There's Something About Mary

1990 Mazda Miata

 Back in January of 2013, Jim purchased a 1990 Mazda Miata.

Almost one month to the day, Jim was in an accident and the insurance company totaled it.

You would think that would be the end of the story, but it wasn't.  We decided to rebuild.  She wasn't unsalvageable, it was just that it would cost more to fix her than she was actually worth.

Darby loves this car

You may have noticed I started referring to the car as her.  Yep, we named her Mary.  Hence the title.

So we repaired the damage and learned a lot along the way.

We spent many a weekend not only driving with the top down, but doing things on the car.  Be it just checking her fluids or repainting her.

She was repainted numerous times.  She was white and then gray.  Then white and black.  And finally tan and black.  Each time we painted her it was an experience.

She's had a few engine swaps.  One out of need and another just for more power.

I learned about brake jobs, sway bars, oil and other fluid changes and tires.

It became a project car.

And Darby loved going for rides in her.  What dog wouldn't want to go for a ride in a convertible?

We also learned the joys of Auto Cross.  Jim was able to participate in two Auto Crosses while we were in Norfolk.  Each time they were held on Little Creek Base and each time it was a day of fun.

You can tell they were different times because the car is a different color in each one.

One of my favorite memories is going to see Christmas lights in this car with the top down.  Best view of the lights ever!

She made the cross country trip from Virginia to California.  Two adults in a car with no A/C, power steering, cruise control, radio and only a driver's side airbag.  What fun!  And we went the scenic way!

She stayed in California in storage until we moved there.  Almost 7 months.  Of course that's when all the lovely weather arrived that was perfect for driving with the top down.

She became Jim's daily driver because the weather in California was perfect for it.

However, she wasn't as comfortable to us as she used to be.  Age does that to a body.  We would both be tired after a day out in her.  And Jim's Fitbit registered more steps than he actually took with her.  LOL

Fortunately, one of our friends is on the west coast and was happy to use her for auto crossing.

Sad to see her go, but glad she's still going to be driving and not parted out.

Farewell Mary!

Military Appreciation Night

Taking the oath

On August 10th we attended a Tides Game.  Happy coincidence?  It was also Military Appreciation Night!

We actually got a Luxury Suite in order to celebrate our 20th anniversary.  Our anniversary is actually the 13th, but that's a week day and we wanted to share this experience with our friends.

First pitch

This was something we'd been wanting to do for quite a while.  Even funnier is that most of our friends that came are military as well.  No surprise there right?

So we got to witness people taking their oath to join the military, the Navy band performing and military throwing out the first pitch.  And to top off the awesomeness of the evening?  Fireworks!!!

So we got our own box with a balcony, which was great.  We could sit in air conditioning or sit out on the balcony and enjoy the game.  It had rained earlier that day so it did get kind of muggy.  Something you may notice with a few of the photos I took.  Foggy lens.

Plus we ordered food and beer so that no one was hungry.  Hot dogs, popcorn, nachos and cookies.

YUM!

And don't forget the yummy beer!

It was a great combination of people.  And we were so glad that they could come out and celebrate with us!

 Some knew each other from other groups that I'm in or they lived next to us or they work with Jim.  So we felt it was a great mix!

Wow that was a bit of a ramble there wasn't it?

Good food.  I don't think anyone walked away hungry.

Good drinks.  And no one drove under the influence.  We are responsible people!

Silly Jim with buddy Terri

Sweet Caroline...  dum dum dum

Good company.  The best company.

And a great game!

Who could ask for more?

 And of course there were a few of us who had had enough to drink to sing along with some of the songs the ball field played.

And the game ended with a fantastic display of fireworks.

We were definitely pleased with the way this evening went.

So much so that we just may do it again next year some time.

And just so you can see how happy we were I've added a photo that a pal of ours snapped for me that night.

Bonus photo!  The happy couple!

In Memory of Kaiser

On June 1st our 14 year old dog, Kaiser, passed away. It's the hardest decision that a pet owner can make, but we promised ourselves that if his quality of life was not what it should be then we would do what we had to. An excruciating decision.

A few days later we got a sympathy card from our vet's office with a poem enclosed. It was very true and really struck home for me. So as a tribute to my companion, friend, protector and furry child I will share some photos and the poem. You may want to get a hanky handy. I'm just warning you.

If you never met Kaiser, then you truly missed out. Although he was leery of men, he was an extremely lovable boy. He smiled often and loved to hug. Oh and he was truly a ladies man.

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then will you do what must be done,
For this — the last bat tle — can’t be won.

You will be sad I under stand,
But don’t let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship must stand the test.
We have had so many happy years,
You wouldn’t want me to suffer so.
When the time comes, please, let me go.
Take me to where to my needs they’ll tend,

Only, stay with me till the end
And hold me firm and speak to me
Until my eyes no longer see.
I know in time you will agree
It is a kind ness you do to me.
Although my tail its last has waved,
From pain and suffer ing I have been saved.
Don’t grieve that it must be you
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We’ve been so close — we two — these years,
Don’t let your heart hold any tears.
– Author unknown

And we did.

Goodbye most beloved boy!

17 Years Ago

We became a couple. That's right 17 years ago on this very day Jim and I were married. Yes, we were married on a Friday the 13th.

Can you tell we aren't very superstitious?

As you can see from the picture, Jim sent me roses. How many you may ask. 18! He couldn't order 17, so I had to promise to stick around for another year. That was an EASY thing to promise!

We've had our ups and downs, just like all couples, but I would trade it for anything in the world.

I've been with Jim over half my life and look forward to spending the rest of my life with him.

Happy Anniversary Jim!

In Memory Of A Great Man

I just found out that Jacques Recht, a wonderful and knowledgeable man, just passed away.

Jim and I were lucky enough to meet this man and form a friendship through our wine group. It was always interesting to hear his thoughts on wines and he was always willing to sit and chat with you about the many different things about wine.

Jacques, a Belgian oenologist, was sailing around the world on a catamaran he had built when he ventured into the Chesapeake Bay and had a chance meeting in 1980 with Carl Flemer, the owner of a large commercial nursery and vineyards on the Northern Neck. As it happened, Flemer was in need of a winemaker to launch his Ingleside Vineyards. Jacques agreed to give him a hand, at least for a few weeks. Thos few weeks turned into 25 years, during which Recht moved from Ingleside's winemaker to wine making guru for the entire state. He has been a consultant to numerous wineries, including Oasis, Oakencroft and Tarara. For the past several years he has been the winemaker for a small winery, Athena Vineyards, which is near Wicomico Church on the Northern Neck.

Our sympathy and hear felt wishes go out to Lillian, his lovely wife, and all his family. He will be greatly missed. Farewell Jacques, you will be missed.

-Michelle

Mending Wall

I can't go a day here without thinking about Robert Frost's poem "Mending Wall."

Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it,
And spills the upper boulders in the sun,
And makes gaps even two can pass abreast.
The work of hunters is another thing:
I have come after them and made repair
Where they have left not one stone on a stone,
But they would have the rabbit out of hiding,
To please the yelping dogs. The gaps I mean,
No one has seen them made or heard them made,
But at spring mending-time we find them there.
I let my neighbor know beyond the hill;
And on a day we meet to walk the line
And set the wall between us once again.
We keep the wall between us as we go.
To each the boulders that have fallen to each.
And some are loaves and some so nearly balls
We have to use a spell to make them balance:
'Stay where you are until our backs are turned!'
We wear our fingers rough with handling them.
Oh, just another kind of out-door game,
One on a side. It comes to little more:
There where it is we do not need the wall:
He is all pine and I am apple orchard.
My apple trees will never get across
And eat the cones under his pines, I tell him.
He only says, 'Good fences make good neighbors'.
Spring is the mischief in me, and I wonder
If I could put a notion in his head:
'Why do they make good neighbors? Isn't it
Where there are cows?
But here there are no cows.
Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That wants it down.' I could say 'Elves' to him,
But it's not elves exactly, and I'd rather
He said it for himself. I see him there
Bringing a stone grasped firmly by the top
In each hand, like an old-stone savage armed.
He moves in darkness as it seems to me~
Not of woods only and the shade of trees.
He will not go behind his father's saying,
And he likes having thought of it so well
He says again, "Good fences make good neighbors.

Parting is such sweet sorrow

I don't like to get "mushy," but I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the "Ingleside family" for making the last couple of years great ones. The professional side of my Dahlgren tour was not as satisfying as I had hoped. That didn't matter as much as it normally would have. I was able to make friends (Through Michelle; there's a reason why I keep her around. Why she keeps me around is beyond me.), learn a little about wine, and generally had a lot of fun. 

Thank you all for the great experience.

-Jim