IT'S FUNNY NOW, BUT IT WASN'T THEN Part two

As scary as Choking Charlie was, it did not compare to this next event.  Seems the older I get, the more gullible I am too!!

My boss is a wonderful woman and great to work with.  But like most woman today, she is always in a rush and has a million things to get done.  That is how our day was when we decided to just look everywhere for a missing item.  We certainly were not going to take anyone's word that they had already looked in those places.

We rushed from one location to another.  In and out of rooms and looking over and under in ever conceivable place.

As we rushed into OR Suite 4 and began looking everywhere.  As we turned to leave the room, hanging right near the light switch on the wall was the biggest, darkest, spider we had ever seem.

Now, I am a real outdoors kinda girl and I normally am not afraid of no "little ole spider".  But, wow, this was not little and you could see ever single leg from a distance.  And, its body was full and plump!!  It was very scary!

You can imagine what happened next, or maybe not!  We where both screaming.  You would think there would be someone else around to help, but no.....Now, my boss decided it was my responsibility to take care of it.  All I wanted to do was to sneak by the thing and get out the door.  I figured, I could look for a big strong man to come to our rescue, but there was no way my boss was 1) going to walk past that thing; 2) let me leave her there with it alone;  3) going to let it out of her sight till it was gone.  It was going to be our responsibility to get rid of it.  Oh, did I say OUR.  I'm sorry, let me rephrase that!!  MY RESPONSIBILITY.

First, I prayed...you know the kind!!  "Oh God, Oh God!"  I am quite sure He could interpret what I was saying.  I grabbed a big blue Chux's (a disposable under pad that goes under a person).  It is about 17 inches by 23 inches.  It is big enough to wrap a small dog in.  I wadded it up and approached the spider very slowly as my boss continued to KEEP SCREAMING AT ME!  

I put the chux over it with one hand and scooped it up with the other and immediately rolled the thing into the center.  I did not want to feel one part of its body.  Not that that would be enough, I rolled it up and secured it with tape.  That thing was not going to eat its way out of that wad!!

I tossed it into the trash.  I am not sure when my heart rate went down.  But, my boss immediately went to a meeting and I proceeded back to our Central Service department.  What were we looking for anyways!!  It just did not seem important at that very moment.

Of course, my boss could not keep this thing a secret.  She proceed to share the incident at her meeting.  The men of the group decided that they needed to check it out.  They had concerns, and rightly so.  What is that thing had friends...or worse, what if it had babies!!  There is not place in an OR Suite for any type of critter that is not wearing a mask!!

I am not quite sure of the events proceeding them bringing that wadded up chux to my area.  But, one of them was holding the chux and walking toward me.  He tried to be really, really, serious, but I could see there was just a hint of ..."LOL" in his eyes.  He held open the chux for me to see... You are not going to believe this...
A large plastic spider.  Someone had put it on the wall as a joke for them.  But for us, it was one of those scary moments that will make everyone laugh for a long time to come.

 





IT'S FUNNY NOW, BUT IT WASN'T THEN Part one

Most people would not think you could find adventure at work, but I have to tell you, there were two occassions where I can laugh now, but it was not funny when it happened.

The first one actually happened when two of us were working the midnight shift.  We had often been told to keep the doors locked, but that just made the job more difficult.

There was all kind of noise in the Central Service Department that night.  All the washers and sterilizers were humming away, phones were ringing and doorbells were too.  As the night wore on, we turned out the lights in rooms we were not in.  Yes, I still try saving electricty, even at work.

My mind was on the add on surgical case and all the items that needed to be cleaned in decontam and I pushed the door open and flipped on the light.

Standing right in front of me, no more that inches from my face was chocking Charlie at eye level.  His mouth almost touching my nose.   

I have to tell you, Charlie is not cute, especially when he is not wearing a shirt!! 

I immediately started screaming and I am not sure if my hand or feet were moving faster.  I felt like I was running in place.  I was frozen in that spot. 

Before I realized what was happening, my co-worker ran in when she heard the screaming.  I think she was planning on rescuing me, but if I was scared by this, you should have seen her...Well, I did she her...and hear her...screaming, waving her hands and running is place.

It only took us a second to catch our breath and start laughing.

My question to her was..."Wouldn't it have been better for you to call someone, rather than something happening to both of us."

Hindsight is always 50/50~~

One Man's Trash is Another Man's Treasure

The Joys of Camping

Every year, Devon and I venture out on a camping trip.  We try to make them eventful, restful and memorable.  This year was no exception.  First, we find a mascot.  Yea, sounds strange, but it helps to make them memorable..  One year there was a sign that was a little scary.  It is near the Tionesta River in Pennsylvania.  We had decided that day to venture farther out than just the deep woods and cliffs around Minister Creek.

Seems Devon had way to much fun and went swimming in a mud hole.  It was very cool outside, but we washed him down and then he proceeded to dance around the campfire to try and dry off and warm.  It was a memorable site and I'm sure his boys remember it fondly.

Another time, we spotted a Red-headed Woodpecker.  Biggest thing I ever did see.  Unfortunately, like the fish that got away, I did not get a picture, cuz it scared me as much as I scared it.  Till this very day, when we camp at Findley State Park, we are ever watchful for those big Woodpeckers.

One time, we dug up a princess.  Yes, she was buried deep in the ground, but Devon is a hawk for things that don't belong.  Sure nuff, he dug her out, cleaned her up and she become our mascot.  She continues to have a place in our lives, sitting on the top of Devon's computer.

Wow, she sure did clean up good, don't you think.  Devon has a better image of her here then she actually looks.  But, is that not true of most princesses!!

We do take her still on trips and give her a place of honor when she comes with us.

Then there was the shoes Devon designed just for me.  And I wore them, but had a bit of a problem traveling in them!!  I will be glad to share them with anyone who would like to try them out!  Unlike the princess though, we do not take them with us!  We simply get a new pair when we buy firewood at the State Park.

This year was no exception.  We have great memories of not only spending a great time together but also of our bikes.  Devon was gracious enough to get me a new bike for my birthday.  Now, it has been a few years since I road one, but "one never forgets". Actually, although Devon warned me of the suspension on the new bikes, it did not dawn on me how different it really could be. 

Ahhhh, you guessed it!  The first time I go on, I went directly to the ground!  I have not had skinned knees and elbows in at least 40 years.  But, as any adventure, we did get back up on them and I am gradually getting used to it again.

My hopes are that my children children will get outdoors as much as we enjoyed it and have as much memories.

Recently, I saw some camping pictures with our grandchildren.  The very thought that it is in their blood and they are enjoying it as much as we still do crossed my mind. 

Now I do realize some people just hate sleeping under the stars and seeing a bear or some bugs, but all God's creatures big and small are important.  Just learn about them and enjoy them.  We even got an education on bats this year.  I now have a healthy respect for them.

Hurry out and camp, summer is almost over.

NOT IF I EAT THEM FIRST

Our daughter Melissa received a Giant Reese's Easter Egg from a very special friend.  Who else would buy his woman such a gift and not worry about "...once on the lips, forever on your hips..".  Got to be a man in love.

Melissa brought the treasure home expecting to eat just one small piece at a time.  It was like sugar plums dancing in her head all day long as she worked with all those sick children.

When she arrived home, she found an emply box on her bedroom floor.

Mom made some inquires to son Lucas.  "Luke, where is mommies chocolate egg?"  I'm guessing it was no lieing about this one.  "I was an accident (not said very well for a 3 year old)."  "How can it be an accident to eat mommies candy!" was moms reply.

"Uncle Dilly wouldn't feed me today and I was really, really hungry!"  says Luke.

Now you have to know that Lucas eats about two eggs, sausage and a glass of milk for breakfast, followed by an apple.

By lunch time, he eats yogurt, a PBJ sandwich, including the crust and a glass of water.

So, Its 6p.m., maybe he was hungry.

Mom was not real happy.

I'm in the kitchen, watching all the sugar ants wandering around Lucas's apple core.  "Melissa, I'm sure he this little boy could not have eaten that entire egg.  Here let me try."

Luke comes into the kitchen and is facinated with all the sugar ants, as any little boy would.

"Luke, where is mom's candy egg?"  I inquired. 

"Nana, I was really hungry!" was his reply.

"Luke, sweetie, if you have any hidden candy still left in your bedroom, these ants are going to eat you alive!"

Luke looks at the ants and quickly puts them on his little fingers and swipes them on his tongue..and says,

"Not if I eat them first!!"

UGGGG.....

Jesus, are you here?

Lucas had a bit of a bad day yesterday.  Seems that he is again, touching things that are just not his.  Really hard for an almost four year old to only touch with his eyes. (Now that is another story all in itself).

Papa Devon came home to find that one of the two Walkie Talkies that were charging on the kitchen sink was missing.

It is bright gold and stands like a soldier, one behind the other.  Now, I know that is tempting, even for me.  Papa has been trying to charge them, so we will have them all ready when we finally get to go camping.  We used to use them in the grocery store before we both had cell phones.

"Clean up on isle 4!"... lol... and "Fish slapping on isle 8". 

Well, papa asked Lukie if he know where it was.  Luke told him it was in his room and a not to happy papa asked him to go get it and return it to its proper place.

Today, Luke was having a ruff day.  He said no one likes him and I told him that when you are nice to everyone, they will like you.  He said its not easy to be nice and he had already talked to Jesus yesterday about it.  I told him he might want to try again.

I was telling Uncle Dylan and Uncle Tristan about it.  Tristan said that they had put the Walkie Talkie in Luke's room and pretended to be the voice of God.  Luke was on his knees, by his bed, praying and looking around. 

"LUKE"...."LUKE"

The poor boy kept looking around.  He keeps telling everyone he talked to Jesus.

Pretty funning having uncles who mess with you!!  Wonder how long he will remember this story.

Mrs Doolittle and her Tale of Housesitting

Devon and I live in a two bedroom apartment with two grown sons and a grown daughter, and of course, our grandson Lucas.  There are some days that you feel very closed in.  So, when our friends asked us to house sit for a few days, we jumped at the opportunity.

Just think, an entire house all to ourselves...

NOT... LOL...

One of our big responsibilites was to take care of the animals in their family. 

William is a big orange cat who loved being around Devon.  He would run in and greet us at the door when we arrived home.

Otis is a big fury cat.  Otis has asthma and it was just the beginning of the pollen season.  Cats don't weeze like you and me, they cough.  Sounds more like furball season. It was my job to make sure that Otis got his meds every morning and evening.   The first day, he was so hard to catch.  Devon suggested that I throw a towel over him to stop him in his tracks.  But, after the first day, he realized I was going to be relentless.

Earl is Earl!! 

Devon describes them as follows:  William is clingy Otis is a pill popper and Earl is his own man!  Devon is a man of fewer words than I am.

Then we have the two turtles, one Beta Fish and one Bird named Joe!!

Not that each one does not have a personality, but Joe, now he is an adventure.

Joe puts cocky into the name Cockatiel... With a beak like case hardened steel he crushes sunflower nuts as though they were Al-Qaeda tanks yet never misses a chance to wolf whistle at a fine young maiden.



...and the dog is awesome...big and fury and shedding like a clipped lamb.  Her fur made it into more places than I knew exsisted.  Of course, it molting season and was getting warm outside.  I'd brush her and brush her to make her feel better, but I think it only made me feel better.  I felt like I was helping her out of her winter coat.  But she is wonderful.

Ah yes Chloe... Ever watching and listening....Ready to protect the floor from any damage the slightest bit of food might cause by touching it.....Ready to warn you if the mailman or squirrel gets too close to the house....Bravely barking if anyone knocks then stealthily positions herself behind the bed ready to attack if they are carrying dangerous cheeseburgers...Sweet,kind and loving...


Always eager to wash your hands and keep your feet warm.
 
Keeps the cats in check by promising them that one day she will knock over Joe's cage for them...
 
Devon and I surely felt like we had everything under control.  Having a full house of critters was much better than a full house of messing children.  As the days went by, we got into a routine and everyone seemed happy.

Devon and I decided that we would barbecue.  We don't get that many chances and we do enjoy the flavor.

One evening, two minutes before nine p.m., I ran into JUST A BUCK to look for a wire brush to clean off the gas grill that had not been open yet from the winter storage.

Devon brushed and cleaned it off and then lit is up to burn off the bad stuff.  It was not difficult to light.  As a matter of fact, it lit right up.  Flames reached as high as the garage roof.  Smoked filled the air.  All I could think of from inside of the house was, this smells like a good barbecue..

When I went outside to check, I saw rolling black smoke like a tire factory hit with napalm that smelled like porkchops....With the roar of a 757 jet and the heat of a blacksmiths forge.

Okay, it really did not go that high!!  Devon turned off the gas and put the lid down in order to smother the fire.  Twenty minutes later, the fire was still burning.  We actually cooked steak and burgers with no gas on.  Good thing to, as we were not sure how much gas was in the tank.

We truly enjoyed out time there.  Peace and quiet.  Just the two of us.  Okay, two of us, one grandchild, one fish, three cats, one dog, two turtles...and OH, By the way...there were 5 crabs no one told me about!!

Children may be short, but their memories are not...

It has been almost a year since we had VBS (Vacation Bible School) at State Road Community Church.  If you were there, you have met my grandson Lucas.

Lucas was three at the end of May and he has energy that we all wish we had.  The boy ran a mile and talked about dinasours the entire time and then went to VBS.

As an incentive to settle down and listen, one of the adults told Lucas, for every right thing he did, she would give  him a sticker.  But if he acted up, she would take a sticker back.

Everything was going great that day and Lucas was racking up the stickers on his right chest.  He was very proud of them.  Them the unthinkable happened.  He yelled at his momma.

The worker proceeded to come up to Lucas and had the audacity to remove ONE of the stickers.

Lucas was furious!!  He has been furious for almost a year.  No talking would loosen his lips to where she was concerned.

Tonight, almost a year later he not only talked to her, but he asked her where she was going and suggested she come back!!

WOW...times heals all wounds and the worker and I are jumping for joy!!

...maybe turning four at the end of May means he is growing up a little.

How Small is our World

Yesterday was a visible God day!! PTL...I had met two wonderful people when I was a little more than 18 years old.  Soon after, Barb and Eddie Henderson were married and I had Jason just before Barb had her son Nick.  We became fast friends.  Soon after, Eddie and Barb moved west and we continued to write letters and made just a few phone calls.  Long distance was ver expensive then.  Many years past, and many things happened.  When my daughter Melissa was about 13, they came to Cleveland and visited family.  We spent just a few valuable hours together. 

By this time, Barb and Eddie had excepted the Lord and were writing wonderful things about what Jesus was doing in their lives.  Their family had increased and God was helping them all along the way.

Within a year or two, they moved south and I moved out of my Parma home into an apartment with my daughter and her daugher, Jacqueline.  Communication stopped as our lives changed.

Every so often, I would look on the internet or try to find them, but I never forgot them, not for one minute.

A few days ago, one of my young friends from Caravan and Vacation Bible School, asked to be my friend on facebook.  First I was thinking, "This child can not be old enough to have a facebook account!!".   I, of course accepted.

To my surprise and joy, I saw my friends picture on this young girls account.  How could she know her?  Where did they meet when there are so many miles between them?  I was more than just curious, and a little concerned!! LOL..

So, I wrote my friend Barb a message and asked her all those questions.  It was a matter of seconds before we were excahnging phone numbers and pictures and memories.

Well, it seems that Barb is the aunt of this young girl. 

How awesome that God would do all this for me.

...and once again, I can share and communicate with my "old" friends.

God is Good, all the time.

Always an adventure when you drive with me...

Each morning I get up first.  I make hubby coffee and most of the time, try to find something for his lunch.  I pack mine and sip the coffee that does not fit in his cup and then I'm on my way.

This morning, I did not need to drop off my friend for work, which is our normal practice. It is just my daughter Melissa and I.

It is a bright and sunny, early spring day and I am enjoying ever minute.

I get to work and realize that TODAY IS MY DAY OFF!!  Geezzzzz.....so, I drop off Melissa and head home thanking God for the wonderful sunlight.

Well, at least I'm up and ready for a new day.