Be vewy vewy quiet wukie is hunting wabbit

I have probably told most people this story, but it is so incredible, that I just want to keep it alive for Luke forever.  It just makes me think that this young man has a real sense of adventure that I hope, he will keep forever.
He truly has no fear at this point in his life and thinks everything is a treasure.  What a clean heart!

Well, here goes.

A few Saturday's ago, it was still very cold, but the sunny was shining bright enough on a February day for everyone to want to be outside to get a little sun.  If you know anything about Cleveland, OHIO, you know that February has the least amount of sunny days for the entire year.  Many have sun deprivation!  So, it was no surprise when Luke asked if he could go play outside.  He put on his warm, winter coat and boots and headed out to see what he could find.  He usually brings home long sticks and even has a collection of pet rocks that he carries in an old pet box.

After a little while we heard Luke rushing into the door of the apartment.  He was yelling that he had found a bunny and he wanted to share it with everyone.  At this point, in my mind, I am thinking "Bunny"!



Uncle Dylan was the first one to intercept Luke at the door and I hear him say, "He buddy, you do know that that Bunny is dead!?" and I hear Luke say,  "Yea Uncle Dilly, but look at his neat eyes!"  At this point, Melissa goes out to see the bunny and I hear her screaming, telling him to take it back outside.  Mom often exaggerates.  She hates Luke to even get dirty.  All she wanted him to do was go wash his "gloved" hands!  Three times!

When she insisted that he take the bunny back outside, she realized a picture is worth a thousand words.

Not sure you can see it clearly, but he is holding a rabbit that its ears are at his shoulder and his feel are down past his knees and he was so very proud of this ole rabbit!!

He actually wanted to take it over to his Papa Bill's house (Melissa's Dad's) and put it on his porch.  Papa Bill is a hunter and Luke wanted to share it with him.  Melissa was willing to drive it over there, but only if Luke would put it in her trunk.

Well, we did not share it with Papa Bill, but just ask Luke anytime about his pet rabbit and he will be glad to share a complete description of it.

YOU CALL THIS TOAST!

It seems that Devon and I have stories that just keep coming to mind.  There used to be a Denny's Restaurant on the corner of our street and we would go there in a pinch.  It was never a very busy restaurant, and we enjoyed the quite times together.

One late evening, we were sitting in a booth, and an older couple (older than us anyways) were seated in the booth in front of us.  Devon was facing them, as he is more of a people watcher.  I had my back to them, but it was easy to hear their conversation, as they were quite loud.

The husband was complaining that his wife was suppose to go to the bathroom when they got to there.  She informed him that she had changed her mind and had gone at home!  He was not happy that she was not doing what she said she was going to do and the conversation continued to this end.

The young waitress, came and took their order.  The man had ordered his eggs with a toasted English Muffin. You can imagine the conversation as he complained about what his wife was ordering and insisted she would not eat everything.

A few minutes later, the waitress brought their food and set it on the table.  You could hear the man was not happy again and why would he...he did not seem to be happy with much of anything.

This young waitress came back and asked them if everything was to their satisfaction.  Oh my, what a question to ask.   The man picked up his English Muffin and said "You call this toast?'

The young girl looked at it carefully and said, "No sir, we call that an English Muffin!".  The poor thing was just caught off guard and in her innocence, answered honestly.

I could not control myself and was laughing out loud..  Since Devon and I continued to talk about it and we were both laughing, I'm sure that man had no idea we were laughing at him.

After they left, we joked with the waitress about the entire conversation and felt it necessary to leave her an extra tip, since we concluded that the angry man probably did not!

Now, every time things are not what we expect, we use the line "YOU CALL THIS TOAST!"

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.