Ready To Go Home

Beautiful morning, but I’ve got a headache. That makes me sad when I’m in my favorite place in the whole world. Having said that I can’t believe how ready I am to be going home after just one day here. Perhaps I feel this way because I know I’ll be back in just a few weeks.

I decide to look at the battle from the Confederate side of things today. I walked Confederate Ave all the way back to the Seminary. It was a nice walk, and reminded me about that part of the field, which I haven’t been on during my last few trips here. If it had been drier, I would have walked the one mile Pickett’s charge area. Maybe next time I’m here with C and Map.

I finally got my Rita’s. When I walked back into town I went a got a small cotton candy flavored Italian Ice. There is nothing like Rita’s for intense flavor. Than I broke down and bought a new sweatshirt. I’ve wanted one with Gettysburg on it for a while, and since I really do need a new sweatshirt this was the time. Plus I got the ugliest tie-dyed brown, pick and green one you’ve ever seen. I just love it.

This evening walking back to the hotel, I cut through the National Cemetery and found that someone had placed American flags on the grave of the New York soldiers‘. It is an amazing sight. I would have taken a photo, but just couldn’t do justice to the seen. I found it moving.

Ok so I’m really ready to be home. Think I’m going to get on the road here at about five am. No one at home knows I’m coming tomorrow. I miss Gr.

School Trips and Redbuds

Woke up this morning in Gettysburg. It was cool, over cast, and the field was covered with Redbud. I saw a whole lot of cardinals, a bunny and lot of noisy school groups.

First thing, I walked down to the new visitor’s center, where I was looking for several books for research on my writing. After that I headed off again on foot too Culp’s Hill. I wanted to take some photos and get a closer feeling to the 123rd NY, as they are a part of my new work. After taking a few photos, I walked out Confederate Ave, back toward town. I was surprised to find the GAR post, on one of the side streets off of Baltimore. I just walked onto a cannon, and there was a great building. I went to the Gettysburg town library, to check out the book sale, but nothing good there this time.

The town is really quite today. Since my appetite seems to have finally come back, I found my way to lunch at O’Rorke’s. I just love their pretzel roll sandwiches.

It is trying to rain, really big drops. I’m going to shop, or at least look around the shops. I would really like to find a new sweatshirt; my VT one is just about had it. I think if I get one I’m going to have to pay $28, since that’s the lowest priced one I’ve found.

I need to start a spread sheet for my Civil War work. So much information, so little time to share it.

The rain s back. So, I went to the Visitor’s center and bought those books. and a CD that I wanted for C and me to listen to on the way home from his place next month. Than I found I was so hungry that I just had to eat [first time I’ve felt that way in about week]. Thing is I was to tired to drive anywhere safely, and my body is too achy to walk very far, so it’s going be have to be Friendly’s. Than I think I’m going to take a hot tub and call it a night.

On The Road To Ohio

I got on the road at 5:15 this morning. I picked up a rental car at the Albany Airport, cause I really didn’t want to drive my big truck all over Ohio. Just before Buffalo, NY I saw a big fluke of wild turkeys. There were three big old Tom’s all fluffed up and strutting. That and one golden Retriever in the back of a green jeep that I passed just after going into PA, that all you could see was this big tail going back and forth. Other that those two things it was a pretty boring drive. Tonight I am staying about twenty minutes from the Canton OH airport where I will pick C up in the morning.

Stomach All Tied Up

I’m so sick of the news. Even if the new is good, before they are done with the report, they spin everything out to be bad. Today is going to be a long one. I guess I’m back on with the college trip on Monday and Tuesday with C. He dropped that class Thursday, and I know that that killed him. So I’ve got just today to get things clean up around here. And, as usual it seems that everyone want a part of my time.

I’m having a really hard time with this trip. I’ve been dealing with a huge knot in my stomach for days. I have feeling of dread, that something somewhere in my life isn’t running right. I am not even looking forward to any part of the trip. I have been on the edge of tears for days now as well. I get don’t get it, it’s not like me.

Big still isn’t home. He had a guy come down from Burlington to fix the starter on the Skid Steer. They are still working on it. I guess I was lucky I saw him at the shop this morning. If I had known he was going to be this late, I would have gone back up to the shop. So anyway I’m home alone. Little is out with his girl friend Whit. C just called me to let me know he got a letter for us [as in his parents] from Bethany. It calmed me talk to him.

Stressful Day

We went to Rupert last night for Big’s Uncle June’s memorial service. It wasn’t overly sad, and in some way it was hard to remember that he had died. This was really more of family get together. We all had plenty of time to get used to the idea that he was going. It was while I was sitting listening to the minister drone on about a man she obviously didn’t know, that I realized I am the keeper of the family stories. There is one in every family, in my case I’m the keeper of my hubby’s family as well as my own. We aren’t the people who tell the stories necessarily, but we are the ones who start the stories, so everyone else will remember. I don’t know how I became this person for Big’s family, but I know that I inherited it from my Mother’s Father and my Dad’s foster Mother. I wonder who will take over for me.

We have a very annoying wood pecker in the yard this morning. He is hammering on the metal roofing on the barn. It is really loud. Actually all the birds are stupid acting today. Do you remember the Disney movie well everyone is twitter-pated.

Just got a call from C. His English teacher just told him that she didn’t think she could give him a passing grade, so he should drop the class. This suck so big. He has been caring a good solid “B” with his in class work, but she doesn’t like his writing pieces. He’s just been accepted to two colleges and if he gets a bad grade they won’t take him. I think he is going to have to drop the class and take it again latter. I feel like I’ve been kicked in the gut, I can’t even imagine what C is feeling like.

I got through the stress, I think. Ed met at the office, but he didn't do any office work because the poker players showed up. It was alright with me, because I had enough for the day.

Clean Up From Snow & College Ap's

11:33 am - I just woke C up so he could watch a dog sled race that he helped out with here in Ely on TV. We've got to clean up from yesterdays snow fall. C might even have to get out his snow blower for the front walk. Big got home from FL last night. I talked to him for about 15 minutes and I'm already feeling depressed about the business. It makes me want to stay out here even more.

5:11 pm - We spent the afternoon working on C's college applications. We made an appointment with the football coach at U of MN for tomorrow night, so we will be driving down tomorrow and spending the night. I've pretty much decided that I'm going to stay out here longer, trying to get all the paper work completed.

8:50 pm - C and I have had a great day, talking about all sort of things, you'd never guess a twenty year old son and his mother would talk about. I really love hanging out with C. Map was going crazy around here until just a little while ago, when she finally crashed on the couch. She has issues with C and I sitting together on couch when we were working on the applications.

Ely Snow

Yesterday March 9
11:15 am - It's a gray morning with C still in bed and Map chilling out with me on the couch. I'm thinking about staying out here with C longer. I've got to figure out how to get him into his next college and I don't think I can do it in one week.

Today March 10
11:38 am - The snow has just started and the wind is up, but we are still waiting for the predicted storm to get here. Map and I just got back in from a walk around the block. I had to get her out of the house.

3:53 pm - The snow has finally got here, but so far no real wind to speak of yet. We just ate our dinner. Neither C or I have gotten dressed today. This is my idea of a perfect vacation.

8:44 pm - It is really coming down out there. I love it. I really should take Map and go for a walk around the town, but I don't think I'm going to make it. Right now I thinking about popcorn and a movie.

Nice Weekend in MN

12:23 pm - I took Map for a walk around Miner's Lake yesterday, which was great until the heal pain came back last night. I've decided that somehow the stretching I've been doing over the last couple of weeks is helping that pain. So I went back to stretching this morning. Now we'll see. C just got up. He's taking advantage of having me here to take care of the dog.

9:02 pm - C and just finished watchingBig Love I didn't know he was fan of the show. Map has decided tonight that she is going to bond with me. She's been in my lap all evening. Its been a nice weekend, I love hang out with C.

Badly Run Flights

10:12 am - I've got to get going and get my things packed. I've got two hours to clean out my truck, pack, and kill time. Isn't it funny that I can't wait to get out of the house and see C, but I don't really want to go. I love being home when Big is away and I hate leaving Gr, who is already looking sad.

1:41 pm - I'm at the airport in Albany. I've seen it so busy here. i had to park in the over flow's over flow parking lot, and it took me over twenty minutes to get through security. That's crazy for this airport. Now I can just relax, read, and do some writing. [I've developed an idea for telling the Reynolds story.]

5:34 pm - I'm in the air finally. I don't think I've ever seen a worse job done in loading a plane. Then when they got us on the plane, we were told that do to traffic we couldn't take off. So I'm guessing my once plenty of time between flights is now going to be a tight connection.

7:22 pm - I made it to the plane for Duluth with about five minutes to spare. I love how when they open the door of the plane we all push our way out and run up the shoot like cattle.

10:17 - I have found myself in my favorite hotel, with my rental car, and finally relaxed after a long day. I'm eating a pizza, since I didn't get any dinner. Tomorrow I will head up to C's place, tonight and the morning I sleep in.

Snow On The Screen

10:05 am - My life has been so dull lately that I couldn't even think of anything to write about. At least today I can report that were getting some snow. Big left yesterday for a week long trip to play golf in Florida with some of the guys. So things are relaxed around here.

3:38 pm - It's still snowing and the wind has kicked up. I got payroll done and few other office things taken care of. Now I wont have to go back to the office until Wednesday.

10:02 pm - Damn my lap top crashed tonight. I guess it's time to buy a new one, I really didn't want to. Worse thing is it ate up my photo of the snow today. On the good side "Saving Grace" is back on tonight. C called so I know he's alright, and Little and I manged a whole evening on the couch together. Life goes on [well maybe not for my computer].

Catching Up Again

Yesterday February 21 2009
12:10 pm - I had to pick up a few things at the grocery store and grab some lunch. I got to experience a badly behaved parent at the Salvation Army. You know the ones whose children are running wild and the parent response is to issue empty threats. In this case two boys who had found a couple of swords which they wanted to buy, and were running around the store with them bumping into things and people. Mom's response was to repeatedly threaten not to buy the swords, if they didn't stop running around. The boys didn't and she still bought the swords. Clear case of a badly behaved parent.

6:23 pm - Another quite day. Gr and I took a walk around the Arlington Rec Park [not enough snow up there to snow shoe on]. Than we came home and took a nap. Now I'm enjoying watching the classic "Steel Magnolias" and when the adds are on "Walk The Line".

February 22, 2009
8:45 pm - It is snowing hard tonight. Going to be very pretty in the morning. Little and Big are home from ice fishing. I've spent the day dreaming of being in Ely with C and Map. Its been a pleasant weekend for me, if only there were more like them.

Cold

9:05 am - -38 out here this morning. I'm nervous about the rental car starting, so I can get to Duluth tonight. The guy came to read the water meeter a few minutes ago and Map went off. I think she learned some bad behavior while she was home with Gr. C just got up and I told him to maybe go start his truck and get it warmed up.

1:37 pm - It was a clear ride down to the city, just a small snow shower in Virginia. I am already missing C, Map, and Ely. It is always so hard to leave. Some day I'm not going to leave. Since I'm town and can't check into the hotel until after three , I'm grabbing lunch at the Olive Garden.

3:31 pm - I got rid of the worst rental car I've ever driven. The tires had no traction at all. The hotel came to get me at the airport, so now I'm in my room, comfortable and warm. I printed my flight ticket [I got an up-grade to first class on one leg] for the morning. So that's it I can just relax the rest of the day. Except I'd still like to be back with C. I really don't want to go home.

Cold and Movies and Last Days

7:52 am - It is wickedly cold out this morning. It is double digit negative. I'm glad I don't have to go anywhere today.

10:56 am - I've been working on my blog posts all morning. C got up a little while ago and he seems to feel about the same as I do about going out in the cold. Course he has to go out tonight for a class at six. I'm going to run out him a thing to block the draft that is coming in around the bottom of the front door. Or maybe I'll just cuddle under another blanket.

4:59 pm - C and I caught and early dinner at the Grand Ely Lodge. He has class tonight at six. Since I'll be spending tomorrow night in Duluth before I fly home Thursday morning, this was my last time for spending time with him. When we got back I started the rental car. It turned over, but hard. Hopefully letting it run and warm up will be enough to get it started tomorrow too.

5:54 pm - I ran down to Pamida and picked up that thing to block drafts. I wound up picking up a couple of movies, "Appaloosa" and Swing Vote,for C and I to watch tonight. It has warmed up to a balmy -10.

10:02 pm - We have finished watching Appaloosa which wasn't bad but kind of slow. Now if C's DVD player doesn't screw up we might get through the second movie. And when C and Map finish their late dinner

A School For Parents

2:24 pm - I took C to school this morning and got his tuition paid. It was fun to walk around the college and have all these people saying Hi to him, or the teacher's calling him by name and asking him to help out a new student. It's so great as a parent to know your child is well liked and respected. One of those few times when you know you did a good job as a parent. On the other hand Little E is a reminder that I didn't do such a good job as a parent. He lost his licence after being caught at a party for under aged drinking. I don't know...

6:29 pm - C has a class that gets over at seven tonight, so I decided to order pizza from Pizza Hut. They deliver out here, which I still find really cool. Plus I can order on line, which is even cooler. What can I say I'm easy to please.

Closed

9:10 am - C and I are heading for Stony Ridge for breakfast [if they are open]. The best most amazing stuffed hash browns. Stuffed hash browns seem to be an upper Minnesota creation. What this is, is shredded potatoes, fried crispy on one side than flipped like a pancake than loaded with meat, veggies,and cheese. They fold the potatoes up like an omelet and top with eggs. It's incredible.

11:36 am - Bummer...Stony Ridge Cafe is closed until May. I am disappointed beyond words. I still got my stuffed hash browns. C and I went to the Grand Ely Lodge. Not nearly and good.

4:32 pm - I just took Map for a walk out around the block. We put her new boots and the coat my Mother map on her. She really looked adorable. I was surprised that the boots didn't seem to faze her at all, but she just kept trying to shake the coat off. Anyhow she sniffed her way around the block and than came in bouncing off the wall. The house smells great right now, I'm baking beer bread.

8:04 pm - The house has settled down at last. Map used by the last of her energy and is now crashed on the couch. C is visiting with friends on line. I cleaned up the kitchen from dinner [the whole loaf of bread is gone]. C friends MW and HC stopped to say hi on their way to campus. It has been a really pleasant Sunday.

Thank God I'm In Ely

9:18 am - I spent the last two days on the road driving C and Map back to Minnesota. Not that it wasn't a fun trip, because I really enjoyed being with C, but winter driving really sucks. We rented a car in Albany [cause I'm flying home], and started west in what became an unpredictable mix of ice, snow, and good dry roads. Driving along, than the car would start sliding and I would think we're going to have to stop soon. Than I'd drive out of it and think better keep going as long as I can while the roads are good. Plus with Map along when we did stop for the night in Toledo, we had to find a place that took dogs. Anyhow with all this we just kept going yesterday, until the three of us finally made Ely last night at eleven. I don't care if I never get in the car again. I think that since C and Map are both still in bed I'm going to take a nap.

3:42 pm - C was up earlier than I thought, so we ran out to Trader Craig's and Pamida's to pick up a new vacuum and stuff to run the snow blower. Than we grabbed lunch at Subway, and bought some groceries at Northland. We came back and C and I cleaned up the snow so we could get the car in and unloaded. I've done laundry and cleaned the house. I'll make us dinner, but for the most part I'm ready to call it day.

9:22 pm - We've had a nice quite night. Ate dinner and watched a movie. I know I'm going to have hard time leaving Ely on Thursday. I really love it out here. I'm going to miss C and Map, and this town. So right now C is flipping channels and Map is sleeping beside me. As soon as I get enough energy, I'm heading for bed.

The Day Before The Drive

2:33 pm - No one is doing much around here today. The weather is awful, cold rain that is freezing onto everything. I've got the truck cleaned out and am packed for the trip to take C and Map home. C still has a lot to put into the truck, but he hasn't even gotten dressed yet. Big E thinks he's getting sick, so I'm glad I wont be around for a week. [I am not the nursing type].

8:43 pm - Well we finally got the truck all packed. Of course was have repack everything at the airport tomorrow when we pick up the rental car. The dogs defiantly know something is going on. They are starting to cling to each other. Our rain has become heavy wet snow in the last couple of hours, and is coming pretty hard right now. I'm thinking that the drive tomorrow wont be a lot of fun. Well I will try to sleep tonight, for my butt will be in drivers seat for the next at least 24 hours. Somehow C's trip here at home with Map has been to short.

Getting a Couple of Things Off My Chest

9:32 am - The dogs are driving me nuts this morning. They keep jumping up a running out the door barking at something, but I don't see anything. I don't think they do either. Gr and I are really ready for Map to go home. At least the guys should be having a good day ice fishing. It is beautiful and sunny.

12:06 pm - I've spent the morning in the the office. I hate being only able to pay off half the bills, playing the pick and choose game of which bill to pay; trying to make money stretch. Then the guys are bugging me, the couple who we still have working. They aren't doing what Big E asks them to, and are just costing us money. I'm going to tell them not to come in tomorrow.

12:59 pm - There's a new menu at Friendly's. It looks bigger, but I think it's just the same stuff with a new layout.

6:21 pm - I still haven't heard anything from Big E and the boys. I'm guessing they had a good day fishing. I don't know if they'll be home tonight or not though. Good thing I went for frozen pizza for dinner. You know all three of them have cell phones, but it's way to much for me expect a call. I've been looking at the painting Big E's sister did of him and his bear as a Christmas gift. We're going to be hanging it over the bar in the kitchen. The thing is ugly, but Big E loves it so I'm stuck with the thing.

10:30 pm - It's starting to snow [beginning of a big storm]. They guys made it home, C caught a fish. That's pretty much all the info I got out of them before Little E went to bed, Big E fell asleep on the couch, and C went into the shower. No body talks to me around here.

At Least The Dogs Have A Life

9:23 am - I can't get myself going. I have no purpose today, nothing left to do that seems to matter. It's pretty sad when the dogs seem to a fuller life than I do.

3:02 pm - I came home to a living room full of boys. Little E was still home, C was back his cousin JP. If I understand what they're talking about, they are going up to ice fishing camp tonight. My best hope is that they will take Big E with them, along with the dogs. I could really use a night to myself.

9:55 pm - The boys did take off, but they left Big E and the pups behind. We went out to Chili's from dinner, and each of the dogs got their own little burger bit. I might as well have been home alone, since Big E walk in laid down on the couch and hasn't moved since. Well the dogs are entertaining.

Crazy Bored

3:18 pm - All the Christmas stuff, but a couple of outside things, are packed away. Big E is yelling at the TV, as his Dolphin's continue to blow their play-off game. Little E went to work this morning up on the mountain, so he got out of having to go to his Grandparents for "Brunch". C is hanging out with his cousins. The dogs are playing and blocking Big E's view of the TV. Yupe it's a really big Sunday around here.

10:25 pm - As strange as this might sound, this blog is saving my sanity. After it's easier to be crazy in a crowd.