National Clock and Watch Museum

Yesterday, Tim and I took a drive up to Columbia, PA where I had arranged to meet my LibraryThing friend Linda and her husband for lunch. We had been corresponding/messaging on LT for over a year commiserating on our similar aches and pains and now that we were both doing better (knock on wood) we decided it was time to meet in real life.

So we had a lovely day to take a drive and visit. After lunch, we went to peruse the National Watch and Clock museum. It was absolutely amazing. Clocks for every shape and size were there to be seen and heard. tic tic tic, bong, bong bong.... There was even a library for horological research, one of the largest for the study of time in the world.

Here's a slide show of the pictures which include the 19th century Engle clock which was touted as the 8th wonder of the world in its day. If you get a chance to see it, it's well worth it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtDu3I_2toc

Maybe my luck is changing.

Yesterday a friend I had lent money to several years ago sent me a check - just out of the blue - I never thought I'd see that money again.

Yesterday, my husband Tim and I went to visit friends in Sheperdstown and while the boys played in a charity golf tournament, the girls went to the baby store where I got the cutest things for all my grandchildren. Then after returning to my friends house, another of our friends arrived with her Daughter-in-law and her new grandson - all of 7 weeks old. When he got fussy I was able to just rock him and sing to him and calm him down. It was a very peaceful time. Wish I could do it for my grandchildren. Then we went to dinner, meeting the boys who won 2nd place in the golf tournament, and I won the 50/50 drawing of $640. I thought the charity should have most of the money so I gave them back $370 and I kept $270.

I can spend it all on books! My Nook is going to get a big chunk of that!

Blogiversary passed by and I didn't notice!

Well, two weeks ago was the anniversary of this blog and somehow or other I was so busy that it just slipped right by me. I set up this blog to let my friends and family keep track of what I was doing and what was keeping me busy. So, I've decided that an update is in order.

Since I originally started out, I have made a design change and I hope everyone likes the look. So on to the update.

1) My diet has been placed on hold. (I joke about having given it up for Lent) I'm having a bit of stress related issues (will explain later on) and I need either comfort food or I'll have to go back to smoking. I figure comfort food is better.

2) My freelance job for Tim's office has been put on hold so I'm watching my pennies again. Hopefully, they will realize how valuable my services were and get me back on the payroll.

3) My golf skills have not improved (maybe because my back has flared up again and so I'm back in Physical Therapy). I still meet with the Ladies 9 holers (in fact, I was elected secretary for the group as well as the coordinator of the lady 9 holers invitationals), so I have to make sure that I get enough ladies to play at the other golf courses on the event days. This year we are hosting an Invitational, and as the event chairperson, I am delegating decoration design and goodie bag development while I handle invitations, name tags, place cards, and menu. So even though I'm not playing golf on a regular basis, I'm still involved with the group and having a great time!

4) Tim and I are still working diligently to get the Montgomery Country Club Bridge Group growing. With the new members that we recruited last year and additional members that we are finding along the way, we are now playing twice month. When the Club has events and no room for us we play at our house.

5) On the home front, last October a "friend" who had lost his job over a year ago and his home in September moved in for what was supposed to be a short period of time. However, as of this writing he is still here and driving me CRAZY! It seems that our hospitality is being stretched to the max. So here in lies my STRESS! The doctor told me that I need to have him move out, and I asked him for a prescription for that! He laughed, I was serious.

6) I'm currently in the middle of the demolition of Derry town. Tim rushed me last year and I didn't get the inventory updated so now I'm updating the photographs and inventory listing. Since that was delayed last year I put off the home inventory which I'm hoping to get done this summer working room to room updating the info on the rest of the house. Eventually I would like to burn a CD of that listing with pictures and give it to State Farm for safekeeping.While I’m working on the home inventory, I will also be working on making my will current (the last one was 15 years ago) so if anyone has something they would like to be heir to, let me know. If that’s not enough I also have the 5000+ photographs from the Bill Derry’s that I agreed to scan into my computer and burn CDs for everyone. (I haven’t forgotten.)

7) I would also like to get some work done on the two books that I am writing. The first is a novel that I started in 1993 and would like to eventually finish. The second is a children’s book that I am writing for my “grandson” Jackson. (Those that know me, also know that having had no children, it would be hard for me to have a grandson. However, when our nephew Christopher and his beautiful bride, Melanie, were expecting, Ellen (Christopher’s Mom – my sister-in-law) and Melanie’s Mom, Gloria, said that I could be Nonna – the Italian grandmother – they are sharing their grandson with me and I feel so blessed by their generosity. ) Hopefully, I will make some progress on both of these projects soon.

8) We were part of the "fortunate" area of the country that received the double blizzard in February - all tolled in less than a week we received nearly 40" of snow. Tim even had to stay home from work one day - can you believe it!

9) For my relaxation time, I have been reading and stitching. As of this day, I have read 38 books in 2010 and my goal is 120 books for the entire year. (2009 I read 162.) I have joined LIBRARYTHING (LT for short) and I have met so many nice people who share my love of reading. I have joined into a number of challenges/groups which drive the need to read those 120 books.

a) the Main Challenge is the 101020Challenge. Here each person chooses 10 categories and 10 books in each category = 100 books but I added a bonus category of 20 books for overflow.

b) Chunskter Challenge is to read 6 books of over 450 pages - this one I've already finished!

c) Supplement to the 101020 Challenge are the 75 and BOYS (Books off your Shelves) Challenges which are basically the same books.

d) The last challenge is the one that Tina (my sister) and I devised together. The US Presidents’ Challenge is to read the Biographies of all 43 Presidents before the end of the term of our current President. That gives us at least 4 years and possibly 8 to get this reading done. So far, (I’m reading in order) I finished Washington through Tyler in 2009 and I'm up to James Buchanan so far this year. (They say he's the worst but I haven't gotten that far yet.) I’ve been reading background books as well – Gold Rush, Mexican War - those kind of things so that I can get a feel for the time in history that these men occupied. Thanks to all my new friends at LT I have found so many new interests in books. I have been stretching my normal areas of reading to include history, biographies, (these are what led to the Presidents Challenge), Award Winning books/Authors (these are probably books I never would have read), non-fiction, and Classics. That doesn’t mean that I’ve given up on the old standards because I am still reading oodles of mysteries (I currently have 50 series that I follow) and I even made time for some romances this year.

10) I also have my Cross Stitch projects to do. (Molly , our niece and her husband Bryan are expecting in October and as "Nonna" I am doing the birth announcement as well as special Christmas stocking for Jackson. Lastly, I am still spending time travelling to Baltimore to visit with my Mom (she’s doing great) and I need to get working with my sister, Mary-Ruth, trying to finish up the cataloging of my Dad’s stamp collection.

So, Chèli’s Cozy Corner is very busy, but never too busy for the love of her life, TIM. This year we will be celebrating our 36th wedding anniversary and I can’t imagine what my life would have been like without this man who treats me like a princess and always, always, makes me feel loved beyond belief.

So, come in and sit down, anytime you’d like in my cozy little corner of the world. I don't post everyday, but hopefully, my postings are fun! Love to you all!

A trip to the Mountains

This week I set off to West Virginia to visit one of my best friends that I hadn't seen in quite a while. (The drive up was beautiful - the day was sunny and warm and the sky was bright blue and the trees were budding - a perfect day for a drive.) My friend, Chrissy, and I have known each other for over 30 years and though we don't get together as much as we used to, we do talk on the phone and e-mail back and forth but I hadn't actually seen her since August. We spent the time catching up on our activities and plans. We laughed, we cried, we got nostalgic.

We had planned to get together at the end of January but that was when all the snow storms/blizzards started and so we kept postponing until we could find a time that worked for both of us. Chrissy had been given a notebook computer last year and had asked me to come up and set it up for her so she was excited that we were finally going to get it done. I took care of her notebook, her picture keychain, checked out her scanner and NOAA device so her technological challenges have been addressed and she is moving forward in the 21st century. GO Chrissy!

It was great to see her and know that even with the distance between us, we are still the best of friends.

Countdown for the holidays has started!

I was just visiting my sister's blog (Tutu's Two Cents) and she confirmed that Beth, over at Beth Fish Reads has given us permission to take a break from our computers for the holidays. YES, the holidays... So blame it on Tutu, she got me starting thinking about the holidays and everything that had to be done. They are coming and with them, many mysteries to be solved with moments of wondering ....

• who do I invite?
• what will I wear to that party? Should I take something?
• when will I fit that into my schedule? Can I get it done in time?
• where can I get that gift? What color, what size?
• how will I get it all done?
• why can't I think of something for her/him?

There are so many decisions to be made each year and sometimes they become overwhelming.

• The tree - should we get a real one and should it be small or large or huge?
• Christmas Goodies - Should we cheat on our diets - dah, of course, but when can we start? What should we make and how much of each?
• What do we get everyone or are we giving gifts at all?
• Are we sending cards? Should we include a Christmas Letter?
• Decorations - Same old, same old, or something new and different?
• When will I see everyone? Do I travel to their house or invite them to mine?
  And what about all my book challenges? Will I manage to squeeze in all the final books I need to finish?

The answers, for me, are pretty simple...

• Trees - 1 Small, 1 medium, 1 large all fake
• baking - list decided- all I have to do is schedule what when
• presents - gift certificates for the out of town kids (I know that's cheating but they love to go after Christmas for all the sales and get exactly what they want) the siblings have ceased to exchange except for nominal items, so that leaves one for Mom and 1 for hubbie
• Cards are scheduled for the 2nd week in December
• Parties are all scheduled, invitations have been sent and RSVPs done,
• and decorations are in progress! (should be finished this weekend)

It's all in the organization and having a calendar that can handle everything - yeah Outlook!

So my advice, take an hour or two and plan it all out, print out your calendar and enjoy this special season...It won't be back again for another 365 days!

Change in the household

Things are still tough economically all over, but we should never be in the situation that is facing our friend - he lost his job, and his home has been foreclosed, and now he is homeless - not really. He's moving in with us until he can get back on his feet.

In return for a roof over his head, he'll give Tim a hand with the outdoor chores so Tim will have more time to spend with tailgates, golf, village constrution and bridge... maybe even me. Sometimes, money isn't the answer, just giving a helping hand when you can.

Busy weekend!

Tim and I had a very busy weekend.

First on Saturday, we got together at his sister's (Mary-ellen) house for a barbecue/crab feast. All the members of Tim's Maryland Terrapin tailgate group were there to kickoff the new season. We ate and drank and enjoyed each others' tales of their summer and what was in the offing. After the tailgaters left, the Derrys planned for our October trip to Myrtle Beach.

Sunday, I met Mary-ellen, John and Ellen at the Country Club for breakfast. Tim, of course, was playing golf. Later, Tim, Mary-ellen , and I played bridge at the club with 4 other couples. A busy weekend, but great fun!

Reunion

Every year, about this time, we get together with friends from college and remember the good old days, when were were young. We think about the number of years that we have been married, and what we did when we were in college and what we looked like back then. We think about the people that we haven't seen in years and wonder what they're up to, are they still on this earth. We all realize how fortunate we are to have such good friends and loved ones. Maybe soon we'll all get together and plan a special event. We talk about it each year. Maybe next year we'll do it.

Nothing special

Well, I'm settling back into the normal existence with the regular chores of laundry and grocery shopping and other errands. I won't say that I have housework to do because those of you that know me, know that I don't do housework. Well, I never used to do housework. Nowadays since we are on the austerity program due to the economy and I do not have a cleaning lady anymore, I do have to vacuum and dust on occasion. I don't do bathrooms or scrub floors since I am allergic to the cleaners and Tim and I still have the kitchen in the "I cook you clean" breakdown mode.

But today Tim was holding his annual Bowling league meeting, so I had to get everything ready for it. First, had to go to the store to get all the sodas and dessert. I came back and rather than let the sodas sit in the hot car all day, I dragged them out and put them in the refrigerator to chill. Then I needed to get the chairs setup and bag ice and order the pizza, so that everything would be ready when the people started to come.

So now I can sit back and relax and read while the meeting goes on downstairs.

Travels over

Well, July has come to an end and so have my travels for the near future. For the month I spent a week in Myrtle Beach with Tim's family,

nearly a week in Maine with my sister and great-niece,
and a few days at Deep Creek Lake with Tim's boss and his wife.

I had a great time at each spot, but I honestly am ready to settle into my own bed for awhile.

Chèli

Activities in Myrtle Beach

Things have been very busy here. We have spent precious time with Molly and Bryan before they headed back to Spartanburg, shared laughs with Bradley and Leslie before they went back home and to their jobs this week. This morning at 5AM Sheila, Theresa, Caitlyn and her friend Hannah arrived.

Now, a group of 7 are headed to the golf course for some sun and fun!

Stay tuned!

A new Senior citizen!

Yesterday was my birthday!

I turned 55 years old and officially became a senior citizen. If you had asked me about 15 years ago, if I'd be happy to become a senior citizen, I would have asked you what drugs you were on. Now I supposed that I have matured and realized that age really is just a state of mind. I don't want to do the "young" things - I don't like the new music - it's too loud; I don't want to twitter or text - it runs up my phone bill; I don't want to drive a convertible - it messes up my hair. I am very content with my life exactly as it is. I'm retired - I don't have to get up in the morning if I don't want to, I don't have to battle traffic during rush hour, I get to run my errands while everyone else is working so the lines are never long. I got my driver's license renewed in 30 minutes - 2 people were ahead of me in line - they were older too. Granted, getting older does have it's drawbacks - arthritis, bifocals, health issues, losing loved ones. But if you learn to appreciate the blessings that come with it, and adjust to the downside, life can still be good. I am grateful for all my friends and family and the blessings that I have in my life.

The greatest blessing in my life is Tim, my husband. He's not the most romantic man by his own admission. He only acknowledges our wedding anniversary and my birthday when they are what he calls "biggies" like those that end with a 5 or a 0 so this year our 35th wedding anniversary and my 55th birthday were BIGGIES. I normally don't even get a card but this year I got 2 - an anniversary and a birthday card. The anniversary card was one of those gooshy ones and I even got a handwritten note which made the tears flow, while the birthday card made me chuckle - commenting on his lack of fashion sense(he thinks there's nothing wrong with wearing burgundy and red together), his inability to notice when I get my hair done (after I have returned from the hairdresser - he says "what time is your hair appt?"), and his annoying jokes. I couldn't have a more wonderful life partner. I am truly blessed.

Posie said "read Harlan Coben"

My friend Posie ,who likes to read, said that she just loves Harlan Coben so I went to the library and got the first in his Simon Bolitar series and read it. Here is my review.

DEAL BREAKER
Author : Harlan Coben
Read : April 3 - April 19
Pages: 511

The plot centers around a cunning mystery of sex, murder and blackmail. Simon is a multi-dimensional character having been a sports figure turned FBI agent turned lawyer and ending as a sports agent. All these facets of his background come into play in this story where his prize client is involved in a possible murder. Simon's support staff include a college friend who enjoys playing enforcer while in appearance is MR. Preppie and a secretary/receptionist who used to be a wrestler.The fact the Simon is not a detective or policeman or PI makes this series seem a bit more interesting because you wonder what other aspects of his background have you not been told yet. I will admit that I was surprised by the ending, I was not prepared for the solution even though I had an inkling of what was happening. Definitely entertaining!