our children, church, community involvement, hobbies, politics, sports, etc.

Now that we are in the computer age, another way we "meet" people is through our blogs and make friends in a new way. People that aren't into blogging probably hear us talk about our blogging friends and just don't "get it" or understand. Those of you reading this are bloggers or read your special blogs so you know what I mean.

I look forward to updates on the blogs that I read and I also love getting comments when I blog.

Perfect Day

We had a lot of heavy rain in the night so I wasn't in the mood to jump out of bed at a reasonable time this morning. I also was reading a page turner James Paterson book so I stayed in bed and read. Boy, do I love doing that.

When I finally got up, I did laundry and hung it out to start my day.

Liesel spent most of the day on the deck watching me pot and plant. She loves being out there.

I planted lots of annuals in my perennial beds along the front edges, in pots and hanging pots. I love lots of flowers and color. After it all was done, I gave everything a dose of Miracle Grow with the attachment that goes on the hose.

Our weather here in CT was a Perfect #10 - warm but not hot, dry air, constant cooling breeze, blue sky, no bugs. Tomorrow is suppose to be the same. My kind of weather. Wish we could have it 6 months a year.

I'd run to the grocery store for more perennials and fixings for burgers for supper. Guess it officially is summer for me as it was my first time doing burgers on the gas grill. Tomorrow I'll do the same but make sure I keep more of an eye on them so they don't overcook and dry out.

I end my gardening days with 2 ibuprofen pills to help with the stiffness Now it's time to stretch out next to Liesel under the down throw on the couch while watching a movie.

A good part of my day tomorrow will be spent relaxing on the deck with a book and my dog.

Wined and Dined

This was quite the week for me and it extended my birthday from last week.

Monday night my boss that just retired took me out to an upscale restaurant for a delicious salmon dinner. It was so nice to see her as she's been gone for two weeks and I miss her each day at work as it's just "not the same".

Tonight (TGIF) a very dear friend of over 35 years took me out to another upscale restaurant in the historic section of town. I had a delicious fillet of beef with a crabcake. I never cook beef fillet so it was a treat. Another fun evening with a friend.

This girlfriend is going in next week to have her first (of two) knee replacements done so it was one of her last flings.

On my way home, I stopped at the local grocery store that also has a large nursery section. The hanging pink wave petunias were marked down to $5 a pot so I bought two. They are not perfect but with some trimming and Miracle Grow, in two weeks I'm sure they'll be perfect. I also got some other annuals and a white coneflower perennial. You know what I'll be doing this weekend.

Yeah, it's Friday and my night was a great way to start the weekend.

Getting Ready for Camp

The footlocker will be coming in the mail. Wonder how I'll get that big box into the house. Guess I'll be calling my neighbor's teenage son for help. It'll go into the living room and start to be filled.

I bought pretty new greenish blue towels, hand towels, washcloths and two sizes of plastic totes. One will be good for all the toiletry articles going to and from the bath house and one will be good for "stuff".

Tonight at Walmart I bought #70 suntan lotion.

I already have bought camp theme postcards to mail home. I'll be addressing them for all the grandparents and parents and putting on stamps.

Camp sent a list of what is needed and I need to get that out as a guide.

No, I'm not going to camp but Katya is. This will be her first time at overnight camp as each summer she has gone to day camp. I'm so excited to bring her and see the camp because I was a camper there for many years and even worked there as a unit leader the summer between my junior and senior years in college. My father went there, my two cousins went there and my college roommate's son went there. We have legacy. My camp summers were the best and I hated it when camp ended after my month. The camp is not as rustic as when I was there in the 50's and 60's and I loved looking at all the pictures on their website.

I am sure that Katya will love it and have a fantastic camper experience.

Liesel's Surgery

Yesterday was dental surgery day for little Liesel. When she had her yearly check-up two weeks ago, the vet saw that the tip of one of her upper teeth had broken off. She is a real chewer so it was probably broken by a hard chew toy, marrow bone or possibly a rock. Fortunately she outgrew her puppy mischief of chewing on my kitchen cabinets.

I dropped her off on my way to work and then started to worry. I lost my last dachshund as a result of being put under to have her teeth cleaned so that's why I was worried for Liesel. When I came back from lunch, I had a long voice message from my vet and I was so relieved.

Liesel had the extraction, had her teeth cleaned and scraped and was microchipped.

I picked her up around 6:00, paid my big bill and brought her home. She spent the evening mostly curled up on her bed covered with a blanket.

She seemed livelier this morning and after work tonight, she was her spunky self. She's back to normal.