I had a wonderful Thanksgiving break with an additional two free days this week due to scheduling issues. It was great!! Yesterday I headed back out, but only for a day. I'm in Kalamaz00 and it is very cold. The last reading I saw was 24 degrees. This morning I was auditing charts in a day room with windows all around and it was snowing quite prettily. It didn't accumulate, though, and by afternoon the sun was out, even though it stayed quite cold. I'm due here again in January. Wonder what that weather will be like? I believe the Arizona gig was better for the winter months.
Travel has been rather uneventful lately...since the summer rain storms abated and I learned to carry my luggage on. It takes a different mind set and method of packing to carry on. What ever glitches the winter storms will bring at least I will have my stuff.
I'm headed home this evening. My route is through Chicago O'Hare so I hope the connections work. When I stopped to fill the car up before returning it took 2 1/2 gallons of gasoline. Remember, I arrived here last night around 7 PM and drove about 40 total miles (10 of which was because I missed an exit.) Seems like the previous renter did not return the vehicle with a full tank. Interesting what little issues can irritate a person.
Next week I'm headed to Florida.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Learning Lambert Airport in St. Louis
It's been a long week of travel. I started in St. Louis and then went to Milwaukee. I wanted to fly from Kansas City to St. Louis, then on to Milwaukee and back to Kansas City. The price tag was a little high..around $800. If I drove to St. Louis and took a round trip flight from there, it was only around $300. That's what I did. But I was worried about finding the long term parking in St. Louis and how long it would take to get from the nursing home to the airport, so I went early on Monday. I drove to the nursing home, and then went to the airport to check out the route and time. Monday was rainy in St. Louis at 4:30 and I couldn't believe how DARK it was. But I got it figured out. Timing and exits and found the parking lot. I left the facility about 3:45 on Tuesday evening and made it with time to spare at the airport to catch my 5:40 flight to Milwaukee.
I have learned to crochet in airports and on airplanes. I discovered that you could actually take crochet hooks and little scissors through security last winter when I took a crochet class and our instructor said she always crocheted on flights. I just never had tried because it seemed complicated to keep the yarn sorted out and manage to contain the product being crocheted. Anyway, it was the only time it set aside to read. Last week I forgot my book and decided to crochet on the way to Garden City. I worked okay and as I have a lot of crafts scheduled for completion before Christmas, was a very good use of time. I had crochet time at the St. Louis airport. I arrived safely in Milwaukee with several little granny squares competed!!
The problem was finding the hotel. I had been here before and thought I would be able to drive right to the hotel. That was not the case. After driving down wrong streets for a while, I went back to the airport and started over with better results. Why does it get dark so early?
I have learned to crochet in airports and on airplanes. I discovered that you could actually take crochet hooks and little scissors through security last winter when I took a crochet class and our instructor said she always crocheted on flights. I just never had tried because it seemed complicated to keep the yarn sorted out and manage to contain the product being crocheted. Anyway, it was the only time it set aside to read. Last week I forgot my book and decided to crochet on the way to Garden City. I worked okay and as I have a lot of crafts scheduled for completion before Christmas, was a very good use of time. I had crochet time at the St. Louis airport. I arrived safely in Milwaukee with several little granny squares competed!!
The problem was finding the hotel. I had been here before and thought I would be able to drive right to the hotel. That was not the case. After driving down wrong streets for a while, I went back to the airport and started over with better results. Why does it get dark so early?
Monday, November 12, 2007
Eulogy
This week-end Hillary and I were headed to Branson and Silver Dollar City, while Brooks was hunting in Northeast Missouri. She picked me up about 9:30 on Saturday morning. I had Maggie packed and ready to go and had even taken a little walk up the block with her while waiting on Hillary. We had just been in the car about 15 minutes when I heard Maggie gagging. Hillary said, "Is she throwing up in my car?" I turned around and tried to see what she was doing. She was in her bed in the backseat next to Mira. She was retching, but not vomiting, only clear saliva stuff was visible on the edge of her bed. I though she would settle down, but she just kept gagging. By this time we were in the Grandview Triangle and the traffic was backed up because of a one lane issue. I told Hillary that as soon as we got through the traffic to find an exit so I could see what was wrong. We pulled off at Belton and as soon as I set her down in the parking lot I knew we were it big trouble. Her stomach was huge and lopsided. She pottied, then just walked around randomly, but didn't seem to be in pain, and never did thrown up.
What to do? Do we go on and see if she gets better? I considered that, but ultimately told Hillary we had better head back to the vet. It was 11 AM on a Saturday morning and the vet closes at noon. I called the one where she usually boarded. Their vet was leaving and we were still 30 minutes away. I called a different one where she also had boarded on occasion and they agreed to wait until we could get there.....and she continued to gag in her bed. The outcome was that her stomach had 'turned'. That is not uncommon in older dogs, but it usually happens in larger breeds. An x-ray confirmed it and the only solution is surgery. Maggie was nearly 16, didn't' see well and hearing was going. Over the past six months her weight had dropped from 12 pounds to 9. It was time to tell her good-bye. Then, Hillary and I took her to King City to my sisters animal cemetary and buried her in her bed.
We didn't make it to Branson, (but drove over 200 miles anyway). I'm just so thankful that it worked out the way it did. She was with me instead of at the kennel or with the wonderful lady who had been dog sitting for her. Having Hillary with me was a blessing and we had plenty of time to take care of her the right way. She was a wonderful little dog. I think about the years we lived on Gene Field and she spent all day chasing squirrels in the back yard. She ran from tree to tree to the point that she wore little trails in the grass. I remember her walking Randy on Ashland. She was the poster child for the good effects of exercise. She never got fat, as many dachshunds do, and until the last few months, still liked to go for walks, even in only a couple of blocks.
So farewell, Maggie. You were one of a kind.
What to do? Do we go on and see if she gets better? I considered that, but ultimately told Hillary we had better head back to the vet. It was 11 AM on a Saturday morning and the vet closes at noon. I called the one where she usually boarded. Their vet was leaving and we were still 30 minutes away. I called a different one where she also had boarded on occasion and they agreed to wait until we could get there.....and she continued to gag in her bed. The outcome was that her stomach had 'turned'. That is not uncommon in older dogs, but it usually happens in larger breeds. An x-ray confirmed it and the only solution is surgery. Maggie was nearly 16, didn't' see well and hearing was going. Over the past six months her weight had dropped from 12 pounds to 9. It was time to tell her good-bye. Then, Hillary and I took her to King City to my sisters animal cemetary and buried her in her bed.
We didn't make it to Branson, (but drove over 200 miles anyway). I'm just so thankful that it worked out the way it did. She was with me instead of at the kennel or with the wonderful lady who had been dog sitting for her. Having Hillary with me was a blessing and we had plenty of time to take care of her the right way. She was a wonderful little dog. I think about the years we lived on Gene Field and she spent all day chasing squirrels in the back yard. She ran from tree to tree to the point that she wore little trails in the grass. I remember her walking Randy on Ashland. She was the poster child for the good effects of exercise. She never got fat, as many dachshunds do, and until the last few months, still liked to go for walks, even in only a couple of blocks.
So farewell, Maggie. You were one of a kind.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Voyeur
Monday I headed to the airport to rent a car. In order to rent a car from National, I have to park in economy parking, ride the shuttle to the terminal and take the rent-a-car shuttle to the car rental place. So..I am sitting in the little hut at A-4 awaiting the shuttle....it was cold and windy. From my seat I could see directly into the hut at A-3 and a man hustled up to it with his roller bag in quite a hurry. He stood there a few minutes, they sprinted back to from whence he came, but left his suitcase sitting at the hut. A few minutes later he reappeared, stood there a few minutes, then started walking toward my hut, through the rows of cars. About two rows in, he stopped between two cars. I was quite intriqued at this point, trying to figure out what he was upt to. He look into the cars and all around and I decided he was a felon, either looking for a car to steal, or something to steal from inside one of the parked cars. Then he stopped and stood up and just stood there. . . . ...... and I realized he was empyting his bladder. After a few moments, he again moved his arms (zipping I presume) and sauntered back to his awaiting bag at the shuttle hut. I watched him pee!!!
Then I watched him catch the shuttle at A-3. A-4 was next and I could hardly wait to see him up close. What a let down. I had him pictured as a hot young stud. He was an elderly fellow...even older than me. He must have BPH. I smiled at him. I wonder if he realized I watched.
Then I watched him catch the shuttle at A-3. A-4 was next and I could hardly wait to see him up close. What a let down. I had him pictured as a hot young stud. He was an elderly fellow...even older than me. He must have BPH. I smiled at him. I wonder if he realized I watched.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Good Bye, South Dakota
I made what is probably my last routine trip to South Dakota last week. It was a smooth week, every flight left on time and every connection was made without a problem. I am a little sad that I won't be going there routinely as I really like the area. I think if I had to relocate, I would choose that part of the country. It's very pretty and not too populated. I actually even like the touristy part of the area. That's probably a carry over from living in Kimberling City.
I stayed in Deadwood this trip because the Hampton Inn there has the best beds and it was off season for tourists, so the room rate was cheap! Two days of the trip were in Spearfish. The first day at noon, I visited the 'historic fish hatchery'. It was a beautiful fall day with the leaves turning every possible color. The only fish hatchery I am familiar with is the one at Tablerock Lake. This was a OLD fish hatchery and really pretty. It had creeks and old rustic buildings and a big pond around an old building. You could go downstairs and look through glass to see all the great big trout swimming around. I didn't do that because some school children were there for the afternoon and they had squatting rights to the window. The hatchery runs were empty...not a baby trout in sight. I guess the end of October is not the time to be rasising baby trout. The trivia for the day.....Trout are not native to South Dakota. Even though the streams and rivers are the right temperature and the evnironment good, trout were not found there until people began to stock them into the rivers.
The second day in Spearfish I presented an inservice at 6:30 AM and when I was done with that went to eat breakfast. The Director of Nursing recommended a cute little tea house called Two Pines. It was picturesque and had wonderful tea. I read the paper while I ate my scone and discovered the Passion Play of South Dakota is on the real estate market. The editorial I read was hoping that whomever bought it would continue to use it as an open door theatre rather that turning it in to condos. Well, I didn't realize that Spearfish was the home of the South Dakota Passion Play. I always knew the first Passion Play was in South Dakota, but since I started going there last spring, never gave it a thought. I have been to the Passion Play in Eureka Springs and that is a DESTINATION. I hadn't seen one billboard or sign anywhere about the Passioon Play in Spearfish. I asked the staff at the nursing home and they told me how to get there, so that was where I headed at noon. It is right there on one edge of the town and rather sad. I turned down the street where I finally found a sign with an arrow pointing the way and figured I had at least a couple of mile drive, but no..it's right there and rather small. There is just one building (in need of paint) and a large privacy fence so I couldn't see inside. Two cars were in the parking lot and that was it!! According to the staff, the play was presented this summer, but it isn't what it was at one time. The family who started it have all aged and/or died and the current generation has moved away and isn't interested in continuing the tradition. According to the article in the paper, only the property is for sale and not the play. I don't understand what that means, but overall..I think it means the Passion Play of South Dakota is done. How sad.
I stayed in Deadwood this trip because the Hampton Inn there has the best beds and it was off season for tourists, so the room rate was cheap! Two days of the trip were in Spearfish. The first day at noon, I visited the 'historic fish hatchery'. It was a beautiful fall day with the leaves turning every possible color. The only fish hatchery I am familiar with is the one at Tablerock Lake. This was a OLD fish hatchery and really pretty. It had creeks and old rustic buildings and a big pond around an old building. You could go downstairs and look through glass to see all the great big trout swimming around. I didn't do that because some school children were there for the afternoon and they had squatting rights to the window. The hatchery runs were empty...not a baby trout in sight. I guess the end of October is not the time to be rasising baby trout. The trivia for the day.....Trout are not native to South Dakota. Even though the streams and rivers are the right temperature and the evnironment good, trout were not found there until people began to stock them into the rivers.
The second day in Spearfish I presented an inservice at 6:30 AM and when I was done with that went to eat breakfast. The Director of Nursing recommended a cute little tea house called Two Pines. It was picturesque and had wonderful tea. I read the paper while I ate my scone and discovered the Passion Play of South Dakota is on the real estate market. The editorial I read was hoping that whomever bought it would continue to use it as an open door theatre rather that turning it in to condos. Well, I didn't realize that Spearfish was the home of the South Dakota Passion Play. I always knew the first Passion Play was in South Dakota, but since I started going there last spring, never gave it a thought. I have been to the Passion Play in Eureka Springs and that is a DESTINATION. I hadn't seen one billboard or sign anywhere about the Passioon Play in Spearfish. I asked the staff at the nursing home and they told me how to get there, so that was where I headed at noon. It is right there on one edge of the town and rather sad. I turned down the street where I finally found a sign with an arrow pointing the way and figured I had at least a couple of mile drive, but no..it's right there and rather small. There is just one building (in need of paint) and a large privacy fence so I couldn't see inside. Two cars were in the parking lot and that was it!! According to the staff, the play was presented this summer, but it isn't what it was at one time. The family who started it have all aged and/or died and the current generation has moved away and isn't interested in continuing the tradition. According to the article in the paper, only the property is for sale and not the play. I don't understand what that means, but overall..I think it means the Passion Play of South Dakota is done. How sad.
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