Teats on a Bull

September 23-25

It’s been an interesting September.  I have only been home for 1 weekend and all the rest have been Facebook weekends.  Or at least had Facebook elements to them.

September 23 was Girls Weekend in Ocean City, MD.  My girlfriend Terri’s boyfriend lives in Ocean City and we took advantage of him going to a Penn State Game in Happy Valley.  Terri, Gretchen, Lisa (Facebook friends), Sally, Julie and I spent the weekend doing girl things.  “What happens in Ocean City stays in Ocean City.”  And since I’m not in Ocean City… well, I don’t think I can say much more.

Terri and I have known each other for 16 years.  WOW!  She started in our office in August and I started in November.  I still don’t like the music she listens to.  Well, most of it.  We call Terri Blonde & Bossy in the office, and when she’s away, I try to fill her shoes.  She’s been an incredibly good friend.  We’ve been through 2 divorces (her & mine) and all sorts of other trials and tribulations.  And… I still don’t like her choice of radio station.   Gretchen & Lisa have both been at the office longer than Terri & me.  Lisa was in the basement in the computer department … and we tease her that when they brought her up into the light she bloomed.  Gretchen is an auditor in our office and is always up for fun. Sally is our Payroll Manger and Julie is the big boss.  We had a great weekend… despite the rain.

Soooo…. since I can’t really talk about it. That’s the end of this story other than it was fun to bond with my co-workers.

Every year, the 3rd weekend in September, 3 things happen: My David has a birthday, it’s International Talk Like a Pirate Day and it’s the Wings & Water Festival in Stone Harbor.  It is the 3rd which has become an annual Facebook Adventure with Michelle.

Michelle and I went to high school together, and to be honest at best didn’t hang out together.  All I really remember about her is she hung out with the brainy kids, which equals she was one of the brainy kids in my memory.  Facebook is an amazing thing.  We have become buds on FB and in real life.  Michelle is a hoot.  She always makes me laugh on FB.  So now she has become part of the Wings & Water weekend.

This year Chef was working and “5 Star” (son #1) is off to college so “Mini Einstein” and “Daddy’s Little Girl” came along.  I will freely admit, a full day with kids can some times be trying.  Especially when they are whiney little brats.  That being said, it just wasn’t the case.  Michelle’s spawn are both delightful and well behaved.  Last year “Daddy’s Little Girl” came a long and we had a good time then too.  Even when Michelle and I spent almost an hour just chatting, both kids didn’t make a fuss or whine or even get restless.  They must take after their father (JUST KIDDING!).

Mom & I have been coming to the Wings & Water Festival for years.  And it’s fun to have someone my own age to hang out with and have fun.  This year the W&WF was a lot smaller than previous years.  They really don’t advertise like they should.  But the Wetlands Institute is a neat place, and every year I find something that I didn’t see previously.

Michelle is the proud Dog Mom to Lily. Lily is a retriever of unknown linage.  She could be full bred.  Perhaps not.  But every year there is a Retriever Demonstration.  The dogs are put through their training paces.  I love it.  And it’s now part of the FB W&WF tradition.  Just to compare what Lily COULD do if she weren’t spoiled rotten.  And of course there are the cinnamon almonds.  After that it’s up to the group to what we do and see.  Except for the quilts.  Mom didn’t have one in the show this year, but “Mini Einstein” & “Daddy’s Little Girl” seem to like them anyway.

Then it’s off to Springer’s for ice cream. Another part of the tradition.  This is the last weekend Springer’s is open.  And they have the BEST homemade ice cream (they were voted #2 in the country in a poll, but I think it was rigged and they should have been #1).  In the summer they are so busy it’s hard to get in, but with this being the last hurah – it’s not hard to get in to get a cone, or a cup or a cone in a cup.

And so, that has become the FB W&WF tradition and I know I will get to see Michelle at least once a year.

It turns out that my Fantasy Football draft was a Facebook dinner as well!  I even picked up two friends at dinner.

We had our draft at Rock Bottom Brewery in King of Prussia.  It was fun. It’s pretty much the only time I see Brenda and Lori-An.  Lori-An had just adopted the most adorable little boy.

I met both Lori-An & Brenda through Nealla.  Nealla and Carissa work with me.  And finally my two new friends are County employees too –  Stacey & Marilyn.

The draft is always fun. We get together for dinner before we started the draft.  Carissa, Marilyn & Stacey were new to our league this year.  I always get lost getting there. I have this stupid mental block of where Rock Bottom is.  It’s got really good Mac & Cheese.

08/27/11 – Saturday
Today’s activities started with the Car Show in downtown Lewiston.  There were a lot of neat cars there.  I love the old Mustangs.  Then it was off to the Thai place for a delightful lunch with Al, his wife & son.  All 3 are neat people.  Then we went up to Nez Perce National Historical Park museum.  It was small, but it was very interesting, with a lot of artifacts. Including a satin ribbon given to the Nez-Perce chief by Lewis & Clark. The bead work on the outfits is amazing.  We joined a talk in process, which turned out to be part of a wedding party.  The Elder of Nez-Perce’s granddaughter was marrying a nice Jewish boy.  It was an interesting talk and we didn’t know we were crashing the party until the bride & groom stood up and thank friends and family for joining them in their celebration.  Brooke & Edward (or Scott) asked everyone to introduce themselves.  Which was a little embarrassing.  We stopped at Wendt Pottery to get gifts, but when we first drove up, they were closed.  Mr. Wendt was still there and opened the shop just for us!  How sweet and I got EXACTLY want I wanted!

Next was home for dinner with Mom & Dad and then off to the Guess Who concert.  I got to meet Quinn’s wife Stacy and a couple other folks.  I got to meet so many people I keep forgetting who I met.  And then we went to a bar … don’t ask me the name … and exploding out the front door came MaryAnn Mattson.  The bouncer got a kick out of her. It was wonderful to meet her.  What a sweetie!

08/28/11 – Sunday.
Today was a trip up to Spokane to have lunch with Byron McLean.  Unfortunately we didn’t get to meet his Beloved Tina (she had to work).  The food was yummy.  My first Korean.  And I got to eat Kimchee!  It was good.  I like cabbage and I like spicy and kimchee is both.  Doug took me the long way home and we stopped at Steptoe Butte in Washington State.  It was a long day of driving around, but I got to see a ton of the country up there.  It’s a beautiful country.

08/29/11 – Monday.
Time to come home.  The flight into Lewiston only took a 1/2 hour.  Well, with crossing time zones it was.  But on the way back it was 2.5 hours.  I was lucky with my seat mate on the flight to Salt Lake City was a delightful gentleman named Anthony.  He was in town for a wedding.  You guessed it, it was Brooke & Scott’s wedding that we crashed on Saturday.  Doug & I were the talk of the wedding.  Which would have been very interesting, and we would have been invited to join.  It was 2 services; a traditional Nez-Perce service and then a traditional Jewish wedding.  Both outside in 105 degree weather.  I had a 2.5 hour lay over in Salt Lake City.  It gave me plenty of time to get something to eat and stretch and relax.  I’m now addicted to Starbucks Blueberry Strawberry Yogurt Parfaits.

The next flight was full.  And they were asking everyone to check all extra bags.  It was going to be one of those sit cramped flights.  When I got back to my row it was with 2 gentlemen and one was 6′ 6″.  But they moved him back up to the front where “shorty” could have more leg room.  I had the aisle seat and my seat mate had the window.  He was claustrophobic and preferred the aisle and I preferred the window.  So we switched and were both happy and waited for the middle seat person to show up.  We ended up being the only row that had only 2 people.  Thank you Jesus!!!  We were able to “stretch” out a bit and it made the flight SO much more enjoyable!  And when I got to Philly … the sexiest man in the world was there to take me home.

I had a delightful trip.  Mom & Doug Graham are just wonderful people who opened their home to me.  They were wonderful hosts and made me feel like one of the family.  Doug was a wonderful tour guide. I got to see a ton of the area.  I had a great time and am looking forward to my next trip out there.

08/26/11
Ok. I slept a bit longer than I planned. It was 10:30. We watched RED with Mom, Dad & Anthony. I love that movie.

Then Doug took me to the Strike and Spare for a GIGORNDO sandwich. It was really good. Al Halsey was able to stop by briefly. It was great to meet him. We are going to have lunch tomorrow. Thai! I always think of Karen (no longer) Rios.

Then it was off to Walmart to buy the few things I need for the trip home. A neck roll so I can nap, a puzzle book for when I am awake and of course, Excedrin. And JACK POT. I found the toiletries bag I was looking for and a magazine for the flight/lay over.

After Walmart we drove up to the Nez Perce reservation and Spaulding. We didn’t stop at the museum, that will be tomorrow if we can. On the way home we stopped at Train Park where Doug used to play as a kid.

After dinner with Mom & Dad we went to the Hideaway to meet Law & Mynx. The first thing I hear when I walk into the bar – from across the bar – was TACIE! It is so good to see Law & Mynx. I wish we lived closer to them. I got to meet Law’s niece Kelly. Which was a nice extra! There was a whole group of very nice people at the bar. After Law left Quinn Yates showed up. We left after about 2 hours. It didn’t seem that long!

I finally got my postcards, which I must send tomorrow.

Tomorrow is another full day.

08/26/11
After a very long 12 hour nap… we are up and getting ready to go.  Not sure what is on today’s adventure list – except lunch and WalMart – but it’s hot and getting hotter.

Party on Garth!

08/25/11
WOW. It has been a very long day!!! First – what an adorable airport! When I got off the plane, the fist person I saw wasn’t who I was expecting. It was Andrew (Geoff). Very Cool!!! One down! And then I saw dug with his annoying pudding sign. Two down!

What a sweet family! It’s almost like being at home. If home were 2000 miles west and in the mountains. :-). More tomorrow. I’m bushed.

08/25/11
Let the adventure begin.

Surprisingly we were on time for the airport. Which turned out to be a really good thing because my non-expired drivers license is in my other bag. By the time we had gotten it sorted, it was too late to check my bag. I think the lady at check in made an exception. So we’ll see if I have clothes when I get to Idaho. 🙂

The flight so far has been pretty bumpy. And as soon as I see the mighty Mississippi (are we to far north ?) it’s nap time.

Next stop Salt Lake City, Utah.