Weirdness

These odd things happen to me occasionally - but it hasn't happened in quite some time. It used to be, back in Clay Center, I would be driving in town and a vehicle would meet me and I would think it was someone I knew. It would turn out not to be them - but then seriously, within the next minute, I would see that person I was thinking of. That has happened to me so many times! It just is crazy!

Well today, I was driving home from work and pulled up behind a car at a stop light. I had the radio on and as I looked up to the vehicle in front of me, the radio said "This is WMQZ 97.2 and JUST AS THEY WERE SAYING THAT I looked into the back window of that car in front of me and there was a sticker that said WMQZ 97.2 !!!" I KNOW!! Maybe that doesn't seem so weird to you - but there are a zillion radio stations in this area and I don't know a one of their names. I seriously don't. And I rarely ever change channels - I keep it on this classic rock station all the time - but I don't even know the name of it. But today, I was channel checking so it was very random. It gave me goose bumps! And yet - I love it when that happens!

Things that make me smile

1. Waking up in the middle of the night, looking at the clock and finding out that it's only 12:30 pm.
2. Having coffee in my pajamas on a Saturday morning.
3. Walking past a bakery and smelling fresh bread.
4. Seeing a weiner dog run.
5. Hearing Braylon John say "Luv you Nana"
6. Being snowed in. (Granted, that hasn't happened since I don't know when)
7. Coming home from vacation and seeing that my plants are still alive on the deck.
8. Rummaging through a drawer and finding something you thought was lost.
9. Thinking about how my brother used to have me "smell" his spoon full of ice creme.
10. Fresh sheets on the bed.
11. High school reunions
12. That first color of green in the springtime
13. Scuffing your feet through leaves in the fall
14. Zits comicstrip in the newspaper
15. When you first see the mountains when you're on I-70 headed west
16. A pair of jeans that actually fit
17. Hearing God's voice beyond a shadow of a doubt

Transplanted Sheryl

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Segways

Jay and I just got back from Pittsburgh for a Health Physics conference. We were there all week and to be honest, I wasn't sure what I was going to do there. You may ask what we're doing sitting in this picture with pith helmets on. Well - this is the beginning a very fun adventure!




We went on a 2 hour tour of Pittsburgh on Segways! It was so much fun! We had about a half hour training session and a time for us to get our "Segway-legs" and we were off. We had a tour guide who had a microphone and all 9 of us in the tour had earphones to hear him. He would tell us where we would be going next, when to cross the street, that there was a bump ahead to watch out for and so on. He would also of course tell us about the sights around us. We went over two huge bridges (on the walk paths). We had a choice of wearing a bicycle helmet, a skateboarding helmet or pith helmets. Everyone chose the pith helmet (for the sun protection - it was 90 degrees) except for one man who wanted to be "cool" and he chose a bicycle helmet. I got to have the Segway nicknamed Nemo. Apparently some kid rode it off into the river once. He had been warned to settle down and he was messing around and drove it right off into the river. The Ohio river. It cost him $1400 to purchase a new battery. It was a little unsettling to know I had a Segway who wasn't afraid of swimming in the river.



I met Beverly, the wife of the next President of the Health Physics Society and she came with us on the tour. Here we are being extremely confident on our Segways!

We just had so much fun and now I'm ready to go on the Segway tour in DC!

Happy July 11th !

I just wanted to wish everyone "Happy 7-11 !!" :)

This is NOT a Post Office Story......

This may look like it's going to be a Post Office story, but it isn't. The fact that it occurred at the post office means nothing. This is about space invasion.

I'm not talking about little green men and flying saucers. I'm talking about my personal space. That 12" area that surrounds each of us. The area that is ok for grandchildren to play in. The area that friends can easily be a part of. That area where you feel just a little bit uncomfortable sharing with strangers.

So there I was - standing in line at the Post Office. (I swear this isn't going to be a Post Office story). It all started when I got out of my car and headed to the door. I wasn't necessarily in a hurry, but you know how it is by the end of the day. You just want to get home. All the way to the door, I heard someone behind me, almost running. They had "clippy" shoes on and I could hear her hurrying. I went right to the line and stood behind person #8. Miss Clippy Shoes came right behind me. And when I say right behind me, I mean RIGHT BEHIND ME. I thought to myself that she surely didn't mean to be so close and that she would quickly discover her social foopah and soon back up a bit. No deal. She stayed there.

I'm not sure I can tell you how close she was because I didn't turn around. But I'm guessing about 6". Seriously. I could hear her huffing. Sighing. Like the whole process was taking way too long - which is was - but this isn't a Post Office story.

I thought about turning around and looking at her and maybe that would embarrass her into backing up. I thought about all the things I could say to her:
"Back off!"
"Do you mind???"
"Um, excuse me - but why are you standing so close to me?"
"Seriously Lady - you're too close to me!"

But I just stood there. I wasn't afraid of her. I could take her. Plus - I had witnesses. Post Office Witnesses - and we know how hostile they can be if they have to.

As time went along, and the line moved forward, we both did. Together. In tandem.

I was surprised when they called "Next person in line please" that I was the only one who went up to the window. She stayed behind.

I didn't really look at her face - but when my transaction was done, I left the building and headed to my car. As I was getting in, I heard the familiar clip clop and here she came, to the mini van next to me. I got in, buckled up, put on my sun glasses and started to back out. SO DID SHE! She backed out and almost ran into me! Now - it was WAR! I tailgaited her. I did. Out through the parking lot. She got in the left turn lane and I got into the right turn lane. I turned right - and so did she. From the left turn lane. As we sat at the stop light, she behind me (as it should be) I just couldn't help but realize that this woman was somewhat distracted. I'll bet she had no idea that she had invaded my space. She had her own agenda and that was that.

So what is my lesson to be learned from this? I'm not sure. It just proves to me that everybody is different and what bothers me doesn't always bother everybody else. Is there a tolerance lesson here? Probably - but I hate being tolerant and I doubt I'll take that idea any further. :)

4th of July Weekend

This long 4th of July weekend gave us a chance to "get the heck out of Dodge" so to speak. We left Thursday afternoon after work and drove to Stanley, VA which is a small town just outside of Luray, VA where the "famous" Luray Caverns are. We stayed at the White Fence B&B and it was wonderful!




It was run by a very precious couple, Mike and Sally, and the accomodations were beautiful - not to mention the wonderful breakfasts! Sally made a picnic for us on Friday to take for our drive.



Friday morning we left after breakfast to go to Luray Caverns. I'm not much of a cave fan at all - not since I went through a cave in Colorado as a little girl and a bat flew into the chest of the guy in front of me.... but that's a whole other story. Anyway - I gathered all my guts and in I went. Actually - it wasn't bad at all. In fact, it was absolutely beautiful and I really enjoyed myself. I guess the bat issue had been far enough in the past I was able to face my fears!



Some of the formations were seen as reflections in some standing water in the cave and it was just almost unreal.



After the cave, we drove up into the Shenandoah National Park and I must say, the sights were beautiful. The thing was, there was quite a bit of rain and the clouds were very low - so we didn't get many good pictures - but this picture was kinda pretty I think.

It was just a nice weekend to get away from the noise and the busy-ness. The funny thing was, there were three other couples staying there - and we all lived within about 10 miles from each other here in the city! Everyone wants to get away!