I've never been in a parade as an adult. So, since our troop needed an adult for the scouts to march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade on 5th, away I went with 14 boys and Eva & Andy in tow. After waiting for 3 no shows we took the 1 into midtown and queued up along with about 800 other BSA members. After an hour wait we were off marching.
What a thrill, the route was packed with people and everyone was waving and cheering! The boys hammed up and started high fiving anyone who was willing and generally having a blast. When we finished, they were so happy, many had never been in a parade and they were glad they did this one.
After escorting some of the boys home, I got into my garden and cleared out all the debris from the fall (and a ton of cigarette butts from the college girls downstairs). All the crocuses and daffodils are up, and the grape hyacinths I planted last fall were also peeking out. When I finished, it looked so good!
All in all a good day. Marching to cheering crowds and diggin' in the dirt.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Day Forty-seven: Blue sky, oh my!
Oh boy, the sky is so blue I could sing.
Instead, I plan to head up to Yonkers to see my aunt. After calling her for a half hour, getting a steady busy, I worry. Then I get to the neighborhood. It's a war zone. Streets blocked off with huge old trees lying strewn across the roads. I zig zag around until I get to the foot of her hill and see the gigantic oak in her back yard, still standing majestic as ever. Whew!
My aunt's phone is out of commission but not her spirits. We decide to take a visit to the cemetary to visit my parents. As we're going out the door, her uncles arrive (god bless their 90 year old souls!) also worried that her phone is not working. So back inside we go, coffee for three and some family gossip.
We finally head out and reach the cemetary to find the same devastation there. Huge old trees lying like bowling pins scattered everywhere. But my parents section is untouched and the daffodils I planted last year are peeking out of the soggy earth. There are even a couple of bright yellow pansies that survived the winter and are in full bloom!
The ride home becomes a crawl when an accident shuts down the Sprain leaving us stuck for an hour after my car decides to overheat. After cooling off, I back off the road and head to a station to fill the radiator and head home. My aunt treats me to diner burgers (yum) and we end the adventure promising to do this again (minus the bad stuff) in a couple of weeks.
Funny thing about bad stuff, if you're not alone in it, it's not that bad living through it.
Instead, I plan to head up to Yonkers to see my aunt. After calling her for a half hour, getting a steady busy, I worry. Then I get to the neighborhood. It's a war zone. Streets blocked off with huge old trees lying strewn across the roads. I zig zag around until I get to the foot of her hill and see the gigantic oak in her back yard, still standing majestic as ever. Whew!
My aunt's phone is out of commission but not her spirits. We decide to take a visit to the cemetary to visit my parents. As we're going out the door, her uncles arrive (god bless their 90 year old souls!) also worried that her phone is not working. So back inside we go, coffee for three and some family gossip.
We finally head out and reach the cemetary to find the same devastation there. Huge old trees lying like bowling pins scattered everywhere. But my parents section is untouched and the daffodils I planted last year are peeking out of the soggy earth. There are even a couple of bright yellow pansies that survived the winter and are in full bloom!
The ride home becomes a crawl when an accident shuts down the Sprain leaving us stuck for an hour after my car decides to overheat. After cooling off, I back off the road and head to a station to fill the radiator and head home. My aunt treats me to diner burgers (yum) and we end the adventure promising to do this again (minus the bad stuff) in a couple of weeks.
Funny thing about bad stuff, if you're not alone in it, it's not that bad living through it.
Day Forty-six: Enough with the rain!
Every year I suffer the same ordeal of living through the days of rain that lead to spring then summer. And that's the only thought that keeps me going: spring and summer. But after 3 torrential days I say enough!
It better live up to it's forecast for tomorrow.
It better live up to it's forecast for tomorrow.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Day Forty-five: I finally sell something on Craig's List
What can I say, it's alot of work!!!! But worth it.
And that's all I have to say about that.
And that's all I have to say about that.
Day Forty-four: Oh, and the celebration went well
After getting home from the court drama on Friday, I packed up all my displays for the celebration and Sarah and I headed out to the church. I have to say everything turned out well. Emily's flyer came out great and my display and scrapbook beginnings looked great as well. Everyone brought something: old books, an old uniform and first aid kit from the 1940's, photos, past programs, Troop hats, patches, etc. The Court of Honor and presentations went well, the boys had alot of fun with the merit badge contest and of course the cake and goodies were all consumed in no time.
Old-timers came from as far back as the 50's. One of the scouts, gave me a disk with movies from the 60's. I'll have to get a look at that and decide how we can get that viewed by the Troop.
Hills and valleys, that's my life.
Today was a complete and total washout, and I was pretty washed out myself, so I made some soup and chilled.
Old-timers came from as far back as the 50's. One of the scouts, gave me a disk with movies from the 60's. I'll have to get a look at that and decide how we can get that viewed by the Troop.
Hills and valleys, that's my life.
Today was a complete and total washout, and I was pretty washed out myself, so I made some soup and chilled.
Day Forty-Three: Court part deux
Today is Alex's re-appearance in Yonkers for DWI #1. He was supposed to be a good boy and attend his TASK appointed substance abuse center weekly, but did he do this? NO!
And then he decides he's gonna sleep a little late, after all, every appearance so far has gone into the afternoon, so hey, why should he bust himself? On the way there, I tell him in no uncertain terms that if he does not grovel, beg and promise his first born child away (something I should have done a long time ago) he can forget about us harboring him anymore. Anyway, we get there and his lawyer is already in front of the judge with another client and we're barely warming our seats when he gets called.
The judge asks for his TASK report and of course there isn't one, much less a favorable one (which is what he's looking for). His lawyer does some posturing (he's real good at that) and excuses Alex because he's working so hard to help his family pay the rent (what a hoot!). So the prosecutor pipes up that he's a risk, what with the additional DWI and now no cooperation and asks to raise his bail to $1000. The judge just shakes his head and then locks eyes with Alex.
He says to him, "Son, I am not going to comply with the prosecutor's request. I am going to give you 30 days to get yourself a positive report, and if you don't, there will be no bail or fines, you are going to jail. Now go and make sure you show up with that report next month."
I think Alex is finally a little shaken, and thanks me for coming with him. I drop him off at the facility so he can make an appointment for Monday and wait. He comes out all pissy. The director has refused to allow him back and gives him another facility to go to. He announces, "Yeah, and he says I owe him money for the last few times I went, what an ass, that's all he cares about is money"
I don't respond to his tirade and send him silent daggers of disapproval.
We'll see what happens Monday.....
And then he decides he's gonna sleep a little late, after all, every appearance so far has gone into the afternoon, so hey, why should he bust himself? On the way there, I tell him in no uncertain terms that if he does not grovel, beg and promise his first born child away (something I should have done a long time ago) he can forget about us harboring him anymore. Anyway, we get there and his lawyer is already in front of the judge with another client and we're barely warming our seats when he gets called.
The judge asks for his TASK report and of course there isn't one, much less a favorable one (which is what he's looking for). His lawyer does some posturing (he's real good at that) and excuses Alex because he's working so hard to help his family pay the rent (what a hoot!). So the prosecutor pipes up that he's a risk, what with the additional DWI and now no cooperation and asks to raise his bail to $1000. The judge just shakes his head and then locks eyes with Alex.
He says to him, "Son, I am not going to comply with the prosecutor's request. I am going to give you 30 days to get yourself a positive report, and if you don't, there will be no bail or fines, you are going to jail. Now go and make sure you show up with that report next month."
I think Alex is finally a little shaken, and thanks me for coming with him. I drop him off at the facility so he can make an appointment for Monday and wait. He comes out all pissy. The director has refused to allow him back and gives him another facility to go to. He announces, "Yeah, and he says I owe him money for the last few times I went, what an ass, that's all he cares about is money"
I don't respond to his tirade and send him silent daggers of disapproval.
We'll see what happens Monday.....
Day Forty-two: In between
OK, yesterday wasn't too bad. I mean, the prosecutor was asking for a misdemeanor and fines over $2000. So considering, it looks like maybe we'll catch a break.
Anyway, I'm doing the finishing touches on the displays for tomorrow's 90th Anniversary celebration for my Troop, so I'm off.
Anyway, I'm doing the finishing touches on the displays for tomorrow's 90th Anniversary celebration for my Troop, so I'm off.
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