The Accident

A few weeks back I had a car accident.  Nothing serious -- just me, an icy road and a tree.  The tree won.

Anyway, I took the car in to be repaired and a week later was able to pick it up.  I wasn't able to get to the auto body shop until just before closing time -- 5:30 -- which, of course, in December means it's already dark outside.  After paying the bill, I walked outside to retrieve my car.

I walked up and down the parking lot trying to locate my vehicle, but couldn't find it.  I was starting to get a little panicky.  The horn button on my key fob doesn't work, but I realized I could at least hit the unlock button, and my lights would come on -- that way I'd be able to see where it was parked.

When the lights came on it was only a few feet away!  I had walked past it twice and didn't even recognize it.  IT WAS SO CLEAN!!!  When I opened the door to get it, I was met with the most pleasant scent.  It was obvious the inside had also been cleaned!!

Apparently when you take your car to an auto body shop for repairs they clean it up for you.  Who knew?  This is really good news for a procrastinating car-washer like myself.

I may have to have car accidents more often.

Dixie

Waiting - Part Two

So the long wait is over -- The Mr. and I have a new granddaughter!

When we first scheduled our flights, we assumed Daughter #3 would be placing a week-old baby in our arms when we arrived.  But this little baby seemed content to stay exactly where she was.  A few days after our arrival we were still waiting.

Finally the doctor ordered an induction.  Here's Daughter #3 looking pleasant before things really got rough:

After a long, hard haul, that precious little bundle arrived.

(LITERALLY swollen from head to toe, this is not the most flattering picture of Daughter #3, but she gave me permission to post it anyway.  Shout out to her for being willing to take one for the team!)

At home with this cute little family.  Isn't it amazing how one little person can make such a big difference? 

So, The Mr. and I are pretty smitten with her.  As far as we're concerned, the time for our return flights came a little too soon -- we can hardly wait to see her again!

Dixie

Waiting

So, The Mr. and I are sitting at the airport -- people watching, of course -- waiting for our flight to go visit Daughter #3 and her true love.  I'm not sure why, but we apparently arrived at exactly the right time.  No line-ups!

The check-in counter:  No one in line, so we walked straight to the woman behind the counter.

The customs kiosks:  We had our pick of empty counter-tops where we could fill out our forms.

The baggage check:  The woman was just waiting for someone to bring her a suitcase.

Security:  Walked straight through with zero queuing.

Customs:  The officer was just waiting for the chance to yell "next".

This has NEVER happened to me before.  It was almost too good to be true.  There has been absolutely no waiting!!  Well, at least no waiting when it comes to the airport.

The reason for our trip is to meet our new grandchild -- who was supposed to be born last week -- but so far has not made his or her arrival.  So, technically, we are still waiting.

I thought by the time I packed my suitcase this morning, that I would know if I was supposed to be packing the blue baby clothes or the pink ones.  (I just planned on returning the unnecessary color at a later date.)  Obviously the best-laid plans don't always go the way you expect.

Speaking of not always going the way you expect, Daughter #2 and her children are with Daughter #3 right now.  If this baby doesn't hurry up and get here, they'll have to turn around and drive home without a glimpse of the new little bundle.

Well, it's time to board the plane.  Let's hope that the next time I blog I'll have a new baby to talk about.

Which is pretty much guaranteed given my blogging track record as of late.

Dixie

The Track

My last post was a month ago.  I know, I know.  I'm a pathetic blogger.

Anyway, as I mentioned in that post, The Mr. and I have been using the indoor track to get a little exercise.  Although the actual exercise part is not my favorite, I do enjoy watching the other people who are using the track.

In the privacy of my mind -- and subsequently shared with The Mr. -- I have assigned names to several of the regulars.  Shall we begin?

"Fred"  --  the friendly older gentlemen who is, by far, the fastest walker on the track.  I'm sure he's in his 70's, making him 20 years older than me, but he's my inspiration.  Some day I hope to be able to keep pace with him.

"Danielle"  --  the thirty-something woman who is in incredible shape!  As she runs around the track, she's calm and controlled, never seeming to break a sweat.  I imagine her to be a corporate CEO.

"Mark"  --  the forty-something guy who leisurely strolls around the track taking business calls on his phone.  Seriously??  At 6:30 in the morning??

"Freda and Nadine"  -- the two slightly older women who arrive separately, but once one of them has caught up to the other, they continue their laps together.  Their conversation (only heard in short spurts as we pass them) seems to center around what they'll be having for supper later that night.

"Grant"  --  the fifty-something man who walks quite slowly around the track.  He only has one arm, so I'm guessing that would affect his balance, thereby making it difficult to walk much faster.

And here are the not-so-regulars:

"Brenda"  --  the forty-something woman who is a really fast walker.  Although she's only been there a couple of times, she's hard to forget.  She forcefully pumps her arms in a really awkward manner (side to side instead of forward and back), and I'm afraid she's going to accidentally punch some unsuspecting runner in the stomach as they pass her.

"the cute girls"  --  you know the ones:  the attractive young girls who look adorable in their little spandex outfits and ponytails as they effortlessly jog around the track two or three times and then leave.

"the wolves"  --  the twenty something guys who stand in the corner of the track pretending to be stretching.  In reality they have no intention of using the track, they are only there to ogle said "cute girls" as they jog by.

"the homeys"  --  the two 18-year-old boys who breathlessly run around the track in black hoodies and toques, struggling to keep their pants from falling down.  I imagine they are training to improve their "get-away time".

I am so glad that there are so many different people who use the track.  It really does help pass the time for this people watcher.  I'm happy that there are people that are slower than me -- shout out to Mark, Freda, Nadine and Grant!  And I'm thankful to the fast ones who give me something to work towards -- yay for Fred and Danielle!

In actuality, I know for sure that I'll never be a runner like Danielle.  But becoming a fast walker like Fred is a very realistic goal for me.  I hope 20 years from now I'll be the oldest one at the track that everyone is trying to keep up with.

In the meantime, I plan to keep waddling (and wonder what names the others have assigned to The Mr. and me).

Dixie

September

I'm really sad to see September come to an end.  It's been a great month!  In fact I've decided that September is my favorite month of the year.

• I love that everything gets back into a routine in September.  There's something about having a new year of school start up that makes me feel like I've been given a clean slate. 
• I love that my children's musical theatre classes start up again.  I really miss those kids during the summer.  And I love the potential of that "clean slate" with regard to the programs we are preparing.
• I love the weather -- the days are still warm and the evenings are cool.  Makes for really comfortable sleeping.
• I love the idea of starting a new project or new class.  It just seems like the right time to set new goals.

So, in the spirit of all this fresh-start nonsense, I overheard myself agreeing with The Mr. that we should buy gym memberships and start using the track.  I've just been in such a good mood all month that I guess I got carried away with my enthusiasm and happiness.

It's amazing what the month of September has done for me.  I wish we could have September all year round!

The gym memberships?  Not so much.

Dixie

Rude!

It's snowing!  September 8th.  And it's snowing.  Please don't tell me our summer has come to an end.

  *I'm still trying to get rid of the weeds in my lawn.

  *Our left-over tree stump still needs to be removed.

  *The new grass needs to be planted where said tree stump will be removed.

  *My neglected flowers are still waiting for their 15 minutes of fame.
                                       
  *We've only used our patio furniture once all summer.

  *And most importantly, my lily-white legs are still waiting to be tanned.

How can it be snowing?  Rude!

Dixie

First Day of School

It's been three years since my last child moved away to college.  Three years of having an empty nest.  But I still get excited for the first day of school.  I live on a street with three schools, so I get to see a lot of children on their way to school every day.  And I love it!  But I especially love the first day.

*The huge new backpacks crammed to capacity -- usually bigger than the children themselves.

*The cool new shoes.

*The newest Fall fashions -- even though the weather is usually too warm to be wearing most of them.

A few days ago I told the Mr. that on the first day of school I planned to snack on a bowl of popcorn -- my favourite  --  while I sat out on the front porch to watch the kids go by.  He told me that seemed like a really "old-lady-type-thing" to do.  I told him he was probably right.

 But I probably would have done it anyway, if it weren't for the wasps.  Thousands of them thinking our front porch is their mansion.  It doesn't seem to matter how many times we seal up their "front door", they always find another opening.  But I digress....

Anyway, I never did make the popcorn.  And because we were running behind schedule this morning, I never even got to see the kids on their way to school.  I have to admit, I'm feeling a little cheated.

I might just have to make myself a bowl of popcorn as a consolation prize.

Dixie

Good Times Were Had By All

What do the following activities have in common?

*  A Barn Dance

*  FIFA World Cup

*  Playing Catchphrase

*  Panning for Gold

*  The Olympics

*  Quadding

*  Over-eating

Answer:  They were all activities we enjoyed at our most recent Family Reunion!!

This was the fourth "Dixie and The Mr. Family Reunion".  Well, okay, we don't actually call it that, but I'm trying to maintain a little privacy here.  Our family has increased to 14 people, but with The Mr.'s parents, and a few stray siblings dropping by, we usually end up with a few more.  

Daughter #2 and her Mr. Handsomepants have a new acreage which was the perfect spot for us.  A big shout-out to them for being such great hosts!  

I'm already looking forward to the next one!  When we will have (at least) one more grandchild!!

Dixie

Impressions of Russia

I just returned from a trip to Russia.  The Mr. and I accompanied Sons 1A and 1B to the areas where they had previously served church missions.  It was a wonderful 18 days filled with new experiences - the people, the language, the cuisine, and the culture were all amazing!

I took tons of pictures..... and then accidentally DELETED THEM ALL from my camera!  Ugh!!!

Although I will try to retrieve them, there are a few images that will be forever etched in my mind -- even without my camera.  You know, the things that seemed the most different from my little corner of the world.  So, with a little help from google, here they are in no particular order:

Number One

EVERYONE seemed to be talking on the phones.  All. the. time.

Number Two

The scenery was absolutely BEAUTIFUL.

Number Three

If I had a ruble for every time I twisted my ankle.....

Number Four

With the sidewalks noted above, it's a wonder there weren't more women wearing casts.

Number Five

My throat definitely noticed the difference. 

Number Six

How was it that so many people could accidentally get super-glued together?

The chance to explore a few cities in Russia was an experience I'll never forget.  I loved it!  We did, however, do more walking than I've done in my life!  I don't think my feet will ever forget either.  

Dixie