Time marches on

Has it been ten days already?
That must be how it happens. Seemingly small increments of time slip by unnoticed and before you know it; gray hair, or no hair.
We are awaiting the birth of the grandson. Meanwhile, Ariana is about to turn FIVE! WHAT?
I just downloaded AARP info on Medicare.
Yeah, I thought I should review it while I'm still young.  Oops, too late.
Greg and Amy Welden were here for a few days. Greg showed me how to place smaller stones between the bigger ones for the patio. The good news is that we ran out of smaller stones. That means I get to go gather more, which I enjoy, and I have to stop working on my hands and knees for a while, which makes me sore. But if and when I get it done, it is going to look great.
I've been here writing for five minutes already and still no grandson. Is time standing still?
Ha!  If only.

Back home again.

So GaT has moved. Unfortunately, it is a temporary move, and will have to be repeated soon. For a temporary situation, they have a good one. Close to major roadways, and shuttle to trains. It has a good space for piano lessons.
I got to miss the record breaking cold in Tucson, but enjoyed a fresh snowfall there. Best of all, I got a lot of quality time with Ariana. I know that grandparent comments and opinions are cliche, but she is an amazing child/person.
And Peggie and I will get to return soon to welcome the family newcomer.
A word of advice to all: don't move when you are close to delivering a baby. One big event at a time is enough. Don't move at all. It is a lot of work.
I won't bore you with all the details, but you should know that when carrying things that block your view down stairs you should know how many steps there are. The back stairs are half-flights with seven steps each. The front stairs are half-flights with eight steps each. Important difference. But I survived the fall with no bruises or broken bones and no embarrassing witnesses.
It is also a good idea to get your responsibilities straight. One should not leave one's granddaughter at gymnastics class thinking someone else will pick her up. When you finally get it right, she will greet you with "Why are you late?" Uhhh, well.......
Also, when driving at night in heavy fog, pay close attention to your exits or you might take a ten mile detour down the wrong road, and she will say, "I've never been here, before."
While I am on the subject of  "don'ts," don't park for two and a half hours in a two hour parking space, ($25), and don't fly home through Houston on a day that started with dozens of fog-cancelled flights or you will encounter a terminal full of people who have spent the day trying to get rescheduled.
But, if you get the chance to help out while spending time with kids and grandkids, do it.

Too excited to sleep!!

Greg says Ariana is so excited for me to go visit that she is counting the sleeps until I get there.
Only one to go. But, I am excited, too.
Since Tomoko has overbooked (she is nine months pregnant, and moving, and working, and mothering) I am getting to go to White Plains to help out. Tomoko gets to add bossing me around to her duties. My purpose is to make her life easier and help limit the times she climbs stairs, carries more than the new baby, runs errands, etc. Some of my duties will be to spend quality time with Ariana. Well, somebody has to do it.
I will spend 12 days freezing my &#@* off, schlepping stuff to the new place, shuttling Ariana, shopping, and looking for any excuse to stay indoors.
And to add to the excitement, today I finally won the lottery. Sort of. A little bit. Well, I won $50. That's more than I have ever won before. Baby steps. The big one is coming.
Speaking of babies!! The new one is coming!!!
I'm too excited to sleep!!!!! :)