I made out like a bandit this weekend in Houston. Even though the event was to attend the graduation party for Matthew and Courtney, I received some stuff too. Meredith made me a t-shirt with her company logo on it. I also got a really kewl ball cap from a different company of hers. I love them both. Then Margaret, one of my younger sisters, gave me two bra-tanks that she bought and was too small for her. I will enjoy wearing them and who knows, she may get them back some day when they make it into the Gallerita. However, the most gratifying part of the weekend was that I was able to share it with my three children, six of my seven siblings, my mom, nieces and nephews, in-laws, and a bunch of people who have become very good friends. The weather was perfect, the food was satisfying and the drink was intoxicating.
On Monday, we found a little black male pug roaming around the parking lot of the Atlas central office. He had a collar and a tag. The tag was for a rabies shot. We called the issuing clinic and got a name of the person who paid to have the dog innoculated. We tried to locate her, with no success. We had work to do. I did not want to leave the dog roaming the parking lot, and I could not keep the dog with me. So, we took him to the Richland Hills animal control, which was about 3 blocks away. The caretaker thought we were there to install his DSL---no such luck(we were in our company truck.) When I got home that night, I checked smartpages for a listing for the dogs owner. I called the number given and left a message on her answering machine. Since that day I have been checking animal control to see if the dog had been claimed. Yesterday, when he still had not been picked up, I called the owner again. I was not certain that I had the correct person who owned the dog. I advised again where the dog was and that if he remained there I was going to find a new home for him. This morning when I turned on my cell phone, I had a message from the owner. They had picked up Sparky the evening before. I was very happy that he is home. He was a very sweet pup.
I am having so much fun with mother. We went to 8 o'clock Mass this morning. During the passing of the collection basket, I tried to eliminate mother from the process by handing it over her head to the pew behind us. She stopped me and was able to deposit her offering (I would like to note here, that her bill, although I do not know it's denomination, was folded!) Then, when we went to Communion, mother was ahead of me in line. As I was walking back to our pew, I noticed a commotion in the pew in front of us. To the surprise of all those people and me, mother chose that pew to go down to get to her seat in the empty pew behind them. It was as if she wanted to make an entrance back to her seat. They laughed, so did mother and so did I. At this moment mother is napping in the recliner in the living room.
When I woke up yesterday, my lips were so swollen, my reflection scared the crap out of me when I caught a glance of myself in the mirror. I am not sure what caused it. It could have been a number of things: the bike ride last Saturday with Jennifer, the soylutions lip plumping gel I had been applying, the dental work I had done last week, the strawberries I had been eating the day before. At any rate, they made me look like a Julia Roberts wanna-be. A really bad one at that. I even called Leah for some big sisterly advice on what to do. I was afraid I was doomed to a life of really huge monstrous looking lips. Today, when I woke up they are back to normal. I took one of Jerry's allegra's. It seems to have done the trick. I am still a bit dry around the edges, but it is nothing I cannot live with.
I have been busy tonight. While I was cleaning the computer room, I found a couple of spools of tatting thread and I am teaching myself to tat.
Mother has a tatting shuttle needle that she has promised to Margaret. She thinks that Margaret would be interested in it because it is an antique. If Margaret is truly interested in this item, she should post a comment stating this before Mother and I depart for Houston at the end of the month. If I learn to tat between now and then, I know I can convince Mother to give it to me.
I picked mother up from DFW today at about 11:45AM. I used my lunch hour to do this so, I told her I would be there at about noon. She said she would make herself comfortable and be prepared to wait for me. I knew the bus carrying my mom would be departing WF at 8:30AM. It is the same bus, owned and operated by Midwestern State University, that would be transporting the MSU chior to DFW for their connecting flight to their tour of Europe. I guestimated that the bus trip would take about 3 hours. The weather was rainy so, I added another 30 minutes. When I drove up to the Continental Airline Gates the bus was still there. I located mother...packed her and her stuff into my car and took her to my house. She had been waiting less than 10 minutes. How is that for planning? I fed her lunch and was back on the job a mere 1 hour and 20 minutes after I left the job site. I have so much trade time that this did not even begin to make up for it, but it is nice that I was able to do this. I did not have to take any vacation or paid off time from work. I am going to take Thursday off work. Mom wants to wash her tennis shoes and we need to buy her another pair so she will have something to wear while they dry. Jerry's mom and sisters will be here on Saturday. We may just have a little party. It is always a party when mom is around.
My mother's day weekend began when Jen and Step rolled into town with Homer and Jen's bicycle in tow. We met at the same location where I met Jeff last weekend for a bike ride down the Trinity River Bike Route. I remebered to attach my bike computer and noted the round trip mileage for Jeff's and my ride last week was about 18 miles. Mayfest prevented us from traveling any farther than that. Yesterday, Jen and I traveled 20 miles round trip. Our turn around point was a basketball court located under an overpass on the Trinity. Stepan kept Homer company on a walk in the first portion of the route. It is a very pretty area of Fort Worth. Jen kept making comments like; "I didn't know Fort Worth had anything this nice!" "Look at that bird!" "This is really nice, I wish Stepan had brought his bike!" When we got back to the two males of the group, I offered my bike to Step so Jen could show him a really nice area where the Trinity flows over a rock formation. It is very shady and a park bench faces it. In doing this I got some alone time with Homer. He is such a good pup when his parents are out of sight. Their kids are going to be just like him---terrors when mommy and daddy are there and angels when they are not there.
In the evening, we met at Joe T Garcia's for dinner. In attendance were Benny, Diana, Jason, Johnna, Stepan, Jennifer and I. We dined on the patio. It was very pleasant, weatherwise. I had visions of going dancing after dinner, but those quickly faded as I was driving home from the bike ride. So, instead, Jen, Step, Danny and I went to Dan's house to watch the finish of the Mavs game. They, or shall I say we, whopped Sacramento in the 2nd OT. It was exciting. Danny has built himself a TiVo type device for his TV viewing pleasure. I do not quite understand it, but it seems to have been a pretty imppressive accomplishment.
Today we are going to Mass, then a movie. The kids want to see X-Men II. I am thinking of attending a different show while they are in that show. We will see.
I went to the dentist today and spent 2 hours in the chair. I did not mind so much because, like Stepan, I requested nitrous gas. I felt as if in my mind I was solving all the problems of the world. One being drunk driving fatalities. I think that drinking establishments should take car keys from patrons as they enter the club. At the end of the evening, at least one person in a vehicle has to pass a breathalizer test to get the keys. I know this plan has it's glitches...but under the influence of the gas, it seemed so logical. I hatched this idea because of something the dentist said. He told me that he gives the gas then when the precedure is over, he changes to oxygen, which eliminates the gas from your system. Would it not be nice if one could eliminate the effects of alcohol in the same way before they get behind the wheel?
Another Clinton Era?
I heard on the Kidd Kraddick show that some republicans are starting a campaign to keep Hillary Clinton out of the White House. Using some kind of slogan like: do you want another Clinton era? Which is an indication to me of how effective the first Clinton was. The republicans are so fearful of the posssibility of another Clinton that they are beginning a campaign against her and she has not even indicated she is interested in the White House. Do I want another Clinton era? I say hell yes! Things were so much better then for America. I felt safer. I want that feeling again. Yes, I am a BHL!
I had such a lovely evening last night. Debra J and I went to Mac's Bar & Grill. We ate, drank and solved all the girlie problems of our worlds. It was fun. Debra burned me a copy of her Norah Jones cd. She is touted as being Texan, but accordiing to IMDB.com she was born in NYC. Debra had forgotten to bring the copy of the cd so we drove to her house to get it. As an extra bonus I got to see Ryan and Cole, her identical twin sons. And I got a hug from both of them---they still call me Aunt Rita.
I got an email from Mr Overalls of If Only fame. Thanks, Van.
Jeff and I tentatively discoussed going for a bike ride on our day off. He called this morning early and we met at the beginning of the bike route in Benbrook. We rode north til the Mayfest goings on blocked any further progress. I think it was about 18 miles round trip ride. It was gorgeous. If any bike rider wants to bring their bike to Fort Worth, I know a great place to ride. I guess my tri-training has finally begun.
If only everyone had a blog, I could keep up with other people they way my blog affords them to keep up with me. And, if only, those people who do not have a blog, would write more often, I would not wish for that person to have a blog...If you are not sure to whom I am referring, maybe this will help...If the overalls fit, wear them!.
I worked half a day today. I had a dental appointment scheduled for the afternoon. So, I worked my 5 hours, returned my truck to the company lot, picked up my car and stopped by the safety inspection place across the street to get my car inspected. I added a month to last years sticker by waiting til today to get the new one. I plan on doing that every year. When I arrived home, Kevin was working on the new marble kitchen floor we are putting down. He is doing a wonderful job. As he did on the hardwood floor he layed in our den. Kevin is Jerry's brother. I like being around Kevin. We make fun of Jerry's annalism and laugh. I went to my dentist appointment. I was dreading it. I have not been to the dentist in about 3 years. I had never been to the one I went to today. I really like him, partly because his office is across the street from The Parks Mall. It is just too damn convenient. When I went in, the sun was shining, there was not a cloud in the sky. While I was getting my teeth cleaned I heard mention of golf-ball sized hail and heard the load rumbling of thunder. The hygenist who cleaned my teeth was very nice. Her name was Margaret Alice. I found out her middle name because I told her I had a sister named Margaret with the middle name of Mary. She kept me apprised of the situation in my mouth. Being a dental hygenist and a talkative sort of person fits very well with each other. I have my mouth open, with both of her hands in it and she is talking talking talking and I am saying nothing for obvious reasons. She finished the cleaning, then sent the dentist to see me. He told me I need another crown. If this keeps up I will have more crowns than the Queen of England. While all of this is going on, the whether is still happening outside. When I go to reception to check out and schedule my next torture session, the city is sounding the sirens indicating all should take cover. I get in my car and rush to the covered parking of the Mall, which if you will remember, is just across the street. The storm has passed but we are still under a tornado watch.