This past week had a change in my usual schedule. I took off Weds instead of Friday to join my parents on a baseball game outing. The Sunrise community took the residents out to a Senior Baseball game event with the Bowie Baysox. The Baysox are the Orioles farm team, so we were decked out in our orange and black. The event was set up in the sky box above home plate. Mom and Dad took the Sunrise van ride over and Scott and I followed in my van(yes, Scott joined us!). I brought along a wheelchair to help get Dad moving. He is struggling with everyday tasks, so I wanted to see how he managed on an outing in case I tried to take him out myself. I think after this outing, I decided he is just too much for me to handle along with mom for any day trips.

But while we were there, we really enjoyed ourselves. The baseball staff was wonderful and very helpful. And so were the Sunrise staff that came along. There were 10 residents in all on the outing. Besides enjoying the game(we won!), we also were treated to a picnic buffet lunch and Bingo! And Mom won an Orioles tshirt!  So we all had a great time and I was just happy we got Dad out for awhile. Though I don't think I will be doing that very often.

Scott was home this week, in between scout camps. He did a great job earning his Robotics and Motor Boating merit badges last week at camp. This week at the boy scout meeting, I was busy putting finishing touches on our upcoming scout trip to Hershey Park. Scott spent the boy scout meeting working with his fellow patrol members planning an upcoming meeting in which they will run the activities. We requested the older boys get more involved in running the weekly meetings rather than sitting and listening to the adults speak. And the scout leader agreed. So the boys have come up with some camping training, badge work and games. As we say, scouts should be "Boy Led". Then why am I so busy?  On Sunday morning we packed Scott up again for another week at Boy Scout camp. This time he is headed off to a computer boy scout camp. His Troop Leader developed the program and it is the first of its kind. They plan on writing up the program in Boys Life. Maybe there will be photo of Scott in the article. They had 40 boys sign up for the camp. It is more laid back in that they don't have specific hours for meals, they can stay up late playing video games and they can use all the tech equipment they want(ipads, computers, cell phones, you name it). They will work on badges as well as science programs, including learning to fly drones.  I think he will be able to find something there that he enjoys!

He also managed to get in an afternoon of work at the Roller Blade rink on Friday. He had to work with a newly hired "challenged" employee, and found himself doing all the work. I was very proud of how hard he worked including cleaning and rearranging the entire skate room.

Allison was also up early on Sunday and out the door for another week of Girl Scout camp. She probably would have enjoyed her last week celebrating the holidays a little more if she had not also been babysitting one of the other counselors with special needs. The girl needs supervision herself which makes it tougher for Allison to get her job done. Plus Allison was asked to give the girl a ride home each weekend. So she ends up getting home late on Friday nights.

Welcome to Equal  Opportunity Employment Scott and Allison!

Scott and Grandma B enjoy a Baseball game in the Skybox

 Grandma B wins Bingo!

 Grandma and Grandpa Bozyk take in a Bowie Baysox baseball game/Orioles Farm league

Last week it was just me and the girls(Cookie and Pika). I had the whole house to myself. Scott headed off to Boy Scout camp for a week at Camp Rodney on the North Side of the Chesapeake Bay. He rode up with his friend Joe and their family on Sunday morning. Allison was up early too and headed off to work another week of Girl Scout camp with a Hawaiian Theme.

Allison celebrated her 20th Birthday at camp and shared a huge platter of cookies with fellow counselors. I packed her up a goody bag and shipped it UPS directly to camp. I included some homemade cookies of her own since I figured she would probably not get any that she brought! I also included a few Hawaiian themed items which she really enjoyed, like a blow up palm tree, Hawaiian shirt and glow in the dark ring toss game(the palm tree was a big success). Plus a few snacks and a coconut cup. She loved getting her care package. And she had a wonderful week(again). She even stopped off for pizza at a local restaurant with fellow counselors before heading home on Friday. One unique experience she had this past week involved a possible non worldly sighting in the woods. The Girl Scout camp is already rumored to be haunted by civil war era ghosts. The stories are written up in the book, Weird Maryland. The GS camp property originally belonged to the Bell family(telephone company), and their house which is used by scouts today remains on the land overlooking the Susquehanna river. The house is supposed to be haunted. Along with the ruins of a homestead where several children died in a fire set by Union soldiers. All that remains is the chimney where the mother hid the children before the soldiers burned down the house. But Allison believes she was one of many that may have spotted the spirit of a new generation of ghosts. Possibly a Girl Scout who died several years ago of cancer. Her father is the archery instructor and helped establish several nature centers in his daughter's name, Caitlyn Dunbar. Apparently she loved scouting so much, she spent her entire summer at camp each year until she died. And her family has devoted their time and resources  towards Girl Scouts and camping in her name. Allison and a second counselor were taking a camper to the Nurses station at 4am with a stomach ache. ON their way back to their cabin, Allison believes she saw a girl walking down the path near the pool house and Caitlyn Dunbar nature center wearing white socks, shoes and shorts. Allison tried to call to her and approach her since the girls are not supposed to be out on their own, but she disappeared. When Allison mentioned this to the other counselors, they reported having the same experience. We may need another chapter in the Weird Maryland Book! We told Allison to take her camera or cell phone with her next time she is out walking at 4am!  I think she especially enjoyed being home though to catch up on her sleep!

Her eery experience did not however keep her from returning to camp again last Sunday morning as she headed out to enjoy the Holiday theme at GS camp. They celebrate a different holiday each night including Halloween, Thanksgiving, and  best of all, Christmas.

SCott was also happy to return home from camp, mainly to get a good night's sleep. He spent his week at a scout camp on the northern end of the Chesapeake bay, sleeping in a hammock. Except when it rained. Since the camp was right on the bay, he signed up for lots of water sports including sailing and motor boating. He actually earned his sailing badge last year, but signed up again to spend time sailing with his friends since he enjoyed it so much last year. He especially enjoyed learning how to operate a motor boat!  Which he was able to do since successfully completing his Maryland Boating Safety program the week before. And for a break from the water and sun, he finished up his day with the robotics badge. Tom and I drove up on Saturday morning to pick up both SCott and his friend Joe.

While Allison and Scott were off to scout camp all week, Tom traveled to California to work. Before he left on Monday, we enjoyed dinner out on Sunday night and took my mom out for ice cream. He also had a chance to meet up with my brother Mike for dinner in LA along with his roommate Suzanna.

I found ways to keep myself entertained during the week. On Monday I took my mom to her dentist appointment and then we went out to dinner. On Tuesday I relaxed at home after work. Weds I took Cookie for a walk in the park while enjoying a free Jazz concert. On Thursday I was invited to dinner at our friends who watch Cookie while we are gone. So naturally, Cookie and I went over together for dinner and to drop off a Thank you gift basket for doggy sitting. Cookie was not ready to have her ears chewed on again by their puppy however.  On Friday I spent the day running errands and taking care of paperwork for my parents. I had hoped to try and take my parents out to a local pool or small lake, but the weather turned cloudy and grey. I stopped in to take my parents out to dinner, but they had already eaten by 5pm. Instead I shared dessert with mom and we headed to the grocery store. On Saturday Tom and I spent the morning picking up Scott from camp along with his friend Joe. Our family decided to catch a movie since it was a rainy day, but we could not agree on which one. So Tom and I saw Antman which we really enjoyed and the kids caught up with The Minions. Afterwards we decided to try something different for dinner and we stopped into a Thai restaurant that Tom visits with fellow workmates. Very spicy. On Sunday Allison was headed off to camp early in the morning. Tom and I worked on yard work even though it was a bit too hot. I had a lot of weeding to do in our garden. Unfortunately, our yard has turned into a nature sanctuary and the deer nibbled most of our tomato plants and pepper plants. So I was trying to see what was left. We really have had an interesting selection of creatures in the backyard:snakes, a box turtle, deer, fox, rabbits, and a wide variety of birds. I was very excited to have assisted in contributing to the blue bird population as our birdhouse saw 4 new baby blue birds hatch. Now a crazy wren is busy building a nest in the box. Seems a little late in the year. But it keeps her busy! Now if we can just get some veggies to grow!

Another Happy Birthday goes out to our nephew Nicholas Bozyk who also turned 20 last week. Happy Birthday Nick!  And Get Well Soon to nephew Clayton Bozyk who underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis. Hope you are feeling better!

Allison S celebrates her 20th Birthday at Myrtle Beach

Mommy and Daddy Blue Bird watch over their House

We recently returned from our whirlwind Seitz family reunion in Myrtle Beach and we all had a fabulous time! Thanks to the entire Seitz family et al for a great week-the food, the company, the entertainment. Thanks so much to Grandma and Grandpa Seitz for putting up with all of us and providing us with such terrific memories. Our group included our family: Tom and myself, Allison and Scott, Grandpa and Grandma Seitz, Susan and her husband John Potts, Linda and Mark Seitz, Eric and Sarah Seitz, Stacey and Matt Draper and their friend from Germany, Alexandra. For a grand total of 15 guests!

We all arrived  Saturday, the 4th of July,  with a 4pm check in. Our family spent the night before in Florence, SC, so we did not have much of a drive in the morning. We spent the day doing some shopping and scoping out North Myrtle Beach. Allison and I treated ourselves to a mani-pedi. When we all arrived at the condo, we put together dinner and then headed to the beach. We watched an extensive firework display while sitting on the beach and we enjoyed shooting off a few noisemakers of our own. Happy Birthday America!

Sunday morning we were all up for church and then breakfast at a diner. We spent the afternoon enjoying the waves, sun and sand.

Monday morning most of us headed out for a horseback riding adventure  including Allison, Scott and myself, through the woods and onto the beach! I can check that off my bucket list-horse back riding on a beach. After your ride you are treated to a free ice cream-a great ending to a great outing. The afternoon brought us putt putt golf and shopping for souvenirs.

 Tuesday we were up very early in the morning to head out for a deep sea fishing trip. Allison, Scott and myself joined the team. The water was a bit rough, but we hung in there like troopers. And it paid off! We all had the opportunity to pull in some sort of fish. Eric even caught a barracuda! Not good for eating though. We caught shark, mackerel and a cobia(all very tasty which we enjoyed during dinner on WEds night). Allison pulled in a sucker fish which was entertaining but also not good to eat. After our fishing trip, we sat down to lunch at the local fish fry. Tom and I loved the fresh shrimp and hush puppies the most! We then took a drive down to the boardwalk in Myrtle beach, but decided we enjoy our own Ocean City MD boardwalk-more places for ice cream and boardwalk fries and a whole lot bigger. However, the tourist shops and restaurants, including Broadway at the Beach and The Boardwalk had more than enough entertainment for the whole family.

On Weds morning, our family decided to go look at the fish together at Ripley's Aquarium. Very interesting. Afterwards we did some shopping in the large, outdoor complex and then Eric and his wife Sarah joined us to see the Terminator movie. That evening the whole family pitched in to prepare a fish dinner cooked on the grill. It was delicious!

On Thursday we all took a boating cruise out to a barrier island that left from historic Georgetown just south of Myrtle beach. We cruised through the bay and spotted some dolphins along the way as well as listening to our guide describe the history of the area-a few presidents enjoyed visiting local rice plantations and quite some involvement in the civil war. We stopped at the mouth of the Atlantic and everyone scurried off to look for treasures near a lighthouse on the beach. We all came back with something-shells, crabs(they stayed on the beach), and Scott brought back a cedar hiking stick. Since our whole group went on the outing, we enjoyed lunch together at a local restaurant before driving back to the condo in Myrtle beach. Thursday night was Pizza night for the whole family.

On Friday we celebrated Allison's 20th Birthday(a few days early). She and Scott started off the day with a trip to a zipline park. They had to travel through the trees on an extensive obstacle course traveling from platform to platform as well as zipping through the woods and over a lake. The group that went spent about 3 hours and loved every minute. When they got back, it was time for lunch and then Allison requested a visit to the Alligator Farm. Our family spent the afternoon watching small and large gators jump for chicken! After gators, we treated the entire group to dinner at Dick's Last Resort(per Allison's request). A restaurant where the waiters abuse the guests. Imagine that. I think Mark Seitz and I had more fun trying to abuse the wait staff, especially since they split up our group into two tables. Afterwards it was cake and ice cream and presents.

On Saturday it was time to pack up and head for home. Both of our kids had to repack for their upcoming trips to scout camp. It was certainly fun to spend time together with the whole Seitz family. Looking forward to any future adventures!  Baltimore Blog

4th of July at Myrtle Beach

Fun and Sun at the Beach

                                                                                          Horseback Riding at the Beach (Allison,                                                                                                                   Scott and Kathleen)

Deep Sea Fishing Expedition

 Shark Bait! OohHaHa                                                  Sucker fish are friends, not food!(and                                                                                                                                    entertaining)

                                                                             
 Holy Mackerel Boy Wonder!

Swinging through the Trees at the Go Ape Ropes Course(Allison gets stuck over the lake)

John, Allison and Scott, Alex, Eric and Mark

Alligators Big and Small(taste like chicken!)

Shelling on the Barrier Island with the Entire Seitz Clan

  Visit to the Aquarium(crazy fish close up)

Celebrating Allison's 20th Bday at Dick's Last Resort

Our second official week of summer was just as busy at the first.  Scott was actually home all week, but still just as busy. I put him to work on completing an online Maryland Boating Safety course. He will be taking small motorboat training/merit badge when he goes off to Boy Scout summer camp in a few  weeks. In order to participate in the badge, you have to complete the Boating Safety program first. It had lots of little quizzes along the way. About a 6 hr course and then a 75 question exam at the end. Which you have to pass. He spent 3 days working on it and thankfully finished and passed! (after I paid for it).  I also had to run him over to the dentist for a small filling and sealant for his teeth(hopefully less cavities in the future). And he had his boy scout meeting Weds night. Plus, I joined him and a fellow scout and her mom and we attended the summer concert theatre at his high school on Thursday night. A few of the boy scouts were in Fiddler on the Roof, so we went to support him. And Scott has never seen Fiddler before. I thought I should start exposing him to the arts since I had him take choir next year! (He needs a fine arts credit for graduation). He also got his report card and we were all  pretty pleased. Especially with his Engineering class Final exam. He got a B on the final and earned college credit! So not much rest for Scott during summer break so far.

Allison was also gone during the week at Girl Scout camp. Fortunately, this past week was a short one. Since the 4th of July was coming up, she only had to work until Thursday night and then headed home. Fortunately no big storms this time, but an awful lot of girls homesick(and sick to their stomachs). But Allison still enjoyed her time and was asked to be a Unit Leader this time(in charge of a group of counselors). She also continues to be chosen as a favorite counselor.

Fortunately work as slowed down for me which gave me more time to run off after work and do some errands(like getting Scott to the dentist). We had a buffet lunch early in the week at work to send off our old boss as he earned a promotion. We then welcomed our new boss, a fellow OT who decided to take over the job. I decided to pass on that promotion(too much computer work and overtime to boot). Not my cup of tea at this time. I also ran out of work early on Tuesday to join Mom and Dad Bozyk for an early 4th of July BBQ at their facility. Tom came along after work as well(we left Scott home working on his online course). We enjoyed hamburgers, beer, potato salad and watermelon at a table set up on the front porch of the building. We also enjoyed chatting with another family member and her mom and swapping ideas for outings and services. Then Dad got tired of sitting, so I took him back in. I also introduced Mom B to a snow cone. They had a portable snow cone truck pull up and you could choose your own flavors. I enjoyed an egg custard and root beer and got her watermelon and raspberry. I was tempted to make Dad a beer flavored icee. We dropped mom off as she chatted with Mike B on the phone and decided we couldn't drive home without picking up a small custard ice cream first at a local shop.

On Weds night I joined Tom and Scott at the boy scout meeting to assist in making a few last minute plans for transportation to summer camp as well as an upcoming Hershey Park Boy Scout camping trip scheduled for August. Before I left, I managed to clunk myself in the head with a broomstick while climbing in the shed over the lawn mower. I spent the boy scout meeting with a bag of ice on my head. I had been busy packing for our upcoming trip all week-doing laundry, cancelling the mail and setting up pet sitters. I did not have much free time Thursday night with the play, so Friday morning I ran off to do some errands with Allison and drop Cookie off to our friends. OUr next door neighbors were busy watching the house and the cat and turtle. I couldn't get all my errands done on Friday morning since most places decided to start the holiday early and were closed. INcluding my pharmacy which made it impossible to pick up my prescription. Glad I have extra. Anyway, I still squeezed in a few phone calls for my parents business issues before packing up our van and heading out on the open road towards South Carolina.

Tom actually found out he had a few extra vacation days to use up before our trip, so he spent the time cutting the lawn, finishing up repairs on our fence posts and also running errands. So Friday afternoon we drove off to Florence, South Carolina. We checked into our North Myrtle Beach condo with the entire Seitz family on Saturday afternoon.

More later.....