HoundBlog

It’s been a long day.

I got up at 3:45 am and left the house at 5:00 as I had to be at the airport in time for a 7:30 flight to New York.  Showered and started dressing, but couldn’t find the blouse I wanted to wear. Put on my kennel shoes (you know the ones? scruffy, stained, smelly but comfortable shoes I wear to clean the kennels) and went out to the camper to see if I had left it out there, but not there either. Back to the closet to look through it again. Still couldn’t find the blouse, so settled on a different one. Hopped in the car and followed Ken down the driveway.

A couple of miles down the road he calls me and asks how long has my headlight been out. I don’t know — didn’t know it was to be truthful, so he tells me to stop at the Hot Spot and we’ll switch cars so I don’t have to worry about getting stopped for the popeye. When I get out of the car to put my baggage in his I realize I still have the darned kennel shoes on and no change in the luggage. It’s too late to go back home and change shoes, so I just have to figure I’ll make the best of them.

Well, I get to the airport with plenty of time to spare, get all checked in and through security with no problems. They call my flight and I head down the hallway to board the plane. No ramp to the plane — you have to climb down steep narrow steps to the tarmac, then  up an equally narrow, steep set of steps into the plane. It’s a jet but its a TINY jet. When I initially saw my seat assignment, I thought “good! I’ll be near the front of the plane!” The seat assignment was 11C. Guess, what? This plane only had 12 rows of seats, so I was really in the BACK of the plane. Well, still not the end of the world. Everyone got on board, all stowed and seated with seatbelts fastened and books and papers opened on laps. Then the pilot says “our computer read-out says something we don’t like, so we’re going to reboot the computer and see if it corrects itself. Everything is going to go dark and quiet, so don’t be alarmed”. In a couple of minutes, sure enough, everything goes dark and quiet. Then about 5 minutes later, it all comes on again and 10 minutes after that, the pilot is saying “I’m terribly sorry, but you’re all going to have to get off the plane and go back to the ticket counter so we can reorganize your flight out.” So we all tromp down the narrow, steep stairs and up the other set of narrow, steep stairs to return to the ticket counter. Some of those people had already had one flight canceled the night before, so they were not happy at all. I took the back of the line while I called the guy who was meeting me in New York to let him know about the delay.

When I finally get to within 10 people of the ticket counter, one of the agents asks who is connecting and I raised my hand as I was supposed to connect in Philly to go on to New York. He took my ticket and re-routed me through Washington DC and on to LaGuardia ( I was originally going into Central Islip’s airport MacArthur), so I called my little man back and let him know the change in plans. He says no problem, he’ll meet me there and tells me what he’s driving (like I would know it). It doesn’t leave for 4 hours — at 11:33 am. So, I crank up my laptop, log into work and do my reports and answer emails as if I were sitting at my desk. My boss is impressed by my dedication.  Thank goodness for wi-fi in the airport!

When the time comes and this flight is called, it’s back down the steep narrow steps and up steep narrow steps into a twin of the first plane. I wasn’t holding my breath that we would make it out of Greenville in this one either, but we did. I arrived in Washington DC after an hour and a half’s bumpy ride.

I had an hour’s wait there for my connection to New York and despite it’s “express shuttle” designation, this was a REAL plane with comfortable (for a plane) seats and more like I’m used to traveling in. We had a bit of a delay on the tarmac waiting for clearance but still managed to make it into LaGuardia on time.

My guy calls and tells me he’ll be waiting outside in his silver Bonneville with dark glass. I still don’t have the heart to tell him I don’t know a Bonneville from Bonnie and Clyde, but we manage to hook up and then we’re on the way to the Federal Courthouse on Long Island. It’s an hour + drive and he gives me all kinds of history and points things out along the drive. He warns me that the way will be slow because of traffic, but we went at a respectable clip; something he marveled at the entire way.

The Federal Courthouse is a strange looking building. It’s fairly new — about 6 years old — built of white marble that’s now stained and rather dingy. It has this large, 6 story tall silo looking appendage on the front that has absolutely nothing in it. Then you have the rectangular building that houses the offices and courtrooms with these aluminum “balconies” along each one of them. Too insubstantial to stand on, they serve as roost for the pigeons. It doesn’t look much like a courthouse. My guy said he thought it looked like a mental institution and I had to laugh at that.

Of course when I got there I had to wait on the Federal Prosecutor as they wanted to “brief” me, then the actual briefing took an hour and then I had to wait on them to brief two other witnesses who will be testifying tomorrow. It was 9pm before I got to the hotel and checked in. Since the dining room closed at 10 and I didn’t want to eat in the bar, I just dumped my stuff in the room and went back downstairs to get dinner.

Now I’m comfortably ensconced in my pj’s with those smelly shoes off my now itchy feet (I didn’t put any socks on since I intended to only wear the shoes long enough to traipse through the wet grass to the camper and back), but there you have it — a failing memory is one of the perils of getting old.

I have to be in the lobby at 8:00 in the morning to meet the others and head to the courthouse. I’m scheduled to testify first tomorrow and I’m hoping they can then change my flights and get me home sooner than the 11:30pm I’m currently scheduled for.

Let’s hope there are no more canceled flights!

Love to all,

Margaret

Good morning! Hope your morning is less dreary than ours! Rain and gloomy clouds is all we’re seeing, but the weather report says it will all be a memory tomorrow.

Yesterday Ken and I spent a lazy Sunday just goofing off. We got up around 6:30 and piddled around the house until 9 or so, then went to breakfast. After breakfast we went over to Lowes so Ken could check out lawn tractors. Then we went to Home Depot to comparison shop. On the way home, he saw some guy mowing with one of the brands he’s interested in and stopped to ask him what he thought of the lawn tractor. Left with new doubts about his choice and decided to look up stuff on the internet. I think he’s decided against the Cub Cadet and is now back to his original choice of Husqvarna as a brand. It just remains to be seen if he gets one like the picture or one of those zero turning radius ones with the two handle thingys to steer by. I bought two hanging baskets of fuscias that are quite pretty! I’ve hung them close to the hummingbird feeder and the one bird that’s coming to it so far was quite taken aback when he first approached the feeder judging by how he buzzed around rather excitedly. He got used to the new flowers pretty quickly, though and is back to lightning visits. He’s not settled enough with me yet to let me take photographs of him. He darts away anytime I reach for the camera. I’m sure he’ll become accustomed to my presence soon and then we’ll get some shots of him to share with you. I need to clean the window, though, or the shots will all be cloudy looking. He’s little, so is probably pretty young.

The house finches that took up residence on the front porch have already hatched out a clutch of 3 eggs. They are super shy and don’t want me taking photos of them or their babies.  I’ve had some birds visiting lately that have black bodies and brown heads and sing the most beautiful and liquid song I think I’ve ever heard. To look at them, you wouldn’t think such beauty could come from that drab of a bird. I thought they were grackles, but when I google grackle, the images that come up aren’t the bird I’m seeing nor is the sound the same. I’ll have to keep looking  Any of you know what this is? — Oh now I’ve found them — they are brown-headed cowbirds. While they’re considered parasites because they lay their eggs in the nests of other birds often pushing out the chicks of the nurturing pair, they sure have a certain amount of appeal to them. The ones hanging around my house are certainly sleek and shiny.

Well, I guess I should get back to work. Take care everyone.

Love to all,

Margaret

TGIF everyone! Not much on the agenda for this weekend. Ken’s working Saturday but has Sunday off. I have no plans beyond the regular laundry, mopping, dusting except for grooming Payne. It’s supposed to thunderstorm all weekend and turn off cold (according to the weather report and we all know how accurate they are), so it will be a good weekend to vegetate. I have a box full of romance novels that will make perfect reading for just such a weekend.

Ken might have a buyer for his lawnmower, and if so will probably want to go and get the one he’s had his eye on for awhile now at Lowes. I hope the buyer comes through. The wife and her parents came out last night to test drive it and see it in person (we had sent photos via email to the man who is in Miami, FL) and they seemed to be impressed by it.  I think Ken said he had received one other phone call about it and they want to come out this weekend to see it.

That’s the sum total of what’s going on with us.

Have a great weekend.

Love to all,

Margaret

You shouldn’t believe everything you read on the internet.

Case in point is my “other blog” at eyespi20.com. That blog is comprised of posts I write for the company I work for part time that pays me to blog. I didn’t want to clog up this, family-type journal with stuff that would be seen by people I really didn’t know, so created that blog to indulge in a creative endeavor that makes a little money on the side.

I do use some factual stuff and do refer to family and family events although I try to make it fairly generic or anonymous for the most part. It seems that my creative license has caused some upset among family members and for that I apologize profusely. I truly thought everyone KNEW what that blog was for.

I can’t go back and delete the posts there as it’s my contract with my employer that they stay intact. I regret that for those who are upset over details written that don’t truly reflect that person’s likes and dislikes. Nothing was written that is uncomplimentary to any family member (well except to myself and possibly Ken who totally understands).

Anyway, please know that I do love and respect all of you and truly regret any upset caused.

Love to all,

Margaret

Well, I didn’t make it to the steeplechase as I was feeling bad from something I had eaten Friday. I hated to miss it, too as I always have such fun! By Saturday evening I was feeling nearly normal and Sunday morning saw me back on track. I hate being sick!

Ken and I did ride to Atlanta Sunday for the bird show. We bought Taji a new toy and Camilla a perch and a toy. I also bought food for them and Ken bought them a play stand made out of dragonwood. Taji loves it! I’m hoping to eventually coax Reilly on it at some point. He needs some out time.

Ken got the grass mowed Sunday. He’s decided to sell his riding lawn mower and buy a new one, though. There’s a 52″ cut at Lowes that’s been calling to him for several months now. He’s succumbing to it’s siren call of promised quicker lawn chores. He also decided to hold onto the Chevy van a little longer. We’ll see how long that decision lasts this time. I happen to like that van — I love the roominess of it and the gas mileage it gets as well as how it rides. My Caravan doesn’t get nearly as good on mileage and that’s the one thing I don’t like about it.

I think it’s going to be another quiet week here at work. I was informed Friday that we will be officially changing our name to “Commercial Foodservice Repair, Inc” in the coming weeks. TTC will be no more. I wonder if they’re going to use CFR as the logo.

Eddie and I have been exchanging emails about Chrystalyn coming to spend the week of July 4th with us. I think we’ve about got it worked out. Ken’s really excited about having her here for a week and is already planning stuff for them to do together.

It was a singularly uneventful weekend, so this is short and sweet.

Love to all,

Margaret

We made it through another week!

Yesterday was very quiet at work. We have a whole raft of people out in California this week, so it’s really been quiet all week long for the most part. They’re out there taking inventory. Since counting stuff is really boring for me, I’m glad I wasn’t chosen to go.

I was walking around the yard the other afternoon, taking some photos and noticed that my fig bush (tree?) didn’t have any blooms on it. It has leaves although they’re a bit sparse right now, but for some reason I thought this bloomed before it got leaves as the blooms turn into fruit. Last year, after it bloomed, we had that horrible freeze, so there were no figs last year. While we don’t eat them, the wild birds and bees do, so I was worried about them not having enough to eat last fall. I guess between that freeze and the terrible drought, the plants are not in the best of health even though we’ve had adequate rainfall so far this year. My irises haven’t bloomed very well either. Where by this time of year I usually have dozens of blooms, I’ve had 5 or 6 so far.

Tomorrow is the Blockhouse Run and I still haven’t decided what I’m going to take. I’m going to procrastinate myself right out of having any food whatsoever. I thought about a sweet and then  yesterday when I was in Sam’s club, I thought about chilled shrimp. Whatever, I need to decide and DO IT.

Well, it’s time to head down the highway. Have a wonderful day!

Love to all,

Margaret

My intentions were the best yesterday – honest! I meant to write a post – honest! By the time I got through with work and dog care, though (it was time to heartworm treat them all, so it took longer than usual), it was time to get ready to go to my 3rd Tues of the month meeting (Kennel Club), which because the stupid long-winded-love-to-hear-themselves-talk people who gave reports on their committees took FOREVER to finish, took longer than usual, so it was really late when I got home from said meeting. Can you say “bed time”?

Anyway, I apologize to all of you for missing yet another day of scintillating reading about the life and times of Ken and Margaret (mostly Margaret).

Let’s see — this weekend is the Blockhouse steeplechase race up in Tryon. Ken has to work Saturday, so he’s not going this year, but I’m planning on it. I need to figure out what I’m taking food-wise as I also will need to shop for ingredients and make time to bake/cook/assemble.  I also need to remember to put my spare set of camera batteries in the charger to make sure I have them at the ready. I love photographing the horses as they jump.

Ken’s not working Sunday and there’s a bird show in Norcross, GA that I would like to attend. Don’t know if I can convince him to attend with me. Charlotte can’t go as she’s expecting some woman she’s helping to train dogs for. I hate going alone, so if Ken can’t go, I’ll probably stay home.

I’m working on another video — this one has all 3 birds in it for a contest on “Why I Love Blogging” I have a chance at winning $500 and since it’s limited to people who work for the blogging company I do and since they’re giving away 5 prizes, I’ll actually have a chance at winning one of them.  I had way too many ideas for this one and just hope I picked the best. Ken and I have gained somewhat of a reputation for doing really funny videos for these contests and I wouldn’t want to let any of my fans down.

Well, I think that brings you up to date on our lives. The next dog show is May 3rd & 4th, but it’s just down the road in Anderson, so we won’t be straying far from home for it.

Love to all,

Margaret

I’ve been sadly lacking in posts lately and apologize to you all for that. I can’t say that I’ve been extremely busy as it’s been no more than normal. Friday was a bit of a frustrating day with one thing and another not going smoothly, but then without those days I can’t appreciate the really good ones — or at least that’s the theory.

Talked to Eddie yesterday — they are all doing fine. Got a phone call from Chrystalyn, although I didn’t actually get to talk to her as I was out running errands. Still have heard nothing from the Charleston contingent, but we’ll assume no news is good news.

Ken’s brother has been hospitalized with a stroke. I’m confused over the terminology though as he told Ken it wasn’t the same kind of stroke that affected their mother and he seems pretty clear with his speech. Anyway, they’re keeping him in for observation. If you can add someone to your prayer list, please add Edward. Thanks!

Ken worked all weekend. He sent me to Lowes to buy the things he needed for his project to make a level spot to park the camper — it sounds like a bigger project than it really was and I’ll have to take some photos of it to show you as I’m sure I can’t begin to describe it properly despite the simplicity of it. At any rate, the materials were 20-50lb bags of rock, 3 iron stakes and 3 landscape timbers. I had no trouble with the latter two items, but the 1000 lbs of rock were a challenge. I got a bit peeved with the Lowes sales guy as the rock is all the way in the back of the garden department and he saw me struggling to pull the cart up to the register, but waited until I was about 10′ away from the register before solicitously offering to pull it the rest of the way. To his credit, he did load everything into the truck without being asked.

Today, though, I’m horribly stiff and sore and if I’ve sat for longer than 10 minutes, it takes nearly that long to get my legs to work properly. I just hit the lady who keeps the first aid supplies for some Aleve and have taken some, so hopefully will feel a bit better soon.

Curves is having a promotion and I talked it over with Ken about joining it and stopping 2-3 days a week on my way home from work. If you’re not familiar with Curves, it’s a women-only exercise chain. He thinks it’s a good idea, so I’m going to stop on my way home and talk to them about it.

Well, I think that catches you up on what’s going on in our neck of the woods.

Love to all,

Margaret

I know I’m really late today, but wanted Ma to see the post with the picture of Randy and I knew she didn’t see it yesterday.

Worked from home today and had a fairly quiet day. Got some laundry done in between general stuff as well as a load of dishes run through the dishwasher. Multi-tasking is great!

Ken called a little bit ago and said he had to work an hour over. That means it will be 8:00 before he gets home and I have to go to the grocery store so he doesn’t have to stop on his way in. I have no idea what to fix for dinner, so guess I need to hit up some of the food blogs I’ve run across lately and see if they have anything that sounds appealing.

I downloaded photos from the camera today — had several days worth of shots on it, so it was past time to do that. My flower photos came out all blurry – guess I was too close to the flowers — one of these days I’ll learn how to take them correctly. I do have one or two of birds and deer. Tried to catch a squirrel in the trees out back, but never could get him in the viewfinder — guess he was camera shy. This little fawn was almost at the front porch when I snuck out to snap this one. Can you see his horn buds? There were about 8 deer in the yard counting this guy. I managed to get a photo of 7 of them in a group, but never could squeeze in that 8th one. I had thoughts of Santa’s crew for a caption…. for the photo contest at BMW. Ken has entered me in it and I’ll have to choose a photo soon.

Had the white balance setting off on some of the first ones I took, but got a really cool effect with that — at least I think it’s kind of cool — you tell me what you think — cool or "boy did YOU screw that one up" Here’s one with the white balance set to "cloudy"

While it’s certainly more natural in appearance, it’s just a picture of some cute Carolina Wrens. I don’t know — maybe I just need new glasses.

Anyway, last but not least is this one I took of Payne in the camper as we were waiting for it to be time to go up to the show building. I’ve never gotten a good show photo of her — her hair is always doing something funky, but she looked so pretty standing there all posed and looking like the show dog she is. The only thing bad about these kinds of photos is they show how pretty the dog is but not a lot about their personalities. Payne is such a clown, but you would never know it to look at this picture, now would you?

Well, I reckon I had best close this out and go to the grocery store. Dogs will be wanting fed here soon.

Love to all,

Margaret

Had a nice weekend at the dog shows in Charlotte. Well, nice enough — no big wins, no points, but relaxing with only 3 dogs to take care of. Friday night there was lots of rain and wind and tornado warnings, but we stayed high and dry. At home, it got bad enough to cut power and the Golden and her son escaped their pen and took refuge on the back porch. Other than strewing trash everywhere (which my dog sitter picked up!) there was no real harm done. We have to buy a new gate for their pen, but for now they’re in one of the smaller 10×10’s until we can get that accomplished.

We had dinner Saturday night at one of those Japanese places where they cook on the grill in front of you. It was a tiny little place, but the wait staff and our chef was super nice and the food was EXCELLENT. We will definitely head back there next year for dinner.

I had work issues Friday before we left, but got someone taking care of them, so although we left a bit later than we wanted to, it wasn’t too much later. So far this morning, everything seems to be working just fine.

Eddie sent me a couple of pictures of Randy in his LV tee shirt. How he’s grown! Isn’t he cute! And look how tall he’s getting! With his GI haircut, he looks a lot like his dad.

Sorry this is so short, but work is calling.

Love to all,

Margaret