Calling All Gunnings

Rachel will be coming into town May 18th and we are having a get together at "Chez Chartwell".
Terry has agreed to accompany me for the gathering. He has already met John and Kris, Paige and Zach. I know I don't have to ask all of you to BE NICE, but just in case I will be bringing my checkbook. See you on the 23rd.
Kris, Kathy and I are heading to the West Coast to greet our latest addition, Baby Bella.
Stay tuned for all the latest in baby photos.

Meeting the Girls

Most of you who follow my blog know that I'm now going into my 5th month of dating Terry. You may also remember that he is a widower. Last Saturday I met Arlene's ( his deceased wife), 2 grown daughters. Now, I am not usually worried about meeting people. I am much like Popeye in that, "I yam who I yam". At this stage in the game not much chance of completely changing to suit someone else, but I digress.

I wanted the girls to like me.

I planned on making a Tuna Nicoise for dinner. Simple, healthy and refreshing for such a warm Saturday. The girls were due to arrive around 3:30, I figured we could all pitch in on the salad and get to know one another. Well, the girls called about 3:45, and were just leaving... Oh! did I mention they were coming from Philly. I start putting the salad together as Terry fumes around the house. I have already decided that I will be leaving around 8:30, so no one (mostly myself) felt uncomfortable about being in their mother's bed overnight. It just made sense.

Katie and Emily pulled in around 6:00. Katie is 26, and Emily will be turning 30 next weekend. They could not have been any sweeter. We had a lovely dinner outside by the water, and talked about all different things. I headed out as planned, and later Terry said I got 2 thumbs up.

Who didn't know that?

Bucket List

As we hit the streets to do everything that every other tourist does, Terry asked if there was ever anything I wanted to do in New York that I never did before. Well, the 1st thing that came to mind , I've always wanted a pair of designer shoes like Carrie Bradshaw's in "Sex and the City". Yes, it was on my bucket list. After going in and out of 3 other upscale shoe stores, we came upon Salvatore Ferragamo. You guessed it. One pair of black satin heels had my name all over them. The ribbon detail on the side of the shoe is stunning, the inside of the shoe is absent for that extra touch of sexy. I will be wearing them to the wedding of Terry's nephew in California, May 15th and 16th. From there, they will be framed in a shadow box and mounted on the wall next to the picture of dear "Baby Jesus".

The Big Apple

Last weekend Terry and I headed up to the "Big Apple" to meet some of Terry's family. We took Amtrak from the New Carrollton Station, Saturday afternoon. I haven't been on the train for a while, and had forgotten what a nice mode of transportation it is. Once there we caught a cab to our hotel. We were staying at "The Palace", courtesy of Terry's brother, Michael. Our room was incredible. The view out our window was of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Once we dropped our bags off, we were on the go. Terry called his brother to let him know we made it in, and would meet them back at "The Palace" before dinner.

All's Well In Terrytowne

After our little misunderstanding, and one full day without conversation, Terry and I talked things over and smoothed things out.  What a concept!   The following Friday I gave him a ride, (and waited like the patient, loving girlfriend I am) to a medical procedure that left him too doped-up to drive home. 

We went and grabbed a bite to eat, totally ignoring Doctor's orders to go straight home and get some rest.  Throughout breakfast Terry was a little looped up, which I found rather endearing.

Since he doesn't drink, I've never really seen him with a buzz.  May I just say, he was really cute.

You know saying all the sweet things you love to hear, just saying them 3 and 4 times each.  We finish up breakfast, then we head to his house for the R&R the doctor had prescribed. 

We sat on his couch, and he jumped up, as only one on Darvon can, and told me he had a present for me.  He came back with a velveteen jewelery bag.  OhLaLa!!!!   Out came the most beautiful birthstone ring.  It was an oval peridot, set in yellow gold with diamonds in the band surrounding it, and then he asked me to go steady.  I said, "Yes", then proceeded to tell him he was to have this procedure once a month.

Secret Diaries

When I first started this blog I decided that I would make it light. and hopefully bring smiles to those who read it. I have avoided posting my deepest feelings and have actually on some occasions, posted things to make me look tough and without feeling at all. Such as the "Santa Fe" incident. Well I know now why I never kept a diary, if Jackie had ever gotten hold of it I would be "Sister Mary Theresa" today.
On Easter Sunday, Terry sat down at my new Apple and started reading my blog. I have invited him to do so on many occasions, so it's not like he was sneaking around by doing it. He was looking up some Amtrak schedules, and "What Has She Done Now" was on the screen. Well, has he read through all my exploits, he happened upon "Santa Fe". Of course most of you remember my referring to him as another notch on the bed post and not remembering his name in a week. Well, needless to say when Terry read that, he couldn't help but wonder when he would be chewed up and spit out. He was very quiet the rest of the day and I had no idea that my blog was the reason. He finally told me the cause and effect, and I was floored. "Santa Fe" was before I had even meet Terry. It wasn't the fact that I slept with him, but the cold way I regarded the encounter. Once I explained to him, how I had been crushed by never hearing back from Santa Fe, and that if somehow he ever read the blog, he would have never known how hurt I had been. I am woman, hear me roar. YEAH, RIGHT! Anyway..... All is well, NOW.

Sugar Water, Anyone.

Once everybody's heart rate got back to normal, we headed to Donna's bees. I know so few things about the process that goes into raising bees that I won't bore you with it. I do know that Donna feeds them sugar water. Why? You would have to ask Donna. Michaela thought sugar water sounded yummy.

Why not? Her mom called her "Honey".

Donna usually makes it out to her hives every weekend from now until she harvests the honey.

After the feeding of the bees was finished, we went to a Pit Beef Joint for a well deserved feeding of the humans.

Same Hike, New Adventure.

After we drag Bear and Ireland from their day of beauty, we all continue on the trail. It dries up nicely further on. We reach this lovely stream where we all have a chance to clean some of the mud off our shoes and paws. In Bear and Ireland's case their belly's. Michaela climbs some of the fallen trees from Isabella, and I snap some shots while everyone rinses off. Well almost everyone...."Has anybody seen Layla". I know I saw her a minute ago, but in Jack Russell that could be 2 miles. SHIT!!! Okay, Donna you go one way and we'll back track. Neither Traci nor I were looking forward to repeating the muddy mess we just came through. I'm looking in the stream thinking,"what am I going to tell John"? Could an eagle have come down and taken her without any of us seeing it? Maybe a fox? Why isn't she barking now? SHIT!!! Traci and I back track up to the mud, and decide there is no way she went that way, we head back to where we separated from Donna, and got a cell call letting us know Layla ran back to the car. Generally as a rule these nature hikes take the stress away, revitalize and put me back in tune with all the beauty that surrounds me. Suffice it to say this was not the case on Sunday.
I leave another message on John's cell.

Mud Bath

On Sunday afternoon, Terry had a business engagement, so I make plans to take a hike with the dogs and 2 girlfriends. The posse consists of Donna & Winslow, Traci with her daughter, Michaela, and Yellow Lab, Ireland, and of course Me with Harper, Bear, and yes I still have Layla.

Donna takes us to this great area where she keeps her bees. It is a beautiful day and we are surrounded by woods and water. The 3 days prior to this "beautiful day" we had some major downpours, which made the hiking trail very muddy. Traci's daughter Michaela was dying to run a muck in the mud and surrounding stream. Traci let her know that that was a big no-no.

Then it was as if Winslow said, "Aw, Come on..let her play". He ran by Traci and knocked her into a big puddle. "See, isn't this fun".

We made sure nothing was broken, including our ribs from laughing so hard. Bear and Ireland thought it was a good time for a mud bath. Traci was thrilled with this as well, since Ireland had

just had a bath the day before.

.

Sleeps With Dogs

I have never made it a secret that I sleep with dogs, at least the four legged type. I even have a bumper sticker on my car that lets the world know. Well.... Miss Layla, John & Chris's dog, is no exception. As we get ready for bed up jumps Miss Layla. Terry, my new paramour, is not quite as keen with the sleeping arrangement, but as long as she stays on my side of the bed, everyone is happy. So we all settle in for a long springs nap. No Such Luck. Miss Layla has very sensitive ears and barks at everything she hears, this includes my 2 dogs, the heater, the clock ticking, our breathing...needless to say it made for a fitful night of sleep.
The next morning I called Donna again, at a respectable 10:30, for John's cell number. My message, "When will you be picking this *#@* dog up"?
FYI... Terry has passed the "Must love dogs" test.

Layla Gets Jacked.

Saturday I start my usual day by taking the dogs over to the high school for their weekend romp. Donna and Winslow usually accompany me, and today we have our cousin Layla. John was suppose to drop Layla off at 7:00am, before heading to South County for Zach's baseball tournament. Well 7:15 comes and goes, 7:30 comes and goes, no Layla. Being the ever vigilant sister, I have no one's cell phone but Kris's and Kathy's. I try to call Kris...no answer. Then who comes to mind, Donna Gunning, she has all the numbers. Now mind you, it's 7:30am on a Saturday and Donna G. has grown children that probably sleep until they have to go to work. Her first question was, " Is everything alright"? Mine would have been, "Do you know what !#*!^ time it is"? "Thanks, Donna G." I never got the number, go figure Donna doesn't sleep with her cell phone, and I figured I pressed my luck enough for that early in the morning.
Now my dogs, Donna and Winslow all have their legs crossed, so I left a note on the door and we headed to the high school. Of course we pass Mr.Mope-a-Dope leaving the neighborhood. John does a "U"ey, the side door of their van opens, I take Layla and we are on the road again. It was like something out of a movie. Zach told John and Chris that, "Aunt Terry just totally jacked Layla". I had to laugh, because I said the same thing to Donna. After Layla stopped shaking, she was running with the big dogs.