Random Notes from Maine....and the Return Home

1.  Well, what happens when I go away?  Yeah, bad things.  Hopefully this won't be TOO bad but I'm not pleased that while we were gone my mother developed an open sore on her behind.  Got her into the doctor today----yes I took time off at my first day back at work.  I was going to have Ernie take her but she didn't want Ernie to come in with her because you know....it's on her butt.  Sigh.  I thought we'd all been through enough to be past that but I understood.  So I had Ernie bring her there and I just whipped over for the actual appointment----getting here in and out is the time consuming part.  I don't trust her version of what the doctor says if she is alone.  Besides, Ernie had to get his bloodwork done-----a check up with the oncologist on Wednesday.....  The doctor didn't seem overly concerned---said he thought it would heal in 7-10 days.  Me?  I'm not so optimistic.  We'll see.

2. I figured we had to take the guys to Old Orchard Beach while we were there.  Last year it was the scene of a terrifying meltdown by one and a half of my sons.  It was so bad that I threatened to make them go back the next day and wear sandwich boards saying "I APOLOGIZE FOR MY BEHAVIOR HERE YESTERDAY."  However I knew Ricky would like it so we went.  I had to put it off because Ricky didn't feel good the day we were going to go so it was on our last day.  Leo, who LOVED the bumper cars last year, refused to go on a single ride. Oh well.  He's my sweet pea.  Ricky, Owen and Ernie (Owen's still too short to reach the pedals) all went though.  Then Owen and Ricky went on the Matterhorn.  As they sped off I thought to myself, "oh my God, that's the child that gets carsick."  As he sped past though I saw him give us a thumbs up so I figured he was o.k.  O.K.?  He was more than o.k.....he was in LOVE with the speed.  Ricky said that Owen leaned over and said, "I have GOT to do this more often."  They went three times in a row as it started to pour.  So ended our Old Orchard Beach excursion....

        

I must say however....that Leo was the champ at the game of throwing darts at balloons....he got four ballons with his three darts!  My sweet pea....

3. As Debbie and I stood in the icy ocean waiting to jump with the swells, Owen paddled over to us with just his little round blonde head sticking out of the water and said, "Hi Aunt Debbie," then a long pause and he cheerily said, "sorry, can't hug you now."  There is NOTHING like being in the water with Owen.  I highly recommend it.

4.  We tumbled out of our van as road weary as you can imagine on Saturday evening. Our neighbor Dave was there to hug his son Ricky and then went to his grill and made us dinner because he knew we'd be tired.  Could he be more wonderful?  And by the way....it was marvelous.

5.  Continuing on the return theme.....when I checked out the zinnias in high bloom a hummingbird flitted over and darted in and out of them....

6. I enjoyed watching for little crabs on the beach.  Owen is still a bit scared of them but he was pretty brave this year....unlike when he used to have to wear boots on the beach to protect himself....

7.  We may have permanently damaged Bob the cat.  He is so happy to have us back home that he practically stalks Ernie and the boys.  He sleeps on Ernie's chest and purrs and lays on his back with his paws in the air constantly.  He almost turns himself inside out when we scratch him. It's almost embarrassing....  I feel like we should take him on vacation with us next time....