We may need an intervention. Or two.

June 11, 2010

We are home.  We decided that CJ's allergies and semi-boredom level were getting the best of him, so we were better off getting home a little earlier than originally planned.  He missed his PS3 a little too much.  We may need to take him on the show where family members gather together to tell one member that they need to save themselves by getting off the alcohol or drugs.  I do not think PS3 is ruining CJ's life quite to that degree, but he did whisper sweet-nothings to it when we walked in the door.  Something about never leaving her again...creepy.  However, he is down there playing right now and talking on his headset with his friend.  He seems to be telling lots of stories about his cousins.  They are all stories about how cute they were singing there little songs and jumping on him and such.  I think he really did like them and misses them.  If there had been some cousins around more his age, we would probably have stayed longer than anticipated.

Speaking of missing someone, Beth is having major withdrawal symptoms.  She has buried herself in laundry and caulking the shower in an effort to not miss the little munchkins so much.  In one breath she asked if I would invite them to visit us soon, and in the next told me she was caulking the darn shower because I have been known to invite random guests to our home.  (I have done this once in 19 years).  

I think the missing someone thing might be mutual, unless my sister was pulling my leg last night.  I sent her a text to let her know we made it home safely.  Earlier in the trip she had texted us that Beth had left her pajamas in Atlanta.  We were too far away to circle around, so Beth told her that she was allowed to burn them or put them out for garbage day.  It may have been time for Beth to buy new ones anyway.  Parting with her bubby was going to take another form of intervention similar to that of Michael Keaton and his flannel shirt in Mr. Mom.  However, after I texted my sister of our arrival, she texted back that there were three kids missing their Aunt Beth so much that they were sleeping with her pajamas.  Beth may have teared up a bit after that one.   I did not want to find out my sister was only joking. 

As for me, I miss that crazy bunch too.  Beth, CJ, and I helped out yesterday by cutting the grass.  Kay's house is on a rather large lot next to a pond.  It is hilly and looked like a handful to cut with three kids running around.  So we found a couple of working mowers and had at it.  I reminded myself of a couple helpful expressions as I cut into the underbrush.  Leaves of three, let them be.  Beware the moving sticks.  Poison Ivy and snakes were not memories I wanted to have of Atlanta.  Fortunately, with red clay as dirt in Atlanta, there isn't really a lot of grass to cut.  It is mostly weeds, thin grass, or ivy.  It did not take too long and we got it done before the heat got too bad.  I wanted Kay to have some good memories of our stay when she looked at her yard.  At least for a couple weeks. 

When we were leaving, it kind of dawned on Kay and myself that this was the best quality time we had ever spent together.  She and I were not way close through our teen-age years and had gone our separate ways for college and our lives thereafter.  Whenever we have gotten together after that, it has usually been at by brother's house in Louisville.  Kay and my brother have kept in touch a little better and have gone on family vacations together.  I have never made it to those.  They also usually get together in Atlanta around Thanksgiving.  I cannot make that kind of trip being a slave to retail and all.  Therefore, I think this trip was not only good to see the kids, but for Kay to see that I do really like her and am not such a big meanie.  We hugged a couple times before we departed and it was nice.   Sniff.

Okay, it is time to wrap up as the World Cup soccer tournament starts soon and I will be one of the few Americans watching.  The USA plays tomorrow against England.  I am hoping for a draw, but we will see.  If any of you care, let me know and we can double our fan interest.  Until then...

Twisted sister

April 7,2010

I received a call from my sister, who lives in Atlanta, on Easter.  It is a shame that she had to call me as I am the one with one child who is 13, while she has 3 children under the age of 7.  In addition, she has a military husband who was deployed on March 27 to Qatar.  Therefore, she was alone at home with 3 young children who had been hopped up on chocolate bunnies most of the day. 

I assume Qatar to be a rather rebellious country as they have already decided to spell their name without the "u".  I mean, how many words are there with a "q", but no "u", like 8?  Okay, I just googled it and there are more like 50, but who knew?  Still, that is a rather small percentage.  It also explains why I am not good at Scrabble.

So CJ's Uncle Edward is over there in rebellios Qatar for 6 months.  When you deploy for 6 months, you get no leave, so my sister is on her own until September.  She already complains about not having time to read my blog, so I guess now she thinks she has a better excuse.  I would think my blog would rank ahead of laundry and feeding the kids, but we all have differing priorities.

So Qatar.  Don't you love how when you google one of these countries, they pop up with ads for hotels and such?  Are there a lot of people traveling to Qatar for leisure these days?  Maybe there are, again, I only thought there were 8 q no u words, so there could be lots of folks flying Qantas airlines to Qatar.  (Don't try that, I think Qantas flies to Australia).  Anyway, Qatar is in the Persian Gulf attached to Saudia Arabia and across the gulf from Iran and Iraq.  (So Iraq has no "u" either, maybe they can't afford it.)  When you look on a map, it makes it look like Edward and his unit will be huddled very close together in this tiny country as it is dwarfed by the surrounding countries.  Perhaps that is why the "u" is missing, there wasn't enough room.

Okay, enough about Qatar.  Our prayers go out to Edward to return home safely and for him to find his family safe and sound when he returns.  Beth and I have decided to travel to Atlanta for vacation this year to help check up on the sanity of my sister.  We are telling my sister that, but really we are coming to see our nieces and nephew.  I don't know how they managed it, but Ed and my sister spawned some really cute kids.

I know, that sounded rude, but someone actually said that to Beth and myself when we had CJ.  We tried not to be offended, because, we are pretty cute, right?  DNA is rather random I guess.

So we are the godparents to the youngest child, and she seemes to like Beth a whole bunch.  My nephew still likes the Cars movie, and the oldest niece is a movie star in the making, so it is best to visit them before they grow out of being cute and catch on that I am the weird uncle.  Every family has one, and I think I would qualify in mine.

So sister, if you are reading this before we travel there, most likely in June, there are some things we need you to prepare.  No, don't worry about cleaning, we aren't that picky.  It is more about the menu.  As Beth and I took a walk last evening, we discussed how Edward gushes about your cooking.  I remember you making a couple creamy cherry jelloish type dishes when we were younger for the holidays, but other than that I don't remember a lot of cooking.  You were always more partial to going out to eat and ordering prime rib.  We had hoped you would hook up with a husband who could afford to take you out for prime rib.  I think I also joked about him being blind, but that is what older brothers do, keep the younger sister down.  However, I guess you married for love, 'cause now you are cooking.  Therefore, Beth and I will do the shopping, but you need to do the cooking.  I know you planed on pulling out the family photos to show us when we arrive, but this will need to happen after the breakfast casserole thing has been consumed.  I can't remember what all specialties Edward has mentioned, so just dazzle us.  Perhaps you could email the link to this blog to Edward, and he could help us out.  Just a thought.  Do they have room for computers in Qatar?  I guess if they can fit a landing strip there, perhaps there is a least one computer and the whole unit can get involved in this blog.  Guest posts and all about being a perfect dad.  Then their families could link up here for info...

I was getting very excited about this, then I remembered my limited computer skills.  Still, stranger things have happened.  I have a kid with good looks and musical talent.  Perhaps God works in strange enough ways that He could help me with this blog thing.  Hmmm.

So we will chat later, and plan this trip.  We will plan the trip, you plan the menu, just don't forget to add the extra chuckle.  Chuckle???  See my blog from October, 2009.