FIRST PARENTLESS OVERNIGHT

What a good day-and-a-half! Courtney and Paul had a good time at her friend's wedding reception and their fifth honeymoon. We got their wonderful daughter for the entire Saturday afternoon and night and Sunday morning and early afternoon. Her parents arrived at about 3:00pm and we went out for ice cream at a local parlor famous for its fare. And they even decided to stay an extra night!


My Saturday began with drizzle and a two-hour visit to Farm & Fleet as I needed to have an examination of my Kia for the wheel alignment I suspect it needed. I wanted to drop off the bags of lawn waste accumulating in my garage at the city waste site, but with the drizzle, that was not going to happen. Anyway, once I made the arrangements for the inspection, I was told it would take an hour as they use the first-come, first-served practice of customer service. With the kids ETA at around 10:30 am, this was no sweat.


So, an hour later, they told me they were able to service the car. I was prepared to make the service appointment for Friday as I was told that alignments could be scheduled only for weekdays and I have already arranged for Friday as a vacation day for our father's day with the Hunters'. Then I was informed that the alignment could be undertaken this very morning, I reaffirmed the price, and that of the new tire and inquired as to a time estimate for the service. I told them I did not want to spend all morning with them (it was now 9:20). I was assured that the service would take "an hour, tops", so I agreed to wait and have the alignment completed Saturday, even though time was a little tight.


Surprise, the service did actually take only an hour! The total cost, however, was a little higher than we planned, and I was apprehensive to inform my better half to this fact, but the service was completed and Friday was now entirely ours.


Just as I arrived home, the better half reminded me about two DVD's we rented the previous night, after a brief sigh regarding the fee. I returned them immediately to attempt missing the kids' arrival. The kids were very close to their ETA and the Tizu time began. The women attempted to force the child into her new swing (see previous post). It didn't "take".


The kids took off for their overnight and we served Tizu her lunch. We played in the yard with bubbles and sand and then nap (the child, too). While touring Farm & Fleet for two hours, I made mental notes of some items we may want in the future. I told Sherri about $2.50 sand. It was back to my new BFF for more sand. After nap, off to the park playground and to feed the ducks.


We kept her up until about 9:00 and I came downstairs, Tizu and I fell asleep about 10:00 or so. During the night we noticed that this 30" tall child accounted for 1/3 of our king-sized bed. My wife accounted for 75% of the remainder. I actually slept quite well. Little One slept until after 7:00 when she awoke stating "peanut butter".


We all roused, had breakfast and readied for church at 9:30. She was good in church. After church My 16-year-old niece Mallory was assigned the task of getting Tizu into her new swing and pushing her in it. Success! What a wonder she is with this second cousin of Tizu! Now we could hardly get her out of the swing. We made another trip to the park , but the playground proved to be slightly crowded and a bit too warm, so it was on to duck feeding then back up the hill for some fun in the sprinkler. Mama and Papa arrived around 3:00 and we went to a local landmark ice cream parlor. Tizu fell asleep on the way home. Papa went to bed with her while all the ladies went swimsuit shopping for our upcoming trip to our beautiful St. George Island. My task was to wake the sleepyheads by 5:30. Tizu fought waking almost as hard as she usually fights sleeping, but Papa got her to come around. After putting the Little Sweetheart to bed, the day ended with an Animal Planet program about killer catfish of the Amazon River. Great family viewing. By the way, all this frivolity was accomplished with the 2-1/2-year-old's pants remaining dry!

The next time we see them, the VA's will meet us at our usual Day's Inn in the dry Cullman, Alabama on the final leg of the car trip to St. George Island.

GRANDPA AGAIN!

Well, not quite yet. We learned that our daughter and son-in-law have submitted the official paperwork for their second Ethiopian adoption. We figured something was up when last weekend they disappeared for a few hours of adult errands with their passports. We chalked it up to having alone Tizita time. It is wonderful news and God has blessed us again. According to our offspring, the travel date may be two years from now, but, as is usually the case, time will pass more quickly than is perceptible now. After all, we have our precious Tizu to help pass that time.

I have never had two posts in one day, but this was a very special occasion and was not worthy to be included with the previous post.

YEAH! THE RECESSION IS OVER!

Yep, it's official, The One declared the recession over to a crowd of uber-rich Hollywood types, just like W declaring "mission accomplished" on a carrier in Iraq. (I don't think the main stream media will make this comparison) Boy, I feel better already. It must be that $13.00 every paycheck.

Oh, BTW, BHO is considering what the politicos call a Value Added Tax (VAT) to help to fund his health care plan. This amounts to a national sales tax. That would be a new added tax on EVERYONE, thereby breaking yet another campaign promise of not raising taxes on 95% of all Americans. Oh, another tax he's considering is one forwarded by none other than that evil John McCain that BHO attacked in the campaign. That would be a tax on private health care plans supplied by employers. McCain's plan actually would have reimbursed the taxed in order to buy private insurance. BHO is only planning to levee the tax, not reimburse anyone. Again, taxing only 5%? I don't think so!

On a much more pleasant note. Tizu arrives on Saturday for a parent-less overnight. We can't wait to use the swing. Sherri, now that her summer vacation has begun, has loaded up the larder with Tizu food and set the toys around. Only two weeks until we leave for Florida.

"GOODE" TV

I usually do not watch ABC network television (except for football) because their programming hasn't been to my liking as of late, but tonight I watched the premier of an animated show entitled "The Goode Family". I do not generally like animated shows aimed at a more mature audience, but this peeked my interest. It is a right-sided look at a suburban vegan, uber-PC family trying hard to "be good". For example, the wife/mother goes to the vegan store but forgets her reusable bags. She doesn't have enough cash on her to buy a new one for $10.00 (they're a buck at Pick 'n Save and Walmart), so she has a PC crisis when the checker asks "THE" question - "Paper or plastic". She frets for some time and eventually says "load me up" and puts out her hands. I liked it. But then again, I'm a global warming-denying, meat-eating, Christian, what do I know.

Speaking of "good", it is nice to know I am an owner of an American car company. So, by the way, are you, if you pay taxes. General Motors will be Government Motors by the end of the month, after $60,000,000.00 in bailout money. Our CEO, BHO, must have superior knowledge of the auto industry or else he wouldn't have brokered the upcoming deal, right? (oh wait, he hasn't run the pizza concession at a Kwik Trip, let alone a company of ANY size. Oops.) Do you feel richer?

QUITE A WEEKEND

This Memorial Day weekend started Saturday on the road to Two Rivers, Wisconsin avoiding major highways, as usual. Sherri and I like riding the Rawley Point Trial. This goes from Two Rivers to Point Beach State Park through the woods an a winding crushed gravel shady trail. Though, because of the sixty degree cloudy weather, we did not need the shade. It "dripped" near the end of the ride and Sherri wore a hooded windbreaker to fend off the drops. We made it back to our motel, The Lighthouse Inn, before any real damage to our hair (I wore a baseball cap, as usual [we don't wear helmets]).

We waited out the meager shower and went to downtown Manitowoc (five miles away) and scouted it out for the next day. We returned to a good meal and adult beverages at our motel and to bed pretty early.

Sunday arrived with sun and a visible breeze. As we exited the Lighthouse Inn for a quick walk to asses our clothing needs for the next ride, we were greeted by the wind off the Lake and the sub-sixty temperatures. At least this ride won't be a hot one. We took off to Manitowoc five miles south along the Lake Michigan shoreline on a paved wide open path, the opposite of yesterday's trail. About two miles into the ride, I removed the jacket I donned originally. The ride to Manitowoc went well enough. We had lunch at a nice little candy/ice cream shop and began our return trip to Two Rivers. This is when we felt the wind. It was formidable and most of the ride seemed uphill. Sherri revived her jacket look from the previous day, this time to fend off the wind.

For our first extended ride of the season, we ended up no worse for wear after about twenty-five miles, heavy legs and unusual sunburns. The return trip home Sunday was similar.

Monday was a sleep-in day. Sherri got a straightening bug in her. I decided to mow the lawn, even though she expressed interest in learning how to use the mower. Best laid plans... We then headed off to her classroom and to grocery shop. Good times. We also stopped at her 90-year-old uncle and aunts house. They are in the process of moving to the same apartment building as their retired son and his wife so that the elders can be aided by their children. Anyway, the process of clearing out over seventy years of accumulated "treasures" and culling what's needed is under way in earnest and we are grabbing what we want and what our kids may want. There is just so much that very little will be missed and considered a "can't do without".

Also, we decided, after debate, to buy a tree swing for our granddaughter. We decided to hang it from a pine tree limb. The nylon ropes included with the swing were, of course way too short to utilize the limb, so, it was back to uncle's over-stuffed garage to retrieve some ropes I noticed on a previous trip.

Notice that the swing is pink. It also cost $10.00 more than a comparable swing, that was sold out, only because THIS one was made in the U.S.A. and looked exactly like the blue one.

The day ended with steaks on the grill, a cigar and a beer. But I would like to say that at numerous times this weekend, my thoughts wandered to our men and women in uniform, past and present, who have served when most of us chose not to. It is their sacrifices that allow us the God-given comforts and liberty we enjoy. It is up to us to ensure that these liberties remain.

IF ONLY I DIDN'T NEED TO WORK

If I didn't need to work:

• I wouldn't need to drive nearly as much, and so,
• I wouldn't need a car that needs an oil change, a new tire, a front end alignment, an air filter...
• I wouldn't need to worry every day if I still have the job.
• I could see my wonderful granddaughter far more frequently (I'd still have a car, but wouldn't need to drive it as much, so...)
• I could spend more time with Sherri
• I might not have to worry as much about money
• I could spend more time admiring or flowers
• I could watch judge shows all day if I chose to
• I could sleep in
• I could take daytime walks or bike rides
• I could start some sort of decent hobby
• I could smoke my cigars a little more often (outside, of course)

This entry was inspired by the car service item. It just never seems to stop.

TIZU IS ONE!

In our family, this is Tizita's official first year with us. It was one year ago that we discovered who our granddaughter was going to be. We have not been disappointed. We loved her from the moment we saw her and will forever.

When I saw the this very first photo, a photo of a photo over the internet, it didn't actually hit me that this was to be our grandchild. Her Grandma showed me the photo of this beautiful black child and, as I recall, I said "wow, she's beautiful". That's when Sherri informed me that it was a photo of our granddaughter. I suddenly got very misty (I am a little now recalling it) to think that this was really going to happen. She is the love of our lives.

FIRST BIKE RIDE

Tonight was our first bike ride of the season. We estimated a ten-miler within the city limits. My legs feel really heavy. It is an attempt, though very futile, to get the cob webs out before the weekend trip to Manitowoc (look it up!). This is a little late in the season for the maiden voyage - due to the weather. It does feel good, however, to be able to undertake riding relatively easily as AARP members.

DYING AT MY DESK REDUX

I discovered I have even more good news about my old age. At the suggestion of my sister, I researched Parkinson's Disease as our dad is a sufferer. In that research I discovered that I have four of the six risk factors for it. Two are genetic, one is longevity and one is a lifestyle choice. The risk factors, in a nutshell are:
1. 50 years of age (average onset age is 60)
2. Family member a sufferer
3. Exposed to certain toxins
4. Non-smoker
5. History of polio
6. Male (50% more men than women suffer)

Polio and toxin exposure are not likely. My Dad was a smoker for over 50 years, yet he contracted the disease. In the research it was explained that even with the risk factors, PD is actually quite random. But four of six, ooo boy. Time will tell. I know, by the time I'm 60, The One will have discovered a cure for this (and all disease) because "yes he can!". He already solved the banking crisis and the car company crisis. His next goal IS health care by August, so there is hope for change.

SEVEN-FOOT ARMS

We had another grandparents' day in "The 'kosh" yesterday. I am still recuperating! Courtney and Paul needed some couple time, that is separate from parent time. Besides, the little one has been under the weather with croop and, of course, an ear infection. I guess she is now officially an American child. Moma and Papa needed some relief, so we, naturally, jumped at the chance. We had planned to visit anyway, but this was another opportunity to spend quality exclusive time.

Courtney and Paul needed to run important errands and get their vegetable garden set up for planting. They took off for parts unknown, we took off for one of Tizu's favorite places, Hobby Lobby, or as she says "lobb lobba". Once in the huge store we took a cart, mostly for her as a ride. And that she did, all but in the conventional manner. She began by holding on to the front end, then in the basket sitting and standing alternately. Intermittently she needed to get out and "walk" as she says. It is far more like a sprint and a chase. This, and her grabbing almost everything within her reach. This is only part of the title reference.

We went to lunch at a "safe" place, Culvers. She likes their grilled cheese and chocolate milk, so we assumed it a safe place to enjoy our noon repast. We found a booth and settled in. I brought a high chair and set the diaper bag on the side opposite of Sherri and Tizu, then I proceeded to the counter to place our order. After doing so, I grabbed the paper cups, filled them and brought them to the booth, placing them out of the two-year-old's reach. I forgot the plastic order number, so I had return to the counter to retrieve it, where the cute teenager gladly handed it to me. I then gathered the condiments and the first group of napkins. By now the little one was "enjoying" the fruit we brought from home, as well as the salt and pepper shakers. I spotted the booster seats by the soda machine and brought one of them to replace the high chair I had to return. I finally got to sit down.

Meanwhile, Grandma was attempting to get the princess to eat, instead of play with the food we brought. Our purchased food arrived. Tizu immediately grabbed at Grandma's burger, abandoning her own deeeelicious grilled cheese. After making a big deal about unwrapping the straw, Tizu grabbed the now opened bottle of chocolate milk, brought it quickly to her face and just as quickly began drinking. To our surprise - and delight - she did not spill a drop, but the potential was astoundingly anxiety-producing.

As we attempted eating, Tizu, merely about thirty inches tall, was able to reach all the way across our table and then to the table over the wall next to us in the opposite direction, all while us stuffing food into her face begging her to eat.

Actually, the little one ate half the sandwich, lots of the "salted" fruit (her experiment with the shakers) and provided us and the nearby observers with quite a show. It is difficult to chew and laugh simultaneously.

We met the parents at their chosen luncheon spot for a briefing, and returned home for a nap trial. On the way back to Cassa VanAuken, Tizu fell asleep in the car, but of course, awoke on the way upstairs. Grandma and I went to bed with Tizu, at her insistence. We dozed off while she remained wide awake.

Upon their return, Moma stopped up to observe the napping progress. She was, shall we say, less than impressed. I went downstairs to help Papa move dirt from the pickup bed to the garden plot while Moma attempted the nap. Grandma replaced her later, with no luck also. Projects were undertaken, the garden plot was completed and the day was concluded with a bath and pizza. Again, good times.

I recommend viewing Grandma's blog for pictures and diffrerent descriptions, perspective and photos. The link to it appears at the right. Thanks Grandma. Enjoy!

DYING AT MY DESK

I got confirmation today on my oft-stated "I can't afford to retire, I'm going to have to die at my desk". As of right now, social security, you know, the unconstitutional federal retirement payment plan devised during the FDR administration, is finally at the point where it is paying out more than it takes in. By 2017, a mere eight years from now, the fund will be entirely bankrupt. I'll be sixty-two. Do the math.

You see, this could have been dealt with during the Carter administration, but he was too busy developing "stagflation", gas lines and the U.S. Department of Education. Reagan attempted a fix, but, because he had a Democrat congress, zip. Bush the elder, Clinton and Bush the evil (as my liberal friends think of him) had similar success. Now that we have a savior in the Oval Office, a man who has super-human abilities, the intention, I suppose, as is his only plan of action, is to spend our way out of this problem also. Look what his spending has accomplished thus far.

Anyway, with the latest economic downturn, my IRA taking a 50% hit and a recovery really distant, I have little hope to retain my accustomed lifestyle, and you all know how extravagantly I presently live, especially while earning the same amount I did nine years ago. At least I have my health...so far.

STUFF I NEED TO GET OFF MY CHEST

1. The SWINE Flu - Yes, I said swine flu!. We call it "The Schvine" here. This is the latest in a series of moronic overblown "news". 40, 000 people die every year from all influenza in the U.S. alone, let alone world-wide, so what was the big deal here? Who knows. It's as bad as 24/7 coverage of a 6" snowfall - in Wisconsin!

2. Who should run the Republican Party - One would think that the Demokrats (I used the "k" intentionally) would be basking in the glow of the last election and attempt to bury the ailing GOP. But, no, they insist on running even the Republican party as well as all the banks and two of the three U.S. car companies. The GOP did exactly what the Dems wished in the last election and they (not "we" - I am NOT a Republican) lost. McCain is not a conservative. He's barely a moderate. So, for the Dems to tell the GOP to become more moderate to win elections is the very thing the GOP shot not do.

3. If the Dems are so confident in their policies why aren't they traveling the country bragging up the latest budget and telling us how great the economy is and how low the unemployment rate is and etc., instead of bashing radio talkers and bloggers who do not make policy?

4. Ryan Braun, the Milwaukee Brewers' left fielder is a stud! He's even got pitchers throwing at and hitting him in the head! How cool is that?

5. Brett Favre, STAY RETIRED ALREADY! After the 2007 season, you had all of Wisconsin and the NFL eating out of your huge hand after sixteen loyal seasons in Green Bay. You could have been elected Governor for life. Now, your just another egotistical, money-grubbing aging athlete. Enough is enough!

Man, that felt good!

A SECOND MOTHER'S DAY

Number 2 daughter and son-in-law, the Hunters, invited her her mother (and father, too) to Milwaukee for an overnight at Chez Hunter. The event began on Saturday afternoon with a trip to Milwaukee's infamous Brady Street. In the 1960's and '70's this was a big area for the burnouts and hippies. It had numerous resale shops, head shops, avant-garde art shops and restaurants, clothing stores, etc. Not much has changed, except the prices in some of the clothing stores and restaurants. It appears as though the hippies attained that which they fought against in the day, wealth.



As the browsing trip drew to a close, we proceeded to Elsa's for dinner. Elsa's is a yuppie-type place that has great ambiance (is this the THIRD French word or phase I've used in this one post?) and unusual sandwich offerings. I had my first non-meat sandwich that wasn't a cheese sandwich. The portabella mushroom sandwich with other veggies and some cheese, of course, was deeeelicious.

We then walked down the street to Kennedy's, a disco-resembling bar for drinks and conversation. It was quiet because the "trendy" do not arrive to well after 10:00, so we had the place to ourselves for a couple of hours. By 11:00 we departed for the Hunters'. It was in the plan to cab it from The Third Ward to the Hunters'. I have some advice: even if in an unknown city, take the time to learn the route (French reference #4) you plan to take if you plan to cab it. Our English-challenged cabbie either misunderstood or completely ignored our host as to our intended destination and passed four different exit routes from our starting point. We instructed the bewildered cabbie to turn "here, now" and between the Hunters giving directions, now more forcefully as it was evident the cabbie had now clue as to our destination and, then, of course, none as to any route to it. As we were traveling down Caesar Chavez Drive (formerly S. 16th Street) in the center of the barrio, it was decided to get us west soon. We finally got him there and we told him to get in the right lane, now, and prepare to pull over. As We approached Hunter Plaza, we had to, again, forcefully instruct Nimrod pull over here, NOW!

We always seem to have some sort of story to relate after these family weekends. Good times.

Sunday, thankfully has been uneventful and more or less back to normal. Here's hoping yours is as you've hoped.

SPRING HAS TRULY SPRUNG

This evening was the first lawn mowing of the season. I truly dislike this task. It's almost as fruitless as snow shoveling. The usual dandelion crop was, to my great pleasure, a dismal failure. I also treated them, so, hopefully, they will not reappear.

Sherri got her first round of flowers planted. I didn't even need to help. Her big beautiful mother's day dahlia lost all its petals after a rain last night. Luckily, there are some more buds on the plant.
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Last night there was a curious event on the usually quiet Highland Avenue. I was watching TV in the man cave when Marge descended the stairs relating a story about a big commotion occurring down the block. I turned off the TV and the computer and ascended the stairs to have a look for myself. As I peered out the kitchen window, I observed a fire engine, with the lights rotating, right in front of the house. Marge insisted on telling me, more than once, that it turned around in our driveway. Looking down the the street northward, I saw a police squad car also with full lights. I observed that a bronze Honda/Nissan/Toyota was nearly sideways and the left quarter panel into a neighbors pickup right behind the door. It appeared that the car's airbag had deployed.

Marge stated that she heard a loud bang outside just as the incident occurred. This I thought was one of the most curious things as Marge's auditory prowess leaves something to be desired.

As we watched, an unmarked car arrived and a young woman exited. I assumed she was a detective. At this point I was wondering where the driver of the car was. That's when a second squad appeared and this uniformed officer proceeded to search between and behind the houses, ours included, while shining her flashlight. This, finally, roused Sherri from her slumber. Her second thought was that she would have trouble returning to dreamland. Not the case.

Anyway, as I was preparing to mow the lawn, I spotted a pair of powder-blue shoes in the yard. They did not belong to anyone in this household. We assumed they belonged to whoever fled the scene of the accident. See, curious.

THE PROJECT REVEALED

Now that the weekend is over and all the excitement has subsided and the Mother's Day presents have been, well, presented, I am now allowed to reveal the "project" described earlier. It was a series of three casts made from a kit. The first one, the actual disaster, was to be a heart with Tizu's hand pressed into the center and "jewels" added around it. This was the "project" that set up too quickly and with which I was keeping Tizu busy decorating while Sherri prepared the other two molds for her little hand for Mama and Papa. These turned out much better than the first one. Here she is reenacting the mold process.

One is able to see by the photo that the weather is a very nice spring day. The grass is greening nicely and the sun decided to shine for us today. We have been blessed with weather and family.