Sunday, March 30, 2014

Winter Break

   Yikes!  I cannot believe that I have not posted for a month.  During that time, I've taken two vacations, got a new puppy, had lots of snow days, and finished my taxes.  One trip was a family reunion with Ron's siblings, and we were lucky that Matt could meet us there.  We all spent a few days in Vegas, enjoying the warm weather.  We had enough luck in the casinos to play for a while on house money.  My favorite thing was the day trip to the Hoover Damn.  It was incredible!  This massive project was completed in the 1930's,  under budget and two years before the deadline.  Workers made twice the national average wage, which was about $0.50 per hour, and it was built with math and muscle.
    We picked up our new puppy, Zoey, on the way home from the airport.  We took the Red Eye flight from Vegas, and the breeder was sort of on the way home.  She is a sixteen week Cavalier Spaniel, and she is doing great!  She has slept through the night from day one, and that is a big help.  It is a lot to ask a puppy to train in the middle of the coldest winter in years.  We have had her for four weeks, and we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel.  The weather is getting warmer, and we can go for short walks.  Once the snow is melted and the mud is gone, I know she will love her back yard.
     My second mini vacation took me to Florida to visit my folks for the annual St. Patrick's long weekend.  We had another block party with seventy neighbors complete with catered meal, and a DJ.  The weather cooperated, and we soaked up the sunshine and vitamin D.  We also attended a fiftieth anniversary party, and had a wonderful time.  It was in a "Happy Days" themed diner with karaoke, and we sang and danced. Usually we bring back some warm weather and sunshine, but Mother Nature had different ideas this year.
    I cannot wait for this winter to be finished, as it has been raining for the past two days.  Every day that the sun shines, and the temperature gets close to forty degrees, I feel encouraged that better days are coming.  New England certainly paid its dues this winter, and I hope that means a beautiful spring and a fantastic summer......and the beat goes on.......the beat goes on.........