tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78990672861392411922024-03-05T04:38:55.843-05:00Tree-Ring CircusCity folk adventures on a piece of country paradise in Northern Florida - and anything else I want to write about.Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-76373924483806789422018-11-03T10:54:00.000-04:002018-11-03T10:54:24.396-04:00Getting Through the 8 Stages of What the Fuck<br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This article is for anyone who is unexpectedly experiencing
a temporary or permanent life-altering event.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is written for the person that has been directly affected, their
family members, or even their employer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The only qualification for the applicability of <i>The 8 Stages of What
the Fuck</i> is that life will never be the same after the event happens. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully this article will generally describe
your feelings and assure you that they are perfectly normal. By understanding
the stages, you can observe yourself and wait it out while you get used to your
new normal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I’ll get the background over with as quickly as possible, so
that you understand I am imminently qualified to write about this topic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Last year in 2017, my younger brother died of a massive
heart attack, my 25-year-old daughter came down with neuro-Lyme, and then Irma
hit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few months later - a week before
Christmas - the doctor said my 7-year old knee replacements were infected, and to
march right over to the ER because they were both coming out tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This resulted in 6 months off of work in a
wheelchair while the infection was treated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Over that span of time my daughter went into remission, I
got two more new knees, and was able to get back to work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By June, even though my job didn’t wait for
me, my employer was able to find me a new position, I started walking every
day, and life started returning to normal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But The Universe wasn’t finished with me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For about ten years now, every October our neighborhood has
a Haunted Hike as a fund raiser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About
ten homes host a skit or a band, and about 3,000 people pay $7 to go on the
Haunted Hike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is great family fun,
and our daughter - who had begun feeling better - was in one of the skits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took our grand dog, Bear, for a walk to
watch her skit, which involved a lot of screaming, bloody faces, and scary
music.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the crowd moved off, we
approached. I could feel Bear tense, and I tightened my grip on the leash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly she bolted behind me at top speed,
and I was swept off of my feet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My body
slammed into the sidewalk on my right hip and rib. I immediately felt
excruciating pain and started to cuss.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After all my surgeries, I have enough opiates to put a small
down payment on a house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I took a
Tramadol, and sucked it up for a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
ribs hurt more than my hip, which felt bruised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I felt like I’d been in a car wreck. By the next afternoon, I still
couldn’t walk without significant pain, so we went to Urgent Care to have the
hip x-rayed just in case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The doctor was
all like “yes, I’m sure this is just precautionary”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She came back 5 minutes later with that look
you never want to see on a doctor’s face and said “don’t move – you need to go
to the ER because your hip is fractured”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Long story short, I had a fifth surgery in a year and got 3
pins in my hip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am back in a
wheelchair and can’t put weight on that side for 6 weeks minimum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am back on short term disability and
contemplating, yet again, what The Universe is trying to tell me.</span></div>
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<h2>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The 8 Stages of What the Fuck</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The concept for the 8 stages began forming
during the first set of surgeries last year, but really kicked in a few months
ago when I learned within the span of a few weeks that my daughter had
relapsed, followed by news that someone dear to me had recurrent breast
cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was cemented with the Haunted
hip incident.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There is a wonderful book by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross called <i>The
5 Stages of Grief</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her seminal work
identifies 5 stages that are commonly experienced when we lose a loved one:
Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I went through various emotions, I kept
being reminded of her stages, but also that what I felt was slightly different.
In my case no one died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, the life as
I knew it has been lost forever, but there seemed more to it than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After some analysis, I’ve identified <i>The 8 Stages of What
the Fuck</i> which applies when your life changes unalterably in an unexpected
fashion:</span></div>
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<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Disbelief - You’ve got to be fucking kidding me</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Anger - This is total bullshit</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Desperation - I don’t have time for this shit</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hopelessness - I can’t believe this is happening to me</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Fear - What is going to happen now?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Mourning - My life will never be the same</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Resignation - Fine, whatever</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hopefulness - I’m going to get through this</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While these stages can be experienced in any order, they
usually start with Disbelief. You will
likely cycle through all of them quickly at first - sometimes all of them in
the span of a minute. You may spend an
entire day or a week on one stage.
Suffice it to say, this is all normal. While I don’t believe you can
skip any of these stages, the goal is to get bored with them all, and end up
spending most of your time in Hopefulness.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This article was initially going to detail each of these
stages, but it made me sad to think about them and I kept getting distracted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realized I was more interested in writing
about countermeasures for <i>The 8 Stages of What the Fuck</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What to do When the 8 Stages Apply to You</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This section gives you some countermeasures you can try to help get through the stages and move towards to Hopefulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They aren’t in any particular order, and some may seem repetitive. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do as Much for Yourself as You Can</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When I was in rehab (I’ll never get tired of saying that), I
observed the frustration of people needing help and the overworked staff not
able to assist them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In particular,
waiting for someone to help you go to the bathroom is just about the purest
Hell on Earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I vowed that I would
quickly figure out how to do this myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Besides, I didn’t want anyone to see my womanly parts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I practiced and practiced until I could get
to the bathroom without using my feet, and was really proud of something most
people take for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Look at your situation and identify something that is hard,
but not impossible, to do for yourself and then try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might be going to the bathroom, brushing
your teeth, bathing, cleaning, or doing your laundry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doing as much for yourself as you can will
help you feel more in control and less of a victim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And caregivers, we know you can do things for
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us attempt to do them
imperfectly and feel a small sense of victory by doing them ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span class="Heading2Char">Find Things to Be Thankful For</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Back in January after both my knees were removed, I woke up
one morning feeling sorry for myself thinking “this can’t get any worse”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">During rehab that day, there was an eighty-five-year-old
woman lying next to me on the exercise table who just had her right leg
amputated above the knee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She kept
crying “what am I going to do now”?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
had no idea what to say to her, and couldn’t imagine being in her shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In that minute my whole perspective changed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I was reminded about being thankful again today. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Prior to the Haunted Hips incident, we listed the wheelchair
and other things we didn’t think we’d need on craigslist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We forgot we’d posted anything until we got a
call from a woman who wanted to buy our wheelchair today. Her paraplegic
brother is coming to visit for Christmas, and she needs a wheelchair for
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We told her we’re using it right
now, but call us back in mid-December, because we hope to have it available
again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As bad as you think you’ve got it, there is likely someone else
in a worse situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fair warning – it takes
a while before you’re able to accomplish this countermeasure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Something Good is Going to Come Out of This</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Years ago, I had the worst job of my entire career, but made
more money than I ever had before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, I
stuck with it for nearly two years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
was the type of job that sucked the life out of you. An I-don’t-want-to-get-out-of-bed-and-get-dressed-in-the-morning
kind of job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It took about a year after
leaving to discover that it directed me to my life’s passion – how never to treat
people at work (and in life), how to lead teams to build great things, and how
to be a teacher and facilitator.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
job sent me on a journey of discovery and learning that I continue to this day,
and I am – gulp – thankful for having had that shitty job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For without it, I would still be bored and
under the illusion that I knew everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The truth is, you will come out the other side of this a changed
person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite a lot of how that change
affects you is largely up to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Ask “How Can I”</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You may now find yourself unable to do many things that you
could do before ‘The Big Event’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may
tell yourself, or others may tell you, you can’t do something any more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turn it around ask yourself or your family
“How can I”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turns out, that our
normal frame of reference limits the choices we think we have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once the question is asked in a different
way, you may be surprised by the number of choices you do have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A more elaborate, but fun, method is to start a 2-minute
timer and write all the ways you might accomplish something, no matter how
crazy they might seem, one idea per sticky. Let your mind flow freely. After
the alarm goes off, read the ideas out loud one at a time, and place them on
the wall where you can see them. Order your ideas from first to last once by easiness,
once by cost, then again by value. After a while, an idea will move into the
lead as something to try. Save your stickies, because if whatever you picked
doesn’t work out, you have all of your other ideas to choose from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the family does this together, use dot
voting for the top 3 picks to help winnow down the choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Laugh at Least Once a Day</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For those of us going through the 8 Stages, laughing even
once a day can get be a damn stretch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, with the advent of the Internet and YouTube, there are
innumerable ways to try to purposefully look for laughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Baby and pet videos are priceless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For some reason I find news bloopers to be
side-splitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also like reading
blogs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jenny Lawson’s <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://thebloggess.com/">The Bloggess</a></span> just
cracks me up, and I always smile when I read <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://thebloggess.com/2011/06/21/and-thats-why-you-should-learn-to-pick-your-battles">And
That’s Why You Should Always Pick Your Battles</a></span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Help Someone Else</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Helping someone else is always within your reach, empowers
you and takes your mind off yourself. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes you can help someone by NOT doing
something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t ask your caregiver to make
your lunch today and go open a can of tuna fish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Acknowledge the Power of The Universe</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the characters in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hot
Tub Time Machine</i> said “Embrace the chaos. Life might astonish you.” Believe
it or not, while you can control a lot, you don’t and can’t control <u>everything</u>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about it - life would be so boring if
you could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Try Listening to The Universe </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With each life-altering event, I’ve felt like The Universe
is trying to tell me something, but I can’t understand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s trying to catch my attention by saying
“No, that’s not what I meant dummy! You’re not supposed to do that!”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I’ve tried to listen, apparently, I’m
just not getting the message. I know this because I am sitting in a wheelchair
for the second time this year after 5 surgeries due to totally seemingly random
circumstances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My husband thinks that sometimes
God sits up there and leans over to Peter and says, “I can’t believe it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He still doesn’t get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve got to hit him harder’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Acknowledge the possibility The Life Event may be indicating
to you that you are just not meant to dance in the Geoffrey ballet, or you
should really look for a new job, or maybe move to Bali or something (I just
finished reading <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Eat, Pray, Love</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Look for Opportunities </span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Don’t look back – you’re not going that way. It is so easy
to dwell on the past either with longing, with anger, or both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately, and unfortunately, what’s done
is done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sunk costs baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve learned a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By continually looking back, you’ll miss the
opportunities happening right in front of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Learn from the life you have lived, but look for new opportunities that are
about to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously, you wouldn’t
be in this situation without The Life Event, but the opportunities that present
themselves would never happen without The Life Event either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anticipate opportunities, and be ready for
unexpected surprises.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Plan for Tomorrow</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once
said “A goal without a
plan is just a wish.” <em><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></em>Your life has changed now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at the goals you once had and decide
which still apply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Make new ones. Ask
yourself “How can I”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My dream job
didn’t wait for me, and now I am doing something completely different than I
expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, this job fits with my
new physical limitations and the old job didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have to learn new skills to stay relevant,
and I’ve made a plan to achieve them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Appreciate Those Who are Trying to Help You</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No matter how much to dislike being in this situation, just
remember that your caregivers and family aren’t having a party either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their lives have changed as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While they can’t experience your feelings, be
empathetic that they are experiencing loss too – loss of their autonomy, loss
of the life they expected to lead with you, feeling out of control because they
must react to whatever situation you are in, and having to watch you suffer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are not ‘freer’ than you - they have the
additional responsibility of your care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give
them as much love and appreciation as you can each day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Acknowledge Your Obstacles</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour says, acknowledge your
obstacles, but don’t give them power. Yep, you’re never going to <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">fill in the blank</i> again. Yep, “the
blocker” is stopping you from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">something
extremely important</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have a
choice whether to let those obstacles control you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take the next step by coolly observing your
obstacles, move around them and move on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Give Yourself a Break</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You are unique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
one else is going through the exact situation that you are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no ‘right’ way to get through your
experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is for you to decide.
Your ass will get bruised on the ride to your new normal, but try not to be too
hard on yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Make Changes in Small Increments</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Your life has been thrown up in the air, and nothing is
normal. If you are feeling out of control, try breaking big changes or
challenges into smaller ones so that you can adjust easier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Embrace the Suck</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The truth is, you are a badass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may be the only one who knows it, but
really …<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How many people could go
through this shit?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Normies have no idea
how strong you are and how much you’ve had to overcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Embrace the suck with honor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Normies wouldn’t last 10 minutes in your
shoes, and you know it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Find a Hobby</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I play the piano and dabble with the guitar and banjo. Now,
due to The Life Event, I have plenty of time to practice and play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hours can go by and it seems like
seconds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try to find something that
engrosses you so much that you don’t feel the passage of time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be cooking, or writing, or learning an
instrument, or something else.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Get Some Sun</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I believe that Vitamin D has a positive effect on your mood
and immune system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can’t get
anything valuable from the sun if you slather on sunscreen, or sit behind an
impenetrable window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try to get outside
for at least 15 minutes with nothing between you and the sun on as much of your
body as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Personally, I would be
a total nudist if my neighbor couldn’t see me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Forgive Yourself</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is possible that something or someone could have
prevented whatever happened to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or
maybe someone or something did this to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or you could have done something differently to have avoided this
situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bottom line - dwelling like
this will suck every life force out of you, and you won’t be able to move on to
Hopefulness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must forgive yourself
before you can forgive others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believe
it or not, you are a fallible human being, along with everyone else in the
world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try not to berate yourself or
others, and, even more importantly, don’t berate yourself for berating yourself
or others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your humanity is what makes
you – you. As soon as you learn how to forgive yourself, you will find that you
have the space to forgive others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Forgiveness is powerful, because it put you in control. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Start Each Day Fresh</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You may have snapped at a family member yesterday, or fell
into deep depression, or reinjured yourself, or did something ‘wrong’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today you get to start all over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Acknowledge you fucked up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Start the day out with an apology – to
yourself or your loved one - and then move on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Starting out fresh every day is always within your control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Try Deep Breathing</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">While getting some sun each day is good, fresh air is good
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try taking deep, belly expanding
breaths – in for 4 seconds, out for 4 seconds – for about 5 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is healthy and calming to do this daily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Give Hugs Liberally</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know someone who said they hadn’t been touched in a long
time and longed to be held.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Words are nice,
but there is so much more power in a simple hug.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be afraid to ask for one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be afraid to give one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hold on for a little longer than two seconds,
and try not to break away quickly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
you’re really brave, make it full contact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You will likely find that you aren’t the only one who is happy they got
a hug. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Learn How to Meditate</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nothing will stop your mental or physical progress faster
than stress, and you’ve got heaps of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Meditation can help you gain a sense of control and allow your blood
pressure and mind to calm down a little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Calming your blood pressure and your mind will speed your healing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are books or cell phone apps like <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.calm.com/" target="_blank">Calm</a></span> or <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.headspace.com/">Headspace</a></span>
that can assist you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or maybe your town
has a class you can take.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found a $15 <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.udemy.com/meditation-mindfulness-presence-calm-happiness-mastery">online
meditation course</a></span> that I could take. There’s always YouTube, of
course.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Take a Class</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There are so many interesting classes you can take online
that are either free or very inexpensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I happen to like <span class="MsoHyperlink"><a href="https://www.coursera.org/">Coursera</a></span>, but there are many
others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Taking a short class will give
you a sense of accomplishment, and may even be part of your plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Activity is life, even if it means taking a
class.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h2>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now Get ‘er Done</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you’ve made it this far, you probably realize that the
“you” in the article, of course, is me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I am writing to remind myself of all of the things I still control and
am capable of doing. Otherwise I will go batshit crazy with the feelings of
loss, anger and helplessness that constantly try to consume me. For that Kübler-Ross
is right - her <i>5 Stages of Grief</i> are spot on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Only I could write repetitive, often-contradictory
countermeasures – because they’re my countermeasures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am just a scared girl, going through things
that have changed my life and family forever; trying to control the “how” as
much as I can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel better now,
because writing is part of my plan, and I’ve spent a few hours in Hopefulness
this week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Despite my very human desire to categorize my life and my
feelings in the attempt to gain a sense of control, your situation, feelings,
support network, coping skills, responses, etc. are unique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have other categories, other feelings,
different circumstances that may mean none of this applies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just throw away what doesn’t make sense and
create your own categories, with your own reminders, and your own coping
mechanisms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go out and discover the
things that resonate with you, and embrace them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for God’s sake, don’t give up on yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Create a plan and get moving towards Hopefulness
as soon as you are able. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-35853149036430036112017-03-05T09:34:00.000-05:002017-03-05T09:37:23.764-05:00Laying Pipe: Day 1<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sadly, we haven't <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">been ab<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">le to spend </span>any time at Tree Ring <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">recently and here is the story why.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Last year</span> the City replaced all of the 50+ year old gas pipes in the alleys in our neighborhood. Just before Thanksgiving they <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">began</span> hooking <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">h</span>ouses to the <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">new </span>line, and we discovered - as did many - there were leaks in the pipes going to the house that had to be fixed before we could connect. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">That was the last day we had hot water on the first floor of our house, </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">hot water for showering in the garage apartment where CityGirl lives, and </span>the ability to cook on our stove<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">RetroMan figured he could find the leaks, quickly repair them and we'd be on our way. But he had to find <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the pipes </span>first.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSFQ6ggs7v79KG9dl6TH6GfIAVrzrjNWhX7Bmjj6E_vz11QGw6YcTJj6UNQUrijmLdorBMBsoSBG6Pqx8RHOIbBAHBFPNEkbkFuHr1giCouofnyTqzv7b0cghowDgfoEIhrC-1V54Cd4/s1600/20161112_120429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSFQ6ggs7v79KG9dl6TH6GfIAVrzrjNWhX7Bmjj6E_vz11QGw6YcTJj6UNQUrijmLdorBMBsoSBG6Pqx8RHOIbBAHBFPNEkbkFuHr1giCouofnyTqzv7b0cghowDgfoEIhrC-1V54Cd4/s640/20161112_120429.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One hol<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">e</span> turned into two holes, which turned into a trench until pretty much our entire back yard was dug up. CityGirl hops over this trench to come take showers upstairs at our house.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlCTnVlwQLf6jvcbZPrR8Pa49Dt8UCypMGRM0mD0Zc-a4Ec2Ga5BY1jjD7MWMxsj8jQ7GYxFMIy4BfOUBUF3878ABwhxw0qhlHQd8MH0slagU2tfk_wp7xCOYo-iJJy28Ppiwyxg5Vbs/s1600/20161201_072927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlCTnVlwQLf6jvcbZPrR8Pa49Dt8UCypMGRM0mD0Zc-a4Ec2Ga5BY1jjD7MWMxsj8jQ7GYxFMIy4BfOUBUF3878ABwhxw0qhlHQd8MH0slagU2tfk_wp7xCOYo-iJJy28Ppiwyxg5Vbs/s640/20161201_072927.jpg" width="480" /> </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After numerous patching attempts, it became clear we would have to replace the whole gas line which lay under concrete pads or under buildings on our property. That meant calling contractors who were backed up for weeks trying to help all the people in the neighborhoods that were in the same predicament.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It b<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ecame clear t</span></span>his was going to take a while, so we broke out the <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">camp stove, bought a FaberWare electric skillet at a garage sale<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, and made sure we had <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">an ample supply of <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">charcoal for the grill.</span></span></span></span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When the contractors finally <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">had time to see</span> what needed to be done, they lost interest and either never called us back or gave us a bid that made it cheaper to just go buy all new electric <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">appliances</span>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But RetroMan never gave up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">He had YouTube. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">80 hours of watching videos later he <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">created</span> a plan and checked it with the City gas inspector. His plan was sound<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, and<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> so h</span></span>e began purchas<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ing</span> all the materials.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yesterday we <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">started the job</span>, which </span>involved snaking 1<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">0</span>0<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> feet of new gas pipe</span> through the old <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">one</span>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">RetroMan started <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the job<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAp8BfxEzxmKVtiAEY_KKPuhMhRbDifNFKX-azcFYh6Ma2qQboWC0lLjupbKkQPuGzfxrcoy8vHZsSjhEE-X5-AJbsmaovgs1KDybl-8MhbJ3xs-8Cok0SYdOB0SOrjbdvOFQJZmtM10/s1600/20170304_144412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAp8BfxEzxmKVtiAEY_KKPuhMhRbDifNFKX-azcFYh6Ma2qQboWC0lLjupbKkQPuGzfxrcoy8vHZsSjhEE-X5-AJbsmaovgs1KDybl-8MhbJ3xs-8Cok0SYdOB0SOrjbdvOFQJZmtM10/s640/20170304_144412.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My job was to help</span> feed the pipe to him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And take pictures of course.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwcMfoWGsKcagVefzJD4pLq_9MQe0mN0zK4yvZgxOH6drv5protSjjr7XQlXQkzGr7soofg4jC-an4-Otv4mYQC32tsQHGjqRnncMVU9w_81yLJ7K-HwMPqKHu5T-snmUqLrCaizIWdY/s1600/20170304_141550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkwcMfoWGsKcagVefzJD4pLq_9MQe0mN0zK4yvZgxOH6drv5protSjjr7XQlXQkzGr7soofg4jC-an4-Otv4mYQC32tsQHGjqRnncMVU9w_81yLJ7K-HwMPqKHu5T-snmUqLrCaizIWdY/s640/20170304_141550.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">After a while he </span>moved to the alley and CityGirl kept it going.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoIwi4VvipSUl5iXZAO5RaNQVATo-__VrGgGjEYJXWlkxuMIcwc8QbsfPh43odzxRbamzpI5Gi60DJ8kATgnwvuoyIuBOUCdCbghRfM0IOqf9RX-wBQxX4ecRvdFSil1FJOmdq2uOUBI/s1600/20170304_141940.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoIwi4VvipSUl5iXZAO5RaNQVATo-__VrGgGjEYJXWlkxuMIcwc8QbsfPh43odzxRbamzpI5Gi60DJ8kATgnwvuoyIuBOUCdCbghRfM0IOqf9RX-wBQxX4ecRvdFSil1FJOmdq2uOUBI/s640/20170304_141940.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">CityGirl and I <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">stopped</span> to have some fun with the clothes that were hanging out to dry. </span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9x-RzsckjSTVufHrnsCep8N0h8MjrHYACsusN8vgYq9qLrwfShoptG9XWMwQnAjvEIDMUtFEppTRcVWPGqihcgi7Z35zw7CIf3LgXb9UwSrSuPg0XV1sedfI2qMBcqWmW7aJvV9hqXPY/s1600/20170304_143217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9x-RzsckjSTVufHrnsCep8N0h8MjrHYACsusN8vgYq9qLrwfShoptG9XWMwQnAjvEIDMUtFEppTRcVWPGqihcgi7Z35zw7CIf3LgXb9UwSrSuPg0XV1sedfI2qMBcqWmW7aJvV9hqXPY/s640/20170304_143217.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's kind of a flag for help.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6M89uHlNNkrzXweTZWjTAkFQErcHjmUxxZzgCLl-V6O777-NDzjbl0foLoGwH7H7_DT-l87KFYfFM5-1-DrLd9J15sb6NMjKXRp94_sJZdq-0QH9ZTPu_pE5N0boVxmWN2PyRLiPBDk/s1600/20170304_143231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd6M89uHlNNkrzXweTZWjTAkFQErcHjmUxxZzgCLl-V6O777-NDzjbl0foLoGwH7H7_DT-l87KFYfFM5-1-DrLd9J15sb6NMjKXRp94_sJZdq-0QH9ZTPu_pE5N0boVxmWN2PyRLiPBDk/s640/20170304_143231.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"Girls pay attention. This is serious."</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As we were working CityGirl heard something<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and </span>asked me to come over and <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">check it out</span>. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1sf2cVbvDiUaao-Q0uIUxUXfWe00vBZZn8xayxj1YJkJwQBG5bYawWZ9syj3yMe4uOqo9pUY_Op6Tco3cuplcMp2v1fKY1ASlilb0dH4WReyFYHE1LZliOx9EkTJIIA-J7Gn1Fj_Tuo/s1600/20170304_143420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1sf2cVbvDiUaao-Q0uIUxUXfWe00vBZZn8xayxj1YJkJwQBG5bYawWZ9syj3yMe4uOqo9pUY_Op6Tco3cuplcMp2v1fKY1ASlilb0dH4WReyFYHE1LZliOx9EkTJIIA-J7Gn1Fj_Tuo/s640/20170304_143420.jpg" width="480" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Yes, that's someone wheeling living room furniture down the street.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTF0HG1avWwJHE23__yI2_5cPpiaEKrjk5tmzVqD2VENIEuEBWECnwbwkhCpcDZBEgmOs_R5WmFWdwiizgolSXRh2jUTd2iZrXMeVtSy3zurO4fL_U1h8UhsCowPlz6Kg5o7wYZP4bQJo/s1600/20170304_143410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTF0HG1avWwJHE23__yI2_5cPpiaEKrjk5tmzVqD2VENIEuEBWECnwbwkhCpcDZBEgmOs_R5WmFWdwiizgolSXRh2jUTd2iZrXMeVtSy3zurO4fL_U1h8UhsCowPlz6Kg5o7wYZP4bQJo/s640/20170304_143410.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"What? Why?" <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">exclaimed </span>CityGirl <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">as she stood</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> next to the clothes hanging out to d<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ry. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpK5t_hRfLdmvIHbQqly2Psj5rAcGKLuhtmxWbtmBumBar5uiC8o3f6fpfxI7TeuMmhn1OP_N3BVivlOqB1xBV0FSGpR8-TurGua3XOtO-Z96FhPn0ASR8XucHnOZL5L8BQs9Hj4bSY5Y/s1600/20170304_143244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpK5t_hRfLdmvIHbQqly2Psj5rAcGKLuhtmxWbtmBumBar5uiC8o3f6fpfxI7TeuMmhn1OP_N3BVivlOqB1xBV0FSGpR8-TurGua3XOtO-Z96FhPn0ASR8XucHnOZL5L8BQs9Hj4bSY5Y/s640/20170304_143244.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sometimes <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">you're never going to figu<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">re these things out<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, so it's best not to try.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The pipe made it to the alley and had to make a curve towards the fence. We were feeling pretty stoked! Everything was going as planned.</span> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimM8G0Yv5wgPqSFB5_nG-7LKKA7lc-wdD8hXIrqsE-K9m84Wb0p2KgdcMVokKXpsDzV-k82lBRegU9rvqc2NrhMlA1MyV9lDaG9IwQa2RxozuEnK_FKt6T9CmkHcdo2_tBIAOxGUTz5Y/s1600/20170304_143841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimM8G0Yv5wgPqSFB5_nG-7LKKA7lc-wdD8hXIrqsE-K9m84Wb0p2KgdcMVokKXpsDzV-k82lBRegU9rvqc2NrhMlA1MyV9lDaG9IwQa2RxozuEnK_FKt6T9CmkHcdo2_tBIAOxGUTz5Y/s640/20170304_143841.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdhnKFgFOVHHg4EIxjzhEnJNDlBx1Ka4Ddcgj0YOvM21tRBIeyzAb_DHAwsjpQfvhctuf7LqlXfA-8yzNpfRlj_RpYQ_E9-sDrW7GYaR3ekW4q3YXI-a4d4hXDAufk682fK7o0pzbrI4/s1600/20170304_143852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLdhnKFgFOVHHg4EIxjzhEnJNDlBx1Ka4Ddcgj0YOvM21tRBIeyzAb_DHAwsjpQfvhctuf7LqlXfA-8yzNpfRlj_RpYQ_E9-sDrW7GYaR3ekW4q3YXI-a4d4hXDAufk682fK7o0pzbrI4/s640/20170304_143852.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Until our worst nightmare. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The pipe appeared to be stuck under the concrete parking pad about 3 feet from our target outlet. It wouldn't go in, and it wouldn't come out.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMHXwGTW18FnOcdbYwa1fLcttTSXqj5-ZR-evrwUQ67r9Q1JcbRIyr2TPnwrFKUgI6CX6SZskNpy40SA5gslWfdC-HZkQiy4y7Ok0YoFo5tOpzeR37CiyHswJ2UYYNEMZYHFyVJoz0nA/s1600/20170304_143918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMHXwGTW18FnOcdbYwa1fLcttTSXqj5-ZR-evrwUQ67r9Q1JcbRIyr2TPnwrFKUgI6CX6SZskNpy40SA5gslWfdC-HZkQiy4y7Ok0YoFo5tOpzeR37CiyHswJ2UYYNEMZYHFyVJoz0nA/s640/20170304_143918.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">RetroMan went to Home Depot and rented a cement cutter. It's really handy that he knows these things exist and how to use them.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUzw_KFf0uc0wJPWksbcZR5-TaM8H51d9bl7bX-QafNpHuPhu6OaIdXYYCyMrqahkSUHwKohJ-toCJMpx0zF5XTDZQ_kPWWrgZw39JtVLzQiuiOUXlErCnk_5fJnkJ6rxScEg3NDeKVQ/s1600/20170304_152100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUzw_KFf0uc0wJPWksbcZR5-TaM8H51d9bl7bX-QafNpHuPhu6OaIdXYYCyMrqahkSUHwKohJ-toCJMpx0zF5XTDZQ_kPWWrgZw39JtVLzQiuiOUXlErCnk_5fJnkJ6rxScEg3NDeKVQ/s640/20170304_152100.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Of course! <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">T</span>here's an elbow in the old gas line!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTsr3qc0Bax946DAro8CtYYaeSVCC9ZLKPp8M716AD6aBjYNqBTUY6h7XRRwSuBGgCCE297EL8SnwFtand2kTMmVLwTXjKijvxeU-Oz1dHL7mBflT9zXS3GAitrDi9PJFPKGqX5K804w/s1600/20170304_153623.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSTsr3qc0Bax946DAro8CtYYaeSVCC9ZLKPp8M716AD6aBjYNqBTUY6h7XRRwSuBGgCCE297EL8SnwFtand2kTMmVLwTXjKijvxeU-Oz1dHL7mBflT9zXS3GAitrDi9PJFPKGqX5K804w/s640/20170304_153623.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">RetroMan cut the elbow out and we finished snaking the new line through. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">10 hours later the holes in the alley were covered up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And that's the end of day 1. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To be continued, but hopefully not too much longer.</span>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-12076308834782007382016-09-03T09:59:00.001-04:002016-09-03T10:06:17.231-04:00We Have a New Addition to Tree Ring!<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Can you guess what it is?</span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKLukYyMwM0_7cMadzPfdmsC-dCX_sRhMxoPBk8mz9Iv-dsMUkjOx4pMNoF5kqlnDgyipAtrU1h-ms_MKWDJYssunC4SqJ3cXJLdyk_iMG9LqmE9sSqK5utLvRBM20GaR9D-mVwqft5k/s1600/IMG_2173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKLukYyMwM0_7cMadzPfdmsC-dCX_sRhMxoPBk8mz9Iv-dsMUkjOx4pMNoF5kqlnDgyipAtrU1h-ms_MKWDJYssunC4SqJ3cXJLdyk_iMG9LqmE9sSqK5utLvRBM20GaR9D-mVwqft5k/s640/IMG_2173.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUbFviJibdxpB49NOMda7LaYr1SAtcl-b1xCohJw3W-fKN26Wje7LVrDiFWI4tM1EnwAUxZdpzU9VwGfDz0TrRo4LCPzmNrad97WChyKXcAQno7hhIHdK4LuFIKFpQTGepNhI62gkYT0/s1600/IMG_2184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUbFviJibdxpB49NOMda7LaYr1SAtcl-b1xCohJw3W-fKN26Wje7LVrDiFWI4tM1EnwAUxZdpzU9VwGfDz0TrRo4LCPzmNrad97WChyKXcAQno7hhIHdK4LuFIKFpQTGepNhI62gkYT0/s640/IMG_2184.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMzwR9kg-cLoKw-wFGZjebaQpQPD2nT6yKE3M0kosjOydhly8zkQ6Aa2_qqpo_UIn8KduzgsCYL1ft8AtUS5udsvqiEkBlgqQOrG1xO51erQfjDgxBZ0qMfBFg0dSj2BWX9NJY-ts51A/s1600/IMG_2180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMMzwR9kg-cLoKw-wFGZjebaQpQPD2nT6yKE3M0kosjOydhly8zkQ6Aa2_qqpo_UIn8KduzgsCYL1ft8AtUS5udsvqiEkBlgqQOrG1xO51erQfjDgxBZ0qMfBFg0dSj2BWX9NJY-ts51A/s640/IMG_2180.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's a late 70s Massey Ferguson tractor! We bought it from a nearby neighbor who was kind enough to load it up and deliver it to Tree Ring.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHs91PN_2evEafMPcs0cnOCFnld5fJh8uK2Jl3b6aaWbT_BD1zPdu3j0du09_0HnMeBsvjYkGe2jKx520WW9lw3ywdBCGileY0WYXx_5NkXTyUJ38zn_bf4EmxhsP2sVdvKTOxt6toK98/s1600/Load+tractor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHs91PN_2evEafMPcs0cnOCFnld5fJh8uK2Jl3b6aaWbT_BD1zPdu3j0du09_0HnMeBsvjYkGe2jKx520WW9lw3ywdBCGileY0WYXx_5NkXTyUJ38zn_bf4EmxhsP2sVdvKTOxt6toK98/s640/Load+tractor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And there she is! What a beauty!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I actually did some bush hogging.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And some dirt hogging by mistake.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We're planning on mowing the fire lane in a few weeks after the land dries out from the rains we got from Hurricane Hermione.</span>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-73539209894983270982015-12-19T10:16:00.003-05:002016-04-02T09:08:47.339-04:00Agile Eating<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We went to Tree Ring for Thanksgiving this year. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As
we were shopping at the Dollar Store for our beans and franks dinner,
we took advantage of <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">a</span> 1-day special on a set of pots
and pans. </span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The pop-up is equipped with a gas stove, but we usually just use the campfire to cook our food. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cooking food in pots and pans w<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">as</span> really nice and quick. </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Just as </span>everything was <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ready to eat</span>, we realized there wasn't anything to eat <u>with</u>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So RetroMan <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">got</span> creative. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It worked out just righ<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">t, but I think we're going to have to take advantage of <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">a 1-day special on silverware next time.</span></span> </span>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-42910556154522825312014-10-28T08:06:00.000-04:002014-10-28T08:06:24.319-04:00Wearing Mosquito Bites With Pride<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Fall is such a great time of year. The weather is starting to cool down, and the fields of flowers are spectacular.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And other flowers too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As a result of <a href="http://treeringcircus.blogspot.com/2014/10/octobers-light.html">our mouse experience</a>, we threw away everything except the drawers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And in the end we had to throw them out too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Note to self: <i>Never hose off particleboard</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now we just bring more things with us. </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Air mattresses </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The thingy that blows up the air mattresses</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Head protection against the mosquitoes </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And we make sure there's enough gas to warm up the coffee that's left in the Thermos.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We went to pick up something to eat at a restaurant in town, and met a farmer who likes to take his tractor to breakfast.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">He restores one every year, and likes taking them to shows and festivals. I think he said it was made in 1950. It started up with one try, and he told us about a tractor museum near Lee we should check out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I love tractors, and hope to have one some day. Retro Man says I love tractors that somebody else maintains. He has a point, as I rely on him to maintain all things with an engine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After breakfast we went back to Tree Ring and did some bush hogging with the city weed wacker. It reminded me of the saying "don't bring a knife to a gun fight". After two hours we had only cleared an area about 10 by 40 feet of trees and brush, and the weed wacker died multiple times until we just stopped trying to use it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The only negative on this trip were the mosquitoes. They didn't seem too bad when we got there, but by nightfall it seemed like the word got out. Of course we remembered to bring the air mattresses, but forgot the bug spray.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Usually the itching after a visit to Tree Ring brings opportunities to explain why I'm itching. Which leads to discoveries of others who have lived on farms. They have lots of good advice and funny farm stories.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Unfortunately no one has any advice for what to do about those bites you get through the seat of your chair at the camp fire. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Or how to stop itching them.</span>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-77235650729826503342014-10-12T10:21:00.000-04:002014-10-12T10:51:00.332-04:00Burnt Toast<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I put some bread in the toaster oven and then lost track of time researching how to keep mice out of cabins. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I suddenly realized it's been a while, and went in the kitchen to see flames a foot high and a room full of thick smoke. I stood there with a glass of water screaming for Retro Man, who from a dead sleep ran down the stairs, unplugged it, grabbed oven mitts, and took it outside. <br /><br />So many lessons:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Marry someone smarter than you </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Never leave your toaster oven unattended</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Chinese smoke detectors aren't worth shit, so get a new detector every year not just a new battery </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Replace your toaster oven more often than every 15 years</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Clean the pan in your toaster oven more often than every 6 months </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Make sure you know where your fire extinguisher is</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Get one for your kitchen if you don't have one</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Know how to use it</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Periodically shake the fire extinguisher, as the contents can cake up rendering it useless if you need it</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Don't put your toaster oven directly under kitchen cabinets </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Just laugh when people make fun of your ineptitude in the kitchen </span> </li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At least I didn't throw the glass full of water into a plugged-in/stuck-in-the-on-position </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">appliance engulfed in a grease fire</span>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Just waiting for the smoke to clear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />On a positive note, i</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">t only took me one second to realize getting a picture of the flames was out of the question.</span><br />
<br />Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-85496754629826878432014-10-07T07:37:00.000-04:002014-10-07T07:37:31.139-04:00October's Light<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We went to Tree Ring on Saturday. The first cold front had come through, and the weather was supposed to be beautiful! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As soon as we got there, we opened the camper to air it out and found a surprise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We'd gotten moused.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Actually many moused. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The short version: We went to town to get cleaning supplies, started to clean, decided we better take everything home to clean it more thoroughly, loaded all the sh$t (literally) into the van, and then decided we're just going to throw it all away.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And then it was time to head back. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After closing the camper, we found a little friend.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We surveyed the landscape. All green and beautiful. We'll have to explore next visit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Checked out some flowers (and bugs).</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The fields were full of daisies.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And moths who love daisies.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWlcCRAs9AZsS3xN9Hl5h-0becUSaxWZis_6yDr6j-mzEqn8ZlfevguuJYjnwvoAd-8xqvV9ffAEnwTPBqdPuFN0-AxsIBZdU2SAM-c5CtgxaT-MVC4APoFRJGfghCmgJb_RA2S8Dx0I/s1600/butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPWlcCRAs9AZsS3xN9Hl5h-0becUSaxWZis_6yDr6j-mzEqn8ZlfevguuJYjnwvoAd-8xqvV9ffAEnwTPBqdPuFN0-AxsIBZdU2SAM-c5CtgxaT-MVC4APoFRJGfghCmgJb_RA2S8Dx0I/s1600/butterfly.jpg" height="488" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> And other flowers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As we were closing the gate on the way out, we decided to take the long way home through the Preserve. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We found Beautyberry. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Lots of water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Beautiful scenery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">More flowers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Some turkeys.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And a quail family I wasn't quick enough to get pictures of.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Most people love October because it's the start of fall, but I love October because of the light. </span></span> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As we rounded a corner, </span>the sun was setting on a field of ferns that just seemed to glow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is why I love October.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And the reason why this trip was so worth it, despite getting moused.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-46356012762905557092014-07-27T09:36:00.003-04:002014-07-27T09:59:49.155-04:00Vacation in North Florida<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Recently RetroMan and I went to North Florida for a few days</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">. Of course we spent a lot of time at Tree Ring.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">While traveling around, we passed many fields of watermelons and trucks carrying them to market.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We met with the County Forester to discuss the next 5 year plan for Tree Ring. We're going to leave the land fallow for 2-3 years and then plant native Longleaf instead of Slash pine. He recommended a fire lane be cut around the perimeter, and the Forest service can do this for us pretty inexpensively. That's good, because before the clear cut it took us about 2 years to cut the tiniest fire lane. We began clearing a lane again after the clear cut, but each 100 feet took about an hour - those logs are heavy. It's about a mile around Tree Ring, so I am glad for the Forest Service's help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We are getting more serious about building a cabin at Tree Ring - layout coming in a future post. Since we live about 2 hours away, we wanted to spend part of the trip asking the locals about people they trust - architects, people interested in some weekend work helping RetroMan build, site planners, well diggers, the electric co-op, the county building department, etc. We met a lot of awesome people and have made some good connections.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One of the things we wanted to do during this visit was to stake out the perimeter of the cabin - 24x38 feet. We were having trouble doing this with all the log debris, so we hooked the trailer up to the van and moved a bunch of logs to a burn pile at the back of the property. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The stakes were too tiny to really get an idea, so we tried to pulling the trailer across the spot the cabin would go. We never did get anywhere near it, but we got to sit on the pretend porch and check out the view.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">All we needed were some banjos </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">and some grass to chomp on.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Check</span>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It took about 2 hours to move all the logs, and this great idea may have been the beginning of the air conditioning problems we've been having ever since.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Note to self: The van is not a truck.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">City people are so stupid.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lots of flowers on this trip.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIrGTRXGTMhGrbEimJdoyEwcEiYQhbhIWpQVWnO80XtWLwn2LJAxIaQ9b6_OW9b_Q1aMQKEDSuQNs5aUmXy1Wk9smlkPq7I7yWqt50YFewNBVOrOe7BUKkBsgh4wpShykIVejuGpnM5E/s1600/20140708_094000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhIrGTRXGTMhGrbEimJdoyEwcEiYQhbhIWpQVWnO80XtWLwn2LJAxIaQ9b6_OW9b_Q1aMQKEDSuQNs5aUmXy1Wk9smlkPq7I7yWqt50YFewNBVOrOe7BUKkBsgh4wpShykIVejuGpnM5E/s1600/20140708_094000.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beardtongue - Pentstemon </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clockwise from left: Bog Yelloweyed Grass - Xyris difformis <br />
<span class="description">Lance-leaf Arrowhead - </span>Sagittaria lancifolia<br />
Marsh-pink - Sabatia </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A field of Carolina Redroot by the dry pond.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="description">Up</span> close. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carolina Redroot - Lachnanthes caroliana</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fleabane - Erigeron annuus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJgZbEsq8WgikyaosnekF95vFHXWD96LNuNN8WiOzBoyk53GphoO1cE2FG80_8DQsNSJyx7UrrvKuZRBudCExIk7axQdgK3OJQo6FejYdTcVttk8QwasorAr6MCRj5sjLKKDjmawaoA4/s1600/20140711_112148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJgZbEsq8WgikyaosnekF95vFHXWD96LNuNN8WiOzBoyk53GphoO1cE2FG80_8DQsNSJyx7UrrvKuZRBudCExIk7axQdgK3OJQo6FejYdTcVttk8QwasorAr6MCRj5sjLKKDjmawaoA4/s1600/20140711_112148.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. John's Wort - Hypericum prolificum</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I think this is a weed, but it's very pretty.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meadowbeauty - Rhexia mariana</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It had a little spider on it that I thought was cool.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A purple flower I haven't identified yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And a pretty pink one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I took all of these pictures with my new Samsung S5. They look great on the phone, but after downloading, I don't like the pictures taken when it's cloudy. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It was so convenient not having to carry both a camera and a phone (in case we got bitten by a snake), but I will next time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We did a lot of other fun things on this trip like tractor shopping, visiting Cedar Key, and 'The Swamp', but I will save it for another post.</span>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-76034708102547721092014-04-27T10:54:00.000-04:002014-04-27T10:54:53.770-04:00Nearing The End Of Spring At Tree Ring<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here in Florida, we've had the most amazing Winter and Spring. Usually the air conditioner is cranking heading into May, but this year it has been much cooler. I thought this might delay Spring, but that hasn't been the case.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Sand blackberry bushes are right about where they have been in prior years. We</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> should have lots of blackberries by the middle of May.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Florida Scrub Frostweed, also known as Clustered Rock Rose, is in bloom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As are Purple Twin flowers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have spent hours trying to figure out the name of this flower. If anyone knows, please share. I think it's a weed, but it's very small and pretty - almost like a small ground orchid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I think it is what creates this beautiful carpet of color in the cow fields.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Horrible Thistle is flowering.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The resurrection fern is open throughout the live oak.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Native wire grass (I think) has popped up across the clear cut, and by fall will be thigh high.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This is salad that fell out of its container turning into Tree Ring during our last visit. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I put some lettuce in front of all of the gopher tortoise holes I could find.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fJhZgOzlRfdPZ18XQnA6qV0zvGyFuDPdDFZiDpfqt9rila1BPIIrTtvmxNT4oDdqqLdyxsWoDxW-S7rQhd3WZkxK80F6XGBzpM6F-hcJbAJjnFFY5YinjYSrlRAWvqe4zydZ-TIayxc/s1600/IMG_1140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9fJhZgOzlRfdPZ18XQnA6qV0zvGyFuDPdDFZiDpfqt9rila1BPIIrTtvmxNT4oDdqqLdyxsWoDxW-S7rQhd3WZkxK80F6XGBzpM6F-hcJbAJjnFFY5YinjYSrlRAWvqe4zydZ-TIayxc/s1600/IMG_1140.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Soon summer rains will be here, and there will be even more flowers to blog about.</span></span></span>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-53264107773652689832014-04-20T10:29:00.003-04:002014-04-27T10:56:58.443-04:00Clueless Logging 101<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">RetroMan decided it was time to teach City Girl how to use a chainsaw. It wasn't quite the Blind leading the Blinder, but .... I will let you decide.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">First the safety lesson.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Uh oh. We may have created a monster.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here are a few short clips of her practicing on a short tree stump. The chainsaw noise is annoying, but the videos are funnier with the sound on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Getting acquainted with the saw (22 seconds):</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxWqVl7ewN_LMpNhrCAThA9NU6trfQXPJAGX6mAzocFngD6fCAVyQAYl0ifXWKq9U4lIKNmVzDphT_hkpCc4w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Switching sides (26 seconds):</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The final cut (56 seconds):</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It looks like some more practice is in order.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And eye protection.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And different pants.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And then she wouldn't stop (53 seconds).</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx8k2ZcrZp-DM_391Sq31kTezcnEVH2VjyOGSozCaR_xXPJ4T8dvMPnqbZeYCW1cuEwY7AYECKjAxiP4cFqIg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">She's not quite Paul Bunyan yet, but she's getting there. </span>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-71522418311249271062014-04-12T08:42:00.000-04:002014-04-12T08:42:54.972-04:00Coolest Camping Trip - Day 2<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sunrise is always beautiful at Tree Ring.</span><br />
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RetroMan likes to sleep in, so I always take a walk to see what's up at that hour.</div>
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As I left the camper, a deer scampered off. She looked big and healthy. <br />
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I made my way to the dry pond and noticed the spiders were busy.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At the dry pond it became obvious what the partying had been about the night before. It was no longer dry. We've owned Tree Ring since 2009 and there's been very little water at the dry pond - none at the end of winter. Now there was at least 6 inches, and the summer </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">monsoons </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">haven't started yet.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I noticed the deer have eaten a path through the blackberry bushes.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZEAkBA99fX40dFlxYaFXQczMP8KTDgvoJFPkFR7my_ynVIMD-VuSCGPq7gJPmRJMFdTrZGOJKGE3-VMolx0SfxValsWw905zuMT1AyCRxQiGlnOgLA_u2j1-ph4wB7SJ1wVRYC_T1KQ/s1600/IMG_1023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZEAkBA99fX40dFlxYaFXQczMP8KTDgvoJFPkFR7my_ynVIMD-VuSCGPq7gJPmRJMFdTrZGOJKGE3-VMolx0SfxValsWw905zuMT1AyCRxQiGlnOgLA_u2j1-ph4wB7SJ1wVRYC_T1KQ/s1600/IMG_1023.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And other sun worshipers were watching the sunrise too.</span></div>
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I took off in the Polaris to see what sunrise looks like in the rest of the Preserve.</div>
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This picture does no justice to the beauty of the ferns among the water and the trees. </div>
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The mullein were flowering.</div>
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There were white flowers on some lily pads.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And yellow flowers on others. If you looks really close you can see a frog between the twin flowers.</span><br />
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A woodpecker motel.</div>
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Phlox are everywhere along the roadways.</div>
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I waited while the turtle crossed the road.</div>
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Once back at Tree Ring, RetroMan and I started blazing trails through the piles of wood left after the clear cut. At one point we got side tracked for an hour moving a 300 pound tree stump we thought would make a great bench under this tree.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Note to self: <i>Don't sit on a bench made out of freshly cut pine or you will get tar butt</i></span><i>.</i><br />
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<br />Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-44131620561449747802014-04-09T07:38:00.001-04:002014-04-09T07:45:15.541-04:00Coolest Camping Trip - Day 1<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Turning into TRC's gate, we came upon this:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We stared at each other in stunned silence. It seemed like a cross between a monkey, a squirrel, and a kangaroo. <a href="http://treeringcircus.blogspot.com/2009/12/mystery-track.html" target="_blank">Perhaps it was the skunk ape</a> we knew was there but could never find. It didn't move one whisker. After a lengthy discussion, we decided our friend Ron put </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">a toy </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">on the post as a joke. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And then it scampered off. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Not like a City squirrel "oh my gosh - oh my gosh - oh my gosh - I gotta get outta here". Nope. He was just on his way down the hill to check on a horse. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At first we were sure we discovered a new species, but no, it's a Fox Squirrel. Just something City folk have never seen. Fox Squirrels can get up to 3 pounds and I'm thinking this guy has been eating a lot of chunky monkey. I hope he decides to stick around for a while.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We set up camp, and </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">decided to take the Polaris for a </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">drive around the Preserve just before sunset. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-XOlwEYrMTyrv5McxcQV-6NPiHXj3gyW9NK2x2oCEft5QPLpPWQrWPlTe7_d1hOhVUGU1cddrBjC5_BNi6a00H4wrs387DswuFn-fpTpdc998gal88EJ7JSjTiSBYDJOg3q0JSjOJvg/s1600/IMG_0950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-XOlwEYrMTyrv5McxcQV-6NPiHXj3gyW9NK2x2oCEft5QPLpPWQrWPlTe7_d1hOhVUGU1cddrBjC5_BNi6a00H4wrs387DswuFn-fpTpdc998gal88EJ7JSjTiSBYDJOg3q0JSjOJvg/s1600/IMG_0950.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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It's hard to tell, but that's an alligator in the lower right of the picture.</div>
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I don't know what happened, but he wasn't alive.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmCZxWndOx72Lla7J_cL8rDkckyuOzd59W80kXDiyRLcqC6L6-B9aeI6rGFjsTG0LuPDIvb-ZmFGL_qunxovO12ZPWmlpVRfy34QcO77M2tUZZe6rmwRF27MqfLRCtTqGcqSJ1jWagY4/s1600/IMG_0961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUmCZxWndOx72Lla7J_cL8rDkckyuOzd59W80kXDiyRLcqC6L6-B9aeI6rGFjsTG0LuPDIvb-ZmFGL_qunxovO12ZPWmlpVRfy34QcO77M2tUZZe6rmwRF27MqfLRCtTqGcqSJ1jWagY4/s1600/IMG_0961.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It was overcast, but cool and beautiful. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As we drove around, the we noticed pockets of very pronounced smells. We've never noticed this during our daily drives, but that evening you could smell night blooming jasmine, animals, a musky smell, a swampy smell. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Just awesome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then we went back to start the fire and eat some hot dogs. </span><br />
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I made a double wiener stick.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Retro Man made fun of me all night for doing a selfie, but I wanted to show the super cool sweatshirt I bought at the dollar store. It's the best 15 dollars I ever spent. The weather was beautiful when we left the City, but I forgot to bring a jacket. Nights can get really cool at Tree Ring.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSfEQBVCakNUJZfCcDt8kvvjXFDWoYm-H207YPi6aXsXEsdvY4-f3l67oy8-swT_J5Lcr4XI5UpHWbj55TXrJooTAseAzHZ5cGYCWXZfqLetoJce1SKq9DUiTJSnuzr0iL0r5-eNu_bI/s1600/IMG_0982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaSfEQBVCakNUJZfCcDt8kvvjXFDWoYm-H207YPi6aXsXEsdvY4-f3l67oy8-swT_J5Lcr4XI5UpHWbj55TXrJooTAseAzHZ5cGYCWXZfqLetoJce1SKq9DUiTJSnuzr0iL0r5-eNu_bI/s1600/IMG_0982.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Shocking isn't it? I've always been afraid of hunters not seeing me, but I don't think I have anything to worry about any more.</div>
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That night as we sat by the fire, the sound coming from the front of the property was louder than a Bucs game. It seemed as though every animal and insect was partying at the dry pond. Frogs croaking, birds screeching, animals grunting, cicadas humming and cicada killers buzzing. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKzqHMrILv0" target="_blank">Chuck Wills widow </a>was singing.</div>
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All in all a wonderful day. I'll post Day 2 later this week.</div>
Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-73111426552369853392014-03-15T10:26:00.001-04:002014-03-15T10:26:34.056-04:00Before and After the Clear Cut<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">When we bought Tree Ring 5 years ago, it was an abandoned tree farm. We worked with the County Forrester to thin the trees. However because they were never maintained, many of the trees had succombed to pine beetles and fusarium wilt, which is common in slash pine. We decided to clear cut most of the property and start over.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It is shocking how different the property looks now. I have tried to find pictures to display the before and after. While I miss the forest, the land now has amazingly beautiful vistas and shows that we have a slight roll at the front and back of the property.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Shelter before and after:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4cdm9k0OJz0nrabVkbiNI5reXmKiSbdvOvvZ1Ke6ynlc9BqB0HXGFSOHMaYxsy5x1p8wPXIM1QOTLFYiYp6ckkxfJdU2gQ70auBJtMD-dHgOFUPQS5HuCfXFudL70JCVTocn0RP_2W8/s1600/1+shelter+old.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4cdm9k0OJz0nrabVkbiNI5reXmKiSbdvOvvZ1Ke6ynlc9BqB0HXGFSOHMaYxsy5x1p8wPXIM1QOTLFYiYp6ckkxfJdU2gQ70auBJtMD-dHgOFUPQS5HuCfXFudL70JCVTocn0RP_2W8/s1600/1+shelter+old.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The future cabin site before and after:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Vzb29GVYuImcHxhFOX8xaz2ih8WVsUTWw-CWoyQC5yv1y679jwfnLl4DqXfqZvK3OU63bTMWEWuk4Um9PXHMuZRP01ZeWrJsKnjF9r1UGK2F_YuiAbyTI0INjoF2De-HWipvCRPnNq4/s1600/2+cabin+site+old.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Vzb29GVYuImcHxhFOX8xaz2ih8WVsUTWw-CWoyQC5yv1y679jwfnLl4DqXfqZvK3OU63bTMWEWuk4Um9PXHMuZRP01ZeWrJsKnjF9r1UGK2F_YuiAbyTI0INjoF2De-HWipvCRPnNq4/s1600/2+cabin+site+old.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndoIs2t46co9UZYP4__uDkQH9Jt9xNTKyBsSg-IpLlrV9mZZgspzK__2SgK7mqYWG6yJuXg5B3LorK-8P_yApDT6p90PjzfWoNprkOghEpwGLLqerExxQd9V2eo1OacM2HMCRd5EpZDE/s1600/2-2+cabin+site+new.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgndoIs2t46co9UZYP4__uDkQH9Jt9xNTKyBsSg-IpLlrV9mZZgspzK__2SgK7mqYWG6yJuXg5B3LorK-8P_yApDT6p90PjzfWoNprkOghEpwGLLqerExxQd9V2eo1OacM2HMCRd5EpZDE/s1600/2-2+cabin+site+new.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> The cabin site looking back at the entrance drive before and after:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1USFXrIPqGUOkXqCOc0nSA4w42_7n6y0ktzVaVJTl__EVOikqV_yoGXTiyPNaWrsz-E8CVt3sxAbHtwHXZpZ8oxDGrc6ZMYqIpMvLdDOJA1SPOQ1NEPFrg_oe-RYHrR3T46286jGQpQ/s1600/3-3+drive+new.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1USFXrIPqGUOkXqCOc0nSA4w42_7n6y0ktzVaVJTl__EVOikqV_yoGXTiyPNaWrsz-E8CVt3sxAbHtwHXZpZ8oxDGrc6ZMYqIpMvLdDOJA1SPOQ1NEPFrg_oe-RYHrR3T46286jGQpQ/s1600/3-3+drive+new.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">City Girl attempting to use the dibble Retro Man got for Christmas. Dibbles are used to pine trees by hand:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJL21VaCT7YWfpMhq8pkgRBeMlM6XKu1KSCMmVV5lnYSBsA6Fj_hyphenhyphenaLd9rwcyFPALYJsgB3aiehPPgOXTATt7ZZbdeoNR3jQbTVGLXrMabrbwaH2aOEFES_WVgPhn5RPx5tNfMr4hC2A/s1600/4+start+dig.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJL21VaCT7YWfpMhq8pkgRBeMlM6XKu1KSCMmVV5lnYSBsA6Fj_hyphenhyphenaLd9rwcyFPALYJsgB3aiehPPgOXTATt7ZZbdeoNR3jQbTVGLXrMabrbwaH2aOEFES_WVgPhn5RPx5tNfMr4hC2A/s1600/4+start+dig.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbx9i_O2N1mmMj5OxvHBJr-C5opC_HWwmzWjEyahLgJl7dvqdUuoLnucBk4XpJO2rKonpubOm1Voy55UWu4Aa6RavkAkp6frC22yGE_TO6cjNJerSraAHaitehZW9MhwN8jOaYKubh5o/s1600/4-4+end+dig.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWbx9i_O2N1mmMj5OxvHBJr-C5opC_HWwmzWjEyahLgJl7dvqdUuoLnucBk4XpJO2rKonpubOm1Voy55UWu4Aa6RavkAkp6frC22yGE_TO6cjNJerSraAHaitehZW9MhwN8jOaYKubh5o/s1600/4-4+end+dig.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It's going to take a while to plant 17 acres :-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Another view of the cabin site before and after:</span><br />
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Other pictures of the Preserve where Tree Ring is located:</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Those lilly pads have beautiful yellow flowers in the summer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For those of you sick of Winter, Spring is definitely on its way:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I will post the videos of the clear cut operation another time. It took the crew 7 days to clear cut 17 acres. It was an amazing operation.</span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span> Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-9100495214100487052013-10-13T11:14:00.000-04:002013-10-13T11:14:31.626-04:00In Case You Didn't Know<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">For many years before City Girl decided that hanging around your parents was equivalent to death, the three of us would go to Fort Desoto beach. We avoided the paved parking lots and crowds in favor of parking on the grass along the road and walking a short distance to a mostly deserted beach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">One day when City Girl was around three, as we were driving in I saw a sign that said 'Naturalist Society' with an arrow pointing to the path we always took to get to the beach. <i>How cool</i>, I thought, <i>nature lovers have discovered our beautiful spot. Maybe they'll tell us the name of some of the birds we always see</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We put our blanket down at our usual spot. I noticed a group of people off in the distance and figured that was the Society. We headed towards them, picking up the pretty shells that were littered around the beach. As we got closer, City Girl was intently filling her bag as I looked up and saw about 15 </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">people sitting </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">buck naked</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">in their beach chairs. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">People we aren't talking about looking up and seeing Shemar Moore or Matthew McConaughey.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">With wry grins on their faces obviously enjoying the predicament I was in, they quietly waited to find out what I was going to do now. With a slight panicked feeling I said gently, <i>Sweetheart let's turn around and go back so we can empty our bags and get some more shells.</i> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And bless her, City Girl said <i>ok Mom</i> and happily turned around without looking up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Back to the future, City Girl now thinks hanging around your parents is only a little like death, and we have a lot of fun together. Last night she suggested that we go to the beach to watch the sunset and we headed to our favorite spot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We didn't let this log get in our way as we made our way to the beach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As usual it was deserted, except for a man sitting next to his bicycle off in the distance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We watched the beautiful sunset.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Turning to head back, I sadly observed that sign pollution and ropes have now infested our favorite beach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">In case you didn't know. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As I recounted the buck naked beach story to City Girl, bicycle man hurriedly put on his swim trunks as we approached. I am not kidding</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I say all signs should be banned in favor of periodic public announcements in all languages recounting all of the things that we're not supposed to do, because there are people arriving all day long and many of them are blind or can't read signs written in English. Are you with me?</span>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-7717176602113868472013-09-08T10:13:00.001-04:002013-09-08T10:17:28.922-04:00Thinking about the Barn<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">On the schedule for this winter is to clear cut the back 10 acres of Tree Ring and thin the front 13. The clear cut will extend from our neighbor's 40 acre pasture to the clearing where the shelter is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Once the clear is complete, we will begin the site plan for a barn and cabin. We will build the barn first.</span><br />
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The barn we would like to build is reminiscent of Majorie Kinnan Rawlings' barn. One of my favorite books is Rawlings' Cross Creek which tells the story of her move to Florida in the 20s and what life was like back then. Her homestead is now a <a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/marjoriekinnanrawlings/aboutthepark.cfm" target="_blank">Florida State Park</a> and we went to see it a few years ago. We both fell in love with her barn. Though it was reconstructed in the 90s due to the original barn burning down, we loved the look and design. </div>
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Since we really aren't farmers, it's all about the look right?</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here is a photo of the barn taken in 1965: </span><br />
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Here is a photo of the reconstructed barn from the<a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/marjoriekinnanrawlings/img/photogallery/original/mkr-barn.jpg" target="_blank"> Florida State Parks</a> web site:</div>
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We switched the sides and our barn will be smaller:</div>
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The door will open to a workshop that will have a bathroom at the back. </div>
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Since Retro Man will be constructing it by himself, he wanted to build a model first to plan how all of the pieces will go together:</div>
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The model is constructed 1 inch = 12 inches, or 1:12 scale. We purchased a doll that is also 1:12 so we could understand the scale better.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We call him Little Man.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Unfortunately </span><a href="http://treeringcircus.blogspot.com/2010/12/some-presents-are-more-fun-to-give-than.html" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" target="_blank">I gave away City Girl's Bulldozer</a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">, which might have given us an idea about how much space a tractor would take up, so now I'm on the lookout for a 1:12 scale tractor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I would like to have the site plan complete and water/electric put in by the time summer sets in. That way, we can come to Tree Ring in the summer and be able to shower if we want and even use the air conditioner in the popup. We would build the barn next winter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Speaking of the popup, even Retro Man is admitting it is getting a little long in the tooth. We think it is nearly 40 years old. Once the barn is in, we may replace it with something a little more substantial for a few years while we plan the cabin construction. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-84396368429832729702013-08-05T07:45:00.000-04:002013-08-05T07:49:28.088-04:00First Morning's Light<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
One of my favorite things to do at Tree Ring is get up before sun rise and walk to the dry pond.</div>
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Sometimes you can see a thick blanket of clouds hovering. Just as the sun peeks over the trees, the rays of sun slice through minute by minute until you can't see the blanket any more. It's incredible. </div>
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I love the angle of the sun in February and the casts of the tree shadows.</div>
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I try to be quiet, but I never catch any wildlife in the clearing.<br />
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Even the lichen is beautiful at that time of day.</div>
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Then I check the gate,</div>
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Grab some breakfast,</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And think about how fortunate I am.</span><br />
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Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-36047282041518383072013-08-03T12:08:00.001-04:002013-08-05T07:49:05.447-04:00Oh Yes, We Really Did That<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This year I decided to get legit and put some initials after my name. A 50 year old woman in Defense IT better look damn good on paper now that the inevitable layoffs have begun. The first credential I am going for is Project Management Professional, also known as PMP.</span>
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I haven't posted in nearly a year, but for some reason I have to post this story much more desperately than I need to read a 500 page book in preparation for a 4.5 hour PMP test. This is very typical. I almost flunked out of college because I worked at the library. I brought home so many books I was supposed to shelve that I never studied for my boring classes and barely got a degree. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But I digress.</span><br />
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There weren’t many blogs last year because of all my surgeries. However, we did get to Tree Ring a few times. I will start with a trip we made in February. </div>
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What stupid thing is going on here? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQf4AwPnjGZoqrsf8ArrslDPpQITv-lFfaMp0OQNoPxSsW9Qhy8RbCw93702obuyMxyFpmHAvq4d6PCUvDao5YjkhWtIWqK9HIGKktPCT3gQorj9RgLohFN0iZ3eksk0npa4v7-weunY/s1600/IMG_1810new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQf4AwPnjGZoqrsf8ArrslDPpQITv-lFfaMp0OQNoPxSsW9Qhy8RbCw93702obuyMxyFpmHAvq4d6PCUvDao5YjkhWtIWqK9HIGKktPCT3gQorj9RgLohFN0iZ3eksk0npa4v7-weunY/s640/IMG_1810new.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh yes he is.</span></div>
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This is why men don’t live as long as women.
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Here’s how the conversation went: </div>
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RetroMan: <i> I’m afraid this tree is going to fall on the shelter, so I’m going to have to cut it down. </i><br />
<i>Me: It's awfully close to the shelter. It might fall on it anyway.</i><br />
<i>RetroMan: That's not going to happen because I'm strapping it up first. </i></div>
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Me: <i> What? Isn’t that dangerous? </i></div>
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RetroMan: <i>Not for me. </i></div>
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Me: <i>Shouldn’t we get a professional to do that? </i></div>
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RetroMan: <i>We’re tree farmers. We are the professionals.</i></div>
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After making some cuts and pulling for quite some time without budging the tree, we decided to try the Polaris.<i> </i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmtMIFEah50OMpoyXToJJdwL6jovDs6Fd6u2hyphenhyphenkyYodovGktGVExInYX3yxowknWzy055utvkG1xVoyfJrmR6tdCWMafbEyX5pNVaQ7eNRqXKGYbPMaWvxzWvPwd6B7wuIypb4Wu6JMA/s1600/IMG_1814new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmtMIFEah50OMpoyXToJJdwL6jovDs6Fd6u2hyphenhyphenkyYodovGktGVExInYX3yxowknWzy055utvkG1xVoyfJrmR6tdCWMafbEyX5pNVaQ7eNRqXKGYbPMaWvxzWvPwd6B7wuIypb4Wu6JMA/s640/IMG_1814new.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is the play-by-play in video. It's funnier if you turn on your speakers. Each one is about 45 seconds. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dysDVpUZJ8CTrbCeITvy0Z678GiBmiBfGUOBB0SATb__20wzS7w5EYOw1HVk3nYHfuDTI1nWH8PMtaFwNYXvg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzDxhmeRCxgT_8iFrQ-OXo3GqwECcFgUsF3K4BuuaFbYn4xfbymU5tU-Cj9tA79Xf1w7HY4H8oiok5CC2X9' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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The tree just missed crushing the Polaris.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaajGhls0gvl5CVwIyoJF8mz1kyhchZU4pRMiJvXmtTtPKqfI_F0YI3H0daNh558c2-5veIOQKbcWB0UAdtRrgz3YfD2kDf7MHWKI86lOeBi54ftU6MAaFVzaUIrjQelFStSHgpuxBMkE/s1600/IMG_1828new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaajGhls0gvl5CVwIyoJF8mz1kyhchZU4pRMiJvXmtTtPKqfI_F0YI3H0daNh558c2-5veIOQKbcWB0UAdtRrgz3YfD2kDf7MHWKI86lOeBi54ftU6MAaFVzaUIrjQelFStSHgpuxBMkE/s640/IMG_1828new.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Good project managers learn from experience if they are still alive after the project.<br />
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I am a good project manager.<br />
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I will make sure we have longer straps next time.</div>
Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-6261677619613875692013-07-05T10:32:00.001-04:002013-08-03T11:10:50.881-04:00Well Hello There!<br />
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It's been a while.</div>
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Lots of good things have happened since the last blog post:</div>
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<li>Got two new knees</li>
<li>Got a new job</li>
<li>City Girl is happily living in Roanoke, Virginia</li>
<li>RetroMan and I are planning to build a barn at TRC. Or rather RetroMan is going to build it and I will try to help.</li>
<li>I turned 50 </li>
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Some sad things: </div>
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<li>Sammie passed away</li>
<li>Georgia Farm Woman took down her blog </li>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">RetroMan is doing great. </span><br />
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Me too.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8c3hq7XKPPwAlhmJXp6tPy1TWbxhSfxVuPH1_kmvQrlvzegwJRJjZQ1HWTTnSyN3l2CByOB82W27B6feA3B46lDqG0Y4Dvbl4V7zQrTVbxOUwvaU4Nm1oXRmBGwYh1PiOr60YmVxGmzo/s1600/2012-10-21_12.54.42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8c3hq7XKPPwAlhmJXp6tPy1TWbxhSfxVuPH1_kmvQrlvzegwJRJjZQ1HWTTnSyN3l2CByOB82W27B6feA3B46lDqG0Y4Dvbl4V7zQrTVbxOUwvaU4Nm1oXRmBGwYh1PiOr60YmVxGmzo/s640/2012-10-21_12.54.42.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Please don't blow that one up.</div>
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TRC is awesome, though we didn't visit much in '12 due to all my surgeries.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The neighbor cows still check us out when we are there.</span><br />
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The butterflies are amazing.</div>
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I will make a better effort to update the blog - especially since we're going to build a barn and I can only imagine the calamitous possibilities that will present.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">TTFN.</span>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-73080651486850617432012-02-10T06:49:00.001-05:002012-02-10T06:51:44.536-05:00Sammie Gets His Camping Badge<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our dog Sammie has finally gotten used to Tree Ring. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Normally he is hyper vigilant and stays alert the entire time we're there.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesmMf_-mwnxU2ubSURyzYEIozI9Z5Rn-xJJYNk2OdBKRhdYbiOSJ4HQkxL9YB8Due5QSdE2tRjItWkVXkb5_4eJNBIgYjDM8bQChCBa55_Z7pVNm7UmG6Gcax9zTuGM0Ggkbs6uMCPfY/s1600/Sammie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhesmMf_-mwnxU2ubSURyzYEIozI9Z5Rn-xJJYNk2OdBKRhdYbiOSJ4HQkxL9YB8Due5QSdE2tRjItWkVXkb5_4eJNBIgYjDM8bQChCBa55_Z7pVNm7UmG6Gcax9zTuGM0Ggkbs6uMCPfY/s320/Sammie.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But he's starting to relax. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25UT2nL_cRka3Q-6z77jHEao3qVUZBNV0PyQkc6J3n8Hg3YR2Am3-OT2Tdso-c7ioq1YAzhyphenhyphenFDK3-9ZjcGekhF_xH5tWnXpD7yTyF7JJ42kmTqzX-zHG-l7mAGu2pZkHZ6xKptxyxggE/s1600/Sammy2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25UT2nL_cRka3Q-6z77jHEao3qVUZBNV0PyQkc6J3n8Hg3YR2Am3-OT2Tdso-c7ioq1YAzhyphenhyphenFDK3-9ZjcGekhF_xH5tWnXpD7yTyF7JJ42kmTqzX-zHG-l7mAGu2pZkHZ6xKptxyxggE/s400/Sammy2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">While he still can't wait to get back into the truck to go home, he appears to actually enjoy being there.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFJ6iLunwCgALQkw-CrQJKPTCJJmd1hI2dnOq8DwLu88KugMheqOHcf_5XCNlmJkKNLXnUOt5ozsrcBXR5yHNk91BXZaP2xlYbqiS4Xdk_48LJdZl3vnVZW47zRvtHXaAWF67xINwhIo/s1600/Sammy1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWFJ6iLunwCgALQkw-CrQJKPTCJJmd1hI2dnOq8DwLu88KugMheqOHcf_5XCNlmJkKNLXnUOt5ozsrcBXR5yHNk91BXZaP2xlYbqiS4Xdk_48LJdZl3vnVZW47zRvtHXaAWF67xINwhIo/s400/Sammy1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">While the shovel made a handy leash holder, we found we could let Sammie off the leash without him wandering off. This is really remarkable, and something we could never do in the City.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I suspect that in the country he looks to us to protect him. In the City, he knows that protection is his job.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqX_52flytb6rh89VYJ2pY2K0JvLy6KuJ3Qx7ha9Bnv44benDQ7onueUxq3WBf6ZRnWRw3rrQ1LFAXNTCatrbmQCh_di48krws7-UR3ryhdEmqOCC_QylNFamMira2uDEzn63bhDCcnk/s1600/Sammy3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqX_52flytb6rh89VYJ2pY2K0JvLy6KuJ3Qx7ha9Bnv44benDQ7onueUxq3WBf6ZRnWRw3rrQ1LFAXNTCatrbmQCh_di48krws7-UR3ryhdEmqOCC_QylNFamMira2uDEzn63bhDCcnk/s400/Sammy3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The gophers seem to have relaxed too. They think there is buried treasure somewhere on Tree Ring and have told all their friends. The hills are sometimes taller than Sammie.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAjcVcFL97hr18pQoSoNwUsfnnJMQ16eFbwGAwmlC94T9N91ssMuU-Bvm9k9C3AaGSi85WAgTeS5uwxQU_ITN4cTTsfFsT0Mla-LrUOzBeX2zfqHlnmNsfV23gdLmOj_JtfqmA7DPHag/s1600/Sammy+and+holes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaAjcVcFL97hr18pQoSoNwUsfnnJMQ16eFbwGAwmlC94T9N91ssMuU-Bvm9k9C3AaGSi85WAgTeS5uwxQU_ITN4cTTsfFsT0Mla-LrUOzBeX2zfqHlnmNsfV23gdLmOj_JtfqmA7DPHag/s400/Sammy+and+holes.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We only saw one other animal on our trip. A gopher tortoise that wasn't very happy to see us. So far I've counted 5 gopher tortoise holes on Tree Ring.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcU7XMF_W0oRxo3Z4qBmKngdSNVGq1qoa7i0cIzDCJ2a7oYvlBEOqVWrlwCDzk1tf4o3UK_QOeV9mFo5t7aWbvDGpgdNzPJBzoj-DsZW6s2iJICCmRvRB0mjePpMcwTzV-xZLj7HkkIk/s1600/Turtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcU7XMF_W0oRxo3Z4qBmKngdSNVGq1qoa7i0cIzDCJ2a7oYvlBEOqVWrlwCDzk1tf4o3UK_QOeV9mFo5t7aWbvDGpgdNzPJBzoj-DsZW6s2iJICCmRvRB0mjePpMcwTzV-xZLj7HkkIk/s400/Turtle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-58294565470800131992012-02-09T07:24:00.001-05:002012-02-09T07:25:50.895-05:00What a Difference 6 Months Makes<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We went to Tree Ring this past weekend. That's two times in two weeks! Yipee!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The photo below compares the winter version of the picture in the blog header.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHaQLH0XXUWGgxUtPV3iXkuy-KhGfNlHXyVpaYpMREHTYzGXKt6se2NU9ZXbQOIF_RcJ1JPRlO0fC0JCqe17Ud-xuc_lVLcTCowOPiXNmtrmYHyobTmLyDLlZhjn9-lin0OudmFWHAimE/s1600/bridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgefLY-SOJcPPtvh-ilzz4WHuoabFbaofQdIXX8ZDrnmfOJKjvpoh5UsUXjAy18FKX4kOkbQIPHzE5k-zaT43N1IJRFfz2xHQFS6OsbDTTySxYL-U-V0bPZkuJRiWmlSIxFe_mSI2eGVAQ/s400/bridgecompare.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What a considerable difference, huh?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This picture is from a bridge up the road from Tree Ring.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">For some reason, when you click on the picture you just see the winter version. </span>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-40794945611264388652012-01-23T07:12:00.000-05:002012-01-23T07:12:51.268-05:00It's Been A While<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Eight weeks ago I was doing this:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMQHSVlLbaJh9ZyuHfbkir8VHh7ArgVshTsB3ljWrFew5gSJTknIplW0xnlES95sqFsouokSJZi_jogaEI96bUN0MSgIO-auvXImCnwXc9Lh0xqt5WtgxDm6RS75rxKwR7SN9j2lSyNI/s1600/IMG_1721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMQHSVlLbaJh9ZyuHfbkir8VHh7ArgVshTsB3ljWrFew5gSJTknIplW0xnlES95sqFsouokSJZi_jogaEI96bUN0MSgIO-auvXImCnwXc9Lh0xqt5WtgxDm6RS75rxKwR7SN9j2lSyNI/s320/IMG_1721.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yesterday I was doing this:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYrt7uTc9VNF37TJYSVTLfZpObYWLjINj8HmvSki3rotPHyJApQSMcCvmABc9wpnsCkvOmRqIN4AwKVoxboVqvF0xY7qKwL1V5R4r8M7HH5IvGvUx55ze_8sPd0N1iG6zNL9m-8So3hc/s1600/IMG_1726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYrt7uTc9VNF37TJYSVTLfZpObYWLjINj8HmvSki3rotPHyJApQSMcCvmABc9wpnsCkvOmRqIN4AwKVoxboVqvF0xY7qKwL1V5R4r8M7HH5IvGvUx55ze_8sPd0N1iG6zNL9m-8So3hc/s400/IMG_1726.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We haven't been to Tree Ring since mid-November. It was so nice to be back. Looks like the TRC gopher was very busy since we were gone. He seems to be looking for something - like we have buried treasure in the clearing somewhere.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I've been back to work part time since week 4 and full time starting last week. Because of the pre-existing STD clause, I won't be able to get the left knee done until June. I am on 5 hydrocodone per day and really it is for the left knee, not the right. I'll have to wean down, though, since that is still a high dose. I can't wait until I don't have to take any of this stuff anymore.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">TRC was wonderful as usual. We didn't see any wildlife except for a flock of about 8 turkey hens on the neighbor's property. We awoke to a VERY loud male gobble though. That was the coolest. He gobbled about 4 times over about 1/2 hour as I walked to the dry pond.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODyFzknLNcksX6xeZX6l8IU5k7w_aa-1Xoo5dEiyWBX5hLKb9ghqYGmRhoY3UsELTNhjnf3IlLZg-vG8T3Y1gAh1htgm1aJbuF6nrNK2rylKfug-5MnmG7QzXHiSJN3A1Rut1pzkXEzQ/s1600/dry+pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiODyFzknLNcksX6xeZX6l8IU5k7w_aa-1Xoo5dEiyWBX5hLKb9ghqYGmRhoY3UsELTNhjnf3IlLZg-vG8T3Y1gAh1htgm1aJbuF6nrNK2rylKfug-5MnmG7QzXHiSJN3A1Rut1pzkXEzQ/s400/dry+pond.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> On this trip I found a new talent - fly whisperer.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFMkv3Z6HoYJkVExaItO54VUs4j7xQSTIypFm13Voh9D2OshQ0DXqTMuwAv7_HoWq6CnU_nP5F85o02MglO_ykVYZDMQDES8PwBzZGDHwxWJLoAEy0p3jphnQd-TSkzG_MeTOXN6gSzI/s1600/IMG_1777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFMkv3Z6HoYJkVExaItO54VUs4j7xQSTIypFm13Voh9D2OshQ0DXqTMuwAv7_HoWq6CnU_nP5F85o02MglO_ykVYZDMQDES8PwBzZGDHwxWJLoAEy0p3jphnQd-TSkzG_MeTOXN6gSzI/s320/IMG_1777.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He let me pet him like 10 times. Country flies sure are strange.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I also found that I should watch those flying fire embers just a little bit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We are hoping to go to TRC every other weekend now, if possible. The weather this winter has been spectacular. It was 75/55 this weekend.</span>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-60468132283794629242011-12-26T14:31:00.001-05:002011-12-26T14:31:06.866-05:00Drugs Sure Make Time Fly<div><p>It is three weeks ago today that my knee was replaced, but it seems like last week. I think this is partly due to sleeping so much while on percocet. I lowered the dose from 2 to 1 1/2 tabs every 4 hours, and seem to tolerate it ok.</p>
<p>Tomorrow is my first meeting with the new PT guy.</p>
<p>Starting Wednesday, Retro Man is going to drive me to and from work. Thankfully I have a job where I sit down most of the time, so I'll try to get in 5 hours 3 days this week, and 5 hours 4 days next week. </p>
<p>Nothing like no pay to spur you into action. </p>
<p>Went on another walk along the water today.</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUpqXp62XJ7flbFFNaAm9UCaUO5YmrQxEZTGe7xOGmrqKcnEWRixq8_GDrYTrbKaVgGKBBzIV-5aytJ657s8LxoBBAlh8Lqr57D-fIpS1cFKBXcgScjZCldi9hPxhesak8RgnlJyOTY9c/' /></div>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-30614706795175482352011-12-22T19:49:00.001-05:002011-12-22T19:49:21.754-05:00First Real Shower In 17 Days<div><p>Our full bathrooms are on the second story, so even though I was cleared to take a shower a few days ago, I was reluctant to go up those stairs. Today the shower actually called my name, and so I went.</p>
<p>O M G</p>
<p>It's impossible to believe that something so basic could give me so much pleasure. Simply amazing.</p>
<p>The stairs weren't bad at all. I had already figured out compensatory moves in the last few years to get up and down those stairs. </p>
<p>I called the out-patient rehab facility - actually called the Sports Therapy Center. It makes me laugh to think a cryp such as I will be doing anything remotely related to sports. Their first opening with the recommended guy won't be until Tuesday.</p>
<p>Every day is better than the day before and</p>
<p>I shouldn't have waited so long.......</p>
</div>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-86482001107799181052011-12-21T15:21:00.001-05:002011-12-21T15:21:54.378-05:00Sans Staples<div><p>I got my 24 staples out yesterday, and only one hurt coming out. I had heard mixed reviews about this process, so was a little apprehensive. I took pictures, but only after the Doc put the steristrips on, so I'll spare you the cool picture until they fall off.</p>
<p>I graduated to a cane today. I will use the walker if I need it, but think I can put it away. I have only ever used crutches to do the stairs to get in and out of the house and on my walks and will continue this until I feel comfortable with a cane outside.</p>
<p>Pt boy came for the last time. I have 1 degree of extension where 0 is the goal, so I am really happy. My flexion is 120. I'm not sure what the goal for that is, but I know it's good because I always get a smile when it's measured.</p>
<p>City Girl is home for the holidays. It is so nice to be able to spend so much time with her. She doesn't have to go back until the 13th, so we'll have a lot of time to visit. If my improvement continues, maybe we'll even get to go shopping - something I haven't been able to do with her in years.</p>
<p>When I woke up this morning, my left knee hurt more than the right, so this is amazing progress.</p>
<p>I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas. I know mine will be great!</p>
</div>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899067286139241192.post-73827873099687020832011-12-12T18:28:00.001-05:002011-12-12T18:28:54.880-05:00Well I'm Pumped<div><p>It's been one week since parts of my leg were sawed off and I see a tiny bit of improvement every day. </p>
<p>Pt man came today. He didn't seem as rushed, and laughed when I asked if I was his last torture victim for the day. He threw a few new things at me, but I never cried or wanted to. The key for me was taking 2 tylenol along with all my other meds an hour before he came. I now feel the sweet hurt sensation when a muscle stretches as it hasn't been able to for 4 years. </p>
<p>Reto Man and I tried to go shopping at a very popular eatery/grocery store here called Mazzaro's. It's definitely the place that New Yorkers come shopping with their best holiday attitude. It's definitely no place for a cryp with a crutch, and I'll stay home next time.</p>
<p>I calculated the pain medicine I thought I'd need before getting the staples out on the 20th and called it in to the prescription hotline. However no one called it in to the pharmacy and no one called me. I'm a little confused, then, why the call it a hot line. I'm glad I don't need anything for a few days.</p>
<p>That's the update for today. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.</p>
</div>Nicolezmommahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04386062635396460717noreply@blogger.com0