Labor Day Weekend - Aug. 29 to Sept 1, 2008

We have been busy, busy little bees since our last blog! Things have been hopping around here. I am looking for a position daily. This is quite a time consuming task. Because I don't have the hard copy of my teaching license, I cannot even sub yet so I am keeping myself busy doing things around the house and applying for my "back-up" positions in an office. Things are slow. I did get one call to be an aide in the Primrose School/Day Care facility. After the initial phone conversation, the woman won't be calling me back until she has a Kindergarten position available. My friends have been very supportive through this segment of my life. On the bright side, Rus likes his position and the people he is working with. It is an adjustment replacing banking with power, but this is where the physics background has been an enormous help. He is enjoying his project and all the intricacies of the job. We went to a colleague's home for a barbecue this past week (Yes, spouses, too, wasn't that nice of them to include us!) It was a very enjoyable evening.

On Saturday, after the usual Saturday errands and stuff, Dennis' pals, the new Mr. and Mrs., Oren and Heather arrived for the weekend. We were so thrilled to see them. We had an early dinner because the three of them went off to see Barack Obama/Joe Biden speak in nearby Dublin, Ohio. Rus and I walked through Inniswood Gardens. At the close of the summer, it was spectacular! All the flowers were in bloom, and the gardens looked beautiful. I always leave there with some great ideas for next year. When we got home we packed up and went over to our neighbors house for the 2008 version of a drive-in movie -- movies projected from the patio to a large screen. It is always nice to feel comfortable enough to just hang out. By the time we got home the excited campaigners were there. We heard all about their adventures.

Sunday morning, the Scoutmaster organized a "little trip to hike" . So after breakfast, we drove south down to Hocking Hills. Our first stop was Cantwell Cliffs. "This is Ohio. What cliffs?" thought I. Ho-ho-ho. I knew we were in trouble when the sign read,

"Be Careful!

Keep constant careful control over your children.

Hiking can be hazardous."

Yeah. No kidding. As Rus explained the trail, I got the part about how this was a much more remote trail with fewer hikers. The words that escaped me were Cliffs and rim, together in the same sentence. Cliffs combined with the word rim will forever be embedded in my brain like something akin to the robot screaming the warning, "Warning, Will Robinson!" The words they don't use are slippery, sandstone, tremendous height, undefined trails, no barriers, and crevices creates hazards that could mean certain death to humans without the optional parachute! So we hiked....and hiked.... and hiked. Those of you who know me are well aware that heights are not my friend. This will not be somewhere I will venture to again, but I am glad I survived this adventure. Dennis, Heather, Oren and Rus were very understanding of my sometimes overwhelming panic attacks as we has to cross some very treacherous terrain. We had a picnic lunch in a lovely gazebo and headed to Old Man's Cave (much more civilized, and very crowded) to hike there. 6 more miles and we were heading home. Rus and I watched one movie downstairs while the buddies watched the classic, "Top Gun" upstairs!

Today we headed in separate directions. Dennis and his buddies went kayaking early then headed off to the Polaris Mall, while Rus and I headed off to play a short 9. It was crowded and slow on the course, but there was plenty of shade and a steady breeze to keep up relatively cool. After dinner, Heather and Oren headed back to Purdue. It was great to see them again!

Laura moved back home for the semester on Friday. We are presently attempting to absorb all the stuff. It is probably going to take a few days of some serious work for her room to be livable. She had a great time this weekend spending it with her Xavier friends in Cincinnati. Back to the grind for all tomorrow.

Hope you enjoy our random shots of our Ohio Labor Day fun!

P.S. Did I mention that on August 19, 2008, Rus and I have been married for THIRTY YEARS! The man is a saint, no doubt about it!