Follow Up

My son and I made it to Indianapolis as planned, but the trip got cut short. The boy is a worrier and he decided he was getting sick (I think it was lack of sleep) so the whole stay was only about 24 hours. But we did alot in those 24 hours (and spent alot of money in the process)! We went shopping and out to eat on Sunday evening. Then headed to the theatre to see the new Harry Potter movie (our whole reason for picking that particular weekend) and then we headed down town in the middle of the night to see the fountain. Way past my bed time, but it was worth it! If you are ever in Indianapolis, go downtown after dark! Then a couple of hours of (bad) sleep and up and out for breakfast. Afterwords we went to the Zoo. We are so used to the St. Louis Zoo that the Indianapolis Zoo seemed rather small. But it is really beautiful and the exhibits impressed me. The animals were all out and moving around. We really enjoyed it. But after we left there the boy decided he wanted to head home instead of travel around Indiana. I even offered to get us a hotel room instead of spending another night with the girls but he was adamant. He just didn't want to be away from home if he was getting sick. I don't blame him, except I don't believe he was sick--just tired. But it saved me from spending more money, so that's okay!

Oh, and Lucky showed up for a bit Saturday afternoon. Then she disappeared again. I don't know where she is going!

Lost Luck

My Dad was allergic to cats, so we always had dogs and I considered myself a dog person. Then I met my husband, who was (and still is) an avowed cat person. He converted me. I understand people's attraction to dogs because of their companionship. But I think I prefer cats because they don't need the constant attention. It's the same reason I enjoy my children now--they can take care of themselves! I'm apparently not a very "motherly" sort of person! Our oldest cat is Lucky. We found her when she was only around 10 or 11 weeks old. The prevailing theory is that she came in on a farm truck. I found her uptown stuck behind a planter. I think she probably got scared and tried to hide. She was half wild--I don't believe she had been handled much. She never wanted to be a house cat so she spends most of her time outside. When she was young she liked to get into fights! One fight resulted in an infection that almost killed her and she has had skin troubles ever since that has resulted in her looking a bit mangy. She is very affectionate with us, but never let other people pet her. And we haven't seen her since Monday. She has disappeared on us before, but never for this long. I'm hoping she just shows up again, but with each passing day I'm starting to worry.

Road Trip

My 17 year old wants to go on a "road trip" so I promised him one this summer. Problem is I've already spent so much money lately and this could get pricey. I worry about what my husband will have to say about it (and no, I haven't told him yet.) I think it's just going to be from Sunday to Wednesday, if I can get someone to cover my shifts at work. We plan on going to Indianapolis first. We can stay at my daughter's apartment, altho she has 3 roommates-- it may be a bit crowded. But it's cheaper! We plan on going to the Imax theatre to see the Harry Potter movie Sunday evening, and then maybe the zoo on Monday. I'm hoping to spend the night again in Indy and then take off early Tuesday morning for wherever. I just haven't figured out where wherever is! A motel that night, some sight seeing Wednesday morning, and back home by evening. It seems so simple, but I'm one of those people who likes everything planned and organized and scheduled. I'm just not very flexible. I so wish I was! I think the boy needs this break so I'm doing it for him. And, in a way, I guess I'm doing it for myself to see if I can! I'm trying so hard to break out of the routine. It's not easy.

Hot and Muggy

A couple of weeks ago--the last day of a 2 week heat wave--our air conditioner quit. It was kind of nice because the days following were nice and the nights were down-right chilly at times, and I love having the windows open, but this week it got a bit warm. My son does not like hot weather and has let me know on a fairly regular basis, but getting an answer from the husband on what he thought we should do about it was not forthcoming. Today he tells me he thinks he knows what is wrong and he thinks he can order the part and fix it. Yeah for him! I just hope he's right because with this rain we've gotten in the last 24 hours, everything in the house is damp. I really had planned on cleaning this weekend, but it's kinda difficult when everything is sticking together!

Bloody Dried Boogers

A couple of weeks ago Mom and I headed to Cheyenne Wyoming to attend my niece's graduation. My brother is based there with the Air Force. He wasn't too sure about it when he first moved there, but he loves it now and plans to retire there. I like the town--it's easy to get around and the people have always seemed nice. My brother has told me several times that I should move there because they have gorgeous summers, but I tell him they may be gorgeous, but they are too short! Now, if you have ever been there, I think you will agree that it isn't the prettiest area. But you get just a little ways away and the landscape improves dramatically. On this particular trip we took an afternoon and headed south to Estes Park, Colorado. We drove by The Stanley Motel, and then went to eat at a restaurant/micro-brewery. I wish we had had more time, I would have loved to explore some of the little shops uptown. Maybe next time! I think this may be my second favorite trip to visit (the number 1 time being when we went to see Brother dear in a karaoke contest!). Mom and I got along splendidly, which isn't always the case since we are too much alike, and we got to spend time with my brother without spouses and kids and in-laws. I wish it wasn't a 15 hour drive so I could go more often. The only problem is the dry air--it definitely gives me trouble!

I Swear, I'm Not Whining!

During High School and College I was a very social creature. I was always doing and going. Then I met my husband. He seemed rather sociable himself at the time. That was my "drunk weekend" summer--in otherwords, I didn't sober up from the beginning of April until about the end of August! I tell people I was drunk when I met him (at the bar) and when I sobered up, we were living together, so I just stayed and married him! It's really not so far from the truth, actually. And it turns out his social side had more to do with alcohol than I realized. Our "drinking buddies" faded away when we quit drinking. He would do well as a hermit. Once we had kids he hardly ever wanted to go to other people's houses, and he got mad at me when I invited people to our house. Plus, when you get married and have kids, it seems your single friends fade away. I still bowled, and had a bit of a social life there, but then I broke my ankle and that was the end of that. Before it healed enough the local Bowling Alley closed and it was just too expensive at the next town. Quite a few of my friends and cousins drifted off to other parts of the world. So now here I am at a point when my kids don't need me to be home and I've gotten past the point where I feel like I can't go out if my husband doesn't, and I have no friends! It really didn't happen overnight, it's been gradual and I only really noticed it had happened the last few years. I do still have one friend. But she still has young children and her social life is mainly limited to driving them around! She's been wanting to get together and go see a movie, but we have very different interests genre-wise! She likes horror flicks and I just don't. There is one club in town, the Garden Club, but that takes money to join. There used to be the Jr. Women's club, but it faded away for lack of interest. There is lots of church groups, but I don't do church. And the VFW does alot, and I think I could join now since my brother is eligible, but it's mainly a bar and I don't drink much anymore. I'm sure this is just a "dry spell" and I'll get out again. Anyway, that's what I keep telling myself!

The Zoo and the Roommates

My daughter and her roommates came home for the weekend for the sole purpose of going to the St. Louis Zoo. She goes to school in Indianapolis and her three roommates are all from Indiana, so this was new for them. I think I have mentioned that the Zoo is one of our favorite places to go. My husband and I went there on our honeymoon and we started going regularly when the kids were still babies. When my daughter decided to go to school in the opposite direction I didn't renew our Zoo membership because I didn't think we would be going again for a few years. But we all immediately missed it--or maybe just missed the thought of not going since it hadn't been that long since we last went! I renewed! I decided even if we don't get to go very often, I would still like to give the Zoo our support. I think good times were had by all, even though it was extremely crowded and extremely hot on Saturday! It's been so cool this Spring, but it got up to nearly 90 degrees that day! My husband and son both tend to be a bit antisocial, and don't like other people in their "territory" so I wasn't sure how they would do with 3 extra girls in the house for two nights, but they did well. I know I really enjoyed the girls' company! It brings back alot of my own memories from my late teens, my own college years.