WEEKEND AT KIDS

Well, I blogged about our lovely trip up. It sure was good to see the kids, though, it took Mr. Man a whole evening to remember that he likes us.

J (15) came home from her school dance at about eleven. We talked for a few minutes. Then she asked if we could shop on Saturday. I replied I couldn't drive the stick shift in heavy traffic so Grandpa volunteered to drive us. She just beamed. By the way, I have never seen a 15 year old with such a clean bedroom. Both her Mom and my other daughter kept their rooms like pigsties. I thought that's how all teenagers kept their room! I must have been doing something wrong.

Saturday we all got up and visited for awhile. Mr. Man was still playing it shy until he remembered that we take him with us when we go out to smoke on the porch. Pop and I became his new best friends. One time, he actually sat on my lap and cuddled. It was wonderful. We haven't had a real little one in our family for four years.

My seven year old granddaughter was also invited to go with us for the day. Her Mom has a problem getting her to brush so I told her she couldn't possibly be seen with us with yellow teeth. That kid went in to shower, brush, and did her own hair. Her hair is getting curly and she is going to be just as beautiful as her big sis. I like seven year olds. You can still con them into doing what you want.

Our trip started out pretty normally. "J" remarked how hungry she was (my daughter had just made waffles!) and wouldn't a salad be nice. I did my part and piped up that I wish they had a Macaroni Grill. It just so happened that there was one right in the mall we were going to! Coincidences!

Our waiter was a guy. Needless to say, 'J's soup, salad and bread were almost consumed before the rest of us were served. "A" was a doll. I had told her before hand that I wanted people to say, OH How Pretty and isn't she well behaved? She got me a little, however, when I realized on the way out she was walking ahead of me with her eyes crossed and tongue hanging out the side of her mouth. I'd forgotten how hard it is to scold them when all you want to do is laugh hysterically. The rest of the shopping went well. We used our list and got everything we needed.

Our big kids got to go out for dinner. I made sandwiches and bathed Mr. Man while Pop vacuumed. I hope we helped the kids out some. My SIL has been sick and my daughter is worn out. Three kids will do that to you.

Anyway, talk to you later.

GREAT WEEKEND

I am in the process of selling my oldest daughter my car. Right now, the only vehicles we have are our Ford truck with the V-10 engine (8 miles a gallon) or his toy-a 1985 BMV piece of crap that he is in the process of restoring. One of the things he has not yet had fixed is the air conditioner. We were going to visit my youngest daughter for the weekend and had to decide which vehicle to take. As she lives over two hundred miles away and we didn't want to take a third mortgage to buy gasoline, the choice was simple.

Did I mention that his toy is a convertible? Ah? Men in menopause!

I really dreaded the trip but I really wanted to see my daughter and her family.

Summer came on with a bang here and at four o'clock Friday afternoon, it was over 90 degrees. We pack our stuff, jump in the car (which is actually almost easy to get into when the top is off) and take off. My husband was in seventh heaven. I'd brought a cloth hat to try to keep my hair from tying in knots and because I sunburn easily and have a huge ski slope of a nose that is the first to burn. I had a string under my chin that was choking me and I still could barely keep the damn hat on. My husband had on his straw summer cowboy hat and it wasn't even blowing. What the Hell?

After about 100 miles of streaming wind and bumping ass (it sits close to the ground and needs shocks), my head was soaking wet from sweat and I felt like I'd spent the day out weeding my garden in 100 degrees. I took off the damn hat to dry my hair and it dried in strings. Now my body is salty and my scalp feels like there's enough dry stuff on there to plant a garden. Hubby decides it is time to stop for gas and a potty break. I stagger into the restroom and do the best I can. (Did you ever wash your face only to find out there are no paper towels-only one of those stupid blowers at waist height?) By now, it's cooling down. I get back into the car, we head out and I ask where my jacket is. He replies that it is in the trunk. I don't like to complain so for about 50 more miles I tried to hunch over under the dash and finally covered up with his windshield sun screen. Just when I was getting toasty, he pulls over to put up the top because he is cold. The rest of the trip was uneventful except when we arrived, about the first thing I did was take a shower so I wouldn't offend the rest of the family.

Well, this isn't too bad a blog so I think I'll stretch it out for a couple of days. Talk to you later.

ALASKA

My husband has always wanted to do the Alaskan cruise. I cannot figure out why. We both grew up in New England. We are already familiar with lots of greenery, lots of water, moose, bears and lots and lots of mosquitos. If we want to see all that, we can go visit our old stomping grounds and at least have the benefit of seeing family.

When we retire, I want to see the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican, the Greek Islands, Ireland, Scotland and England. I want to see the Roman tiles unearthed in Ireland. I want to see the Tower of London and breathe in the history. I want to see where the Scottish warlords fell. I want to see the Louvre and see where Michalangelo spent all those years painting the ceiling of the Sistine chapel. I want to see the holy relics at the Vatican. I'd like to see the ruins of the coloseum. I would love to see the Holy Land the most but, unfortunately, that is a privilege that us Westerners will not have in our lifetime. Hopefully, someday it will be safe enough to go there again. Think about seeing the Sea of Gallilee or the garden where Jesus stood!

I know some people who revere God's scenery but are not interested in the accomplishments of men. If we were created to accomplish all these great things, isn't that kind of a weird attitude?

Anyway, here I am not funny again.

WHY AM I NOT FUNNY?

My youngest daughter has a wonderful sense of humor. I can't understand where she got it. Her father was about as hilarious as a dead puppy.

When I go to post a blog, I'm going "Now let me see-What can I say to entertain people?". The answer is nothing. I must be the world's most boring human being.

Our pool is back up and running. That means that we actually get company now. My grandsons close by have been over twice in a week. We only have one grandchild left who can't swim now. He is three and doesn't live close enough to drop over.

The pool isn't warm enough for me yet. I can't stand the "Booby Shock" when it's under 85. My husband hasn't been in yet. I guess he's judging the pool temp from my son-in-law's Bull Moose hollering on Sunday. I don't know how it feels when testes hit cold water but it must be at least as bad as boody shock. My oldest granddaughter now knows the booby shock. She has really grown up. She started swimming when she could only say "Poo, Wawin, Me" (Pool, Waterwings). One day when we had a marguerita party, she was actually in so much, she was ill that evening.

We have a great snap of her in the hot tub with us at three years old. She always wanted a stawberry marguerita (boozefree for her) when we have one. It is Christmas and we are in the hot tub toasting our family back home with Margueritas. I couldn't wait to send that Christmas picture. My Little Brother's only comment was "You Bitch". He loves me, of course, and it was all in fun.

Well, anyway, that's all for now.

PLANS

Isn't it amazing how just planning fun weekends brightens up months and months? Everyone should be able to have one weekend every few months with no cares and responsibilities. Unfornately, that is only available to us "Old Farts". The people who need it most are young people with children. Having children is life's greatest reward. Also, it is life's greatest challenge. It means years of going through life exhausted and putting off your own needs. Mother's Day is the only day of the whole year that Mom's actually get recognition. Wouldn't it be great if all kids and husbands really truly did pay homage.

How about this for an idea?

Husband gets up with kids. They all work together and tidy the house. They then leave a full pot of coffee, some cut up fruit and some tasty bagels on the counter. Next they all leave the house and stay gone for several hours. When they return, they bring lovely take out food and some flowers. When dinner is over, Mom sits on the couch while dishes are washed and Hubby bathes the kids and get them ready for bed. Surprise! Mom got to read a whole book today. She also got a nice long bath! The answering machine gets all calls so she didn't talk to anyone she didn't want to talk to.

Talk about fantasy. The average husband will buy some gift that Mom probably didn't want and go about his normal routine.

Anyway, I'm going to my daughters next weekend. I hope I can give her a break!