Jessie's Girl

♫ JESSIE IS A FRIEND♫

This evening Vicki, Kate, and I headed down to Black Bear Casino to catch Rick Springfield in concert!  I'm not sure how many times Vicki has seen him, as she stalks him all over the great state of Minnesota.  This is the third time for me.  We went with her once to Mystic Lake a few years back, and she took me to Vegas in '03 to see him in a show.  I heard tell tonight that there is a Rick Springfield cruise...........

The gals picked me up (late) and we headed off into the snowy afternoon.  The buffet was a rushed affair, because the drive also put us behind schedule.  I didn't realize how close we were to concert time and had to forgo dessert. :(  We got to our seats with literally five minutes to spare, but that was o.k. It's boring to sit there and wait!

The emcee came on and announced that they would be giving away front row seats to a lucky winner.  The number was called, and of course it wasn't ours.  Then the dude who "won" comes on stage with his girlfriend.  He takes the mike and starts a spiel, and the audience can tell where it's going, but the girl didn't get it until just about the time when he proposed.  It was very sweet.  Not a ticket contest at all, but a surprise proposal.  Actually brought a tear to my eye before I said "Run honey, run!" to Vicki, who just can not appreciate that kind of humor. *evil grin

What an awesome concert!  The crowd at Black Bear was kind of dull, which we found to be the case during .38 Special last year too.  They stand, but don't move around at all.  Not us.  We sang and danced our hearts out!  If I wanted to sit and watch quietly I'd turn on the old MTV.  All the favorites were represented, with a cover of Paul McCartney's "Jet" also that was really good!  We were singing and dancing to "Love is Alright" and at one point in the song Vicki yelled ( you cant hear unless you yell) to me, "Did we used to count during this part of the song?"  I laughed, and she asked "Why?"  "Cheer leading," was my reply........ and then I showed her. 

I love the way Rick always comes into the crowd and interacts with the audience.  He even did it during the Vegas show.  That show was freaking amazing, by the way.  Well worth the five days of hell that Vicki and I put each other through.  Well....... mostly.  I wouldn't want him that close to me, he gets EXTREMELY sweaty.  Plus he's skinny as a scarecrow, and that's not for me.  At one point he took off his shirt and the women went wild.  Vicki and I kind of winced at each other, but I must say.... I could see his abs on the jumbo tron.  He works out.  :)

On our way from the buffet to the show we passed by a woman in a leopard print spandex "dress" that was practically up to her hooha.  To top it off she had a gold chain around her neck with the word COUGAR in huge letters.  Ok, if she was thirty I'll give you a nickel.  Then after the show we went back to gamble a little bit, and this is where I lost the five bucks Vicki gave me. (I don't gamble, I always lose.) 

The machine actually played the song "Man Eater" by Hall and Oats when you pressed the button.  I was laughing my head off, and that alone was worth the five bucks I immediately lost into it!

Arrived home to find that it was snowing like crazy in Superior.  It must be lake effect snow because it wasn't snowing anywhere else.  Aren't we lucky?  Looked like about four more inches since I last shoveled at two.  Do we have to have winter all in one week???

Had an awesome time tonight!  My throat is sore from screaming and singing.  There were two older ladies a few rows ahead of us, dressed kind of "proper" and mildly moving to the music.  Vicki pointed them out to me, and asked if I thought that would be us someday.  I do think so, but I doubt there will be anything mild or proper about it. :)  Sometimes you just have to let loose!  I'm hoping by then the smoking ban extends to casino's.  Ugh, I smell like an ash tray!!! 

Gone To Soon

~Lacey Joy Gayken  March 11,1983 - February 14, 2012

I was going to write about the death of Whitney Houston, about how sad it is that she died at such a young age.  Then something else happened in my own life, and it put things in perspective.  We are all saddened about the Whitney tragedy, but lets face it, she made choices in her life that eventually led to her death, and no one is surprised that it ended this way.

Last night my friends' daughter passed away from Huntington's disease.  Huntington's usually strikes older adults, and being diagnosed at my age would be considered relatively young.  Lacey was diagnosed at 18, and after watching her aunt die from the disease, and then her own father, she knew exactly what she was in for.

I met her when she was five, and for whatever reason that is always the image I have in my head of her.  Long blond hair up in a bun, huge blue eyes, and a little button nose, hiding by her Mom with the little giggle she always had.  Spoiled rotten, mostly by her father, who absolutely adored her.

She always wanted so badly to be a Mom, to have her own baby to love, but with a diagnosis of Huntington's, that wasn't possible.  Well, it was possible, but not advised.  It's a hereditary disease that physically ravages it's victims, but until closer to the end their mental capacity remains in tact.  So you are totally aware of what is happening to you and just become more and more trapped in your own body.  So at the age of eighteen she learned that her dream was not possible.  The disease moved so rapidly back then that soon lots of things weren't possible.

It was about three years ago that Deb was able to get a Make a Wish trip for Lacey to go Disney or Sea World....maybe it was both, in Florida.  The people there were wonderful, helping Lacey do everything she wanted, even keeping a dolphin exhibit open after hours so she could get in and swim with them.  I remember seeing the joy on her face in the pictures, and hearing the joy and gratitude in her Mom's voice as she proudly showed them off.  The doctors back then said that was probably near the end, but she held on.

Lacey did not quite make it to her twenty ninth birthday.  She really didn't have the chance to even be an adult, getting so sick at a young age.  Over the past ten years so many of us have wondered aloud why this happens.  We have talked about the unfairness of it all, and how desperately sad it is.  It broke my heart to watch her deteriorate over the years, and it took a lot for me to put my big girl panties on and treat her normally when I saw her, instead of hugging her and crying like I wanted to.

I know that she is in a better place now, free of all the things that were holding her back.  Free of the pain and frustration.  Probably sitting in a rocking chair singing a baby angel to sleep.  Dozens of puppies and kitties at her feet.  We wont ever get the answer to the why questions, not in this lifetime anyway.  The best we can do is honor her memory, and live our own lives to the fullest. 

I will miss you Lacey Lu, you rotten kid. ;)  Love you sweetheart. ♥

Bunco Babe

Playing a little bit of catch up with my blog!  This is me last Saturday night.  I went with the girls to play BUNCO.  For those of you who don't know what that is, it's a dice game.  My Mom used to play in bunco club when I was a teenager, so it kind of made me feel old to be heading out to play bunco.  One difference though, my mother's bunco was not played in a bar, nor did it involve money or drinking.

In my mothers club you won prizes for the most/least bunco's, or the most/least games won, or a bigger prize for the final bunco of the night.  There was  a pot luck involved, but no alcohol.  In bar bunco the prizes are cash, there is a pot luck, and the booze is flowing like a river.  You can pay 20 to drink the whole time, or just start a tab.  Raise your glass and the bartender will be right there to refill.  I, however, did not drink.  I had to pay attention and re-learn the game, so no alcohol could be involved.  Too much stimuli to pay attention sober, let alone tipsy.

I had been avoiding bunco like the plague, for two reasons.  One, it made me feel old.  Two, I wouldn't really know anyone besides Kerri and Lisa and you switch partners every round.  While I am friendly, I don't like it.  I'm not fond of being thrown in with people I don't know.  I never saw Lisa at a table the rest of the night, and I sat with Kerri once in the middle, and the last game.  We did have our delicious pot luck together somewhere in the middle though. 

Over all it was o.k.  I relearned the game quickly, as it isn't complicated, but three plus hours of small talk is a lot for me.  I haven't the patience for it.  Next time I will consume alcohol and probably have a problem getting on and off the big girl bar stools every three-five minutes, but I bet I will be more entertained.

I did get to talk with Wally's sister for a little bit when we happened to play at the same table a few times, but that was frustrating because I would have loved to have had more of a conversation with her. 

Then it was the last round.  I thought maybe I would win for least games won, it wasn't a lucky night.  I thought maybe I would win for least bunco's, because it wasn't a lucky night.  Then somehow I got the last bucno, which is actually the biggest prize!  I won this tshirt, a hat, and sixty dollars!  So all in all not a bad night for five bucks, and some crackers and dip!

I am definitely not going to become an avid bunco player, but it might be fun to go from time to time.  I have to wear this tshirt somewhere!

Friday the Thirteenth

Don't go down to the lake.  I've seen the movie, or at least parts of it.  I know not to go down to the lake!  I never assumed that Happy Hour would be the thing to do me in!

If you are a superstitious person you would probably say that Friday the thirteenth didn't go so well for me.  If you are me you would say that the universe is shifting again, and it just happened to jolt extremely hard yesterday.

It was a stressful day at work and I shot a couple of things out into the universe in frustration.  You guessed it.  That is when the universe decides to listen, and WHAM!  The problem is, I am given options, but not answers.  I am given reminders, but no guidelines.

I made a comment to someone  "Have you sold that house yet?  I am ready to become a kept woman!"  Shortly afterwards he got an offer, countered, and the house sold.  No, I am not kidding.  I'm not really going to become a "kept" woman. :)  That is a little too much leisure for me.  Although being able to devote more time to writing, and working at what I love because I love it, not to pay the bills, would pretty much be heaven.  Plus, he is definitely an amazing man.  So of course it's complicated. :)

I sent another message out to the universe, and received a prompt reply, but that one I'm going to have to hold close to the vest for awhile longer.  Lets just say I took a hard look at some things that need to change, and since I do have a couple of clear goals, it's time to actually do something about it.

So after running around all day like a chicken with her head cut off I was really looking forward to Happy Hour!  That is when things took a very odd turn.  Boomer asked me a question about Brown Eyes' mother's Nigerian husband.  (No, I'm not kidding.)  There is some scuttlebutt going on out in the country involving a web scam, and there's a Nigerian man's pic on it.  She showed me, and I couldn't tell if it was him or not, and while I heard he was finally given clearance to come here, I wasn't sure if he had in fact arrived.  "Well, I'll just text Brown Eyes and ask!  I'm sure he'd like to know if this dude is behind things."  So I sent a text asking if this man was indeed in country now.  My phone immediately starts singing "All the Singles Ladies" by the Chippettes (my weird sense of humor), because that's his ring tone.  We talk for a minute about it, and while he doesn't think the man is here he would like to see the pic.  You're at Happy Hour?  Be right there.

What?  Uh............

At least I didn't have too much time to think about it, because he was indeed right there. Upon examining the photo, no it wast his Nigerian step father, who is fifteen or so years his junior. Brown Eyes probably stayed and visited for a half hour, it was all too surreal for me.  When Boomer got a little carried away with some female business he made a quick escape. :)  We all laughed, and then Boomer said.  "Gee I like him.  He's funny, he should join us more often."  I'm sure the look I shot her was pretty heartbroken.  "Um, HELLO?"  "Oh, yeah..... sorry."

That called for another whiskey coke, which went down way too fast.  Leading to an inebriated shopping trip next door for eggs, butter, and peanut butter and long discussions about types and prices of said peanut butter.  I really wanted to go home after that, but knew that I shouldn't drive, so I changed partners from Boomer (ditched I tell ya) to Sandy and her pal "Lady B" and headed down to V.I.P. to hang out and sober up.

At some point there were three texts between me and #2.  While I enjoy his company, and we did have fun again last Tuesday, my gut is telling me "wait, something isn't right."  My gut isn't wrong, where I go wrong is when I second guess myself and don't listen.  So while I'm not scrapping it yet, the caution flag is out.

Stuck with Lady B is always interesting, in ways I will not share.  Unlike Herself, who will (and did) share every detail of her life, no matter how personal.  I know things I never wanted to know, nor did I ask to know.  Now, I will talk like this with my gals sometimes.  The girl talk can get down right "blue waffle" raunchy.....but they are my girls, she is not.  Do not share things about your "Lady Business" (hence her name) with people you barely know.  It isn't seemly.  As my father would say...... Uncouth. :)

So I wound up back home safe and sound around ten.  Although pretty banged up on the inside.  Nothing happens for weeks, then in the span of a few hours I get pulled six ways to Sunday.  Windows slam shut, doors open, and reality slaps me in the face, hard.  Someday I will tell you that I'm well and truly over it, over him.  Today my friends, is just not that day.

We have two more Friday the thirteenths this year.  I should probably look them up on the calendar, use vacation days, and go hide somewhere..............without my cell phone. :)

Words!

Hello, my name is Jo, and I am addicted to Words With Friends.

I don't even like the game of Scrabble, never have.  I'm much better at trivia games, because there's a lot of useless nonsense rattling around up in my head.  I also do well at games where you have to think quick.  If you have to plot and plan out your move to gain the best points, and really need to take your time thinking it over, well......  I do my best when I'm shootin' from the hip.

So why can I not put the phone down?  It isn't like I'm beating many people, although I have won a few games.  My goal is to lose to a few smarty pants' by less than 100 points, and I am close to making that a reality tonight, although that dang Melanie just pulled out a "ZA" in one of the final plays.  I love when my friend Kerri cheats......... I just want to send a message to her saying "use that word in a sentence".  :)  I'm playing with friends all over the country, and I just love it!

My childhood game playing nemesis caught up with me last night and we now have started a match.  Scrabble wasn't one of our favorite summer afternoon games, but we did play sometimes.  I'm sure I never won, as I said above, not my favorite, and not that great at it.  Plus, she knows my weakness for music, and would turn it on at every opportunity to distract me.  Well that ain't gonna work this time sister!  Got my game face on, so bring it!

I already have had to put a curfew on Words With Friends.  Eleven o'clock on a school night, period.  I'm such a bitch. :)  Hmmm.... how many points is that?

Nod and Smile

~Barbara Jean Goddard Stahl
November 23, 1967 - December 28, 2011

Life always has a way of putting things back into the proper perspective.  The dating woes of "Does he like me?",  "Do I like him?", really don't matter at all in the large picture.  What will be will be.  We can try our best to muddle along, but in the end, what will be will be.

This afternoon I found out that an old friend of mine died yesterday, from a sudden illness.  We worked together in the early nineties at the "Y", and were even roommates from '91-'93.  She is one of two people I've ever shared my space with on a permanent basis, if you don't count family.

Of course, as people do, we lost touch over the years.  I bought my first home, and she started subbing for the school district on a regular basis, so she was done working for the "Y".  We would run into each other from time to time at the store and do the quick catch up.

The things that stuck with me about her over time were her neat freakness, :)  and how much she wanted to be a teacher, and settle down with a husband and family of her own.  She achieved all of those things, and now leaves behind stunned students, a husband and two children.  According to her obituary she was preceded in death by a son.  That I did not know.  It had been quite some time since I had run into her, and we didn't hang out in the same circles.

Strangely enough I saw her three weeks ago when I had my car in at Walmart to replace the battery.  She was in the clothing aisle with her daughter, and I was on the main aisle heading back to pick up my car.  She was busy, I was in a hurry, and while we noticed each other, we just did the "nod and smile".  I see you, you see me, we're both too busy to chat but hey, take care.  You don't think about it in the moment, but I sure regret that today.  You think I would know that lesson by now.  Take a minute, say hello, say good-bye, do not leave things undone or unsaid, do not just assume you will have another chance, because in the end what will be will be.

While I haven't spent time with you in a long time, I will miss you Barb.  I'm glad you found the life you always wanted, and I'm so sorry that you had to leave it.  Rest in peace my friend. ♥

Pay it Forward

Wow...... this afternoon I am humble.  In the last two days I have had so many people take a couple of minutes out of their own day to help me with mine that it is amazing.  Most of them with offers of help that weren't even asked for, and the few people I did ask were more than eager to lend a hand.

I started my day as usual, up with no time to spare, get ready, heat up some coffee, grab the lunch and out the door.  That's where the trouble started.  Two degrees above zero, and a dead car in the garage.  On a warmer day I would have called work laughing and said "Yep, I'll be walking and you'll see me when I get there."  It can't even be a mile from here.  Instead it was, "I'm going to make a few calls and I'll get back to you."  Trying the old stand by's, Steve (no answer) and Kate (I can get ya at 8:30, Tom is working and I have to get CC on the bus.) weren't available, so I thought well.... Darrin does just live two blocks down, but it went to voicemail.  Bah. 

Of course I notice that the phone battery is now showing yellow. (great) I am also freezing my butt off outside.  So I decide to come in, drink the quickly cooling coffee, bundle up a little more, and call work.  I walk in the door, take a swig of said coffee, and my phone rings.  It's a number I don't know.  Oh well, what the heck?  It was Amanda from work.  She had called in to work to say she was running behind, and April told her to swing by and grab me!  "Do you need a ride?"  :)

Yesterday was our Christmas, oh I'm sorry, Holiday Program.  The kids did a fantastic job!  This presented another problem.  Anna (of course because you can ALWAYS count on Anna) told me she would grab me when she was finished with work, bring me to the program, and then take me on over to the Christmas party at Aces afterwards.  So that was covered.  She also brought me home. :)

There was a possibility that I would have to work a little later, so Kate couldn't grab me from work.  CeCe and the dang bus again. :)  Hmmmm.....  so I texted Steve and he said he'd grab me at 4.  Then later in the day it looked like he would be working late and I would be stuck, but when Christy saw me waiting she offered me a ride home.  So thanks to Christy and Mark for getting me home from work.

My brother and I touched base during the day, and this morning he and the artist formerly known as Pablo pushed my car out of the garage and gave it a jump.  He also gave me the jumper cables to keep, and followed me to Walmart where I got a new battery installed.  It was fun to watch Jerry teach Paul about the cables, how they work, and then watching him let Paul take the last ones off.

Paul and I (he's nine) talked about Santa, and before I could even start I got  "You can stop, the jig is up."  I reminded him that "If you do not believe, you do not receive." So then he changed his tune a little. 

My friend Melanie had some issues with the Walmart service center last week, so I was a little nervous, (plus it's Walmart) but it went really smooth, friendly people, and I even got a quote on the tires which is actually do-able once the xmas season is over.  (Please God hear that one.)  I had to wander the Walmart for an hour, and I was terrified.  However, I found that when I'm browsing and people watching, the Walmart is the place to be.  It's when I'm fighting the Walmartians that the trouble starts.

So a big thanks to all of you who helped me get from A to B to C to DEFG yesterday!  I really appreciate it, and I am looking for the opportunity to pay it forward this Christmas season!  I'll blog about the program/evening another time.  First I wanted to say thanks.  OH, how could I forget!?  In twenty years working at the YMCA I never received as much as a Christmas card.  This year I received a Walmart gift card from the owner, and an Ace's card from the director.  A parent that I don't even know paid for our first round of drinks! ( There's an idea for you parents out there who want to show appreciation LOL) So my dinner was paid for, and the Walmart card helped me out of a financial predicament today.  The gifts were nice and much appreciated.  However, knowing that I and my hard work are appreciated is priceless.  :)

Women Rock!

Saturday was spent in the company of some fine women from all over the northland, and of course my gals, Boomer and Sandy.  (They really like the alias thing.)  First we drove up to Spirit Mountain in Duluth to attend "Women Rock".  It's a fundraiser for breast cancer.  Several vendors were set up, lots of drawings and freebies.  We saw part of a marital arts demonstration.  There were some interesting things in the silent auction, and champagne for a dollar!  No booze for me, but I owed Boomer a dollar....

Boomer and I were also able to get a free chair massage, which was divine.  There was also a dude giving $15 massages on a table, which I'm sure were great, but I didn't really feel comfortable lying out there like that in front of the crowd.  I'm thinking that might just be my Christmas present to myself though.  I certainly could use one, in private that is.

The girls and I careened (and I do mean that, Boomer was driving) our way back over to Superior where there was a similar function going on at V.I.P.  although not a fund raiser.  We found our old Party Lite "dealer" Arlene, and Sandy got all set up for a party in a few weeks.  So if any of you need candles, I can hook you up!  I got to see how the Miche bags work, up close and personal.  I think it's a neat idea, but I just can't give up the "feed bag" that I carry around.  I love that purse.  Lets see... I won a pumice stone brush for your feet, and got to see some very, VERY scary belly dancers.  I mean, you go girl, but yikes!  Ah, I almost forgot the free pizza! 

It turns out that Superior was hosting an event this weekend, but I hadn't seen it advertised anywhere.  I think it was called "Girls Day Out."  You got a card and had to go to six area business' and have the card punched.  So we were out and about Superior then for the rest of the afternoon.  I honestly had only been into one of those businesses before (The Rocking Horse) so it really was a good promotional thing!  We also hit a few places not on the list, ending with an estate sale a few blocks from here.  That was gross.  Upscale house on Hammond, but the inside was totally original from the time it was built.  The upstairs smelled like pee, and the basement..... I don't know.  I had to hold my breath. 

All in all it was a good day.  I also had a unique opportunity to remind one woman that she does indeed rock!  I meant what I said.  You are a strong woman, you can do this.  It's the right thing to do........ and I always have your back, even if I'm in the car.  :) 

Year 41

I thought I'd like to write a blog about the year that was.  Now, as I'm staring at the "blank page" I'm thinking, not so much.  It sucked.  Rocks.  Big time.  Once again my mettle was tested, and I came out on top, but I already know these things about myself.  The steel rod that my spine has become, not by choice, was bent just about to the breaking point, yet here I am.  It took a very, very long time this time around, but here I am.

Stronger...... no doubt.
Wiser......probably.
More jaded......is that possible?

Sometimes, like Pollyanna, I try to play the glad game.  There are positive things that happen every day, even if it's just that you have one more day to see the sunset, the stars, the moon.  During this year I have had the chance to reconnect with a couple of very special people, and to spend more time just having fun and enjoying life with my friends than I have in years.

I have learned a couple of things about myself that actually surprised me, but those would fall into the "private" category. (I KNOW, can you believe I don't tell you everything?  With the stuff I do tell, can you imagine what I leave out?)  Anyway, I will tell you the most important thing I've come to find out.  I can do this on my own, and I love being on my own.  Just about my entire life has been centered around some man and what they think, plan, do, like, etc, etc, at nausium.   I've finally reached the point where I have been truly able to shift my thinking to focus on myself first.  That doesn't mean I don't date, I do on occasion.  I have a few really close male friends too, nice guys who are actually managing to show me a different side to men than I'm used to seeing.

The best part of year 41?  That one falls into the "I'm not telling" catagory, but it has something to do with bees. :)  That and remembering that you can always find the positive, if you look hard enough, and THAT my friends is what you need to focus on!

Pimped Out

News Flash: Ernie is NOT gay.  I could write a whole blog about how you parents have ruined Sesame Street, but that one will have to wait for another day.  Don't you people have enough to do with your full time jobs and your two point five children?  Anyway.......

Today was the annual "East End Fun Days" where they have miles of rummage sales running down fifth street in Superior.  I have an irritating cold with a barking cough, but I still headed over to Lisa's garage at eight a.m. to sit out with her and sell our wares.  I didn't realize that I was going to be part of the deal!

All was going well, lots of folks coming and going, got to see Wally's sister Shelley, which is always nice.  I see her every year at the sale, and it's always right around his birthday (tomorrow) which seems fitting.  So I am sitting there innocently, (that's how it always starts) bagging up peoples items, talking with Lisa, and waiting for Melanie, Kerri, and Shelly to come and entertain us with whatever treasure's they've found.  One year we held a costume contest, and Shelly won when she appeared in a sumo suit.  I won this year, and I didn't even have a costume..........

All of the sudden, THIS comes parading in the doorway.    Lisa and I were quite impressed.  Ernie in a prom dress ranked right up with the best cosutmes the girls have ever come up with.  We discuss asking if we could take his picture, and Lisa took a chance.  "Can we take your picture?"  "Sure, for a kiss." came the reply from within the Ernie mask.  "Ok," returned Lisa "She'll give you one."  What?  Wait a minute here!

So Lisa takes the pic, and I think "It's o.k.  I am a pretty good sport, if he's serious I'll give him a big peck on the cheek. "  Ernie comes on over, whips up his mask, and I am looking at Anthony Michael Hall from all those 80's movies, a little most muscular, with acne.  He was probably twenty.  I stand up to kiss his cheek and he plants a big kiss square on my mouth.  Yes.  He did.

I'm sure my eyes were wide open with shock, and while not a deep, romantic kiss, he held it long enough. blah.  Then he puts the Ernie mask back on and says to his buddy "I almost slipped her a little tounge." to which I replied "I hope you enjoy my cold."

Violated by a muppet.  What next?

Candy Corn Nightmare

What is it about me that brings out the creepers, and more importantly why do they have to touch me???  This time Lisa got it too, and I was snickering to myself while in the middle of composing a text to Officer Dave about the new drink I was trying.  Then I got it three times worse.  Ah, Karma.

Now, this gentleman has some issue.  I don't think it's developmental, maybe a stroke, or C.P., or it could be a rough time with drugs.  The way he holds himself and walks gave that part away immediately.  I certainly wouldn't pick on the disabled.  When you add in very drunk and touching me, well then you get written about.   I saw him come out for a smoke numerous times, and just had a bad feeling something was going to happen.

We were finished with our drinks and the deep fried mushroom appetizer, (it's ok, but nothing to write about) just sitting enjoying the nice evening and talking about our individual weeks and individual plans for the rest of the evening.  Minding our own beezwax, dressed appropriately, neither of us inviting anyone into our personal space, that's for sure.  I got a text from Dave, so read it and started to respond when I noticed the aforementioned gentleman weaving his way toward Lisa. *snicker*  He grabbed her hand and said good-bye to her, something about having a good time, and that she's pretty.  I don't know, I was texting and snickering.  Then he kissed her hand, and I snickered some more.  She was polite and played along, and I thought that was it.  My ammunition for when she teases me about the old man incident.  Oh, I was so wrong.

Then he steps right up to me and holds out his hand, as if to shake hands, so of course I stop the text and shake his hand.  One hand in his, my phone gripped in the other.  He holds my hand, and will not let go.  I can tell something isn't "right" with him so I am very polite.  "What's your name?"  It's Scott.  He still wont let go.  "Look, she wont let go of my hand.  She wants me!"  He nods toward Lisa, "You were nice, but she is CUTE!"  He's still grabbing my hand.  Grinning at me with chew stuck in his teeth.  He says good bye, so I think it's over, and I've made it through pretty unscathed.  Yeah, I know better.

So Scott takes a couple of steps to pass me, then stops and says "Oh you have such cute little ears." Then he proceeds to start rubbing my left ear.  Lisa is practically laughing out loud.  Then some comment about my nose and he tweaked that a few times.  (insert any really bad words you like here) I laughed good naturedly and then thank God he moved on.  Why?????   ARG!

My sister in law, Elise, says " Because it's good luck to rub the head of a dwarf."  Very funny Mrs.  You wont know how, you wont know when, but I'll be paying you back for that one!

In closing, I once again implore drunk men everywhere to KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELVES!  I know I'm little, I know my ears are cute, I know I have some other nice assets.  It doesn't give you the right to get into my space!  I think Lisa and I continued our conversation for a few minutes, then she couldn't stand it anymore and brought out the candy corn hand sanitizer.  I borrowed some, and yes I put it on my ear and my nose too. :)  Smelled too yummy, it was time to leave the bar!  Heaven knows what else would have happened. 

Had a nice dinner with Steve, salmon on the grill rocks!  Watched "Due Date" which should have been MUCH better than it was.  Home by 8:30, in bed asleep before 11:00.  Yep, summer must be over. :)

Hamstrings and Salmon

TGIF!  This Friday will be starting off with Happy Hour as usual, (at Keyport) but then things are going to go a little more low key.  First of all I pulled my right hamstring, and on occasion it hurts like an s.o.b.  I almost said s.o.b. when I went to sit on the floor with the kids at nap time.  The son part came out, then I clamped my mouth shut.  The spiderman ice pack came in handy!  Lisa wanted to go to the Spartan game again, but I just don't think I can manage sitting on the bleachers.  Ouch!  Beautiful night for it though, and  this is probably our last summer weekend if the long range forecast is to be believed.  That little weather man who irritates me said the "s" word a few days ago.  Someone should arrest him, it isn't even the middle of September!

That's right, it isn't the middle of the month.  Today is September ninth.  My Mother in Law would have been ninety-one today.  After an hour or so out on the deck at Keyport I'm going to head a block over and have salmon on the grill with Steve.  I didn't feel right leaving him to his own devices today.  I've been down this road.......more times than I wish to dwell on, and I know how hard all of the "firsts" are.  We would usually have Ruth over for a birthday bbq, because for some reason her birthday was always hot as hell. One year it even hit 100.  Today it's in the 80's.  She would request spice cake for dessert, but that's not happening tonight.  She's really the only one who was partial to it.  I can eat a piece, but that's it.  Steve would always complain because it wasn't chocolate.  When it's your birthday, YOU get to pick the dessert.  Thems the rules around my castle.

So we'll get together to celebrate her life, instead of mourning her loss.  Although we do that too.  I still have a very little bit of the lemon sherbet that I bought for Ruth and I to share a few days before she passed away.  I just can't bring myself to toss it out yet.  That's not usually how I operate, although  I'm not psycho like my own mother, she cleared the house of all Dad's things before he was in the ground.  When I moved out you would never have known I spent seventeen years in that house.  Steve's family is the opposite.  We were cleaning out both his Dad's and Mom's things because Ruth couldn't bear to part with them, even ten years later.  I think I fall somewhere in the middle.  It needs to be done, and I handle it in a timely manner.  Although, I must say, when I end a relationship everything goes so that I don't have to look at it.  I have a treasure box where I allow myself to hold on to ONE thing.  It's an odd collection.  There's a sweatshirt string, a quarter, a bolt, some art,  but I know who they belonged to and why they are there.

My home though is filled with things passed down to me by the women in my family who are no longer here.  Mostly prior to their deaths, and I treasure, and use every piece.  Including a decorative pillow of Ruth's that I snagged for my bed, and a basket of flowers she had that I always liked.  It sits proudly on my living room end table.  My brothers found my Grandma's cane and gave it to me as a gag gift for Christmas a couple of years back.  I loved it!  I have it displayed, and Caitlin always plays with it (she's odd) when she's here, which I allow.  Things are meant to be used and loved.  Another thing taught to me by those same women.  When the kids are here nothing is off limits if they are gentle.  So far everything has remained in one piece.  Although I did freak out when Caitlin started monkeying with the cat toys I have placed with Misty and Pepper's ashes........

Wow did this blog ramble off into territory I hadn't planned on.  Well, that's the way of it with me, especially in September.   Enjoy your Friday night!  I plan to.  Drinks with friends, then a great salmon dinner not cooked by me!  Even if I have to sit on an ice pack......

The Rest

The vacation story was rudely interrupted by the birthday of Ashlyn.  Sorry about that!  Now it's almost been a week since my vacation so I'll have to think about the highlights.

Lets see, we went to the aquarium, then ate at

I sat outside while the other girls did some shopping here.  NO I couldn't bring myself to go in.

We shopped while we waited for our names to be called at the Rainforest Cafe.  Then we hung around the gift shop.  Here's Kate, hanging around.

We decided to split the appetizer platter, and then order a "Volcano" for dessert.  It's brownie and ice cream, and whipped cream.  Here it is!

This is what we did to it!  It was very sad that we had to waste a section of brownie, but we were SO FULL!  We just needed a fourth to finish it up.

After that we wandered purposefully up to the second floor of the mall.  Have I ever mentioned that I am terrified of escalators?  I always feel like I'm going to fall.  We had to have gone up/down 10 at least.  I always make myself do it, but man I hate it.  Anyway, we went to find the store "Marbles" where our cousin Natalie "works."  It's a brain store full of games, and I put the parenthesis around "works" because she does an awful lot of playing at her job!  I walk up to the store and I see her playing "rock, paper, scissors" with another employee and some customers.  I peek around the register and surprised her with "Nice to see you hard at work Natalie!"  The look on her face was priceless.  Picked up something cool for The Artist Formerly Known as Pablo for Christmas.

After that we decided to call it a day.  The mall used to have a lot of really cool stores to browse through, but it seems like they are mostly clothing stores now.  Steve and I could easily hang out there for a whole day and not get bored.  The drive back through the cities was gorgeous at sunset, tried to capture it with the camera, but it didn't turn out well.  We also saw the coolest "angel" coming out of the clouds.  I tried several times to get it with the phone cam, but it was just too dark. 

Upon arriving home I kicked Vicki and Katy's butt's at Meg's Mythology trivia contest.  Even with Meghan trying to cheat and help her mother win.  Then the kids were off to bed and the three of us ended our night on the deck, visiting and hottubbing under a clear, crisp, starry sky.

Me, Vicki, Kate

We headed home about noon on Sunday.  It was an amazingly fun time, and I hope it doesn't take six years to do it again!!

Hairspray!

By nine a.m. Saturday morning we were on our way to Chanhassen to enjoy some fine dining and theater!  I have seen two movie versions of Hairspray, the one where Rikki Lake plays Tracy, and the one where John Travolta plays her Mom, Edna.  I like both of those, so I knew I would love this, and I did!  The food was great, I had the fish, and the musical was energetic and hilarious.  I especially loved the gal who played Motormouth Mabel.  Her name is Aimee Bryant, and apparently she has a cd out.  I'm going to have to look into that. Wow did she have a set of pipes.  When she sang "I Know Where I've Been" she almost brought me to tears.  The man who played "Seaweed" definitely fits Kerri's definition of "sexual chocolate".  When the cast came and danced with the audience he stopped about five feet from us!  Five feet too short, the story of my life. 

At Chanhassen they deliver your dessert during intermission, which is a good plan.  People would definitely be too full to spend any extra cash right after dinner!  Vicki and Kate had some ice cream things, and I had a grasshopper.  MMMMmmmmm is was minty smooth and so delicious!  The theater itself is spectacular and we spent a lot of time exploring it before our lunch.  Unfortunately my phone camera doesn't have a flash (that we have found yet anyway) so we couldn't get any pictures at all from Chanhassen.

Funny story about the drive over, which I believe took about forty-five minutes.  Vicki has GPS, so we put in the coordinates and away we go.  When we arrived in Chanhassen the lovely lady told us to turn onto Amrstrong and "in two blocks you will see your destination to the right."  Well, we were talking and drove right on by, or so we thought.  Vicki turned the car around and back down Armstrong we went.  One would think you couldn't hide a dinner theater........ Turn the car around again, and back down Armstrong we drive, eyes peeled for a theater, and nothing.  Then we headed to the gas station on the right side of the street.  Vicki gets out, heads on in, and proceeds to get laughed at.  When she asked where the theater was the man pointed out the window, right across the street.  Now in our defense, we did also look to the left, because GPS can definitely steer you wrong. (pun intended)  The theater is somewhat set back behind some construction.  I have no excuse for not seeing the big sign......

All in all we were there for five hours.  Tons of fun, and I would definitely go again!  Now that I know it's on the left.....  So we piled into the car again, and headed off toward the Mall of America!  Kate had never seen the aquarium, so that was our next destination.

On Our Way

Wow, what a fun weekend!  I can't tell you how good it felt to get the heck out of here and spend some time with old friends.  I didn't want to leave today, and I'm not glad to be home.  I could have easily spent the day visiting with the kids.  I don't get to spend nearly enough time with them, and had nothing to rush home to. Of course my sister, who was driving, had CeCe (and Tom) here waiting for her.  It's the first time Kate has gotten to go anywhere since CeCe arrived six years ago, if you don't count hospital trips, and that is a very necessary part of being a good parent.(She says like she has a clue.)  Having a bit of your own time, I mean. 

Kate picked me up on Friday at eleven, and after some banking, and running to Kmart to purchase a coffee maker, we were on the road.  When we arrived in North Branch we were met with a car coming straight at us down the off ramp.  Luckily he/she moved over, and then realized they were going the wrong way and turned around at the bottom without incident.  After that we scoped it out and decided to grab a bite of lunch at Denny's first.  This is what greeted us.

Yes, that is Denny's.  Yes, that is a hearse to the right.  We had a good time playing "Who is the driver of the hearse?" while waiting for our food, and we guessed it right.  It was the gentleman dressed in sweats and a tank top, with shoulder length hair.  His bangs were pulled away from his face with.....a scrunchy.  Yes.  A scrunchy.  This dude kept eyeing me up, and was making me nervous.  My sister had her back to him.  At one point she went to the ladies room and I begged her not to leave me.  I did not want another "incident" to blog about.  I just kept really busy on my phone while she was away.  When she came back she got a good look at him and said "Oh, is that why you didn't want me to go?"  I nodded and she agreed that he must be the hearse driver.

We downed our lunch, palatable patty melt and a bacon cheeseburger, and headed over to the outlet mall to do some shopping.  I exercised my self control and only bought a few little bubble baths at Bath and Body Works.  It also helped that my sister followed me around saying things like "This is the first store, do you really want to spend ALL your money here?"  Thanks Kate.  Well, my checkbook thanks you anyway.....  CeCe scored some excellent pants and t's from Oshkosh B'gosh though!

After a few hours, don't worry Kate, I wont tell about you getting stuck on the low couch, we continued on down the road to Vicki and Bob's.  Nice drive and it felt so good to be out in the world!  When we arrived at the Bed and Breakfast (after only one wrong turn, that was the direction givers fault) I asked the proprietor where my suite was.  True to form Bob pointed my way back out the front door.  Some things never change. 

We had a great dinner, prepared by Bob, and then some time visiting with all of them.  I got to play the piano with Meg, and Thaniel and I played with "Littlest Pet Shop" toys.  Meghan also gave a crash course on Greek Mythology (Yeah, she's just like her father.) with a quiz to follow.  I payed close attention to the things I didn't already know as Meg decided there would be a trivia contest between Vicki, Kate, and myself.  Now, I have NEVER lost a trivia contest of any kind to those two, even when they team up on me, so I had to be prepared!  After the kids went to bed we visited for another hour or so and then called it a night.

Part two to follow. :)  Otherwise this would be WAY too long.

Wait!  I almost forgot about Spike!  I can't put the kids in my blog, their father doesn't want them on the net, and I respect that, but that doesn't include the pets!  Meg and Thaniel have a dog, Belle, a cat, Sam, and a bearded dragon named Spike!  I could not bring myself to touch the creature, it kept looking at me like it wanted to take a bite out of me.  *shudder*  Here he is on Vicki's lap, and Kate is being the brave one.

Getaway!

Tomorrow my sister Kate and I are heading off to the Twin Cities for a long weekend!  This is the first time Kate has been away from her family since CeCe arrived six years ago.  This is the first getaway for me (if you don't count dating someone in Two Harbors for a couple of months....four years ago)since my honeymoon!  Sad to admit, that was almost six years ago.  Of course, we were in the the Twin Cities then too.  I just don't have the time right now to go, and when I did have the time I didn't have the money.  Also, a good portion of my vacation time tends to be eaten up by family things.  I take plenty of "me" time, but I guess it's always close to home.  I truly didn't realize until I was talking with *"Officer Dave" the other night how long it had been since I have gotten out of here!

We haven't set the plan for tomorrow yet, which is surprising because my sister likes to have anything and everything planned out months in advance.  You think I'm exaggerating, but I'm not.  She ought to be asking me about Christmas any day now. :)  We are going to do some shopping at Tanger, which I hear goes by another name now, North Branch something or other.  So I guess it depends on where/when she wants to have lunch what time we will head out. 

Kate and I are traveling down to "The Bob Bentz Bed and Breakfast" which is what I like to call my friend Vicki's house.  Bob would be her husband.  It isn't a very good Band B since she can't even tell me if they have a coffee pot.  I am in a semi panic about this, because I MUST HAVE COFFEE.  I have my old maker in a box in the garage, and if I don't hear back from Vicki, I'll just bring it along.  She has known me my entire life, you would think she could fathom how important this is!  They are in a pretty rural suburb.  It's isn't like I can skip on down to the gas station, or Mc D's for a cup.

Saturday we'll head down to Chanhassin to enjoy a delicious lunch and matinee performance of "Hair Spray".  That is my "pick" for what to do, and I'm very excited about it!  Then we'll head over to the Mall of America and go to the Aquarium, which Kate has never been to.  I also need to do some birthday shopping for the girls, and Vicki's daughter Meg, who had a birthday this week.

I'm hoping to convince Vicki and Kate (my tea totaling friends) to hit a happy hour down that way on Friday night!  We haven't talked about it, so I'm not sure if Vicki already has something planned for us.  I'm all for going with the flow.  I'm just glad to be going!

* I have so many Dave's that have come in and out of my life, that for people "in the know" I wrote "Officer Dave" :)  For you enquiring minds out there....... mind yer business. ;)  Just kidding.  He's a good friend, who I happened to graduate with.  He might shudder when he sees the word friend (then again he might be relieved) but it's a distance thing, per usual.  "Friend" just doesn't seem to quite cover it.  Stay tuned. :)

Homeless (H.H.W.T)

Well, I promised to tone this part of my blog down..... so here are the facts.  We will no longer be giving The Shack in Superior, WI our business.  In the process of re-structuring they have chosen to boot out some very dedicated employees.  That, of course, is their right as an owner.  We, as patrons, also reserve the right not to spend our money, or encourage our friends to spend their money in your establishment.  The end.

So now we really are floating around out there looking for a home base!  Our night began across the bridge in Duluth, MN.  There's a new bar/restaurant that we have wanted to try, located in the old Grandma's in West Duluth.  It's called G.B. Schneider's and it is FABULOUS!  We went inside to check out the atmosphere, very comfy and cozy looking.  Then of course we sat out on the patio with the smokers.  Which is funny because I'm allergic to smoke and was delighted when they were booted outside...... 

The people were warm and friendly, and the server (Jon) was knowledgeable and chatty, which we like.  The fish sandwich (talapia) was flaky, juicy, and very good.  I wont miss the Shack's at all now that I've found this.  The fries were good.....the same fries you get everywhere.  Good happy hour offerings, excellent prices, great food.  The only complaint comes from Lisa.  How can Miller Lite not be in your happy hour pricing??? (edit by Kerri:  They have Miller lite on TAP, not in the bottle as Lisa prefers....something else about the waiter being sexual chocolate......) We will definitely be back.  Looks like a cozy winter home for sure.

When we finished up at G.B's we headed back to Superior to check out Keyport.  For some reason we always overlook this place, but no more!  They have a deck added on now and we sat out there for a drink (vodka w/pink lemonade mmmmmmm) and perused their menu.  Good happy hour deals, excellent prices, so we will be going back for dinner one of these weeks.  Close to home, so that may be where we ultimately land.

It was a LONG night for me, as I am fighting an awful cold.  I took off work early and took a two hour nap before even heading out.  After Keyport we headed over for a Barry fix at V.I.P.  Spent at least an hour there playing "Pass the Pigs" which we used to play at the cabin as kids, and Heidi came and joined us at that point.  We wandered across the street to "Third Base" bar, because Kerri's hubby was there, but he had left.  That was a little "seedy".  We didn't stay.  Stopped in at Charlie Brown's in Billings Park (speaking of seedy....) and then walked down to Jimmy's where we did stay for a drink.  I think I was home by eleven.  I should also mention that all this wandering around was done in the rain.  Did I mention that I have a bad cold?  That was not a smart idea, and I'm suffering for it today.

I did leave my blog info on the comment card at G.B. Schneiders.  Hopefully they'll stop by and check this out.  If you haven't tried them I highly recommend that you do! 

I think next week we are returning to the Kounty Quarthouse since Lisa missed out on that one.  It's either that or Keyport. Then we have at least one week off as Kerri and I will both be out of town the last weekend in August.  That's the weekend I'll be taking you along to the Twin Cities with my "other" girls!

The Girls

Wow.  This time, what happens with the girls...... you know the end of that sentence.  Normally I don't go out on Saturday nights.  Friday night with the girls is plenty of out time for me.

So this is the blog of how it all began.  Once upon a time, roughly sixteen years ago, I met Lisa.  She started out as my co-worker, then when Em was two she became one of my "parents", and then a few years later she became my assistant and stayed with my class for five years.  When Lisa left the Y for bigger and much better pastures we started the tradition of once a month dinners.  This usually happened on a Wednesday because it fit Lisa's working Mom schedule best.  Now and again another friend from work would join us, her name is Nikki and she and Lisa are very close.  Nikki was also a grade behind me in High School.  So we started out as three gals with a once a month dinner date.   Somewhere along the line Lisa brought her friend Kerri to join us.  It was so long ago I really can barely remember her not being there.  Then we were four.

The Wednesday dinners continued, but became bi-weekly, and sometimes on a Friday you could find us at  Nikki's for Qwazadilla night (spelled that way for a reason), but I can't quite recall how Happy Hour actually began.  It just seems like we've been sitting on that deck at The Shack forever, but it's only been open for two summers.  Nikki moved away a few years back, and that must be when we started going to C's on Friday nights.  It has only been this summer since I've started staying out past seven. 

The group size changes, our individual friends are always welcome, and yes from time to time a man does get into the inner circle.  So far Jared (Michelle) has been the only one brave enough to sit down and hang for any length of time.  Barry the Bartender will hang close when we're at V.I.P. and of course there was Skippy (I miss Skippy), and Jon floats in and out, and Tom and Brian at the Shack will chat a bit. 

Last night Nikki (and her hairy legs) was in town.  I gave her a lot of crap because she couldn't come out with us on Friday night the last time she was up........so she called to drag me out on a Saturday night.  I'm pretty sure the word "no" was not an option on my part.  They know where I live, and lets just say I didn't want to find out what would happen. :)  We started out at Log Cabin (Heidi joined us there)  to see Mike Lawlers comedy act, not that funny.......except for the part where Kerri sold Nikki out and she ended up on stage.  Hmm..... then there was Kerri singing karaoke, a song dedicated to Nikki with some words changed here and there.  Midnight dinner at V.I.P. and visiting with Barry.  We drove past the street dance between Grizzlies and O'Neils but it looked pretty boring, and I had the car keys by then.  Nothing better than drunk girls screaming Brittney Spears to the blaring music as you cruise down Tower with the windows down, unless you include the Chinese fire drill.  We ended at Dodgies, (Would someone tell me why that place always smells so awful?) which is close to Lisa's and our own vehicles.

I guess it was about one thirty when I drove Heidi back home, and then ambled my way back here.  Fun for sure, but not something I'm planning on making a habit of.  Thanks for a great time ladies!  Have you seen any giant trees lately? 

Disco Fever (H.H.W.T.)

Last night we traveled back out to the county to a bar/restaurant that several of our friends recommended.  It has a clever name, Kounty (the K I assume is for highway K) Quarthouse.  It's all new and shiny inside, really nice wooden bar, huge comfy booths, friendly people, very clean, and Oh. My. God. the food!  To your left is a picture of the "Disco Fries".  Fries, gravy, and a ton of provolone cheese.  Straight from heaven, right to the hips, and I do not care.  Kerri and I shared some as an appetizer, and that would have been enough dinner for me right there.  However, I could not leave without trying something else.  There were just too many good looking things on the menu.

We met Melanie out at the Quarthouse, and it was she, Kerri and I for this part of the evening.  Lisa was traveling back from touring the U of M with her daughter, which was probably a good thing because I'm not really sure what a vegetarian would find to eat at the Quarthouse.  Meat, meat, meat, and bacon in/on most of it, including the apps.  Heck there's even an app that is deep fried bacon!  I was having a hard time deciding until I came across this burger

This is the Black and Blue burger.  It has a light Cajun seasoning, which concerned me because I don't like it hot, but it wasn't, it was just goooooooooood.  The deep fried onions, piled on thick, with bacon and blue cheese, plus some blue cheese on the side.  Yes, those are more fries.  I knew this dinner would be mostly coming home for tonight, and hey, what the heck?  This burger was at least four inches high.  When we go back, and we will go back, I will have a hard time trying something new because it was that good.  It blows Rapid's "Olive You" burger right out of the water. 

I also ran into two gals from work, Megan and Allison, and Allison's Mom who used to date Kerri's uncle.  That's the seven degree's of separation in Superior.  You can usually connect yourself to anyone around here, but I really think it's only four or five degrees at most. 

So the girls and I had a good time, oh and the whiskey coke?  I almost choked on it.  That was a very little splash of coke!  Kerri says "That's how they do it in the county."  Once the ice melted a bit it was fabulous. 

This appeared to be a relatively calm Friday night out.  Good food, good friends, and when Melanie and Kerri are together there's always a ton of laughing.   Finally it's time to head back into town to meet Lisa, so we get up and start to make our way towards the back door, but someone stops Melanie to chat.   I don't realize it, but we're in part of the walkway.  So I'm just standing there minding my own beeswax, listening to the conversation, and damn if it doesn't happen again.  One hand on each of my shoulders, really squeezing like a semi-hug, and a body right behind me.  The voice in my ear says "Excuse me, Miss." (well....at least it wasn't Ma'am)  Now, my brain thinks, "Ok, now this must be someone I know."  So I turn my head and, uh, no.....and oh brother.  Behind me stands a man in his 50's with very dark, shoulder length, slick, hair, and thick glasses.  He is wearing a black silk shirt cut very low, showing his entire chest, with the wiry greying chest hair displayed for all the world to see.  I said "Whoops, sorry." and gave him the death eyes as I stepped back.  (Insert rant about "no touching" here.)  I didn't freak out this time, just one loud,  "Damn it, NO TOUCHING!" after we walked out the back door.  Which of course sent Kerri into laughing and commentary.  As we were pulling out he came out of the front door for a smoke, so of course she had to honk.  *eye roll*  He really fit right in with the "disco" fries.......

We tried to meet Lisa at Aces, and it was so humid last night, I was really looking forward to a watermelon martini (sorry Val), but there was a class reunion there so we headed off to the deck at the Shack.  Had myself a Hillbilly lemonade, and a liberal dose of Kerri's bug spray was applied!  The skeeters were a very unwelcome guest at the deck party.  Tom, one of the servers was not.  He was off the clock, strolled on over to join us, and was quite the entertainment.  It's always interesting to get to know the bartenders, and servers on a personal level.  We were out until about eleven thirty or so, and then called it a night.  The highlight from that portion of the evening was young Tom (we actually call him junior to ourselves) spraying himself with the bug spray while holding a lit cigarette.  Miss Joanie was all "Tom, don't spray that by the lit cigarette!"  Well that was all it took.  He whips out his lighter and begins a "torch".  I'm pretty sure that when he wakes up today that finger is going to hurt like a mother! 

P.S.  The disco fries rocked, but as far as regular fries go the Shack is still the best!  Lisa and I will be back on their deck next Friday night.  There is a new menu to dissect!  Come on down and join us!

H.H.W.T. Mascot

You just never know what you're going to get at Happy Hour!  Again, two separate blogs that I will try to intertwine.

When I got home from work today I put this as my Facebook status.  "Get home early and the landlord pulls up. :( Now I'm hiding out........ hmmm.... I AM wearing a tank top, it might be the right time to ask for a dog!"  I didn't, of course, I avoid contact with my creepy Santa landlord at all costs.  It was a joke, but of course when you put something out into the universe.....

So I pack up the quesedilla fixin's and head over to Happy Hour on the Gordon Deck!  It's a fabulous new spot.  The drinks are cheap, the food is great, and the service is amazing!   Thanks Kerri for having us over to christen the new deck!  I think everyone had a good time, I know I enjoyed the evening.  Next time remind me that I have that slushy drink on top of my fridge!  I headed home after the sun went down, it's hot and humid, and all I wanted was a shower and to relax.

I had my first pseudo celebrity moment tonight!  While I was getting some apps together a friend of Kerri's arrived.  "Are you Joanie?"  "Yep, that's me."  A little more small talk, then she adds "I had to come, I want to be in the blog!"  I was flattered that she knew about it.  So I told her that if anything exciting happened she would be in the blog.  Then when I found out she brought a Culvers Oreo Ice Cream Cake to share with us, I told her she would definitely be in the blog!  So there you go Heidi!  Thanks for the awesome dessert!!

It was a quiet laid back kind of evening, just five girls, some assorted kids, one guy, and their dog.  Wait a minute.  Dog?  Yes.  When I walked outside with my food to sit on the deck a dog comes out of nowhere and puts it's head on my leg.  I think he's a lab/border collie mix.  He spent the next four hours just hanging out with us.  No barking, no jumping, no anything bad at all.  He let Heidi and I look in his ears, he let me look at his teeth, no fuss no muss.  We spent a long time trying to figure out his name, and  when Jared said Max, he snapped to attention, so Max it is.  He's black with some white.....kind of like Milkie.  Milkie and Max.  Has a nice ring to it.

I came home after the festivities were pretty well wrapped up and got Max some food.  He'll be spending the night at Kerri's.  She'll check with ARF (pound) tomorrow to see if anyone is looking for him, then if he's a free agent I'll be dog sitting in the afternoon.  I will be bringing him to meet my sister's family as they are semi looking for a new dog.  It would take a special dog to fit into CeCe's life, and this boy might just be the one.  I also sent Leon a text, as I know he's thinking about getting another dog.  I think Max would get along with Sammy just fine, and he would fit right in to the current custody arrangements.  :)  I've been able to do that because Sam was here before the landlord decided no more dogs.  Would he really realize there weren't two of them the whole time?  Would he really tell me no if I asked him to have Max permanently?  It kind of seems like the universe would like me to.