Good morning world

Kevin and Monica headed to the Maple Leaf Festival in Carthage.  It's a tradition for his family.  Heck, he's been going for 30 years or so.  I hadn't planned to go, thinking I'd be in Ft. Worth on a customer visit.  That got changed to the end of the month, but Natalie got invited to a Bday party.  A girlie glamor day at a local mall.  It's something she's never done, so she really wants to go.  That sent 2 to Carthage, Me and Nattie to the mall, and Brett will go to his dad's house after his final Saturday School.  Yup, his debt to society is almost paid in full.  I bet he thinks real hard before skipping school again.

I had a rough night.  I was tired and crabby, then sat down to figure bills.  I had a headache before I was half done.  I know better than to do that when I'm not on my game, but it had to be done.  We are in a rough patch, financially, right now.  They happen every now and then.  I have to do some creative juggling for a couple of weeks, then everything will be straightened out.  I'm getting some OT right now, and that'll help.

I get so depressed when this happens, but we bring it on ourselves.  Frankly, we're in better shape then we ever have been.  Every week used to be this way.  "Which utility is threatening the earliest shut-off date?"  "OK, that's what we'll pay."  We don't do that now.  It would just be so damn nice to be AHEAD, instead of HANGING ON.

Oh well, I'll not let it get me down.  I'll see mom and dad a bit, watch Natalie get dolled up at a party, hang out, and relax.  Now that I'm driving "the car formerly known as Brett's," we might even put the top down and enjoy the perfect Indian summer weather.  Yup, that'll cheer a girl right up!  It's a junkie little car, but it looks ok from a distance, and runs well most of the time.  It also goes 10 miles farther than the van on each gallon of gas.

Yup, it's gonna be a good day.

The weekend, and the fair

Yesterday was spent at the fair.  We had a good time.  Monica won the donut eating contest.  Kevin's so proud.  He's raising professional contest eaters.  Sheesh.  Natalie did the cracker eating contest, but wasn't the first to whistle.  We ate corn dogs, a funnel cake, and I had a carmel apple while the girls had cotton candy.  The short little parade was fun, and we enjoyed watching people.

*added later*
I forgot to mention that I gave Brett some money.  He went Friday night, then again with us on Saturday.  No pics of him because, as you know, no 16 year old is gonna hang out with his parents. (insert eyeroll here)  He was very appreciative of the spending money, even though it wasn't much.

More N'stuff

I'm tired, so I'm goin' to bed.  First, I'll put some opinion type crap on the table:

Survivor was great, and a shock.  Mixing the tribes up so early?  I have a fantasy league, and this worries me.  Wanna join?  let me know via comment, and I'll send the invite.

Kevin is at a fight.  It's an "ultimate challenge" type thing, in a nearby town.  Free, ringside tickets, so who could refuse?  I could, actually.  See ya when you get home, honey.  (I hate fights.  Wrestling, Boxing, Fighting...it's all painful and useless...heck, these guys aren't even MAD at each other!)

Tough day at work.  'nough said.

Ft. Worth trip may be changing.  Might leave Sunday morn (early) instead of Sat. night.  Not huge, but an interruped sleep pattern.

Brett got in trouble again.  Rightfully so.  He had over 500 text messages in 17 days.  That cost me about $30 over the normal cell phone bill.  His phone is gone now, so it can't happen again.  I told him that I'd buy his unlimited ride wristband, and his girlfriend's, too.  After that, I said "no way!"  They're $15 each, so it evens out.  Now, my soft heart wants to give him some cash.  Do I give him $5 or $10, or let him sulk at home?  I am so torn.  He's so fun and funny.  We had a blast tonight.  I want to give him $$$ just for being good company.

OK, gotta go to bed.  I'm tired.  I got a great sunrise pic today, but am too tired to find the camera.  I'll post it tomorrow night.  Honest!

*sigh*

Well, it's been a tough night.  A damn tough night.  I found out today that I need to fly to Dallas/Fort Worth next weekend.  There is a big festival (Maple Leaf Festival, to be exact) in Carthage (Kevin's home town) that he HAS to attend next weekend.  No, you don't understand.  He NEVER misses Maple Leaf.  He's used to this being my busy time at work, and used to me missing it.  He goes with my blessing, and has a good time.

Now, he'll go and take both girls with him.  Godspeed, Kevin.  He'll do fine, and so will they, but I worry.  He had them all weekend a few days back, so I could go out of town...now he's doing it again.  Poor guy.  He doesn't mind...heck, he doesn't even complain. I just worry.

Another thing that makes it hard is this:  Kevin's brother, as a fireman, was very active in Maple Leaf Festival.  He made pancakes for the city-wide pancake feed at the fire station.  Best pancakes in the world, dammit!  (that's what Steve said.)  The girls are having a hard time with it.  Natalie wanted to talk to Kevin alone tonight, and they both cried and talked and looked through the clippings and stuff that Kevin has.  I am, once again, wondering how many tears I have in my body.  Hell, they just keep coming. 

She went to bed, OK, and seemed fine. Both girls have been to the counselor, needing to talk about Steve.  They have drawn pictures and talked and thought it out.  I think we're doing the right things, but how can you know?  I mean, I still cry sometimes, and I'm not sure that *I* am dealing with it right.  How can I make sure the girls are dealing with it?

I guess, deep down, I am comfortable with things.  We won't get over it, and probably won't even deal with it for quite some time.  Steve should still be here.  It's not fair.  Maple Leaf was his time to shine.  Yeah, he saved lives.  Yeah, he saved souls.  Yeah, he took care of anyone who knew him.  But he made the best damn pancakes in the world...remember? 

Damn.

I'll go to Ft. Worth and help a customer.  Kevin will go to Maple Leaf and deal with the girls.  Life goes on.  Steve would say, "Quit crying and do what you have to do.  What's the big deal?  I'm fine, but you're stressin' out.  Just chill....just chill."  I miss you Steve.  My whole family misses you.

Pics at last...I'm exhausted

OK, the brief version.  If you want more details on specifics, just ask.  I'm tired.

Sunday morning, I got up early to take sunrise pics.  Sunrise over the ocean, who could ask for more?  I took one, it was great.  I took another...awesome.  Then my camera died.  Damn.  You can't get nothin' for $100 (and abuse it for 2 years) anymore.  We set up the booth, then went driving in search of a WalMart and somewhere to take customers to dinner.  We found both.

I got a new camera, and it was about $100, and does FAR more than the old one.  I still have much to learn about it, but I'm loving it already.  I've blurred a few, using wrong settings, but it takes longer video (with sound) and better pictures, over all.  I have video of takeoff and landing today.  The kids loved it.  I also have video of the surf crashing in.  It's already made me so happy.  Thanks, new camera!

We worked the booth all afternoon, then freshened up and called home, and took customers to dinner.  There were 11 of us in all.  Most of us were underdressed for this place, but I don't care.  The food was AWESOME!  The last froo froo place we took customers was aweful.  I don't know how to order or eat expensive meals, so I usually wind up with something like "snail hearts and algea", but I won this time!

After dinner was the dessert and auction thing.  We didn't stay long, but enjoyed our customers while we were there.  It was so fun.  We left after a bit and watched some TV until we fell asleep.

This morning we packed up and loaded the car.  We walked the beach (for a very short time) and headed out.  We got to the airport in plenty of time, and 10 min before time to board, they cancelled the flight.  Crap.  We went downstairs and waited in line for new tickets, and got the last two spots on the 12:55 flight...but sorry....it had to be FIRST CLASS!!!!!

I had a roomy seat and a free drink, but the flight lasted less than an hour.  Then we sat in Charlotte, NC for a couple of hours and finally had lunch.  When we finallyflew out of Charlotte, destined for KC, we had crap seats.  The very last row, with no ability to recline.  There were long-legged, reclining folks in front of us, and parents with kids beside us.  I looked at Michelle (with first class still fresh in our memory) and said, "Oh, how the mighty have fallen!"  We laughed hard and dealt with it.

 We got to KC, rode the shuttle to parking, got in Michelle's car, got to the lab, grabbed my car, and I came the heck home!  I'm tired, have to work tomorrow, and I couldn't be happier.  The kids have souveniers, I have my own bed, and life is good.  Life is so good, in fact, that I think.....ZZZZZZzzzzzz

 

Myrtle Beach, sans Pictures

Well, I got up yesterday morning and took two great sunrise shots...then my camera bit the big one.  Dead.  Gone.  No longer wth us.  It's been on it's last pixel for a few months, but this was for real.  Nothing would work.  I was very upset, but then called Kevin.  We are juggling a couple of bills this week so I can get another.

Michelle and I went to WalMart and I found one for around $100 that did far more, and was half the size, of my old one.  I am very happy with it, and I've been taking many pictures.

Unfortunately, my ethernet cable to this laptop is broken, and only half working.  I've tried to upload a couple of times, but I'm working with dial-up speeds on broadband, so I gave up.  I'll post them from home tonight, honest.

I am totally exhausted from doing so much on so little sleep, but it's a happy kind of exhausted.  I can't wait to get home, yet I've had a ball.  Everyone here is so darn nice!  I am so thankful to have come, and after I sleep about 12 hours tonight, I'll be able to remember this for a long time.

Pictures to come tonight...honest.

Destination: Myrtle Beach

We had a good time yesterday, but it was exhausting.  We had a big plane to get to Charlotte, but had to walk outside and climb onto a tiny little one to get to Myrtle Beach.  I've never boarded that way.  It was funny.  Had some turbulance, but nothing horrible.

There was a wreck on the highway and we were diverted through a mall parking lot, but it caused us to see some interesting things.  There is some sort of bike rally in town, so there are motorcycles EVERYWHERE!  It's cool.

We were hungry, and we're both very easy to get along with (not picky) so we were trying to decide what looked good for dinner.  It was 9:00 local time, and we saw a Hooters.  I commented that I'd never been to one, so Michelle said, "let's go there!"  The food was awesome (smothered chicken sandwich) and the waitress was sweet.  We both called our husbands to tell them where we were eating.  I asked Brett if he wanted a picture of our waitress, he said "of course".  She asked if we wanted to be in the picture, but I told her "that would ruin the whole thing!"

We checked in to the hotel and I got my first glimpse of the ocean.  Yes, Kevin, the REAL ocean.  It was dark, but still neat.  This morning has me in awe.  I've taken a few pictures, but my batteries for the camera are still happily charging away....AT HOME!  I have to find a store this morning, since the gift shop is out of AA's.  I'll get more pics today, and lots of early morning ones tomorrow.

Well, time to finish getting ready, call my family, and start this day.  See ya later!