Shortbread and a Swiss Kiss

Another sweet heart is the Day 18 shortbread! I’m also doing the 10 days, 10 photos that bring me joy meme. Today I posted this photo: The meme says you must post without explanation, so I shall explain this photo here! In 2001, I went to Zurich, Switzerland to attend a meeting of technical communication folks. After the meeting, Joe and I explored the city. As we walked along, I glanced up and saw this... Read more →


I Miss the Beach

We did not go to Ocean City this year. We didn't want to risk it - we knew people would not be diligent about masking and social distancing. I miss it. My first memory is of turning down the long driveway to the oceanfront cottage we rented on 48th Steet. I think I was four or thereabouts. My parents rented the bottom floor of a larger house; the owners lived upstairs. At this point, Ocean... Read more →


In the Beginning

Today is our Ruby wedding anniversary - 40 whole years! How did we get here? Well, our first date was in August, 1979, at a pizza joint on Capitol Hill in DC. More dates followed quickly. Early in the fall, I invited Joe to accompany me on a canoe trip down the Mullica River in New Jersey. This event was hosted by one of the programmers where I worked; many of my fellow employees attended.... Read more →


September Came and Went

So, September is pretty much gone. It was a good month. Here are 10 things about it. We started off the month with a trip to Ocean City! It's been over a year since we spent more than a weekend at the beach - this year we managed most of a week. We ate, we lazed about, we went to the beach. I stuck my feet in the ocean, but didn't go swimming or lie... Read more →


SOS

I drove down to the beach Saturday - the first time I've driven that far alone in years, and the first time I've taken Rinaldo on a long drive. I confess that I was a little nervous, but I reminded myself that I used to drive long distances alone all the damn time and I would be fine. Besides, unlike in my circus days, I had a phone. I'd be able to summon help with... Read more →


Ten Things That Happened in April

It's been quite an eventful month and I am grateful for nothing much to do. Here are ten things of note that happened in April. In early April, Joe and I traveled to Savannah, Georgia to attend an old friend's wedding. The groom is one of Joe's oldest friends, part of a quartet of guys who hung out together during their high school years. We had a very very nice time! The wedding itself was... Read more →


Ready to Go

All the Christmas chores are done! After Joe went off to work yesterday afternoon, I sat myself down with wrapping paper, scissors, tape, and Sharpie for the annual wrappening. I must say, it's a lot less onerous when there are only four folks to wrap for. And only two of those four get multiple presents! It wasn't awfully cold this morning, so I walked outside for the first time in quite a while. It was...... Read more →


A Dual Celebration

The day after I finished chemotherapy, we threw some stuff in a bag, dropped the cats at the vet, and jumped onto the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Our destination? The Omni Bedford Springs Resort, where we spent our 35th wedding anniversary. This year is our 38th, so we decided to celebrate the end of chemo and our anniversary with a big old splurge. So we went back to Bedford Springs. Our room was in the historic wing,... Read more →


Our Chicago Problem

Well, it wasn't exactly our Chicago problem, as in Joe and Mary's Chicago Problem. No, it was really American Airlines' Chicago Problem, and they solved it quite nicely. We were on our way home from Weetacon (more on that lovely weekend later) and connecting to our flight to Philly. We had a rather tight connection at O'Scare O'Hare and had to make the trek from Concourse L to Concourse H quickly - not quite a... Read more →


So I Went On Vacation...

I've been off work for the last week; I go back to work tomorrow. Bah. Anyway, we went down to Ocean City last Sunday for the week. Of course, it was wonderful, even though I only went down to the actual beach twice. And even then, I only went down to take short walks along the water. I didn't really swim or sunbathe. But you know what? It was fine. The weather was really hot... Read more →