On the road again

We're outa here! We'll be back on the 7th. I'm giving Eric the option of guest blogging so you won't be too lonesome but I make no promises.

Have fun while I'm gone!

When Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!

This is pretty cool! This is from Jean.

Your Hidden Talent

You are a great communicator. You have a real way with words. You're never at a loss to explain what you mean or how you feel. People find it easy to empathize with you, no matter what your situation. When you're up, you make everyone happy. But when you're down, everyone suffers.

What's Your Hidden Talent?

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Rediscovery

I was a musician in high school. I played in the band and sang in the choir. I was the only person in my senior class who did both. I took piano for a couple of years, followed by guitar and voice lessons. I went to festivals and band camp (stop giggling, Eric) and various competitions.

Then I graduated. I went to work for minimum wage, and then I went off to basic training. In basic I played in the Drum and Bugle Corp. That was the only fun I had during my time at Lackland AFB.

After basic, I was busy learning my new job, building my life with Eric, having babies. The only thing I played was the radio. I did a little time in church choirs here and there, but it didn't seem to be as much fun.

Then we got here. Maybe it was the years I spent teaching Sunday School and the relief not to have to do that here, or maybe it's the other people in the choirs, but I've rediscovered my love for music. I look forward to rehearsals as much as I do to gigs and church services. It doesn't matter what kind of day I've had. When I start singing, it falls off. I come away feeling as if I never had a burden.

On a related note (no pun intended), I've caught myself lately, humming songs we've done in one group or the other. That's not quite accurate. I have the song in my head, but only parts of it come out, and the longer it stays, the more times those specific parts come out.

My mom does that.

It has always driven me crazy.

I'm doomed.

But at least I've got my music!

Crunch time and birthday improvising

Today is Alex's 15th birthday. 15 years and three hours ago (give or take) I was waking up from a nap, desperate for a shower. The nurses thought I was nuts!

Since we're getting ready for Rendezvous it's been a little crazy here. I've been trying to pack, clean the house and finish the Rogue Pawn edit this week. I'm out of here in 48 hours and have yet to accomplish any of these.

Last night Eric and I crawled into bed and he said something about Alex's birthday. That's when it hit me: Crap! I don't have a cake, I didn't wrap the couple of presents we've already gotten him, and the van is still in the shop and I promised to take him shopping on his birthday!

He didn't seem to care that there was no wrapping paper, he opted to wait until we get to Rendezvous for his cake on the condition that we go to his favorite restaurant for dinner, and Eric is leaving work early this afternoon so I can pick up the van and take him shopping. Crisis averted. I'm blessed that birthdays have never been gala events on either side of the family!

Now I just need to pack, clean the house, and finish the Rogue Pawn edit. In 48 hours.

Respite

We have one more day of "*gasp* Oh Lord!" hot. This afternoon we're supposed to get some rain to cool us off a little. Since the kids and I leave Friday for our delayed Rendezvous in Michigan, I checked the long-range forecast. The highs are in the low 80's, and the lows are in the 50's.

Woo hoo!

This was a concern. Since we're camping 18th century style, we won't have air conditioning. I can manage during the day if it's not stifling, but I can't sleep if it's hot. A sleep deprived EJ is a cranky EJ! I'll have my wool cloak and blankets. I'm good to go, especially if I can keep my petticoats out of the campfire. They'll be calling me Gracie in camp in no time!

I'm half done with the first Rogue Pawn edit. The plan is to finish it this week and take my outline to Rendezvous to work into a synopsis and a proposal. I can do that with pen and paper. I won't have electricity, so there's no point in taking the laptop. At least I'll be able to get some work done. It's nice to be back at it.

Together

I'm blessed. I found the right man early in my life. We were barely adults when we met. When we married, I couldn't drink legally.

His mom was a wise woman and raised him right. He cooks. He cleans. He LIKES to shop!

And therein lies the problem.

We stopped at the grocery store on our way home from the gym. We needed a few little things: fruit, flour, hamburgers, spaghetti. I should have known better, but it was on the way home, and it was too hot to go back out later.

Our cart was a quarter full before we left produce. The meat counter took another half. We almost had a problem in the soda aisle and had to resort to using the bottom of the cart. We spent almost what I budget for two weeks of groceries. I am officially out of freezer space, and the fridge space isn't too much better. However, the kids and I will be gone next week so the stuff we bought will stretch further.

I will say that we came home with some yummy stuff, and there was no junk food. None. The kids were peeved, which made it so much better! He even talked me down from the donuts in the bakery.

I did tell him that we need to stop shopping together. It's not just like this with groceries. I won't even go into the gorey details of our Walmart excursion on Saturday. I meant it at the time. Logically it makes sense. It's just so much fun. I mean, who knew you could bond with your husband over a shopping cart? It must take a soul mate for that.