We have just gotten back from a much needed trip out of town. I have been so busy with weddings and editing, Lee has been up to her neck in work and Katie has been trying to have as much fun as possible. We all needed some time as a family, so we loaded up the truck and made a quick trip to NC to see Lee's mom and grandmother. Katie so loves being over there, she has a great time with "grandmom" and "MomMom". They always have books for her to read, some videos to watch plus a huge backyard that she can run around in.
The first part of the trip was a bit stressful. We were going east on I-40, having a good time until we hit mile marker 7 in North Carolina. Traffic came to a complete STOP! It took us almost an hour to go 4 miles. The problem was a large tractor trailer flipped over and they had one lane closed so they could clean up the accident. I can tell you this, there was not much left of that truck from what we saw. We got a little bit up the road and noticed some road construction on the west bound side of 40 and traffic there was backed up for about 8 miles. We decided at that point to make it a long trip home by taking as many back roads as possible on the way home.
Katie wanted to spend the night at Grandmom's house so that gave Lee and I some much needed time alone at the hotel. We have to stay at a hotel when we go over there because there is just not enough room for all of us to sleep there. I did have a bit of work I had to do on this trip but that was not a big deal.
Katie got to spend some good time with Lee's Aunt Linda as well. Linda spoils Katie to no end. She always brings little presents to Katie when we visit and Katie loves the little toys that she gets. We also went to a ranch near by called The Lazy 5, they have a huge collections of animals in a safari type setting. You stay in your car and drive through. Katie enjoyed being able to feed the animals right out the window of the truck.
Saturday night Lee and I went out to dinner with Lee's cousin and his wife. It was a lot of fun to just sit and chat with them over a very nice dinner.
Since we knew the highway was going to be bad with traffic, we decided to take back roads to go home. We really enjoyed the trip home. We drove through the mountains, along the Blue Ridge Parkway, through the Smokey Mountain National Park along the way. It was very relaxing and comfortable way to come home. I was not as tired as I normally would be after driving along the interstate. Our trip would normally take 4 to 4.5 hours but taking our time and enjoying the ride took us 5+ hours. It was a fun trip.
I have back to back weddings the next two weeks but, we are taking a trip to St. Augustine to see Lee's dad. He is doing well with his cancer battle. He just completed a month long treatment of chemotherapy. He is doing very well and I was very impressed with the fact he completed the entire treatment. He was very sick for a number of days but, he stuck it out.
We finally have Gran's condo up on the market. It took us a little over a month to get it cleaned out and all the things sold that we could sell. It came down to the last item being left was a beautiful organ that she played all the time. We could not sell that organ for anything, we finally had to give it away. No one wanted it. I thought that would have been one of the first things to go, but it was the last item to leave the house. We ended up paying for a painter to come in and put a coat of paint on the walls to freshen up the place. The thing that amazed me the most was the fact that they lived in that condo for almost 25 years and they didn't do anything to the condo. It has the same carpet, the same flooring, the same stove, dishwasher, the same everything. The thing that was not original was the water heater and two toilets.
I hope everyone has a great week.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
I Miss...........
Tonight I was helping Leeann with a photo shoot of a couple of kids. Leeann has really done a great job with her photography and it shows in her work and her style. I am so proud of her and the work she has put into this. She is going to be a great photographer.
After the photo shoot we went to one of our favorite restaurants for a nice dinner and to look over her pictures. We got to talking about a few things with one of them being when and where we grew up. I started thinking back to my childhood and all the things I used to do and all the things I miss. Things like:
Being able to ride my bike anywhere in town, without my parents right behind me.
Playing in the yard with my friends.
Kick Ball with the neighbors by the street lamp light.
Friends that you grow up with.
Simple summer road trips.
Picnic's under the tree at my grandmothers house.
Saturday Morning Cartoons.
Drive-In Movies.
Sidewalks. (We have none here)
Spending all day at the swimming pool for a $1
.25 cent Cokes
.65 cent a gallon gas
Penny candy (that was really a penny).
Staying up all night with your friends reading comic books.
Toilet papering a house just for fun.
No Cell phones
No pagers
No answering machines
Writing Letters.
Records. (the vinyl one with grooves that popped and hissed when you played them)
Sleeping late on Sunday mornings.
Snow Days
Snow.
Tackle football with no pads or helmets (that may explain a lot to some friends of mine)
Walking home from school with your best friend.
Watching football with my dad
Small town living
Knowing your neighbors.
Those are just some of the things I miss, the list would run for pages. I grew up in the 70's/80's. Went to the roller rink on Friday and Saturday nights, played baseball everyday. Jumped on my bike at first light and had be home before the street lights came on at night. Knowing that no matter where I went, or what I did, my parents knew about it before I got home.
Why can't we go back to those days?
After the photo shoot we went to one of our favorite restaurants for a nice dinner and to look over her pictures. We got to talking about a few things with one of them being when and where we grew up. I started thinking back to my childhood and all the things I used to do and all the things I miss. Things like:
Being able to ride my bike anywhere in town, without my parents right behind me.
Playing in the yard with my friends.
Kick Ball with the neighbors by the street lamp light.
Friends that you grow up with.
Simple summer road trips.
Picnic's under the tree at my grandmothers house.
Saturday Morning Cartoons.
Drive-In Movies.
Sidewalks. (We have none here)
Spending all day at the swimming pool for a $1
.25 cent Cokes
.65 cent a gallon gas
Penny candy (that was really a penny).
Staying up all night with your friends reading comic books.
Toilet papering a house just for fun.
No Cell phones
No pagers
No answering machines
Writing Letters.
Records. (the vinyl one with grooves that popped and hissed when you played them)
Sleeping late on Sunday mornings.
Snow Days
Snow.
Tackle football with no pads or helmets (that may explain a lot to some friends of mine)
Walking home from school with your best friend.
Watching football with my dad
Small town living
Knowing your neighbors.
Those are just some of the things I miss, the list would run for pages. I grew up in the 70's/80's. Went to the roller rink on Friday and Saturday nights, played baseball everyday. Jumped on my bike at first light and had be home before the street lights came on at night. Knowing that no matter where I went, or what I did, my parents knew about it before I got home.
Why can't we go back to those days?
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Missed milestones
Katie never ceases to amaze me with the things she does that she should be able to do. When we first brought her home we set her up with several doctors because we knew that there were medical issues that we had to deal with. One of the first doctors we saw was an eye specialist. This doctor told us that "if she walks, it will be with a walker and at about the age of 3 or 4". Well, needless to say, she doesn't use a walker and she took her first steps at 13 months. A little later than most, but still walking on her own.
A couple of months later her primary care physician asked us if she was walking backwards yet. Leeann and I looked at each other and said "should she?". Later that same night Katie right on cue took her first steps backwards. Those are just a couple of the many milestones she has reached either a little late or right on time. Mostly a little late.
This past weekend she did something I thought she would never do much less attempt. This past weekend Katie went to the community swimming pool with her two friends and their family. While she was there, Katie saw the diving board and decided that she wanted to try it out. She asked the dad that was with them if she could. She pleaded her way into trying it. The dad told the lifeguard what they wanted to do. So, he swam out to just under the board, splashed some water so she could see where the water was and off Katie went. SPLASH! Right into the water. From what I was told, she loved it. In fact, she loved it so much that she did it 5 more times.
I was floored that she even tried it much less that she did it. It just goes to show that Katie is not afraid to try new things or take that big step to a new milestone. I am so proud of her for doing such a great job and pushing herself to new levels.
A couple of months later her primary care physician asked us if she was walking backwards yet. Leeann and I looked at each other and said "should she?". Later that same night Katie right on cue took her first steps backwards. Those are just a couple of the many milestones she has reached either a little late or right on time. Mostly a little late.
This past weekend she did something I thought she would never do much less attempt. This past weekend Katie went to the community swimming pool with her two friends and their family. While she was there, Katie saw the diving board and decided that she wanted to try it out. She asked the dad that was with them if she could. She pleaded her way into trying it. The dad told the lifeguard what they wanted to do. So, he swam out to just under the board, splashed some water so she could see where the water was and off Katie went. SPLASH! Right into the water. From what I was told, she loved it. In fact, she loved it so much that she did it 5 more times.
I was floored that she even tried it much less that she did it. It just goes to show that Katie is not afraid to try new things or take that big step to a new milestone. I am so proud of her for doing such a great job and pushing herself to new levels.
Monday, June 9, 2008
A Break and 3G YEA!!!!
I have my last wedding behind me for two weeks. I finished the wedding this past weekend in Etowah with the reception in Athens. It was a fun wedding but, it was also the wedding I was most worried about. The mother was worried I would not get the prelude music on the video. She had scheduled 30 minutes of music and I got it all. Everything went well so now I have a two week break so I am hoping to get a lot of the weddings I have already shoot finished. I have high hopes that I can.
Today, my Sunny girl is at STAR. We approached them a couple of weeks ago about taking Sunny as part of their therapy program. They came out and looked at her a week ago and they were thrilled by her. The loaded her up today and took her to the STAR stables today and she is already a hit.
Now, for the best part. Apple announced today that they are going to release a new iPhone in July. It is going to be 3G (twice as fast) starting at $199 (half the price). I have missed my iPhone so much and I was even looking at getting an iPhone this past week, but held off. Now I am glad I did.
I am tired, but will be writing more tomorrow
Today, my Sunny girl is at STAR. We approached them a couple of weeks ago about taking Sunny as part of their therapy program. They came out and looked at her a week ago and they were thrilled by her. The loaded her up today and took her to the STAR stables today and she is already a hit.
Now, for the best part. Apple announced today that they are going to release a new iPhone in July. It is going to be 3G (twice as fast) starting at $199 (half the price). I have missed my iPhone so much and I was even looking at getting an iPhone this past week, but held off. Now I am glad I did.
I am tired, but will be writing more tomorrow
Thursday, June 5, 2008
What's UP
I know it has been a long time since my last blog and I wanted take a few lines to update you all as to what is progressing in my life:
Work has me swamped right now. I have the rough cut for the May 3rd wedding, almost finished the rough cut on the May 17th wedding, all the footage of the May 24th wedding downloaded. I also have the spring concert downloaded and ready to cut so I hope to get to that in the next couple of days. I have a wedding this weekend down in Etowah, TN (that is an hour and half from here for those not in the know). This is the last wedding I have before I get a two weekend break but, that time is going to be filled with trying to get as much editing done as possible. I am happy that I have not gotten behind on anything to this point considering all that has been going on.
Leeann's grandmother is doing very well in her new apartment. She seems really happy, but she won't admit that to anyone. It's a pride thing with her. Leeann and I had to go the facility this past Monday to do some forms so we made a surprise visit to her. She looked so good, had good color in her face, looked like she may have put on some weight which is really good for her. They say she is eating really well and getting along with everyone there. She is just getting a little lost walking around the hallways, but that is to be expected when you are in a new place.
The past week, in addition to editing video, I have also been helping Leeann clean out her grandmothers condo. We got a small dumpster (18x12x4) and filled it up. It is unreal how much trash can build up in a 1400 sq ft condo. It took us 5 full days to go through the place and try to clean it out for a sale we want to have this weekend. It seemed like that every time we were making progress we would find another drawer with more stuff and feel like we were starting all over again. We got it all done and ready for the big sale this weekend. We are hoping it goes well.
I have found that you find out who your friends really are when you are in the deep end of the pool. Rick & Lisa, and our friend Sheila have really been there for us. Thank you are not near enough words to express how we feel for all your help.
Katie is doing really well with her summer camp. Her second grade teacher has her son in the same summer camp as Katie and she is just so thrilled see Mrs Crawford almost every day. She is doing a reading class three times a week to help her with her reading for next year. She is so into a book she got in school, "Where the Wild Things Are". She takes it with her everywhere and she has read the book to me about 3 times now. There is nothing in this world like hearing Katie read to me. We are so proud of her.
Well, it is an early wake up in the morning so we will call it a night and see how things go.
Work has me swamped right now. I have the rough cut for the May 3rd wedding, almost finished the rough cut on the May 17th wedding, all the footage of the May 24th wedding downloaded. I also have the spring concert downloaded and ready to cut so I hope to get to that in the next couple of days. I have a wedding this weekend down in Etowah, TN (that is an hour and half from here for those not in the know). This is the last wedding I have before I get a two weekend break but, that time is going to be filled with trying to get as much editing done as possible. I am happy that I have not gotten behind on anything to this point considering all that has been going on.
Leeann's grandmother is doing very well in her new apartment. She seems really happy, but she won't admit that to anyone. It's a pride thing with her. Leeann and I had to go the facility this past Monday to do some forms so we made a surprise visit to her. She looked so good, had good color in her face, looked like she may have put on some weight which is really good for her. They say she is eating really well and getting along with everyone there. She is just getting a little lost walking around the hallways, but that is to be expected when you are in a new place.
The past week, in addition to editing video, I have also been helping Leeann clean out her grandmothers condo. We got a small dumpster (18x12x4) and filled it up. It is unreal how much trash can build up in a 1400 sq ft condo. It took us 5 full days to go through the place and try to clean it out for a sale we want to have this weekend. It seemed like that every time we were making progress we would find another drawer with more stuff and feel like we were starting all over again. We got it all done and ready for the big sale this weekend. We are hoping it goes well.
I have found that you find out who your friends really are when you are in the deep end of the pool. Rick & Lisa, and our friend Sheila have really been there for us. Thank you are not near enough words to express how we feel for all your help.
Katie is doing really well with her summer camp. Her second grade teacher has her son in the same summer camp as Katie and she is just so thrilled see Mrs Crawford almost every day. She is doing a reading class three times a week to help her with her reading for next year. She is so into a book she got in school, "Where the Wild Things Are". She takes it with her everywhere and she has read the book to me about 3 times now. There is nothing in this world like hearing Katie read to me. We are so proud of her.
Well, it is an early wake up in the morning so we will call it a night and see how things go.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Holiday Weekend?????
Back in the day when I used to work in a corporate office I really looked forward to Memorial Day weekend. It was the first long weekend after a long winter of work. It was a great chance to get out, have some fun with the family and enjoy an extra day off. And, if you planned it right, you could make a nice little vacation out of it as well. In fact, for years, Leeann and I would make this out vacation week to go to the beach. Well, those days are gone. I didn't even notice that it was a holiday weekend.
I had a wedding on Saturday in Morristown, an hour away mind you. Most times, the bride has a rehearsal on Friday night before the wedding, but this bride could not have it on Friday and had it on Thursday night instead. That messed me up on Friday. I got up and felt strange not going to a wedding, but I had lots to do anyway.
Friday was Katie's first day of summer vacation and we did a few things together to help me get ready for the wedding. She also enjoyed sleeping a bit late as did all of us. We then went to Gran's condo to get some of her stuff ready to move. OH YEA, we were also moving Leeann's grandmother to an assisted living facility on Sunday. I took her bed apart, got a dresser and a few of the big things ready to go. While I was at my wedding on Saturday, Leeann and Katie were getting Gran packed and ready to go. The wedding was a nice and short wedding (YEA). I was home by 7pm which was really weird for me, most wedding receptions don't get going until 7pm. But, it was nice to get home a little early. I actually got part of the wedding downloaded to the computer Saturday night.
Sunday came and we got Gran all moved in without much problems. I have to say that Leeann picked out a really nice place. I was very surprised at how big her room is. I have seen efficiencies in Washington DC that were smaller than her room. She seemed like she was ok with everything when we left. We had to go back Sunday to take a few things we forgot and a few things that didn't fit in the truck. She was asleep when we got there but seemed to be ok otherwise. Leeann and I hung pictures and arraigned things in her room. Katie just sat and kept her company. She even ate a good dinner for once. I just know that it has to be a bit scary and lonely being someplace new. She lived in her condo for 28 years. She has so much stuff that we have to go through.
I think the thing that makes me most sad is looking at her new room and thinking that over your whole life, can be reduced to a small room in an assisted living facility. It just proves the old saying, "Who ever has the most stuff at the end, doesn't always win".
I had a wedding on Saturday in Morristown, an hour away mind you. Most times, the bride has a rehearsal on Friday night before the wedding, but this bride could not have it on Friday and had it on Thursday night instead. That messed me up on Friday. I got up and felt strange not going to a wedding, but I had lots to do anyway.
Friday was Katie's first day of summer vacation and we did a few things together to help me get ready for the wedding. She also enjoyed sleeping a bit late as did all of us. We then went to Gran's condo to get some of her stuff ready to move. OH YEA, we were also moving Leeann's grandmother to an assisted living facility on Sunday. I took her bed apart, got a dresser and a few of the big things ready to go. While I was at my wedding on Saturday, Leeann and Katie were getting Gran packed and ready to go. The wedding was a nice and short wedding (YEA). I was home by 7pm which was really weird for me, most wedding receptions don't get going until 7pm. But, it was nice to get home a little early. I actually got part of the wedding downloaded to the computer Saturday night.
Sunday came and we got Gran all moved in without much problems. I have to say that Leeann picked out a really nice place. I was very surprised at how big her room is. I have seen efficiencies in Washington DC that were smaller than her room. She seemed like she was ok with everything when we left. We had to go back Sunday to take a few things we forgot and a few things that didn't fit in the truck. She was asleep when we got there but seemed to be ok otherwise. Leeann and I hung pictures and arraigned things in her room. Katie just sat and kept her company. She even ate a good dinner for once. I just know that it has to be a bit scary and lonely being someplace new. She lived in her condo for 28 years. She has so much stuff that we have to go through.
I think the thing that makes me most sad is looking at her new room and thinking that over your whole life, can be reduced to a small room in an assisted living facility. It just proves the old saying, "Who ever has the most stuff at the end, doesn't always win".
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Disney Ends
Please read this and the proceeding blog entry, they tie together:
I hate to say it, but our Disney trip ended with a big THUD! We decided to leave a day early simply because it was way too hot and WAY TOO CROWDED. We went down there about the same time last year and it was great, but Leeann and I figured that the weak dollar overseas means a lot of Europeans were coming here for "holiday" (and it showed). We ran into people from France, England, Germany and a few Asian countries as well. As Leeann says, we had serious "people overload" but, we still had a great time.
Things at home are slowly getting back to normal (if our life has any sense of normalcy to it). We went to Katie's school yesterday to plan where she was going to be placed next year. We could have chosen to put her in a CDC classroom (think Special Ed) with her being in a mainstream 3rd grade class for social time or leave her in a 3rd grade class and increase her Resource time. We chose the latter of the two. We just feel that Katie does her best when she is pushed to preform and she wants to do well. In CDC we didn't feel like she would have been challenged at all. We both felt better after the meeting, but it showed us how lucky we really are. The school Katie goes to has some of the best people in it. Everyone from the teachers to the office staff all the way down to the janitorial staff knows Katie. There hasn't been a day when we are out and about with Katie that we hear in the distance, "Hi Katie", or "Mom, that's Katie from my school". And it never fails that when we ask her who they are, she looks at us with a straight face and says "I don't know". But, I have seen them at the school and know that is where they know her from.
The teachers have been the best. Each one has fallen in love with Katie and has said on a number of occasions how sweet and kind Katie is. How caring she is. Her teacher last year got a little weepy on the last day of school when Katie left the room. We see her from time to time and she always ask how Katie is doing. I can't leave out our wonderful principal. He stops Katie in the hall and talks to her to see how things are going, tells her a joke or just walks with her. He cares so much, we couldn't have hand picked better people if we tried.
My business is going well. So well in fact, that I have that overwhelmed feeling right now. Here is my schedule for the next month just to give you an idea: Wedding rehearsal this Friday, wedding on Saturday, spring concert on Monday, rehearsal on Thursday in Morristown, wedding on Saturday in Morristown, work on 3 different wedding through the week including a school concert, another rehearsal on Friday followed by a wedding on Saturday, now work on 4 different weddings and a concert, need to get the pool ready for the summer, find some time in there to mow the yard (OH Lawn Mower Fairy, PLEASE COME BACK) and that just gets me up to the first of June. WHEW!!!!!!!
Can't wait for a beach trip, I will need it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)