Guess who is a Military Mamma?
We were all very busy this past summer, and it seems grand kids, health issues and making home improvements were a big part of it. I guess I will begin with a brief synopsis of the crazy summer had by all here at Homeland Farm.
Spring came and with it, a serious case of " We need to spruce up the place". I was the only one that suffered from the actual disease, but I was very good at spreading it around. (Insert evil grin here.) I worked diligently on my spring cleaning until I got to the kitchen. Then...the real fun began.
Cliff, Liam, Cam and I tore up the old kitchen flooring, and cleaned up all the fine dirt and dust that was underneath it. Then, Cliff and I tore off the old wallpaper, and painted like fiends. He painted the ceiling and I did the trim and doors, wainscotting and windows. Then, he and I put up new wall paper..lots of fun. He loves wall papering with me. Just ask him. (Insert evil grin here.)
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| Good looking wallpaper hanger, right there.. |
Then, we moved to the laundry room...more of the same. Paint, paper, cleaning. Serious cleaning. So much better. I don't know why we waited so long to do it over.
I apparently had way too much to drink one night had an epiphany.
"Cliffy!", I said, clearly three sheets to the wind. "Ya know what we should do?? We should remodel the apartment." Did I mention he is patient? We have a small apartment in our barn that we want to set up as an air bnb, but it was in desperate need of remodeling. SO! The next two months, we tore out, cleaned out, painted, painted and painted. We had a carpenter come do the serious stuff, and then it was time to paper. Oh, did I mention I was also commandeering a small crew of painters OUTSIDE, as well. Cam, Liam and Nolan were busy working with me, and by themselves on outside paint jobs. We painted the ice cream building, the out building behind the house and the white board fencing. Plus...we put in a garden, planted flowers, cleaned house etc etc etc. You need to wear sunglasses when you travel down Middle Ridge Rd there is so much white paint. Blinding, and just the way I like it. (Insert evil grin here.)
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| "Blinded by the white.." |
He had the surgery the first week of Sept, and it has been a long recovery for him. While the surgery itself went well, the recovery has been tough. He had to have fluid removed from his chest, he has had trouble with fluid collecting everywhere and needed a hospitalization to get that under control, and has had general overall weakness issues. However, I am hoping that he has FINALLY turned a corner, and at this now 7 week mark, he is starting to begin to feel better, and will only improve from here. Yay Cliffy! We love ya!
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| Cliffy recovering in the hospital |
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| Milly and her pal Meatball...or "Buddy" as she calls him |
He has wanted to join the Army for years, and joined the reserves today, even though he is still a Junior in high school. He was to be sworn in today after his physical and testing, so naturally I wanted to be there.
Cliff, Nolan (Liam's 13 year old cousin) and I went to the Military Enlistment Center to be there when he signed in, but it was more of a challenge then we thought it would be. We were told to walk in the door, and take the elevator to the third floor. We proceeded to get on said elevator and pushed the 3. Nothing. Pushed the 3 again. Nothing. Pushed the 3 about 15 times. Nothing.
I got out the paper with the directions and saw that there was supposed to be a "talk" button that we were supposed to push. Well, we pushed every button we could find. We got in and out of the elevator 5 times. Not a soul in sight, mind you. No signs..no people...no nothing.
"Hello?? HELLOOOOO???" We kept saying to...no one, as we pushed every button we could find. Now, I would like to say it only took us 2-3 minutes to realize we were probably on the WRONG ELEVATOR. But, alas, it was really more like 15. Finally, I said, "There HAS to be a talk button in the lobby or this isn't the right elevator."
We got off and I walked out, leaving my roller buggy behind, with my purse dangling on the handle bars, the door open while I looked for that missing talk button. Cliff was ahead of me, Nolan behind.
Suddenly, I hear Nolan say.." Ahhhh Auntie Carmen..there goes the elevator door..." Crap. I looked over and the door was closed. I thought.." For God's sake elevator...DON"T WORK NOW!"
Nolan hit the up button, and whew. It was still there, my lonely buggy and bag sitting quietly alone in the elevator.
Frustrated, because we were going to be late, I told everyone to follow me, and we went down this long corridor. We were like rats in a maze, trying to find the secret Army Elevator. FINALLY! Around another corner there it was..complete with TALK BUTTON! We pushed the button...and a man's voice said..." WHAT DO YOU WANT?"
Feeling a bit like Dorothy talking to the wizard, I said we wanted to go to the third floor.
"Who are you here for???" came the voice.
"We are here to see Liam Opie swear in." I said, wondering if the flying monkeys were going to be showing up soon.
BING! The elevator opened magically and we got on, and pushed the 3. UP WE WENT!
The door opened...and WHOA! Guys with guns, xray machines, and a full body scanner were there to meet us.
"This is a federal building and we need to scan your possessions, as well as your persons," said the big guy in front. Now I was like..ok, wasn't expecting this, but ok. Cliff and Nolan took off their belts, and cliff went thru fine. I was relieved he wasn't packing heat today..would have been hard to explain about our coyote problem. They didn't have a sense of humor. He had me pass my 4 wheeled go buggy thru the scanner, which of course set off beeps. I tried not to laugh as I watched him pick it up and shake it...flip it over, look under the seat etc. I was thinking..most fun that buggy has ever had. (Insert evil grin here.) Then, I went thru with no problem, collected my go buggy on the other side and sat to wait for Nolan.
I knew this was a serious time, but I had a really hard time keeping a straight face as I imagined what would have happened if that elevator had miraculously worked when my buggy and purse were the only things inside. I could see the doors to the third floor opening up and out rolls just my go buggy and a large dangling bag hanging from handles! KABOOM! The bomb squad would have detonated my purse or shot up "ole Blue" my go buggy. (Insert evil laugh here.)
Anyway..I digress. Cliff and I waited while Nolan had his turn thru the scanner. BEEP BEEP BEEP!! Oh no. Now what?
"Did you empty your pockets like I told you to?" the big guy asked Nolan, who was clearly confused. He assured him that he had, but he scanned him again..BEEP BEEP BEEP!
Turns out, Nolan, who was wearing giant calf high rubber boots, didn't realize that they were STEEL TOE BOOTS. We FINALLY got inside and were shown to the family waiting area.
As it turns out, we didn't need to rush, as it was almost an hour and a half later before LIAM MASON RHEA OPIE was sworn into the UNITED STATES ARMY. We got lots of great photos, and I am happy to say, it was a lot easier getting out of the building then getting in. We stopped for a celebratory lunch, and made our way back home, new Private in tow.
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| Private Opie |
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| Nolie and Liam..pals and cousins forever |
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