I left home last Sunday with a fully packed van and four kids. And a dog. The dog got left with mom.

The ride to Reno was uneventful. We checked into Circus Circus with no problems. We were disappointed to find the buffet closed, so we ate at their in-house diner. The kids had hamburgers.

We got up early and started the drive to Salt Lake. I was warned by several people that there's not much to see between the two. I found them wrong. Gently rolling hills, little valleys, rivers, trains, livestock and gorgeous colors of vegetation! I was really impressed by the abrupt change in the landscape between Nevada and Utah. You knew immediately you were someplace different.

We spent two nights in Salt Lake visiting one of my friends. We went to This is the Place Heritage Park in the morning. The kids really enjoyed it. Its a living history park and the houses are either historic buildings moved to this area or are recreations. I liked how they showed both the homes of poor people and those who were better off. Ike was fascinated by the blacksmith. We also got to see the live version of "gotta piss like a horse" I've never seen that before and the kids were impressed. We spent the afternoon down in Temple Square. The history museum was interesting and the visitors center was fascinating. Then we walked around the temple. There are two sets of impressive doors that haven't been used in ages. If temple-goers want to go in, the entrance is a street away and you go underground. I shudder to think about how they would get everyone out case of fire. The other thing about the Temple that struck me is it's size. Or rather lack thereof. Now. It's tall. It's gloriously tall and impressive. However, the footprint is quite small. I think my Mom's parish church has a bigger footprint. I was expecting something like a Roman Catholic Cathedral size. It's not. I was told they spent 40 years building it. For some reason, I wasn't too impressed. They've been working on the Gaudi Cathedral for over 100 (131 so far with another estimated 13 to go (a couple of wars halted construction, go figure)). Gray decided that he was going to get sick that afternoon and spent the afternoon in my arms. Sleeping. He also decided to pop a pretty good fever that night. But he woke up the next morning bright and chipper.

We spent the 28th driving to Jackson, WY. I got to see wheat fields for the first time ever! Cool. I tried not to breathe too deeply. Pretty drive. I found a road allanh s husband Randy needs to drive. Not only did it have the joy of curves and ups and downs...you got to dodge livestock! It was an uneventful drive. Jackson is gorgeous! We definitely want to go back. We only spent this one night and there's so much to do! Gray decided to get really sick on this night and we were up from about 1:30-4:30 with him alternatively vomiting and extreme EBS. Poor thing. I left a huge tip for the housekeeping crew, he threw up all over the bed several times (after Ike woke us up at 6).

We got up and went to this alpine slide I read about. It was awesome!!! First time I've ever ridden a ski lift. Then we hit the road. Drove through the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. Amazing thunder storm overhead as we entered Yellowstone park, and then we crested a hill, and the storm was gone. Blue skies and warm sunshine. Had to convince the children to stick around long enough to see Old Faithful. I had to bribe them with ice cream. Wow. Just wow. Drove out of the park to our next hotel. Gray was miserable by this point and needed to go to bed. Ended up seeing a bison just wandering down the road in the opposite lane before we got out of the park. Yes! Only wildlife we saw in the park. Got to the next hotel and put everyone to bed.

On the 30th we drove to Missoula, MT. There's all these little signs on the side of the road telling you interesting things to see. I stopped at one called the "Lake that Tilted". It kinda caught my attention. Serious earthquake in 1959 literally tilted the lake and created another billion gallons of storage area. It also dumped 80 million tons of rock on the north end and drowned a campground. The mountain damage is obvious and you drive ON TOP of the fallen rock. It was kinda eerie, but also fascinating. Got to the hotel in Missoula.

Everybody felt great the next day on the 31. Joe was flying in and we had time to kill. We had breakfast and then I started to feel awful. So did Ike. I finally got us out of the room and into the car and stopped at the Carousel for Missoula. There's a dragon for the kids to ride!!! Ike was sufficiently sick, he stayed in the car to sleep. The other three rode it twice. Then we hit the road for Kalispell and Joe. The drive was nice, but I was feeling too awful to really notice anything. I got to Joe an hour late. =( But we got to the next hotel and I went to bed while Joe took care of the 3 non sick kids.

This morning we got up and moving and checked out from the hotel with like 5 minutes to spare. We stopped at a local grocery store for food for a couple of days and made it to the house we are staying at. It's gorgeous. On a lake. The kids played. And passed out.

My only complaint about the article is that the reporter got the name wrong...needless to say I sent him an email correcting him.

Cal Aggie Marching Band-uh in the middle of another sexual harassment complaint.

 

( Article Full Text Under Cut )
My other comment. When calling the University Cops on a student for breaking the security gate, the director was being a gratitious asshole. I broke one at least once a month after I joined Unitrans. Those stupid gates were/are a pain. There's a reason why they kept a stack of them on hand for quick replacement.

To my Dearest Duncan!

Nine years ago, about this time, wearing these same pajamas, I sat in a hotel room with close family and friends getting my hair and makeup done. Everyone kept remarking that I was the calmest bride they'd ever seen. When someone asked why I wasn't freaking out, I responded "The only thing I care about today is that at the end of the day I'm married to the most wonderful man in the world. All the rest is just a bonus."

You're still the most wonderful man in the world. I'd marry you all over again in a heartbeat. And I love you.

My feet hurt. =)

So, one of my best buds from college FINALLY nailed his sweetie down for a date to get married. The wedding was on tuesday. It was held in the backyard of one of their friends. For a wedding thrown together in 2 weeks, it was very lovely. At least, what I saw of it.

Now, this couple run on their own time clock. pusifootmight be relieved that someone else we know can, in fact, be tremendously late for their own wedding. The wedding was scheduled for 2 in the afternoon. I pulled up to the house at 1:55 scared that I was late. Wrong! I beat the groom. I don't know why I was worried, these two average 2 hours late to any get together. The wedding finally started at 3:15.  That has to be a record.

Did I mention I took all three kids? By myself? No. I didn't? Oh. Well, let me tell you. Tuesday was Fucking HOT. So I was trying to entertain 3 kids, outside, in a non-kid friendly house/yard. I wasn't the only one, there were other small kids running around. Granted I had the biggest grouping, but hey, shit happens. Did I mention that the back yard was full of fruit trees? With lots of fruit on the trees? No. Oy! Ike was the oldest in the ankle-biter set, but he found a partner in crime, a 3.5 y.o. boy who attracts trouble like he does.  The owner of the house was not happy that all the kids kept pulling fruit off the trees and eating them. Or throwing them. Or just playing near them. She kept yelling at me and my kids. All afternoon. Grrr.

So we finally get to the ceremony! There was only 30 or so guests, but the preacher they hired still could not make her voice heard over 10 feet. I hate that. The bride comes out looking lovely. And my girls start to fuss. A lot. The ceremony goes on, nobody can hear a thing between the wedding whisperer and Elli crying her fool head off. Finally, the mother of the bride turns her head, and says to me "My daughter is getting married and I'd like to hear. Shut them up." If looks could of killed the MOTB would have been killed by her own daughter. Have I mentioned I love M~ dearly?  Thankfully someone bailed me out. The DJ picked up one of the crying little girls and said "Lets take them inside" A wonderful grandma lady comes up to them and asks if they wanted a snack and then gave them one. Thank goodness for the kindness of others. So I missed the wedding. Grrr. M~ said someone taped it so I could see later.

The rest of the party was just as frustrating. While dealing with Child A, Child B would get into trouble, I'd then deal with Child B while Child C got into trouble, while dealing with Child C, Child A gets into trouble. Wash, rinse, repeat for 3.5 hours. Chinese food served for the main part of the wedding feast. Kids ate a lot while I nibbled on fruit, olives, and carrot sticks. The heat and humidity was so bad that I nearly passed out a couple of times as there was also very little shade to be found. (Yes, there were a bunch of fruit trees. Did I mention that they were dwarf trees?) I think I drank about a gallon of bottled water.

They finally cut the cake at 6:45 so I was finally able to bail at 7 with three, tired, extremely filthy kids. We stopped at McD's so I could grab a bunless burger and got home at 8:30. Tired, exhausted, sore, and a bit crispy on the edges. Now were any of my kids nice and fell asleep in the car? Buwahahahahahaha. That's funny. Everyone was out by 10. Thank goodness.

Now the personally cool part. During the toasts the MOTG asked everyone to put up their hands to bless the Bride and Groom. Now, doing this normally makes me feel extremely stupid. Yea, yea, blah, blah, giving energy to people, blah, blah. It still looks and feels stupid. But being a sheep, I join in. Ike's clinging to one hand, so I put up my right hand. MOTG starts saying....whatever. The cool part was that when she started talking I felt my roots sink into the earth, that oh so funky tingle started on the back of my neck and at the top of my head, and the energy started streaming out of my hand towards S & M~. That tingle and streaming energy are sensations I feel when touching the Divine. It hasn't happened in a very long time. I've forgotten how wonderful it feels.  It lightened my mood and lifted my spirits. (At least for a little while)  And as big of a pain in the ass that wedding was, I'm extremely glad I went. My friends are happy, and I remembered something wonderful.

So lately Ike has been on a Princess kick. Starting in February he started asking for Fairy Princess wings. So I went and bought them and a crown too....you can't be a Princess without that crown. He was thrilled and danced all over this house wearing them.

He then promptly demanded Princess Dancing Shoes. That took a couple of days, but I found a used pair of red, sparkly, flat shoes ala Dorothy Gale. He loved them and went tromping around the house in those shoes driving us crazy with the noise.

Then came the request for a Princess Dancing Dress. Okay, no problem! Found a suitable (i.e. cheap, washable and worth saving for younger sisters use) dress and brought it home. Off came grungy boy clothes and on went this dress. I've got pictures of him climbing around his swing set dressed in this get up.

Okay, here's the kicker. I was telling this to my girlfriend BA who lives in Maine. She thought it was hysterical and wondered aloud where she could find a Princess dress to send him. I gave her a lead and off we went.

Yesterday. I had my friend R's little boy A over for the afternoon as she just had a baby 10 days ago (Bread on the water!). When we got home from the park there was a huge box waiting. Kicked the kids outside and opened it up. BA sent Ike his birthday present. Among the presents was (get this) the Disney Princess Dress Up Trunk. *snicker*snort*

I ripped that open immediately. Ike came in to see what the noise was. "Oh Mommy! Is that for me? Oh! Look at the dresses! Princess Dresses! And jewelery! And Princess Shoes!" Etc, etc. A on the other hand was looking at Ike gushing and asked "Don't you have any King dress up clothes?" So we compromised. A got the Crown, the jewelery, and a sword. Ike got the shoes.

Here's a pic of the happy couple.





You know? I can just hear allanh laughing and saying something like "That's my boy!"

So, by this point, with no sign of him, I've resigned myself to the fact that Harley is now roaming the cat-nip fields in the Summerlands, catching every squirrel and bird he wants. Damn.

So this morning, he was brought front and center to my attention. While cleaning the spare room up for my MIL's imminent arrival, I moved a pile of t-shirts off a pile of stitching charts. Whoa! Stink! Harley must of peed on them the last time he got shut in that room. Thankfully, the charts were mostly undamaged, and the shirts are washable.

As much as I grimaced from the smell, it brought a small smile to my face. He left me a last, unforgettable, present to remember him by.

I miss my stupid cat.

A conversation I had a few years ago that I recently remembered and want to keep.

Phone rings at Joe's parents place. I answer.

"Dadek Residence."

"Hello, may I speak to Mrs. Dadek please?"

<pause>

"Which one? There are three."

"Uh. Mrs. Joseph Dadek"

"Well, that narrrowed it down to two. Wanna try again?"

"Uh. Mrs. Thelma Dadek."

"Ah. You want Grandma. May I ask who's calling?"

Etc, etc

It just amused the hell out of me to be in a house where I could participate in the Dr. Jones scene from The Last Crusade. "Mrs. Dadek?" Three heads turn. "Yes?"