Bobbird3131

My sweet grandson Ron had a birthday yesterday.  If Vista had not crashed my date and address book, I would have remembered it and posted this yesterday.  Iwould also have sent his card (which I have had for a month) out on time.   As it is, he can chalk it up to Gramma ADD.  Ron, I love you a bunch and think you are very special.  New news – as my son just pointed out (see below), Ron’s birthday is not until the 27th so now I am actually early and the old date book I used is wrong.

I stole this meme from her post today but I left a comment warning her.

A – Age: 61

B – Bed size: King

C – Chore You Hate: Dusting

D – Dad’s Name: Parke

E – Essential Start Your Day Item: Coffee

F – Favorite Actor: Johnny Depp

G – Gold or Silver: Silver

H – Height: 5’7″

I – Instrument (s) you play: Omnichord

J – Job Title: Feared Office Manager

K – Kid(s): Two.

L – Like: Turtle Tracks Ice Cream

M – Mom’s Name:Barbara

N – Nickname: Cecil – my mother calls me this

O – Overnight Hospital Stay Other Than Birth: None

P – Pet Peeve: People who try to cut corners in life and then whine about the consequences

Q – Quote that you like: “Lead, follow or get out of the way.”

R – Righty or Lefty: Righty.

S – Siblings: 1 sister and 3 brothers

T – Time You Wake Up: 7:40 a.m.

U – Useful tool: Butter knife.  You can use it as a screwdriver and a small pry bar.

V – Vegetable that you dislike: Brussel sprouts

W – Ways you run late: I am always late; and if I start earlier to compensate, I just end up later.

X – X-rays You’ve Had: Teeth, back, lungs, ankle

Y – Yummy Foods You Make: Apple pie, buck eyes, chocolate chip cookies

Z – Zodiac: Sagittarius

Last weekend I went to New York City with my husband Marvin to spend time with Stef and Dave.  Stef was going to meet us at the apartment in Queens after work but we made such good time that we were early.  Since it was hardly out of our way, we got to pick her up at her office in Manhattan and drive her home.  Who says New York is huge?  We also got to meet her fellow techies.  They kept popping up over the tops of their office dividers like gophers trying to get introduced.

After we got to their apartment and the four of us hauled our luggage up 55 (or is it 56) stairs, we caught our breath and said hi to our grandkitties Allie, Ripley and Georgie.

Then we went to East Meets West for some lovely Chinese food.  The next morning we all met Dave’s parents at the Georgia Peach Diner for breakfast.  We had another delicious meal and spent some time getting to know them.  I hope they found us as enjoyable to be with as we did them.

After another break with the kitties, we took the subway to Chinatown and spent the afternoon taking in the sights.  We walked, we window shopped, we took pictures.

We also ate (of course) -  Wo Hop’s 17, in the basement.  In fact I am pretty sure our table was actually under the sidewalk.  The pork lo mien was the best I’ve ever eaten.  It had the most beautiful smokey flavor and you can see how much Marvin liked it.

Sunday was the bagel odyssey.   We love them so Dave picked out 6 places to check out the best around.  We bogged down after 3, mostly because we were full by then.  It occurred to us too late that we should have bought one or two  bagels at each place and shared them instead of each of us eating a whole one.  Also Marvin was tempted by a pastry shop across the street at stop number 2 and ate something the size of a small pie.  Hey, the idea was fun and we had it.

For more pictures, you can go to My Flickr.

Yesterday my granddaughter Tania turned 17. I called to wish her Happy Birthday and she told me she got a game that we will be playing together when I come to visit this summer.  This is her last summer “I told you not to take a picture of me Gramma” face.  I can’t wait to go play that game.

I’m taking Friday and Monday off so Marvin and I can drive up to New York to visist Stef, Dave, Allie, Ripley and Georgie.  Marvin will be driving.  I will be sleeping or knitting.  This will be our first trip since Stef moved there so we can’t wait to see the apartment, the grandkitties, meet Dave’s parents and generally hang out.

Last week I finally had some time to frame the pictures they gave us for Christmas.  One is of the two of them and the other is a collage of pictures Stef took at her brother Wayne’s 40th birthday party last summer.  Here’s what they look like.  I also put them on Flickr so it’s easier to see the collage.

Yesterday was Lisa’s aka Clusterfook’s funeral and her virtual memorial service.   Thank you so much Karl for setting this virtual service up.  It really meant a lot to me to be able to participate.  I know we didn’t phone in much or even talk up a storm in the chat room but I got just what I needed.  I left feeling very comforted and with a sense of closure.  I know Lisa is busy with new things in heaven but I hope she knows how much we all love her and wanted to say goodbye.  See you later Lisa.  Keep the light on for us.