Maureen Agatha's Dash

Shane was very sick Monday but wouldn't go to Er He went to work Tuesday Wednesday after work he was at Frisbie Hospital.  I know I shouldn't but I'll blame Morgan. I left work early Weds to take Shanr and then Jess came over a couple hours later and stayed with him. Acure viral infection my ass. Anyway Jess stayed over here which was nice. I was sleeping when they got home but the dogs  got excited because she had Whisky and Lucy with her. She was gone very early. She came back last night and I ordered Chinese food . I ordered way too much. She came with me it was a nice ride. We get along so well. Shane is meeting her friends this weekend. Now that's serious! Shane gave me $200 today paying me backi still felt guilty for taking it.

I walked Loki to Shady Lane today. It's. 79 miles round trip in 20 minutes. I'm working up to Butternut Farm but I'm not there yet. It's harder to carry 225 pounds around. I'd say I'm doing OK with my diet but not eating enough veggies.

I don't care if you are 2 years old or 50, there's something about wanting your mom when your sick. Yesterday after work Shane came home shaking with fever and chills  He was vomiting. Heart beating fast. Flushed face. I offered to take him to the ER but he didn't want to go. So I did the best I could with hydrating him. Covering him. Tylenol. A bucket to puke in. Cold washcloths. Towels. Paper towels . Tissues. Took his wet boots and socks off. Elevated his feet. Put a series on TV. Charged his phone. Put the lights down. Washed his pukey clothes. Found clean clothes upstairs. Stayed beside him until about 2am.  I would do it again. I wasn't worried about getting sick. I wasn't worried about any thing getting messy. I just wanted him to get better and feel loved.  I'm glad I was here for him.

Friday we went to Thornton Oaks to set up but we couldn't go in beforec1230. Dave and I stopped at Walmart and picked up yellow flowers so we only had an hour or two to wait. We put the flowers in the lobby and then went to visit Conny. Julie and crew not there yet. When Katie got there she showed the slideshow she did for the party. At 1230 I went to do flowers. I made a big bouquet for conny but it kept getting moved from the table. Dave set up the photo booth. The rose one was wrinkled  and the blue was ok but we should get a rolled vinyl or cloth one.

We left a little later than planned but I got to Shane before I left. He's taking care of Loki Dave loaded the car. I didn't think anything else would fit but we picked up Chris Little on the way from Portland Airport. I didn't recognize him until he waved because he was in army camo uniform . He's in ROTC at College I think he said New City? Studying history and wants to also become a firefighter. He's 20 now. He said his birthday is Nov 29. We opted not to stop anywhere to eat or check in and drove straight to Connys. Ruby sat on Chris lap in the car. When we got there Conny and Julie were on the family zoom call. My heart ached for Dave that he wasn't included but he still got to say hi to Aunt Prudy. Aunt prude fell this past week and broke her collar bone and some ribs. julie as a brunette. Last time I saw her she was blonde. I almost didn't recognize her either. I took some photos with the z7 but I'm still having trouble wit

Dave called Conny last night, her last day of the 80s.  It's just a number. She was playing a game with her daughter Julie Little who flew in from Fairfax Va. Today Dave gets out at noon. I got up at 5 to get ready early for work and look for my suitcases upstairs. Yesterday I made a list of things to pack. I'm anxious. For the flowers I'm only going to have an hour to arrange them all and that's not much time. So I have to find a way to perhaps do them early and transport. I will need basket bags for that. And I still wanted to puck up a couple bunches of yellow flowers. For dog, food, leash, poop bags, bowl. For photos both cameras lens, battery, charger, computer bag. Small everyday craft bag with our journal, colleens cross stitch, cards, pens book.glasses.phone charger My overnight bag to include bathroom stuff, hair stuff, black shoes, gym clothes a few outfits.bathing suit. Socks! Dave find small suitcase  Birthday card. Whew. It's going to be fine.

I got my new Lark scale yesterday. Fully clothed in afternoon. My first reading was 228.8. I was mortified. Instant depression. I spent the afternoon drinking water and eating leafy greens. Lark is an ap on my phone and weight loss program provided by my health insurance. I qualified because I am pre-diabetic. I don't know how I let myself gain so much weight I used to be so skinny and in shape! I had to be. As a cop I ran not just everyday but several times a day. Same thing with security. Now I sit on my butt all day. I decided only I can change that. Again. This morning I weighed 225. No clothes. Maybe I should just run around naked.

Dear mom the sparkle in your eyes  The wisdom in your laughter The lesson that love follows us  With memories ever after. You've always been  my compass My supporting, Courageous guide I'm not sure who I would be today.without you by my side. I thank you for  The structure I thank you for The gray I thank you for believing That I would make my way. In This small gift of gratitude I hope you feel the love and joy that you have given us. The gift Dave and I got Conny arrived yesterday. The car is packed with photo booth stuff. Metal Ice bucket.Flowers should arrive today. We invited Conny Julie and Chris out to dinner but had to cancel because Conny has a zoom. (However wanted to make note for Dave and I to try Boones in Portland sometime on the waterfront) I've never been there. I still want to do the book for her and I'm wondering if I just do it for her to set up or for me to set up and ask her the questions and add pictures. I'll have a day to look into it more an

I guessed my weight yesterday at 224. I'm actually 226 per the scale at thr works. I used the sci fi step machine for 2752 steps in half hour. Day 2 at the eorks

I have been trying to meet up with Chelsey Pigeon to give loki back. He's Shays dog. But she doesn't want to meet up with me. She only wants to meet up with Shane. Shane trying to see if chelsey will allow Crysta to bring him. I've also been trying to send puctures to Julie and Katie Dave's sistercand niece. I've dent by email and messenger with no response yet.

I got up like I do everyday. Tossing and turning until the alarm goes off at 5 am. Cat Gizmo laying at my belly Ruby the black lab wiggling to go out and then eat. I turn off the alarm and Gizmo tries to get me up by walking on my nightstand. He nudges my lamp to knock over. He jumps on clean clothes that have been folded and. Knocks them on the floor. Today I ignored the cat and stayed in bed until my second alarm at 530. And extra half hour of snuggling up to Dave. I get up. I find my robe. As I walk away from the bed, Gizmo jumps at the robe and paws at me. Time for him to eat. Same with the dogs. Let them out l I have Loki here. Shays dog. I'm getting used to. Him. He's been here over a month. I think I'm finally giving him back tomorrow. Another story. While dogs are out I fed Andy and Gizmo the cats. Put dishes in drain away. Make coffee. Start packing Dave's lunch. So far that just means packing up some apple crisp and finding a pack of crackers.  Taking a bath.

No celebration this year. It made me sad. I went through and posted a few old photos on Facebook. it used to be a big celebration. Mon made it. Starting with pennies in the shoes. Special treats. Wearing of the green. Irish coffee. Potato candy. Green  mashed potatoes. Corned beef. Irish jig. Family gatherings.  This was a day of remembering all those things. Only Shane reached out in text and went to Jess after work. Charlie reached out thinking of me. Got a text picture from Colleen. That's it.

I went in to pay my dues of $69 00 and get a new key tag. If Save or any adult wants to come with me it's $17. I ended up going on the treadmill for 39mins 48 seconds for 1.25 miles. No record breaking time here but I was really just trying to stay on treadmill for 30 mins. My back started to hurt but I did it. My heart rate went to 150 on a speed of 2.5 so that tells you how out of shape I am. Honestly I'm proud of myself and just happy to be here.

Last night we went on a date and took some sunset pictures. I was getting frustrated because I was having trouble finding the right settings but I think I got a few good ones and not on auto settings. We went to portsmouth the bridge to Pierce Island. We tried to go to Warren's but they were closing. We took a drive down town Portsmouth and took some photos of the church then off to LA Corona. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures today. Dave says Julie or Katie sent me a note to send pictures for Connie's slide show but I didn't get it. This morning I signed up with Lark a pre diabetes virtual health coach through Anthem and CORE. They are sending me a free scale. I'll have to remember to donate thev2 scales I have that I don't use.  I had to estimate my weight. Will send actual when I get the scale in a week or so. I will probably go to Kohls tonight to get Connys gift that Dave and I decided on.starts with an A

Oh it's only Thursday. Grateful I have one more say than I though I had. Now that's a different attitude, isn't it?

Last night during snowstorm Dave and I played scrabble on his moms old board. He says he doesn't enjoy it anymore because he never wins.  TODAy we woke up to 18 to 24 inches of snow. Dave got up early to snow blow and I made cream of wheat. He threw a snowball at me when I went out in my bathrobe. That was pretty playful of him. 

The profound lack of acknowledgement of a neice or nephew. An Aunt or Uncle. Researching genealogy when all that is recorded are direct lineage relatives. Child  Parent. Grandparent. Grandchild. Brothers sisters.  My heart breaks as I age. Remembering with great love my Aunt Kathy. Who made my wedding dress. Who I tagged along with to Sally's and spent Many weekends with. My Uncle Ade who taught me about landscaping and hard work. Who was my friend in my teenage years of growing into a world full of negotiations. My Aunt Kay who never forgot a birthday from the time I was born. My Aunt Margie who let me come and stay with her and who's sons came and stayed with me. My Aunt Jackie who used to sent me gifts from her travels and write to me her songs and poems. Uncle Ken who took me driving around in his rig. My Aunt Shirley's who aren't really my Aunts but mom said they were my Aunts and they acted like them and were always there or I n contact. Why are nieces and nephews

Yesterday I got a text from Crysta 'HEY mom do you still have a typewriter?" I explained to her I had two. One from a garage sale in the garage. I thought one from mom in art room.  I went out to garage and found the one from garage sale. I took it out of case. I started to type with it and realized the letters were not English. I took a picture with my phone and shared it, asking what language it was. Then I sent to Michael.  Michael is this Russian? I asked him because he took Russian in college. He said it was Russian and his notebook should be around the house somewhere. I responded you never know I might need it if the situation with Russia goes to shit. Back to Crysta. Told her I'd check the one upstairs. I brought it down to the kitchen table and noticed a small sale tag on the handle. Then I remembered I bought it at 4 Corner Antiques. I opened the case and tried it. Still works. I typed a note to Crysta but signed it May 13 2023. Instead of March. That tells you w

I CHECKED IN ON shane and Faith. Jess said no more injuries for Shane and Faith said Donny dyed her hair red.

After Dave and I went to the store we decided to go back out for photography. We called our friend Rick Carrico to see if he'd like to join us. It seemed like what he really wanted to do was go shooting. He owns several guns some of them never used. We went to his house. Dave said we needed to go to Target to get me a new skillet. My Cephalon was damaged. Rick agreed to go. On the way we stopped to see Rick's mom at Riverside Nursing home. Stopped for cherry dip ice cream at Dairy Queen an d then Target. Target did not have my beloved Cephalon so I got a ceremac coated Farberware with a lid instead. We were going to go to the nature conservatory or the beach. We decided on the beach and I'm so happy we did! The waves were the prettiest I had ever seen in Rye so I asked if we could go look for surfers. We found packs of them at the wall.  Dave asked what camera I wanted. I let him use the tripod and asked him to put the Tameron on it.  He got some fabulous shots which I'

While driving from Adam's point onto Bay Rd in the direction of Newmarket we drove past some vines. I'm looking forward to spring so I can go check them out. Make sure not poison ivy and cut some for baskets.

This seems like an odd post for me. I've been taking photographs my whole life. I've even eexhibited and sold my work.  But equipment changes. Files are lost. Website gone. Logo expired. The camera was upgraded. I say THE camera and not MY camera because Dave has decided to join me in my photographic life. I will have to admit that my eyes were open in the class.it brought me back to my photography class as a senior at Wheeling Park High. I knew about the concepts of aperture shutter speed and ISO but did not know how to manage them on my Nikons. I've been successful with auto mode. I have great composition skills. Yet I felt a novice and inadequate after the class in a wild life real world setting.  It's going to take time and patience and practice. It's going to take experimentation. It's going to be challenging for me because I don't want to miss a shot. After the class it was all jumbled in my head. I let Dave put the tripod on the 5300 because he was in

Today Dave and I are taking an intro to photography at Hunts with new camera Nikon 7Ii