So, before my riding lesson yesterday, Mom called to tell me that my grandfather was admitted to the hospital.  I am told that no one thinks it's serious, and that all should be OK, but still, I'm worried. 

When I answered the phone, she said, "I just called your cell and you didn't answer, so I called here to leave a message."  Mom, FYI, I do have voice mail on the cell.

Update:  I just spoke with Mom.  All the tests they ran were negative, and they are moving him to an extended-care facility for wound care and to build his strength back up.  I plan on going up next weekend- he'll have enough visitors this weekend. 

I've been busy.  Also, nothing that exciting.  Actually, I stand corrected.   Something is exciting, but I am not quite ready to tell the internet.  Internet, remember that patience is a virtue. 

So, it is before 10AM on a Saturday.  I have already been to the Farmer's Market and the grocery store.    I went to the Farmer's Market to get some sweet potatoes (the ones they sell there are so sweet you can eat them plain.)  As I was checking out, the seller asked me, "Do you need anything else?  We have cilantro."  Now, that seems odd, but cilantro was on my grocery list.  And it was $1 a bunch at the FM.  (I like cilantro.  It's my second-favorite herb, after rosemary.  (Do other people rank herbs?  Just me then?  OK.))  I'm trying out a new recipe tomorrow, an enchilada casserole which calls for cilantro. 

Then, Harris Teeter.  When you walk into HT at 9AM on a Sunday morning, the bakery/deli manager greets you.  Then, when you are frowning at the selection of lettuce, the produce manager picks out a nice head of red leaf for you and helps you put it in the produce bag.  The best part was in the meat section though.  Ground turkey breast (needed for the casserole) was on sale for $3.99/ lb.  But wait, there's more!  All the packages had $1 off coupons on them.  So it was $2.99 /lb.  I bought 3, because I cook with it a lot. 

And yes, I did just tell you I have exciting news that I won't share and then made you hear about my grocery shopping.  That's how life goes sometimes.

Wait, I'll leave you with this.  My neighbors this morning heard this coming from my kitchen, "Ri, for the last time, leave the sweet potatoes alone."  Because who hasn't said that to their cat?

Sorry, y'all.    Things that were not grocery shopping happened this week.  Cool things!  Fun things!  Things I didn't tell you about, because I was so excited about the groceries!

I rode twice this week, because I had canceled last Thursday's lesson.  See, I will ride in the rain.  I will ride in the cold.  I will not ride when it is cold and rainy.  The makeup lesson was with a friend of mine- she started riding last year after winning the riding lesson at the WFL silent auction.  It was not a good lesson for me.   I had an off day.  My rhythm was way off, and I couldn't sit the trot.  I couldn't make a turn down centerline.   It was like I'd never done this before.  It was very frustrating.  Unfortunately, it happens sometimes.  I rode again on Thursday- I was on Solie (Bruno Tues.).  It was a much better ride.  We did no hands work in the round pen, and then worked on the centerline thing.  People, I can be taught.  Or maybe Solie can.  One of us, anyway.

On Wednesday, I went to meet Paige.   Her mom (who is a Ph.D. student) had a class to teach that night, so Babu was all alone with the baby.  She is tiny, gorgeous, and has the longest fingers.  I was impressed with Babu, who handed me the baby when I walked in, and sat calmly by as I held her, switching positions frequently, sitting down, walking around, rocking her.  (Disclaimer:  I am the eldest of 4, and the second eldest of the 18 cousins.  I know from babies.)  I did leave when it was diaper change time. 

Friday I went out to dinner with Cdub.  Due to extenuating circumstances on both our parts, we hadn't seen each other lately.  (We do IM every day.)  This was, I thought, to celebrate her new position.  See, currently she works for the same company I do, albeit in a different office.  (My old office.  Poor Cdub.)  However, she found another position, with a smaller company, with different responsibilities than she has now.  It's a scary time, but I'm excited for her, and I hope she's excited too.  She is very good at what she does and will have no problem impressing her new employer.  Anyway, long story short, I still owe her a dinner. 

OK, that's about it from here.  Stay tuned- I'm thinking of going to Target tomorrow.

Yesterday, Cool Boss and I made a trip to a wastewater treatment plant to get some activated sludge (that's MLSS for my EVE friends) (or "poop soup" if you're CB). On the way back to the office, I got to sit in the back seat of the Matrix, next to the sludge, to make sure it didn't start foaming over (we were aerating it). Later that afternoon, we spent an hour looking for stopcock grease, which was made much more interesting by the fact that we are 12. And then our BPM came in to ask if we know about "relations" with another company. Hee!

I found my glasses about 5 minutes ago.  That should make things around here less headache-y. 

Anyway, here's a rundown of how things are going with me.

Monday was an absolutely beautiful day.  So, instead of going to the gym after work, I went for a walk around a nearby lake.  I walk at this lake (it's also a city greenway) quite often; I go by myself and usually have no problems- it's quite crowded usually.  People bring their dogs, I pet them, we all have fun.  Except Monday, I walked past a man who gave me a look that immediately gave me the shivers.  Not the good kind, but the, "Have I heard about any serial killers in Raleigh?" kind.  I turned to look back at him, and he was looking at me.  I walked very quickly after that, as my glutes attested to yesterday.  I'll be back, but I may be carrying a big Maglite. 

Yesterday I had a riding lesson, and true to the pattern, the weather turned frightful.  We had thunderstorms (with hail) in the morning and wind gusts all day long (70 mph was reported in Fayetteville).  I dressed like it was winter in MA, and was still cold.  Also, because of the front moving through, my ankle was very sore.  Bruno and I worked on transitions, because they are important, but wouldn't stress the ankle too much.  I came home, took a very hot shower (red feet!), and was still cold until I curled up into bed with the boys.

Today, work.  The respirometer is acting up (don't you hate that?).  Also, we ordered something over a week ago that the company we ordered from has absolutely no record of.    Also, my former doctor's office called me today.

Nurse at former doctor's office:  Hi [Watergirl], I'm just calling to tell you we called in that prescription for the nasal spray.
WG:  Well, that was very nice, but I didn't ask for any.
NAFDO:  You didn't call us?
WG:  Nope, sure didn't.
NAFDO:  Well, then what?
WG:  You have another patient with the same first and last name as me.  Perhaps it's for her?
NAFDO:  I'll have to check that.

Click & Clack are having an ugly car contest. 

This weekend I drove up to Culpeper to visit my grandfather, who is currently in a nursing home.  I was nervous about making the trip, worried about seeing him.  One of the benefits of the move to NC has been that I have gotten much closer to my grandfather.  For my first two years here, he, Peg, Bobby and Stephanie were my closest relatives geographically.  I spent many weekends with them.  This allowed me one-on-one time with my grandfather.  He would tell me stories I'd not heard, and I learned things such as the fact that he didn't marry my grandmother until he was 29.

I was afraid that I would see him looking frail (well, frailer than usual) and ready to give up.  I am happy to report that this is not the case.  He is looking much better than I expected, and is eating well and working on his PT (I think because Peg has appealed to his stubbornness).  Hopefully, he will be home within a month. 

While at Peg's, I fixed the garbage disposal and the dripping faucet in the bathroom.  Also, we had an argument about the green deposits in her bathtub and sink.  I told her they were copper, and she said, "No, it's acid."  Would not believe me that it was copper, which is coming out of solution because the pH of her water is too low.  No, the green is acid, because that is what she's been told by the plumber.  Please note that one of us essentially has a Master's Degree in Drinking Water Treatment, and one of us does not.  Confidential to my family members:  I am an expert in one area.  Y'all are not experts in that area.  STOP ARGUING WITH ME ABOUT IT.

I called Cdub last night to wish her good luck on her first day at the new job.  We talked for a while, and I told her that I had to go, because I had to iron my sheets. 

Cdub:  You iron your sheets?

WG:  Well, this set has embroidery, and if you don't iron that...

Cdub:  It puckers.

WG:  I also fold my underwear and my socks.

Cdub:  Why wouldn't you?

WG:  I don't know, but I've been told it's strange.

I have been in North Carolina for four years now.  It took me almost all of those four years to find a group of friends here.  (I made friends along the way, but not enough to make up a group.)  It was OK, because I still had my grad school friends (still do), but it's not the same when your friends are in Buffalo, New Hampshire, and California. 

Anyway, on Monday I had lunch with R and Stetson.  (Stetson is her son, who will be joining us in April.  Stetson is not actually his name, I just call him that thanks to a game we played at the baby shower.)  See, I owed her the baby ziti (I do not give baby stuff.  New parents always get tons of baby stuff.  Food they need.), and I told her I would give it to her when we met up for lunch.  (Her husband, overhearing the tail end of this conversation, "WAIT!  What do we have to do to get our ziti?"   I was not quick enough to come up with something really good.)  The waiter came to take our drink order as we were talking about her bellybutton.  (My friends and I will discuss nearly anything.) 

Tuesday, I had non-lunch plans, so I ate at my desk.  (I usually eat at my desk.)

Today, I met 2.0 for lunch.  We went to a cafe  neither of us had been to before.  The food was excellent.  We've been busy and haven't seen each other much lately, so it was great to get together.  We did not talk about bellybuttons, unfortunately.  We did talk about how she met her husband.  (Note:  I once greeted him with, "Hi, [2.0 spouse].  You have green hair."  It was true, but he probably knew about it.) 

Now, Cool Boss and I (along with some other people from the office) are supposed to go to the NC Botanical Garden at lunch either tomorrow or Friday, but the weather may have other plans.  Confidential to the weather:  Sunday is the Vernal Equinox, and also I want to start wearing sandals. 

What I want to be wearing today:  sandals.  What I am wearing today:  Gore-tex hiking boots.  Why?  Snowing.  In North Carolina.  In March.  Five days before the official start of spring.

What else am I wearing today?  My jeans that are a size too big.  They are still too big, but I needed them today.  Blech.  Not feeling well.

And the NCAA basketball tournament starts today.  Which means that will be the main topic of conversation at work.  Word to the wise:  if you do not care about college hoops, do not move to North Carolina.  Although I am one step ahead of Kimmy, who asked a group of co-workers talking about the ACC tournament, "What sport are we talking about?"

Also?  This is depressing. 

Watergirl:  Ugh.  I don't feel well.  I have to call Heather and cancel my lesson.  Also, I wore the too big pants today and at some point they are going to fall down in the office.

Cool Boss:  I think I still have a belt around here somewhere.  (Somewhat related but not really:  I, Watergirl, am not a friend to belts.)

WG:  It's OK.  I'm wearing underwear that I won't be embarrassed to be seen in.

CB:  Laughs.

WG:  Laughs.

CB:  (looks around his very messy office)  All these drawers hanging out around here could cause a safety problem.  A drawer problem.  *Pauses*  File drawers.  Not your kind of drawers. 

How much do I love that Bud takes Goose snowboarding, Goose falls down, and this is Bud's reaction?

Very much.  ("You fell down?  Too bad.  So sad.  Smile for the camera!")

So, what I didn't tell you about the trip to see my grandfather is that my grandfather, who has had two strokes, has TIAs quite frequently.  When Stephanie and Peg were discussing them, I started laughing uncontrollably.  That is because my mother has been calling them TMIs, which brings forth visions of my grandfather yelling out things you didn't want to know.  Come to think of it, knowing my grandfather, that's not too far off...

Today, MW and I went to the Bentonville Reenactment, which is a demonstration of the last Confederate stand in the Carolinas during the Civil War.  The battle occurred between March 19 and 21, 1865, and you can read about it more here.  And if that's not enough, Google search string!  Those of you who know me IRL know that I am a history buff and am especially interested in the Civil War.  I had not been to a reenactment before and was keen to go. 

The first thing we happened upon was a lecture about embalming.  That I could have skipped.  Later we went to a lecture about the battle, which (IMO) was a bit difficult to follow.  I need maps when you're talking about troop movements!  Otherwise, I get confused.  Highlights I can remember:  Joe Johnston had just replaced P.G.T. Beauregard as the commander of the forces in the Carolinas.  One of the Generals under Johnston was Braxton Bragg, born in Warrenton NC.  I think there might be something in Fayetteville named after him.  Should check on that...  Sherman won the battle, but it was a hollow victory as there was nothing in the area to burn. 

Afterward, we walked around the civilian camps.  MW was very intrigued by the hoop skirts.  I am quite glad that women no longer have to dress in corsets and hoop skirts.  The skirts do not seem easy to sit in.   

We walked over to the battle viewing site.  We sat behind the Union lines, giving us a good view of horses and artillery.  Artillery, in case you are wondering?  Is loud.  I was happy, because, well, horses.  The battle was interesting, in that it was chaos.  I don't know how troops can accomplish anything in those situations.  One of the re-enactors portrayed a coward.  He fled the lines and was shot in the back by his own troops.  Short straw much?

I did take pictures, but due to the distance between myself and the action, they need to be photoshopped before I can share.  Well, except for this one, in which MW is looking worried about the Union's chances. 

We were hoping for a Union victory, right?

Today was beautiful here.  As we are supposed to have rain the rest of the week, Cool Boss and I made the trip out to the North Carolina Botanical Gardens.  This time of the year, the herbaceous plants are flowering.  They are low to the ground, so they must do it before the canopy makes it so that they do not get any light.   Cool Boss wanted to go so that he could take pictures of the Trout Lily, which he did.

After our walk, we had lunch at a Greek Cafe.  Yummy!

More pictures.  The first is again Trout Lily, and the others, well, I don't know.  But they are pretty!  And small!  (All pictures courtesy Cool Boss.  And his dorky tripod.)

This morning as I was working up the energy to get out of bed, the boys were chasing each other around the house and wrestling.  At one point, Orion had turned over on his back (actually, this is his favorite fighting tactic, which should indicate why Jasper usually wins), and Jasper (of the five teeth) tried to bite his back paw.  I do not know what that would have accomplished. 

Today I have to ship coolers to Belgium.  Poor Belgians, running around with nary a cooler.

Have I told you how much I love Nordstrom?  Very much.  I went in last week to buy some new bras (I'd had a fitting there, and the result of this fitting was my favorite everyday bra ever).  I found one I wanted (not for everyday), but they didn't have the everyday ones in my size (I would tell you what size, Internet, but then you would be jealous), so they ordered them from another store.  Who shipped them to me.  (Which store?  The one in Freehold, NJ.  I could have just sent Mom.)  They are good with the customer service.

We had another break-in at our office last night.  I did not lose my laptop this time, but it makes me think twice about coming in at night or on the weekends.

And now?  A poll.  Internet, the CD player in my car does not work if it is cold or wet (this is in the mornings when I start the car, so it affects my commute to work).  Should I just deal, or should I buy a new car stereo?  And if I buy a new car stereo, should I try to put it in myself, or pay for the install?  Answer in the comments section.

ETA:  Bastards stole my 3-place balance.  Probably for their meth lab.

It was beautiful weather for riding last night.  And today?  I'm wearing sandals!  Bring it on, Spring!

Mom just IM'd me to tell me that they are going to be moving my Grandfather into the nursing home permanently.  I was hoping he'd be coming home soon.  Actually, I assumed he would. 

I wish I could explain how sad I am feeling right now.  I am sitting here with tears in my eyes.  Intellectually, I know that he can't really care for himself anymore, and this is the best place for him.  Emotionally, I want my grandpa, the one who used to take me to the beach in the evenings, back.

I am thankful that my move to NC, while placing me closer to him geographically, allowed me to grow closer to him as well.  I spent many lunches at the Pig n Steak (his favorite lunch spot) listening to stories I'd never heard before.  He is a good man, a kind man, a man whom I know loves me.  Please keep him in your thoughts. 

As an American, one has the right to disagree with the government, and even speak out about it.  However, when you volunteer for the Army, it's fair to expect that you might be sent to war. 

Mom called me earlier to tell me that my grandfather has been taken to the emergency room.  We are all converging on Culpeper.

Peg (who is also ailing) called me just now to say, "I think you should pick up some wine on the way up.  I can't go out."  After a long pause, she added, "I guess you'd better pick up milk too."

The update on my grandfather is that he has pneumonia.  He was better today than he was yesterday.  Other than that, I don't know.

This weekend was the first time since TRgirl and The BIL's wedding that the four siblings (plus one!  I suppose he's officially included now?) have gotten together.  Bud and Goose spent the weekend talking like Homestar Runner and Strong Bad.  The BIL has lodged a formal complaint that I call him The BIL, while they get to be Bud and Goose.  "I want to be Maverick.  Or Iceman."  Dude, they are not Top Gun nicknames!  Anyway, poll.  Should I continue to call him The BIL, or should I call him Randy?  (Those are the only choices you get there, Randy.)

Also, there was an errand (a many detoured errand, Susan) with Susan, Stephanie, and Sara.  (Factoid:  The last time I was really wasted, it was with them.  Something about Dr. Pepper shooters.)

Peg is also quite sick; I woke up this morning to find a note by the coffee pot saying, "I've gone to the hospital.  The coffee is all set up- it just needs to be turned on."  I had to call mom and check that Peg was with her and that she hadn't taken herself to the emergency room.  She would so set up the coffee for houseguests before driving herself to the ER.  (Note:  That was not the case.  This time.)

Today Sara and I were outside sampling.  In the 76 degree weather.  I think I might have a bit of a sunburn.  (Shut up!  I did wear sunblock.)  It was lovely to not be in the office.  Tomorrow we get to do it again, and I am wearing my Tevas.  Yay sandals!

Here's a picture of the purple flowers that are growing all over our site.

Do note that underneath the rocks is a geomembrane.  Quite an effective one, I might add!  (Most of my readers:  "Huh?"  Angeler and Phoebs:  "Heh.")

Also, after counting the votes, The BIL shall now be known as Randy.  (Sorry Jenna.  But Mom and TRgirl are right.  It is a good story.)

Last night I went to Jbabe's house to watch The Amazing Race.  First of all, Ray?  Gretchen and Meredith beat you.  Ha!  I guess they don't belong in the Race with you.  Also, Rob and Amber?  It would have been decent of you to at least stop to ask if the brothers and their crew were OK after the accident.  You know, like everyone else did.  I am willing to forgive you the quitting, the bribing bus drivers to only open on door, and the overall smugness, but this?  Not so much.  My favorite teams right now are Brian & Greg and Uchenna & Joyce.

While I was sampling yesterday, I backed into a blackberry brier.  I thought I was OK, but while watching the race, I found a brier stuck in my left arm.  Since it was in a position where it would have been extremely difficult for me to remove, Jbabe said, "Do you want me to get it?"  Took about 20 minutes, but she got it out.  Not everyone would do that for me.

Today, I promise to stay away from the blackberry patch. 

I had a riding lesson scheduled.  But as it was still in the 60s, I planned to ride  anyway.  By the time I got to Knightdale, it had stopped raining.  Apparently if you call the weather gods' bluff, they fold.

I asked Heather if she thought I was ready to canter again.  She thought for a minute, and said, "Not today, and I think you should start that on a different horse.  (I was on Solie.)  Want to guess who?"  The answer was Bruno.  She was worried I'd be nervous on him (he's tall), but she had me confused with another student.  We will be doing some no stirrup work leading into cantering.  I started that today. My balance was good, and Solie and I worked together well.  However, walking tomorrow may be tricky.