Dawn's Dream Team/ Paris

Every time I get an iPhoto update, my iPhoto library disappears.  Then I have to spend an hour at the Apple Genius Bar waiting on the tech gurus to reinstall the program and retrieve my library from somewhere in cyberspace.  This happened again last month.  Why they can't correct the problem I have no idea!   So as I sat there I had the opportunity to watch all 3, 644 pictures download.  The good thing was I g0t to  relive many family gatherings, National Honor Society events, summer adventures, and more.

One event that passed before my eyes was the International Travel Group trip to London and Paris.  It brought back so many wonderful memories.  It's hard to believe that it was only 5 months ago.  In some ways it seems like yesterday and in other ways it seems like an eternity since we went.  I also realized that I promised my reading posse that I would share stories with you when I got back,  but it occurred to me that I never did.  So, I'm going to rectify that situation and let you experience  my trip through my old, deteriorating eyes.  Of course, in order to do that, it will take many posts to do so.

Where to start?  Which story to share first?  That's easy!  I'm going to begin with the most heart warming day of the trip.  I have a wonderful sister-in-law, Dawn Frazee Wolford, who is waging a valiant war against breast cancer.  She is so positive and amazing!  She is my hero.  Well, Dawn once mentioned that her dream vacation would be Paris.  For whatever reason, I remembered that.  So once our group was established, I asked them if they would be willing to wear pink on the day we went to the Eiffel Tower.  I told them about Dawn and her dream and that I wanted to surprise her with a photo of every one in pink in her honor.  What actually transpired was more than I could ever have imagined.

Wednesday morning we were scheduled to leave our hotel at 5:45 a.m. for the train station.  We took the Eurostar to Paris.  I was one of the last travelers to meet in the lobby...of course!  Anyways, I was standing there just looking around at everyone else.  They all were looking back and smiling.  The next thing I knew, 28 people flashed me.  Unbeknownst to me, the group had special t-shirts made to honor Dawn.  It took me about 30 seconds to absorb what had happened.  Then the water faucet turned on and I had the ugly cry going on.  I was so amazed that they would honor someone they didn't even know in such a touching way.  A special shout out to Stephi Lollo for designing the shirts.  It was the first of many tears shed that day.  Once we got to the Eiffel Tower, the tears came again!  It was just so amazing.

As soon as we got back to the hotel, I posted the pictures on Facebook.  It didn't take long for more tears to flow.  God was blessing me that day because the time difference worked out just right and I was able to chat with Dawn on Facebook.  The emotion in her words was overwhelming.  She couldn't believe that 27 people who didn't know her would honor her in such a personal way.  God's blessing were not done yet.  She was able to share with me that her latest scans and tests  results came back and they were good.  She had no new growths, and her tumors had shrunk.  More ugly crying!!!

The next morning at breakfast I was able to share with the group Dawn's wonderful news as well as relay her gratitude for their kindness.  It was a another heart warming experience.  What a great way to start the day!  Sharing God's blessings with everyone!

When we returned to the Licking Valley, the students gave a community presentation about the trip.  This time it was my turn to surprise them!  I invited to Dawn to the event.  I wanted the students to have the opportunity to meet Dawn and see for themselves what a great, positive person she is.  I have to say there were more tears shed that night!  Everyone loved the opportunity to meet each other.

Have I told you how blessed I am to work with such wonderful students?  Have I told you how blessed I am to live in such a caring community?  Have I told you how blessed I am?  I am blessed to work  and live in such a wonderful school and community.

Make Every Day Count......
Denise

PS:  Since the posting of this blog entry, Dawn has found herself at the end of her life's journey and preparing to join God in Heaven.  She has been such inspiration to so many through her courageous battle against such a hideous disease.  She has never let the cancer define who she is.  She is a great mother who has raised two beautiful daughters.  She is a trusted friend.  She is a daughter that any woman would be proud to call her own.  She is a wonderful sister, wife, parishioner, and neighbor.  She is an angel to everyone she meets.  Her legacy will continue on by everyone who's life she touched. Sweet dreams Dawn.

Are You Kidding Me?

We all have our quirky pet peeves.  I'd also venture to guess that we all have more than one.  I know that I do.  So, what has my panties in a bunch tonight?  Toliet paper!  Or more precisely, changing a roll of TP.  You see my pet peeve is that it seems that I'm the only one in universe that ever has to replace the Charmin.  Point in case:  I'm only one in my house with the mechanical aptitude to remove the empty cardboard tube and replace it with a 400 2-ply sheet double roll.  For whatever reason, a new roll can find it's way to the back of the toilet, but never on the dispenser!  It's one of those things that send me from point 0 to 100 in two seconds or less.

Every time I have to change it, I am reminded of a Mad About You episode.  Every show began with a snippet of married commentary.  In the episode  I'm thinking of has Jamie coming out of the bathroom with a new roll of Charmin and the tube dispenser.  She says nothing!  She only stands in front of Paul and simply slips the toilet paper onto the tube.  Then she asks, "Any questions?" I remember laughing my ass off!  And to be honest, years later I reenacted the same scene for Rick.  It didn't change anything, but I felt better.  As I sit here blogging, Rick is across from me glaring.  He wants it known that he changes it more often than I give him credit. Okay, so maybe he does change it occasionally, but the ratio is definitely lopsided.  His rationale for the frequency of roll changing is in correlation with the amount of TP I use.  He says that I use half a roll every time I go to the bathroom.  Therefore, I need to change it more often!  Whatever!  I very seldom finish a roll so that blows that theory, right?  The discussion deteroriated from there, but I'll save that for another post.

I guess this is what makes it a pet peeve...it doesn't just happen at home!  I spend a lot of time at my friend Barb's quilt shop.  I am  always amused by the number of times I have to change the roll there!  Now, it's not like at home where I find an empty roll.  I actually find myself using the last sheet.  Therefore, I must replace it with a new one.  My mother did raise me to be considerate of others!  Of course, you can also hear me from inside the bathroom walls yelling, "Are you kidding me?"  Barb just giggles.  She knows me and my pet peeve!  Of course my suspicious mind wonders if there is a possible ruse going on.  May be she and Rosie use the TP sparingly when they know I'm coming out.  They are brilliant and great jokesters!

This week Barb and I went on a quilting retreat in Amish country.  We had a wonderful time and got a lot of work done.  I finished a couple of UFOs (Unfinished Projects).  One was 3 years in the making and the other was 4 years.   But TP karma struck again on the second day.  I'm sure the rooms next door to us wondered what the hell was going on in our room.  I let out a blood curling 'Are you kidding?" yell.  Even in a 4-star hotel in Berlin, Ohio I had to change the roll.  Side note:  Why do hotels and businesses use paper thin TP and Kleenex in their bathrooms?  You have to use twice as much paper to get the job done!  I just shake my head.  Out of respect for Barb and my mother's raising, I changed it and went about my day.

Well, on Wednesday Barb and I headed home after our 3-day vacay.  When I got out of the car,  I raced to the bathroom because I had to pee really bad!  I guess 3 bottles of water, 2 cups of coffee and 1 Diet Pepsi will do that do you.  Can you guess?  That's right!  I finished my business and reached for the Charmin.   Nope, there is nothing that says welcome home more than an empty toilet paper dispenser!  LOL!  I don't make this stuff up folks!!!!!!

Make Every Day Count
Denise

PS:  I woke up this morning to find a new roll of TP on the dispenser!  What a great way to start the last Friday of summer vacation.  I guess humiliating your husband on the world wide web does have its benefits!