Another quiet day...

So yesterday morning I tried laying out with no SPF, which KILLED me to do, but I do think I got a little sun.  Key word there is 'little', but I figure if I do a little bit of time each day, by the time I leave I'll have some color.  But I laid out first thing in the morning, and it was actually nice - I felt the sun, but I wasn't miserable, and there was a nice breeze blowing, so that's when I'm going to lay out from now on.  In the afternoon, Dad set up a hammock for me under the covered part of the porch, AND set up a fan to blow on me - HAHAHA.  Here's my view -

Life is good!!

Near Tragedy

There were dead bugs ALL OVER the front of Hot Tamale, so Mommer and I ran her through a car wash.  Before we went in, she asked if I had a retractable antenna?  I said no, and pulled forward.  As soon as the foam and bubbles started I remembered...DAPPER JACK!!!  So we watched helplessly as he was pitched forward and backward and disappeared in the brushes.  He seemed to be hanging on ok until the last pass, when he was thrown off.  I pulled out, put the car in park, and ran back in to save him from the drain.  Yay!!  He looks a little worse for wear.  Maybe he should be renamed Hobo Jack.

While Mommer and I were safe in the car, I told her the story of how Dapper Jack got his name, and that he just HAD to survive because he was my partner on this roadtrip, and his name was even in the title of my blog!!!  (See, I haven't even told my MOM where to find this - hahaha!!)  She looked at me for a minute and said, 'You know you're weird, right?  You know there's nothing wrong with being normal?"  Hmph.  I replied that I am the most normal person I know...

sunday Sunday SUNDAY!!!

Went to church this morning.  Mom actually asked me if I was going to go to church with them?  Y'all...  That is HUGE.  I didn't know it was an option?!?  Of course I was going!  I may not go all of the time when I'm by myself, but when I'm with family, it's the thing to do.  So I went.  And of course today the Deacon said the sermon and there was LOTS of weird, random singing by the lone guitar player with a really deep voice.  At the end, during the announcement section, the head KofC guy got up with an iPod, and said that for $24, the congregation could donate iPods with pre-loaded Catholic stuff to send to the troops.  Well, during his talk, the 16 year old sitting in front of us got up, genuflected to get on the altar, and said something to Father.  WTF?!  Father nodded, and he got in line behind the KofC guy.  Turns out this SIXTEEN YEAR OLD (he only looked 16; just proves how bad I am at guessing ages) just got back from active duty, and he talked about how much an iPod like this would have meant to him while he was in the field; Mom and I were BAWLING.  Mass ended and Mom tried to talk to him, but initially couldn't!  She finally was able to thank him for his service and tell him a little about Erich - I didn't even try to talk.

Left church and WENT TO WAFFLE HOUSE!!  Yay!!!  Walked in, and not a seat to be had.  No problem, we'll go to the other Waffle House!  Yay!!  Pulled in, not a PARKING SPACE to be had!!  We ended up next door at...Huddle House...  I felt like such a traitor.  The food was near to comparable, but the atmosphere was different.  Clean and open!  In some minds, that might not be a bad thing.  :)  Doesn't matter, since I've already made plans for Blaise and I to go to Waffle House on Thursday.  Just me and him.

After Huddle House, the folks dropped me off at Target while they went to get their haircut.  They had to wait awhile, so Mommer texted me to tell me when she was next in line.  No biggie, I said, I was trying on shoes.  She responded - and I quote - "Please buy big girl shoes!  Not teenager stuff!  Hahaha"  WTF?!?!  Just because she ended with 'Hahaha' doesn't make it all ok!!  So this is what I sent her back -

If you're reading this blog, then you probably know me, and if you know me, then you KNOW that there's no way that I could (or would) walk in these things!!  These are what I had really been trying on (and ended up getting)...

Came home from shopping, 'laid out' for 30 minutes (Joanna said it doesn't count if I'm putting 50 SPF on, which I am), and then Jo and the boys came over.  At first, I got suckered into playing Cop and Robbers with them (there was always only one cop and two robbers).  The parts that were the funniest were when Blaise first realized that - as robbers - Rowen and I were taking too long, so he pretended to sleep; when Rowen (in the cop role) was pretending to sleep but woke up while I was escaping, but he recognized that I was a statue when I froze; and while I was hiding in Mom and Dad's closet (which is the normal place for robbers to hide), I crouched JUST inside the door rather than hiding in the hanging clothes and scared Rowen when he came to investigate.  OMG that still makes me laugh!!!

After 100 rounds of Cop and Robbers, Joanna (bless her) suggested we play Scooby-Doo Sorry, and I jumped at that.  I lost (last place, I think), but I still jumped at it!!

You could only take your initial move if you hit a '6', so Rowen started doing this Zen chanting, meditation-thing to get his sixes.  It seemed to work for him, so Blaise and I tried it.  It didn't work for me.

Yawn!

This entry's probably skip-able, too, but whatever.

First thing yesterday morning, the folks and I loaded up and went to the trash dump - aww yeah!!  The only reason I went is because they were going to Vogelsberg Donuts afterward, so we went, and it's a place Erich likes, and I FORGOT TO TAKE A PICTURE!!  Oh well, just means I'll have to go back.  :)  It was my first time, and I liked them because when donuts were creme-filled, you had two options - the white creme, or the yellow, pudding creme.  I like the white and my mom likes the yellow.  So that was neat.

Next door to that is a frou-frou home decorating shop.  We'd ridden by the day before, and I noticed the neat display in the front window.  This isn't a great picture because of the reflection, but it's a bunch of chairs that seem to be precariously stacked upon each other.  I couldn't see any strings...

Came home from that, and it was time for Mom and I to take the recyclables to ANOTHER dump-type site!  I'm busier here on 'vacation' than I ever thought about being in Walla Walla.  While we were out we also went to the local farmers' market and to look for Georgia postcards; I'm not having ANY luck with those.  Mom also wanted to run into Belk's, but said we'd have to go home and change...I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt?  A) That's what I wear during the summer and especially while on vacation, and B) that's pretty much all I brought!!!

Came home from THAT, and she went to pick things from her garden - she's got a CRAZY garden!!  She got lots of tiny tomatoes and regular-size zucchinis and herbs.  She made real mint tea, which was fabulous.  While she did that, I tried to...LAY OUT!!  I know, I know, it's unhealthy, it's dumb, it's not me, but I'm getting tired of my MOM making fun of my white legs, so I thought I'd try sitting on the porch and reading.  OMG I'm so not used to this heat.  And what a dumb way to pass the time!  But I'm determined to get a little sun before I leave.  This is my view from the porch.

That's my mom doing manual labor while I'm reading on the porch and drinking iced tea!

Finished the day with a delicious baked chicken dinner and two REALLY strong bourbon and ginger ales.  It's all good.  Talked to Erich twice, so that was good, too.  The priest on base is from Pittsburgh, and knows some of our family.  It is such a small world.

Skip

I know y'all don't want to read about EVERYTHING I do, because yesterday was BORING.  That's why I've only told 4 people about this blog, and one of them's Erich, and he can't read it.  But I like to write, so I'm going to, but if you get half-way through this and can't finish it (or fall asleep), you won't hurt my feelings.

Have been sleeping WEIRD.  Won't say that I haven't been sleeping well, but my nighttime sleeps are shorter than normal, which causes me to take awesome, LONG naps in the afternoon...  I should try to break the pattern, I guess.  Anyway, woke up at 5:48, and that was it.  Couldn't get back to sleep.  Stayed in bed while I finished one book and started another.  It's an easy, sometimes trashy (!!) series - perfect for vacation.  Umm, washed my hair (see, I TOLD you it was going to be boring!), examined the lovely ZIT on my cheek that seemed to be growing before my eyes...  Nice, I know.

My dad was at work, and Mommer was at the gym, so I had the place to myself.  Came downstairs and found the Topp Twins on my iTunes while I wrote thank you notes.

Today was Blaise's last day at Art Camp, so we had to go pick him and all of his 'art' up.  Jo is so funny - when she signed Blaise up for this, she thought he'd be doing painting and traditional art.  Nope.  It was all about using recycled materials, so he had an eel made out of plastic bottles that I swear was 6 feet long, and a HUGE paper mache fish...and all sorts of things that she was not excited about bringing home.  So of course I egged him on  - "Oh Blaise, that eel is going to look SO COOL hanging from the ceiling in your room", and things like that.

Me and Blaise with his paper mache fish.  He didn't tell me until AFTER I'd grabbed it and held it all against my shirt and pants that he'd just finished painting, and so there's might be some wet spots...

Dropped my phone TWICE.  The first time I broke the protective plastic cover, and the second time the backlight wouldn't go off.  It finally did hours later.

Dad took us all (Jo and the boys, too) to dinner at Longhorn.  I don't eat a lot of beef, but this summer I'm doing things that I normally don't, so I ordered a big ol' steak, and it was fabulous.  (On that note, Mommer's been asking me to get a (barf) PEDICURE with her, and I initially told her NO!, but remembered what this summer is all about, and so told her to make an appointment.)

All of us at Longhorn

Then we went to K-Mart to get a Spirograph.  Remember Spirograph?  Rowen loves to draw, and my dad and I got to talking about that toy the other night, but we couldn't remember what it was called, so guess what I did?  Nope.  Un-unh.  JUST LET ME TELL YOU!!  I Googled "art toy plastic circles", and got Spirograph!!!  Google cracks me up.

Blaise as the Green Lantern

While we were in the restaurant, a rain storm came through.  It let up to let us get in and out of K-Mart, but by the time we got home, it was CRAZY with wind and thunder and lightning.  I talked my folks into sitting on the porch, but that didn't last long before we started to get damp.

And then I came in and read some more.

And that was my day!!

Day WHATEVER - folks' in Carrollton, GA

I'm in Georgia!!!  Made it here on Monday.  It seemed like the drive took FOREVER.  I stopped a lot.  I made it here around 4, and we had my mother's best dish - fend for yourself!!!  Then we went over to visit Jo (my sister-in-law), and her boys, Blaise and Rowen. 

Tuesdays and Thursdays are kid dollar movies at the local theater.  Blaise, the oldest, is in Art camp this week, so Mom and I took Rowen to see "Kitty Galore", one of those computer animated movies about cats and dogs.  I guess it was ok...I fell asleep!!  Rowen asked me to sit in the back seat with him on the way to the show, so of course I did, and we played with the action figures he brought.



On Tuesday nights, my dad teaches a class at a satellite campus.  Mom and I rode with him.  They took me to a Cuban restaurant for dinner (no picture, but it was delicious!  Every meal got a side of plantains, which I love.).  We then dropped off Dad, and Mom and I went SHOPPING!!  Aww yeah!!  I got a sweater for $1.46 at Old Navy - how crazy is that?!?  I also bought myself a pair of those Adidas sandals with the nubs on the soles.  OMG, I love THEM, too.  When I take them off and walk on my folks' carpet, it feels like I'm walking on marshmallows.  Or what I imagine it feels like to walk on marshmallows.  Also got a pair of earrings that are already fabulous, but come holiday season?  (head shaking)  They will be SUPER fabulous.


Me and Mommer being silly in the shop where I bought the fabulous earrings.  The apple didn't fall far from the tree...



My $1.07 scarf!!!  Oh, and there are my earrings.

 Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday...  What did I do on Wednesday?  I know I've taken lots of naps and read lots, and I know I did SOMETHING else, just can't remember right now.

Blaise was spending the night at a friend's house, so Rowen and Jo went to dinner with us.  My dad asked Rowen (who's 5) what he wanted for dinner, and he said "RIIIIBBBBSSS".  He cracks me up!!!  So we went to a bar-b-que joint, which worked out, because I needed to have Southern bar-b-que at some point on this trip.  Bar-b-que and sweet tea?  Do I need to tell you how good it was?

Bar-b-que plate

 Then...after dinner...we went to Bruster's.  Bruster's is only the best ice cream in the whole world.  They say it's made fresh every day.  I don't know, and don't really care.  My favorite flavor is Birthday Cake, which is a whole different animal from Cake Batter - don't even try to compare the two.  Birthday Cake has blue icing swirls through it.

Birthday Cake ice cream from Bruster's - I wish I had the cup turned so the name showed!!

Jo and Rowen came back in the house and we visited for awhile and it was nice.  I let Rowen pick from all of the postcards that I've collected so far on this trip to send to his dad.  Well, he picked one to send to Erich, and TWO for himself.  That was not how that was supposed to work.

Today (Thursday, yay!  I'm current) Mom and I went to IHOP for a good-bye breakfast for my Dad.  He's not really going anywhere - he's just done with his job as Interim Associate Dean and will continue to teach.  I had to MEET lots of people, which is not my favorite thing, but they were all very nice and it was fine.  I had an omelet that - once I covered it in hot sauce - was pretty good.

Went to the Thursday dollar show with Jo and Rowen.  Today was "Ramona and Beezus" and...I fell asleep again!!!  The soundtrack for the parts that I was awake for was good.

Umm, Mom and I went to Hobby Lobby and the new Dollar Tree, and while we were in there, it started to RAIN like I haven't seen in years.  It was neat.  Nothing much else exciting.  Which is fine with me.

Day 9 and 10 - Robert's in Schriever, LA

Woke up Saturday morning to an empty house.  I'd had great intentions of waking up so I could ride in to the airport with J and his dad, so his dad wouldn't have to drive back alone.  Nope, didn't happen.  Not only did I not wake up as they got ready and left, J also dug in my purse, got my car keys, and moved my car because I was blocking them in!!!  I love that he knew that he could do that.

The rest of Saturday was all about food.  I went to a gas station by the old house that used to serve beignets, and was pleased to find that they still did.


 As I was sitting there with my beignet, a familiar face walked by, and I FLEW out of the gas station to get him!

Hank, one of my brother's best friends

Rode around town, past the old house, high school, junior high school...  I wasn't supposed to meet Robert and Monica until noon, so I went and got a snoball.  My favorite has always been Popeye.  I think it's only because my favorite color used to be green.

Met Robert* and Monica and one of their sons at Frostop, which is a local burger chain that makes their own root beer.

*Robert is my 3rd best friend.  In high school, he and Tony and I were inseparable.

Come to find out, they'd ordered a sack (40 pounds) of crawfish, and Robert was boiling it for dinner!

Alive

Alive

Not alive

He added corn and sausage and potatos and onions.

Finished product!

Well, Tony and Belinda had also come to Thibodaux to pick up their kids from her folks...who live right across the street from Robert and Monica!  How crazy is that?!  So while Belinda was hanging out with her friends, Tony came over and we watched dumb movies*, again just like the old days.

*We went to Blockbuster.  They picked out "Get Him to the Greek", and I picked out "The Green Hornet".  Just like in high school, their movie was awful, and my movie got more laughs.  I've told you that Hot Tamale doesn't have the best antenna, my iPod doesn't last all day, and the only CD's I brought were medical terminology?  Well, Blockbuster had a Glee soundtrack, Lady Gaga, and Maroon 5, all on sale for less than $1.50, so I picked up all 3!!  I've listened to them, and so far I think my overall favorite is the Maroon 5.

Three amigos!

Sunday was Fathers' Day, so Robert and his son went to play golf.  Monica and I went to the mall and then to a restuarant called Bayou Delight, which is in Bayou Black, and - obviously - sits right on a bayou.  I should have taken a picure of that, but I didn't, so here's a picture of my seafood gumbo.  We also got fried alligator as an appetizer, and a praline for dessert.

Pralines don't photograph very well.  I think this could easily be mistaken for vomit or a brain.

That afternoon, I went to visit some family friends.  They were in graduate school with my dad, so I seriously have known these people since I was...5?  She made beef curry for dinner, and for dessert she made my favorite - a popcorn cake!!

This was a belated birthday cake!!

Got back to Robert and Monica's in time to spend a little more time with them, and then it was off to bed.  (Their guest bed is a WATERbed!!)

Me and Rob