The Weekend

What a busy weekend! I guess they all are in summer. I worked 8 and a half hours on Saturday and another 4 today. I am back on track again. Mr. I. and Violet went out for a Father's Day lunch and movie yesterday. They saw Up and really liked it. Today we got the pool put up, it is still filling. And did a bunch of other things around the house and yard. It never ends, does it?

I am in a battle with the library right now. I put a bunch of books on hold for Violet. During the summer reading program it is impossible to find anything on the shelves. The vultures come in, check everything out, turn in their forms, collect their free prizes, then disappear until the next summer. I can't wait until they disappear.

Anyway, I had gotten the e-mail notice that the books were in. I went in, and they weren't on the reserve shelf. Well, one was, the other 4 weren't. I went up to the circulation desk and they didn't really believe me that someone had made a mistake like that. They kept insisting, did someone else take my card and come in and check them out for me? Someone in my family? Yeah, my huge family that I can't keep track of. No, Mr. I. had been in downtown Chicago all day. Violet was at home with me. We didn't check them out, you let someone else check them out.

The library was closing (this was Thursday night), so I came home to put the books back on hold. Low and behold, the computer system wouldn't let me put one of them on hold because I already had it checked out. Somehow the library let someone else check out one of my holds and put it on my account. I forwarded the e-mail with the hold notice, explained the entire situation, and am still waiting to hear from them. I really don't like in person confrontations, but I'm going to have to go in there soon and stand there until they fix it! I think if they check the time stamp (which I think they have access to, but I don't) they'll see that the one I had on hold was checked out at a very different time than the books I checked out Thursday night. My big hope is whoever checked out "Patches" from the Puppy Place series will bring it back soon. I did put the books back on hold using Violet's card. I mean, hey, we might both as well have our cards in arrears.

Of course, I dwell on things like this and they slowly eat me up. I hope this can be resolved tomorrow.

Friday we had storms. In fact a funnel cloud was spotted 8 miles west of our town early in the morning. We hung out in the basement while the tornado sirens were going. Then Violet and I went to spend the rest of the day with my parents. We had a nice visit. Tonight and tomorrow there are more storms predicted. But the weekend was nice. Hot, humid, but nice.

The garden is looking great. I've got to get some pictures for you. We picked a few lettuce leaves. We have tiny tomatoes starting. The pumpkin and zucchini look great. And the cabbage is coming up. I am hopeful for a good harvest.

Hope all the dads in your lives had nice Father's Days. I think Mr. I. did. Even if he had to do yard work.

Isn't it time for them to go back to school yet?

I've been home 3 full days that the school kids have been out. I'm ready for them to go back. It is so loud in the neighborhood when they are home. Constantly yelling, running around and screaming. My goodness, do little girls really need to scream all day long? I never did. Violet doesn't either. We just can't pull it off. And fog horns. Why are they blasting those? Music hasn't been too bad, although last night the dad next door was practicing his drums. At least he always stops at a decent hour.

Doesn't help that my neighbor is having a garage sale. Now I love these neighbors dearly. We've known them for years. Their oldest daughter is our long time pet and babysitter. But with a garage sale comes extra talking. And extra cars. And strange people parking everywhere. I could do without it.

Speaking of outside, the garden has gone nuts. This is the time of the year we gets lots of rain (August will be bone dry, just wait). The plants are going crazy. Of course it seems a bit worse because the lawn needs mowing. Nothing is ready to harvest yet, but it will be soon. Spinach and lettuce will be up first. I moved their containers up to the top of the deck to keep the bunnies out of them. After seeing Mom #1's photos I was picturing our Bun-Buns standing on the back feet chomping away.

I know you are all probably getting tired of hearing this but things look really bleak at Mr. I's company. One option that was discussed today was selling off the customer list and closing the doors. Haven't heard the outcome yet. When his job goes, so too goes our health insurance. I made Violet's 10 year checkup appointment for next week. It is early, but at least we should still have coverage. We don't need it for school, but she does need it for Girl Scout camp each year. This will give her a year without worries. It is about 4 months too early for my checkup and mammogram. I don't think I can go in that early.

I am going to start trying to find insurance for us. I can't get it at my work. I don't work enough "regularly scheduled hours" and they can't give me enough to qualify (I've asked). I was looking at the premiums through my job and they are really high anyway, the plan has a very low deductible. We don't have that many expenses (knock on wood, rub on one of those Bun Bun feet, and toss some salt over my shoulder) so I am going to try to find us a plan with a really high deductible to keep the monthly cost down.

Sigh. This sucks. I want it to be two years ago when things were so much rosier for all of us. Or two years in the future when things are better again.

Settling back in

The luggage is unpacked and the souvenirs are put away (mostly). We went to the grocery store today to restock the cabinets. And the work list is caught up to the "not urgent" items. Things are settling back down.

I finally walked out to the garden today. Some of our stuff is actually growing. We have lettuce and spinach coming up in our containers. And the onion crop looks good. The tomatoes are huge, but no sign of flowers yet. There are a few other things coming up that I don't quite remember what they are. That is going to make my plans to weed the garden tonight a bit more of a challenge.

Tomorrow we'll get over to the library. The summer reading program started the day we left. Got to get Violet signed up.

Tomorrow we are also going to make and decorate cupcakes for my dad's birthday. He turned 69 on our trip and it went largely unnoticed (they were returning home that day). We're going to go to their house on Friday with the cupcakes. We don't have a present for him. I'm thinking of taking him to Farm and Fleet and getting him some snack goodies. I meant to buy him some Three Musketeer bars at the store today and I forgot. What do you buy the man who always buys himself whatever he needs without mentioning he needs it? He never lets us know that he would like something. He'll go out the day before his birthday and buy himself what would have been the perfect gift. My mom has quit trying to get him things. I don't really blame her.

I can't wait to finally crack open my Rainbow Resource catalog that arrived while we were gone. I hope to this weekend. Mr. I. is going to help Violet get a new hamster. And he's going to put up the pool. And he wants to go out to a movie with her. Not really sure how they are going to get all that done, but it sounds like I may have some time to myself.

I could use some time to myself. The worst part about traveling is the lack of privacy and space. It is good to be home.

We're home

We got home late Sunday night and I'm still exhausted. The trip was a roller coaster. Some really good. Some awful. I guess that's what you'd expect. Since lists seem easier than paragraphs here is a recap:

1. My family is still insane. Mom loved being there. The aunt from the other side of the family hated it. She complained and didn't want to do anything. She's lucky she got a ride home.

2. I would never travel 1000 miles to see some sports hero's hometown and college. That seems to have been the reason for the other aunt to have gone. Well, she's done it now. She's seen Brett Farve's hometown and the college he played at. I kid you not. 1000 miles for Brett Farve. I hope she's happy.

3. The South can be so hot you turn to molten lava as soon as you leave the air conditioning.

4. There is no place to get ice cream on the beach in Biloxi-Ocean Springs. We ended up at the Edgewater Mall.

5. You can find a dead fish on the beach though.

5a. We actually had a wonderful time on the beach, it was the highlight of the trip for the 5 of us who were there. We waded out to sand bars, looked for shells, watched sea gulls scoop up fish from the water.

6. Gulf Islands National Seashore is beautiful. That's where we did the memorial. Or the closest we came to a memorial. We took po'boys out there and ate and walked around remembering her.

7. The air conditioning hose that lets the condensation out of the system in our car had a clog in it. I rode all the way home with my feet in a puddle. Mr. I. got the clog out yesterday but we're having a heck of a time drying out the carpeting.

8. It was wonderful spending time with my cousin and her family. We have plans to talk every week on the phone.

9. I think the casinos on the coast are an eyesore.

10. Being told by a desk clerk that he has no reservation in your name isn't funny. Especially on the last night of the trip. He's lucky I didn't deck him. I did almost make him cry when I explained the trip and why I wasn't in the mood for that joke.

There's more, but I can't think of it right now. Work is irritating me and I've been trying to get things done for them as fast as I can. I have almost gotten us unpacked. The laundry is done. I need to get to the grocery store to get some food. I am behind in everyone's blogs, I hope to catch up with you all soon!

Leaving tomorrow

We leave tomorrow morning for the trip to the memorial service. Or non-memorial service as the case may be. Rather than go into all the details let me just say a few things.

1. My family is insane.

2. We're going to spend more time on the road than there.

3. It is hot on the Mississippi Gulf Coast! Highs in the 90s are predicted. We're going to melt.

4. My family is insane.

5. I am really glad to have this time with my cousin. Just wish it were under different circumstances.

6. I really hope I can get a shrimp p'boy while I'm there. And some gumbo. Or at least a stuffed crab.

7. Violet is most looking forward to the zoo and the water park. So am I. (The water park is a new one near them. My aunt had been looking forward to taking my cousin and her son and they never got there. My cousin said her mom would be so pleased if we all went while we are there.)

8. Did I mention my family is insane? I hope we can make it there and back with a minimal amount of hurt feelings and snarky comments. I doubt it though.

If I get a chance I'll post from the road. Hope you all have a great week!

Sending hugs,

Freakmom

Catching you up

I can't believe I haven't blogged since Monday. It has been non-stop. Pour yourself another cup of coffee or tea, this is going to be a long entry.

We are going to Mississippi, but not to a memorial service (although that's what we're telling our employers because it is easier to explain). My cousins decided not to do a funeral or memorial, but they did want us to come spend some time with them. This was decided on Wednesday. Since we weren't having an official anything we could set the dates. After a bunch of phone calls we came up with leaving Tuesday morning, returning Sunday. It will take us two days to drive each way. My parents and another aunt (from my dad's side) are going and returning one day earlier than we are.

We have hotel reservations for while we are there (again, more negotiations so we could all stay at the same place that met everyone's demands: high speed internet, a pool, near my cousin's house, and queen sized beds so certain tall people don't hang off the end). But we don't have the drive there and back figured out yet.

We aren't doing a ceremony, instead we are all visiting and going to some of my aunt's favorite places. It will be a quasi-vacation, with a mission. The cousins will do a private burial of the ashes. I'm not sure when they are doing it. If it is while we are there, we'll entertain ourselves during it so they can have their time alone with their mom. The cousin from China is supposed to arrive on Monday. I keep forgetting to ask if his wife is able to come with.

Besides countless phone calls the last 2 days have been filled with preparations. Grocery store, bank, finding people to cover work assignments for me, etc. I got the Girl Scout registrations wrapped up and turned in. No volunteer work to hang over my head.

Then there was all the "life goes on" stuff to do. We bought Violet's bronze award. She got herself a cute Girl Scout gorilla as a little gift to herself for finishing the project (with Juliette-Bucks). We got her certificate back from Council (they send out really nice certificates if you fill out some simple paperwork). We were pleased to see it has the name of our Council as it is now, before the realignment takes place this fall. We hadn't thought of that. If she'd waited until next year to work on the Bronze it would have been under the new name.

Violet's birthday is in early July, so she's been busily planning her celebration. She decided she wanted to take Red and Butterfly out for a girl's afternoon out of miniature golf and ice cream. On Wednesday we tested out a mini golf course near here, it was really nice. But there are 2 more courses Violet would like to test before she decides which one. I smell a scam. Ice cream will be at a nicer sit down ice cream place. Once we know which mini golf course it will be easier to pick the ice cream parlor nearest it. I contacted Red's and Butterfly's moms and we were even able to find a date when none of the three girls will be at camp, in class, or otherwise tied up. No easy feat with their busy summer schedules.

Violet and I made a cute little trellis today out of sticks (like a tripod but with 4 legs) and planted some sweet pea seeds underneath it. We're hoping 1. the seeds grow, and 2. when they do they will climb up the trellis. I'll get some pictures posted.

I'm really glad we still have 3 days before we leave. We briefly discussed leaving as early as Saturday. I couldn't have made it. I'll still be preparing up until we pull out of the driveway, but at least I'll get to sleep in the meantime.

Thank you!

Thank you all for your kind words on the passing of my aunt. I really appreciate it! You all mean so much to me. (((hugs)))

We haven't heard if there will be a memorial service or not. My oldest cousin lives in China and has not yet been able to travel back home. I expect they won't decide anything until he gets here. If they do have something they may decide to keep it just the three children and their families.

Mr. I. doesn't understand any of this or why they may not have a service at all. And especially why, if they do have one, my mom doesn't plan to go. She says we out of town family would just be a burden on them. And I know she has sworn off ever returning to her home town. She has a lot of demons there. She was very close to her sister, and despite their issues over the years, they had a better relationship than my mom did with any of the rest of her family.

On Sunday we went to my parent's house, we had it planned for nearly a week, the timing was just good. Mr. I. and I went to see Star Trek while Violet hung out there and took my mom's mind off things. When we got back my mom had decided to dedicate part of her garden to her sister and plant flowers in it every year. My dad will make a nice wooden sign for her. We all went out and planted some Sweet William seeds (William just happens to be the name of my aunt's youngest grandson). In my mom's mind, that was the memorial service. Mr. I. can't get it through his thick skull that for her, that was the closure she needs. He keeps insisting she must go for a real funeral (which there won't likely be).

If it seems like this blog post is going in circles it is because I've been going in circles. Trying to explain this to him. He just won't get it. And frankly, it is starting to bug me that he won't accept that not everyone has the same outlook, ideals, and ways of doing things that he does. At this point I'm hoping we aren't contacted about a memorial in time to get there. I wouldn't mind going. But I don't want to referee my mom and my husband. (My dad won't take a strong side. He'll offer to go and drive mom there but he won't say if he wants to or thinks she should.)

Personally, it seems wrong to drop everything and go to a memorial service now. Why couldn't we have gotten our butts down there last summer when we could have spent time with her? That's when it would have made a bigger difference. If my cousin calls with the information in time for us to go, and indicates she'd like us to go, then I'll be packing my overnight bag and loading into the car. I'll just wait and see what happens in the next week.

And we all know how good I am at waiting and seeing! LOL