Sad Time and Happy Time

Mary and the kids and I took a trip out to Colorado to visit her sister. We had a wonderful trip, and really enjoyed Becky and Mitch's kids.

I didn't check my cell phone for the whole trip. I should have. I checked my email upon getting back home on Friday night, and found a message from my Dad, telling me that my grandfather had passed away on Thanksgiving morning.

So, a bit of frantic calling around, and checking plans. The funeral was yesterday, and Mary, Kyle, Tori, Samuel, and Miriam and I went for a road trip. It was a sad time, but we gave my grandfather a good send off. He had lots of people that he worked with show up at the gathering, and I met lots of people who said my grandfather was a wonderful person. It was good to know that so many others thought as highly of him as I did.

My grandmother summed up the problem the best, by saying that she had lost her husband years ago, and was just waiting for his body to fail. My grandfather suffered from Alzheimer's disease. He had no memory anymore, and couldn't remember things for longer than an hour. He could remember your face and your name, but not that you had just been there to see him yesterday.

I knew that he was going, when he had the TV removed from his room, because he couldn't figure out how to change the channel. So he listened to the radio.

What to say of a wonderful man who had some faults as we all do? I'll miss you, PawPaw. I still love you, and will keep your memory alive.

Veterans Day Weekend

Mary and I had a getaway weekend last weekend.

We left on Friday about 11, after her student left, and had a lovely drive down to Appomattox County. We stayed in a lovely B&B by the name of Spring Grove Farm. We stayed in the Library, where a large Murphy bed was installed on one wall. The B&B was amazing, as it took 14 years to restore/build to its current glory. The hosts were wonderful, and very accommodating. Mary and I very much enjoyed our stay.

The reason we were down there, besides getting away from Annapolis for a weekend, was to look at the community, and the area for places to settle down when the kids leave. We enjoyed driving around the county, and seeing all there was to see. The land there is beautiful, but not as striking as the mountains. The hills are often covered with trees, dotted with pastures, and small creeks.

Mary and I had no trouble finding places to eat, as vegetarians. The restaurants there were happy to accommodate to us. I shocked the Chinese American who served us dinner Saturday evening, because we ordered 2 vegetarian dishes, instead of having the heavily meat-laden buffet. When he brought our order, he asked, "You Vegetarian?" When we replied that we were, he went on to tell us that in China, only the Buddhist monks were vegetarian. When I told him that I was Buddhist, his jaw about hit the floor! He couldn't believe it and asked 3 times. I suppose he hadn't met a white American Buddhist before! There is a first time for everything, isn't there! I'm doing my part to keep diversity alive and well in America! Anyway the food was excellent.

We returned home well rested and looking forward to our next trip, Christiansburg on Friday!

Lentils with Wheat Berries

This is a simple dish I came up with about 2 weeks ago, just as something for Mary and I to have when the kids weren't around. But, there were leftovers! And the kids ate them! So, I'm making it again for dinner tonight. I'm steaming up some veggies to have on the side as well. Simple and yummy!

I rode Zippy to work today. The rain had stopped but the roads were a little slick. I managed to stay warm. It wasn't difficult, since it was almost 60 degrees outside. Riding the scooter is so much fun! I really enjoy that silly thing!

I do want to get a motorcycle designation on my permit, so that I can ride some larger machines. I might just want to get a 250 cc cycle next year! Who knows. I love the fact that it is so much more environmentally friendly than the car. And fun to ride. Even when it is cold outside the feeling of the wind is great. I definitely have lost my fear of the thing. I still respect it though.

Looking forward to my birthday getaway tomorrow. Mary and I are sneaking out of town to have some rest and relaxation down in Virginia. More on that next week.

Late Breaking News:
I just got off the phone with my son Kyle. We had a lovely conversation about school, band and such. All was going fine until I asked him if he was still planning to go with us to Christiansburg next Friday. He chose not to go. Instead he is going to a birthday party. I didn't even ask who's birthday party it is, I really don't care. If he is trying to piss me off, he has succeeded. I really was looking forward to seeing him, and taking him down to see his grandparents. Also, it will have been almost 3 months since I've seen him, due to the band thing. I won't get to see him until December, IF THEN! He may choose to not see me then either.
I'm human. I build up hopes and expectations of seeing him, based on his word, saying that he would definitely come on that visit, and now he breaks my heart again. How many times is he going to do that to me? Am I lost to him? Is he lost to me?

Rain

We had lots of rain over the last 2 days. Enough to fill my rain barrels. You see, last weekend, I emptied them, so that I could store them for the winter. I just opened the hoses, and let the water run into the ground. The beautiful thing is, there was no runoff. All the water was absorbed by the soil.

So now I'll have to wait until next week, when the rain has soaked in, and such, then release the water again, and then get the downspouts back in shape. Ah, gardening!

Talk was political today, and there were lots or worried Republicans and jubilant Democrats around. It was a good day for my family, as only a few of us canceled out the other's votes. And those were for lesser races.

Tonight, Mary and I are going to hear Miriam speak at Church. She will be speaking on integrity. We are both very proud of our 13 year-old daughter! It takes a lot of guts to get up in front of an entire congregation and give a talk!

Election Day

Well, I've cast my vote. There wasn't a single simple, vegan candidate, so I had to vote my conscience. I'll just hope that the stupid machines weren't tampered with, and that my vote really is going to come out like I put it in!

On to other things.

Life here is pretty good. Not much going on really. Eating, sleeping, working, repeat.

I'm currently trying to figure out how to build a windscreen that will have little "ears" on it that will keep the wind off my hands as I ride my scooter in the cold.
I've purchased very warm gloves, have snow pants, and wear lots of layers to keep warm. I even have a balaclava to keep my neck warm on those cold November mornings!
So far, it was raining or I had to do some extra driving during the day, so I haven't been able to try out my newest warm gloves, except on a weekend ride. It wasn't too cold then, so I'm really hoping that they will keep me warm.

The Hippo Hands that I bought from Canada did not fit my scooter, but I'm sure work fine on "real" motorcycles.

Oh, and Mom, I have been thinking about you! Love you!