Whine? Me? Naaaaaa!

Who says whiners get ignored? For anyone who read my entry for September 18th you know that I had the most pitiful birthday non celebration in history. Come on folks...when emptying the cat box is the HIGH point of your birthday that is one sad party. Sid's birthday was the 25th and Debi told all of us not to say a word so he would think we had all forgotten but she was having a surprise party for him on Saturday night. WELL...then she told Sid she was having a surprise party for me on Saturday night but again, never said a word to him about his birthday. Bottom line is Sid thought the party was for me and I thought it was for him. HEY...I just realized Debi had me make baked beans for my own party! It was a wonderful night. First cool evening of the season, sitting on the deck with my favorite people, good food and good drinks. Yep, 57 is starting to look pretty darn good after all.

Gadgets...gotta gettem!

I have a secret. I am a closet gadget freak. Well, it's not as big a secret as it used to be before I bought the Pasta Express and made the mistake of telling my so called who shall remain nameless FRIENDS Debi, Tom, John, Steven, Sid, Karl and Kim. They have razzed me for over a year about my Pasta Express. I like it, I use it and I think it's pretty darn handy especially for one person. Dave was by far a bigger gadget nut than I am and before he passed away it was easy for me to hide my few purchases among his numerous AS SEEN ON TV's. Now that it's just Ginglebelle, Morty and I living here (and neither one of them have a credit card, yet) it's a little more difficult to explain my gadgets to my friends and family. In 1992 Dave was in the hospital for four months with acute pancreatitis. One of the medications he was taking had the side effect of making him high as a kite and the doctor made a real point of telling me not to let Dave make any important financial decisions, gamble or shop. OK, I am not the brightest bulb in the box and I did appreciate the warning but come on....the man was in a hospital bed, over 100 miles from home and didn't have his wallet. Well, ha ha...the joke was on me. Apparently, when I wasn't there Dave enjoyed watching the Home Shopping Network and he would call in and order ANYTHING that happened to catch his attention. He had an account with them (duh...HSN is the mother ship for all gadgets) and as long as you gave them your preselected security code you could order merchandise and they would charge it to your credit card on file. The hospital was two hours from our home so I was staying in the hospital guest quarters and only going home once a week to check the mail and do laundry. WELL...imagine my surprise when I pulled into our driveway and the first thing I see are boxes upon boxes stacked from floor to ceiling on our front porch. We had a food dehydrater, towels, comforter, Bedazzler, portable stepper, pillows, Little Giant stepladder, vegetable AND clothes steamer, car wax, boots, winter coat, purses, pots & pans, 9 by 12 area rug, 2 juicers AND 3 (THREE!) Wonder Mops. There were other items but these are the only ones I can remember. After I finished crying I called the Home Shopping Network and had a freeze placed on the account and arranged to return everything. By the time I shared this story with a few friends and drove back to Indianapolis I found the humor in the situation and didn't yank Dave's phone out of the wall and strangle him with the cord. OH...have you seen the chopper advertised on TV that will dice a whole onion with one push? Ooooh, I would SOOO LOVE one of those!

How much lower can I sink?

Dr. Jordan told me I can't lift anything over 5 pounds. Riiiiight! Oh I think it is a great idea...if you ARE QUEEN ELIZABETH OR LEONA HELMSLEY AND HAVE A FULL TIME STAFF TO WAIT ON YOU HAND AND FOOT! Heck, I have made meat loafs that weigh more than 5 pounds. I am already using my "old lady" grocery cart to get things from the car to the condo and the trash from the condo to the compactor. Pushing that little cart around is a humbling experience. I hate using that thing but I have been faithful about using the cart along with the elevator and have not carried anything heavier than a cotton ball up the steps. Well Polly & Eddie, you know I have always wanted a monkey but I am thinking maybe I should upgrade to a gorilla. They are bigger, can do more chores and...OH! OH! OH! You can get us matching outfits for Christmas!

Tastes Just Like Chicken

We had 270 for dinner last night so we were up to our elbows in age spots and bald heads. Most of our guests are very nice and a delight to be around but there are always a few who take great pleasure in being cantankerous. One gentleman was shuffling toward the banquet room with a big frown on his face and mumbled, "I sure as hell hope we aren't having chicken again." I put my hand on his shoulder and whispered, "We TELL you it's chicken but this aquarium is very expensive to maintain. Sooo, do you REALLY think we just throw the dead stuff out?" His wife said that was the first time he had laughed since they left home.
I am so mad at myself. I was doing so well and then screwed up my shoulder again...royally and for no reason! It's not like I was someplace where there wasn't anyone around to help me, geesh what an idiot. Dr. Jordan wants to see me again tomorrow morning and based on his findings we will come up with plan B.

World Peace

I did it goooood. My arm and shoulder hurt like a big dog and from now on I am not carrying anything heavier than a $100 bill. The arm sling and cervical collar are not helping and I have an appointment with Dr. Jordan later this week. I hope we can adjust some medications and get back to where I was before I went and got all stooopid. If I am standing or sitting the only way the pain goes away is if I put my left hand behind my head with my elbow straight out. Hmmm, If I sling my right hand behind me and wear a skimpy red dress, I bet I would look just like this beauty queen!

I LOVE Dancing With The Stars

Dancing With The Stars is one of the few current TV programs that I watch. I still prefer Seinfeld, Everybody Loves Raymond, Friends or Sex In The City over most new programming. You know me, always on the cutting edge of what is new in the entertainment world. Yeah right, not so much. Maybe I just want to make sure the show is truly a hit before I get interested. Don't really know why I find ballroom dancing so entertaining but according the ratings I am not alone. Everyone always looks so graceful and athletic and I am so clumsy and ummm, not so athletic. I did something dumb dumb dumb this morning. I pulled into the service yard to unload the rest of the "stuff" we used at the convention center and instead of getting help I unloaded it myself. So far so good, sure hope it stays that way but I have got to start asking for help. I HATE asking for help.

Quiet Day

I hate to say it was too quiet today BUT I'm ready to go back to work. That is just, well...sad and so very wrong! I rolled out of bed at the crack of 9:30 and watched/listened to When Harry Met Sally while I read the paper. That is one of my favorite movies and I've probably seen it 50 times. Poor Morty met Mr. Stove again this morning. I was making an egg sandwich and had just moved the skillet off of the hot burner when Morty decided to take a shortcut across the stove to get a drink out of Little Frisky's fish bowl. Did you know cats can dance? Poor little guy, he looked so shocked and gave me a very hurt look like I had done it on purpose. I held his paw under cold water (and have the scars to prove it) and so far his foot didn't blister. He let me put Neosporin on his paw and if he licked it off he had the decency to wait until I wasn't looking.

Party Time!

I'm not sure 6 people qualify for a "party" title but it always feels like a party when this group gets together. Our old friend Beverly came to the beach with her daughter Marley and grandson Thomas. Sharon and Allyson were out of town and couldn't join us but Mindy, Janie, Judy and I had a great time with Bev and Marley. OK, Thomas too but he is only 1 and not much of a conversationalist but what a darling little boy! Before the evening was over Thomas had sat on every lap and passed out kisses to everyone in the room especially Morty. Of course, as usual, I made way too much food. We had queso & chips, cold boiled shrimp, chicken with a oriental orange glaze, sausage rolls, sliced apples and carmel dip, cheese, two kinds of cake and eclairs. I also made some GREAT Margarita's. Some of us had more than others. Mindy had to leave early but the rest of us sat around laughing and catching up until Midnight which is LATE for us old people. The Margarita recipe is below and now I have to go clean out my closet as the doors are starting to buckle.

The BEST Margarita's in the Whole World!

1 - 12 oz frozen Limeade (undiluted)

1 - 12 oz Seven-Up

1 - 12 oz Corona Beer

12 oz of Tequila

Mix the above ingredients and place pitcher in the freezer to keep cold. Rub each glass rim with a sliced lime, dip rim in salt and serve over crushed ice. Don't make these in the blender unless you plan to paint the kitchen before you go to bed.

Dang...I didn't make much progress on the closet before it was time to go over to Alice's house for dinner. Kim drove this evening so we got to check out her new Mustang and even put the top down, pretty neat! Tom, John & Jen were also there and we had a wonderful dinner as well as a nice visit. John and Jen brought a pitcher of Margaritas and THIS TIME I stuck to water. If only I had been as wise last night.

I am SO HOT!

Unfortunately I don't mean a Paris Hilton type of hot. Summer has dug in her heels and is refusing to leave SC. The temperatures and humidity have been in the 90's so I am spritzing to high heaven. I really don't mind high temperatures too much but this humidity just zaps every fragment of my well documented low energy level.
TommyB and I drew the short straw and won the privilege of manning our booth at a Chamber of Commerce function last night. Our portion ended at 9 so when 9 finally rolled around we were packed up and on the way home by 9:03. Whew, my feet were tired and my face hurt from smiling. We were both glad to get out of there.
Must be time to go to bed as Morty and Ginglebelle are looking at their watches and tapping their feet. Nitey nite all.

911!! Fashion Police Emergency!!

With my job I have the pleasure of meeting lots of interesting people from different walks of life. I met a lady this afternoon who was wearing leopard print capri's, a flowered shirt and stiletto patent leather heels. Her hair was teased clear to Jesus plus the color was unlike anything I've ever seen on a human being. I am willing to bet you any amount of money it glows in the dark. Sort of a cross between Bozo The Clown orange, Lucille Ball red and a touch of Papa Smurf blue thrown in there just for fun. It was THIS close to being purple. Fingernails, oh my goodness..the fingernails. They were so long they curled over the ends of her fingers like talons. I passed her a pen and her fingernails clicked like castanets. OH OH OH...I just realized who she looks like! Do you remember the Sonny & Cher show? Remember when Cher played the lady who worked in the laundromat, Laverne? I think I met Laverne today!

Birthdays Have Lost Their Thrill

By the time you turn 57 the whole birthday celebration has gotten rather ho hum, however, I have to say I have had birthdays that were more fun than this one. We are very busy at work (didn't help that I was out of the office for 2 weeks) and several of my friends are on vacation. Soooo....the big thrill for my birthday was emptying the cat box. Well...I didn't JUST empty the cat box, I also ran the vacuum, dusted AND did three loads of laundry. Whoooo hooooo! Party down Dude!

September 17... or the day Morty was eaten by a Bi-Lo bag.

Everybody loves Morty. His legs are 2 inches long, he weighs 4.5 pounds, stands just under 6 inches tall but he is the same length as a regular cat. Picture a hairy miniature Dachshund. The Munchkin breed is known for their curiosity and playfulness and Morty certainly fits that description. Poor Ginglebelle has to sleep with her tail tucked or risk having Morty sink his teeth into her twitching appendage. I can't make a move without Morty at my heels checking to see if I am going to do something fun. Fun for Morty can be anything from watching the water swirl in the toilet bowl to smacking Little Frisky on the head just to watch him bob up and down in his fish tank. Last week Morty learned how to unroll toilet paper and when I came home from work it looked like it had snowed in the bathroom. When I put away the groceries I usually save a few plastic bags and use them to line the bathroom trash cans. Well....I had a "bag stash" on the counter to take back for my bathroom and Morty found them when he jumped up to torment/drink out of Little Frisky's bowl. Morty batted the bags around for a few minutes, enjoying the noise they made and then all hell broke loose. Somehow he got his head stuck in one of the bag handles. Morty leaped off the counter with the bags attached to his head and flapping in the breeze. He then ran to my bedroom, made a U turn, came back through the living room and skidded down the tile floor hall. It was at this point that he saw himself and the bags in the mirrored door and...FREAKED. Next he roared into the guest room, ran under the dust ruffle, got behind the bed and somehow found his way into the under bed storage area. The grand finale was when he shot out of the storage area door at the foot of the bed sans his plastic bags. This whole episode lasted less than 30 seconds. Morty spent the rest of the evening sitting on my lap, very wide eyed and looking over his shoulder...just waiting for those bags to come out from under the bed and get him. I can't say this for a fact but I SWEAR I heard Ginglebelle laugh out loud.

We've come a long way...baby.

In today's world you need an engineering degree from MIT to properly install a child's safety seat. THEN you have to figure out how to remove the child from the clutches of the straps and clips while trying not to smack them with (I'm very sorry Cameron, it was an accident and the scar barely shows) the SAFETY bar. When my children were small they had car seats but there was nothing safe about them. Yesteryear's car seats were not designed to keep anyone safe (the toy metal steering wheel covered in lead paint was the first clue) but rather to keep the child entertained. In addition to the lead paint steering wheel there was always at least one toy on a spring that was guaranteed to pinch a finger. Well, my kids were not taken in by this poor attempt at entertainment and much preferred a lap, standing behind the driver (so they could twirl my hair) or even hanging their head out the window with our dog, Tiger. I know kids are much safer in car seats and now I always wear my seat belt but I gotta tell ya...I miss the days of being invincible.

Babies, Babies and more Babies

When Victoria Ann was born, almost 14 years ago, Grandpa, Aunt Eddie and I were so excited. We TELL Tory she had blonde hair but truth be told she was bald. Tory had deep blue eyes, porcelain skin and she was beautiful. That's a good thing because she was a HORRIBLE baby. She cried when she was happy or sad...heck, if her eyes were open she was crying. We were all so excited to have a baby that even with Tory's less than perfect disposition we still argued over who got to babysit. The way Polly hung onto that child we used to wonder if the doctor had forgotten to cut the umbilical cord. We didn't get to babysit often but when we did, Eddie, Grandpa and I spoiled that baby rotten. Then little Miss Katelyn Allison came along and was a reverse negative of Tory. Katy had a whole head of black hair (stood up like duck fluff) big brown eyes and wonder of wonders...she didn't scream! Katy was one of those babies everyone loves to snuggle. So sweet and cuddly. By the time Katy entered the picture Tory had developed into a delightful toddler and all was well for the next two years. Then it happened...(cue the music from JAWS) Sarah Elizabeth. Sarah is now ten years old and the kindest, most compassionate and loving child in our family. However, when she was a toddler she was mean as a snake. Sarah bit, pinched, screamed, slapped and spit. None of us would have been surprised if her head spun around while she spewed green pea soup from every orifice just like Linda Blair in the Exorcist. After Sarah's arrival Polly & Tony decided to regroup and the "new baby every two years plan" was adjusted. Sarah was almost six when Matthew Curtis made his appearance. I think it took that many years for Polly and Tony to get their courage up and give this whole baby thing another try. Matthew was a very good baby but we don't know if that was just his nature or because he has three older sisters who adore him and have catered to his every wish for the past four years. Either way Matthew is definitely a keeper. Six years ago Avery Connell was born to Mike and Eddie. Avery has been an individual from day one. She has her own opinion about how things should be done (99% of the time she is right) and is not shy about sharing her opinions. Avery is one of the most beautiful children I have ever seen and is the mirror image of her mother. Eddie and Avery even lost the same front tooth at the same age. At age 18 months Eddie fell and hit her mouth on the coffee table and Avery fell face first on her step stool so their pictures are virtually impossible to tell apart. Eddie definitely has a "Mini-me". Cameron David is four years old and looks like a Botticelli angel. Beautiful, thick, curly blonde hair, dimples and so sweet. Cameron looks as much like Mike as Avery does Eddie. Avery was not convinced she REALLY needed a baby brother and there have been a few rough patches....like the time when Cameron was three months old and Avery fed him dirt. However, Cameron is taller and outweighs his older sister so the playing field has been somewhat leveled. Six is a nice even number and I'm pretty sure we are out of the baby business but with Polly & Tony you never really know.

Clowns

I have never understood why people think clowns are funny. Clowns are sneaky, loud, pushy and make unfortunate wardrobe choices. Even as a child, clowns gave me the heebie jeebies. I was about 5 years old when my parents took me to the circus for the first time and we had front row seats. I'm sure they thought front row seats would be any childs dream...oh yeah, some dream. All evening loud men wearing scary makeup were hitting each other with huge rubber hammers, throwing buckets of confetti and teasing the monkeys...inches from my face. OK, when they pulled the fat clowns pants down and he was wearing ruffled polka dot underwear, now that was funny. Hmmm, do you think that is when I discovered my love of anything polka dot? NOOOOO! That revelation is scarier than that Stephen King clown who lived in the storm sewer!

My toenail is gone.

I left it at work under the big heavy door leading to the service yard and I also said a very bad word. Loudly. Twice. So, that leaves me with 7 toenails...oh I have a total of ten toes with five on each foot but only four of the five have a nail. My little toes are strictly ornamental and look a bit like gnome hats. When I polish my toenails I always put a dab of color on my little toes where the nail should be but it's a token gesture. Speaking of toes reminds me of one of my worst faux paus. There are so many to choose from I don't know if I could ever narrow it down to THE WORST but this incident is a definite finalist. One of my acquaintances had a baby and I bought a gift and nice card. I really didn't know this person well but we did interact daily at work so I wanted to do something to welcome the new baby. When I stopped at the hospital the new mom was sleeping so I quietly left the gift and card in her room and came home. A couple of weeks later I was having lunch with a mutual friend and asked about the new baby. "Oh she is doing just fine! Came through the surgery like a little trooper and there won't even be any scarring!" Surgery? The baby had surgery? Well yes, it seems the new baby was born with 6 fingers on each hand as well as 6 toes on each foot. I have since learned extra digits are not all that uncommon and easily corrected BUT the card I purchased was suddenly in very poor taste. It contained a lovely poem starting out with 10 little fingers and 10 little toes. Geesh....don't you think someone would have mentioned the child had 12 fingers and 12 toes??? Even my family would have found that noteworthy!

I am an old man magnet.

Ah yes....that intoxicating potpourri of denture cream, Ben Gay and Aqua Velva...must be Fall motor coach season! We had our first large motor coach group this evening and everything went very well...ya just never know. Some people come in with the attitude of "you can't MAKE me have a good time" and other folks are just happy to be out and about. This happened to be a very pleasant group and easy to work with which probably means the next group will be total butts. Speaking of butts....here is tonights funny story. I truly am an old man magnet. If there is an old man within 20 miles he will track me down. The bus driver (approximately 107 yrs old) and I were leading the group down the ramp to the banquet room. I didn't think anything about him holding my hand as we were walking because after all....I know that I am an old man magnet. However, I was NOT expecting him to pinch me on my ample behind as we turned the corner by the Anthia tank. I jumped about 3 feet into the air and turned 75 shades of red. Well, of course he thought that was just the funniest thing ever and I'm sure the other 80 people following us were equally amused. In about 5 years I will probably find this funny. Right now.....not so much.

The Elusive Ruff Grouse

Ruff Grouse ...
Oh man, I was wrong AGAIN! It's not a ruffled grouse...it's a RUFF GROUSE! Wow, who knew? These pictures are for Tom, I figured if he knows what a ruff grouse looks like he stands a better chance of bringing one home.

NOT... A Ruff Grouse

CORRECTION!

The reason I have not seen Brumer with a dead quail, a picture of a dead quail or a dead quail feather is because he's not hunting quail. He is hunting ruffled grouse! OK...I have not seen a dead ruffled (or unruffled) grouse, picture of a dead ruffled (or unruffled) grouse or a ruffled (or unruffled) grouse feather. So I guess my point is whether it be quail or ruffled grouse....there is definitely a whole lotta tree shootin' going on in Michigan during the month of October. Thank you Harry for this clarification and I'm SURE Tom will be so pleased to know that when he is being discussed I take great pride in being accurate. Pssssst....Harry, if you need anything to tease Tom about during THE GREAT TREE SHOOTING TESTOSTERONE AND POUNDING OF THE CHEST FESTIVAL, just give me a call. I'm sure all of his friends here at work can come up with a wealth of material.

OH BOY....I am so dead.

Slept in my VERY OWN bed!

What a strenuous day. I made an egg sandwich, took two naps (yes, TWO) and ALMOST sorted the mail. I started to go through the two week stack that was waiting for me on the counter and had an "Aunt June" flashback. The mail will have to wait until tomorrow evening.

I'm leaving on a jet plane..don't know when I'll be back again

Actually I would like to be back for the Bridge Festival but nooooo, that's the week Brumer goes to Michigan to shoot at trees. According to Brumer they go quail hunting but I have yet to see a dead quail, a picture of a dead quail or even a quail feather. So I have come to the conclusion there is a whole lotta tree shootin' goin' on that week in Michigan. Just because I've been away from work more this year than I've been at work HE thinks HE needs a vacation. What a whiner.
Anny and Lynn got me to the airport in record time this morning and in spite of the rain and fog, flights were on time. When I arrived in Charlotte the gate area for the Myrtle Beach departure was packed to the gills with about 75 angry people from Pittsburgh whose flight had arrived late and caused them to miss their connection. Just as I was walking up to the gate US Air asked for volunteers to take a later flight in exchange for a free round trip ticket to anyplace US Air flies. I knocked down two old ladies (much older than you, Sammy), leaped over a seeing eye dog and managed to be second in line. So instead of getting home at 2:30 PM it was 5:30 PM BUT I now have a free ticket! Heck, I'll take that deal any day of the week.
TommyB picked me up at the airport and we stopped for dinner at Angelos. Great steaks and Tom filled me in on all the mini-dramas at work from the past two weeks. Better than any TV soap opera!

Tenderloin sandwiches...yum!

Grilled and breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches are staples on just about any menu in the Midwest but if you are ever around during butchering time there is nothing in this world as good as a fresh grilled pork tenderloin. OK, the mountain oysters are good too but it helps if you don't know what they are until you have finished your meal. OH...and fresh side meat fried real crispy, delicious. No wonder so many people in the Midwest have heart attacks. I think my left arm went numb just thinking about those goodies!

Free Time

It has been a long time since I have had two days with absolutely nothing that I HAD to do. Larry and Anny have decided that I am not allowed to answer the phone anymore. Oh, I'm very polite to the people calling and take all the information but I seem to have a problem relaying the messages to Larry and Anny. I've only done that three times (so far) and I have no idea why they are getting so pissy. Larry and I were out and about today (separate vehicles) and pulled back in the driveway at the same time. We both unloaded Wal-Mart bags, hmmm. When we got to the kitchen we discovered that we were shopping at the same time at the same store and pretty much bought the same merchandise. If you live in Lafayette and need Diet Coke I recommend you go ANYPLACE but Wal-Mart to make your purchase as Larry and I cleaned them out. We now have enough Diet Coke until March of 2008.

Food..FOOD and MORE FOOD

Ever wonder why almost all social events revolve around food? I'm not complaining (most of the time) but I have reached my limit. Wow..who knew? I met two friends (Harvey & Sammy) for lunch in Crawfordsville and had a lovely time in addition to a much larger lunch than I am accustomed to eating AND THEN Anny and I drove back to Crawfordsville to meet friends (Barb, Bev & Sharon) for dinner. If I don't get home soon the next time you see me I will be on The Jerry Springer Show, pigtails down to my waist and wearing bib overalls while eight hefty firemen carry me out of the house on a door. Richard Simmons (wearing his little tank top and short shorts) will be trotting along beside me shouting, "Jan, you are not alone and TOGETHER we can get you back under 500 pounds !"

When did I become the oldest person in the room?

Some days I feel so old I am willing to bet that with very little effort, I could fart dust. I used to be able to go 100 mph everyday and half the night but now I need a nap after walking to the mailbox. The last few years I have started basing my RSVP's on whether I will be able to arrive at home in time to watch Everybody Loves Raymond before my pre-bed recliner nap. 99.9% of the time a nap sounds more appealing than any social opportunities and I really don't think it's lack of "quality social events" but rather my increased NEED for sleep. During my 20's, 30's and well into my 40's the idea of taking a nap during the day was for people who were ill or the parents of toddlers. I really think someone should warn all the under 30's...so consider yourself warned. My naps make Rumplestillskin look like an amateur.

Road Trip

Boy howdy, do Anny and I know how to have fun or WHAT??! We hit the road at 9:30 this morning and visited three (THREE!) cemeteries. On one gravel road we were so far back in the woods I swear they had to pipe in sunshine. We did find everyplace we were looking for AND found our way back home so it was a good day. We spent an hour or so in Kingman and drove by our old haunts...at least the ones that are still there. We hardly know anyone who lives there anymore and it doesn't seem very long ago when we could tell you who lived in every house and their dogs name. We did stop at the Oasis and enjoyed a cold drink and twist cone. It wasn't hot fudge sundae's at Cliff & Cleo's drug store but it hit the spot. Anny's mom and dad's place is still there but my grandparents house has been torn down. I would love to have one of the snowball bushes that grandma and I planted when I was 6 years old but it seemed a bit rude to knock on someones front door with a shovel in my hand. OK....the rude part didn't bother us but the lack of a shovel was an issue. Maybe next time.

A Catch-up Day

Anny made her wonderful carmel, nut pull apart rolls this morning and once she had Larry and I in a sugar induced stupor she lured us out to the garage to help empty the attic for her garage sale. I learned something while we were working in the attic. Aunt June THOUGHT she had people living in her attic but Anny actually had enough "stuff" in her attic to allow a family of 4 to live very comfortably for several years....but no more. The attic is now pristine. Larry and I are a wreck but that's another story.
Bev (another childhood friend) came by to visit this afternoon and we had the best time. Laughed, told old stories and shared pictures of children and grandchildren..all of whom are brilliant and extremely good looking. Wow! What are the chances of all three of us having such gifted offspring?!
Larry, Anny and I met Barb, Rich, Morgan and Jamie at the Beef House for dinner. That was my second time for the Beef House in less than a week...oh darn. They have the best homemade yeast rolls you have ever put in your mouth. OK, their steaks are amazing too but we went after those rolls like savages. Richard's brother, Rusty, also passed away this week so our dinner was rather subdued. We were all happy to see each other but it was not our usual party atmosphere. Guess two funerals in one week will do that to ya.

People Crackers

I planned to go back to Aunt June's on Tuesday when Anny was at work to finish the apartment but Anny insisted we go this morning. Oh OK, fine...took us less than an hour and it is DONE! Thank you Anny! Have to admit it feels pretty darn good to have that part over with. I still have to meet with the attorney, pay the bills and complete a mound of paperwork but the worst part is over.
I have to tell you what Karl and Lou did to me while we were cleaning out. They had been emptying the closet in the bedroom and I was packing china in the living room when the two of them came down the hall carrying a bag of People Crackers. For those of you who don't have a pet, People Crackers are dog treats. They found the bag sitting beside the bed...opened. Uhhh, Aunt June does not own a dog. OH MY GOD...Aunt June has been sending so much money to Kreskin and Marie Duvall she has been eating dog food! Why haven't I kept better track of her! What kind of person am I to let this happen! I am lower than low! Scum! So, I spent the next two hours stewing over how I have let Aunt June down and she had been reduced to eating dog food. The three of us had taken a load of trash down to the dumpster and stopped by the apartment office to fill Janet (complex manager) in on how we were progressing. I asked Janet if Aunt June had paid her rent on time, had she seen Aunt June bringing in groceries, had Aunt June lost weight and then I begin the story of the People Crackers. Behind me I hear Lou and Karl giggling and I'm thinking what is WRONG with these people! Well, the truth finally came out but only because they hadn't expected me to say something to anyone else. Lou and Karl had stopped at Pet Smart the night before on the way home from dinner, bought the bag of People Crackers and planted them beside Aunt June's bed for me to find. These are my relatives folks, explains a lot about me, doesn't it?