March Madness

There has been a Kamikaze Cardinal waking me up every morning for the past 3 weeks. This bird flies at the windows over and over, all day long. If I stand at the window or close the curtains she just moves on to a different window. This has been happening every spring for the last 3 years. Only one bird does this, and it's always a female Cardinal so it has to be the same bird. She must have bad vision and a really strong neck, that's all I can say. But the worst part? At least 9 of my windows are smeared with bird oil. EW!


Earlier this month Dave's sister underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor. She is doing well and just started radiation treatments. We have our fingers crossed really, really hard for her.

Nelson was home for spring break but Dave had to be in Florida that week on business so he didn't get to spend any time with him. Nels and I did a few things together, but mostly he caught up on sleep and spent time with friends. Still, it felt good to have him home.

Eric (my oldest) got a bad case of the flu and had a friend drive him to the ER. They pumped him full of fluids and drugs and he was feeling better so they were going to release him, but when he stood up to leave he started vomiting again so they admitted him into the hospital. He was there for a day and a half, and Nelson and I went to visit him both days and then drove him home. He's been fine ever since.

On the day that Nelson headed back to college, Dave and I flew to Phoenix. He had a business meeting there and I tagged along. This was the first time I had ever gone with him. We were there 2 1/2 days which was plenty of time to soak up the sunshine and enjoy the 90* heat. I hit all 3 of the Gilbert Ortega Galleries in Scottsdale but didn't buy a single piece of silver or turquoise. Can you believe it?

The Titanic Artifact Exhibit was featured at the Arizona Science Center so Dave and I went to see it. It was really cool! Photos, artifacts, and even old video clips of men building the ship. If you get a chance to see it, go. It's well worth the price of admission.


Did I ever tell you my Titanic story? Years ago, before we were married, Dave and I went sailing with his father off the coast of Massachusetts. We met him in Marion and were going to sail to Martha's Vineyard. To get there, we had to sail through this treacherous little passage called Wood's Hole. Somewhere I have photographs... the current was so strong through there that the buoys were lying completely over on their sides. Anyway, located at Wood's Hole is the Wood's Hole Oceanographic Institution, which we passed while being swept along by the current. Out on the docks that day there were many people, yelling, cheering, popping champagne corks and spraying champagne all over each other. It was quite a celebration! The next day we read in the newspaper that the team we saw celebrating had just located the wreck of the Titanic. The date was September 1, 1985 and I was there! *lol*

We also visited the Deer Valley Rock Art Center at the Arizona State University. There is a trail with Native American petroglyphs ranging in age from 3000 BC to 1225 AD and yes it was a little cheesy, but it got us out into the sunshine and heat and that is exactly why we did it. Click the photo below to enlarge it and see how many you can find.


Just stay on the trail,


enjoy the sunshine,


and don't forget to stop and smell the flowers.