Going Apple Picking Today

Good Morning! I am leaving in 15 minutes with Dave to meet Mary and her sons at the restaurant for lunch and then go to the Orchard. I suspect we will also do the Corn Maze. That should be fun. Not really but what the hay.

Hey everyone I am back. It has been a long day. Dave didn’t get here until around 11:15 and we had to wait a bit because Mary was still at church. I told Dave they should have said this originally. I mean I could have done bingo if I tried and also went to church. I was going to go at 8:30 but by the time it came time I didn’t.

We started off at 11:30 and headed to the Meeting place while we were driving Mary called and said she would not be getting there until 1. So we made a few side stops. (Now that I am writing this so late I can’t remember what order they were.) They were Dunkin Doughnuts, Vinnie’s garden shop they all didn’t take very long.

Mary and the kids were just ordering when got there (we had no trouble finding it). It was in a lovely place on Route 66. Yes Connecticut has a Route 66. We sat down and then gave our order. I had chicken nuggets, onion rings and water. I think Dave had tuna something.

While we were talking Mary had to reprimand or scold her son Eric a few times and encourage her other son Garrett to eat. She was saying that Eric was spoiled and that her MIL spoils him and then criticizes her for not disciplining him enough. Something I have felt on a number of occasions.

After we ate we took off for the Lyman Orchard Complex. We met up with our friends Julie and Keith. They brought their son and another little boy. We went to the Corn maze and went through it. It was $8 and as in the past went to the Cancer Society. This time it was in the shape of a lady bug. As in the past there were trivia questions and some extra stuff too. It got a bit hairy a few times.

Once we were done with the corn maze (maybe an hour later) we stopped in the Apple Barrel shop and did some shopping and tried the samples. I didn’t buy anything but everyone else did. Julie and Keith had to leave for home but we decided that we would do a pot luck dinner for November 1. Once we said goodbye to them we headed to the Orchard and did some fruit picking. Before we left Mary was a little annoyed with Dave for taking his time at shopping while she had the boys who were getting bored. It was not really Dave’s problem but he also does forget he is with other people.

First we headed to the Pears and got separated from Dave. I stayed with Mary and she had to scold the boys. I called Dave to see where he was but I saw him as he was coming back.

Our next stop was the Apples. I got just over 4 lbs while Mary was picking some and so where her kids. Once we finished we chatted and she admitted or criticized Julie for making comments about disciplining her kids or letting the kids stress her out. Dave was totally ignoring it but I made some suggestions (and observations) that counseling might help. I also said that some people feel they can discipline other people’s kids in their homes or set boundaries. She didn’t seem to buy it. I asked Dave later if she said those things not only to criticize about Julie but in around about way tell me not “to discipline her kids”. If they had gone on ahead or something I would say something and I asked and she said she had no problems with it. She also felt her SIL’s were too strict. I felt differently.

We said goodbye and headed back home. The ride was fine until we got to Milford. We got to Merwin Avenue and I asked Dave if he could help get he bulk trash out with me so Mom wouldn’t have to. (That was my intent but) from there it went to hell very quickly.

He hemmed and hawed and said he wanted to go walk the dog first and get some pie for Mom and me. Well I got angry because he wasn’t taking me home first and was reduced to us call each other names and him almost throwing me out of the car. He reminded me that the day after his father died I bitched about Mom but did he say anything no. I realized he was right. I apologized and I offered to go back and get the dog walked with him and we would do the bulk trash after. Things were fine after that. We emptied the car and then came back here.

I was apparently pretty hyper when I came home because Mom commented before I left. She has no idea what had preceded our arrival. We talked about the corn maze and how successful I was at the apple picking and how we found our way with little difficulty.

Once we had gotten enough stuff out for now Dave and I went back to the house and walked the Dog and then he had dinner and I had a piece of pie and then he drove me home and I apologized again.

Mom was watching and having a late dinner. She was exhausted and wanted to relax. I went upstairs and watched TV for the next few hours. I got into my pajamas and put the AC on. I was watching Philadelphia (1993) and something on the History channel about the Twin Towers on 9/11. It got to be too much.

I also checked some emails and answered some of the ‘Sad News’ replies when I posted last week about Dave’s Dad passing. One of them was from Telka. I was so embarrassed that I hadn’t seen them before this. I replied tonight. I also got an email from my friend Michele P asking about Lyman orchard. I hope she got the link with ease.

Mom went to bed a short time ago and I will be following suit. Tomorrow I go back to work. I was checking the work emails and found one from Stephanie M. She had the revised documents I had given her to use while I was on vacation. I have no idea what to expect when I get there. I am still concerned I will be spoken to about the stuff under the desk. I hope not but this will be chance to start out fresh again.

Well I better get going. I am too wired to get to sleep. I may throw out some more papers and then hit the sack. I am really worried that my alarm clock won’t go off. It was ringing when I got home.

Seven Years Ago Today

Seven years ago today the world as we knew it changed. Four planes all Hijacked from three different places (4). Two Planes crashed into the Twin Towers in NYC killing everyone aboard and those in the buildings and causing the twin towers to collapse and one plane into the Pentagon in Washington DC and one in PA that was headed to DC.

All over the country there were memorials held. At ground zero names of the victims and those who helped were read off by family members and those who represented our allies. There were speeches made and bells rung for each victim. Here in Connecticut there were memorials services and candle light vigils.

I tried watching some of it but I couldn’t. I had things I needed to do and I wanted to get them done. Well they are not done but I also did some apple picking with Dave today. I brought home a good amount and Mom will use them for baking.

When I got home I finished getting my cell phone set up. I had some trouble with it so I had to go to the store. It is working okay so far. I still need to read the manual to make sure I understand it.

The retirement dinner was a huge success. The food was served late but it was still delicious. Many union representatives were there and Laura Smith made a presentation. Irma was very surprised. The party started breaking up after 8 pm. I was home by nine.


Since I have been home I took a bath and did some laundry. Now I am going to bed. I am getting tired and my wrist is hurting on and off.

Lyman Orchard

I went to Lyman Orchards with Dave yesterday. He called around 10 and invited me to go along with him and our friend Mary and her two kids. We decided that he would call me when he was finished with his errands and we would meet at the commuter parking lot at Old Gate Lane.

We left after 12:30 and got to the Lyman Orchards a little after 1. At first we went to the orchards but couldn’t find Mary. We tried at their Apple Barrel Shop and we caught up with Mary and her kids. We went shopping for something to eat and then went through their corn maze. The corn maze was okay but a little frustrating when Mary had to discipline her kids for one thing or another. It took about an hour or so to go through it.

After the corn maze the kids wanted a couple of pumpkins so they all picked out some. I didn’t because well I had already spent 15 or twenty dollars for the day. After we got the pumpkins we climbed in Mary’s Van and headed to do some apple picking.

I just watched them pick the apples and it wasn’t long. I did call home to see if Mom wanted some but she had gone out shopping so we headed back to our car and then home. It was nearly 5 when we got to Dave’s house.

While Dave walked Lulu I chatted with Patrick. I also called Mom to tell her that we were going out to dinner after church. After Lulu was walked Dave and I headed to church for mass. Patrick stayed and continued to clean and replace things that Dave has away in storage.

We arrived just as mass started and sat near the back. I could see Mom from where I was sitting. Father Steve said Mass too. I told Dave about how he did the mass for Gail the previous week. After the service was over we went and talked with Mom and then we headed to the Cracker Barrel. I had fried shrimp with hushpuppies, and corn, hash browns, and carrots. I was starting to not feel so good. My arm and hands were hurting as well as a headache.

We drove back to the commuter parking lot after that to pick up my car and it was after 7:30 when I got home. Mom was in the back sewing a pair of pants and watching TV.

I spent the rest of the evening trying to sleep. I was exhausted when I got home but after two hours I couldn’t sleep. I finally had warm milk and it seemed to do the trick. I finally fell asleep about midnight.

Today I went to bingo while Mom went to Mercy Center for Mass and the Surprise Birthday Party for her Friend from the Knitwits Gang. It was a pretty good day at bingo too. It was Priscilla H’s 94th Birthday.

This afternoon I washed some clothes and spent time watching TV and checking out the Internet. I was updating some pen pal files and emptying or at least trying to empty out mailboxes.

I think I better get to some letter writing before I get really tired. I can feel my arm start a little achy.