Inmate 5449956 is back in one piece, unarrested, and with a virginal, unbroken, non-criminal record. Whhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhew!

I pled guilty to an infraction, got a fine of a bit over $300 (ouch, but better than a misdemeanor), had some french fries and a McFlurry to soothe my troubled spirit, ran errands, and came home.

Later, after Mom is done cracking the whip over me, I will fill in the details, as I had a far more adventurous court date than any of the others. (Mostly DUI's and Driving Without a License/Insurance.) Since Neaksis asked, yes, I was the nicest looking one there, not that that is saying much. And the only violator of Animal at Large. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

Neaksis is disappointed that she will not be able to post photos of me doing roadside work in an orange jumpsuit. She is also disappointed that now she has to keep her grimy mitts off the camphor chest, until.....and then we can wrestle for it. Mom wants to know until what? I think she should just guess.

Let me also point out that on the same day the Dervish broke the window on the van, he also broke the handle off the toilet. I got a new one at Wal Mart today. Sigh. (Notice I am not asking what next ? .)

Neaksis here: what next????

Yup, there may be a bit of goodness in the x. I thank his wife for having installed it. I think she has taken him to task on more than one occaision because of his 'attitude' toward me. He has been quite.....well, try slanderous or libelous, disrespectful, rude, and a few other things. But, I do believe she has straightened him out on more than one occaision.

Neak, glad you aren't going to have to acquire a new orange wardrobe.

And, T&L, if the girls fight over that chest, you may just send it to me.

well I do have to say I was looking forward to baking a fruit loaf with a file in it - we girls need our iron <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I kept hearing that old Boney M song ..lol
Ma ma ma ma - ma baker - she taught her four sons
Ma ma ma ma - ma baker - to handle their guns
rotflmao hehehehehhehe

And orange would go so well with your complexion <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

ok teasing over ...probably <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Neaksis I think she has got it already!! It comes in three ...

the window on the van is ONE;

the handle off the toilet is TWO

infraction and a fine is THREE !!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />


see all over now ...until the .............
...
.....
.......

NEXT TIME!!!! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Here it is...the long-awaited and much anticipated STORY OF MY TRIP!

The first night I spent at my grandma's. This is my dad's mom who was known as Other-one Grandma by Neak in her youth. My uncle arrived in the morning after traveling straight through from Kansas. Let me tell you, he inherited all the talking genes in the family! I also found out where I got my love of old houses, antiques, estate sales, etc. from. Goodness knows it was not from my parents!

We arrived in Tucson around dinner time and had to go shopping right away because my brother had no food in the house, having just gotten back from vacation that morning. We made camp in the extra bedroom, and camp it was because it had no furniture, just empty tile floor. I got a camp cot, and the children got sleeping bags and the floor.

The next day we drove far back into the mountains by the Mexican border to a stream where Flard was going to catch dragon fly larvae, toe biters, and various other large carnivorous insects that might eat the tadpoles of his special frog. The kids dressed for swimming, but it was raining when we got there, cool and chill. We got out when it slacked off and wandered up and down the stream until we had enough. There were leeches in some parts, but allegedly not ones that would bite humans. No one wanted to find out though, so that remains somewhat of an unsolved question.

When we got back, after a gorgeous sunset in the mountains, we took the kids bowling until midnight. That had an interesting college vibe to it that the kids appreciated. Never again, says the adult.

Friday we went the Desert Museum and the Wildlife Museum, both great places, but we had been to the Desert Museum before. The Wildlife Museum is a great taxidermy museum with beautiful and informative displays. Don't skip either while in Tucson. (Neak here: don’t stop bugging her till she posts some of her pictures.)


Saturday of course we went to church, the same one Mom had visited when she was there. A very nice church. There was no potluck, but the pastor and another church member had a little mini one for the few visitors. It was nice, like a friendly family dinner, only in a large church hall.

After sunset we started west to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument to camp for the night. We got there by midnight I think, and quickly flopped out our sleeping bags. The youngest boy elected to stay in the car for fear of rattlesnakes, but my oldest was fine on the ground. Until my brother and I started an earnest and scientific discussion of the conditions in which you might expect to find a rattlesnake sharing your sleeping bag. Not the kind of conditions we were experiencing, he assured us. It would need to be colder. I was sleeping in the back of his SUV, and my brother had the camp cot, so we felt only a scientific detachment. My oldest seemed to find it much more gripping from his position on the ground and decided to sleep on the picnic table.

That led me to make a solemn vow to rise earlier than he and place his souvenir rubber rattlesnake in somewhat intimate proximity to his face. I was able to do this due to the loud and enthusiastic wood peckers that started jack-hammering at sunrise. I was able to startle the jaded little booger. I heard him breath in sharply and then growl. Tee-hee. These precious memories.

I am going to post now so I don't lose what I've written
[color:"red"] [/color]

Neaksis' eldest sun is very, um, [color:"orange"] bright. [/color]

Let's just say he had a run-in with the sun-in.

(Pilfered from AJ, who doesn't actually use it himself. So why he even had it is a mystery to me.)

Pictures will follow, after the sun has finished doing its deadly work.

Neaksis told him she would shave his hair all off if he ever dyed it. So he did, and school starts tomorrow. But dear Neaksis, it could have been worse. It will be a while yet before school pictures.

[color:"black"] He just keeps [/color] [color:"brown"] getting [/color] [color:"orange"] lighter [/color] [color:"yellow"] and lighter. [/color]

[color:"blue"] Bwaaaaaaaaa!!!!! [/color]

She will shave him when she gets back from town.

Clippers = Sun-Out

oh, love those boys.....

The chop job has been done, and Neaksis says he is discolored clear to his scalp.

The Dervish fell asleep without his supper, only waking enough to have a few bites and fall asleep again.

The Princess has been crying all evening because she has an eye infection, and if it's too bad tomorrow they may not let her go to school. I experimented with a little home remedy, since she was desperate, and I know it at least won't hurt anything, and might help. We'll see. If there is an eerie wail at about 0816 hours PDST, you'll know what happened. Pat the hair back down on your neck and pretend you didn't hear a thing. There is no such creature as a werewolf.

Nite......late to bed, early to rise, makes a mom cranky and grouchy, not nice.

Thanks Neaksis, for the account of your trip.

Tucson is a fun place to visit. (even with kids.)
One of my cousins lived there for a few years, and we visited many of the same places you did. Very enjoyable.
Cousin had food for us though, we didn't have to buy our own.

AW, you are well?
Your Mum is well? She's been quiet lately, that must mean one of two things -

1. You passworded the computer so she can't get on.

2. Grumpy is off work and they are busy. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />


Hi CC.

T&L,
No comments on HP for quite some time. Did he die? Or is he not news worthy these days?


Neak,
I can see I should accelerate my efforts to find books containing the accounts of a boys first knife, and a boys first ax. You'll be needing it sooner than I first thought.

There are other stories that go with these, and the information will be useful I am sure.

A boys first airplane - flown off the roof of a barn.

First submarine - tested in a local pond. No one drowned.

First bomb - I won't give details here.

Small boys and boredom - and how it affects their mothers sanity.

Yes, I can see you'll be needing it very soon - if it's not already past due.


Hi Cinders.
Glad your air is cooler.
How in the world did you get the presentation done with it that hot in there?

Did it go well?
Were you happy with it?

It's interesting how we view our lives. When W and I were having problems, I told her I could hire someone to clean, do the laundry, and cook for me - But.......... What I wanted was someone to love me, and spend time with me. (Perhaps I could have hired someone to spend time with me, but that's not what I wanted all by it's self.)

We often take a lot for grated, don't we.


SS

The preparation of the presentation was not for the squeamish.

I peeled out of all my sweaty clothes. I found a really huge thin poly/cotton shirt that had been my dad's - he was an XXL when he lost weight (6'3" . 300). I got 3 good size fans and aimed all of them at the computer - then I settled down to work. I drank ice water and ate watermelon as I worked.

The presentation got emailed off at 1:30 a.m. When it's too hot to move, you just sit there and work till your brain overheats then you surf till you can think again then you work some more.

Got to church and the presentation didn't start. The minister got up to welcome us then called a time out and asked what happened to the presentation. I stated I finished it and emailed it but that was all I knew. The person who was supposed to run it wasn't there and no one had loaded it or started it. So, someone had to go find where it had been burned on a CD and take it to the machines in the church balcony and load it. I didn't move out of my seat because I knew that I was supposed to lead children's worship and there would be a room full of children w/ no one in charge if I got up to deal w/ this.

At the first of August, I had agreed to do the presentation. Lots of hymns and a few other intermittent graphic slides. I took it on for two months. But said I didn't want to be responsible for loading or running it - other than one Sunday a month.

So, they got it loaded after I went to children's worship and they found someone to run it and I hear it looked really good.

No one knows how much I sweated doing it. Or how little I was actually wearing. Only that really big light-weight shirt.

Hope that is not TMI!

And, just so you will know, if we had a polytheistic society, I would be a follower of COOL, the god of HVAC.

Poor Rella! They really put you through the wringer!

I am amazed you could function, even mostly nekkid and scarfing watermelon.

Oh Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeksis! Dad has been shopping in the dumpster.

(Thankfully I could claim complete ignorance of all items mentioned.)

Mostly working and crossing paths with me as I go out the door. I read that he's been dumpster diving tonight. I guess that must mean that when the girls were cleaning Neaksis threw some stuff away and he went through the bin trying to make sure none of his, um, treasures <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> got trashed. From the tone of Neak's post, apparently he didn't entirely approve of the discard menu! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Channeling his inner pack rat again, I guess.



I don't know about you, but with me it's pretty much just cheese, potatos, and carrots. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

t&l

Good Morning to all

AW told me I have been conspicuous with my absence, or was that my absence was conspicuously apparent? Oh well you are stuck with me in any regards. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

AW has had a migraine for 2 days. Stress if you ask me. She has been involved in her Departments restructure as the Union rep and is very over worked. She has been working Aussie hours of 8.00am to 2.30am the next morning, then looking after Michael, the house and you name it. Silly girl!! Sounds a bit like a certain writer we all know I think? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />
I sent her off to bed some hours ago.

As for myself, well I have been either working or with Grumpy at various Vietnam vet reunions trying my best to be a happy camper. Basically this entails the men to go and drink and talk and the women to cook and clean – how novel!
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />
I have to admit I have learnt perhaps more than I wished about the war of my generation and also admit that I am still nursing a fair amount of long term bitterness and resentment in regards to the man I got back. I understand the why’s and wherefores however this does not alter the reality.
Grumpy allows me so close and then no further. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />
I am moderately content in most things these days as long as I don’t think too closely on the then and after. It is difficult to verbalise the discontent and place it in perspective for others. TL perhaps you understand this portion of the issue. Its not that I am unhappy as such its .. oh well its just is as it is I suppose.
And yes he still is grumpy. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

However Grumpy did surprise me by actually considering taking the two of us to Vietnam in September. After picking myself up from the floor in shock I said it would be a lovely idea. If that did not kill the idea then that of actually spending money may – I shall not hold out any great hopes in that quarter. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Now back to more important things – DGD Where is the marriage?, where are my great grand children? I’m not getting any younger you know? Preferably in that order my dear of course.
<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Yes, AWMum, I do understand, and several things you said were like gongs going off in my head...but I'm not in any mood to delve in the past, its mindsets, its emotions, its dashed dreams, its unexpected dead-ends and sudden turns. Hm-m-m-m. Better stop before I delve accidentally! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /><img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> Stupid dang men, anyway. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Somebody at work this morning asked me, "Are you and your husband still together?" And I replied, "Geographically, yes." And left it at that. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

t&l

P.S. And geography can be adjusted, too!

On HP -
LOL, LOL, LOL, LOL.

Any resemblence to myself is pure chance. I am really not HP.

T&L, thanks for pointing out yet again, that I can't spell worth a darn. I frankly adimt it.

Hi AWM.
Missed you. Hope you get a trip out of all this. Maybe going back can put some of his ghosts to rest.

SS

No, you're younger, cuter, and I earnestly pray, not as crabby--or this upcoming visit with you and your wife might not be nearly as much fun as I'm hoping. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />




<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Sorry. SS. I just couldn't help myself. I didn't know you had problems with spelling. I thought your typing fingers just got tangled up. <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> In defense of my sense of humor, let me say I would've found it just as funny if I'd done it myself. Language errors amuse me. What can I say? <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

t&l

It is the price you pay for hanging out with English nerds.

I made a TURRIBLE spelling error in another place, and I am just <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> that she hasn't mocked me about that one yet.