Moving on.......

What a glorious spring it is!  The heavy rains with the accompanying wind have not arrived.  Yet.  Oh, they will, but hopefully all the trees in bloom will have leafed out and the daffodils, hyacinths and tulips will be past flowering.  That means there are about twelve hours remaining before the rain arrives and temperature, currently in the upper 70's plummets to the 40's.  We even have the possibility of snow flurries in tomorrow's forecast.  

Brett returned to the US from China in mid-March.  He spent his time here putting together several proposals for projects in China.  He understands the Chinese way of doing business -- it's wait followed by more wait, until ----go---->.  There may be no signed contract, but when the client is ready to proceed, the service provider had better be ready to jump in with both feet.  Yes, Brett understands the practice; his employer is a little slower to accept the concept. 

Brett and Michelle both have laptops with web cams and recently subscribed to Skype.  Using that service certainly has reduced their use of cell phone minutes.  Dawn and I now are equipped for these "looking at you" conversations and it's fun to see the person you're talking to.

Brett's returned to China last weekend.  He has a 30-day visa.  That requires him to leave the country after 30 days.  So he goes to Hong Kong for a few days!  Then it's back to Shanghai.   He finally has an office so he doesn't have to conduct business from the table in his hotel room.  Now he's received the go-ahead to find an apartment.  Once a lease is signed and he has a place to call home, I'll begin thinking about a trip to visit.

Brett and Dawn talked yesterday via Skype before Brandon and Sophia went to school.  Brett shared some information with her and then asked that she tell me.  She said, "Uh, okay.  I'll have to do it today before the kids tell her or Matt tells his mom who will then comment [via e-mail] to Mom about the news."  He said, "Never mind.  I'm a grown-up.  I'll tell her."  So this is the e-mail I received before leaving to work at the hospital:

Mom,

Before you hear it from Brandon or Sophia or through the grapevine I thought I would prepare you myself.  Sorry it's via email.

Things with Michelle are going great.  I think we will be growing old together.  So that's not the problem.

I enjoy China and the chance at building something from scratch.  So that's not the problem.

I'm still pretty healthy....for a guy turning 40.  So that's not the problem.

Nikki and Lulu are dogs....they sometimes (more often than not) get to sleep in our bed.  So that's really not the problem either.

Let's see.........

I think I'm about out of options to postpone what it is I have to tell you.......

You knew I was thinking of selling the Taurus [vehicle].......

Well....I did [before returning to China last week].  I don't know why.  I think I got tired of jockeying around it.  Although she was always good to me.

Hmmmmmm...........?

Well it kinda looks like this...

I did question the lack of helmet and he responded:

I bought two of the best helmets available. I took it off for the pic.
I also bought us very good "leather" for further protection.
It is a Ducati. Italian for Holy Shit!
It is one of the most desired bikes on the planet. It at least has resale value!
It is a gas powered crotch rocket as you put it. But of the classy type.
Thank you for understanding.

Finally, I said that I hoped he'd ride smart--no crazy stuff.  And he replied:

I'm 40 - no more crazy shit!

So besides the humor in the conversation, I was surprised (and pleased) that he "sweated" telling me!  Dawn said he was afraid I'd chew him up and spit him out, since I'm not an advocate of bikes.  In their situation, however, I saw the upside.  The second car was in the way and more of a nuisance than an asset.  But it's comforting to know he still values my opinion, although (obviously) the final decisions are his!

Spring's on the Horizon

It's been several weeks since Park Place has been updated. There's only so much that can be said about winter, and I said it all -- and provided pictures!  That February record snowfall just about did us all in.  By early March we just wanted it to be over.

Neighbor Sherry lamented the fact that the area schools don't share the same week for spring break.  Sophia and Brandon were out this week; her grandchildren are out next week.  It's doubtful they'll be here at the same time until summer break.  Four unhappy kids and at least one disgruntled grandmother!

On Monday Brandon, Sophia and I headed out early.  First stop:  A desperately needed haircut for Brandon.  I'd repeatedly offered to put in barrettes to hold the hair out of his eyes.  He chose the more logical option:  a proper clipping at the local salon.  Eyes.  I could see his eyes again!  Then we drove to the mall.  Sophia wanted to have her picture taken with the Easter bunny.  I was surprised, but very pleased, when Brandon consented to stand beside the bunny.  Got a superb snapshot of them on the first try.

Sophia gave her little bike to Brandon last summer so he could do tricks on it.  Unfortunately, that left her without a bike, so our next stop was to get a new one for her.  Sophia's still inches shorter than many classmates, so this 20" bike should be suitable for several seasons.

Last month Sophia began attending gymnastics classes twice a week.  What an amazing program!  Visitation was allowed Monday evening, and Sophia asked me to come watch. The session started with 45 minutes of "floor work".  Eleven girls, probably ages 4 through 8, did stretching and strengthening exercises followed by tumbling.  Sophia's mastered the cartwheel and impressed me with her tumbling.  The last 45 minutes the girls walked the balance beam and tried to do pirouettes, were helped to swing and dismount from the uneven parallel bars and finally, ran and jumped on the springboard for the vault.  I was amazed that there was no horsing around.  The instructors expect the girls' best efforts and are generous with praise and encouragement.  Some have talent; some don't.  But they all try. 

The weather has been beautiful the last few days.  In February we set records for snowfall.  Yesterday and today we set records for high temperatures - over 80F both days.  Daffodils are blooming!  After I walked this morning, I decided the day was perfect for cleaning out the garage.  (Why does the first half of such a job always go more quickly than the second half?)  I was done by noon -- vacuumed under everything that was movable, got the cobwebs off the ceiling and packaged up to give away toys the kids no longer pay with.  The next project will be to vacuum blinds and wash windows.  Then I'll wash and hang screens.  Maybe next weekend if it's not snowing.

Winter Wonderland

We're half way through February and the snow continues to fall.  Locally we have gotten almost 24 inches since the first of the month. A little over another inch and we'll have the record for the greatest snowfall in February.  Road crews have done a great job clearing the highways for traffic.  Subdivisions take a little longer.  Our complex doesn't have dedicated streets; they're more like lanes, narrower than a common street.  Therefore, the county doesn't maintain them, doesn't clear them.  So we have a private contractor.  We've seen a lot of their trucks this winter, and their snow blowers used to clear the sidewalks are music to our ears.

We kid about the amount of snow we have, asking, "Where are the going to put it if we get any more?"  As far as Brandon is concerned, they can pile it all outside my garage! He and Christian went out yesterday with shovels from sandbox-size to a standard snow shovel and carved a tunnel into the banked pile next to my driveway.  Today, after school, instead of coming in to have a snack, Brandon went out to continue enlarging the cave.  Before he got focused on the project, I snapped this picture of Brandon and Sophia in the hole. 

Daytime temperatures have been in the high 20s or low 30s.  Perfect for the kids to play outdoors, hard to get them to come back inside.  Excellent as well for making icicles.  Our roofs have a steep pitch, and icicles form easily.  Today I watched as they grew longer and longer. As the snow melts we'll have to watch for problems with water getting under the roofing shingles. 

There is snow in the forecast for the next several days.  We've dealt pretty well with two feet of snow.  I almost feel guilty hoping that having gotten that much, it would be worth a little more aggravation to get two more to set an all-time record for February.  (Two days later, we did!)  

Where Pictures Speak Louder Than Words

The snow storm appropriately named Snowmagedden by President Obama provided an additional eye-opening experience for those of us who ventured outside yesterday, Tuesday, morning.  I'd heard of hoarfrost, ("a covering of minute ice needles, formed from the atmosphere at night upon the ground and exposed objects when they have cooled by radiation below the dew point, and when the dew point is below the freezing point").  Simply put, in the bright morning sun, the trees looked like those on Christmas cards.  They glistened as though they were jewel-covered.

I was so impressed I grabbed my camera to take pictures before continuing on to run errands.  As the sun climbed in the sky, the ice melted from the trees, and by the time I was home at noon, they were once again just naked, plain trees.

Snowmagedden

February 6, 2010.  A storm moved south to north, west to east.  We had plenty of warning.  I walked yesterday and even though the weather was approaching from the south, the wind was from the east.  A cold wind.

In the late afternoon, flurries started.  Steady.  By dark the ground was covered.  I woke during the night and could hear no road noise.  Not good.  Not even a snow plow.  Worse.

My cellphone beeped a little after 7:00 AM.  A text message.  Dawn had sent a picture of the bird bath outside their front door.  As an e-list friend said when I posted the picture there, "That's not snow; that's a giant mushroom."

These are two more pictures she posted on her Facebook page:

 

The sun was shining by midmorning.  And cars on the road were  passing at close to the speed limit, so the plows must have gone by.  But our complex streets and driveways remained impassable until late afternoon.  We were snowed in today, but tomorrow will be almost normal -- but parking lots will be clogged with piles of snow.  

And now there's word another storm will arrive Tuesday.  Be sure to check back.

The Need to Know

Daughter Dawn shared the following experiences with me via e-mail.  With her permission I'm posting her comments here for you to enjoy and, hopefully, laugh at. 

From what occurred this past Sunday:

Well, Sophia gave me something else to think about tonight....  She insisted that she wanted to know how a baby gets into your belly.

REALLY?  I struggled and procrastinated for an hour or so, talked about it being a special thing between a mommy and a daddy, said I’d find something on the computer, then she wanted to see a video of it!!!

CRAP!  I talked about the sperm and the egg.  She said I was making that up, so I showed her the video of that….  She said, “This is boring. I want to see how it gets in there, not this!”  Sigh.

OK, I decided to bite the bullet.  I told her that I couldn’t believe that she is only 7 and I am discussing this with her….another sigh. “Alright, this is what happens.  A husband and wife hug and kiss..."

"YUCK!!!!  Don’t tell me any more. I don’t think I want to hear any more!" as she covered her ears and closed her eyes.

Smile.

And this today:

This morning while Sophia was on the toilet, “Mom, where does the fisheye (sperm) come from?

“Oh my gosh, Sophia, I really can’t believe you are 7 and want to know these things.”

“I know,” she said.  “So where do they come from?” 

“They come from the daddy and go into the mommy and find the egg. The first one to get inside the egg wins and gets to make the baby.”

She smiled “Oooohhhhh, that’s fun.  It’s like a race!"

With a sigh of relief, I turned to walk away, and there stood Brandon (age 10) with his thumb up and a wink, and he said to me under his breath, “That was a good answer, Mom.”

A Tribute

An exemplary woman.  Diminutive of stature, monumental in spirit.  Indomitable.  Compassionate and passionate.  Such a strong personality, she would live forever.

Until last Sunday, January 31.  Dee died in her sleep.  Thank you, God.  She had been in poor health, but had an underlying strength that surmounted those issues. Her brother notified us of her passing with a comment on her last blog post.  We imagine she slipped away without pain.  As it should be for our matriarch.

She was a member of many e-lists and I subscribe to one of them.  If you take time to click through posts on her blog http://cbg-dee.blogspot.com, you will find her feisty humor a perpetual element of her posts. 

Those of us who were ac- quainted with Dee will miss her humor and wisdom.  She left a mark on each of us and we'll miss her very much.



(In the photo are Woofie, sash, Dee, Jena and Gail, all who became acquainted through the internet.)