Moving Mania (05-01-14)

  The last two weeks have been a blur of activity. As you can see from the picture, some of us were more active than others.
  I decided to fly back to Boston to help my sister move, so out came the suitcase again.











My visit this time around was only for 6 days.  I arrived a few days before the official move, and helped with the last minute packing, and the organization of the actual move.  I took absolutely no pictures on this trip, and stole this one from my sister.

The day of the move  the temps were in the 40s, and it rained most of the day.  Not a fun move- Once we got wet, we felt chilled most of the day. Still,  it all got done, and my sister and I went back to the old apartment the following day and did the last minute cleaning etc. 

I flew back to Fresno, CA a couple of days after helping my sister move, just in time to help our friends Kirk and Karen with the final two days of their move into their condo. Unfortunately, my luggage didn’t arrive back in California with me, and 3 days later, I finally received it this morning, after it sat in New York for 2 days.

The weather for the move in Fresno was almost as challenging as the weather in Boston, for different reasons.
And just when I thought the moving was all done, my daughter called to say she is going to look at apartments this weekend. I think by the time she moves we’ll be on the way to Alaska, but she doesn’t have much to move anyway, so she should be fine.






So, the next move is our move into the truck camper.  We are still working on Kirk and Karen’s condo for the next week or so, and then we can focus on fixing up the camper and actually moving into it.

Looking Forward to Being Warm Again (12-04-13)

The weather outside is frightful- downright cold, in fact.  This was the only snow we got while I was in Boston, luckily, but the temperature has been in the 20s and 30s- not exactly what I am used to these days. 

Once Thanksgiving was over, my sister wasted no time starting to prep for Christmas. She and I spent an afternoon building her Christmas tree.  I've never done that before- it was kinda fun!

Once it was put together, of course we had to decorate it.  Since she is "vertically challenged" I did the top branches.  It's pretty nice looking once its all decorated.  Now I am chomping at the bit to get home and put my own up!  Of course, mine only takes about 10 minutes, and that includes the decorating, but I am hoping to have my daughter come over and help us one afternoon, to make it more fun.

When the Boston Red Sox won the World Series, my brother and sister-in-law went on a buying frenzy so I am now the proud wearer of a World Series Champions shirt.  Awesome!  Maybe they'll have a reason to buy me a Superbowl Champion  one too?

Two weeks was a long time to be away, but it gave me the opportunity to relax and enjoy my visit, rather than running around trying to fit things in.  Apparently Dozer is missing me because he is bugging the heck out of Paul, wanting attention all the time.  Of course, Paul's been gone a lot too,  working on his projects so the cat's been alone a lot.  I'm sure he'll prove how much he missed me by biting me at the first opportunity.

Traditions (Boston, MA 08-13-12)

Most families have traditions, and mine is no exception.   One of our family traditions began over 42 years ago, when my parents decided they needed a much deserved weekend away from their four kids. They stayed at a small motel in New Hampshire, directly across the street from a beautiful beach.  As soon as they got home, they made plans to bring us kids to the Dunes Motel in Rye, NH. That was the start of one of my favorite traditions, our summer vacation at "The Dunes".  Every year  we would head there, staying anywhere from a few days to two weeks, depending on how far my parents could make their dollar stretch.     It's not the fanciest, or even the cleanest motel I have ever stayed in, but it had one thing going for it- location, location, location.

On the beach in 1994- me, brother Rich, sister-in-law Dawn, my daughter Jess, and son Stephen

We could grab our beach toys and a towel and walk across the street to play in the waves and the sand.

on the beach 2012- Stephen, Debbie, Rich, Dawn, Ray

 Once we'd had enough of the beach, we'd head back to the pool for a swim before heading out to dinner at our favorite restaurants.

Jess and I at the pool, 1994

 As the years went by, life changed, and not all of us could make it to the beach every year, but we all tried to go as often as we could.  Both of my kids have been going to "The Dunes" since before they could walk.
Eventually, I moved away and didn't have the chance to make the trek to Rye Beach for a long time.  My brothers and sister try to go every year, and they do manage to get there most years, although they only stay for a long weekend these days. 

Paul joins the tradition in 1999, with Jess

Jess and Stephen on the beach, 1999

on the beach, 1994, Ray and Jess

 Part of the reason I flew to Boston at this particular time is because it coincided with the trip to The Dunes. I had a great 4 day weekend with my family and it brought back a million childhood memories.

arriving at the motel, 2012- Richie, Stephen, Dawn and Ray

rainbow over the pool, 2012