Happenings in 2014

Happenings in 2014

Emma Jo, Gabe & Mischa. Photo by Keith Bates

In July 2014 the BB Riverboats had a cruise up the river to Coney Island. The anual event is called The LaRosa’s Hot and Cold Air Balloon Glow. They served dinner and cruised up to Coney Island, then let everyone off the boat to enjoy the beautiful hot and cold Air Balloons that were being displayed. The little ones enjoyed the rides and fireworks. Then we had a cruise back down the river to Newport to the Port of the Cincinnati Belle. What a glorious time it was. Keith, Jenni and Gabe were here on vacation and we thoroughly enjoyed having them here for the cruise.

We had a few loved ones leave us this year. My children lost their Father to cancer. One of my cousins, 2x removed on my Dad’s side of the family, lost her 16 yr old Grandson. Two months later she lost her son. What a tragic time for her. Life is so precious and you just never know when it is going to be taken away from you. My cousin Marcella, who lives in Harrison Ohio, called me to tell me about it. She is 86 yrs old and still does a lot of things around her home. She always says, “Barb you and I are so much alike. We want something done we do it ourselves.” She has the cutest giggle when she laughs. She has the warmest heart I have ever known. She has two sons. One son lives with her. He now has a few health issues and she is right there taking care of him. Supporting him through it all! Bless her!

We also had a celebration for Emily. Mike popped the question!

Of course she said, “YES!”, so the race began for her to get a dress. That was so great to see her trying on the dresses. Then they’d say, “How do you like this one Grandma?” Well, how can you say you look beautiful when you are choking back tears because she was gorgeous in it? She stood there with little birdcage hat and that dress, all I could do was just look. Wanting to just cry because I loved it on her. She is going to be a beautiful bride. More on this later as the wedding is in late spring 2015!

As I mentioned before, Greg, Sarah and the children came in on Thanksgiving this year. They came over the day after and we had a great visit. Emily was here. Emily and Sarah talked about the wedding and girl things. Greg and I talked technology things. Hahaha! That’s what we do. Since all my family works in theTechnology world what else would you talk about? LOL. Greg calls me his techie Grandma. You know you just have to keep up with the new stuff. Anyway, Sarah decided to have Zillah’s birthday party on the 6^thsince they were in town. That way we could all enjoy it with her. She was turning 4 yrs old. It was so cute, every present she opened she would say, “Oh that is just what I wanted.” She is so cute.

I video chat with Gabe (Gary’s grandson (my great-grand son) who is in Texas, on his birthday. It was so cute. He said, “I am in Richardson.” He was cute. So, I told him I was in Kentucky. He thought a moment and shook his head yes. He knew where I lived. He is getting so big like all the rest of the great-grandchildren. Gabe is full of life. I love seeing him interact with Gary. He is like a little Chameleon when he is around Keith, you can see Keith.

Went to Cross Roads Church Last Night,  12/22/14 to see a Christmas Play. It was Fantastic. Really had a fun time with Mike, he made sure I got to the elevator and was placed in a seat safely. The only thing was he kept poking my arm all evening! Not really, but it was fun. Throughly enjoyed his company. Thank you Mike.

Well, Sonny and I went down to iHop for breakfast Dec 23 2014. When you go to iHop they give you a receipt for you to do a survey online. Then they give you a code to write down. You get a small stack of pancakes for doing the survey, it’s a good thing. Well, the waiter we had is a person with high anxieties. I don’t think he knew which end was up or down. To make this short. By the time we had our food served we had enough food for four people. He had the orders mixed or something. Ended up bringing home a small stack of pancakes and a senior rise and shine breakfast. I think they had eight slices of bacon on two egg orders. He put them down and I said, “No,  . . . that”, and before I could answer he said; “Its Free. Its free.” Now a couple across the way from us was laughing so hard. When they left they said the same thing happened to them. The poor waiter was having a very bad morning. He said, “You could ask for me if you want, the next time you come in.” Now, I don’t know if he wants to wait on us or not. Could be he wants to retrieve some extra money in tips to make up for the mistakes he made. I did leave him a good tip. I gave him the tip with the bill money. Sonny said he was up at the register holding his head trying to figure out why we gave him so much money. We gave him the right change for the bill and the tip with it. After five minutes he came back and said you gave me too much money. I couldn’t figure out why I had so much. So I told him the extra money was his tip. His face was red. The poor guy just was having a bad day. So when he saw how much the tip was he proceeded to tell me we could ask for him the next time. I early felt sorry for the guy. He gave me the receipt and said to be sure to do the survey for another free stack of pancakes. I said I sure will. Thank you and Have a Merry Christmas.

After the holidays and ending of 2014 a New Year begins 2015, hopefully a better year than the last. But the last story was a winner for the year. God bless you all and please have a very Merry Christmas. A blessed New Year!

Love to all!

Barb

Ending 2014 - Barb

2014 – HAPPENINGS

Emma Jo, Gabe & Mischa. Photo by Keith Bates

In July 2014 the BB Riverboats had a cruise up the river to Coney Island. The anual event is called The LaRosa’s Hot and Cold Air Balloon Glow. They served dinner and cruised up to Coney Island, then let everyone off the boat to enjoy the beautiful hot and cold Air Balloons that were being displayed. The little ones enjoyed the rides and fireworks. Then we had a cruise back down the river to Newport to the Port of the Cincinnati Belle. What a glorious time it was. Keith, Jenni and Gabe were here on vacation and we thoroughly enjoyed having them here for the cruise.

We had a few loved ones leave us this year. My children lost their Father to cancer. One of my cousins, 2x removed on my Dad’s side of the family, lost her 16 yr old Grandson. Two months later she lost her son. What a tragic time for her. Life is so precious and you just never know when it is going to be taken away from you. My cousin Marcella, who lives in Harrison Ohio, called me to tell me about it. She is 86 yrs old and still does a lot of things around her home. She always says, “Barb you and I are so much alike. We want something done we do it ourselves.” She has the cutest giggle when she laughs. She has the warmest heart I have ever known. She has two sons. One son lives with her. He now has a few health issues and she is right there taking care of him. Supporting him through it all! Bless her!

We also had a celebration for Emily. Mike popped the question!

Of course she said, “YES!”, so the race began for her to get a dress. That was so great to see her trying on the dresses. Then they’d say, “How do you like this one Grandma?” Well, how can you say you look beautiful when you are choking back tears because she was gorgeous in it? She stood there with little birdcage hat and that dress, all I could do was just look. Wanting to just cry because I loved it on her. She is going to be a beautiful bride. More on this later as the wedding is in late spring 2015!

As I mentioned before, Greg, Sarah and the children came in on Thanksgiving this year. They came over the day after and we had a great visit. Emily was here. Emily and Sarah talked about the wedding and girl things. Greg and I talked technology things. Hahaha! That’s what we do. Since all my family works in theTechnology world what else would you talk about? LOL. Greg calls me his techie Grandma. You know you just have to keep up with the new stuff. Anyway, Sarah decided to have Zillah’s birthday party on the 6^thsince they were in town. That way we could all enjoy it with her. She was turning 4 yrs old. It was so cute, every present she opened she would say, “Oh that is just what I wanted.” She is so cute.

I video chat with Gabe (Gary’s grandson (my great-grand son) who is in Texas, on his birthday. It was so cute. He said, “I am in Richardson.” He was cute. So, I told him I was in Kentucky. He thought a moment and shook his head yes. He knew where I lived. He is getting so big like all the rest of the great-grandchildren. Gabe is full of life. I love seeing him interact with Gary. He is like a little Chameleon when he is around Keith, you can see Keith.

Went to Cross Roads Church Last Night,  12/22/14 to see a Christmas Play. It was Fantastic. Really had a fun time with Mike, he made sure I got to the elevator and was placed in a seat safely. The only thing was he kept poking my arm all evening! Not really, but it was fun. Throughly enjoyed his company. Thank you Mike.

Well, Sonny and I went down to iHop for breakfast Dec 23 2014. When you go to iHop they give you a receipt for you to do a survey online. Then they give you a code to write down. You get a small stack of pancakes for doing the survey, it’s a good thing. Well, the waiter we had is a person with high anxieties. I don’t think he knew which end was up or down. To make this short. By the time we had our food served we had enough food for four people. He had the orders mixed or something. Ended up bringing home a small stack of pancakes and a senior rise and shine breakfast. I think they had eight slices of bacon on two egg orders. He put them down and I said, “No,  . . . that”, and before I could answer he said; “Its Free. Its free.” Now a couple across the way from us was laughing so hard. When they left they said the same thing happened to them. The poor waiter was having a very bad morning. He said, “You could ask for me if you want, the next time you come in.” Now, I don’t know if he wants to wait on us or not. Could be he wants to retrieve some extra money in tips to make up for the mistakes he made. I did leave him a good tip. I gave him the tip with the bill money. Sonny said he was up at the register holding his head trying to figure out why we gave him so much money. We gave him the right change for the bill and the tip with it. After five minutes he came back and said you gave me too much money. I couldn’t figure out why I had so much. So I told him the extra money was his tip. His face was red. The poor guy just was having a bad day. So when he saw how much the tip was he proceeded to tell me we could ask for him the next time. I early felt sorry for the guy. He gave me the receipt and said to be sure to do the survey for another free stack of pancakes. I said I sure will. Thank you and Have a Merry Christmas.

After the holidays and ending of 2014 a New Year begins 2015, hopefully a better year than the last. But the last story was a winner for the year. God bless you all and please have a very Merry Christmas. A blessed New Year!

Love to all!

Barb

Fond Memories

I have been thinking of some of the things I really enjoyed in years past. Thought you might also.

Gatlinburg 2011 – Let’s Try This Again 

After our first trip in 2010 ended in such a sad way, we headed back down to the Smokey’s and enjoyed a nice October in Gatlinburg in 2011. No more high elevation in December like 2010 for me, we stayed at a cabin in the valley close to town. Greg and Sarah came this time and it was so much fun having them. Zillah was a little tot. We had a real good trip that time. Went in the mountains and got a lot of pictures and took some hikes. Of course my knee was in a little pain so I sat and waited on them while the kids did their thing. I think there were 16 of us that went. Was it a lot of fun spending time with the family? Yes, it was!

So, when February 2013 came I decided if the Family wanted to go I would book a Dinner Cruise on the BB Riverboats for Labor Day. They all said, “YES!”. . . 

WEBN Fireworks 2013

In late March, I decided to build some shelves in the basement so I could get to things that had not been unpacked since I moved into this place. Got the shelves built, cartons unpacked and things taken to Goodwill. I felt great. So, I had two large book shelfs I needed to move and when I started to move them I tripped. My head hit the wall (thank the Lord it was drywall, my right shoulder hit the front of the shelving I built and tore my right shoulder beyond repair. I yelled for Sonny to come down and help me to get up, But as always he was on the second floor above me. Couldn’t hear me. He doesn’t hear me when he is sitting right next to me. I had a hard time getting up with one arm. And being as old as I am it was hard to get up. But I did and called Tammy to see if she could take me to the emergency room. Believe me it had to be bad for me to do that. I was in the office where they check you in and I heard Sonny and Tammy talking. Sonny said something to Tammy and her response was, “Yeah she is pretty hard headed.”  Don’t even want to know what he said to get that answer. Anyway the emergency room Doctor referred me to an orthopedic and the results were not good. Had to have a replacement done on it.

The Doctor wanted to do it before Labor Day. No.

Yes, that’s right, I told him,

“No. I have plans for the Fireworks. I have waited five months and it won’t hurt to wait a couple more weeks.”

That’s right. I was going on that Dinner cruise no matter what. We did, and had the best seat in the whole place. It was great. I need to do that again before the inevitable happens. One of the greatest times I had with my loved ones. Just wish they all could have been there. The kids from California and Texas didn’t make it. Everyone had fun. Great parking, Great Food, Great cruise and last but not least . . .

The Fireworks were the greatest I have ever seen!

So, after the Big Bang, I had my surgery. Everything went as it should.  I had therapy and it was good. I can move my arm and lift things, not too heavy. But I can reach in the cupboard and get a cup or plate. No pain! I don’t like the idea that it isn’t my real parts in there, but it works. That is all I care about. So now I am finished with the doctor runs every few months and I go back in a year.

Ok. Back to 2014 

Well, I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Emily came over to help me with the cooking, which I was grateful for. Our family gathering was great. Carol came down after the holiday. Greg and Sarah and the children came the Friday after. It was a great day. Crystal came with Mischa. Eric stayed home with Izzy, she was sick!   Well, until the next time . . .

Love and Hugs to All,

Barb