the adventures of Cheese

Cheese, my daughter’s Lil’ Kinz, accompanied me on my recent trip to Albuquerque. He was a good traveling companion (for the most part) and as promised, he provided distraction at just the right moments, and reminded me of home.

This was Cheese’s first time in an airplane, and he was so excited! He kept looking out the window, watching the ground crew, until the flight attendant told him he had to get buckled up. Twenty minutes into the flight he already had to go to the bathroom… I took him in, but I wouldn’t let him touch anything since he doesn’t have hands to wash. I didn’t think to take a picture of that, but it’s probably illegal to post those kinds of pictures anyway.

Our first stop was the hospital, to see how my uncle was doing. I let Cheese pose for this picture, but then made him stay in my tote bag so he didn’t pick up all those icky hospital germs. (again, no hands) We visited there a few times until my uncle got transferred back to the nursing home.

I let Cheese drive a bit, but just around the nursing home parking lot, and I had to work the pedals for him. He almost ran over a bird and I got upset, but he gave me his “sad eyes” and I forgave him. No more driving, though.

The NH van driver and I took Uncle Jim to get some new glasses. While we were waiting (and waiting and waiting… a really long wait considering the place was named Eyeglass Express), Cheese tried on several pairs of glasses; he really liked this red pair the best.

Cheese had salsa for the first time and loved it! He ate Mexican food a few times while we were there and (despite the fact that it tends to make him a little gassy) he’s well on his way to becoming a true aficionado.

My uncle wanted Sonic a lot. I bet Cheese and I went through this particular Sonic drive-thru at least a dozen times… surely the employees thought I was the crazy platypus lady who had an unquenchable thirst for strawberry limeades. On this particular occasion, I let Cheese do the ordering and we wound up with cherry-grape slushes instead.

While I never could get Cheese to actually pay for a meal, I was able to talk him into leaving the tip once.

As we buckled up for the ride home, he thanked me for bringing him along and made me promise not to show all of the pictures I had taken of him. Some things are better shared by just two friends, he said.

 

I should’ve been a bird

I love to fly. Love it. I purposely choose flights with connections just so I can do the takeoff and landing thing twice each way. When I was a kid I used to wish I was a bird although a bit of therapy sorted that out (kidding), and I settled for flying in airplanes. The best are the personal planes (i.e. Piper Cub) which are not much bigger than a mini van but since I generally have to fly commercially, it’s a treat when I catch a flight on a 50-seat Embraer:

This cloud shot was taken on the second leg of my trip into Abq. (the smaller planes don’t fly above cloud level) and it looks a little darker than it really was. But goodness, couldn’t you just step outside and walk across that landscape of clouds? I’m looking forward to the time when I’m in Heaven (assuming that’s where I’ll wind up) and I can look down on this forever. Just amazing beauty.

I also love the texture of the New Mexico mountain ranges as seen the air, and the way that Albuquerque appears so suddenly, just on the West side of the Sandias and Monzanos:

Unfortunately my view on the flight out of Abq. was not so good, so I buried my nose in a book. It was a bummer to be stuck next to an engine while many of the people with a clear view didn’t even pause to appreciate the scenery. What’s wrong with people that they don’t admire their surroundings?

“When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.” — Leonardo da Vinci

 

great news on both fronts

I just got the call from home that Katie has returned and she is fine! (DH said she was eating a BIG breakfast) She must have been in the house, but where ?! Five of us searched the house from top to bottom at least 3 times… cats! The worst part was imagining all the awful things that could happen to her outside; I’m SO relieved that she is back!

My uncle is on the mend as well, and has been given the OK to transfer back to the nursing home! I’ll be spending the majority of my time over there, but with the danger passing (and the stress greatly relieved) I feel as though I can enjoy my surroundings a bit more. It’s so pretty here; when the sun rises over the mountains, I feel like God is saying “good morning” to me :)

Thank You for all of your prayers, caring comments, and emails!

**Wednesday’s needlework show doorprize winner is Karla from NY**

 

The Beach Club

First (and most importantly) my mother is doing quite well! She had to have surgery and get this: the hospital she was taken to specialized in that type of surgery in general, and the TOP guy in the country for her particular problem was based there! She couldn’t have gotten better care anywhere else. She didn’t even miss her *entire* vacation… the last three days she was able to hop on her wheelchair and zoom around the parks with us.

We stayed at the Beach Club Resort, which is just lovely, and the staff couldn’t have been more helpful. From leaving surprise treats in our room to giving me park tickets so I could take my daughter around while Grandma was in the hospital, they were really the best. If you ever have to have a medical emergency, this is the place to do it.

As an added bonus, I met up with my friend Jodi (of Designs by Jodi Evans fame) for some poolside stitching while my daughter played in the pool. I was so fortunate to have a good friend nearby to provide me with a shoulder to cry on! The picture below the one of Jodi is of just a portion of the pool… it’s a huge 3-acre pool with a lazy river, water slides, sandy pools, etc.

One of the things my daughter likes best about The Beach Club is the Shipwreck pool. The ship itself sticks out over the lake and houses a mini-waterslide for the younger kids and a normal-sized swimming pool. The seagulls swoop around there, too!

I’m an early riser, so in the mornings I’d get up and go downstairs for my coffee and sit out on the porch. I love quiet time in the mornings, when the birds are chirping around and the sun is just getting its foot in the door for the day… it’s a peaceful, all is right with the world feeling. I didn’t take a picture from the porch rocking chair area but here’s the view from our balcony, which is the same courtyard that I enjoyed down below:

Coming home was a bit of a shock… in the afternoon I was sweating in the beautiful tropical atmosphere of the Animal Kingdom, and at 10pm I was trying not to slip on the ice as I waited outside the St. Louis airport. Since we’ve been home, I’ve been trying to catch up on the things that I had planned to do while they were away. I made out most of my Christmas cards and mailed them, put up our tree, etc. Never mind the usual laundry, dishes, sorting mail, and other routine junk that always makes me want to take a vacation after my vacation. I’m afraid to look at my Google Reader… I’m guessing I have about a bazillion posts to catch up on. But I’m glad to be home, and very glad that all is well again in my little world.

 

she’s ok!

I’m here in the hospital in Florida, and my mom is doing fine!  I’m sure she doesn’t want me to post any details, but I did want to let everyone know that she is getting good care.  Thanks so much for all of your prayers and well-wishes. I should be home next week.

 

going away again

Last night my mom had a heart attack (maybe? they aren’t sure yet) … she’s in the hospital and I’m headed to Orlando. If you can spare a prayer, I’d appreciate it.

 

and now a few NM pics

This blog is turning into a bit of a travelogue, isn’t it? I still have not had a chance to unpack my Branson camp stuff, but here are a few pics of Old Town Albuquerque, NM. I love Old Town and every time I go out there I like to spend an afternoon strolling around. (When I lived there, I’d go about twice a month.) The first picture is of a general view of Old Town, followed by pics of my 2 favorite shops: Hispaniae and New Mexico Bead & Fetish.