Playing at the Park

I’ve pulled two babysitting gigs, recently, for my nephews. The first was a laid-back evening at their house, but the second was one I was determined to make an adventure. My sister has been on some job interviews, lately, and I watched the boys during one of them. The original plan was to just take a walk, but it was super hot. So, I gave the oldest boy (age almost 4) a choice and asked him if he’d like to go to the park or the library. His response?

“I wanna go see your birdie.”

Once that squawking bit of excitement was over, we settled on going to the local park so the boys could “swing and swide!” B said he wanted to have “a ben-ture!” which translates to “an adventure!”

There were #1 tree hugging adventures…

…and “swiding” adventures…

…a giant turtle adventure (isss haaaawwwt!)

…a “cwimbing” wall adventure…

…and lots of dirt!

By the way, a happy birthday to that last little guy. Tommorow, he turns 2!

Tuesday’s Lists

I feel like lists are ruling my life. I think that’s good, but even though this list mixes its paragraph forms and it’s bulleted forms, it’s really still a list. So, here it is.

For now, the sewing machine crisis has been averted. My cousin is letting me borrow hers and I’m going to pick it up, this evening, after a trip to the grocery and amidst all the crazies who think snow = impending horrific car accident.

This week has been busy and it’s only Tuesday! My sister and her family are in the process of moving into their house, here, in our hometown. I think that all members of her family are happy to be leaving my parents’ house and getting into spaces of their own. I think my parents are happy to have their house back, as well.

 

As for me, I’ve been a planning maniac, this week. The Fiancé and I decided on and booked a DJ through a cool website I found -  GigMasters.com. It’s kind of like Etsy alchemy, but for music. You list your event and details and area musicians respond with bids. So – we’re booked with On Your Mark, Set, Music. Now, to complete the song lists – both the DO NOT PLAY UNDER SEVERE PENALTY OF PAIN list and the Rock On and Play These list.

 

I asked my mom if my dad would like to pick out a Father/Daughter dance song for us or if he’d feel more comfortable choosing from a list. She said the latter, definitely, which I pretty much expected. Before our Saturday basketball and gumbo gathering at their house, I put together a list of potential songs, their lyrics and burned some .mp3 files to a disc for him to listen to and decide. Let me just say that there is a clear front-runner on the list, for me, but that I’ll be happy with any of them that he chooses. I even gave him different versions of some songs to choose from!

 

I asked my first cousins, once removed, if they’d like to be a part of the wedding. From both, I got an initial and resounding, “No.” However, their mother soon reassured me that they are teenagers and revel in being difficult and contrary. Upon further talking to them, I think they’ll do it – but ONLY if it’s “not embarrassing.” The boy will be our program table attendant. I know that’s a sucky job, but I didn’t feel like he’d want to read. I told him he’d get to look really handsome in a suit, that he could bring a date (with the proviso that it isn’t his best friend next-door neighbor, but a real, actual date – he’s 13), and that all he’d have to do is stand there, really. The girl, who really wanted to be a junior bridesmaid and has lots of wedding experience as a three-time flower girl, will be our reader. Since I’m 90% sure I’m making the bridesmaids’ dresses, I’ll make her one, too. I also told her she’d get to walk down the aisle ahead of the ladies – hey! Maybe I can wrangle her brother into escorting her. Ha, ha! Now…to find a non-embarrassing reading. Her mom says it is a must that she doesn’t have to read the word “lovers.” Hmmm…

 

I also assigned some of the To Do List to The Fiancé, much to his chagrin, apparently. He doesn’t want to be responsible for screwing anything up. However, I have total confidence in him and know that I’ll be happy with whatever choices he makes. His list, so far, reads:

• procure a ceremony sound system from a local music-geared rental shop that includes an amp/speaker with laptop or iPod hookup capabilities and a microphone

• procure a transportation service for limousine transportation of the wedding party to the ceremony and to the reception in additional to happy couple transportation to Cincinnati after the reception

• think about, decide on and coordinate the clothing of the male half of the bridal party

Still on the agenda for the coming week…

• Finish the gifts! 

• Wrap the gifts!

• Secure a potential rainy wedding day location.

• Get my ass to the gym to work off another 5 pounds, this week (which is really in preparation for a bridesmaid’s dress that doesn’t currently fit – not my own gown, which fits perfectly right now)

• Avoid the cornucopia of junk food at work to celebrate the Baby Jesus’ Birth (actual wording on the flyer announcing the potluck)

• Drink wine and eat cheese at the annual Wine & Cheese Party

• Go out with various female relatives to drink cocktails and gab

 

Lovely Fridays

Today has been lovely, so far, despite the fact that it started at 3:15, this morning. I hear scoffs of disbelief. ‘Tis true! Fridays are early days in our household; to be at work by 5 am, we must force ourselves out of bed at 3:15, take showers, feed dogs, and drive the 40 miles to our place of employment. Now, I am not required to be at work until 7:15. So, what did I do this morning? I took a nap in the car. That’s right. Out in the parking lot, my car is littered with a pillow and a blanket that I used to catch some more sleep before starting my day a second time. Before this happened, I sent The Boyfriend off to work. He sent me a dirty look.

Another reason that today is lovely is the fact that the local outdoor summer concert series begins, this evening. We plan to saddle up the horse leash the dog and walk down this evening with a soft-side cooler filled with adult beverages, pick our spot on the lawn, grab a pizza from the local pizzeria and enjoy the music and the company of our friends. Hopefully, the dog will behave, once again. We have been taking him on excursions to the softball field – church league softball, yay! – and he does quite well. He’s laid back and enjoys the attention from everyone. There are normally a lot of dogs at the concert series, and he is good about “making friends” with other dogs. He is scared of bigger dogs, though. On our walks, I reassure him with whispers of, “Some day, Guinness. Just you wait!”

The final loveliness of the day is knowing that almost every single member of my family will be together, tomorrow afternoon. We currently stretch around the globe, starting in Japan and finishing eastward in Boston. I think that we will only be missing two of the first cousins and their families.

Here’s an interesting Friday Fact about me – a rundown of the numbers in my family (can you tell that our origins are in Ireland and Catholocism?):

• two people (my grandparents) had
• nine surviving children (my mom + my aunts and uncles), who had
• sixteen grandchildren (me, my sister + our first-cousins), who have had
• thirteen great-grandchildren (my nephews + my first cousins, once removed)

Wow. That’s thirty-eight people that entered this world just because my grandfather preferred a Rose over a Daisy. I’m really excited that our family’s newest addition, baby Gabriel, will be around the family for the first time. We can be a bit overwhelming, at times. Let’s hope he likes us!

A Letter To Me

I’ve had some issues with Brad Paisley songs in the past, and I know I’m not alone. However, I keep hearing his “Letter to Me” on the radio, and I like it. Here are the lyrics and here is a video (because Brad Paisley is worth watching – he’s got a cute grin). If you haven’t heard it and are too ornery to read the lyrics, it’s about an adult who thinks about what he would write if he could send a letter back in time to himself at age 17. It’s got some sweet and funny lines, but the PS gets me every single time. I know it’s coming, and every single time I hear it I choke up.

Listening to it, yesterday, on the ride home made me wonder what I would like to tell myself at age 17. In 10 years, what kind of perspective have I gained? Here are some things:

• Stop stressing out so much about getting into college. You aren’t conceited about your grades, but you know they are good – you’re going to be valedictorian. If you can’t get into college, who can? Relax and enjoy it.
• Take your sister and her friends to lunch, more often. Remember how you always wanted seniors to take you? She does, too, and her friends will think you’re awesome. Be nice and do it.
• Have the guts to ask that policeman what he’s implying when he stops you for no good reason other than the person who is riding in the car with you. You know he’s implying something that is racist and just plain wrong. Call him on it. What’s he going to arrest you for? Stand up for yourself and stand up for your boyfriend.
• Pay attention to that Valentine candygram you get. It will be important to you, later.
• Talk to your dad. You’re right about it, but you should remember that it’s just as hard for him as it is for you.
• You aren’t as fat or as ugly or as dorky as you think you are. Trust me on this.
• My PS would be exactly the same as Mr. Paisley’s, take out “Rita” and insert “Carol.”

What would you write to your 17-year old self?

Whirlwind Weekend

The weekend past was one of those where I feel like I never got to just sit down and relax. That’s not to say it wasn’t a lot of fun, but still…you know what I mean?

After work on Friday, The Boyfriend and I cleaned and cleaned, and then we cleaned some more. I went to the grocery and got the makings for the Fabulous Haw-Asian Dinner I was serving on Saturday. I did all the prep for that, showered, and fell into bed, immediately asleep, around 10 o’clock. I can’t even recall what I ate for dinner that night. Oh, yes. Frozen pizza.

Saturday was a wake-up-bright-and-early-with-anticipation day. We were going kayaking with some coworkers, and it was to be their first time on the water. Preparing two people for a day-long trip on the water is surprisingly more complicated than it sounds. I wonder if we take too much stuff with us. After finishing the prep for dinner, I helped The Boyfriend pack all of our gear and load the boats into the truck. Admittedly, he did a whole lot more of the work than I did.

On the trip, I got to test out some new gear:

• A new gel seat, since my boat only has a plastic molded one. Thumbs up on the Skwoosh.
• A new first aid kit. The last one was bought for camping at the Super Huge Discount Superstore of Evil and turned out to not be waterproof. This one is in a dry bag and will hopefully stand the test of my many capsizes. We didn’t need the first aid kit, which is a mystery but a good one.
• A new waterproof (really, I mean it this time) bag for important things like my ID, my phone, and The Boyfriend’s camera (which we still double-bagged because we weren’t trusting of the waterproof claim). It really is waterproof. That bag rocks.
• A locking carabiner, which was totally cool and useful for securing the bag mentioned above. I was worried that a regular carabiner might come undone, somehow and my important good s would be lost. I’m paranoid about losing my phone and afraid that The Boyfriend would seriously maim me for losing his camera, so I liked the locking aspect of this carabiner.
• A paddle leash that proved to be worth the $16 price that I thought was pretty steep. Couldn’t I just make this thing? Probably not. It features a hook-and-eye strap on each end of a coiled length of cord. One strap attaches to your paddle, the other to your wrist or boat. I didn’t like it attached to my wrist, so I strapped it to my boat, and now, I don’t have to worry about a floating-off paddle.
• A new paddle. It rocks my old paddle out of the water. The paddles are scooped, which allows the paddler to move more water with the same stroke. My old paddle sported flat ends and I wasn’t a fan. Good thing that one was free. Now, we have a spare paddle.
• A Camelbak water bottle. PBA-free. I’m glad to find that out via the Camelbak website. I worried about the #7 recycle symbol because it was the same as the Nalgene bottles, which aren’t PBA-free. It’s easier to drink from than a Nalgene (since you don’t have to unscrew the lid). I also like the harder carrying loop it sports.
• S-shaped, double opening carabiner. This was an awesome way to attach the water bottle to my seat gusset. I struggle with opening carabiners on the fly because I’m just challenged, that way. This one had two openings, so I could always get it quickly for a sip.

Good, Lord. That’s a lot of new gear. New for next week will be a pair of shorts that tries much harder to stay dry. Next challenge? Keeping water out of the bottom of my boat. Also (and how excited am I about this?) – new shoes! The water shoes I bought were cheapies. Frankly, they sucked. Yeah, they were fine to get wet, but they provided no cushion or structure against walking on the rocks and shore. I also blame them for the busted knee I got when I slipped on a rock. The new ones are fancy schmancy L.L. Beans and are a LOT like the expensive Keen’s I covet.

Ok, back on track with the weekend. After we kayaked about 12 miles, everyone headed back to be annoyed by our dogs, drink a couple of beers, and eat dinner. All parties were nearly falling asleep in their salads. As soon as our guests left and showers were taken, we were sleeping like babies.

The Boyfriend made pancakes, at my request, on Sunday morning. Even though I had to go to the store twice, dressed like a bum, under threat of severe weather, they were worth it. His pancakes are awesome. I went to my mom’s house to spend the day with her. She liked the gift, I think. We drove around the countryside, trying to find the Wildlife Sanctuary, but it was raining by the time we got there. No bird watching for us. Maybe another day. We did go watch some fish, though. We watched it go from the plates to our mouths, held by chopsticks. Sushi, baby! We ate until we were pleasantly stuffed, one more piece and we’d have been miserable. Then, it was back to her house to organize her scrapbooking equipment. She has a room that’s dedicated to that and toys. She’s got a TON of stuff. We didn’t make much headway, but we made some and sort of have a plan for the future. Dinner with the ‘rents and The Boyfriend rounded out the weekend.

This morning, back to the grind. I need another day of weekend!