A Birthday Celebration

Saturday, February 27 was our friend Jeff's birthday. Jeff and Rob have known each other for a decade, and Jeff was our best man at our wedding in Connecticut. First thing in the morning, as we've done for years is call Jeff and play Loretta Lynn's "Happy Birthday" song to Jeff over the phone (he does the same on our birthdays, as Loretta is his favorite singer).
In the afternoon, Jim and Terry hosted a BBQ birthday lunch for Jeff and we enjoyed seeing our friend Darold (who has now moved into his apt. in no. Virginia-and out of our guest room), and meeting Jim and Terry, Danny, and others. It was a lot of fun, and we all laughed a lot. In the photos: 1) Jeff, Tom and Rob; 2) Terry and Jim; 3) Danny, Jeff and Darold; 4 & 5) Opening presents 6&7) Group shots - in one we think Jeff was wearing his sunglasses to hide wrinkles. :) Happy Birthday, Jeff!

Melting Snow: Like Indiana Jones and the Temple of Poo

Now that a good part of our our 2-3 feet of snow from the 2 February blizzards is melting, walking in the backyard with a plastic bag is a necessity. When you have two dogs, and a heavy blanket of snow melts -you're bound to find "surprises." Because I'm currently reading a paperback adventure of Indiana Jones, I've dubbed this "treasure-finding" experience "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Poo." :) Always good to be "armed" with plastic bags in case you run into any hostile "poo-people!" :)

FINALLY! Our Bathroom Renovation is Done -4 Months!

Our first floor bathroom renovation is finally finished. It was started November 28, and today is February 25. Almost FOUR MONTHS to do a small bathroom.
IN THE BEGINNING - BATHROOM TORN UP THEN NOTHING - Long story short- we hired a contractor (the same one that did a great job on our upstairs 3-window dormer) in November and the first week he brought people in and tore out the bathtub, drywall, sink and toilet, and ripped up the tile floor. After the first week, he was scarce. He never brought samples over for tile, shower door, cabinets, shower handles, or anything. We picked out a door and he was supposed to order it. Three weeks later he said the guy he ordered it from retired and the order was lost, so Tom ordered it personally and we picked it up ourselves. We also went to a cabinet maker and ordered that ourselves. Of course, the cabinet was delivered 2 weeks ago, and the top half arrived DAMAGED. So I was home to receive it, and returned it... Good thing I was home and opened it up! Now we have another 4 weeks to wait for a replacement. Sigh.
FIRING THE ORIGINAL CONTRACTOR - By mid-January, our contractor never returned our calls after taking 80% of the money for the job. He finally left a message telling us that his elderly mother fell ill and had to move in with his family- so he has to convert his garage to an apartment for her. We know where our money went. He won't return calls, and we emailed him a request for some of the money back. No response. So, we left him a voicemail and fired him.
HIRED A NEW, GREAT CONTRACTOR - We hired the new subcontractor, Pete Dow of Bowie, Maryland- and he's FANTASTIC! He finished the job today, and did an incredible job. If you want a GREAT contractor, let us know, and we'll give you Pete's contact info. He's wonderful. Pictured here is the completed bathroom (all designed by Tom). Our dogs, Dolly and Franklin were so excited they had to pose in it!

A Hateful GOPer in Md. Wants to Impeach the Md. Atty General about Gay Rights

Did you hear what this ASS of a republican here in Maryland is trying to do ?
Donald Dwyer threatens impeachment after attorney general's opinion = A state attorney general's opinion allowing the recognition of gay marriages performed in other states has sparked cheers from supporters and outrage from opponents, with one Anne Arundel County delegate vowing to impeach Attorney General Douglas Gansler.
DONALD DWYER -R (Maryland) Needs to GO! He's a hateful nasty, Republican. I just called his office and the boy that answered his phone said "I'm a Christian like Mr. Dwyer". WELL, idiot- This is not a religious issue- It's a CIVIL ISSUE!!! I really hate ignorant, hateful, self-proclaimed "religious" whack jobs like Dwyer. He needs to focus on UNEMPLOYMENT, not gay bashing.
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/news/top/2010/02/25-34/Maryland-recognizes-out-of-state-gay-marriages.html
EMAIL THIS IDIOT and tell him to focus on real issues and stop his hateful stupidity! DON H. DWYER, JR., Republican, District 31, Anne Arundel County (410) 841-3047, (301) 858-3047 e-mail: don.dwyer@house.state.md.us

Cruise to the E. Caribbean - Day #6-St. Thomas

Okay- so it is taking me a long time to describe the cruise vacation to the Eastern Caribbean... there's a lot of other things going on right now, so excuse the delay. Here we go... DAY #6 (day 5 of the cruise) IN THE PORT OF ST. THOMAS, VIRGIN ISLANDS - On Wednesday, Feb. 10th the ship was docked at St. Thomas. We finished our breakfast by 7am and disembarked, walking around the pier for one hour. It was a new dock, recently built, and one Tom was unfamiliar with. We later learned that it was built purposely for cruise ships, because like Grand Turk, you walk into new shops, filled with expensive baubles, jewelry, etc.
It was 83F and sunny. We met with the group of "mature" gay men on the dock, that we were going on the land excursion with. The bus tour was scheduled for 9:30am, but the tour guide never showed. After 30 minutes of calling the tour bus company, a guide finally showed up. It was an older African-American man with graying Rastafarian hair. He was really friendly, and knowledgeable of the island. He drove an open-air tour bus that sat 12 and had no seatbelts, just side railings that came up about 10" from the seat. We all hung onto them because he drove up VERY STEEP hills like a bat out of hell! His driving was like a teenager on the highway, text messaging and talking to a passenger at the same time. We were nervous! We noticed that unlike Puerto Rico, folks drive on the LEFT side of the road there.

When we first started out, we passed a second shuttle with another group of older gay guys, and someone in our tour bus, who was from England, said "Give them all the queen's wave, it's appropriate to all parties." :)
The tourguide took us to three mountaintops where everyone took photos. We also stopped at a "Botanical Garden museum." It wasn't much of a botanical garden, but it once belonged to a wealthy plantation owner and was built on a steep hillside overlooking the "famous Megan's Bay." That was a beautiful view. The home was later purchased from Johnson and Johnson Co. It was destroyed in 1989 by Hurricane Hugo and rebuilt to include lavish furnishings. It was once a 16,000 acre plantation.
We returned to the ship for lunch at noon, wrote postcards and took a nap before getting a massage! Rob talked to Laura, the girl doing the treatment, the entire time, and she wound up requesting a copy of his book.
I don't remember the rest of the day other than sunning, reading, eating, and watching TV. We did enjoy seeing the towel animal "dog" when we returned to our cabin, and we did continue to leave notes with Alain and Alain between our cabins!

Maryland Now Recognizes Our Marriage (from Connecticut)!

WOW- We didn't know this would happen so quickly, and we're both so very, very excited and grateful. Maryland now recognizes out of state gay marriages, so our marriage in CT last June is now recognized here at home. This is amazing. Here are some
Gansler: Effective immediately Md. recognizes same-sex marriages performed elsewhere

UPDATE 2:50 P.M.: Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D) says effective immediately the state recognizes same-sex marriages performed elsewhere and state agencies should begin giving gay couples the rights they were awarded elsewhere.

UPDATE 10:25 a.m.: Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery), who requested the opinion from Gansler, said in a brief interview that he was unsure whether there would be any immediate ramifications.

"It's reaffirmation of what we thought, that Maryland can recognize gay marriage," Madaleno said.

He said that changes in state policy could result from a court ruling, legislation or administrative action. But none of those appear imminent, Madaleno said.

Original Post: A long-awaited opinion by Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D) out Wednesday morning concludes that the state's highest court is likely to rule at some point that same-sex marriages performed in other states are valid in Maryland.

The policy implications of the opinion are not immediately clear, and Gansler says in a one-page summary that his conclusion "is not free from doubt."
FULL STORY: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/annapolis/2010/02/gansler_marylands_high_court_l.html

Root Canals and Health

Our friend Sarah sent me the link to this website today. I have 3 root canals, and after reading this, I will NOT get another one. It makes sense that the body tries to rid dead things (like root-canaled teeth). I'm going to look into implants. Rob
Root canals are a part of dentistry called endodontics, which is concerned with the pathology of dental pulp and the area surrounding the root. A root canal is a procedure to allow a tooth that is painful or no longer viable because of nerve damage or death to remain in the mouth. Most dentists consider root canals an advance in dentistry--superior alternative to removal of a seriously compromised tooth. However a growing number of physicians, including dentists, believe that root canals can be the cause of, or at least contribute to, a long list of illnesses and degenerative diseases.
A "root canal" allows a patient to keep a dead tooth in his or her mouth. The fallacy with this concept is that the body doesn't like dead things in it and will try, sometimes desperately, to get rid of the dead thing. Notwithstanding, the fact that it may be "handy" to save a tooth for "dental convenience", it does not change the fact that root canal treatments can devastate the human immune system. Twenty million root canals are performed in the U.S. annually, and this number is estimated to double within the next few years.
THIS IS VERY INTERESTING... READ MORE AT:http://www.tuberose.com/Root_Canals.html

Cruise to the E. Caribbean - Day #5-Puerto Rico (& Video!)

This is a 31 second video that Rob took from the Holland America "Eurodam" cruise ship of the approach to Puerto Rico on Tuesday, February 9.

ARRIVAL IN PUERTO RICO! - Puerto Rico was truly the best place we visited during the cruise. We loved what little we saw, and we want to go back. We arrived at 1 p.m. Atlantic Time.
In the morning, while we were still at sea, we had breakfast as usual at 6:30 a.m., Tom did his daily Sudoku and crossword puzzle while Rob read his book and checked the internet briefly (I learned a Prince George's County Gazette reporter wanted to interview me when we got home!). We also watched the satellite news and saw Washington, DC was under a 2nd blizzard warning! 10-20" more snow on top of the 20" already. The Federal Gov't was closed on Monday and Tuesday, and most likely Wed. and Thursday.
Rob got T-mobile coverage so he called his mom, Tom's folks and Cozy Canine Camp to check on the dogs. Everyone was okay. By 1pm we disembarked in Puerto Rico. We met Carlos, the friendly tour guide who took us by a short bus to the El Yunque' rainforest.
We got to know our new friends Alain and his partner Alain on the bus, as they sat next to us. It made for a fun bus ride to the rainforest. They have a dog named "Micky" so we shared dog stories, too.
The rainforest was beautiful. The views and the foliage were amazing. We even climbed a tower that overlooked the forest and took a couple of photos (shown here). There were also a number of beautiful waterfalls in the National Park, too.





By the time the bus returned us to the pier, it was 5pm, and we had just enough time to walk into Old San Juan and see Columbus Square (the monument pictured here), and grab a nice dinner in a mexican restaurant called "La Madre's." After dinner we walked around the streets a short while, but almost all shops had closed (they closed at 6 p.m.). We were disappointed that we didn't get to explore this beautiful old town and the 2 forts that surround it.

We returned to the ship for dessert. While walking through the hallway, we bumped into the magician's assistant (from the show the night before) and Tom said to her, "tell us how you got out of that box!" (she was in a box on stage one minute and gone from it the next moment). She laughed and said she couldn't say. Then her two poodles came out of their cabin (they were in the show) so we got to play with them briefly.
Afterward, we got a ribbon for our next door neighbors (Merle and Lyle) so they could tie their balloons on their cabin's mailbox (in the hallway) and left a postcard in Alain and Alain's mailbox. We would do that the rest of the trip with each other, back and forth. We came back to the cabin to find a peacock towel animal!

More Photos from My 1st Book Signing!

Sunday, February 21 marked the day of my first book signing for the book "Ghosts and Spirits: Insights from a Medium." The turnout was great, and I had a wonderful time.
My thanks to Darleen, the manager of the Barnes and Noble in Annapolis, Md. for making it happen. Photographer Robert Carter captured these great photos- Thanks, Robert! (to see more of Robert's photography visit: http://rearlcarter.zenfolio.com
Here are some more photos from the event:
(Photo: my partner Tom and I)










(Photo: Jeff poses with me for a picture)










(Photo: I was talking with another local author who was also participating in the event. She wrote a book about the Murder of Mozart. She was also sensitive to energies and spirits, so we had a lot to talk about).









(Photo: My friend Diane came to the book signing, and I gave her a hug- her spaniel, Tegan came to me, and her story is included in the book!)

An Anniversary

(Photo: Buzz the puppy in 2004)
We all acknowledge anniversaries in different ways, and sometimes with flowers. Today, February 22, five years ago Rob's first Weimaraner puppy Buzz-Wyatt lost his life from a reckless driver when his leash opened. It's always been a somber day, but Buzz has come back to me (Rob) about 13 different times, including audible signs a visible appearance and various other ways. I know Buzz is at peace, so I'm content with that. Besides, if that tragic event didn't happen, we wouldn't have adopted our Weimaraner Dolly, who brings so much joy to our lives today. Buzz had deep green eyes, and everyone that saw them said "that puppy had an old soul." I totally agree. He was here for many reasons, and he taught me so much in a short time. I could go on, but I won't.
As I do on this day every year, I drop a single red rose on the spot where the accident occurred to let him know I shall never forget him (he knows that anyway, as do all spirits of loved ones who have passed on). So on the way home from a doctor's appointment today, I paid a quick visit to the site, told him I love him and brought him his rose (see photo).
It's so important to know that when someone passes away, they're only gone from the physical plane. They're still around whenever we call them, talk to them out loud (although you should limit those conversations to a private place so people don't think you've got issues), or think of them. Energy (the human spirit) can never be destroyed, only converted to a different form.
Here's to you, Buzz, I will always love you, and thank you for letting me know you're still checking in from time to time.

Some Ghost Stories at the Book Signing!

At the book signing I met a woman and her 6 year old daughter who told me of a female presence in their home.The woman apparently died there. I had the little girl draw a pic of the woman she saw, and it was a woman in a long brown dress holding a flower basket. The mother mentioned that a Menonite family lived in the old house, and I believe that this woman was the mother of that family. The little girl said that she hid her head in her hands after seeing the woman, who then appeared to vanish through a wall. I told her that the woman probably lived there before but wouldn't harm her. I instructed the little girl's mom to tell the ghost aloud that she doesn't live there any more- that their family now lives there and there's no place for the ghost. The ghost needs to go to the light. She agreed that the ghost was nothing to be afraid of, but it was a little unnerving to see things moved (apported).
Another fellow author told me that she's had quite a number of experiences, including feeling some oppressive force. I told her that it was likely not an entity but a bad energy, likely from people who are projecting bad feelings against her. The same woman also mentioned that she's been sensitive to ghosts, and had some encounters in New Orleans. She was fascinating to sit next to while I was signing books!

Book Signing Success!

SUCCESSFUL FIRST BOOK SIGNING!
Wow. Today I learned what it was like to have a book signing. I signed books in Barnes and Noble in Annapolis, Md. from 2-4 p.m., along with 11 other local authors. My thanks to Darleen at the store for arranging it and sending out postcards and advertisements.
To my friends who came and showed support, thank you all so very, very much for coming out to the book signing today. I was totally overwhelmed. I can't thank you all enough for the support, love and friendship. Most of all, thank you for believing in me, and for helping make this such an exciting first book signing event for me. I'll always remember it!