I HATE RAIN!!!!!!!!!!

If anybody out there is suffering through a long, hard draught, just invite John & myself to come visit, I guarantee we will bring the rain with us! Every time we go somewhere it rains! Think I'm lying? When we were dating, it would rain every time we went out! The night John proposed, it thunder stormed so bad, streets flooded, the lights went out, ect. We cut the "date" short and went back to his house because of the weather. The night we got married, it rained. On our honeymoon, it rained. Anniversary trip to Niagara Falls, rained. I can go on and on, if you like.
Now yesterday was my make-up day for my birthday surprise. I might as well let everyone know what it was, Lord knows when I'll get to go back! :-(
John took me to Lowes' Motor Speedway in Charlotte NC to Jeff Gordon Racing School! I was to drive a real Nextel Cup Nascar around the Lowes track!
So, we drive to NC, in and out of rain showers. We get to Charlotte and the weather didn't look too bad. The people at the track thought everything would be fine. I got suited up, had my picture taken with a car, went to school, learned all I had to know to drive my car. Then they took us around the track in a van. They come to a complete stop on the turns, to prove to you that you won't fall off. We are waiting to get approval onto the track. I get fitted with my helmet, they place it on my head, I turn to John to take my picture, when I felt it... A rain drop! One of the guys in the pit crew told me not to worry, it's not going to rain. Then he felt a rain drop. Then another, then quite a few more. Next thing I know, he's helping me out of the helmet, and telling us to take cover! We spend the next hour and a half chasing raindrops! First we hid under a canopy, then they advise us to hide out in the garage while it "blows over". Next thing you know, they are taking us to the media center to wait it out. I was supposed to drive at 4:30. At 6:30 the rain had stopped, and they asked all of the drivers to get into our personal cars, and drive on the race track behind a pace car, in order to help dry off the track! Yea! I actually got to "drive on the track"! Ok, so it wasn't in a Nascar, but I DID drive! LOL! I don't know how many laps we did, but we started before 7, and at 7:30 I gave up, and pulled into pit row. They stripped me of my jumpsuit, and it was all over!
They did issue us a rain check, so next I have to find a date that coordinates with my work schedule, and try it again!
When I got to the track, I was plenty nervous, but after the school, and being on the track, my nerves were gone, and I just want to get out there and see how fast I can go!
I need to see if John got any good pics of me in my "suit" and I'll post later.
More later
A Wet, aggravated Penny

I Was WRONG....

You hear me John?! I was WRONG! And I am a big enough person to admit it!
My wonderful, loving husband reminded me that I haven't updated the blog lately, and that I left out what my birthday surprise was.
I just want to say that I had ideas of what my "trip" was. But, I was wrong.
I thought my baby was taking me to the Georgia Aquarium, and he was giving me a diving excursion with the sharks. See, I told Judy that I thought he was taking me to the GA Aquarium, and she ran outside to go talk with him. So, actually, it's all Judy's fault, because she led me on! LOL! So, I searched the aquarium on the net, and found out that they do dives in the shark tank. He told me that my gift was something I've said I've always wanted to do. One of the things I have always wanted to do is go scuba diving. Then, he said he wouldn't do it with me, because he is claustrophobic. So, I put 2 and 2 together, and came up with shark diving.
But, no, that was not my surprise. Some of you know what the surprise is from talking with John. But, for those of you that have no clue, I am going to keep it a mystery for 2 more weeks. :-)
All I WILL say is that I have to know how to drive a stick shift in order to experience my adventure! And I do well with shifting gears. I just need much more practice getting started. I have a problem with stalling out. But, once I get started, I won't need to stop.
Opppsss......I said too much! You have 2 weeks to figure it out! LOL!

Happy Friday!

It was a BEAUTIFUL week in Savannah this week!
Monday I taught my pre-op total joint class, and that went well.
Tuesday I spent the majority of my birthday sitting thru boring meetings. But, they pay me for it, so I will stop complaining! Then John, Judy and I went out to eat. We went to one of my favorite seafood restaurants. As always, the food was yummy, and I ate way too much!
Wednesday was ME day. I slept in, and then did things that make me happy.
The first thing I did was take my camera to Bonaventure Cemetery. I know, cemeteries gross out a lot of people, but I love walking around them. Especially this graveyard. It has really cool statues, and lots of history. The azaleas were at peak bloom, and the cemetery is full of their bright pink blooms!
I had a revelation while walking thru the graveyard. John and I have talked about our final wishes, and what we want to do. I have always been a firm believer in burial, and having someplace standing, forever, marking my time on this planet. But, then I saw something Wednesday that changed all of that. I witnessed an old man, cleaning off the gravestone of his wife. And it tore my heart apart! This frail, old man, probably left here on earth alone, dealing with life's issues all by himself. He looked so alone. He kept his head held low as he swept dead leaves from his wife's headstone. Then replaced the faded silk flowers from a basket with new flowers. Then, he sat, and just stared at that marker. I stood watching him for what seemed like forever. I wondered what his circumstance was, how long ago since she left him, what he does with himself since she left. Slowly, he gathered his things, then got into an older model Buick, and slowly drove away. There stood her headstone, alone, like it was before he got there. The flowers exposed to the sun, they will fade again, just like the first batch. The dead leaves will gather on her grave, just like before. And until someone else comes to look at her headstone, she lays there, ..alone.
I don't want to put John thru that. I cannot imagine him tending my grave. Replacing the flowers, sweeping away dead leaves. Life goes on after death, but I can't imagine a life like that.
So, cremation seems the only logical decision. My ashes can be sprinkled somewhere lovely, or somewhere that I haven't been able to see while alive.
Ok, enough morbid talk.
After the graveyard, I went to the Savannah Wildlife Refuge, and watched the alligators. Not very many active gators, mostly little ones, swimming. I don't know where the BIG ones were, but I am sure they were there!



Today, John took me out to the country to learn to drive a "stick". It will come in handy when I get my birthday gift on April 27th! :-)
Tomorrow is back to work. BLECK! Anybody care to fill in for me? I secretly hope it rains, so that I am not wasting a beautiful weekend cooped up inside of the hospital!
I hope everyone out there has a wonderful weekend! Get out there, and enjoy spring. She'll be gone way too fast!

My Birthday Surprise

So, Tuesday is my birthday, and it's bad enough I have to go to work that day, but I ended up being sick yesterday, and not getting to go to my Birthday Adventure! Can you believe my luck? I caught some stomach bug, and spent most of yesterday sleeping. I was able to eat today, but I think I overdid it a bit, and now my belly is retaliating by making nasty noises. So, the surprise ended up being on my precious husband, when he couldn't take me on the trip! Hopefully they let him reschedule, otherwise, I am going to be VERY upset!
Do I reveal the surprise now, or wait?.......I think I will wait and see if we can reschedule. I can say it's a BIG surprise, and I am going to be majorly pissed off if I can't do it!
More later...
Penny

Happy Easter!

Yea!!!!! It's Officially Spring!

I am sooo excited!
Spring to me means nice weather, flowers blooming, the start of baseball season. Walking barefoot on fresh mowed grass.
Playing in my rose garden.
Walking around Lake Mayer, feeding the ducks.
Watching the alligators at the Savannah Wildlife Refuge.
Flying kites on Tybee beach.
Going for a night trip to the beach. Sitting on the swings, watching the waves crashing.

Saturday John is taking me for my birthday suprise.
I have my ideas of what he has planned, but he denies it all. Anybody got any ideas what it is? I'd post my assumptions, but I don't want to spoil the suprise.

I want to wish everybody a Happy Easter. I hope everyone can spend time with their family and friends.
Thanks for reading
Penny

Raise Your Hand...............

If you are sick of winter!
Yup......just what I thought!
LOL!

Spring has sprung here in Savannah! And not a moment too soon! Can I just go on the record to say that I am READY for spring?! I know, compared to you guys up north, I have nothing to complain about. But seriously, we have had some really cold days and nights, and I am more than ready for it to stop. Now that the time has changed, it's staying light longer, and spring is making her appearance known. The flowers are blooming, the birds are singing.....then for the icky stuff....the pollen is thick in the air, the gnats are biting my head.....but, it could be worse....it could be SNOWING! LOL!

Seriously, it's approaching my favorite time of the year down here. The flowers are just starting to bloom, the trees are starting to get green. By the first of April, spring will be in high gear. I better go to Sam's and buy the economy size bottle of Zyrtec! LOL

Driving home from work today got my spring fever into high gear!
So, to commemorate spring in Savannah, I thought I would share some pictures of spring. Hope you guys from the Frozen Tundra enjoy!





Tomorrow is the BIG St Patty's Day Parade here in Savannah. This year, they are doing it early, as next week is Holy week. So, the drinkin' and the partying will be beginning this evening I guess. The parade is tomorrow, then the flocks of drunks, I mean party goers head down to River Street to do whatever they do down there. Personally, I think they are all NUTS! It's a mass of human bodies, which when you consider it's going to be 80 degrees, and these people have been drinking for several hours, some throwing up on themselves, you KNOW they reek of cigarette smoke, alcohol, and body odor! You can't walk for the crowds, people blowing cigarette smoke in your face, the cussing, the public nudity, oh yea..sign me up. NOT! I guess you can say I am no longer 20, because none of that appeals to me! Instead, I will be working tomorrow, and the weekend I will be staying far, far away from downtown!
For the Irish folks out there....Happy St Patrick's Day! For me, I am waiting for Easter, then my birthday on the 25th. John is planning something, but I have no idea what. If you know....let me in on the secret, it's killing me!