I haven't seen the whole story yet - just the teaser. But apparently the news story is about how it's now hip and cool and okay to bring your baby with you to the club.
Say what?!?! Let's start with the most obvious - the noise level cannot possibly be good for their ears. It's not good for an adult's ears. And the overstimulation? And... oh I could go on forever.
***
Okay, it's called Baby Loves Disco. And it's a family thing that happens on Saturday afternoons. But I still think the noise level would be too much. But then again, maybe that's my own personal noise issue peeking through...
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Monkey Bar Madness
So never a dull moment is a saying that applies way too often to my life.
This afternoon/evening's plan was to take Bella to soccer practice then help Mom out with her car. Dinner might be the McD's drive-thru since I didn't have anything planned and then we would be home free and relaxing until about 2:00 tomorrow when we head out for soccer games.
Practice started at 6. At 6:10 Felisa comes back from the playground, crying because she had fallen from the monkey bars and her arm hurt. As I was holding her on my lap, trying to calm her down, Mom called. We told the coach's wife that we were heading out to pick up my mom and we would be back before the end of practice. Felisa calmed down on the walk down the hill to the car but when I lifted her up to put her in she started crying again. And then she just didn't stop. Which led me to believe that this injury might in fact warrant a trip to the doctor.
So we picked up Mom then came back to the house to find the doctor's phone number. We're in that in-between stage between Kaiser benefits which are ending any day now as far as I know and Tricare. We are tricare standard already by virtue of Ron being on active duty so we are entitled to health care but only at Ft Belvoir which is probably 40 minutes away, without any major traffic incidents blocking the way between here and there. The Prime paperwork that I filled out on Monday won't take effect until Oct. 1. I called the close (prime) clinic first because I was told they might help me before oct. 1 if they have open spaces. No dice. So I called the other number (ft. belvoir). Decided I really didn't want to drive all the way over there in Friday traffic. So I called Kaiser. They said that my benefits were still active and made me an appointment at the much-closer-than-the-Army urgent care facility. While I was on the phone with the healthcare merry-go-round, Ryan and Grandma were practicing their first aid on Felisa. Ice packs and a sling.
Ryan and Mom went back to the soccer field to get the chairs and blanket I left (because we were coming right back! ha!) and bring Bella home. Once they came back, Felisa and I took off for our appointment. Fortunately I remembered the way to the clinic since I hadn't been there in months.
Two and a half hours later (a decent amount of time for all that we had to do though it seemed like an eternity while we were stuck in the waiting rooms!), we have bone pictures, a soft cast, and an appointment to see the orthopedic doctor on Monday. Looks broken on the x-ray which the other doctor will confirm or deny and then set with a permanent cast if necessary.
And now - off the sleep. As long as Barky McBarkBark doesn't keep me up all night...
This afternoon/evening's plan was to take Bella to soccer practice then help Mom out with her car. Dinner might be the McD's drive-thru since I didn't have anything planned and then we would be home free and relaxing until about 2:00 tomorrow when we head out for soccer games.
Practice started at 6. At 6:10 Felisa comes back from the playground, crying because she had fallen from the monkey bars and her arm hurt. As I was holding her on my lap, trying to calm her down, Mom called. We told the coach's wife that we were heading out to pick up my mom and we would be back before the end of practice. Felisa calmed down on the walk down the hill to the car but when I lifted her up to put her in she started crying again. And then she just didn't stop. Which led me to believe that this injury might in fact warrant a trip to the doctor.
So we picked up Mom then came back to the house to find the doctor's phone number. We're in that in-between stage between Kaiser benefits which are ending any day now as far as I know and Tricare. We are tricare standard already by virtue of Ron being on active duty so we are entitled to health care but only at Ft Belvoir which is probably 40 minutes away, without any major traffic incidents blocking the way between here and there. The Prime paperwork that I filled out on Monday won't take effect until Oct. 1. I called the close (prime) clinic first because I was told they might help me before oct. 1 if they have open spaces. No dice. So I called the other number (ft. belvoir). Decided I really didn't want to drive all the way over there in Friday traffic. So I called Kaiser. They said that my benefits were still active and made me an appointment at the much-closer-than-the-Army urgent care facility. While I was on the phone with the healthcare merry-go-round, Ryan and Grandma were practicing their first aid on Felisa. Ice packs and a sling.
Ryan and Mom went back to the soccer field to get the chairs and blanket I left (because we were coming right back! ha!) and bring Bella home. Once they came back, Felisa and I took off for our appointment. Fortunately I remembered the way to the clinic since I hadn't been there in months.
Two and a half hours later (a decent amount of time for all that we had to do though it seemed like an eternity while we were stuck in the waiting rooms!), we have bone pictures, a soft cast, and an appointment to see the orthopedic doctor on Monday. Looks broken on the x-ray which the other doctor will confirm or deny and then set with a permanent cast if necessary.
And now - off the sleep. As long as Barky McBarkBark doesn't keep me up all night...
Thursday, September 18, 2008
My House is Dirty
Felisa's having a playdate with her best friend from school, Adam. I'm sitting on the couch, being "available" while working on my way-behind-schedule digital scrapbook. I overheard Adam say, "Your house is dirty." Felisa stuck up for us though. Her prompt reply, "My house is Not dirty!"
Funny. Embarrassing. And true (my house IS messy). But funny.
Funny. Embarrassing. And true (my house IS messy). But funny.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Attack of the Green Monsters!
Bella forgot something in her desk at school this afternoon so we walked back to her classroom with her. While we were there, the subject of her pink glasses came up. For some reason today she decided to wear the big round pink-shaded glasses that came from who-knows-where and now live in our dress-up box. I figured it was just a lark. The fad of the day.
So anyway, when we were talking about her glasses she told us that she was wearing them to keep the green away. Apparently Green sometimes attacks her. We asked what that meant and she said that it just makes everything look green. But the pink glasses help.
So is she just weird? Or what? Will I someday be able to look back on these things and understand? Because right now I just really don't know what to say.
Oh and does anyone have any pink shades we can borrow? When we got home, the glasses broke.
So anyway, when we were talking about her glasses she told us that she was wearing them to keep the green away. Apparently Green sometimes attacks her. We asked what that meant and she said that it just makes everything look green. But the pink glasses help.
So is she just weird? Or what? Will I someday be able to look back on these things and understand? Because right now I just really don't know what to say.
Oh and does anyone have any pink shades we can borrow? When we got home, the glasses broke.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
What Are Husbands Good For?
Well, I can name a few things today that need a husband's touch...
*Jumpstarting the car
*Picking up his mother from the airport so I can do my assistant leader job at Cub Scouts
This weekend is a 3-day crop. Only happens twice a year. But arranging child care, carpooling, etc. for 3-days is like planning a world summit. And when things like the above happen, it just makes the (temporary) abscence of my dear husband that much more vivid. It's hard enough planning for my abscence when my signed-in-blood, dedicated life partner is around to pick up the slack. Without him to fall back on, things are that much harder. Add a few kinks like the above and it's almost more than I can handle.
Light Bulb Moment...
So while talking to Allie and lamenting about my bad luck today, I discovered something about myself. I'm okay at accepting help that is freely offered. I have a little more trouble asking for help repeatedly. An occasional here and there is okay but in my current position, I find myself asking for help more than I'd like. I don't feel like I've earned 6 months worth of help. Helping points are like money - you earn some by helping others and you spend some by asking for help or by accepting help that is offered. I am feeling many things today. One thing is exhausted, more mentally than physically. Another thing is frustrated. And lastly, I'm feeling a little unbalanced in the helping department.
So, I went upstairs and had a good cry to vent all the pent up frustration and stress. Then I thought about it for a few minutes. I think what's missing right now is the income of helping points. No one is asking me to help them with anything. I'm guessing it's because they know I'm all alone here and don't want to burden me. Which is lovely. And I appreciate it. But I still need to do small favors here and there or else I'm going to be unable to ask for any favors back. I'm spending my help points without replenishing them. And I don't want to be bankrupt before Ron comes back!
So people... ask for my help! But not this weekend. I'm busy...
:)
*Jumpstarting the car
*Picking up his mother from the airport so I can do my assistant leader job at Cub Scouts
This weekend is a 3-day crop. Only happens twice a year. But arranging child care, carpooling, etc. for 3-days is like planning a world summit. And when things like the above happen, it just makes the (temporary) abscence of my dear husband that much more vivid. It's hard enough planning for my abscence when my signed-in-blood, dedicated life partner is around to pick up the slack. Without him to fall back on, things are that much harder. Add a few kinks like the above and it's almost more than I can handle.
Light Bulb Moment...
So while talking to Allie and lamenting about my bad luck today, I discovered something about myself. I'm okay at accepting help that is freely offered. I have a little more trouble asking for help repeatedly. An occasional here and there is okay but in my current position, I find myself asking for help more than I'd like. I don't feel like I've earned 6 months worth of help. Helping points are like money - you earn some by helping others and you spend some by asking for help or by accepting help that is offered. I am feeling many things today. One thing is exhausted, more mentally than physically. Another thing is frustrated. And lastly, I'm feeling a little unbalanced in the helping department.
So, I went upstairs and had a good cry to vent all the pent up frustration and stress. Then I thought about it for a few minutes. I think what's missing right now is the income of helping points. No one is asking me to help them with anything. I'm guessing it's because they know I'm all alone here and don't want to burden me. Which is lovely. And I appreciate it. But I still need to do small favors here and there or else I'm going to be unable to ask for any favors back. I'm spending my help points without replenishing them. And I don't want to be bankrupt before Ron comes back!
So people... ask for my help! But not this weekend. I'm busy...
:)
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
A Funny Thing Happened
That's the name of a play, right? A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum?
Well, a funny thing happened on the way to McD's... I noticed 3 guys in matching orange shirts at the bus stop outside McD's. It seemed a little odd since they were all dressed alike. Most people waiting at bus stops are individuals and not dressed in matching t-shirts. So I went through the drive-thru to get my iced coffee fix and when I pulled back out to the main street, I was behind a garbage truck. The truck stopped at the bus stop and two of the orange-clad men climbed in and they all drove away. I guess the other orange guy belongs with a different route...
I just really thought that was funny and had to share it with the world!
Well, a funny thing happened on the way to McD's... I noticed 3 guys in matching orange shirts at the bus stop outside McD's. It seemed a little odd since they were all dressed alike. Most people waiting at bus stops are individuals and not dressed in matching t-shirts. So I went through the drive-thru to get my iced coffee fix and when I pulled back out to the main street, I was behind a garbage truck. The truck stopped at the bus stop and two of the orange-clad men climbed in and they all drove away. I guess the other orange guy belongs with a different route...
I just really thought that was funny and had to share it with the world!
Sunday, September 07, 2008
Sunday Night Blues
This weekend started with soccer practice Friday night at 6. Tropical Storm Hanna's first sprinkles started as we were leaving the field on our bikes.
I was tired from a long first week of school but the kids were still full of energy. I wanted to go to bed and let the day/week be over. I was having a hard time convincing them to do the same.
Saturday morning started with rain. Lots and lots of rain. Darby got a long wet walk before the worst of it hit. Then I spent the day moving boxes and organizing and pricing things for the yard sale. I haven't heard the official total yet but I think 9" of rain. By the end of the day I was very, very tired.
Sunday morning started early - 0545 - in an attempt to get my yard sale items out and ready before the early birds showed up. At 0730 the first shopper had arrived. I really hate how they come in and disrupt my rythym of trying to get it all. I was hoping to be ready before 0800 early birds but it wasn't to be.
Made lots of money but still have lots to sell so we're going to try for another sale in a couple weeks. The kids were good in the house all morning. The weather was beautiful and the shoppers were bountiful. All was good. I got Darby out for a walk around 3 then spent a couple hours with my feet up, reading. Then dinner out with Shani and all the kids.
To this point, a lot of hard work but overall a good weekend. Now comes the Sunday Night Blues part... I'm tired. The kids are not. I want to go to bed and be done with the day. Lurking in all the shadows, however, are the nags. The mess that is my house. The to-do list a mile long. The fact that I really need to stop eating and start exercising. Real life is out there waiting for me but I'm not sure I'm ready to face it. Weekends packed with too much activity are bad for this reason. Not enough down time equals extra stress over the usual way-too-much-to-do lists.
So I've got the Sunday Night Blues. And Felisa sitting next to me, sniffing, wiping her nose, and stroking my arm, touching me at all times, NOT sleeping.
Calgon take me away!
I was tired from a long first week of school but the kids were still full of energy. I wanted to go to bed and let the day/week be over. I was having a hard time convincing them to do the same.
Saturday morning started with rain. Lots and lots of rain. Darby got a long wet walk before the worst of it hit. Then I spent the day moving boxes and organizing and pricing things for the yard sale. I haven't heard the official total yet but I think 9" of rain. By the end of the day I was very, very tired.
Sunday morning started early - 0545 - in an attempt to get my yard sale items out and ready before the early birds showed up. At 0730 the first shopper had arrived. I really hate how they come in and disrupt my rythym of trying to get it all. I was hoping to be ready before 0800 early birds but it wasn't to be.
Made lots of money but still have lots to sell so we're going to try for another sale in a couple weeks. The kids were good in the house all morning. The weather was beautiful and the shoppers were bountiful. All was good. I got Darby out for a walk around 3 then spent a couple hours with my feet up, reading. Then dinner out with Shani and all the kids.
To this point, a lot of hard work but overall a good weekend. Now comes the Sunday Night Blues part... I'm tired. The kids are not. I want to go to bed and be done with the day. Lurking in all the shadows, however, are the nags. The mess that is my house. The to-do list a mile long. The fact that I really need to stop eating and start exercising. Real life is out there waiting for me but I'm not sure I'm ready to face it. Weekends packed with too much activity are bad for this reason. Not enough down time equals extra stress over the usual way-too-much-to-do lists.
So I've got the Sunday Night Blues. And Felisa sitting next to me, sniffing, wiping her nose, and stroking my arm, touching me at all times, NOT sleeping.
Calgon take me away!
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Be careful what you wish for...
So I have been lamenting off and on this summer about how all the big and fuzzy, black and buzzy, carpenter bees have disappeared from my garden. I attribute it to the garlic spray I used in the backyard to keep the mosquitos away. Which may or may not have worked on the mosquitoes. It did however work on keeping the good bees away and had absolutely no effect on the very mean wasp/bee creatures that set up shop in the backyard and ultimately stung Bella and I. (They're dead now, by the way. I killed them! You see, that's what happens when you break the rules of living at Sheila's house. If you come inside my house and are too ugly or if you bother me outside, then you will die. Remember that, random bugs and spiders, if you ever stop by.)
So anyway, as I was leaving the house earlier, I was struck by the pure volume of big and fuzzy, black and buzzy, bees that are hanging around all over each and every flower on my obedient plant. The bees that I missed and that I wished would return. Well, they're back. And I really am glad to see them. Let's just say that my recent bad experience with the mean bees has left me a little jumpier than usual.
In other news...
I have once again completely forgotten whatever it was that was so earth-shattering that I just had to post immediately for all the world to see...
But there is this - after lunch I'm going on a soccer cleat hunt. Bella and Ryan tried on their shoes last night and none of them fit. Before I go buy new ones, I need to find the other pair that Ryan wore in his first year because they just might fit Bella now. But I have absolutely no idea where they might be or if they even exist. I may just be imagining that other phantom pair of soccer cleats. And I have to find them today because Bella has practice tomorrow!
So anyway, as I was leaving the house earlier, I was struck by the pure volume of big and fuzzy, black and buzzy, bees that are hanging around all over each and every flower on my obedient plant. The bees that I missed and that I wished would return. Well, they're back. And I really am glad to see them. Let's just say that my recent bad experience with the mean bees has left me a little jumpier than usual.
In other news...
I have once again completely forgotten whatever it was that was so earth-shattering that I just had to post immediately for all the world to see...
But there is this - after lunch I'm going on a soccer cleat hunt. Bella and Ryan tried on their shoes last night and none of them fit. Before I go buy new ones, I need to find the other pair that Ryan wore in his first year because they just might fit Bella now. But I have absolutely no idea where they might be or if they even exist. I may just be imagining that other phantom pair of soccer cleats. And I have to find them today because Bella has practice tomorrow!
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Oh the craziness of our world
So I'm just sitting here watching the news... there is a story on about how we are driving less which has reduced the amount of money the state has collected in taxes. So now we don't have enough money to pay for road repairs and maintenance.
So... we should drive less because it's bad for the environment. But wait - don't stop! Keep driving because we need the tax money!
Some sort of proposed solution regarding tolls with congestion penalties (much higher prices during peak hours) which should discourage people from driving so much during rush hour. I'm assuming that means that the idea behind the congestion penalties is to switch us to mass transit or carpooling.
So which is it? Should we drive more or drive less? Make up your mind, government dudes!
In other news...
*School has started. Two days down, two days left for this week. So far no one is tired but me. Waking up earlier and staying busy all day - why isn't it making them tired?!?! I just don't understand and really I don't think it's fair at all.
*I made a poor choice today... I chose to buy a latte at Starbucks this afternoon while I was at Safeway with Felisa. So now I am exhausted but not the least bit sleepy. Darn it all anyway.
*We are supposed to be having a block-wide yard sale this Saturday. Hurricane Hanna is also scheduled to be in the area on Saturday. Unfortunately I think hurricane beats yard sale. Contingency plans are still in the works. I hope we figure out something because I have collected a very LARGE amount of junk, I mean fine used items, to sell. One way or another it's all leaving this house. Hopefully soon!
*While I am not sleepy, I am definitely tired. Too tired to figure out what else it was that I meant to blog about tonight. Oh well.
So... we should drive less because it's bad for the environment. But wait - don't stop! Keep driving because we need the tax money!
Some sort of proposed solution regarding tolls with congestion penalties (much higher prices during peak hours) which should discourage people from driving so much during rush hour. I'm assuming that means that the idea behind the congestion penalties is to switch us to mass transit or carpooling.
So which is it? Should we drive more or drive less? Make up your mind, government dudes!
In other news...
*School has started. Two days down, two days left for this week. So far no one is tired but me. Waking up earlier and staying busy all day - why isn't it making them tired?!?! I just don't understand and really I don't think it's fair at all.
*I made a poor choice today... I chose to buy a latte at Starbucks this afternoon while I was at Safeway with Felisa. So now I am exhausted but not the least bit sleepy. Darn it all anyway.
*We are supposed to be having a block-wide yard sale this Saturday. Hurricane Hanna is also scheduled to be in the area on Saturday. Unfortunately I think hurricane beats yard sale. Contingency plans are still in the works. I hope we figure out something because I have collected a very LARGE amount of junk, I mean fine used items, to sell. One way or another it's all leaving this house. Hopefully soon!
*While I am not sleepy, I am definitely tired. Too tired to figure out what else it was that I meant to blog about tonight. Oh well.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Friday Notes
Some notes from yesterday while I'm drinking my coffee and mentally preparing for today...
*We went school supply shopping. Target first where we found everything but the erasers and glue sticks. I picked up some plain t-shirts for the girls and some jeans for Ryan. My grandma told me I needed new underwear (she had done some of my laundry while we were on the road this summer) so I bought some.
*We were hungry so went to Burger King for lunch. The kids got to play on the playground though they decided it wasn't as exciting as all the taller McD's ones we visited on our trip. There were negotiations between Bella and Felisa over whether or not to switch happy meal toys. Felisa would not give in so Bella had to settle. We also had a discussion about why Burger King is called Burger King. After all, a king is a person, not a burger. Or a restaurant. I tried my best to explain but she wasn't buying it.
*Next stop... Car Wash!!! The kids have been begging all summer to go to the car wash. We couldn't go before because the rooftop box was still on the van. Today though, the box was off (thanks Shani!) and we went to the car wash. It was quite possibly the highlight of the day. They were all very happy that I decided to pay for the long car wash not just the short one.
*On to Staples. Finally. Ryan had been declaring his love of office supply stores all morning. I can't blame. I love them too! We managed to get out of there without buying too many crazy extra things but we did go up and down all the aisles oohing and ahing.
*Last stop - Safeway. Ryan objected because he thought we were done. I think the length of time spent shopping was just too much for him. You know, he used to be my best shopper when he was younger. After all, I started him out before he could even crawl. Oh well. All the kids got donuts and Ryan got to pick out my coffee. For some reason he really likes to choose the coffee. Maybe it's because he likes to operate the pouring and grinding mechanisms.
*A little rant about Safeway... They have TVKarts now. Really? TV Karts? Our kids are so mind-numbingly incapable of surviving 30 minutes in the grocery store without watching TV?!? And I can only imagine how many commercials there are. Buy fruit snacks! Buy sugar! Buy! Buy! Buy! There didn't appear to be too much room for actual groceries in the cart and I'll be surprised if they're not broken in a week. The plastic car carts that my kids like have already lost half the steering wheels. Why on earth are people so incapable of caring for things? Especially things like these carts that don't belong to them? What are those other kids doing for crying out loud?!?
Safeway - I am NOT happy with your decision to offer TVKarts.
*Okay... let's see now. What else was there? Oh yeah. Dinner. I picked up a Rotisserie chicken (on sale for $4!) and some country crock already prepared mashed potatoes (I'll do anything to avoid cooking it seems!). So look - dinner! And minimal effort on my part. Anyway, Felisa declared dinner to be not as good as daddy cooks. I about choked on my chicken. Boy is that girl confused! Daddy doesn't cook! Which I immediately pointed out to her. I did say though that dinner was not as good as it is when daddy is home eating with us. Because it wasn't. The chicken was dry and the potatoes tasted funny. But whatever - it was dinner.
And that's about it. Today we have a couple errands. I need some anti-itch creme since I lost the one we brought with us on vacation and this bee sting is ITCHING LIKE CRAZY!!! Later tonight we have putt putt golf with the Cub Scouts. Oh joy.
*We went school supply shopping. Target first where we found everything but the erasers and glue sticks. I picked up some plain t-shirts for the girls and some jeans for Ryan. My grandma told me I needed new underwear (she had done some of my laundry while we were on the road this summer) so I bought some.
*We were hungry so went to Burger King for lunch. The kids got to play on the playground though they decided it wasn't as exciting as all the taller McD's ones we visited on our trip. There were negotiations between Bella and Felisa over whether or not to switch happy meal toys. Felisa would not give in so Bella had to settle. We also had a discussion about why Burger King is called Burger King. After all, a king is a person, not a burger. Or a restaurant. I tried my best to explain but she wasn't buying it.
*Next stop... Car Wash!!! The kids have been begging all summer to go to the car wash. We couldn't go before because the rooftop box was still on the van. Today though, the box was off (thanks Shani!) and we went to the car wash. It was quite possibly the highlight of the day. They were all very happy that I decided to pay for the long car wash not just the short one.
*On to Staples. Finally. Ryan had been declaring his love of office supply stores all morning. I can't blame. I love them too! We managed to get out of there without buying too many crazy extra things but we did go up and down all the aisles oohing and ahing.
*Last stop - Safeway. Ryan objected because he thought we were done. I think the length of time spent shopping was just too much for him. You know, he used to be my best shopper when he was younger. After all, I started him out before he could even crawl. Oh well. All the kids got donuts and Ryan got to pick out my coffee. For some reason he really likes to choose the coffee. Maybe it's because he likes to operate the pouring and grinding mechanisms.
*A little rant about Safeway... They have TVKarts now. Really? TV Karts? Our kids are so mind-numbingly incapable of surviving 30 minutes in the grocery store without watching TV?!? And I can only imagine how many commercials there are. Buy fruit snacks! Buy sugar! Buy! Buy! Buy! There didn't appear to be too much room for actual groceries in the cart and I'll be surprised if they're not broken in a week. The plastic car carts that my kids like have already lost half the steering wheels. Why on earth are people so incapable of caring for things? Especially things like these carts that don't belong to them? What are those other kids doing for crying out loud?!?
Safeway - I am NOT happy with your decision to offer TVKarts.
*Okay... let's see now. What else was there? Oh yeah. Dinner. I picked up a Rotisserie chicken (on sale for $4!) and some country crock already prepared mashed potatoes (I'll do anything to avoid cooking it seems!). So look - dinner! And minimal effort on my part. Anyway, Felisa declared dinner to be not as good as daddy cooks. I about choked on my chicken. Boy is that girl confused! Daddy doesn't cook! Which I immediately pointed out to her. I did say though that dinner was not as good as it is when daddy is home eating with us. Because it wasn't. The chicken was dry and the potatoes tasted funny. But whatever - it was dinner.
And that's about it. Today we have a couple errands. I need some anti-itch creme since I lost the one we brought with us on vacation and this bee sting is ITCHING LIKE CRAZY!!! Later tonight we have putt putt golf with the Cub Scouts. Oh joy.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Bumblebito Buzzito
Oh my god!
Bella and Kana (and then me when I went to rescue them!) were just attacked by a swarm of bees!
Apparently the girls decided to slide on the plastic slide over on the side of the house. And apparently some bees have taken up residence there this summer. Must've been while we were on vacation because this is the first time anyone has really been over there since before we left.
They both came running up the stairs and back inside. I saw two dark bugs on Bella's shirt and thought they were beetles. I shoo-ed her back outside to brush them off. I went outside to help at which point I realized they were bees. And they weren't just on her shirt - there were at least 10 of them stuck in her hair. So Shani and I are frantically trying to brush them off. Then they were in my hair. And then one stung me on the arm. Finally Kana is clear and then Bella is clear and I am clear. We slam the door and commence freaking out! Well, Bella and I were freaking out anyway.
I sat with Bella on the couch for a few minutes trying to get her to stop crying and calm down. Skippyjon Jones, one of her favorite books, was within reach on the bookshelf so I offered to read it, hoping for a distraction. And ironically enough the villian in the story... is a bumble bee! I mean really, what are the chances?!
So Bella has gone to her room to watch a movie and I gave her two motrin because she said her head hurts. I can't tell if one stung her there or not but maybe the motrin will help.
And I just have to say... Bee stings, well, they sting!
Bella and Kana (and then me when I went to rescue them!) were just attacked by a swarm of bees!
Apparently the girls decided to slide on the plastic slide over on the side of the house. And apparently some bees have taken up residence there this summer. Must've been while we were on vacation because this is the first time anyone has really been over there since before we left.
They both came running up the stairs and back inside. I saw two dark bugs on Bella's shirt and thought they were beetles. I shoo-ed her back outside to brush them off. I went outside to help at which point I realized they were bees. And they weren't just on her shirt - there were at least 10 of them stuck in her hair. So Shani and I are frantically trying to brush them off. Then they were in my hair. And then one stung me on the arm. Finally Kana is clear and then Bella is clear and I am clear. We slam the door and commence freaking out! Well, Bella and I were freaking out anyway.
I sat with Bella on the couch for a few minutes trying to get her to stop crying and calm down. Skippyjon Jones, one of her favorite books, was within reach on the bookshelf so I offered to read it, hoping for a distraction. And ironically enough the villian in the story... is a bumble bee! I mean really, what are the chances?!
So Bella has gone to her room to watch a movie and I gave her two motrin because she said her head hurts. I can't tell if one stung her there or not but maybe the motrin will help.
And I just have to say... Bee stings, well, they sting!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
If It's Not One Dog, It's the Other
Last night was one of THOSE nights...
I had the opportunity to go to sleep earlier than what has become my usual midnight or beyond, but I wasn't tired. I did finally fall asleep some time after 11 while trying to watch the women's final gymnastics event.
At 1:00, Darby woke me up, whining to go out. By this point I had already had at least one weird dream and pushed Felisa off of me at least 5 times. I kept covering her up, hoping that if she were warmer, she would stop tossing and turning ALL OVER ME!
Darby and Cody went out and I went back to bed.
Sometime around 3, Cody started barking at who know's what. Which is probably what woke Bella up because a minute later, she was in bed with me. I told her to lie down and gave her a blanket to cover up with. Cody came back to bed as well. So bed total: 2 kids, 1 mom, and 1 dog.
At 4 Darby had to go outside again. At this point I start to put everything together. He had a soft poop last night when I wallked them before bed. Which means he has diarrhea AGAIN! That dog has been sick more often in the last few months... when you add his freak-out carpet-licking, paper-and-plant-eating episodes it's at least once a week.
Cody didn't want to go out at 4 so the two of us sat on the white couch and tried to not wake up too much while we waited for Darby to come back.
When we were all finally back upstairs, I was hearing phantom noises and had to check at least 3 times that both dogs were still in the room and not out causing trouble somewhere in the house.
I was able to go back sleep which left plenty of time for more weird dreams and more restless Felisa. Darby was whining again at 8 but it was time to get up anyway. My stirring woke up the girls. We all went downstairs where we found Ryan and Cody watching TV.
Grandma D came by and is walking the dogs now. I gave the kids breakfast. Now I need a shower and we all need to get dressed to go to the farmer's market and various other playdates and errands.
I had the opportunity to go to sleep earlier than what has become my usual midnight or beyond, but I wasn't tired. I did finally fall asleep some time after 11 while trying to watch the women's final gymnastics event.
At 1:00, Darby woke me up, whining to go out. By this point I had already had at least one weird dream and pushed Felisa off of me at least 5 times. I kept covering her up, hoping that if she were warmer, she would stop tossing and turning ALL OVER ME!
Darby and Cody went out and I went back to bed.
Sometime around 3, Cody started barking at who know's what. Which is probably what woke Bella up because a minute later, she was in bed with me. I told her to lie down and gave her a blanket to cover up with. Cody came back to bed as well. So bed total: 2 kids, 1 mom, and 1 dog.
At 4 Darby had to go outside again. At this point I start to put everything together. He had a soft poop last night when I wallked them before bed. Which means he has diarrhea AGAIN! That dog has been sick more often in the last few months... when you add his freak-out carpet-licking, paper-and-plant-eating episodes it's at least once a week.
Cody didn't want to go out at 4 so the two of us sat on the white couch and tried to not wake up too much while we waited for Darby to come back.
When we were all finally back upstairs, I was hearing phantom noises and had to check at least 3 times that both dogs were still in the room and not out causing trouble somewhere in the house.
I was able to go back sleep which left plenty of time for more weird dreams and more restless Felisa. Darby was whining again at 8 but it was time to get up anyway. My stirring woke up the girls. We all went downstairs where we found Ryan and Cody watching TV.
Grandma D came by and is walking the dogs now. I gave the kids breakfast. Now I need a shower and we all need to get dressed to go to the farmer's market and various other playdates and errands.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Tidbits
We're home (in case anyone didn't know - I thought I had posted a message to that effect but I guess not since there isn't one here!). We ended up arriving back two days early.
I'm enjoying a few minutes of quiet this afternoon... listening to some music while I work on my digi scrapbooks. The kids took Darby for a long walk with Grandma D and now they are at her place "watching and eating". I even moved my laptop from the bedroom to the dining room table for a change of scenery.
The weather is hot today.
The kids are bored with each other after an entire summer together. They play well for awhile but then they start picking and arguing. I'm ready for them to go back to school and be with their friends. Then they'll be happy to see each other here at home.
Melissa leaves tomorrow for college. All of us are going to miss her. Ryan was crying in the closet for awhile this afternoon because he was sad about her leaving. Daddy is gone and Melissa is gone and [3 teachers at his school] are all retired and gone... Heartbreaking I tell you.
Ron seems to be doing fine in Afghanistan... 4 meals a day and a job to do. He says he misses us and asks for pictures daily.
I got to go to Artie's with Bill and Christy the other night while the kids were all having sleepovers (at Zoe's and at Grandma D's). Yummy tuna, a margarita, and good company. Haven't spent much time with Shani yet but hopefully that will work itself out once we get our school year routine settled. I need someone to drink the vacation wine with...
The house was clean when we arrived but was trashed again in short order. I think I finally have everything unpacked except the kids' backpacks (which they should be doing, not me) and a bag of food souvenirs in the kitchen. Which means all the mess now is regular every day mess. Joy, joy.
Obviously I really don't have anything to say today so I'll let it go at this...
I'm enjoying a few minutes of quiet this afternoon... listening to some music while I work on my digi scrapbooks. The kids took Darby for a long walk with Grandma D and now they are at her place "watching and eating". I even moved my laptop from the bedroom to the dining room table for a change of scenery.
The weather is hot today.
The kids are bored with each other after an entire summer together. They play well for awhile but then they start picking and arguing. I'm ready for them to go back to school and be with their friends. Then they'll be happy to see each other here at home.
Melissa leaves tomorrow for college. All of us are going to miss her. Ryan was crying in the closet for awhile this afternoon because he was sad about her leaving. Daddy is gone and Melissa is gone and [3 teachers at his school] are all retired and gone... Heartbreaking I tell you.
Ron seems to be doing fine in Afghanistan... 4 meals a day and a job to do. He says he misses us and asks for pictures daily.
I got to go to Artie's with Bill and Christy the other night while the kids were all having sleepovers (at Zoe's and at Grandma D's). Yummy tuna, a margarita, and good company. Haven't spent much time with Shani yet but hopefully that will work itself out once we get our school year routine settled. I need someone to drink the vacation wine with...
The house was clean when we arrived but was trashed again in short order. I think I finally have everything unpacked except the kids' backpacks (which they should be doing, not me) and a bag of food souvenirs in the kitchen. Which means all the mess now is regular every day mess. Joy, joy.
Obviously I really don't have anything to say today so I'll let it go at this...
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Walking in Memphis
We're here in Memphis - decided to skip St Louis completely and get on down the road...
Went to Graceland today.
My outgoing email is blocked so I won't be able to answer any messages until tomorrow night when we get to the hotel.
Almost home!!!
Went to Graceland today.
My outgoing email is blocked so I won't be able to answer any messages until tomorrow night when we get to the hotel.
Almost home!!!
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Day 22
August 10, 2008 – Sunday – Day 22
0740 Wake up
Enjoy a nice quiet morning then leave to take Grandpa R to the airport.
1052 Pigs! Finally! We have been looking for pigs since we left and these are the first ones we’ve seen.
1113 Leaving the Peoria airport. I went inside to use the bathroom and bought some postcards and picked up a free Home magazine while I was in there. Some funny quotes from Felisa so far this morning:
“The corn rides again.”
Upon sighting many many cornfields along the road once more.
“I’m the expert.”
She had been “navigating” us to the airport and we mentioned something about knowing which way to go and that’s what she told us.
1140 Felisa rolled her window down while we were driving through Farmington. It scared me since she hadn’t asked first but she did meet my open window requirement of “not on the highway”. I have no idea why that girl always wants the window down in the car. Anyway, she had put the window down so that Hot Dog could get some fresh air.
1230 Bella has developed some sort of fixation with her lips. What is that noise called? Raspberries? But not against the skin. Just flubbing her lips to make cat purring sounds, horse sounds, car sounds… She has been doing it seemingly almost nonstop for over a week now. Good thing she sits all the way in the back row so I don’t hear it as much.
1235 Back at Grandma’s and starving for lunch. Yummy ham salad again and other assorted leftovers.
After lunch we went to Uncle Ron’s house and the kids played with Tegan while the rest of us hung out on the porch. The weather has been amazingly perfectly glorious ever since we got to NM. I love it!
Dinner out at the café in Bushnell then home to unpack and repack the van. The last repack was in Albuquerque and we were in serious need of reorganization! While I was doing that the kids were practicing a play. We watched “Animal Band in Birmingham” then it was bedtime. I started putting together a small package for Ron to mail from here tomorrow.
0740 Wake up
Enjoy a nice quiet morning then leave to take Grandpa R to the airport.
1052 Pigs! Finally! We have been looking for pigs since we left and these are the first ones we’ve seen.
1113 Leaving the Peoria airport. I went inside to use the bathroom and bought some postcards and picked up a free Home magazine while I was in there. Some funny quotes from Felisa so far this morning:
“The corn rides again.”
Upon sighting many many cornfields along the road once more.
“I’m the expert.”
She had been “navigating” us to the airport and we mentioned something about knowing which way to go and that’s what she told us.
1140 Felisa rolled her window down while we were driving through Farmington. It scared me since she hadn’t asked first but she did meet my open window requirement of “not on the highway”. I have no idea why that girl always wants the window down in the car. Anyway, she had put the window down so that Hot Dog could get some fresh air.
1230 Bella has developed some sort of fixation with her lips. What is that noise called? Raspberries? But not against the skin. Just flubbing her lips to make cat purring sounds, horse sounds, car sounds… She has been doing it seemingly almost nonstop for over a week now. Good thing she sits all the way in the back row so I don’t hear it as much.
1235 Back at Grandma’s and starving for lunch. Yummy ham salad again and other assorted leftovers.
After lunch we went to Uncle Ron’s house and the kids played with Tegan while the rest of us hung out on the porch. The weather has been amazingly perfectly glorious ever since we got to NM. I love it!
Dinner out at the café in Bushnell then home to unpack and repack the van. The last repack was in Albuquerque and we were in serious need of reorganization! While I was doing that the kids were practicing a play. We watched “Animal Band in Birmingham” then it was bedtime. I started putting together a small package for Ron to mail from here tomorrow.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Day 21
August 9, 2008 – Saturday – Day 21
Wake up when Bella comes back to bed. The kids were all playing musical beds last night. All 3 of them started in my bed watching Looney Tunes. Bella, the only one who didn’t want to watch the movie, was the only one awake at the end of the movie. Since Ryan was asleep in her spot, she went to sleep with Grandpa R. In the middle of the night, Ryan woke up and said, “Why am I sleeping in this bed?” and went to Grandpa’s room. Sometime in the early morning Bella started roaming and eventually came to my room and went back to sleep.
Breakfast and coffee then a trip to the post office to check the mail. Grandma was going to go without me but I made her wait. When I was a kid I always walked to the post office with Grandma.
Lana went to town to get a haircut and buy more bags of Kitchen Cooked chips for all of us to bring home. Yum!!! Unfortunately I forgot to get my entertainment out of the car so no cross-stitching or crocheting or reading (except the newspaper) until she gets back. There’s no internet so I can’t even waste time online. Oh well, maybe I’ll work on a few scrapbook pages. My next quarterly deadline for CM is September 30 so I need to get at least one book finished by then.
Uncle Ron came by with Tegan to play with the kids. She was shy at first but then didn’t want to leave. We promised to come up to their place to play after lunch.
Ham salad and chicken salad for lunch – yum! And Kitchen Cooked chips of course.
The kids had fun playing at Tegan’s. Felisa and Tegan got wet watering the flowers so Tegan reluctantly loaned Felisa a dress for the day. Once again Tegan didn’t want to see the kids leave. It was good for all of them to play together since Tegan’s an only (though not for long!) child and my kids haven’t had many other kids to play with this trip.
We drove to town so Emilio could see downtown Macomb. Then home in time for dinner. Grandma made goulash and mashed potatoes (she dug the potatoes from her garden just this morning!). After dinner it was time for our daily park trip.
The kids are watching Pink Panther and the grown-ups are watching Family Feud on GSN. Lady (Grandma’s cat) is looking at me… apparently I’m sitting in her chair. So she walks over to my black bag with the scrapbooks inside and sits down on top of it. I guess she showed me!
Wake up when Bella comes back to bed. The kids were all playing musical beds last night. All 3 of them started in my bed watching Looney Tunes. Bella, the only one who didn’t want to watch the movie, was the only one awake at the end of the movie. Since Ryan was asleep in her spot, she went to sleep with Grandpa R. In the middle of the night, Ryan woke up and said, “Why am I sleeping in this bed?” and went to Grandpa’s room. Sometime in the early morning Bella started roaming and eventually came to my room and went back to sleep.
Breakfast and coffee then a trip to the post office to check the mail. Grandma was going to go without me but I made her wait. When I was a kid I always walked to the post office with Grandma.
Lana went to town to get a haircut and buy more bags of Kitchen Cooked chips for all of us to bring home. Yum!!! Unfortunately I forgot to get my entertainment out of the car so no cross-stitching or crocheting or reading (except the newspaper) until she gets back. There’s no internet so I can’t even waste time online. Oh well, maybe I’ll work on a few scrapbook pages. My next quarterly deadline for CM is September 30 so I need to get at least one book finished by then.
Uncle Ron came by with Tegan to play with the kids. She was shy at first but then didn’t want to leave. We promised to come up to their place to play after lunch.
Ham salad and chicken salad for lunch – yum! And Kitchen Cooked chips of course.
The kids had fun playing at Tegan’s. Felisa and Tegan got wet watering the flowers so Tegan reluctantly loaned Felisa a dress for the day. Once again Tegan didn’t want to see the kids leave. It was good for all of them to play together since Tegan’s an only (though not for long!) child and my kids haven’t had many other kids to play with this trip.
We drove to town so Emilio could see downtown Macomb. Then home in time for dinner. Grandma made goulash and mashed potatoes (she dug the potatoes from her garden just this morning!). After dinner it was time for our daily park trip.
The kids are watching Pink Panther and the grown-ups are watching Family Feud on GSN. Lady (Grandma’s cat) is looking at me… apparently I’m sitting in her chair. So she walks over to my black bag with the scrapbooks inside and sits down on top of it. I guess she showed me!
Friday, August 08, 2008
Day 20
August 8, 2008 – Friday – Day 20
0610 Wake up. Talk to Ron online.
0715 Breakfast
0803 Leave the hotel.
0840 Stop at McD’s for coffee and a potty break. I realized a few minutes ago that the girls hadn’t gone potty yet this morning. I figured it would be wise to stop at the next available bathroom before it turns into an emergency pee on the side of the road incident. As luck would have it, the next available stop was McD’s so I could get my iced coffee as well. Yea!
1110 Des Moines, IA - See a sign for Sonic and stop since this may be my last chance (well, at least until after we drop off Lana and head home). Plus, it’s been at least a week since I last ate at Sonic…
Here’s what we ordered:
Ryan: hot dog and strawberry slush
Bella: grilled cheese, tots, and water
Felisa: Chicken strips and strawberry slush
Grandpa R: #4 grilled chicken sandwich and a coke
Lana: #8 grilled chicken wrap and a diet dr. pepper
Sheila: #12 Super Sonic breakfast burrito with tots and cherry coke
I had to write it down so I could get the order right so I figured I might as well record it for posterity…
2:05 p.m. Mt. Pleasant, IA stop for gas. $3.65/gallon
2:45 p.m. Illinois! And the Mississippi River! Once we were across the river we could see the flood damage in Gulfport. There is still standing water a third of the way up houses and buildings and you can see the water line where it was higher before. The road is closed so we go the long way around the Good Hope.
3:15 p.m. See a sign for Roseville. Felisa is happy to have a place with her name.
3:33 p.m. Arrive at Grandma’s!
The kids played for a bit then we had beef and noodles for dinner. Super yum! After dinner we went to the park then home for popsicles and then finally bed time. The kids were not tired at all (something about riding in the car all day…) so I put in a movie for them. Of course that means they are all in my bed so there is no room for me until the movie is over. Guess I’ll go upstairs and watch TV with the grownups for a while. Felisa came up after about 20 minutes so I had to go back down and squeeze in on the edge.
0610 Wake up. Talk to Ron online.
0715 Breakfast
0803 Leave the hotel.
0840 Stop at McD’s for coffee and a potty break. I realized a few minutes ago that the girls hadn’t gone potty yet this morning. I figured it would be wise to stop at the next available bathroom before it turns into an emergency pee on the side of the road incident. As luck would have it, the next available stop was McD’s so I could get my iced coffee as well. Yea!
1110 Des Moines, IA - See a sign for Sonic and stop since this may be my last chance (well, at least until after we drop off Lana and head home). Plus, it’s been at least a week since I last ate at Sonic…
Here’s what we ordered:
Ryan: hot dog and strawberry slush
Bella: grilled cheese, tots, and water
Felisa: Chicken strips and strawberry slush
Grandpa R: #4 grilled chicken sandwich and a coke
Lana: #8 grilled chicken wrap and a diet dr. pepper
Sheila: #12 Super Sonic breakfast burrito with tots and cherry coke
I had to write it down so I could get the order right so I figured I might as well record it for posterity…
2:05 p.m. Mt. Pleasant, IA stop for gas. $3.65/gallon
2:45 p.m. Illinois! And the Mississippi River! Once we were across the river we could see the flood damage in Gulfport. There is still standing water a third of the way up houses and buildings and you can see the water line where it was higher before. The road is closed so we go the long way around the Good Hope.
3:15 p.m. See a sign for Roseville. Felisa is happy to have a place with her name.
3:33 p.m. Arrive at Grandma’s!
The kids played for a bit then we had beef and noodles for dinner. Super yum! After dinner we went to the park then home for popsicles and then finally bed time. The kids were not tired at all (something about riding in the car all day…) so I put in a movie for them. Of course that means they are all in my bed so there is no room for me until the movie is over. Guess I’ll go upstairs and watch TV with the grownups for a while. Felisa came up after about 20 minutes so I had to go back down and squeeze in on the edge.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Day 19
August 7, 2008 – Thursday – Day 19
0614 Wake up
0650 Go downstairs for breakfast
0733 Loaded and leaving the hotel.
We decided to drive through Custer State Park again since it seemed like the most direct, least curvy road way to get up to the interstate in Rapid City. I’m really glad we did because along the way we saw lots of animals. Wild turkeys (even babies!) crossing the road, deer, a chipmunk (trying not to get run over), mule deer, and… buffalo! A huge herd of them! And since I downloaded my other buffalo pictures and realized that very few of them turned out, I was able to take bunch more. Yea! Hopefully these turned out better. If not then I guess it wasn’t meant to be.
0930 On the way to Wall Drug in Wall, SD. We passed a truck pulling a motorcycle trailer. On the back of the trailer was a sign that said “Just Married”. Not 30 seconds later we saw a billboard that said Free Coffee and Donuts for Honeymooners. How weird is that!!!
1048 Leaving Wall Drug. Big. And Crowded. But kind of fun, at least in the backyard where the covered wagon, giant roaring dinosaur, and 8-foot jackalope were.
1130 Stop for gas ($3.83/gallon) and lunch in Kadoka, SD. There is just a whole lot of nothing out here.
12:22 p.m. Leaving lunch. I miss McDonalds… We haven’t seen one since Denver.
12:43 p.m. Time change. It’s now 1:43 p.m. I really don’t like giving my hours back on the return trip!
2:59 p.m. McDonald’s!!! Iced Coffee!!! Yippee! Yahoo! Oh and we also just crossed the Missouri River. It was actually blue. I don’t think I’ve seen a blue river in a while.
4:05 p.m. Stop at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. Interesting. A good distraction from the miles of prairie. And since crossing the river, we are back to miles of corn fields.
4:50 p.m. Leaving the Corn Palace. We bought cheddar popcorn as a snack for the kids. We still have about 2 hours to the hotel.
7:00 p.m. Iowa! Cross the Big Sioux River. We can even see Nebraska just across the river. If I wasn’t so tired of driving, I would cross the river just so I can add Nebraska to our list of states for this year!
7:10 p.m. Arrive at the hotel in Sioux City, IA It smells like cows here.
7:34 p.m. Dinner at HuHot Mongolian Grill. Delicious food but there was a large group of loud obnoxious teen girls at the table next to us. The handful of adults were just as bad as the kids.
8:40 p.m. Leaving dinner. It still smells like cows.
8:43 p.m. Stop at the gas station next door. Gas is only $3.49/gallon. Wow!
Back to the hotel for swimming in the cold pool then bedtime. I was hoping for a chat with Ron but it’s Friday there so I guess he’s sleeping in (Fridays and Sundays are the slow days).
0614 Wake up
0650 Go downstairs for breakfast
0733 Loaded and leaving the hotel.
We decided to drive through Custer State Park again since it seemed like the most direct, least curvy road way to get up to the interstate in Rapid City. I’m really glad we did because along the way we saw lots of animals. Wild turkeys (even babies!) crossing the road, deer, a chipmunk (trying not to get run over), mule deer, and… buffalo! A huge herd of them! And since I downloaded my other buffalo pictures and realized that very few of them turned out, I was able to take bunch more. Yea! Hopefully these turned out better. If not then I guess it wasn’t meant to be.
0930 On the way to Wall Drug in Wall, SD. We passed a truck pulling a motorcycle trailer. On the back of the trailer was a sign that said “Just Married”. Not 30 seconds later we saw a billboard that said Free Coffee and Donuts for Honeymooners. How weird is that!!!
1048 Leaving Wall Drug. Big. And Crowded. But kind of fun, at least in the backyard where the covered wagon, giant roaring dinosaur, and 8-foot jackalope were.
1130 Stop for gas ($3.83/gallon) and lunch in Kadoka, SD. There is just a whole lot of nothing out here.
12:22 p.m. Leaving lunch. I miss McDonalds… We haven’t seen one since Denver.
12:43 p.m. Time change. It’s now 1:43 p.m. I really don’t like giving my hours back on the return trip!
2:59 p.m. McDonald’s!!! Iced Coffee!!! Yippee! Yahoo! Oh and we also just crossed the Missouri River. It was actually blue. I don’t think I’ve seen a blue river in a while.
4:05 p.m. Stop at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. Interesting. A good distraction from the miles of prairie. And since crossing the river, we are back to miles of corn fields.
4:50 p.m. Leaving the Corn Palace. We bought cheddar popcorn as a snack for the kids. We still have about 2 hours to the hotel.
7:00 p.m. Iowa! Cross the Big Sioux River. We can even see Nebraska just across the river. If I wasn’t so tired of driving, I would cross the river just so I can add Nebraska to our list of states for this year!
7:10 p.m. Arrive at the hotel in Sioux City, IA It smells like cows here.
7:34 p.m. Dinner at HuHot Mongolian Grill. Delicious food but there was a large group of loud obnoxious teen girls at the table next to us. The handful of adults were just as bad as the kids.
8:40 p.m. Leaving dinner. It still smells like cows.
8:43 p.m. Stop at the gas station next door. Gas is only $3.49/gallon. Wow!
Back to the hotel for swimming in the cold pool then bedtime. I was hoping for a chat with Ron but it’s Friday there so I guess he’s sleeping in (Fridays and Sundays are the slow days).
Oh! I forgot!
I realized today while driving that I forgot to tell the story about the motorcycle dude that flipped me off yesterday. For no good reason!!!
We had stopped at the bathroom then went on the short hike. While we were hiking, a motorcycle had gone into the ditch somewhere up in the curvy hilly road we had just driven down prior to stopping. The park rangers closed the road at the bottom of the hill so the cyclists could wait on the flat road while a tow truck was pulling the bike out. When we came back to the car, a ranger was there holding up traffic. He told me what happened and asked which way we were headed. I told him we were going the other way so he said to go ahead.
About 5 cars/bikes or so back in the line, a motorcycle dude flipped us off after he (I can only guess) arrived to see us pulling out of the parking lot and driving away. I suppose that he thought we were the cause of the holdup. I really have no idea what his problem was.
I bounced his bad energy off and turned it into good deeds and public service... I stopped at every car and group of bikes down the rest of the line and explained why everyone was stopped. And all of them were very nice and thanked me for telling them.
So there - mean, grumpy, rude biker dude. Take that!
We had stopped at the bathroom then went on the short hike. While we were hiking, a motorcycle had gone into the ditch somewhere up in the curvy hilly road we had just driven down prior to stopping. The park rangers closed the road at the bottom of the hill so the cyclists could wait on the flat road while a tow truck was pulling the bike out. When we came back to the car, a ranger was there holding up traffic. He told me what happened and asked which way we were headed. I told him we were going the other way so he said to go ahead.
About 5 cars/bikes or so back in the line, a motorcycle dude flipped us off after he (I can only guess) arrived to see us pulling out of the parking lot and driving away. I suppose that he thought we were the cause of the holdup. I really have no idea what his problem was.
I bounced his bad energy off and turned it into good deeds and public service... I stopped at every car and group of bikes down the rest of the line and explained why everyone was stopped. And all of them were very nice and thanked me for telling them.
So there - mean, grumpy, rude biker dude. Take that!
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