The book by Paul Gallico..other wise known as "the manual for kittens, strays and homeless cats" one of my favorite books and his other book "The Abandoned" about a cat that eventually comes back in the life of a boy in a coma, all go into the weird feline mystique that draws cat people to certainty that these animals live on another plane. Well the cat in the SPCA is probably not TEVA after looking at pictures and talking to the kids, Teva had alot of white that this cat does not have, but this cat is" something" and we have decided to adopt him. He has the attitude and personality that makes me believe for some reason this was meant to be. He so convinced me he was mine it was uncanny! I am calling today to make arrangements and we will pick him up on Saturday. Work precludes anything earlier this week as I have a late class tonight and have to go to Rockland tommorow. Ty said we have to have him Mom and I agree.
We had all wanted some kittens but kittens will always get adopted this guy found us. The way I kept getting drawn to that place it was all too weird. Last night as I was driving home thinking about the cat and all this truck cuts out in front of me and I was so mad and on his back window was a brand new Hancock County SPCA bumper sticker..I have never even seen one before. Jeez. I get the hint..Gretchen
e enjte, 29 mars 2007
e mërkurë, 28 mars 2007
Nine Lives
Well this one will blow most of you away who havent heard it yet. The ARC staff heard it earlier today. I stopped at the new Hancock County SPCA to see if they had any kittens, and to see the cats they did have. I had seen a picture of a black one that wasn't that old in the paper that looked kind of cute. No kittens, but we went in a room to see Sophie an 11 month old cat who liked to bite and scratc a little too much for my pleasure! The woman worker and I got into a discussion on how we had lost 2 cats in a matter of 10 months that just were not that old. She then said kitten season was coming up but that they would be screening carefully. The only other cats in the shelter were two older cats from one family, that could not keep them and a male tiger declawed front paws around 5 years old. They didn't know what his story was but he had been brought in by animal control literally when they opened and no one seemed to be looking for him even though he was declawed which was unusual. I asked to see him. I was stunned, they said he bit alot but he seemed calm as I put my hand to his cage. He was big but not heavy, I asked them to bring him out and he got on the desk and rubbed all over me. I am pretty sure its TEVA! He then layed on the desk like he would have at the store I was struck by the pose. I told the manager and the woman the story and asked if they knew where in Hancock county he came from. They had no record. I had seen an ad for this cat in their ad a week ago but even though the description was intriquing for a male with declawing the cat did not look like either of my males. It was a lousy picture, but in person was totally different. I called Don as soon as I got out of there..I am going to go home and get pictures together and then call them tommorow. Could I ever be truly sure..I don't know but somehow the stars lined up this way today and I have to go with it. We shall see. Gretchen
e premte, 23 mars 2007
TGIF
This week went really fast. I have been extremely busy all week with work. I was here until 9 last night. Taught the new Intro class for Disaster. It basically went well except that my "fav" volunteer had to take it because it's new and he hadn't had it yet. The element of surprise was on my side though, he really expected Ginny to be teaching or I don't think he would have lowered himself to a class taught by me. He really didnt shut up, when ever he had the chance to get a word in he most certainly did but I did a pretty good job limiting it. I definitely had the control and knew my stuff, threw in a few historical facts from a paper I wrote last fall for my Grad class in non profits on the ARC, I at least proved I deserve to be in this position. I have at least been here long enough that I can talk comfortably about disaster and emergency services.
I learn something new everyday though this is a big organization and its overwhelming when you try to realize the scope of it all.
Speaking of something new, I was trying to bone up for the evening when a gentleman called the office and asked if this Red Cross office "could take a message", I am thinking "what" then it hits me
A military emergency call..my first one!! On the day I am so nervous because of one volunteer.
Well that certainly took my mind off it all. For those of you who read this and don't know the ARC is the agency that takes messages from familys or military members and passes them on,
thru the military of course but we are the conduit for those messages. Deaths births etc. Requests for servicemembers to come home for emergencys etc. WE can also get messages to people that someone wants to know if they are ok..such as in a storm area and the phones are not working or something. Health and Welfare messages. Gotta love being an ARC Girl!
Speaking of something REALLY NEW...The couch is at the furniture store in Brewer..no Kim you can not go lay on it! They will deliver my "spring break" on Monday. Can't wait. The guy called this morning and I said can't you come today?? whine whine..Oh well a nice way to start off the week next week. Don thinks we should put the old one in the apartment ..why..when they will take it away I don't know. We'll see.
Mom called this morning was filling out some tax form wanted to know what year the store closed she said and I quote was it"1989, 1977 what was it..1963," and I said no 2004 Mom Oh yeah that's right she says..I don't think she had a clue as to what numbers she said wrong.
Very strange. Gotta keep an eye on that. Then She asked if we were going to the Storeys (a dinner thing) I said yes she said now thats tommorow I said no its tonight. She said she cant read her calendar. That one Missy gave her. No surprise there but anyways..
So everyone have a great weekend my guys are going spring skiing and boarding at the Loaf I have no desire to see snow so I am not going which means I did NO skiing this year pathetic.
Unless I change my mind at the last minute but thats doubtful. Care should have a nice warm one in DC..lucky girl.
ARC Girl..who should be working but is posting instead.
I learn something new everyday though this is a big organization and its overwhelming when you try to realize the scope of it all.
Speaking of something new, I was trying to bone up for the evening when a gentleman called the office and asked if this Red Cross office "could take a message", I am thinking "what" then it hits me
A military emergency call..my first one!! On the day I am so nervous because of one volunteer.
Well that certainly took my mind off it all. For those of you who read this and don't know the ARC is the agency that takes messages from familys or military members and passes them on,
thru the military of course but we are the conduit for those messages. Deaths births etc. Requests for servicemembers to come home for emergencys etc. WE can also get messages to people that someone wants to know if they are ok..such as in a storm area and the phones are not working or something. Health and Welfare messages. Gotta love being an ARC Girl!
Speaking of something REALLY NEW...The couch is at the furniture store in Brewer..no Kim you can not go lay on it! They will deliver my "spring break" on Monday. Can't wait. The guy called this morning and I said can't you come today?? whine whine..Oh well a nice way to start off the week next week. Don thinks we should put the old one in the apartment ..why..when they will take it away I don't know. We'll see.
Mom called this morning was filling out some tax form wanted to know what year the store closed she said and I quote was it"1989, 1977 what was it..1963," and I said no 2004 Mom Oh yeah that's right she says..I don't think she had a clue as to what numbers she said wrong.
Very strange. Gotta keep an eye on that. Then She asked if we were going to the Storeys (a dinner thing) I said yes she said now thats tommorow I said no its tonight. She said she cant read her calendar. That one Missy gave her. No surprise there but anyways..
So everyone have a great weekend my guys are going spring skiing and boarding at the Loaf I have no desire to see snow so I am not going which means I did NO skiing this year pathetic.
Unless I change my mind at the last minute but thats doubtful. Care should have a nice warm one in DC..lucky girl.
ARC Girl..who should be working but is posting instead.
e mërkurë, 21 mars 2007
Giga Byte Queen...
The ARC has a "Giga byte queen" named Hillary and I am now posting on my office computer because she just "right clicked and hit open new screen"..now tell me who..just who would ever come up with that solution. That was after she solved the problem with the cd ROM and the
client assistance program..which is still weird but it works!
I think the fact that I can cut and paste is good, and that I followed all the problem solving things Google said to do like "enabling cookies" and "script writer" and stuff on your tools and systems menu. But I will never ever be a Giga Byte Queen! Not even a princess! I am only more and more frustrated when machines don't work right.
Have to teach a brand new class tommorow night. Right now 7-8 people are signed up which is good but its all review for most of them and most are more experienced Red Crossers then I am so its a little nerve racking. So I will take my home work home tonight went over it last night but didnt have everything. Have to help Don clean out more junk from the store He wanted to consult Mom I said NO way. No consulting just throwing. After we are done we consult her with whats left.
Read your comments Super Sibs..by the way Good Deed's do you know how to count? I believe YOU are sib #2 and she is sib #3 not the other way around although she might like the new title and promotion..haha.
Still needs to warm up here...and that couch call needs to come! Went to lunch with Hillary and Ginny today and Hillary said I bet both of your houses are very clean..we both said no. I said mine is bright and sunny so you don't notice the dirt for all the windows most of the time. But the dust is incredible if you really look around. And now that its mud season the dirt is right in there with the dust.
Think spring G.
client assistance program..which is still weird but it works!
I think the fact that I can cut and paste is good, and that I followed all the problem solving things Google said to do like "enabling cookies" and "script writer" and stuff on your tools and systems menu. But I will never ever be a Giga Byte Queen! Not even a princess! I am only more and more frustrated when machines don't work right.
Have to teach a brand new class tommorow night. Right now 7-8 people are signed up which is good but its all review for most of them and most are more experienced Red Crossers then I am so its a little nerve racking. So I will take my home work home tonight went over it last night but didnt have everything. Have to help Don clean out more junk from the store He wanted to consult Mom I said NO way. No consulting just throwing. After we are done we consult her with whats left.
Read your comments Super Sibs..by the way Good Deed's do you know how to count? I believe YOU are sib #2 and she is sib #3 not the other way around although she might like the new title and promotion..haha.
Still needs to warm up here...and that couch call needs to come! Went to lunch with Hillary and Ginny today and Hillary said I bet both of your houses are very clean..we both said no. I said mine is bright and sunny so you don't notice the dirt for all the windows most of the time. But the dust is incredible if you really look around. And now that its mud season the dirt is right in there with the dust.
Think spring G.
e martë, 20 mars 2007
Isn't technology grand?
I am typing this on my co-workers computer which is several years older than my brand new one but I can n0 longer post on it...today it would not allow me to read and print a cd rom for a class I have to teach on Thursday ..Thank you. Not that it mattered because the printer I used is now almost out of toner and will be soon. And before I came to work my debit card which has been working erratically since they changed the numbers due to the TJ MAXX thing didn't work again..UGH. I guess can't complain though because the computer I had before this did not even work at all! And the bank says not to worry ..right!
I think all this technology stuff is supposed to make our lives easier, but when everything you have to do depends on your computer working it makes it so much harder to get the job done..
then my frustration level goes way up. Right now I reallly need to be putting cases into the ARC system, program isn't letting me enter info, putting this class together..cd rom not working..printing out shelter letters..toner almost out..and I can't even post this blog without using Corinna's machine.
So what else..my new couch needs to come, I need something spring in my life and I have decided that yellow couch will do it..then I can make pillows and stuff. I might get motivated to paint and spring clean even. We have to start clearing out the store..mom's stuff is going to the dump.
What she doesn't know won't hurt her. Of course I will save anything of value but if its not in that new apartment now she doesn't need it!! She thinks some of this stuff is yard sale worthy..NOT! We may have a rental for the summer more on that later if it works out! I'd rather sell the place but someone to pay the mortgage and make it look saleable is fine.
Think Spring..think Gretchen's couch...pray for Gretchens computer...ARC Girl
I think all this technology stuff is supposed to make our lives easier, but when everything you have to do depends on your computer working it makes it so much harder to get the job done..
then my frustration level goes way up. Right now I reallly need to be putting cases into the ARC system, program isn't letting me enter info, putting this class together..cd rom not working..printing out shelter letters..toner almost out..and I can't even post this blog without using Corinna's machine.
So what else..my new couch needs to come, I need something spring in my life and I have decided that yellow couch will do it..then I can make pillows and stuff. I might get motivated to paint and spring clean even. We have to start clearing out the store..mom's stuff is going to the dump.
What she doesn't know won't hurt her. Of course I will save anything of value but if its not in that new apartment now she doesn't need it!! She thinks some of this stuff is yard sale worthy..NOT! We may have a rental for the summer more on that later if it works out! I'd rather sell the place but someone to pay the mortgage and make it look saleable is fine.
Think Spring..think Gretchen's couch...pray for Gretchens computer...ARC Girl
e hënë, 19 mars 2007
The Suitcase..Final Installment
Well we took the girl back to the airport yesterday. Before she left I put a new ID tag on her bag with a reversible card in it. One side had her GW address the other her home address. Then I tied a pretty pink and green check ribbon on the handle of the bag..Brandon said what are you doing that for..I said have you tried looking for a black bag in an airport recently??
When we left Sedgwick it was snowing somewhat but it stopped by the time we got on Rte 3 to Augusta and the Sun came out. Never the less her plane was still delayed by an hour. The storm over the weekend had still backed things up. She had a direct flight back so I wasnt too worried. Told her to call when she got in. Well we were almost home and its was a little after I expected the phone call when she called and said Yes she was in DC but still at the airport and had been for the past hour looking for her suitcase. Apparently the baggage area looked like a suitcase warehouse. Hundreds of Bags were thrown everywhere and there was a line at the office snaking thru the room. Carousels were also loaded with incoming bags. She said she had never seen anything so bad. NOne of the carousels indicated which flights the bags were from and people were trying to guess. A person standing next to her told her she had only seen it look this bad once, when the baggage people were on strike.
She did finnally find her bag on a carousel that had another flights bags, took a cab and got back to campus no worse the wear. She could have been one of those college students who spent the night at BIA on Red Cross cots!
It doesnt make alot of sense the whole airline issue..they have had plenty of warning for this storm, but it sure does make a mess when they have one.
Hopefully that was the last big one of the winter but I am sure I probably will regret saying that.
Lots of fires this weekend, flooding everywhere and 1200 people stuck at the Bangor airport.
Somehow I was on the outskirts of most of it. Got one of the fire calls as it was in Stonington which I passed to my "reluctant" volunteer. Who now is going to send the paperwork to Rockland for a Hancock County fire...yep that guy really likes me.!
Off to the grocery store G.
When we left Sedgwick it was snowing somewhat but it stopped by the time we got on Rte 3 to Augusta and the Sun came out. Never the less her plane was still delayed by an hour. The storm over the weekend had still backed things up. She had a direct flight back so I wasnt too worried. Told her to call when she got in. Well we were almost home and its was a little after I expected the phone call when she called and said Yes she was in DC but still at the airport and had been for the past hour looking for her suitcase. Apparently the baggage area looked like a suitcase warehouse. Hundreds of Bags were thrown everywhere and there was a line at the office snaking thru the room. Carousels were also loaded with incoming bags. She said she had never seen anything so bad. NOne of the carousels indicated which flights the bags were from and people were trying to guess. A person standing next to her told her she had only seen it look this bad once, when the baggage people were on strike.
She did finnally find her bag on a carousel that had another flights bags, took a cab and got back to campus no worse the wear. She could have been one of those college students who spent the night at BIA on Red Cross cots!
It doesnt make alot of sense the whole airline issue..they have had plenty of warning for this storm, but it sure does make a mess when they have one.
Hopefully that was the last big one of the winter but I am sure I probably will regret saying that.
Lots of fires this weekend, flooding everywhere and 1200 people stuck at the Bangor airport.
Somehow I was on the outskirts of most of it. Got one of the fire calls as it was in Stonington which I passed to my "reluctant" volunteer. Who now is going to send the paperwork to Rockland for a Hancock County fire...yep that guy really likes me.!
Off to the grocery store G.
e shtunë, 17 mars 2007
Green Rain...Ice..sleet...have a beer!
Yuck what a messy day..everything seems to be leaking unless you get out in the gale force winds and clear the ice dams! Yep. Miserable only the irish could enjoy such misery! Stayed home and watched the parade from NY, made Kells Irish meatballs and other goodies for dinner, got to have Guiness for lunch because there was some extra in the can after I made the sauce for the meatballs...can't waste Guiness!
Don is over baling out Kathis cottage, the basement is completely flooded.
Ty has on his green tshirt "St. Patrick is my Homeboy"
Caroline..well she is loading her suitcase again, spring clothes now. She will get it long before we do!
Not much else today..have to go check the corn beef and make a pudding cake.
Happy St. Patricks Day all
"May the enemies of Ireland never eat bread or drink whiskey, but be tormented with itching with out the benefit of scratching"
Don is over baling out Kathis cottage, the basement is completely flooded.
Ty has on his green tshirt "St. Patrick is my Homeboy"
Caroline..well she is loading her suitcase again, spring clothes now. She will get it long before we do!
Not much else today..have to go check the corn beef and make a pudding cake.
Happy St. Patricks Day all
"May the enemies of Ireland never eat bread or drink whiskey, but be tormented with itching with out the benefit of scratching"
e enjte, 15 mars 2007
If you care to find me look to the western sky...
..for as someone told me lately everyone deserves a chance to fly. "Wicked" the musical.
(And the quote in Caroline's yearbook.) Possibly one of our favorite plays..unfortunately last night her old high school show choir "attempted" it and failed miserably. They have always been an award winning group of which she was a member for 4 years. It was very difficult to watch and when it was over she looked at me and said "don't say a word..nothing" until we get in the car! Sheesh! After talking to a few of her friends still in the group we finnally left and she starts in...not me...her...raving! I kept saying "Tyler who is doing the raving??" "notice who is raving here?" Today her only comment was it looked like middle school amateur hour. Yikes.
It was bad..They are taking this production to states and a national competition in Florida. I told her I would try to see it again in a week when they are putting it on with the one-act which I want to see because some of the kids she student directed for one-acts last year are in it. I don't t hink there is much they can do unless a complete overhaul is possible. Two out of three soloist should go! I don't know...
So after dissing the show she put the Wicked cd on in the car to get "their voices" out of her head and started to sing with the tape. Her voice is back to where it was when John was teaching her. Her range is bigger again with a really strong soprano tone and great breath support she gave me goose bumps in the car. I commented later about it and she said it was the GW teacher. She didnt totally care for her initially but now that she has her for 1 hour instead of 30 minutes she said its 100% better. After that terrible bout last year with bronchitis and pertussis that really took her voice and during auditions and competition times , even though she pulled it off, it was never what we knew it was previously her junior year.
Today was an EMA meeting on School emergency planning. What is up with school people? Huh ? I mean give me a break. Reality is you need to do this and you need to help out the first responders and you need to not be so darn negative about everything "you can't do" because you can do it and after something happens is just too darn late!! I heard too many whiny principals today..(women mostly). No we can't clean up the hallways, no we can't lock the doors,
no we cant look around the room.. Ok what can you do to help? I hope we don't have any school incidents while I am employed in this job it won't be pretty.
Ty's picture is in the Ellsworth American playing bb if anyone gets it! He's the good looking one!
Enough of my rambles for the day guess I will go check everyone elses...wonder if Ginny got any one to fix my blog at work...Now thats "Emergency Management"! ARC G.
(And the quote in Caroline's yearbook.) Possibly one of our favorite plays..unfortunately last night her old high school show choir "attempted" it and failed miserably. They have always been an award winning group of which she was a member for 4 years. It was very difficult to watch and when it was over she looked at me and said "don't say a word..nothing" until we get in the car! Sheesh! After talking to a few of her friends still in the group we finnally left and she starts in...not me...her...raving! I kept saying "Tyler who is doing the raving??" "notice who is raving here?" Today her only comment was it looked like middle school amateur hour. Yikes.
It was bad..They are taking this production to states and a national competition in Florida. I told her I would try to see it again in a week when they are putting it on with the one-act which I want to see because some of the kids she student directed for one-acts last year are in it. I don't t hink there is much they can do unless a complete overhaul is possible. Two out of three soloist should go! I don't know...
So after dissing the show she put the Wicked cd on in the car to get "their voices" out of her head and started to sing with the tape. Her voice is back to where it was when John was teaching her. Her range is bigger again with a really strong soprano tone and great breath support she gave me goose bumps in the car. I commented later about it and she said it was the GW teacher. She didnt totally care for her initially but now that she has her for 1 hour instead of 30 minutes she said its 100% better. After that terrible bout last year with bronchitis and pertussis that really took her voice and during auditions and competition times , even though she pulled it off, it was never what we knew it was previously her junior year.
Today was an EMA meeting on School emergency planning. What is up with school people? Huh ? I mean give me a break. Reality is you need to do this and you need to help out the first responders and you need to not be so darn negative about everything "you can't do" because you can do it and after something happens is just too darn late!! I heard too many whiny principals today..(women mostly). No we can't clean up the hallways, no we can't lock the doors,
no we cant look around the room.. Ok what can you do to help? I hope we don't have any school incidents while I am employed in this job it won't be pretty.
Ty's picture is in the Ellsworth American playing bb if anyone gets it! He's the good looking one!
Enough of my rambles for the day guess I will go check everyone elses...wonder if Ginny got any one to fix my blog at work...Now thats "Emergency Management"! ARC G.
e martë, 13 mars 2007
Did I tell you I love my job...
Yep, even when that blasted heater overhead goes on and I can't hear myself think, I still love my job. I had the best time at the Dedham fire Dept last night. The chief made a roast pork dinner with roasted potatoes and salad and rolls and a special gravy. I got the grand tour of the place and got to talk for about 45 minutes about the Red Cross and disaster/emergency services. I have become quite comfortable talking about what we do and how we do it. I enjoy meeting so many people that will inevitably be working with us in the event of a disaster. I think alot of people in Hancock County are glad to put a face to the Red Cross. They know the organization is there but so many are not clear on exactly what and where we will be if they need us.
Suitcase Up date: I spent about 30 minutes on the phone to some national call center yesterday about 4:30 pm and they said the bag was in Portland..tell me something I don't know! BUT they could not get a hold of anyone to ship it out either!!!! Imagine that. They finnally said they would send an Urgent message what ever that means. This morning I got a call saying her bag was in Portland from the the Portland Baggage people..duh! I think its been there since Sunday.
They will ship it FEDEX today for arrival tommorow.
my desk computer will still not allow a post on any blog..go figure! Its really weird. Just the top
tool bar and ability to open a new post is not possible. I can comment read others and my account is still there.
Well back to those shelter survey renewals...all 800 million of them..just kidding No superdomes in Maine yet..although Presque Isle "thinks" they have one...ARC G.
Suitcase Up date: I spent about 30 minutes on the phone to some national call center yesterday about 4:30 pm and they said the bag was in Portland..tell me something I don't know! BUT they could not get a hold of anyone to ship it out either!!!! Imagine that. They finnally said they would send an Urgent message what ever that means. This morning I got a call saying her bag was in Portland from the the Portland Baggage people..duh! I think its been there since Sunday.
They will ship it FEDEX today for arrival tommorow.
my desk computer will still not allow a post on any blog..go figure! Its really weird. Just the top
tool bar and ability to open a new post is not possible. I can comment read others and my account is still there.
Well back to those shelter survey renewals...all 800 million of them..just kidding No superdomes in Maine yet..although Presque Isle "thinks" they have one...ARC G.
e hënë, 12 mars 2007
Mondays...
It is definitely Monday, and with day light savings time whew...I overslept, the messages and phone calls and whatever are just backing up. Caroline's luggage apparently was in Boston yesterday! NO she did not ever fly thru Boston. They left a message they would ship to Portland. Have not heard since..UGH!!!!!!!!!!! At least it is found. She was having a minor melt down yesterday about it. There are library books in it and the notes for a research paper.
Downloaded some emails at home this morning and a dear friends mother (Nancy Buckingham's) who I knew was terminal passed away this weekend..Quick. I called Don to tell him and he said it must have been a weekend for dying. One of the bosses he worked for at Hinckley dropped dead this weekend. Our age, with children (3) younger than ours. Not sure why yet but everyone is really shocked. I remember one night having a night cap with him and his wife in the Boston Harbor Hotel after a Hinckley Corporate Christmas Party down there..I think thats the last time I saw him.
Still can not post on my own blog at my computer at work have to use all other computers. I can do everything else..I will show it to Ginny on Wednesday its really weird. I can access my account post on other blogs etc but the tool bar is frozen only on my machine! Hillary what did you do??
Well ARC girl has dinner with the Dedham Lucerne fire department tonight. I am talking about disaster relief on an individual and large scale basis as well as our new ERV for forest fires etc.
Wonder whats for dinner?? G.
Downloaded some emails at home this morning and a dear friends mother (Nancy Buckingham's) who I knew was terminal passed away this weekend..Quick. I called Don to tell him and he said it must have been a weekend for dying. One of the bosses he worked for at Hinckley dropped dead this weekend. Our age, with children (3) younger than ours. Not sure why yet but everyone is really shocked. I remember one night having a night cap with him and his wife in the Boston Harbor Hotel after a Hinckley Corporate Christmas Party down there..I think thats the last time I saw him.
Still can not post on my own blog at my computer at work have to use all other computers. I can do everything else..I will show it to Ginny on Wednesday its really weird. I can access my account post on other blogs etc but the tool bar is frozen only on my machine! Hillary what did you do??
Well ARC girl has dinner with the Dedham Lucerne fire department tonight. I am talking about disaster relief on an individual and large scale basis as well as our new ERV for forest fires etc.
Wonder whats for dinner?? G.
Car Talk
Saturday Night: after coming home from Portland frustrated, ranting about Caroline's lost luggage (which is still missing!) we had dinner and had to head out to the boy's third basketball game of the day. The Sheriffs cup invitational tournament was this weekend with 60 teams from eastern Maine in Ellsworth. Don and Ty's team had the first game of the day 8:30 am and the last game of the day 8:30 pm so they had been driving back and forth all day. Ty did not show up at the house for dinner as he had stayed to watch a girls team play. So he walked in just in time to turn around and go back out again. He and Caroline had barely said hello, but before they even left the house they had downloaded a cd for the car. Then proceeded to get reacquainted in the back seat as we drove to Trenton. It was so funny to listen to them go from one subject to the other as the 18 year old and the 13 year old compared notes on school life and music their favorite subjects. "Ty have you ever seen a cock Roach...we had one in the dorm and got our rain boots on and stomped it to death"...."Cool". "Ty have you ever had a Wendys frosty? Mom and Dad have deprived us...they are sooo good..." "Lets get one after the game.."
They talked the entire ride, I forgot how that sounded with just one at home now who automatically puts in his Ipod, and quietly sits. No banter, no fights, no "car talk" It was good!
I needed it after the airline debacle. ARC MOM
They talked the entire ride, I forgot how that sounded with just one at home now who automatically puts in his Ipod, and quietly sits. No banter, no fights, no "car talk" It was good!
I needed it after the airline debacle. ARC MOM
e shtunë, 10 mars 2007
Not a good sign..
First of all yesterday afternoon when I tried to write on this thing at work on a brand new computer with high speed internet etc...I couldn't enter my own blog. I went through all the steps to make sure everything was "turned off and on" and it was...I don't know. Hillary was trying to get my computer to accept an ARC program and had to download and then get rid of several programs who knows what that did..I found I could still comment to everyone but not on my site! UGH. So without saying what a fun meeting we had yesterday only because we laugh too much I left for Portland mad that my computer wasn't working.
Caroline texts as I am driving and she hasn't left DC yet and is concerned about connection in NY. Not a good sign...
I text her back that it will probably be behind there..which it was and she made the flight but....
YES her luggage did not. They told us the next flight in the am would have it. We arrived for the 10am flight checked all the bags..no bag. Had breakfast at Pannera and then went to the Mall to check out Vera Bradley bags, she wanted one (Yeah, she has no clothes, no underwear, no toiletries but she has a nice bag!) and I told her it was an early easter gift.
Drove home hoping the airlines had called...no.
Called the airlines.. No bag had come in on 1:30 flight. NOt a good sign..
Got on this slower than death computer to try to get the US Air schedule..it took so long to download I could have driven to Ellsworth for high speed. Couldn't get the schedule.
Not a good sign...
So on a whim thought I would see if I could post from home on this thing..well what do you know things may be looking up in the world if ARC Girl can still access this blog. At least I have
a place to vent..slower than death place to vent but none the less..it works..nothing else is right now.
By the way have you ever checked the list of what they will NOT reimburse you for if your bag never comes.? EVERYTHING, seriously. No wonder all those obnoxious people try to take everything on board with them. I may have to become obnoxious in the near future. We'll let you know. NOt a good sign ...G.
Caroline texts as I am driving and she hasn't left DC yet and is concerned about connection in NY. Not a good sign...
I text her back that it will probably be behind there..which it was and she made the flight but....
YES her luggage did not. They told us the next flight in the am would have it. We arrived for the 10am flight checked all the bags..no bag. Had breakfast at Pannera and then went to the Mall to check out Vera Bradley bags, she wanted one (Yeah, she has no clothes, no underwear, no toiletries but she has a nice bag!) and I told her it was an early easter gift.
Drove home hoping the airlines had called...no.
Called the airlines.. No bag had come in on 1:30 flight. NOt a good sign..
Got on this slower than death computer to try to get the US Air schedule..it took so long to download I could have driven to Ellsworth for high speed. Couldn't get the schedule.
Not a good sign...
So on a whim thought I would see if I could post from home on this thing..well what do you know things may be looking up in the world if ARC Girl can still access this blog. At least I have
a place to vent..slower than death place to vent but none the less..it works..nothing else is right now.
By the way have you ever checked the list of what they will NOT reimburse you for if your bag never comes.? EVERYTHING, seriously. No wonder all those obnoxious people try to take everything on board with them. I may have to become obnoxious in the near future. We'll let you know. NOt a good sign ...G.
e enjte, 8 mars 2007
ARC Girl in Action
So yesterday I get a call on the way to work that there is a house fire in progress in Ellsworth
and that it will be a total loss. I stop at the office to pick up some comfort kits, water and some identifying clothing.. we have an XL vest that Corinna said if I put on two more coats I could wear or her green baseball cap with "Red Cross Field Services" on it, considering the weather (8 degrees) I went for the hat! I had talked to the owner by cell phone who asked me to come to the scene. Glad I at least wore clogs! Every bit of water was freezing on contact, the house was on a hill off a side street from route 1A (High Street) the firemans O2 tanks were freezing up. The only saving grace was the wind was much less than it was on Tuesday so it felt like a heat wave comparitively. It was a big old New England Frame farm house three stories and fire popping out everywhere. A family of six would be homeless this evening.
It was exciting in a way as it was my first on scene work..the newspapers and tv want to talk to you and take pictures and all,but the reality of what you are doing really hits home as you watch someone's life go up in flames. I met with the family in the office later to set them up for the night and knew the circumstances of their day had not even come close to reality yet for them.
It is nice knowing though, we give that first bit of sanity and comfort back to a family when all else around them has crumbled.
Today the newspapers all had huge pictures and all three offices were fielding phone calls as well as the fire department on how to help. THis is a family who will make it through this. So many times it is a situation where they just don't get out of the hole the fire has caused. Makes me glad I can be there for both. Gretchen
and that it will be a total loss. I stop at the office to pick up some comfort kits, water and some identifying clothing.. we have an XL vest that Corinna said if I put on two more coats I could wear or her green baseball cap with "Red Cross Field Services" on it, considering the weather (8 degrees) I went for the hat! I had talked to the owner by cell phone who asked me to come to the scene. Glad I at least wore clogs! Every bit of water was freezing on contact, the house was on a hill off a side street from route 1A (High Street) the firemans O2 tanks were freezing up. The only saving grace was the wind was much less than it was on Tuesday so it felt like a heat wave comparitively. It was a big old New England Frame farm house three stories and fire popping out everywhere. A family of six would be homeless this evening.
It was exciting in a way as it was my first on scene work..the newspapers and tv want to talk to you and take pictures and all,but the reality of what you are doing really hits home as you watch someone's life go up in flames. I met with the family in the office later to set them up for the night and knew the circumstances of their day had not even come close to reality yet for them.
It is nice knowing though, we give that first bit of sanity and comfort back to a family when all else around them has crumbled.
Today the newspapers all had huge pictures and all three offices were fielding phone calls as well as the fire department on how to help. THis is a family who will make it through this. So many times it is a situation where they just don't get out of the hole the fire has caused. Makes me glad I can be there for both. Gretchen
e martë, 6 mars 2007
There should be a law..
2 yes TWO degrees and that is the temperature with OUT wind chill on March 6th! Give me a break. I hate this!! We need a law against this. I actually even wore a skirt yesterday! won't be seeing my legs today!!
My mother called while I was having my coffee and reading the paper and said "whats (emphasis on the Whats!) going on? I said I don't know..what? She said well there are fire engines across the street and down the street and I just can't tell if its Bill's or Buckinghams or further around the corner. I rushed to put on a pair of shoes stayed on the phone and told her I was going outside to look down at the corner. Well two steps outside and several swear words came out of my mouth! That was when I could breathe again. The wind took my breath away and the cold was unbelievable. Enough of that...I couldn't see any trucks and told her Bill probably thought he might have a chimney fire..they were starting to pull away as I said so.
So no fires in Sedgwick. This is not the day for one! Except of course in a fireplace.
WEll the boy wants to go to the concert in Montreal. So looks like we will take a couple days off for his April break and go to Canada. Haven't been to that city that I can remember. There is an entire underground portion of the city that is supposed to be pretty cool. I think its actually a shorter drive than Quebec city by the map, but not by much probably as you go west. Ty's passport expires on March 12, (Care's new one just came after 2 months waiting)..so we will never get one in time, but I think you can still drive across without one until 2008. I know they plan to pass a law that says 16 and under with parents with passports only need birthcertificates so that is what we will have with us ..terrorists that we are. Plus we will bring the expired one.
I will check the government websites to be certain though. Otherwise I am going to be paying for a rush passport and those are expensive.
Super Sib #2 is attempting to start her blog...looking forward to that. She is the real writer in the family the rest of us only pretend..So get on with it!! ARC girlsigning off.. going back to worK my boss reads this and she knows how good I am with technology...Hi Ginny!
My mother called while I was having my coffee and reading the paper and said "whats (emphasis on the Whats!) going on? I said I don't know..what? She said well there are fire engines across the street and down the street and I just can't tell if its Bill's or Buckinghams or further around the corner. I rushed to put on a pair of shoes stayed on the phone and told her I was going outside to look down at the corner. Well two steps outside and several swear words came out of my mouth! That was when I could breathe again. The wind took my breath away and the cold was unbelievable. Enough of that...I couldn't see any trucks and told her Bill probably thought he might have a chimney fire..they were starting to pull away as I said so.
So no fires in Sedgwick. This is not the day for one! Except of course in a fireplace.
WEll the boy wants to go to the concert in Montreal. So looks like we will take a couple days off for his April break and go to Canada. Haven't been to that city that I can remember. There is an entire underground portion of the city that is supposed to be pretty cool. I think its actually a shorter drive than Quebec city by the map, but not by much probably as you go west. Ty's passport expires on March 12, (Care's new one just came after 2 months waiting)..so we will never get one in time, but I think you can still drive across without one until 2008. I know they plan to pass a law that says 16 and under with parents with passports only need birthcertificates so that is what we will have with us ..terrorists that we are. Plus we will bring the expired one.
I will check the government websites to be certain though. Otherwise I am going to be paying for a rush passport and those are expensive.
Super Sib #2 is attempting to start her blog...looking forward to that. She is the real writer in the family the rest of us only pretend..So get on with it!! ARC girlsigning off.. going back to worK my boss reads this and she knows how good I am with technology...Hi Ginny!
e hënë, 5 mars 2007
ADD and Mondays
I definitely think I have ADD attention deficit disorder on Monday. I go from one thing to another to another and then back again and the papers pile up on the desk until they no longer have any meaning so then I shuffle them into piles that make sense again and then the phone rings and I need to take a message or find a paper and there goes the piles..then there's the computer and the email, which once you take care of it it multiplies right back at you.
The point of this discussion ..I don't know but I am writing this because I somehow lost focus on the piles on the desk.
Well my little one (she's not really little, 21!) in Africa is reading the blog..she likes it even if the biological children find it an aggravation, all the more reason to continue I think!!
Disappointed Tyler last night at dinner he had wanted to go to a concert in Boston with a friend the day before Easter. One, its the day before Easter, two, its a Rock concert in Boston and he is 13! Not an option we are comfortable with. John Mayer, though, is playing in Montreal over April
break and I offered that as an alternative and that we would take him..hmmm trip to Montreal and concert..hmmmm....he's not biting ...yet.
OK phones ringing back to work ARC Girl
The point of this discussion ..I don't know but I am writing this because I somehow lost focus on the piles on the desk.
Well my little one (she's not really little, 21!) in Africa is reading the blog..she likes it even if the biological children find it an aggravation, all the more reason to continue I think!!
Disappointed Tyler last night at dinner he had wanted to go to a concert in Boston with a friend the day before Easter. One, its the day before Easter, two, its a Rock concert in Boston and he is 13! Not an option we are comfortable with. John Mayer, though, is playing in Montreal over April
break and I offered that as an alternative and that we would take him..hmmm trip to Montreal and concert..hmmmm....he's not biting ...yet.
OK phones ringing back to work ARC Girl
e shtunë, 3 mars 2007
Super sibs and Saturdays
Hey I went on my blog only because I have not heard from my darling diva daughter, whose boyfriend is arriving imminently in Washington DC for the WEEK. Hmm could that be the reason to see if maybe she left a note there, no...but super sib #3 a member of the Trifecta did and with that started her own musings called Kymnasiums. Just push on my comments section for a connect if you know and love her. She will definitely make me laugh with her comments every day! Now Deed..where are you?
Town meeting was today 5 1/2 hours I think of discussions on trashdisposal contracts. Didn't even have to stand up and discuss the Red Cross they just gave us the money and every other group to get out of there. Did leave my cards with the fire chief though and he was glad for the personal connection. My ARC girl work for the day!
We kept egging Tyler on to show up at town meeting telling him what an exciting time it is..fights, yelling etc, he kept saying no thanks half way through who walks in the door but Tyler.
He stayed long enough to hear them give his father a round of applause for serving 7 years on the school board. That was pretty cool.
Right now the sirens outside and over the water are amazing..the Deer Isle boys won a state championship today and I swear every emergency vehichle must be going over that bridge with its sirens and horns on and the sound is carrying over the reach. Small town and island living.
Saturday night in Maine...hope you all have a good one. Gretchen
Town meeting was today 5 1/2 hours I think of discussions on trashdisposal contracts. Didn't even have to stand up and discuss the Red Cross they just gave us the money and every other group to get out of there. Did leave my cards with the fire chief though and he was glad for the personal connection. My ARC girl work for the day!
We kept egging Tyler on to show up at town meeting telling him what an exciting time it is..fights, yelling etc, he kept saying no thanks half way through who walks in the door but Tyler.
He stayed long enough to hear them give his father a round of applause for serving 7 years on the school board. That was pretty cool.
Right now the sirens outside and over the water are amazing..the Deer Isle boys won a state championship today and I swear every emergency vehichle must be going over that bridge with its sirens and horns on and the sound is carrying over the reach. Small town and island living.
Saturday night in Maine...hope you all have a good one. Gretchen
e premte, 2 mars 2007
Snow Day..good day to stay away from work!!
A snow storm couldn't have come at a better time considering what I did yesterday! I know it is one of the reasons I never liked blogs, myspace face book or any other webpages where people put stuff in writing that could be seen by others...yet.....
I wrote a personal email to a volunteer about another volunteers behavior in a meeting the evening before to extend my apologies for that man. Then when I went to send it I hit the wrong button sending the note to ALL the VOLUNTEERS!!! YES even the offensive volunteer!
Talk about feeling sick! After 45 seconds of complete panic I called my bosses who are the reasons I work for this organization and through their laughter they admonished me with the
"don't put that stuff in writing" advice that we all know!! And told me they would support me thru whatever happened next. The other volunteers soon emailed with sympathetic short notes about "did you want us to read this" and good luck! Fortunately the volunteer who is so
self important that he needs to be apologized for has blocked me from his email since I got this position so by the end of the afternoon the email had come back from him unread!
Moral of the story DONT PUT IT IN WRITING UNLESS YOU ARE SURE YOU WANT IT READ BY ANYONE!!
My children, particularly my dear daughter knows this one! (remember the cartoon in grade school!) Yet here is an example of how pervasive the internet is! Be careful with your blogs, your myspace your facebook you would be surprised who reads this stuff!
So good to not be near any instruments of self destruction today other than my own. Ginny wants full reports of any other incidents so she can have a good laugh.
Care hope Brandon makes it down the weather isnt good in Maine!
Stay warm and safe everyone ARC Girl (still...until I really screw up!)
I wrote a personal email to a volunteer about another volunteers behavior in a meeting the evening before to extend my apologies for that man. Then when I went to send it I hit the wrong button sending the note to ALL the VOLUNTEERS!!! YES even the offensive volunteer!
Talk about feeling sick! After 45 seconds of complete panic I called my bosses who are the reasons I work for this organization and through their laughter they admonished me with the
"don't put that stuff in writing" advice that we all know!! And told me they would support me thru whatever happened next. The other volunteers soon emailed with sympathetic short notes about "did you want us to read this" and good luck! Fortunately the volunteer who is so
self important that he needs to be apologized for has blocked me from his email since I got this position so by the end of the afternoon the email had come back from him unread!
Moral of the story DONT PUT IT IN WRITING UNLESS YOU ARE SURE YOU WANT IT READ BY ANYONE!!
My children, particularly my dear daughter knows this one! (remember the cartoon in grade school!) Yet here is an example of how pervasive the internet is! Be careful with your blogs, your myspace your facebook you would be surprised who reads this stuff!
So good to not be near any instruments of self destruction today other than my own. Ginny wants full reports of any other incidents so she can have a good laugh.
Care hope Brandon makes it down the weather isnt good in Maine!
Stay warm and safe everyone ARC Girl (still...until I really screw up!)
e enjte, 1 mars 2007
Back to Work
Since I haven't written because the internet was down..I get two posts today.. When I got back on Tuesday.. NO internet. How is an ARC girl supposed to function. No DSHR, No Crossnet
no Ginny's blog, no email from my colleagues in Bangor and Rockland..ugh. BORING!!
So WEd,. I down load 4 days of backed up emails! No time to write this thing. Ginny was here for the day and the volunteer meeting.
We worked on Shelter book from Presque Isle...interesting! That will keep me busy into next year. The CAS and CAC system of course does not like my pass words but we keep trying and then the meeting...
I was pleased I had really pushed the word on this and got a good response. Several even rsvp'd no, but would be interested in further meetings etc. Two volunteers (a couple) I wasn't really expecting came and made it very difficult. They have made it perfectly clear, I am not their favorite person for the job in Hancock County. Too bad! I did not appreciate their attempts to take over the meeting either. Enough said. I will not put up with it when push comes to shove though!
Ginny and I went to Helens I hope she isnt feeling guilty over the 7 onion rings she ate, that probably added .000003 lbs to her over all weight this week!
Snow storm tommorow, don't know what that will mean for work, driving etc. TY will be happy. Town meeting on Saturday and I get to talk about Red Cross. They will wonder by the end what else the O'Gradys do..school board, PTF, Y, etc etc.
Hope to get the sisters to join this blog thing at least the" top tier." The trifecta! That way we can know what each other is up to. I am sure my kids find this all soooooo interesting.
Ok Back to my real job.
no Ginny's blog, no email from my colleagues in Bangor and Rockland..ugh. BORING!!
So WEd,. I down load 4 days of backed up emails! No time to write this thing. Ginny was here for the day and the volunteer meeting.
We worked on Shelter book from Presque Isle...interesting! That will keep me busy into next year. The CAS and CAC system of course does not like my pass words but we keep trying and then the meeting...
I was pleased I had really pushed the word on this and got a good response. Several even rsvp'd no, but would be interested in further meetings etc. Two volunteers (a couple) I wasn't really expecting came and made it very difficult. They have made it perfectly clear, I am not their favorite person for the job in Hancock County. Too bad! I did not appreciate their attempts to take over the meeting either. Enough said. I will not put up with it when push comes to shove though!
Ginny and I went to Helens I hope she isnt feeling guilty over the 7 onion rings she ate, that probably added .000003 lbs to her over all weight this week!
Snow storm tommorow, don't know what that will mean for work, driving etc. TY will be happy. Town meeting on Saturday and I get to talk about Red Cross. They will wonder by the end what else the O'Gradys do..school board, PTF, Y, etc etc.
Hope to get the sisters to join this blog thing at least the" top tier." The trifecta! That way we can know what each other is up to. I am sure my kids find this all soooooo interesting.
Ok Back to my real job.
extra long weekend
Sooo..I started this thing I guess I better post! I actually wanted to but then the internet was down in the office on Tuesday which gets me to the title X-tra long weekend! Meaning spending quality time with American travelers in the airports across the North East. Yuh!!
Washington DC visit was excellent! Met Caroline at the theater dept and we walked back to Mitchell Hall, talked with the girls "Mitch Bitches" and then headed for Georgetown to an Italian Restaurant she and Brandon ate at the weekend before. John and David refused to let me take the metro back to Alexandria and I had curbside service back to Johns. John has a beautiful townhouse he is painstakingly decorating. David says only 5 people have probably slept in the guest room.
Saturday Care had to get some material for a costume class and instead of going to a Joann fabrics we opted to go to a fabric store downtown which was a treat. GORGEOUS fabrics, it was unreal. Cashmeres, camel hairs, mohairs, beaded fabrics couture fabrics everything. She bought some madras for a skirt she will make during break as well as some cute nautical fabric for her class. I picked up a coral upolstery fabric for pillows and to perhaps cover the footstool.
Saturday night the guys took us to the Peking Garden Inn, George and Barbara Bushes favorite chinese restaurant. It was in a strip mall which was a little surprising but the line was out the door. Once you were inside the place was cavernous. John and David frequent the place often, and the waiter was gay, so we were treated very very well. At one point there seemed to be an extra Mai tai on the table that David said they had brought by mistake...which he promptly gave to my underage daughter. I guess I was dumb enough to believe that one for a minute. The food was the best. Peking duck carved at the table..dumplings to die for. It really was something. We left full and with left overs which on Sunday they sent back with Caroline to the dorm.
Sunday Morning it was snowing very heavy and wet, long story short the plane sat on the runway, and when they let me off I went back to Alexandria where they were expecting me for another night! After a long long day monday I made it home and went straight to bed. Actually felt terrible. The weekend and seeing Care was great though. I miss not having a girl at home. She seemed much more settled and comfortable and she said so. She certainly charmed David and John (if a female can charm two gay guys) and they want her back any time!! It was a great winter escape.
Washington DC visit was excellent! Met Caroline at the theater dept and we walked back to Mitchell Hall, talked with the girls "Mitch Bitches" and then headed for Georgetown to an Italian Restaurant she and Brandon ate at the weekend before. John and David refused to let me take the metro back to Alexandria and I had curbside service back to Johns. John has a beautiful townhouse he is painstakingly decorating. David says only 5 people have probably slept in the guest room.
Saturday Care had to get some material for a costume class and instead of going to a Joann fabrics we opted to go to a fabric store downtown which was a treat. GORGEOUS fabrics, it was unreal. Cashmeres, camel hairs, mohairs, beaded fabrics couture fabrics everything. She bought some madras for a skirt she will make during break as well as some cute nautical fabric for her class. I picked up a coral upolstery fabric for pillows and to perhaps cover the footstool.
Saturday night the guys took us to the Peking Garden Inn, George and Barbara Bushes favorite chinese restaurant. It was in a strip mall which was a little surprising but the line was out the door. Once you were inside the place was cavernous. John and David frequent the place often, and the waiter was gay, so we were treated very very well. At one point there seemed to be an extra Mai tai on the table that David said they had brought by mistake...which he promptly gave to my underage daughter. I guess I was dumb enough to believe that one for a minute. The food was the best. Peking duck carved at the table..dumplings to die for. It really was something. We left full and with left overs which on Sunday they sent back with Caroline to the dorm.
Sunday Morning it was snowing very heavy and wet, long story short the plane sat on the runway, and when they let me off I went back to Alexandria where they were expecting me for another night! After a long long day monday I made it home and went straight to bed. Actually felt terrible. The weekend and seeing Care was great though. I miss not having a girl at home. She seemed much more settled and comfortable and she said so. She certainly charmed David and John (if a female can charm two gay guys) and they want her back any time!! It was a great winter escape.
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