lamb

I'm in New York, enjoying the high volume of foot traffic and zillion+ things to look at. I just can't walk slow enough to take it all in! I feel very independent here with my messenger bag and confident walk... though sometimes I walk blocks in the wrong direction. Oh well, like I said, there's a lot to look at! And today it's raining a bit - nice warm rain on a humid day. Here for board meetings this week; met Richard Cohen last night who interviewed an MS researcher at dinner. I was only present at the board dinner because my planned dinner was cancelled but so far everything has turned out okay.

Headed to see Lila who apparently is in an "aunt" phase. I'm disappointed in myself because I don't have any homemade items with me this time... haven't been sewing lately. Hopefully I'll get back into the swing of it soon because I found an easy pattern for a pencil skirt that I want to try. I expect I'll look just like the picture.

Jesse's and my waitress last Saturday night at dinner was certainly drunk, or Jesse thinks maybe a "functioning" addict. She was wobbly and laughed a little too often... slurred speech. And she kept trying to push the lamb on us. Jesse doesn't eat meat and the name "lamb" turns me off. I mean they don't call calf "calf," they call it veal. They don't call cow "cow," they call it beef. "Lamb" is a name like "kitten." All that said, chicken and fish are my double-standard on this topic (I have many more double-standards).

Um, have I mentioned that Luna is a nut? She was just kidding about being mellow - it fact she has an insane amount of energy and is truly a Luna-tic. It's funny and puppy cute though, her throwing her chewy flip up in the air and then bounding after it, tucking and rolling across the floor to leap up and toss it in the air again. She knows she's supposed to lie down when the cats are near her (so she doesn't get too excited) so now she trots right up nose to nose with Olive, ears up and tail wagging, and drops to the floor. Baby steps.

i'm biiizeee

Went to the Midwest this weekend. Nice and quick from Denver (as opposed to the full-day of travel each direction from San Diego).

Landed in Omaha, got my rental car. They had a mini Cooper available for more money but I didn’t splurge for it. There are plenty of deer back there – lots of road kill – didn’t figure I’d survive a deer hit in a mini Cooper. Glad I went for the bigger car because I couldn’t have gotten the Gparents in and out of that mini thing. And I need to drive… because Granddad’s driving scares me and I don’t want to get carsick.

Taco John’s potato oles for lunch were awesome! Went to the farm and napped, then Granddad and I went over to the nursing home. Granddad’s hips are bothering him but he’s cheerful as ever. I can’t believe how good his hearing still is considering 80+ years around farm equipment! Mom is doing pretty well: alert and responsive. Grandmother can’t hear much, has limited short-term memory, and doesn’t eat enough to keep a child alive. She knew who I was when I came in, then called me “Jenet” for a while (her cousin on the Bonderson side). Otherwise she’s the same ole Grandmother. Supper at the nursing home was fine, though Grandmother only ate half her cornbread – nothing else. This picture was taken by Jesse last summer – of the Gparent’s front lawn.

Saturday morning I went to breakfast at Verna Jean’s (the Knight’s Inn) with Granddad. I tried to order bacon and eggs and he said it would be too difficult for Verna Jean so “why don’t we just each get a pancake” (not pancakeS – you just order ONE pancake here) which as you know I can’t eat, and I told him so. He tries so hard to remember and understand but it still surprises him every time. I don’t understand why he SO wants me to go to breakfast with him. We get there, order and I’m relegated to the women’s table… which is fine because those women are great. But why drag me out of bed to NOT spend time with me?

Neither brother was able to make it up to see me this weekend – I know it’s a LONG drive. A couple of weeks ago, John told me that Big Red (my favorite old gelding who would be about my age) was doing really badly last time he saw him and that Granddad was going to have Clinton (the kid who farms his land) “take care of it” which means put him down. Putting him down is good. But I was nervous all weekend that maybe I would see Red doing badly, or see him post put-down, or something worse (I don’t know what). On top of that, Granddad’s dog, George, had a heart attack or something a month or so ago and died – while on a horseback ride with my cousins (picture of him from last winter here). They buried him and made a nice marker that says “RIP George: Here lies a very good dog.” And Granddad told me about accidentally hitting a dog… I’m jittery about dying and dead animals and the thought was everywhere. I actually saw fawn road kill!

Saturday afternoon I had a nice long visit with Mom and then drove back to the farm. We all napped, and then I finally got the Gparents in the car to go with me to Bomgaars to look for tractor toys but of course by the time we got there the place was closed. Thank goodness there’s an Applebee’s nearby (the one I worked at for years in high school) so I could coerce Granddad into eating there instead of the diesel-scented, nothing-on-the-menu-I-can-eat dumpy truck stop called Crystal. That place is just gross. Granddad liked the environment and his steak so maybe we’ve turned a corner AWAY from Crystal... I hope so.

When I worked at Applebee’s there was a dishwasher named Charlie who had a learning disability. He was always behind on his work and would ask me to help – I would. But if I was ever behind and asked for help, he would shout/wail in his deep voice “I’M BIIIZEEE” (you really need to hear it – typing doesn’t do it justice) as his refusal to help. If I asked again he would HOSE ME DOWN with his dish sprayer! All in fun… I didn’t ask if Charlie still works there. I want to believe he does.

I went back over to see Mom that evening. All the gals are so excited about my news and talk to Mom about it all the time. Sweethearts. Driving home late I saw something tumble under a car – it was a coyote. Seriously? He rolled to the edge of the road and then wasn’t there in the morning so I HAVE to assume he is okay. I can’t stand to think about (let alone see) dying or dead animals – it makes me nauseous. Traumatizing.

Went to church with Granddad on Sunday, lunch with Mom at the nursing home and then back to the airport. Planning to go again before Labor Day while my sister is there though I bet I'll be too late for sweetcorn (this weekend was too early). Sorry no new photos – I forgot to bring a camera!

really july?

Friday night we went downtown for dinner with our realtor, his wife, my coworker and his wife. The food was great; we had lots of laughs and heard a great fireworks show from Coors Field (but didn't see it around the buildings). Then we had a great long weekend with the in-laws in town. They love puppy Luna (aka Loping Luna) who actually somehow hurt her right front paw and is now Limpy Luna though I prefer Looney Luna. This was the first house guests we had in the new house and so I got the bed all set-up (though the paint is slightly sanded off a section of it because I intend to refinish it and haven't yet. Jesse said he'd strip the paint for me so we can see what the wood is like and maybe I'll stain it) with the new colorful quilt on it. We went to the neighbor's house yesterday for a party and met some of the other neighbors a couple of which seems to be about our age. It rained off and on all afternoon and evening but we still grilled king crab lebs for dinner in honor of Jesse's mom's birthday tomorrow. King crab made me feel a little less envious of our San Diego friends who were camping ON THE BEACH for the holiday. Lucky ducks.

Headed to the Midwest before I go to New York - hopefully I'm not too early for sweetcorn. Summer weekends fill up too quickly! I hope we find time to vacation and/or visit the Murrays, my brothers, San Diego and Bullhead City.