Tree Trimmin' Time!

This weekend, we had Tom's parents over to help trim our Christmas tree. We started the tradition last year, and it's really been fun! Below, Tom picks out the ornaments and hands them to Bob (his stepdad) and I to hang. Mom is supervising.

BELOW: The Ornament Men: Bob and I

BELOW: Mom being camera shy by thrusting Franklin in front of the camera. Dolly was on her bed gnawing on a bone and out of the picture.

The tree looks really nice and it is positioned in the living room, so you can see it outside through the large front window of the house. Looks good! Tom previously hung up pine boughs on the three posts in the front of the house and a wreath on the front door.

A Nursing Home Visit

We went to a nursing home in Baltimore today to see our 86 year old friend Beverlee. Prior to that we hadn't seen her in 3 weeks, when I picked her up from the VA Hospital and brought her home. At that time, she was hospitalized for breathing difficulties (she's had them for years) which have become increasingly worse over the last 3 months. She's been on oxygen 24/7.
I met Beverlee 4 years ago at our friend Terry's house for Thanksgiving dinner. Terry met Bev at her Vet's office, and Bev was distraught having to put her cat down that day. Terry, being as she is, invited Bev to Thanksgiving dinner that week. Since then, I've always taken Dolly and Franklin to see her in her apartment in Baltimore City. She's funny, energetic, and very comfortable around everyone.
Today was a different story. She was sleeping when we arrived, and looked incredibly frail, now at around 75 pounds and drawn. She was hooked up to oxygen. The nurse woke her, and she recognized Tom and I, and the Dunkin' Donuts coffee and donuts we brought her. She seemed to go in and out of consciousness -getting fuzzy in between, and we couldn't understand her about 70% of the time. I wound up feeding her the donut, a little piece at a time, and she sipped the coffee through a straw. In her 15 minutes of lucidity, she wished Tom "happy birthday" (it was Nov. 23 and she remembered), and Dolly, too (hers was Nov. 29th). After about 45 minutes she was exhausted, and drifted back to sleep.
We just have the feeling that she's not going to be able to go home. She can't walk anymore, and can't even feed herself. She seems too weak to do anything but wake for less than an hour and sleep. It's heartbreaking to see her this way. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. Bev has been a great friend over the last 4 years, and we love her very much.

Meeting people around the holidays

I've met some nice people over the last couple of weeks through different situations. Maybe it's the holidays, maybe not. In the last week, Tom and I posted some free lumber and a free 6.5 foot pre-lit Christmas tree on Craigslist.com. (We bought a new tree together this week). Weeks before we also posted a free washer and dryer, that one of Tom's mom's neighbors wanted to give away.
Through these ads, I recieved a lot of email requests for all of them. I received several emails from people who couldn't afford a Christmas tree of any kind, or washer and dryer. It was heartbreaking to hear them. Regardless, the people that responded first and got the items were thankful, the others were understanding and appreciative for a simple email telling them the item went to the first respondent.
I also belong to bookmooch.com, a free book-swap service I enjoy. You post the books you want to mail to whoever wants them, and then use the web site to contact people who have a book you want. All you pay for is postage to mail your books out. The website maintains an inventory for you on-line. I've met a number of really nice folks there- just emailing about books they want to "mooch" or that I want to "mooch" from them. A woman in England noticed I had a dog book on my wishlist (as did about 20 others) and she emailed me to ask if I still wanted it. I was just contacted by a college senior studying marketing, now into superheroes (he swapped a couple of books with me).
The bottom line is that even if you have a bad commute, or someone takes your seat on the metro, or cuts you off on the road, there are a lot of good people out there, too. Just look for them.

Halos and Christmas Trees

EYE SAY, IT'S A HALO - Tom's right eye is still recovering from cataract surgery, and it's going to be a slow process. He can see the outline of the lens the surgeons implanted, and it looks like a waxing moon in his peripheral vision. Further, around every light, he sees "Blue Halos." Our friend Patrick asked if Tom was seeing a halo over my head. I told him, he should, everyone else can see it! LOL.
Anyway, the surgeon told Tom it may take a week to months to get the eye healed. Tom has a followup appointment next month.

CHRISTMAS TREE ADVENTURES - Last year may have been our first Christmas in the same house but we didn't have time to get a tree we both liked and put up my 5 year old-pre-lit multicolored 6.5 foot tree. It was from my past, so this year, we decided we wanted white lights (and I got a taller artificial tree, now 7.5 feet high) and we need to put the past in the past, and pick out a tree we both liked. We did.
A simple pleasure was going to Lowes and finding all artificial trees were 50% off! Of course, the one we wanted was out of stock, so we drove to another Lowes and found it there. It looks great (see picture). We added blue lights, but are waiting for Tom's parents to come over and help decorate it (our tradition began last year).
Because the old tree was in great shape and all lights worked, we put it on Craigslist.com. In FIVE MINUTES, I received 6 desperate pleas for it. Single mothers with kids and more. If you want to help someone, buy a prelit tree and put it on Craigslist as "free." You'll get a lot of responses and you'll make someone's Christmas. So, we gave it to the first respondent, a single mom in Washington, DC who never had a tree. She picked it up last night with her dad and brother, and it choked me up. So, look around this year. There are a lot of people hurting that could use some cheer.

On a Crazy "Qwest" with a Funny Ending

On Monday, while Tom was having cataract surgery, I used the time to get my blood drawn for my upcoming physical later this week. I was instructed to go to the "QWEST Laboratory" in Annapolis, not too far from the hospital where Tom was. - So, I checked the address on line, and also jotted down the phone number.
Tom and I got to the hospital early, so we decided to see exactly where the Qwest lab was, and we drove to the appropriate address. Knowing where it was, we drove back to the hospital, and checked him in. I then left for the lab.
When I arrived, I checked the directory, and there was no listing for Qwest labs. I called the phone number listed on the Internet, and it was a Fax machine. Hmmm. So, after walking through the building, I came across someone from another office who told me Qwest moved to "888 Bestgate Road." I thanked her and went back to Bestgate road (also still close to the hospital). I parked my pickup truck, went inside and again, no listing on the business directory. Hmm. Fortunately, I remembered the "order request" from my doctor, and on the back in tiny print was a main phone number. I called it, and got connected 3 or 4 times, finally to the Annapolis office of Qwest. Turns out it was about 5 minutes down the street.
Despite taking 40 minutes to find a place almost basically near the hospital (if ONLY they updated their website), my wait inside was relatively short.
HOWEVER, a young man who was there to have blood drawn, and who had downs syndrome (I think) was called in to have blood drawn before the waiting room started filling up with walk ins. The waiting room was packed with people and the boy was in the lab with a nurse (behind a door to the waiting room). Out of the dead quiet the boy shrieked and shrill screamed when the nurse was obviously taking his blood.
The faces of people (who didn't know the boy had downs or came in after he went behind the door into the lab) in the waiting room were looks of sheer Horror!! That made the extra 40 minutes to get there worth it. :)

Tom Successfully Had Cataract Surgery Today

7AM: Today, Tom is undergoing cataract surgery in his right eye. (SEE POST SURGERY UPDATE FURTHER DOWN). It's apparently an inherited condition, because they usually form in older or elderly folks. Although at times I tell Tom he acts like "an old coot!" :) It's an outpatient surgery that required 2 different (expensive) eye drops administered starting 2 days before and for the week after. He doesn't like the fasting part before surgery... and I don't blame him!
HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO HAVE A CATARACT:
What is a Cataract? Answer from Wikipedia: A cataract is a clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope, varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light. Early in the development of age-related cataract the power of the lens may be increased, causing near-sightedness (myopia), and the gradual yellowing and opacification of the lens may reduce the perception of blue colours. Cataracts typically progress slowly to cause vision loss and are potentially blinding if untreated... so get 'em fixed!
11:00 AM POST=-SURGERY UPDATE: Tom's surgery is over, and it went well. He's now home resting and I'm keeping an "EYE" on him. (Bad pun, I know). He has to put 3 different types of drops in his eyes (2 every 2 hours). We did stop at Panera Bread on the way home, though, as we BOTH had to fast this morning. He fasted for his operation, and I fasted to get blood drawn for my physical this Friday. **Tom's not allowed to do lifting or bending over, that means no housework, which is making him nuts! Thank God for TV!

Saw "007's Quantum of Solace"

Today was a rainy, cold, miserable weather day here in Maryland, with a high of only 41F, so we decided to do some Christmas shopping and go to the movies! We saw Daniel Craig in "007's Quantum of Solace." It was a good movie, about a B+. Of course, we just like looking at Daniel Craig. :)
James Bond is on the trail of the same bad guys that he left off fighting in Italy in the last movie (Casino Royale) and it picks up right after Casino left off. Despite that, we didn't think that the previous movie needed to be re-hashed. This movie pretty much stood on its own, even if you don't remember the last movie (like we didn't!) Anyway, Bond continues seeking the bad guys, even against his service's request. He goes from Italy to Haiti and Bolivia. You'll see boat, car, and plane chases and lots of outrageous fight scenes and chases. Regardless, this one is much easier to follow than "Casino Royale" and I think more memorable and entertaining. Of course, we think he could've had more time to show off his great physique.

Birthday Stuff/Black Friday Shopping

(PICTURE: Dolly chomping her new birthday dinosaur chew bone on their bed in the kitchen, while Franklin vigilantly watches for squirrels out in the backyard).
On Black Friday, Jeff drove up to Md. and went shopping with Rob, while Tom and his sister's other half, Steve put up crown molding in the house. Tom loves home projects and Rob prefers shopping for Christmas, so it worked out perfectly!
-The stores really weren't crowded. There were many people out, but the lines to buy stuff in Sears, Walmart, Kohls, Barnes and Noble, Lowes and other places we went didn't take longer than 10 minutes. Maybe the cashiers are getting faster? This was a total turnaround from even a couple of years ago, when I waited over an hour in line in one store. Anyway, armed with coffee, Jeff and I got a lot done and got great bargains.
Tom and Steve finished the crown molding, but it took longer than expected, so Steve left and joined Lisa, and Tom's folks for dinner, while I made leftovers and Tom finished the trim.

(PICTURE: I'm Franklin, and just where is my treat? He got 'em along with Dolly for her birthday)

Dolly Says: Today is My Birthday! I'm 4 Years Old!

(PICTURE: me!)
Today, November 29, 2008 is my fourth birthday. In dog years, that makes me 24. Yes, for the first 2 years of a dog's life it's 7 human years each, then all the rest are 5 human years for each doggy year. :) See how smart weimaraners are?
I'm Dolly Loretta Gutro-Williams. I'm 4 today, and have 2 great daddies, Tom and Rob, and a great brother, Franklin, although he ocassionally steals food from my bowl when I'm not looking! We eat, sleep, go on walks, and to doggy daycare and play together. Life wasn't always this good, though.
I was born out of a litter of 6 pups, 5 girls and 1 boy. My parents were owned by "breeders" in Atlanta, Georgia. When I was a week old, my momma apparently stepped on a rusty nail and got tetanus, and couldn't feed us pups, so the nasty people dumped us off at a dog shelter in Atlanta. They contacted "Wolf Creek Weimaraner Rescue" in Knoxville, Tennesee, managed by Amber Keirn. What an angel! She and Laura drove to Atlanta and got all of us pups, took us back to Tennessee, bottle fed us and raised us until we were 3 months old, and ready to go to forever homes. That's when Daddy Rob found me on the "Internet." We met March 11th, 2005 when daddy Rob and uncle Jeff drove down so Daddy Rob could adopt me.

{PICTURE: Daddy Rob and I meet for the first time on March 11, 2005)
(March 11th is exactly one week before Franklin's birthday... although Franklin and I wouldn't meet until January 2006 when our daddies introduced us.)
We're celebrating my 4th birthday with a trip to Petsmart and treats, and new toys, walks, and food and fun! Just the way I like it! Happy Birthday to me!
(PICTURE: Our daddies took us to Fort McHenry in Baltimore this summer. We love that place!)

A Nice Thanksgiving at Home

AROUND THE TABLE LEFT TO RIGHT: Tom, Dolly, Richard, Steve (hiding), Lisa, Jack, Mom Ruth (hiding); Dad Bob (peeking over Hil); Amy (on the floor); Hil.
Thanksgiving was very nice, and we had it right here at home. I started baking a couple of days in advance - corn bread, pumpkin pie, and birthday cake! We were joined my Tom's parents (Ruth and Bob); Tom's sister Lisa and boyfriend Steve; our friends Hil and Richard; and our friend Jack! There were 9 people and 4 canines!
DOG TIMES: - Hil and Richard brought their sweet little white mixed-breed furball, "Amy," who loved Dolly and Franklin. - Lisa and Steve have a little Yorkie, "Joey" that doesn't play well with other dogs and proved it by biting our Weimaraner Dolly on her nose and drawing blood. (Dolly is very passive and just tried to be friendly). Kids will always do something during a holiday, won't they?
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS: The end of November marks a couple of celebrations. Tom's birthday was Nov. 23, Dolly's birthday is Nov. 29th (her 4th) and Hil's birthday is Nov. 30th. So, I made a birthday cake and Tom and Hil blew out the candles for Dolly.
AROUND THE TABLE LEFT TO RIGHT: Hil blowing out his candles, Richard, Steve, Mom Ruth, and Tom blowing out his candles. Yes, the cake had orange icing for Thanksgiving!

My Mom - Always an Adventure

My dad used to say to my mother, "Norma, you don't even have to leave the house to get into trouble." How right he was...and still is! Even though Dad passed away some 3 months ago, his words will always ring true.
My mom decided to go on an errand yesterday and backed her car out of the driveway, right into a police car that was parked directly behindd her driveway. She broke the tail-light and the officer who was actually in the car at the time jumped out and went over to mom. He told her what she had done.
She said that she got out of the car and cussed him out for "parking illegally behind a driveway." She said he was 100% at fault and shouldn't have been there. - I do agree that people should NEVER park behind someone's driveway. That's just asking for trouble. Well, my mother let the officer know it. The officer somehow called the Chief of Police (likely mom asked him to) and the Chief was apparently around the neighborhood. He arrived quickly and asked Mom's name. She told him. The Chief said "Is your son the City Councillor." Mom said she gave attitude and told him "of course." (While I listened to mom (over the phone) tell me how mouthy she was I cringed in embarrassment for my younger brother the councilor). She then said "my other son is in insurance and will straighten everything out." So she marched both of them into her house and called my older brother. She told him how dumb the officer was for parking behind her driveway, then handed the phone to the officer. She said the officer and my brother laughed on the phone for awhile. (I assume my older brother was saying mom is a handfull!)... Anyway, mom is going to pay for the tail light and I bet that officer will never park his car behind her driveway again!

Happy Thanksgiving from us to You!

Happy Thanksgiving! - This is a picture of an arrangement that Tom made on our kitchen table, with a picture of our dogs, Dolly and Franklin- whom we're extremely thankful for. We're also thankful for our families and friends. We don't get to see all of you as often as we'd like, but that doesn't mean you're not in our thoughts and in our hearts. So, on Thanksgiving, it's you we'll be giving thanks for. We're also thankful for the love we share and every day we have with each other.
As you know from reading this blog, my dad passed away this August, and I'm thankful for the time we had with him. Tom and I got a lot of funny little sayings from my dad (in the three years Tom knew him), and memories that last a lifetime. This morning on the way to work (it's Wednesday) while driving the dogs to daycare, I played my favorite Christmas CD, Kenny and Dolly's "A Christmas to Remember." The song "(I'll be home) With Bells On" came on and I teared up through it- because about 10 years ago, I sat alone with mom and dad on Christmas afternoon, singing the songs from this CD for fun, and that was my dad's favorite. We were all out of key, and it sounded horrible, but it's a memory I'll always treasure and be thankful for. We hope that you can make memories this holiday that you'll be thankful for later in life. Happy Thanksgiving, Love, Rob, Tom, Dolly and Franklin