Today was not too hot. John had the day off so after I got home from work we all went to Slate Run Farm. It is an historical farm from the 1800's. We got to walk out in the field and pet the horses that were plowing one of the fields. The one horse was named Kate. She was my favorite. The farmer said that 1 horse can plow about 3 acres a day. It was way to smelly to look at the pigs but the lambs were adorable. Right outside the barn in the back were 3 roosters. John insisted that I stand close to them to work on overcoming my fear of birds. I stood as close as I could until I started to get freaked out and then I turned to head back through the barn. Oh my god, there was a rooster right smack in the middle of the path through the barn. Yuck, birds are creepy. I made it past him and endured John making bird noises at me. My favorite part was sitting on the porch talking to one of the farmers about making pickles from the cucumbers she picked in the field. There was a nice breeze that smelled like onions and a cat weaving in between our legs. I asked Samantha what her favorite part was and she said sitting in the shade. The kid would not have made it back in those days. The smell of onions reminded me of Mrs. Kromer. Mrs. Kromer was my parents house keeper when I was little. She lived on a farm. Sometimes I would follow her around. I liked to watch how she did things because it was it different from the way my mom did them and I like that her hands always smelled like onions. Sometimes we would go by Mrs. Kromer's house. She had a hammock and a cat named Punch. She also had the Sears catalog and we would make paper dolls out of them.
I love coincidences. On the trip to the farm we listened to the soundtrack from the movie Madagascar. Song #3 is the theme song from Hawaii 5 0. We played that song over about 4 times and I asked John what the show was about, I've never seen it. (Mom didn't believe in children watching TV because it rots your brain.) So now, as I type this we are watching TV and they had a commercial for Hawaii 5 0 on DVD. Cool.
We spent the rest of the afternoon watching John's old home movies from the 1980s. And then some of ours from the 90's. There were some good ones of my rabbit, Murray and the cat, Mr. Marshal. We called Samantha in to see if she recognized daddy over 20 years ago and she didn't.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Saturday, July 28, 2007
"You find peace not by rearranging the circumstances of your life, but by realizing who you are at the deepest level"
-Eckhart Tolle
This evening Samantha and I made pizza. We made the dough and put spinach and fresh basil on it along with the usual cheese and sauce. We ate out on the deck where there were 2 morning doves sitting on Samantha's monkey bars. They were sort of giving each other bird kisses and then the on climbed on top of the other one. Samantha said: "Oh, bird love is freaky."
This morning we went to the Farmer's Market. John was talking to the Mayor. He said I knew but I swear I didn't that the Mayor used to be a police officer and he was a negotiator too just like John. We went to Fern's Attic where I learned she is going to begin carrying a new food line with lots of soup mixes. Yeah, sort of boring but exciting in my simple little world.
Tammy, Samantha and I went to see the osprey and there were 2 older couples there. The one man was too funny. He kept pointing out where the birds were and saying, "you can see them with the naked eye, look, over there!" Well, let me tell you that old man must have had some sort of freaky good eye sight because none of us could see the birds, we just saw black specks. Then he stared talking about seeing 13 bucks at the ponds the night before. Tammy and I both thought he was making some sort of joke about money. Then we realized he was talking about deer.
I rained this past week. Sometimes I love sitting outside on the porch and listening to the rain. Samantha came out with me and played in it. We came up with a new nick name for her: Puddles. Puddles had fun playing in the puddles.
-Eckhart Tolle
This evening Samantha and I made pizza. We made the dough and put spinach and fresh basil on it along with the usual cheese and sauce. We ate out on the deck where there were 2 morning doves sitting on Samantha's monkey bars. They were sort of giving each other bird kisses and then the on climbed on top of the other one. Samantha said: "Oh, bird love is freaky."
This morning we went to the Farmer's Market. John was talking to the Mayor. He said I knew but I swear I didn't that the Mayor used to be a police officer and he was a negotiator too just like John. We went to Fern's Attic where I learned she is going to begin carrying a new food line with lots of soup mixes. Yeah, sort of boring but exciting in my simple little world.
Tammy, Samantha and I went to see the osprey and there were 2 older couples there. The one man was too funny. He kept pointing out where the birds were and saying, "you can see them with the naked eye, look, over there!" Well, let me tell you that old man must have had some sort of freaky good eye sight because none of us could see the birds, we just saw black specks. Then he stared talking about seeing 13 bucks at the ponds the night before. Tammy and I both thought he was making some sort of joke about money. Then we realized he was talking about deer.
I rained this past week. Sometimes I love sitting outside on the porch and listening to the rain. Samantha came out with me and played in it. We came up with a new nick name for her: Puddles. Puddles had fun playing in the puddles.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
I feel like I have hit a slump. Maybe it was having all that company for the week that has exhausted me. I don't know if I can put together complete paragraphs because I am tired again today so I will write sentences instead:
- We are having beautiful weather, blue sky, sun but not too hot.
- Samantha re-built her Littlest Pet Shop village in the play room so we can sit at the kitchen table again.
- I want a good recipe for macaroni salad.
- Kelly and I shared our favorite pizza from PaPa Murphy's the other night: olive oil and garlic, feta cheese, sun dried tomatoes and spinach. We ate it on the deck because all the kids said it smelled bad. (Our husbands are included in the kids...)
- Samantha and I watched "Darkness" again for about the 4th time and I finally got the ending and now it is no longer one of my favorite movies.
- Tammy has been walking with us at Chestnut Ridge the last couple of nights.
- I love taking a bubble bath on a cool summer evening.
- The baby osprey can fly! We haven't actually seen him fly but others have said.
- Talked to Dad the other day. Mom wasn't home and he said he had to go and get his pellet gun quick and shoot some squirrels before she got home.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
After work on Friday I did not have to be anywhere in particular because Samantha was at Grandma's so I went garage sale-ing. I had the best time and found some great stuff. I got an old suitcase for $2. Last year at Com Fest there was a woman selling vintage suitcases that had decoupaged fairies and other sorts of things on them. I am going to make my own for Samantha to take her Littlest Pet Shop guys, her American Girl stuff or whatever to her friends houses. (I also saw a vintage suitcase that someone had made into the cutest dog bed in Country Home magazine but we don't have a dog.) I got 3 old fashioned ice cream dishes for .25 each. I got a pretty candle shade for those big jar candles for $2. And, I got a clock for Samantha's doll house that was free. It was a perfect day to walk around.
When I got home I lay in the hammock and read a book. Actually I didn't read too much because I couldn't help watching the puffy white clouds go by in the blue blue sky. The sky is like that again today. There is a huge white cloud overhead that looks like if I stood up I could reach out and touch it.
Last night we took Grandma to Waffle house and then to the Jazz Fest on the riverfront. Waffle House is such an odd little place. We were the only one's in there so all the wait staff sat around and talked to us. Everyone was so nice. Our waiter Josh had a contest with Samantha to see if she could name all the Disney Princesses like he could. They even had John laughing which is quite a fete. Rose of course had to tell them the John's a police officer. I hate it when she does that and she does it ALL the time with everyone. It makes me want to scream: NO ONE CARES AND IT IS NOT RELEVANT TO THE CONVERSATION. Usually there is no conversation and it goes something like this:
Target Cashier: Did you find everything okay?
Grandma: Yes, my son's a police officer.
After Waffle House we went to the Jazz Festival. We found the perfect spot up on a little hill. John took a nap while Samantha, Grandma and I played cards. When John woke up just the two of us walked around together. Oh my god, the smell of all that meat and BBQ sauce was intoxicating. We ended up on the riverfront in the exact spot where 14 years ago John asked me to marry him. I almost cried. It was romantic even though we were in the middle of the kiddy area and right next to one of those giant blow up things you jump in. It was so much fun just sitting there, smelling, listening and watching.
This morning Samantha and I went to Jenn's new house and then to the Farmer's Market. Her place is so cute. We ended up at a few garage sales and I got the coolest lawn mower. You know, one of the environmentally friendly propelled by your own energy ones. It was $7 and it works great. When we got home I mowed the lawn. I only did the front so far because it is kind of hard work. John sat and laughed at me. But, when I was done I was very proud of myself.
Tara is over playing with Samantha now and they have created a city of Littlest Pet Shop, Bratz and Polly's under the kitchen table. I love listening to the stories they make up. They glued together a bunch of paper that encircles the table that they decorated as the road. They are so creative and I love that.
As I sit here I am thinking about 2 things that make me really mad. First, I smell cat poop. The stray cats in the neighborhood seem to think that the side of our house is a litter box. I mowed over it with my cool new mower too. Stupid cats! I'll have to look into what I can put down out there that will keep them away. And, I just won't inhale when the breeze picks up.
Second, I am thinking about my conversation with Hill Billy. She made some comment about how I know a lot of people on the street and how people are "always trotting over to see me." What the ____. Why does she care and why does she even notice. She's stupid. When they first moved in and their children were younger and really ill behaved Tammy used to call them The Brown Holes. She said they were shit heads but she didn't want to be accused of calling a child a shit head so she called them brown holes. I'd forgotten that until today and remembering makes me giggle. I told Tammy what Mrs. Brown Hole said and she made a comment about who would want to be friends with her anyway. Mrs. Brown Hole is one of those people who think her children can do no wrong. They can be out there throwing rocks or terrorizing the neighbors but it is always someone else's fault.
Our toilet broke this morning. I told John we could fix it by putting a butter knife under the lever thingy to hold it up but he didn't like that idea. He's going to be thrilled when he comes home from work and sees that I accidentally peed in the broken toilet.
When I got home I lay in the hammock and read a book. Actually I didn't read too much because I couldn't help watching the puffy white clouds go by in the blue blue sky. The sky is like that again today. There is a huge white cloud overhead that looks like if I stood up I could reach out and touch it.
Last night we took Grandma to Waffle house and then to the Jazz Fest on the riverfront. Waffle House is such an odd little place. We were the only one's in there so all the wait staff sat around and talked to us. Everyone was so nice. Our waiter Josh had a contest with Samantha to see if she could name all the Disney Princesses like he could. They even had John laughing which is quite a fete. Rose of course had to tell them the John's a police officer. I hate it when she does that and she does it ALL the time with everyone. It makes me want to scream: NO ONE CARES AND IT IS NOT RELEVANT TO THE CONVERSATION. Usually there is no conversation and it goes something like this:
Target Cashier: Did you find everything okay?
Grandma: Yes, my son's a police officer.
After Waffle House we went to the Jazz Festival. We found the perfect spot up on a little hill. John took a nap while Samantha, Grandma and I played cards. When John woke up just the two of us walked around together. Oh my god, the smell of all that meat and BBQ sauce was intoxicating. We ended up on the riverfront in the exact spot where 14 years ago John asked me to marry him. I almost cried. It was romantic even though we were in the middle of the kiddy area and right next to one of those giant blow up things you jump in. It was so much fun just sitting there, smelling, listening and watching.
This morning Samantha and I went to Jenn's new house and then to the Farmer's Market. Her place is so cute. We ended up at a few garage sales and I got the coolest lawn mower. You know, one of the environmentally friendly propelled by your own energy ones. It was $7 and it works great. When we got home I mowed the lawn. I only did the front so far because it is kind of hard work. John sat and laughed at me. But, when I was done I was very proud of myself.
Tara is over playing with Samantha now and they have created a city of Littlest Pet Shop, Bratz and Polly's under the kitchen table. I love listening to the stories they make up. They glued together a bunch of paper that encircles the table that they decorated as the road. They are so creative and I love that.
As I sit here I am thinking about 2 things that make me really mad. First, I smell cat poop. The stray cats in the neighborhood seem to think that the side of our house is a litter box. I mowed over it with my cool new mower too. Stupid cats! I'll have to look into what I can put down out there that will keep them away. And, I just won't inhale when the breeze picks up.
Second, I am thinking about my conversation with Hill Billy. She made some comment about how I know a lot of people on the street and how people are "always trotting over to see me." What the ____. Why does she care and why does she even notice. She's stupid. When they first moved in and their children were younger and really ill behaved Tammy used to call them The Brown Holes. She said they were shit heads but she didn't want to be accused of calling a child a shit head so she called them brown holes. I'd forgotten that until today and remembering makes me giggle. I told Tammy what Mrs. Brown Hole said and she made a comment about who would want to be friends with her anyway. Mrs. Brown Hole is one of those people who think her children can do no wrong. They can be out there throwing rocks or terrorizing the neighbors but it is always someone else's fault.
Our toilet broke this morning. I told John we could fix it by putting a butter knife under the lever thingy to hold it up but he didn't like that idea. He's going to be thrilled when he comes home from work and sees that I accidentally peed in the broken toilet.
I love our house. We have lived here for 10 years and have worked hard to make it exactly what we want and we have no intention of moving. But, oh my god the neighborhood is going to hell in a hand basket. A hand basket in the back of Billy Bob's pick-up truck. This afternoon was something else:
Hill Billy neighbors were having a yard sale.
I bought a couple of I Spy books for Samantha.
John commented on how new they look... probably because her kids can't read.
John was leaving for work and I walked out with him.
There was a big dog being chased by the dog catcher.
I told Hill Billies to put Jack (their dog) in.
Then we started chatting.
Hill Billy was appreciative because she couldn't see the dog.
She mentioned that her house had been in foreclosure but it wasn't their fault & it's fine now.
Oh my god...
Hill Billy is friends with White Trash neighbors so I asked her about the shirtless ex-con guy...
White Trash lives with her daughter, her ex-con Jesus seeking boyfriend, her alcoholic ex-husband and a female room mate!
Oh my god...
I must say, I have a never ending source of entertainment here!
On Thursday Ellen and I had dinner at Billy Lee's. Billy Lee's is my new favorite Chinese restaurant. We had such a nice time. We talked about how annoying New Guy is and about how upset Ellen was the other day over a show she was attending. Then we got our fortunes... Oh no, they were really bad. Mine said "keep negative comments to yourself" and Ellen's said "try to maintain composure in tense situations". We could not stop laughing about how awful those fortunes were.
Hill Billy neighbors were having a yard sale.
I bought a couple of I Spy books for Samantha.
John commented on how new they look... probably because her kids can't read.
John was leaving for work and I walked out with him.
There was a big dog being chased by the dog catcher.
I told Hill Billies to put Jack (their dog) in.
Then we started chatting.
Hill Billy was appreciative because she couldn't see the dog.
She mentioned that her house had been in foreclosure but it wasn't their fault & it's fine now.
Oh my god...
Hill Billy is friends with White Trash neighbors so I asked her about the shirtless ex-con guy...
White Trash lives with her daughter, her ex-con Jesus seeking boyfriend, her alcoholic ex-husband and a female room mate!
Oh my god...
I must say, I have a never ending source of entertainment here!
On Thursday Ellen and I had dinner at Billy Lee's. Billy Lee's is my new favorite Chinese restaurant. We had such a nice time. We talked about how annoying New Guy is and about how upset Ellen was the other day over a show she was attending. Then we got our fortunes... Oh no, they were really bad. Mine said "keep negative comments to yourself" and Ellen's said "try to maintain composure in tense situations". We could not stop laughing about how awful those fortunes were.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
I've heard the funniest stories the past few days:
John was dealing with a woman at work who bent over to pick something up. As she bent over she farted and when she stood back up she started to walk over to him. John said, "stay over there or you'll bring it with you."
Mom & Dad's dog sitter called Mom on Saturday to say that Dandilion had run down to the creek.
Carlotte: "Is Dandilion deaf?"
Mom: "No, why?"
Charlotte: "She wouldn't come when I called her."
Mom: "She's not deaf, she just doesn't come when she doesn't want to."
I can't believe it is almost school supply time again! I am not ready for the summer to be over.
Yesterday was Sue's Birthday. She and her husband do the neatest thing... they go to the store and her husband will see something and say that if money were no object that's would be hers. I sort of did the same thing... it was between a $4 card or a bunch of candy for her desk at work. The candy won out and I just told her what the card said. It was a room with a green chair and a giraffe. Inside it said: A weird card from your weird friend. Happy Birthday."
Jess came over Monday night and told us that she and her husband are going through the process to become foster parents. Oh my god! And she is trying to have a 4th child. Shouldn't she try and work on her marriage first. I asked if Mark was just going along with it to please her and she said no, that she was doing it to please him. She said he likes the idea of $1000 a month and Jess will take care of the kids. OMG!
We have a new show that we are totally addicted to: "Ice Road Truckers" on the History channel. It is fascinating all the engineering that goes into the ice road, how freakin cold it is and well, the whole concept.
On Monday John was off and Samantha went for a bike ride and dinner with Tara & her family so John and I had dinner together out on the deck. It was nice. I tried garlic bread on the grill which turned out well. I had heard a woman at the grocery talking about it and decided to try it.
We have been having a lot of watermelon at our house lately. I've gotten really good at swallowing the seeds without disturbing the goodness of the watermelon experience. Anyway, the other evening I was eating some and I spit a seed out right there on the kitchen floor. It was odd, I have no idea what possessed me to do that.
Work is quite stressful at the moment. I know it will pass but I don't care for it when people are tense and snappish...
John was dealing with a woman at work who bent over to pick something up. As she bent over she farted and when she stood back up she started to walk over to him. John said, "stay over there or you'll bring it with you."
Mom & Dad's dog sitter called Mom on Saturday to say that Dandilion had run down to the creek.
Carlotte: "Is Dandilion deaf?"
Mom: "No, why?"
Charlotte: "She wouldn't come when I called her."
Mom: "She's not deaf, she just doesn't come when she doesn't want to."
I can't believe it is almost school supply time again! I am not ready for the summer to be over.
Yesterday was Sue's Birthday. She and her husband do the neatest thing... they go to the store and her husband will see something and say that if money were no object that's would be hers. I sort of did the same thing... it was between a $4 card or a bunch of candy for her desk at work. The candy won out and I just told her what the card said. It was a room with a green chair and a giraffe. Inside it said: A weird card from your weird friend. Happy Birthday."
Jess came over Monday night and told us that she and her husband are going through the process to become foster parents. Oh my god! And she is trying to have a 4th child. Shouldn't she try and work on her marriage first. I asked if Mark was just going along with it to please her and she said no, that she was doing it to please him. She said he likes the idea of $1000 a month and Jess will take care of the kids. OMG!
We have a new show that we are totally addicted to: "Ice Road Truckers" on the History channel. It is fascinating all the engineering that goes into the ice road, how freakin cold it is and well, the whole concept.
On Monday John was off and Samantha went for a bike ride and dinner with Tara & her family so John and I had dinner together out on the deck. It was nice. I tried garlic bread on the grill which turned out well. I had heard a woman at the grocery talking about it and decided to try it.
We have been having a lot of watermelon at our house lately. I've gotten really good at swallowing the seeds without disturbing the goodness of the watermelon experience. Anyway, the other evening I was eating some and I spit a seed out right there on the kitchen floor. It was odd, I have no idea what possessed me to do that.
Work is quite stressful at the moment. I know it will pass but I don't care for it when people are tense and snappish...
"In the end, what affects your life most deeply are things too simple to talk about."
But I will try... Sitting out on the deck in the mornings savoring a cup of coffee... lying in bed on the weekends while John and Samantha are out in the kitchen making pancakes... watching Samantha sleep... being surrounded by family and friends... coffee... taking a family walk on summer evenings... bird watching... listening to Samantha read... watching Samantha play with the doll house that was mine when I was little... standing in line with Dad for ice cream and watching Samantha and Mom sitting outside talking... when John smiles... sitting in our back yard around a fire in the fire pit... sitting on the front porch watching the world go by... listening to Samantha order at a restaurant... the smell of a hazelnut candle throughout the house... sitting in the brown chair looking out the open front door... watching Samantha make Lincoln Log houses... listening to Samantha talk to Hally the Hamster... watching "Cops" with John on Saturday nights... concerts in the park... cooking for a gathering and being in the kitchen while guests talk in the living room... being the person you imagine yourself being... the smell of cookies in the oven for Samantha... doing puzzles with Samantha... not saving the best for last... everyday rituals like coffee and email... an over sized comfy cardigan... the smell of lavender in my garden... reading on the deck in the evenings and listening to the birds sing... napping in the hammock... sitting and watching what's going on around you... knowing that you already possess all you need to be truly happy in life... painted toenails... the feeling you get watching a scary movie... daydreaming... hugs from John and Samantha... reading my old journals... falling into bed exhausted after a busy day... decorative soaps in the bathroom... the glass bowl of rocks I collected in the creek at home... hiking in the woods with Samantha... taking a deep breath of fresh air... basking in the sun like a cat... discovering something new that you love... watching Samantha draw on the driveway with chalk... going to plays with Samantha... finding a new trinket in an antique shop and buying it as a surprise for Samantha... the smell of the pool in town... hearing "you've got mail" when I turn on the computer... walking around town in the evenings... hearing a song and remembering a moment in the past when that song had been playing... the smell of the natural food store...
But I will try... Sitting out on the deck in the mornings savoring a cup of coffee... lying in bed on the weekends while John and Samantha are out in the kitchen making pancakes... watching Samantha sleep... being surrounded by family and friends... coffee... taking a family walk on summer evenings... bird watching... listening to Samantha read... watching Samantha play with the doll house that was mine when I was little... standing in line with Dad for ice cream and watching Samantha and Mom sitting outside talking... when John smiles... sitting in our back yard around a fire in the fire pit... sitting on the front porch watching the world go by... listening to Samantha order at a restaurant... the smell of a hazelnut candle throughout the house... sitting in the brown chair looking out the open front door... watching Samantha make Lincoln Log houses... listening to Samantha talk to Hally the Hamster... watching "Cops" with John on Saturday nights... concerts in the park... cooking for a gathering and being in the kitchen while guests talk in the living room... being the person you imagine yourself being... the smell of cookies in the oven for Samantha... doing puzzles with Samantha... not saving the best for last... everyday rituals like coffee and email... an over sized comfy cardigan... the smell of lavender in my garden... reading on the deck in the evenings and listening to the birds sing... napping in the hammock... sitting and watching what's going on around you... knowing that you already possess all you need to be truly happy in life... painted toenails... the feeling you get watching a scary movie... daydreaming... hugs from John and Samantha... reading my old journals... falling into bed exhausted after a busy day... decorative soaps in the bathroom... the glass bowl of rocks I collected in the creek at home... hiking in the woods with Samantha... taking a deep breath of fresh air... basking in the sun like a cat... discovering something new that you love... watching Samantha draw on the driveway with chalk... going to plays with Samantha... finding a new trinket in an antique shop and buying it as a surprise for Samantha... the smell of the pool in town... hearing "you've got mail" when I turn on the computer... walking around town in the evenings... hearing a song and remembering a moment in the past when that song had been playing... the smell of the natural food store...
Mom's Garden Guardian / Big Red
The 2 things coming off of her belt are deer bones and the medalion thing on the belt is some sort of old coin
The Copper Guy where Dad got his weathervane
You can sort of see the weathervane hanging in the top left corner of the booth... He's going to put it on the overhang for the gate on their bridge...
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
"At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities."
-Jean Houston
So, the weekend... On Saturday Mom got me the most beautiful flowers from the farmer's market in town. One was Sunflowers and the other was a bouquet of mixed flowers in a variety of pinks. They are so beautiful.
On Saturday John spent the day with his dad at the car show and the rest of us went to Lily Fest. Samantha and Dad made farting noises on their arms in the back seat on the way down. Dad also learned that if you poke a 9 year old it squeals. The drive through the Hocking Hills was beautiful and Lily Fest was even more beautiful. Mom got a Garden Guardian. Dad got a copper weather vane. I got a basil plant. Samantha got a fairy. And we all got Dulcimer CD's. We looked at all the beautiful gardens and settled on a spot for a picnic. I told Dad: there are vikings in the woods. He said, "huh?" So I too him down the path that lead to the Lost Vikings Hoard. (www.LostVikingsHoard.com) He had the best time talking and looking at all their gear. On the ride home we had the weather vane and the Garden Guardian in the back of the Element so the cooler had to go up with Dad and Samantha. Dad thought it made a good drum. Samantha squealed. Mom said dulcimer music does not need an accompaniment from a drum. It ended with Mom and I yelling at them to keep their hands to themselves.
We had much discussion regarding the name of the Garden Guardian. I voted for Helen. Dad voted for Eve since they live in Eden and she will be living in the garden of Eden. Mom voted for The Red Head and she won since it is her Garden Guardian.
Mom and I left Dad and Samantha at the house while we poked around at the thrift sore. You will never believe what I found for Samantha: A dulcimer harp looking instrument thingy that you hold on your lap! What a great find to go withe the dulcimer CD's. When we got home Samantha was pouting in her room and Dad was pouting on the deck. They had gotten into a spat over a card game. We made them make up and all was well. John came home from the car show with a squished funnel cake. We had dinner and ended the night with a fire in the fire pit.
-Jean Houston
So, the weekend... On Saturday Mom got me the most beautiful flowers from the farmer's market in town. One was Sunflowers and the other was a bouquet of mixed flowers in a variety of pinks. They are so beautiful.
On Saturday John spent the day with his dad at the car show and the rest of us went to Lily Fest. Samantha and Dad made farting noises on their arms in the back seat on the way down. Dad also learned that if you poke a 9 year old it squeals. The drive through the Hocking Hills was beautiful and Lily Fest was even more beautiful. Mom got a Garden Guardian. Dad got a copper weather vane. I got a basil plant. Samantha got a fairy. And we all got Dulcimer CD's. We looked at all the beautiful gardens and settled on a spot for a picnic. I told Dad: there are vikings in the woods. He said, "huh?" So I too him down the path that lead to the Lost Vikings Hoard. (www.LostVikingsHoard.com) He had the best time talking and looking at all their gear. On the ride home we had the weather vane and the Garden Guardian in the back of the Element so the cooler had to go up with Dad and Samantha. Dad thought it made a good drum. Samantha squealed. Mom said dulcimer music does not need an accompaniment from a drum. It ended with Mom and I yelling at them to keep their hands to themselves.
We had much discussion regarding the name of the Garden Guardian. I voted for Helen. Dad voted for Eve since they live in Eden and she will be living in the garden of Eden. Mom voted for The Red Head and she won since it is her Garden Guardian.
Mom and I left Dad and Samantha at the house while we poked around at the thrift sore. You will never believe what I found for Samantha: A dulcimer harp looking instrument thingy that you hold on your lap! What a great find to go withe the dulcimer CD's. When we got home Samantha was pouting in her room and Dad was pouting on the deck. They had gotten into a spat over a card game. We made them make up and all was well. John came home from the car show with a squished funnel cake. We had dinner and ended the night with a fire in the fire pit.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
I hate that I cry when my parents leave. It makes me feel 4 as well as melancholy all day. I will probably cry again tonight when John's dad and his wife leave. At least they both departed on the same day.
The following recounts the end of the week, weekend and my parents visit in no particular chronological order.
My parents arrived on Friday afternoon. They came directly to our house. John and Dad unloaded all the firewood and put it around back in the shed. Then Samantha and I went with Mom and Dad to check into the hotel in town. (They seem to prefer staying in a hotel than at our house which is fine with us.) Dad has his new Audi station wagon thingy with all sorts of bells and whistles. It literally has bells... Dad refuses to wear his seat belt so there is a bell that dings and dings and dings and dings. They don't seem to mind. Although I don't suppose you can hear it much with Mom talking so loudly. I haven't figured out if Dad has lost any more hearing or just chooses to ignore Mom. On the way to the hotel above the ding there was a loud and lively discussion about whether or not to have the windows open. Remember way back when I had all that "toxic dust" swirling around in the Element and I thought I was going to die from some sort of poisonous stuff, well, it turns out it was from the last firewood transport I made. Dad and I were both yelling at Mom to roll the windows up or the dust was going to blow all over the place. Finally she listened and we got to the hotel. Afterward we went by the car wash and I vacuumed out the car for them. We almost died on the way home. The main road narrows from 2 lanes to 1 and Dad decided he didn't want to merge. The oncoming cars had to veer onto the shoulder until he decided to get over.
Dinner was awesome. My Greek chicken has become my new favorite meal. Everyone else loved it too along with the potatoes. The 9 x 13 pan of potatoes were completely gone! And we had a salad of organic baby greens and some spinach and asiago cheese bread.
After dinner we went to Pickerington Ponds to see if the baby osprey had flown yet for the first time yet. (He hadn't.) I thought it was funny that all the exact same people were there as last night. Then we went for ice cream. We waited in line for over an hour. Mom and Samantha sat outside while Dad and I waited in line. It didn't seem so long because I knew a bunch of people and we all chatted, and Dad will start up a conversation with anyone.
We decided the John Sr. needs one of those 7' tall lighted palm trees to put outside when he parks his RV. He also needs a screened in porch and patio lights. But then John came home on Saturday after spending the day with his dad at the car show and said that his dad decided he needed a 7' tall lighted cactus since he's from out west. How cool. I always like things that are different.
John: I'm going to be famous. They ought to sculpt me in butter and put me on display in the dairy barn at to State Fair.
John's Sargent: How many cows do you think that would take?
Whenever I see wild flowers along the highway I will think of Lady Bird Johnson who died this week.
Ron hurt his shoulder and has called off several times in the last week or so. On Thursday he called off but Carla had Lynn call to have him come in for our meeting. I almost choked on my coffee when he came in, he had made a sling out of a pillow case and was walking all leaned over to one side. I threw something at Ellen to get her attention to look at him.The expression on her face was priceless. So, we go into the meeting and Carla sees his sling and tells him it is tied all wrong so she goes over and starts adjusting it. He is wincing in pain as she is telling him to lower his arm and everyone around the conference table is just starring at them. Finally Lynn and I busted out laughing. Totally inappropriate I know but we just couldn't help it. It was too funny to see this Jewish mother hen fussing with a very short black man's pillowcase sling.
I noticed a fake floral arrangement in a wooden bird house in the garage and asked John about it. He said his mom gave it to him the other day and that it had been from his grand father's funeral. Each of the grand kids were to have an arrangement and this one was the one John was to have. His grand father died in 1989.
Oh, the rest of the weekend was wonderful but I will write about it later because it is time for a nap.
The following recounts the end of the week, weekend and my parents visit in no particular chronological order.
My parents arrived on Friday afternoon. They came directly to our house. John and Dad unloaded all the firewood and put it around back in the shed. Then Samantha and I went with Mom and Dad to check into the hotel in town. (They seem to prefer staying in a hotel than at our house which is fine with us.) Dad has his new Audi station wagon thingy with all sorts of bells and whistles. It literally has bells... Dad refuses to wear his seat belt so there is a bell that dings and dings and dings and dings. They don't seem to mind. Although I don't suppose you can hear it much with Mom talking so loudly. I haven't figured out if Dad has lost any more hearing or just chooses to ignore Mom. On the way to the hotel above the ding there was a loud and lively discussion about whether or not to have the windows open. Remember way back when I had all that "toxic dust" swirling around in the Element and I thought I was going to die from some sort of poisonous stuff, well, it turns out it was from the last firewood transport I made. Dad and I were both yelling at Mom to roll the windows up or the dust was going to blow all over the place. Finally she listened and we got to the hotel. Afterward we went by the car wash and I vacuumed out the car for them. We almost died on the way home. The main road narrows from 2 lanes to 1 and Dad decided he didn't want to merge. The oncoming cars had to veer onto the shoulder until he decided to get over.
Dinner was awesome. My Greek chicken has become my new favorite meal. Everyone else loved it too along with the potatoes. The 9 x 13 pan of potatoes were completely gone! And we had a salad of organic baby greens and some spinach and asiago cheese bread.
After dinner we went to Pickerington Ponds to see if the baby osprey had flown yet for the first time yet. (He hadn't.) I thought it was funny that all the exact same people were there as last night. Then we went for ice cream. We waited in line for over an hour. Mom and Samantha sat outside while Dad and I waited in line. It didn't seem so long because I knew a bunch of people and we all chatted, and Dad will start up a conversation with anyone.
We decided the John Sr. needs one of those 7' tall lighted palm trees to put outside when he parks his RV. He also needs a screened in porch and patio lights. But then John came home on Saturday after spending the day with his dad at the car show and said that his dad decided he needed a 7' tall lighted cactus since he's from out west. How cool. I always like things that are different.
John: I'm going to be famous. They ought to sculpt me in butter and put me on display in the dairy barn at to State Fair.
John's Sargent: How many cows do you think that would take?
Whenever I see wild flowers along the highway I will think of Lady Bird Johnson who died this week.
Ron hurt his shoulder and has called off several times in the last week or so. On Thursday he called off but Carla had Lynn call to have him come in for our meeting. I almost choked on my coffee when he came in, he had made a sling out of a pillow case and was walking all leaned over to one side. I threw something at Ellen to get her attention to look at him.The expression on her face was priceless. So, we go into the meeting and Carla sees his sling and tells him it is tied all wrong so she goes over and starts adjusting it. He is wincing in pain as she is telling him to lower his arm and everyone around the conference table is just starring at them. Finally Lynn and I busted out laughing. Totally inappropriate I know but we just couldn't help it. It was too funny to see this Jewish mother hen fussing with a very short black man's pillowcase sling.
I noticed a fake floral arrangement in a wooden bird house in the garage and asked John about it. He said his mom gave it to him the other day and that it had been from his grand father's funeral. Each of the grand kids were to have an arrangement and this one was the one John was to have. His grand father died in 1989.
Oh, the rest of the weekend was wonderful but I will write about it later because it is time for a nap.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
A writer is a person for whom writing is more difficult than it is for other people. - Thomas Mann
Now I remember, Thomas Mann is the one who wrote "Death In Venice". I have to go to the library and re-read that book. The scene on the beach when the guy is dying and he is literally melting under that beach umbrella is the image I get when our neighbors, Co-Cheese and Shim, sit outside in their plastic chairs under their plum tree drinking iced tea that they have on a little rattan table. I'm not close enough but I can imagine that Shim's make up is melting off in the sweltering summer heat. Co-Cheese on the other hand goes shirtless practically everyday and each day you can see he is getting skinnier and skinnier. When they first moved in and we became aware of his loooooooong arrest record I warned Samantha not to go around him but now I'm not worried at all, she could so take him.
Anyway I have to go to the library next week and return "An Inconvenient Truth" (after I watch it) so I think I will get "Death In Venice". I was # 175 on the waiting list when I put "An Inconvenient Truth" on reserve and it came in last Friday. I have not had any time to watch it because John's dad and his wife are in town this week. Now that John Sr. is retired they can spend unlimited time traveling around the country in their RV. This week they are at an RV park across from the fair grounds for a car show. John Sr. is always fixing up some sort of old car, then selling it and starting on a new one. This time he has a 1972 Dodge Demon with him for the show.
I find the RV park totally fascinating. Yes, I am quite easily amused. This RV park is different than the one he stayed in last year. That on had people like John Sr. with their big fancy RV's as well as people who lived there and people who summered there. I half expected to hear banjos as we drove in to visit him. I made John Jr. drive really slow so I could look at everything. But this RV park has 95% car show people who have really fancy RV's and 5% banjo slinging carnies workers. When John Sr. got there he was the 2nd one to arrive because he got here early to visit with us for the week before the show. The other inhabitant was Sweetness as we will call her. Sweetness, her husband and their dog live in their van in the RV park for 6 months out of the year and then spend the other 6 months in Florida working as carnival workers. When I said van I really meant van... it's like a 1980 Ford Econoline van... There is no bathroom so they have one of those green rented port-a-potties out back and it has no kitchen so they have a table with various kitchen elements set up out front. There is a kiddie pool, a rug of fake grass and various chairs and stuff around the van and this is how they live. Fascinating. Oh Oh, I forgot to mention the golf cart and the hover-round motorized wheel chair. (I think the whole disabled thing is more of an overweight thing than an actual handicap.) Then there is the dog. He is a beautiful Golden Retriever with the cleanest, fluffiest fur. Very very strange. There are also some other make-shift RV's with carnival workers but I lost interest in them after seeing the sea of really fancy RV'S. These "car people" go all out on their RV's which range from a couple hundred thousand dollars to the million dollar ones. And, they all have trailers in which they pull their cars. I call these their garages. So, it's like this whole sort of sub-culture. We've spent some time there visiting John Sr. and his wife, Lita this week and I am totally into the whole RV thing. I don't think I would want to travel that way but visiting is way fun. We usually sit out front on the "veranda" in lawn chairs and then we take a walk and check out everyone's cars.
Yesterday Samantha spent the day with grandpa and Lita while I worked in the morning and John Jr. went to Cleveland. When I picked her up I sat and watched 2 guys polishing the one guy's car. It took them over an hour (after an hour I lost interest) and other guys would come by and watch for a while. Then we watched other people doing RV things. One couple had a huge TV that pulled out from the under belly of their giant RV and others had kiddie pools and patio lights and flag poles.
John Jr. went to Cleveland yesterday like I mentioned. He went to a police expo to with some other officers to check out some new equipment. Well, on the way down they all fell asleep. Yup, all of them. Thank god nothing bad happened. Although, he was "on duty" so I would have gotten the big payout. You know, more than if he bites it falling off a ladder in the garage at home or something. I do have help lined up though if that happens... all we have to do is dress him in his uniform, drive him into work and plop him in a police car.
Now on to something cheery: Susan said she read in a travel magazine about a vacation to China where you can hug a real panda. You get to HUG it! Oh my god, I am so saving up for that, screw Samantha's college fund. She can do a loan or something, I'm going to China to hug a panda! I think this trip is going to the top of the list where Mongolia had been, yup, pandas here I come!
Mom and Dad are coming this weekend to visit and Mom said today that she want to go to church on Sunday. She said she wouldn't be mad if I decide I don't want to but that she wants me to consider it. Well, that is so not true. She will be furious if we don't go. It's not so much church that I don't want to go to, it's being forced to do something because she thinks I should. Going to church does not make one more spiritual than another and I don't want to go.The church right next to our neighborhood has a "drive-in" service where the service is broadcasted on the radio. I wonder if that counts. I suppose I will have to find a service somewhere to attend on Sunday because I really want to go to Lily Fest and Mom doesn't. Well, if I go to church, you go to Lily Fest. Lily Fest (www.lilyfest.com) is wonderful. It is on the most beautiful site in the Hocking Hills and the art is very very good.
Now I remember, Thomas Mann is the one who wrote "Death In Venice". I have to go to the library and re-read that book. The scene on the beach when the guy is dying and he is literally melting under that beach umbrella is the image I get when our neighbors, Co-Cheese and Shim, sit outside in their plastic chairs under their plum tree drinking iced tea that they have on a little rattan table. I'm not close enough but I can imagine that Shim's make up is melting off in the sweltering summer heat. Co-Cheese on the other hand goes shirtless practically everyday and each day you can see he is getting skinnier and skinnier. When they first moved in and we became aware of his loooooooong arrest record I warned Samantha not to go around him but now I'm not worried at all, she could so take him.
Anyway I have to go to the library next week and return "An Inconvenient Truth" (after I watch it) so I think I will get "Death In Venice". I was # 175 on the waiting list when I put "An Inconvenient Truth" on reserve and it came in last Friday. I have not had any time to watch it because John's dad and his wife are in town this week. Now that John Sr. is retired they can spend unlimited time traveling around the country in their RV. This week they are at an RV park across from the fair grounds for a car show. John Sr. is always fixing up some sort of old car, then selling it and starting on a new one. This time he has a 1972 Dodge Demon with him for the show.
I find the RV park totally fascinating. Yes, I am quite easily amused. This RV park is different than the one he stayed in last year. That on had people like John Sr. with their big fancy RV's as well as people who lived there and people who summered there. I half expected to hear banjos as we drove in to visit him. I made John Jr. drive really slow so I could look at everything. But this RV park has 95% car show people who have really fancy RV's and 5% banjo slinging carnies workers. When John Sr. got there he was the 2nd one to arrive because he got here early to visit with us for the week before the show. The other inhabitant was Sweetness as we will call her. Sweetness, her husband and their dog live in their van in the RV park for 6 months out of the year and then spend the other 6 months in Florida working as carnival workers. When I said van I really meant van... it's like a 1980 Ford Econoline van... There is no bathroom so they have one of those green rented port-a-potties out back and it has no kitchen so they have a table with various kitchen elements set up out front. There is a kiddie pool, a rug of fake grass and various chairs and stuff around the van and this is how they live. Fascinating. Oh Oh, I forgot to mention the golf cart and the hover-round motorized wheel chair. (I think the whole disabled thing is more of an overweight thing than an actual handicap.) Then there is the dog. He is a beautiful Golden Retriever with the cleanest, fluffiest fur. Very very strange. There are also some other make-shift RV's with carnival workers but I lost interest in them after seeing the sea of really fancy RV'S. These "car people" go all out on their RV's which range from a couple hundred thousand dollars to the million dollar ones. And, they all have trailers in which they pull their cars. I call these their garages. So, it's like this whole sort of sub-culture. We've spent some time there visiting John Sr. and his wife, Lita this week and I am totally into the whole RV thing. I don't think I would want to travel that way but visiting is way fun. We usually sit out front on the "veranda" in lawn chairs and then we take a walk and check out everyone's cars.
Yesterday Samantha spent the day with grandpa and Lita while I worked in the morning and John Jr. went to Cleveland. When I picked her up I sat and watched 2 guys polishing the one guy's car. It took them over an hour (after an hour I lost interest) and other guys would come by and watch for a while. Then we watched other people doing RV things. One couple had a huge TV that pulled out from the under belly of their giant RV and others had kiddie pools and patio lights and flag poles.
John Jr. went to Cleveland yesterday like I mentioned. He went to a police expo to with some other officers to check out some new equipment. Well, on the way down they all fell asleep. Yup, all of them. Thank god nothing bad happened. Although, he was "on duty" so I would have gotten the big payout. You know, more than if he bites it falling off a ladder in the garage at home or something. I do have help lined up though if that happens... all we have to do is dress him in his uniform, drive him into work and plop him in a police car.
Now on to something cheery: Susan said she read in a travel magazine about a vacation to China where you can hug a real panda. You get to HUG it! Oh my god, I am so saving up for that, screw Samantha's college fund. She can do a loan or something, I'm going to China to hug a panda! I think this trip is going to the top of the list where Mongolia had been, yup, pandas here I come!
Mom and Dad are coming this weekend to visit and Mom said today that she want to go to church on Sunday. She said she wouldn't be mad if I decide I don't want to but that she wants me to consider it. Well, that is so not true. She will be furious if we don't go. It's not so much church that I don't want to go to, it's being forced to do something because she thinks I should. Going to church does not make one more spiritual than another and I don't want to go.The church right next to our neighborhood has a "drive-in" service where the service is broadcasted on the radio. I wonder if that counts. I suppose I will have to find a service somewhere to attend on Sunday because I really want to go to Lily Fest and Mom doesn't. Well, if I go to church, you go to Lily Fest. Lily Fest (www.lilyfest.com) is wonderful. It is on the most beautiful site in the Hocking Hills and the art is very very good.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
The other day I was playing cards with Samantha and she said, "wow, I have good fingers!" I said, "do you mean you have a good hand?"
The FBI showed up at our door the other day. It really surprised me but it turned out he was doing a background check on one of our neighbors for his security clearance. He kept mentioning my husband the police officer and finally I said, "so, how do you know my husband is a police officer?" I sort of wanted him to admit to some top secret FBI data base but he said, "your neighbor, Joy, told me." It was funny but a little disappointing.
Samantha has discovered www.YouTube.com and loves looking up hamster videos. I told her if see clicks on anything that looks inappropriate to come get me right away. I wonder if the cartoon farting hamsters should be considered inappropriate?
Thursday evening we went for a bike ride at Pickerington Ponds and got rained on. We were about 3 miles, half way, into our ride when it started and we were completely soaked by the time we got back. It was also weird because we heard ice cream truck music almost the whole way before the rain started. It was so weird because we couldn't imagine where it was coming from. There we were riding along and I kept imagining that the music was coming from some alien ice cream truck and little green men were going to jump out of the bushes and abduct us. Then Samantha asks if I could hear the music. She thought it was just in her head which made it even creepier. We must not have been white trash enough to be abducted though be cause we made it back fine.
On Friday Tara came over for a play date. When John was leaving for work he called out to Samantha to come out and get her hug. Well, Tara came running out of the playroom and up to John for a hug. It was so funny because as she came around the corner she realized what she was about to hug John and she stopped.
Then Friday evening I took the girls into town for the concert in the park. The girls saw Hope and we all walked down to Dairy Queen. When we got back Kelly, Tim and the boys met us for the rest of the concert. Afterward we went over to their house to sit on their new patio. The way their house sits facing East it is difficult for them to enjoy their backyard in the late afternoon and evening because the sun is so hot so they built a patio in the front. Kelly also thought since the kids like to play out front with their friends that she can watch them better. They put out a patio table and chairs and they got a fire pit that is exactly like ours only miniature. So, we had a fir at their house.
On Saturday Kelly did a ride-along with John. She wanted me to go but since he can't have 2 riders in the police car I rode with Keisha. It was a busy night so Kelly got to see a lot. The first call Keisha and I went on was a girl who had moved out and needed to get back in but the former roommate was threatening her. The roommate had thrown all of the girls belongings on the front lawn. So, we get out of the car and I follow Keisha up to see what's going on and oh my god, the roommate had this neck brace on. It was the dirtiest thing I had ever seen. Picture a really ratty flea collar and that's what it was like. The girl seemed slightly normal but the roommate was something else. She went on and on about how the girl had warrants out on her (she didn't) and how the girl had stolen checks from her. Then another officer shows up and oh my god, the roommate asks him if he remembers her. She tells him that she was the one who had called in about the friend who had called her looking for someone to hire to kill his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend. Oh my god, it was like being in some kind of hillbilly hell.
Next we got to go pick up a prisoner from another agency and take him to jail. I find going to the jail (as a visitor) fascinating. They were quite busy and there were lots of bad guys in the one cell with the window. It is so creepy how they look out at you like caged animals in the zoo. Then some heroin addict came in and when they had him take off his shoes to be searched the fun ended. The guy's feet stank so badly.
Next we went to a Latino market that had just been robbed and the robbers had fired 2 shots. that was cool because we got to drive their with the lights and sirens as well as going rally fast. When we pulled up John was standing by his car with the shot gun aimed and ready to go. This bothered Kelly slightly but I told her I was used to seeing him like that. Then I realized what I was saying and how horrifying that I found it not that disturbing at all to see my husband standing there with a gun chasing bad guys. The bad guys in this case were nowhere to be found so it was on to the next call.
Kelly got to see some really trashy homes so that was interesting to her to see how some people live as well as why some people call the police. We went to one apartment where there was a drunk chain-smoking 40-something guy and a 80-something old man on oxygen. The old man said that the drunk hit him. John said that they are over there about once a month when these 2 get into it. The apartment was disgusting complete with a bed pan of urine on the table.
It was quite a night that ended with a traffic stop where one of the people asked who Kelly and I were and John told him that we were doing a ride-along. The guy asked if he could do one and John said no. He asked why we got to do one and John said, "because they are doing community service. That one sells crack and the little blonde is a prostitute."
The FBI showed up at our door the other day. It really surprised me but it turned out he was doing a background check on one of our neighbors for his security clearance. He kept mentioning my husband the police officer and finally I said, "so, how do you know my husband is a police officer?" I sort of wanted him to admit to some top secret FBI data base but he said, "your neighbor, Joy, told me." It was funny but a little disappointing.
Samantha has discovered www.YouTube.com and loves looking up hamster videos. I told her if see clicks on anything that looks inappropriate to come get me right away. I wonder if the cartoon farting hamsters should be considered inappropriate?
Thursday evening we went for a bike ride at Pickerington Ponds and got rained on. We were about 3 miles, half way, into our ride when it started and we were completely soaked by the time we got back. It was also weird because we heard ice cream truck music almost the whole way before the rain started. It was so weird because we couldn't imagine where it was coming from. There we were riding along and I kept imagining that the music was coming from some alien ice cream truck and little green men were going to jump out of the bushes and abduct us. Then Samantha asks if I could hear the music. She thought it was just in her head which made it even creepier. We must not have been white trash enough to be abducted though be cause we made it back fine.
On Friday Tara came over for a play date. When John was leaving for work he called out to Samantha to come out and get her hug. Well, Tara came running out of the playroom and up to John for a hug. It was so funny because as she came around the corner she realized what she was about to hug John and she stopped.
Then Friday evening I took the girls into town for the concert in the park. The girls saw Hope and we all walked down to Dairy Queen. When we got back Kelly, Tim and the boys met us for the rest of the concert. Afterward we went over to their house to sit on their new patio. The way their house sits facing East it is difficult for them to enjoy their backyard in the late afternoon and evening because the sun is so hot so they built a patio in the front. Kelly also thought since the kids like to play out front with their friends that she can watch them better. They put out a patio table and chairs and they got a fire pit that is exactly like ours only miniature. So, we had a fir at their house.
On Saturday Kelly did a ride-along with John. She wanted me to go but since he can't have 2 riders in the police car I rode with Keisha. It was a busy night so Kelly got to see a lot. The first call Keisha and I went on was a girl who had moved out and needed to get back in but the former roommate was threatening her. The roommate had thrown all of the girls belongings on the front lawn. So, we get out of the car and I follow Keisha up to see what's going on and oh my god, the roommate had this neck brace on. It was the dirtiest thing I had ever seen. Picture a really ratty flea collar and that's what it was like. The girl seemed slightly normal but the roommate was something else. She went on and on about how the girl had warrants out on her (she didn't) and how the girl had stolen checks from her. Then another officer shows up and oh my god, the roommate asks him if he remembers her. She tells him that she was the one who had called in about the friend who had called her looking for someone to hire to kill his ex-girlfriend and her new boyfriend. Oh my god, it was like being in some kind of hillbilly hell.
Next we got to go pick up a prisoner from another agency and take him to jail. I find going to the jail (as a visitor) fascinating. They were quite busy and there were lots of bad guys in the one cell with the window. It is so creepy how they look out at you like caged animals in the zoo. Then some heroin addict came in and when they had him take off his shoes to be searched the fun ended. The guy's feet stank so badly.
Next we went to a Latino market that had just been robbed and the robbers had fired 2 shots. that was cool because we got to drive their with the lights and sirens as well as going rally fast. When we pulled up John was standing by his car with the shot gun aimed and ready to go. This bothered Kelly slightly but I told her I was used to seeing him like that. Then I realized what I was saying and how horrifying that I found it not that disturbing at all to see my husband standing there with a gun chasing bad guys. The bad guys in this case were nowhere to be found so it was on to the next call.
Kelly got to see some really trashy homes so that was interesting to her to see how some people live as well as why some people call the police. We went to one apartment where there was a drunk chain-smoking 40-something guy and a 80-something old man on oxygen. The old man said that the drunk hit him. John said that they are over there about once a month when these 2 get into it. The apartment was disgusting complete with a bed pan of urine on the table.
It was quite a night that ended with a traffic stop where one of the people asked who Kelly and I were and John told him that we were doing a ride-along. The guy asked if he could do one and John said no. He asked why we got to do one and John said, "because they are doing community service. That one sells crack and the little blonde is a prostitute."
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Everyone loves a parade! The 4th of July is my favorite holiday for several reasons. It's in the summer so it's warm out. There are decorations but you don't have to decorate like Christmas. And, it's a whole day of activities, parades, picnics, carnivals and fireworks.
We went to the parade in the morning. It was great because everyone loves a parade but this year there was an added bonus. John made me swear we would never speak of it again because he was totally pissed off but I can't help myself, it is just too dang funny. There we were, sitting in lawn chairs in front of Rose's house watching the parade, our family, Rose and John's sister Linda and her family, when a float went by with kids & water guns. One boy aimed his water gun on John an got him. He got him so good and kept the stream of water on him until he was completely soaked. John just sat there with no expression on his face. Samantha and I just about died it was so hysterically funny. Linda and Rose just sort of stood there. I think they weren't sure whether they should laugh or not because John doesn't really have much of a sense of humor when it comes to things like that. So, John doesn't say a word and after the float passed he got up and went in the house. I told Samantha that the really funny thing was that the kid had no idea he just drenched a cop. Had he known I'm sure he would have been the hero of all kids with water guns. After the parade on the way home I kept erupting in laughter. That's when John proclaimed we would never speak of the water gun incident ever again.
Samantha was mostly wanting to watch the parade so she wasn't paying too much attention to Rose. I got a little annoyed because she went inside and came out with a bribe, a Webkinz, to get a hug and a kiss. But, that's what grandma's do...
It rained during the afternoon while Samantha and I were cooking all the food for the picnic. We were worried because it was an awful storm and there was a tornado warning on the television. The warning expired at 5pm and the weather man was right on because it cleared up at 5pm and the sun even came out. Every officer has to work on the 4th and they are divided into 2 groups: officers in the park and officers on the street. John is always an officer on the street and every year some of the wives get together and have a picnic at the station for the officers on the street, the clerks and guys in the radio room. This year it was Janice and myself. Janice brought several homemade lasagnas and brownie. Samantha and I brought 2 kinds of pasta salad, cheesy potatoes and Oreo truffles. The Oreo truffles were a new recipe I tried and they were a big hit. After the picnic Samantha and I went over to the park. We always try and get the first or second parking space because it is the perfect spot to watch the fire works. Success, we got the fist space and got everything set up. We laid out a blanket in the back of the Element and had some pillows and all. Samantha and I played cards, rummy. It was so cute, several of the officers in the park would come by periodically and help Samantha with her hand. Luckily we had bribed the vice squad with Oreo truffles so the card games continued until the fire works started. They were really amazing and there were a few new additions this year. Our Element was covered with fall out form the fireworks. It was great. We had a lovely day and can't wait until next year.
We went to the parade in the morning. It was great because everyone loves a parade but this year there was an added bonus. John made me swear we would never speak of it again because he was totally pissed off but I can't help myself, it is just too dang funny. There we were, sitting in lawn chairs in front of Rose's house watching the parade, our family, Rose and John's sister Linda and her family, when a float went by with kids & water guns. One boy aimed his water gun on John an got him. He got him so good and kept the stream of water on him until he was completely soaked. John just sat there with no expression on his face. Samantha and I just about died it was so hysterically funny. Linda and Rose just sort of stood there. I think they weren't sure whether they should laugh or not because John doesn't really have much of a sense of humor when it comes to things like that. So, John doesn't say a word and after the float passed he got up and went in the house. I told Samantha that the really funny thing was that the kid had no idea he just drenched a cop. Had he known I'm sure he would have been the hero of all kids with water guns. After the parade on the way home I kept erupting in laughter. That's when John proclaimed we would never speak of the water gun incident ever again.
Samantha was mostly wanting to watch the parade so she wasn't paying too much attention to Rose. I got a little annoyed because she went inside and came out with a bribe, a Webkinz, to get a hug and a kiss. But, that's what grandma's do...
It rained during the afternoon while Samantha and I were cooking all the food for the picnic. We were worried because it was an awful storm and there was a tornado warning on the television. The warning expired at 5pm and the weather man was right on because it cleared up at 5pm and the sun even came out. Every officer has to work on the 4th and they are divided into 2 groups: officers in the park and officers on the street. John is always an officer on the street and every year some of the wives get together and have a picnic at the station for the officers on the street, the clerks and guys in the radio room. This year it was Janice and myself. Janice brought several homemade lasagnas and brownie. Samantha and I brought 2 kinds of pasta salad, cheesy potatoes and Oreo truffles. The Oreo truffles were a new recipe I tried and they were a big hit. After the picnic Samantha and I went over to the park. We always try and get the first or second parking space because it is the perfect spot to watch the fire works. Success, we got the fist space and got everything set up. We laid out a blanket in the back of the Element and had some pillows and all. Samantha and I played cards, rummy. It was so cute, several of the officers in the park would come by periodically and help Samantha with her hand. Luckily we had bribed the vice squad with Oreo truffles so the card games continued until the fire works started. They were really amazing and there were a few new additions this year. Our Element was covered with fall out form the fireworks. It was great. We had a lovely day and can't wait until next year.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Last night we went in to the carnival but there was no one there except the carnival workers so we didn't stay. Every carnival worker was calling out to us to come play a game: "bring your little girl over and she gets a prize every time..." It kind of creeped us out. Several of the officers John works with were camped out at the carnival so we stopped to talk for a while.
For dinner we went to Sonic. I've been through the drive-thru for a drink but have never eaten there for the full Sonic experience. It sure was something. We felt like idiots because we didn't know how the whole thing worked. But, our waitress was really nice. Oops, I mean our car hop. It certainly was interesting but we totally don't get the whole thing... the food wasn't that good.
After Sonic we went by the new Wal Mart and oh my, the place is totally trashed. It was awful, sort of frightening. There were boxes waiting to be stocked strewn everywhere and stuff from the shelves thrown on the floor and then there were the people. Oh the people... there were all sorts of trashy people in there but one family in particular totally fascinated me... their child, about 7, was barefoot. Barefoot in the grocery store. And she was all dirty. You know the kind of dirty kids get after eating a popsicle and the dirt sticks to the part that dripped all over them. People totally fascinate me, I could sit in a place like that for hours and just watch. Oh, and then there was the woman in the checkout line who's little girl, maybe 3, was out in the exit part where everyone was pushing their carts out of the store. The mom was paying and completely ignoring her kid who had thrown herself down on the floor in front of the 25 boxes of watermelons and was kicking and screaming. So, everyone had to maneuver around her.
After we got home Jess and the kids came over. Nick likes to chase cars. I always ask him if he is a dog. Well, the girls joined him and all 3 of them would run off down the sidewalk chasing cars and barking. A bunch of crazies I tell you. They didn't stay long because I had to watch the new episode of "The Closer". This season is the best. I loved the first season but then wasn't so into it last season but this one is really good and last night's episode was one of the best.
So, today at work Beth had flowers on her desk. They were beautiful and they were from Jeff. What's up with that? Lynn said that they went out last week. Hhhmmm.... I am so curious. Our power went out and then our phone lines went out. It was somewhat annoying since I only work until 1pm in the summers and I needed to get a big head start on the trip for next week because I am taking Thursday off. I always take the 5th off because we stay out late on the 4th foe the fire works. Oh, and while I am on the topic of work I have to write about the new guy, Mark and his annoying habit of saying,"hey, what's up?". He'll say this to you about 50 times a day. Okay, so 50 is maybe an exaggeration but 25 is not. It is the most annoying thing and I never know what to say.
Well, I must say, we have the ultimate display of white trash-ness in our front yard. We have learned from the best and the students have surpassed the masters. John painted the garage floor today so he moved everything out and onto the driveway, the trash can, the tool box and the refrigerator. So, he had a bunch of water and pop in the refrigerator that he is going to take to work tomorrow for the 4th and he wanted it all to stay cold so he plugged in the refrigerator with a big 'ol extension cord right there in the driveway!
John called a few minutes ago. He is on his way to the jail with a prisoner. The funny part about that is that today is Red White and Boom the Midwest's largest display of fireworks. The riverfront is packed with thousands of people from about noon on and guess what, the jail is right there in the midst of it all. John did not see the humor in this. I told him he has a red & blue blinkie light on the top of his police car for a reason but he said it would make no difference at all. I guess there's no coming between Midwesterner's and their fireworks. Samantha and I don't go to Red White & Boom because it is way too crowded. We will watch them on TV though. And then we will go to the fire works tomorrow on the 4th which is my absolute favorite holiday.
For dinner we went to Sonic. I've been through the drive-thru for a drink but have never eaten there for the full Sonic experience. It sure was something. We felt like idiots because we didn't know how the whole thing worked. But, our waitress was really nice. Oops, I mean our car hop. It certainly was interesting but we totally don't get the whole thing... the food wasn't that good.
After Sonic we went by the new Wal Mart and oh my, the place is totally trashed. It was awful, sort of frightening. There were boxes waiting to be stocked strewn everywhere and stuff from the shelves thrown on the floor and then there were the people. Oh the people... there were all sorts of trashy people in there but one family in particular totally fascinated me... their child, about 7, was barefoot. Barefoot in the grocery store. And she was all dirty. You know the kind of dirty kids get after eating a popsicle and the dirt sticks to the part that dripped all over them. People totally fascinate me, I could sit in a place like that for hours and just watch. Oh, and then there was the woman in the checkout line who's little girl, maybe 3, was out in the exit part where everyone was pushing their carts out of the store. The mom was paying and completely ignoring her kid who had thrown herself down on the floor in front of the 25 boxes of watermelons and was kicking and screaming. So, everyone had to maneuver around her.
After we got home Jess and the kids came over. Nick likes to chase cars. I always ask him if he is a dog. Well, the girls joined him and all 3 of them would run off down the sidewalk chasing cars and barking. A bunch of crazies I tell you. They didn't stay long because I had to watch the new episode of "The Closer". This season is the best. I loved the first season but then wasn't so into it last season but this one is really good and last night's episode was one of the best.
So, today at work Beth had flowers on her desk. They were beautiful and they were from Jeff. What's up with that? Lynn said that they went out last week. Hhhmmm.... I am so curious. Our power went out and then our phone lines went out. It was somewhat annoying since I only work until 1pm in the summers and I needed to get a big head start on the trip for next week because I am taking Thursday off. I always take the 5th off because we stay out late on the 4th foe the fire works. Oh, and while I am on the topic of work I have to write about the new guy, Mark and his annoying habit of saying,"hey, what's up?". He'll say this to you about 50 times a day. Okay, so 50 is maybe an exaggeration but 25 is not. It is the most annoying thing and I never know what to say.
Well, I must say, we have the ultimate display of white trash-ness in our front yard. We have learned from the best and the students have surpassed the masters. John painted the garage floor today so he moved everything out and onto the driveway, the trash can, the tool box and the refrigerator. So, he had a bunch of water and pop in the refrigerator that he is going to take to work tomorrow for the 4th and he wanted it all to stay cold so he plugged in the refrigerator with a big 'ol extension cord right there in the driveway!
John called a few minutes ago. He is on his way to the jail with a prisoner. The funny part about that is that today is Red White and Boom the Midwest's largest display of fireworks. The riverfront is packed with thousands of people from about noon on and guess what, the jail is right there in the midst of it all. John did not see the humor in this. I told him he has a red & blue blinkie light on the top of his police car for a reason but he said it would make no difference at all. I guess there's no coming between Midwesterner's and their fireworks. Samantha and I don't go to Red White & Boom because it is way too crowded. We will watch them on TV though. And then we will go to the fire works tomorrow on the 4th which is my absolute favorite holiday.
Monday, July 2, 2007
As I already said... today is a lovely day. Work went by so quickly and I hardly even recall being there at all. And, as I also said, I am sitting in the garage keeping John company while he piddles around and I have to tell you, this is the life. I am sitting in one of those fold up chairs you take to soccer games. Actually, I am sort of lying in it all slumped down really low so my head can rest on the back of it. I have a storage tub turned upside down for a foot rest and the lap top is sitting on my legs positioned just so... just so I exert minimal movement. A paint can is my side table for my glass of water and I feel oh so hill billy-ish... but oh so comfortable. I didn't even mind so much when John asked me to hold the ladder for him because my legs had fallen asleep. I never understood that... the whole "hold the ladder for me" thing... I mean, if his big ass actually fell off the ladder all I would be able to do is stand there and watch provided he hadn't fallen on me and crushed me. Oh my god... John has a country music station on so we really are hill billies... Here I was making fun to Mr. No Shirt White Trash for "hanging out" in his driveway and here I am doing the same thing. And did I mention the big green extension cord the lap top is plugged into... there is something wrong with my battery... really there is... "Hey Romeo, let's go down to Mexico..."
Mom said Dad is going off the deep end with regards to the large squirrel population surrounding his bird feeder. He started yelling she said about how he was not spending money on good seed to the stupid squirrels and he stomped off to get his pellet gun. (Or as Mom called it, his little gun.) While he was rooting around for it Mom let the girls out (the dogs) who chased away all the squirrels. Problem solved sans violence. So, here comes Dad with his little gun and he starts yelling, "what the hell'd you do that for?" Mom just thinks it funny that she ruined his fun.
I don't think I ever mentioned that Mom said she wanted some pepper spray for protection. Oh lord! John got her some and when we gave it to her she said we were a week to late, she had really needed it the weekend before when Dad did something stupid. They seriously crack me up.
Mom's latest thing is this DNA testing they can do on dogs now to find out what kind of breed they are. She is going to have it done on Pepper. So, for the record I am putting in my bet on what she is comprised of: 1. Bearded Collie 2. Scottie and 3. Poodle. I don't know that I really think she has Poodle in her but I know it will drive Mom crazy because she dislikes Poodles so much.
Saturday night Gute and Sandy came over and we had a fire in the fire pit. I love having them over. They are 2 of the most dear people and I truly feel our lives are better for knowing them. Anyway, Sandy was telling us bout her cousin or some sort of relative who is having some mental troubles. He's been in and out of facilities for help and to make a long story short he wants to go to a rest home so that he can sit up by the front desk. Am I the only one who thinks this is NOT crazy. Okay, the guy has identified he has mental problems. He's explored the options and for whatever reason doesn't want to "recover"... he want to go to a rest home and sit by the front desk. Everyone says he should take the help. Well, he knows what that help involves and has decided that sitting by the front desk is the route he wants to take. So, why not... let the guy sit by the front desk.
Tammy is back from Ireland. I was a little worried about her because of the bomb stuff in Glasgow and London but she is back safe and sound. Well, maybe not that sound but she's back. Now Susie is in Israel until the 26th. I wish I could remember the website of the hotel where she is staying. It is beautiful. I miss her already.
Mom said that they are going to intern Uncle Joe's ashes on his birthday. They purchased the space in the mausoleum quite a while go and anytime you would ask him about where it was located he would say: "On the 7th floor next to the lingere." I miss him.
Tara came over yesterday to play with Samantha and then Kelly, Tim and the boys came over in the evening for a fire in the fire pit. The girls played with Lincoln Logs the entire time and made houses, castles and forts for Hally the Hamster. Then Sean wanted to play with Hally the Hamster so I put her in her pink exercise ball for him. Oh my god, Samantha would die if she saw what he did to her. He spun the ball around! Poor Hally the Hamster! Luckily I caught him quite quickly so i hope her vertigo wasn't too sever. The kids played okay up until Sean wanted to play Samantha's guitar and she said no.He wants to play with the girls and he wants them to play his way. Well, Samantha doesn't want to play her way and her way doesn't involve Sean. Then poor Tara doesn't really care how or what she plays just as long as everyone is happy.
Kelly saw my garage sale picture on the kitchen counter behind the fruit bowl and she said she almost bought it! It really is an endearing photograph. Luckily we got to the garage sale with the doll bed before they did. At that one she said that Sean bought an old typewriter. He is very into old things. Well, old for him but more things we would consider outdated junk. He has an old cell phone, the kind you carried in brief case and old calculators, cameras etc. He's funny.
We made smores. We had the regular kind as well as quite a variety of other combinations. Kelly brought some chocolate graham cracker, some strawberry marshmallows and some fudge striped cookies. The fire was nice until the boys got bored, the adult boys that is, and stared throwing misc. into the fire pit. Now, I know burning wood isn't the best thing for the environment but I do use "recycled" wood from trees that were already dead or old building materials but when they want to start throwing plastic pop bottles in there... well, I had an absolute fit! Oh my god, the freaking environment! I almost killed them and stuffed them in the fire pit!
Carla is back from her vacation where she and Bob took Libby to visit colleges. She had interviews at: Bowdoin, Bates, Brown and Tufts. Boy does that bring back memories. Plus, it scares me half to death thinking about when I'll have to do that with Samantha.
Today is lovely. I am sitting outside with John while he works on his garage project. He cleaned all the licence plates in his collection yesterday and today he is re-organizing them and hanging them back up on the wall. Ah, we are such simple people. The neighborhood is quiet this time of day and usually it is too hot to be outside but today is nice. It's about 79 degrees and there is not a cloud in sight. I think I see a nap on the hammock in my future. Is it in the hammock or on the hammock... anyway, I am there.
I don't think I ever mentioned that Mom said she wanted some pepper spray for protection. Oh lord! John got her some and when we gave it to her she said we were a week to late, she had really needed it the weekend before when Dad did something stupid. They seriously crack me up.
Mom's latest thing is this DNA testing they can do on dogs now to find out what kind of breed they are. She is going to have it done on Pepper. So, for the record I am putting in my bet on what she is comprised of: 1. Bearded Collie 2. Scottie and 3. Poodle. I don't know that I really think she has Poodle in her but I know it will drive Mom crazy because she dislikes Poodles so much.
Saturday night Gute and Sandy came over and we had a fire in the fire pit. I love having them over. They are 2 of the most dear people and I truly feel our lives are better for knowing them. Anyway, Sandy was telling us bout her cousin or some sort of relative who is having some mental troubles. He's been in and out of facilities for help and to make a long story short he wants to go to a rest home so that he can sit up by the front desk. Am I the only one who thinks this is NOT crazy. Okay, the guy has identified he has mental problems. He's explored the options and for whatever reason doesn't want to "recover"... he want to go to a rest home and sit by the front desk. Everyone says he should take the help. Well, he knows what that help involves and has decided that sitting by the front desk is the route he wants to take. So, why not... let the guy sit by the front desk.
Tammy is back from Ireland. I was a little worried about her because of the bomb stuff in Glasgow and London but she is back safe and sound. Well, maybe not that sound but she's back. Now Susie is in Israel until the 26th. I wish I could remember the website of the hotel where she is staying. It is beautiful. I miss her already.
Mom said that they are going to intern Uncle Joe's ashes on his birthday. They purchased the space in the mausoleum quite a while go and anytime you would ask him about where it was located he would say: "On the 7th floor next to the lingere." I miss him.
Tara came over yesterday to play with Samantha and then Kelly, Tim and the boys came over in the evening for a fire in the fire pit. The girls played with Lincoln Logs the entire time and made houses, castles and forts for Hally the Hamster. Then Sean wanted to play with Hally the Hamster so I put her in her pink exercise ball for him. Oh my god, Samantha would die if she saw what he did to her. He spun the ball around! Poor Hally the Hamster! Luckily I caught him quite quickly so i hope her vertigo wasn't too sever. The kids played okay up until Sean wanted to play Samantha's guitar and she said no.He wants to play with the girls and he wants them to play his way. Well, Samantha doesn't want to play her way and her way doesn't involve Sean. Then poor Tara doesn't really care how or what she plays just as long as everyone is happy.
Kelly saw my garage sale picture on the kitchen counter behind the fruit bowl and she said she almost bought it! It really is an endearing photograph. Luckily we got to the garage sale with the doll bed before they did. At that one she said that Sean bought an old typewriter. He is very into old things. Well, old for him but more things we would consider outdated junk. He has an old cell phone, the kind you carried in brief case and old calculators, cameras etc. He's funny.
We made smores. We had the regular kind as well as quite a variety of other combinations. Kelly brought some chocolate graham cracker, some strawberry marshmallows and some fudge striped cookies. The fire was nice until the boys got bored, the adult boys that is, and stared throwing misc. into the fire pit. Now, I know burning wood isn't the best thing for the environment but I do use "recycled" wood from trees that were already dead or old building materials but when they want to start throwing plastic pop bottles in there... well, I had an absolute fit! Oh my god, the freaking environment! I almost killed them and stuffed them in the fire pit!
Carla is back from her vacation where she and Bob took Libby to visit colleges. She had interviews at: Bowdoin, Bates, Brown and Tufts. Boy does that bring back memories. Plus, it scares me half to death thinking about when I'll have to do that with Samantha.
Today is lovely. I am sitting outside with John while he works on his garage project. He cleaned all the licence plates in his collection yesterday and today he is re-organizing them and hanging them back up on the wall. Ah, we are such simple people. The neighborhood is quiet this time of day and usually it is too hot to be outside but today is nice. It's about 79 degrees and there is not a cloud in sight. I think I see a nap on the hammock in my future. Is it in the hammock or on the hammock... anyway, I am there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)