My dad

Mom told me that Dad had a really bad night last night. He simply could not breathe and he was on oxygen. He wanted her to call me this morning and tell me he was not doing well. He also had her write down where all their assets are for my brother and me. After sitting up in the chair for a while, he decided he felt better and that she should not call me. After I talked with her, I jumped in the car and went to visit him. I know that always makes him feel better. This breathing problem seems to mostly be at night. He even went to Mom's room and woke her up last night when he was having such a hard time breathing. He told her that he didn't mind dying, but he didn't want to die that way. I think that he thinks his time is about over on this Earth and he is OK with that. I'm not so sure I'm OK with that, but I have never seen him when he was really struggling to breathe.

I went to visit my neighbor that broke his back on a four wheeler . He has been in the hospital for 3 weeks now, but has been moved to the Rehab floor. He is in bad shape. He takes two steps forward and one step backwards, but I guess that is still progress.

Still dazed!

I have so much to do in order to get things back to normal around here. Leaving home for more than two weeks allows spiders to set up housekeeping in every corner in the garage and the patio. Today we had much needed rain, so I didn't get around to cleaning those up. Clothes still must be washed and one bag is still not unpacked. Of course, I had to take a nap this afternoon when it was raining and dark...yep, that was a must!

This morning I went to Mom and Dad's and cranked up the tiller to get the fall garden started. I got some turnip greens and squash planted. They needed to be in the ground before the rain. I still have some collard greens, onions, and cabbage to plant. My yard still didn't get mowed because of the rain, so it looks shameful.

Bye, Bye Kiddos!

Jake called me Grandma Baby the whole time I was there. This was taken as I was leaving yesterday morning. Jake told me to "Come back Thursday!"

Home, Sweet, Home!

It's all been wonderful! Every day was something special...well, except those when all I did was drive! I didn't really check, but I probably drove 2,500 to 3,000 miles. Today I made it to my brother's in time for Sunday lunch. I didn't even go to my home first. Since I got home, I have had the sprinklers going nonstop. Several things lost their leaves from lack of water. My grass is dead in some places, but it will come back. I will mow it tomorrow, but it needed water first. My neighbor has already been over and told me she missed me. I told her I will never be gone that long again.

Last leg

Tonight I am in Meridian, MS. I drove 9 hours and really wanted to go all the way home, but I just couldn't do it. I should get home fairly early tomorrow. After a couple of days recovery, I will be back up and running. I know there is lots of yard work waiting for me. I just hope my grass isn't dead.

Myrtle Beach

I can now add Myrtle Beach to the places I have been and don't have to go again. Just like most of the other beaches, it is too commercial and covered with condos. The almighty dollar has hijacked the ocean. I have also kicked up my departure to Louisiana by one day. I will head home on Saturday and hope to make it home Sunday even though I am really tired of driving.

On the Road Again

Once again I am a traveling fool, but I am getting really tired. I miss my home and my bed. My sister-in-law told me via email that my parents really miss me. I asked Mom what they did when I lived far away. She said they didn't expect to see me then!! Now I am on a guilt trip. Tonight I am somewhere in North Carolina. Tomorrow I plan to visit Myrtle Beach since I have never been there. Thursday I will be at my next to final destination in Aiken, SC for a couple of days seeing the babies. Then I will try to make record time getting home.

Good Bye

I just came from Angela and Jason's condo where the last festivity of the wedding was held. We had grilled burgers and all the trimmings and more wedding cake. Angela and Jason are trying to get rid of wedding cake. All the guests have to travel to get home and they are going on their honeymoon tomorrow.

This morning I took the Metro, which very conveniently has a station right next to my hotel. I went down to the National Mall and got some culture. Sunday morning is a good time to do that.

Tomorrow I will be going back to my cousin's before heading south again. It's been fun, but I am ready to move on.

It's OVER!

The wedding was sensational at Mount Vernon. The wait staff was dressed in period clothing just as they would have for George Washington. We partied until the bride and groom left and the last bus left for the various hotels. It was HOT there. It should be cooled off here by now, but that hasn't happened. The wedding ceremony was under a tent on the patio at the Mount Vernon Inn. They even had food that would have been served to George Washington...hoe cakes topped with lump crabmeat, steak and crab cakes.....real crab cakes...not those stuffed with bread crumbs. They even had two chocolate covered cherries in a gift box at every plate (get it?...George Washington ...cherry trees!!) Everything was perfect. I even sat at the table with the groom's mom and dad and brother, so at least I knew someone. I actually knew several people there. The groom's uncle performed the ceremony, so I knew him as well. Tomorrow I plan to get on the Metro and do some touristy things. Most people are going home tomorrow, but I will get a chance to see everyone again at Jason and Angela's home tomorrow at the bar b que. The mothers are doing it.

I'm Exhausted already!

I have been on a mission to find some hairspray. Old Town Alexandria is not a good place for that. After walking at least a mile searching for the CVS, which I was told was there, I finally found it.....but then I had to walk back. I would be skinny if I lived here. Either that or I would never go anywhere. The car is in the parking garage and I don't want to retrieve it until Sunday afternoon when I go to Jason and Angela's home for a bar b que. Traffic is just too scary for me. Tonight I will ride the Metro to the festivities and tomorrow they have a bus to take guests from the hotel to Mount Vernon for the wedding.

Two crises averted!!

Tuesday night my cousin's daughter cooked dinner for us in her tiny 500 sq.ft. condo.(Yes, that is correct square footage. She is an American Airlines flight attendant with 10 years experience and could only afford this tiny place. Why? Because it's freakin' 225,000 dollars) Imagine a 27 pound cat in a space that small. There is thick cat dander and I am highly allergic. As soon as I started having a reaction, she gave me a pill. It worked like magic...Allegra. Turns out she is also allergic to cats!! Why would anyone who is allergic to cats have a cat for a pet?? I don't get it. This cat is huge and is named Fat Boy. Then yesterday the daughter drove us to do touristy stuff in her car. Yes, Fat Boy had been in the car. Once again, I started having my reaction. Another pill.....crisis averted.

Today we were going to take my car to breakfast. Could not find the keys. We searched and searched....emptied suitcases...everything. Damnit, I was ready to call the Lincoln dealership and try to get a new key made. Then I opened the suitcase again to look. I picked up a pair of shorts and felt the keys in the pocket! Thank God.....$300 saved from my stupidity!!!

Destination #2

I arrived at my cousin's home on Saturday. She has a beautiful, huge home on the Rappahannock River near Fredricksburg, VA. All her family came on Sunday. We all went to church together, then spent the afternoon on the deck at the river or on the boat. She had a lovely dinner for all Sunday night. Monday we just chilled. Tuesday we went to Richmond and had lunch with an acquaintance that I have not seen since high school. Then we drove up to Alexandria to my cousin's other home. Wednesday, we visited Hillwood, which was Marjorie Meriweather Post's home. Had lunch on the grounds at their cafe'. Last night we had wine at her son's home in Alexandria before all going out to dinner. It's been a whirlwind. I am now checked in the Hilton ready to get going on the wedding festivites. I think a rest is in order first.

HOLY CRAP!

I am really tired, but 500 miles closer to my first destination. Tonight I am at a brand new Hampton in Wytheville, VA, but still at least 5 hours from my cousin's house. I didn't think it would be that long, but I talked to her and that's what she told me. I'm ready for a long bath and bed. My crunchy taco bell tacos were not crunchy, so I am still hungry. Too bad. I'm not going out for real food....vending machines will suffice. This will be my last post probably until I get to the hotel on Thursday.

Hello, Alabama

Who knew Alabama's flag looked like this? Sort of strange, I think, but it comes from the Confederate flag. Can't argue with that!!!

I am in for the night..well. except for that OUtback steakhouse next door, somewhere between Birmingham and Huntsville. Everything went smoothly except that after I was too far out to turn around, I realized that I had left my memory foam pillow that I like to sit on when I drive long distances. That has been remedied. The local Wal Mart had one similar, so it is now in the car.

My brother called when I was almost to Jackson and told me my neighbor had called him to tell him they wouldn't be around to take care of things at my house while I am gone. Her husband had a four wheeler accident and was in the hospital awaiting surgery. He broke some vertebrae. He is the one who mowed my yard for me last time I was gone. Great neighbors. I knew something was amiss because their newspaper stayed in the yard all day for 2 days, but it got picked up at night. I am really sorry to hear this. I could be helping them out right now.

Last day....

Since I already had everything done, I slept in this morning. Everything is packed. I turned the sprinklers on the yard and went to see Mom and Dad. Of course, it rained while I was gone, so my yard got a double dose. It really needed it badly, so I'm glad to get that rain before I leave. Most of my hummers are gone and I expect the last two to be gone before I get back. There is still juice in the feeder, so they will be fine until they leave on their journey.

My dad said he would worry the whole time I am gone. He's a worrier! I can't help that. He's always been that way. That's why I used to never tell him when I was gone, but now that I live close I can't do that. I do miss just taking off for a weekend like I used to do without telling anyone.

The purpose of my upcoming travels!

These are the nuptials I will be attending !

SCREW the UN!

This is the most corrupt, useless organization in the world. It needs to be moved OUT of the USA so we don't have to let Iran morons such as Ahmadaabbadabbdo, in the USA.

An UP day!

Some days I am a slug, while others I am energy personified. Today was an energy day. I am almost completely finished packing and that is no easy task since I have to attend different functions requiring different degrees of dress. The only one that I am sure I will be dressed appropriately for is the bar-b-que on Sunday after the wedding on Saturday for the out of town guests who are still in town...jeans!

Mom is doing great after her dental procedure yesterday. She and Dad surprised me with a visit this morning. I have purposely not told Dad about my new computer and it was sitting on the counter in all its pink brilliance. He never even saw it.

I think it will be fun to update this blog whenever I can while I am on the road. I have read several blogs of people who were on trips and enjoyed them immensely. I'm really hoping to get to see some fall foliage before I get home. While I am at my cousin's house in Virginia, I probably will not get to post because she lives out on the Rappahannock River in the country and only has a dial up connection. Those drive me crazy. That's what my brother has as well....only because it is the only thing available where he lives.

AAAAHHHHH!

It's been a very uneventful weekend and I welcomed it. It was nice to kick back and do nothing. Yesterday, I did go to Mom and Dad's and took them to a fund raiser for the youth at their church. The pastor's brother came up from New Orleans and cooked a truckload of jambalaya. Seriously, it wasn't very good. Jambalaya is a Louisiana dish made from rice and sausage. I've never made it, but I think I could and it would taste better than that.

I am once again eating fresh cucumbers from the few plants I planted a few weeks ago. That's a real treat. Those things are 75 cents each in the store.

There are three people that I know who are near death. These are all old people, but I think they will be gone before I get back home off the road. One of them is my friend's father. He is around my father's age.

Whatever!

It's been a lazy, do nothing day and I don't even care...so there!!