On Mother’s Day he gave me a great present – he went swimming!  It was his first time in the water in a very long time. In fact, I had given up on him ever going swimming again because he knows his limits and hadn’t wanted to take the plunge.  He knows his body best so I always just let him determine things like that.

But today, he paced around the pool and whined giving the indication he was ready to get back in again.  With some help from me and Mike, we got him onto the first step of the pool then helped him get fully in the water.  He swam around like fish – going the full length of the pool.  It was such an awesome sight to see.

On Wednesday, which was my last official day of my summer vacation, I was headed into downtown Orlando to get my hair cut (see previous blog post) and do some errands.  I was on the 408 (for those not in Orlando it’s an East-West highway) cruising along at 60 mph when I noticed all of a sudden my tire  pressure warning light came on.

I didn’t think much of it, it’s come on in the past when the air got low. I figured I’d put some air in the tires next time I stopped for gas.

I exited the highway and drove about 2-miles when I started hearing “thump thump thump thump”.  I knew instantly what this was. I slowed down and pulled into a 7-11 parking lot to see the damage.

It’s really hard to see from this angle but the left rear tire was flat.  Very flat.

It seemed like I had just put new tires on which made me really frustrated. Turns out my sense of time was flawed, it had actually been almost 3-years ago to the day.

Anyway, I called AAA for help.  The operator said it would be 2 hours before someone could get there but the rescue man showed up within 45 minutes.

He couldn’t have been nicer and very efficient. He had me fixed up within 20 minutes and I was on my way again. (Funny, as I’m typing this I’m listening to Willie Nelson sing “On the Road Again” on Sunday Morning Coming Down on Real Radio.  Too funny!)

That afternoon I was at Sears getting 2 new tires. $$$

The next morning it was back to work. At least that was the plan. I went out to the garage at 7:50am, turned the ignition and heard “click click click”.  Ugh! You gotta be kidding me!  Yes, a dead battery.  Thank God for my handyman and wonderful neighbor, Pete.  He came over and jumped the battery so I could head back to Sears again.  More $$$.

My lessons:

#1.  Women – if you aren’t mechanically savvy, be sure you have a 24-hour car repair service at your disposal.  I’ve had AAA since high school and while there are years that go by where I never use their services, it’s a comfort to know they’re there when I need them.

#2.  Be prepared for the unexpected and don’t let it ruin your attitude.  Yes I was frustrated and upset, but it is what it is. Deal with it and move on.  I’ll probably get very frustrated again when my credit card bills come in, but that’s life.

I early voted this year.  (Love that option!)

Now, every time I get another political call I just want to scream “Hey – it doesn’t matter now. I’ve already voted. You can’t influence me.”

But that does no good.

I have to wonder just how successful these phone messages are for the candidates. I mean, I don’t ever listen to a message past the first 3 seconds – even when they get a celebrity to call on their behalf. My finger is on the delete button immediately. I have to think its mostly wasted money from their campaign funds.  What do you think?

I almost opted not to vote this time. There is only one race I feel highly confident in my candidate selection (the Orange County Mayoral race.)  In most of the other races it’s the battle of “has-been’s” versus “shady newbie”.  IMO.   But that’s a whole other blog post. Where are the truly good leaders?

Are you voting this primary?

After four hours and fifteen minutes of flying, the pilot came on the loud speaker and said “Ladies and gentlemen, we’re in our final descent into the Orlando area with an approximate landing time in just about 20 minutes. We ask that you turn off your electronic devices and stow away your personal belongings.”
A sigh of relief. Just about home. Gladly it had been a very nice, mellow flight.
We departed Los Angeles at 7:55am PT and it was now around 3:15pm ET.
About 30 seconds after the pilot announces our descent it happens:  BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM. And my stomach falls out below me.
What the heck???
Up and down – BOOM BOOM.
I’m clutching both hands on whatever I can grasp and close my eyes. I’m silently praying “Dear God, please let us land safely. Dear God, Please let us land safely.” Over and Over.
I peek out to see the couple across the aisle holding on to each other.
I look over at my boss who’s calm as a cucumber looking out the window.
I close my eyes again. Pray. Pray. Pray.
I look over at my seat mate, an elderly gentlemen who is reading his book as if nothing is going on.
I’m thinking to myself. “What’s wrong with this man? Doesn’t he know our lives are in danger?”
I’m clutching the seat as hard as I can.
After what seems like an eternity it smooths out again.
The flight attendant comes on the intercom to tell us the pilot says the worst is behind us, but we all need to remain seated until we land.
Twenty seconds goes by then we hit it again. BOOM BOOM BOOM
This time it only lasts about 30 seconds.
Then it gets calm again.
I’m in an aisle seat so I don’t have a great view of what is going on but I can finally see signs of home.
Feeling calmer I grab my camera.

I see downtown Orlando.  I see Lake Eola.  I sense relief. I think – all is well with the world again.

From this point on it was smooth sailing. Or rather, smooth flying.

We landed, as they say, “Without incident”.

I’m happy to be home.  And thankful to God.

While I was tossing and turning one of the bizarre thoughts that entered my mind was hoping I would find some of my family recipes that I’ve lost over the years. Two in particular came to mind – my grandma’s “Fudgies” and my Aunt Theona’s doughnuts. I had the recipes for many years on note cards I kept in a small green plastic container – which is nowhere to be found. I was really thinking this morning about Aunt Theona’s doughnuts. I wondered how many people in this world have probably never experienced the pleasure of eating a homemade doughnut. Doughnuts are so readily available and pretty cheap, why would you go to the trouble of making them at home? Once you’ve tasted one, you’d understand. My aunt’s doughnuts were so darn delicious!
The whole point of this story is – I was up at 3am thinking about how people don’t eat homemade doughnuts and then the wackiest thing happened when I opened today’s paper.  Look at what was on the front page of today’s Orlando Sentinel:

You  have got to admit this is WEIRD!!

Maybe now I’ll find that recipe.  Really weird!

Location:  Orlando, Florida

Outside Temperature:  68-degrees

Water Temperature:  57-degrees

Dogs say:  Let’s Swim!

Mom says:  Not me!

Gotta get the ball out of the water.

I can get to it this way.

I’m going in.

Got it!

Ah – Let’s do it again – about 30-times!

Happy Sunday everyone.

]]> http://leanneslife.com/2010/02/21/the-first-swim/feed/ 2 http://leanneslife.com/2009/10/13/one-day-at-band-camp/ http://leanneslife.com/2009/10/13/one-day-at-band-camp/#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 01:12:37 +0000 Leanne http://leanneslife.com/?p=818 So my band experience was truly nothing like the infamous “one day at band camp” scene from American Pie, but it was memorable in all the good ways.

It was 6th grade when I picked out the trumpet as my instrument.  But it wasn’t my first choice.  I remember my family loaded into the brown station wagon (complete with side paneling) and drove to the “Band Wagon” store in College Park to select my instrument.  We left with a saxophone.  And then came back a week later to get the trumpet.  I just couldn’t figure out the reed of the sax.

In junior high at my first day at summer band camp I was extremely nervous.  I didn’t want to embarrass myself in front of all those other students I didn’t know.  I remember the band leader, Mr. Taylor and the band room – with multiple levels with a door leading outside to the practice field.  Mr. Taylor wanted to know our playing abilities so he had us all play a few solo bars of Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline“.  I was in the 2nd row so I had lots of time to get mentally ready. I sat there and worked out the finger chart and just hoped it would come out right when I played.  Not to brag, but I was terrific! It earned me respect from Mr. Taylor and bolted my confidence.  I have always loved the song “Sweet Caroline” ever since.

I stayed playing the trumpet when I joined the band at Edgewater High School. There was a huge difference in talent from junior high to high school. Big difference. I went from the big man on campus to the little fish in the pond. But it was all the fellow band friends that made the experience so much more.  I had the best time in band – made wonderful friendships and shared so many good times from the parades, football games, concerts, competitions, and parties.  I was a band geek and loved it.

Fast forward a couple decades later andwe’re now middle aged people. How is that possible?  This past weekend was one of the first reunions for multiple classes of the Edgewater High School Band Alumni.  It was so amazing to reconnect with people I haven’t seen in 20+ years.  What was interesting – some people looked exactly the same as they did in school and others, well, I had to peek at their name tags to figure out who they were.

One of the coolest things about the reunion brunch was that they had members of the current high school band come out and play for us in the hotel.  I think we all shed a tear when they played the Alma mater and I lost it on the fight song.  It was a flood of memories sparked by those songs.  Band days for me were such a fun and exciting part of my life. Being in band was such an experience.  Band taught us discipline and respect and time management.  Hours and hours of rehearsals paid off on the football field, in the concert halls and at the state competitions.

I was a band geek – and damn proud of it!

Tim Parmer and me – we both played trumpet

Teri Walls Ford (flute) & Joe Brecht (clarinet)

Dawn Serra & Ginny Davies (& Dawn’s son)

My senior year Drum Major photo.

You Can't Handle the Truth!

 We have at least one last shot at winning  this Sunday night.  It’s a home game – we can do it!  Go Magic!