dolphinmagic: Lots of Stuff, Little bit of Time

Wow, it's been a while. I have been very busy with one job and trying to avoid the other. I love working at the bank full time. I have a lot of fun there. In fact today I put together a little impromptu pot luck for next Tuesday. I love "planning". Co-workers were literally talking about what they were bringing minutes after my email went out to the whole 10th floor and they were flocking to the kitchen to sign up. I guess they've never had a "cruise director" before. Very exciting stuff. Haha.

Let's go back a bit. July 10th I was down at the outlet mall, in The Disney Store, and my dad called me. My grandma had died during the night. I put down Eeyore and barly made it to the door. I haven't seen her since the day before I moved to Texas and she had been sick for some time and I had plenty of time to go home. I just didn't. Well, they planned her service for the 19th and I planned to go. And not tell anyone. I can't believe I kept a secret, probably one of the few in my life that I didn't "hint" about.

Mike took me to the airport at 5:30 Wednesday morning and he also watched the boys while I was in Ohio. I flew from Austin into Chicago where I had about 2 hours to waste. Well, who the heck should come see me at the airport. GENE! He came with presents and all. What a fun filled time until I almost missed my connecting flight. Grrrr. I don't know how it all worked out but it did and I landed in Columbus about 30 minutes before her service.

Marcus picked me up and got me to the funeral home where everyone looked at me like they didn't know who I was. Despite everything ... that was kind of fun. It was so nice to see Matthew, mom and dad. It was a very nice service and dinner afterwards. Grandma is much happier now, wherever she is. If she's in the same heaven as Wally she's probably sneaking him food right now. She was good at that and he was a bottomless pit.

I really thought it was time for bed on Wednesday night when the phone rang. I had already had a long day but Matthew thought it was time to play pool. Dad and I went down to the R Bar around midnight and drank and played pool. Ooo, I also had some White Castle that day too. Boy, you just don't miss those until you can't drive thru and get 'em on your way home from the bar.

Thursday morning started early and went on late. Mom got me up at 9:30. We were out of the house by 10. Shopping, Doctors Apt, Lunch, More, Lots More Shopping. We ate at Mimi's Cafe with Paula, Alison and Jessica. Fun place. Really good chicken tacos and sweet tea! After lunch, I really knew I was home while running like hell to the car to avoid the POURING RAIN that just appeared out of nowhere. Ahhh, home sweet home. Haha. We went to Polaris, Buckeye Corner, Old Navy and Sephora. I *heart* Sephora. It's like a girls dream store. After that we met dad over at Grandma's place to clean up a little bit to get ready for the movers on Friday.

Thursday night Mom and I met some friends at Texas Roadhouse. Nick and Aubrey came. Steph came all the way into town to hang out - that was great! Hammer, MJPD & Janet and even the Pink Lemonade twins came. Nick was afraid of the line dancing, Hammer thought it was okay to throw nuts at my face and MJPD tried to change the belt on mom's purse. Always a good time.

Friday was a little more laid back. Mom and dad went out shopping and I stayed home doing laundry, dishes and baking. CinderSuzy got a lot done during the day. I then snagged the car and ran to COSI for my favorite salad and sandwich for dinner. I called Marty on the way. He was right around the corner so I told him to come meet me. He said he couldn't, he was all sweaty. WHATEVER .... I haven't seen him in 10 months and he says "no" to me. Well, I kept bugging and he said he'd be there in 20 minutes. Yay. I win.

Friday night we went and saw My Super Ex-Girlfriend. It was better than I thought. It was funny but I probably wouldn't buy it on DVD or anything.

Saturday morning mom got me up nice and early again to head to see Cunninghams. We rode over and we never told them I was coming. I think they liked it. LOL, who knows. Grandpa went down to the dining room for lunch and Grandma, Mom and I went to Longhorn. Probably the funniest lunch I've ever had with Grandma. She broke her hip in 97 and one leg is shorter than the other, she has to rock to get out of the booth, mom and I are laughing at her, she starts laughing and gets stuck halfway standing up so we are now laughing harder ... probably better if you were there. Three generations laughing uncontrollably for really no reason. Hahaha. It also takes about 37 minutes for her to get from the inside of the restaurant to the car, which IS parked in the handicapped area. Well, Sally thinks it takes too long so she just gets to the car and turns around to watch and I'm behind Grandma just wanting to push her a little bit. So basically we made fun of her the whole 37 minutes. Most people would get a wheel chair but we had more fun doing it this way.

Both of my grandma's have great senses of humor. Wonderful ladies. *heart*

After lunch we thought it was a good idea to take grandma shopping. No, we weren't drunk. Again, about 37 minutes to get from the car into Sam's Club ... Thank god they have motorized little scooters. I scored a lot of goodies at Sam's. Got some DVD's, some chips, some gum, some candy, mints, and English muffins. We got back to their place and Grandpa was in a really good mood but full of his usual questions. We got Grandma settled in with all her Sam's stuff and headed back to Columbus.

I couldn't sit still and had mom take me down to Lane Ave to go to the OTHER Buckeye Corner. I got some new cute shorts!! Love them and they will look so good on Sept 9th when we're kicking some Longhorn ass up and down the field. Brutus is takin' Bevo Dooooooown. More trash talk to come later this fall. O-H!!

Saturday night I somehow convinced mom and dad to watch Boondock Saints with me. The way to do this is make them commit to 15 minutes. You know they will get sucked in but toward the end mom was a little tired of the "f*cks" and gun shooting. I'm glad they watched with me .. it was my last night in Columbus.

I had to leave early Sunday morning. They took me to the airport at 7. Mom made me an English muffin and dad set my luggage in someones spilled coffee. Fun times. Haha.

I had a 4 hour layover in Nashville and got lots of reading done. I am really enjoying The Devil Wears Prada but I can't wait to start reading my Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy books. I bought the big one with 5 books included while we were in Fairborn. I also killed some time by making Gene entertain me.

I also want to make a note to parents traveling with children. SHUT THEM UP ON A PLANE!!!!! God bless this little girl was SO freaking annoying. Her mom should have locked her up and slid her under the seat or locked her in the bathroom.

I was happy to land in the 99 degree weather in Austin but was very nervous wondering if Mike was going to remember me. Well, he not only remembered but he actually parked and was IN the airport when I got down to baggage claim. What a cutie. (minus the practical joke he played on me while I was in Ohio ... I'll get you back one day ... when you least expect it)

Thanks to everyone who drove me around, helped me keep secrets, visited me at airports, carried my luggage and watched my boys last week.

Now onto this week ....

-The dart board is hung perfectly and I LOVE IT. I measured everything at least 5 times and without a drill and hammer, you tend to get pretty creative. I used a bigger screw and a frying pan. Took about an hour from start to finish.

-I do know that Lance is gay. I was told about 298374982739173 times today.

-I have to entertain a 3 year old tomorrow morning at the office for a couple hours.

-I am staying in Austin tomorrow with said 3 year old and her brother while both parents are away on business. Friday morning should be interesting. Not only do I have to get myself ready for work but I have to get a 7 year old ready for school and take a 3 year old to work with me. Later on Friday I have to get both of them to camp. While doing my job. (The Devil Wears Prada ... I'm living it ... hahahahahaha) I love my boss and she is VERY good to me so this isn't so bad. Friday night I will either need a nap and or several beers.

Here are some pictures that we found in Grandma's place when we were cleaning it out. Don't be fooled ... the one with the blue blanket and football IS me ... not a little boy. :)