It’s going to be a long week.

Talked to Luke this weekend he of course had a hard time with the kids on Thursday, Camen has learned to run --- to the road. Since they decided to have more kids the house they live in isn’t going to be large enough so they are building. This means of course packing up furniture into storage until its time to move in. Julie was busy packing what she can and Luke would take the boxes and load them up. Camen was on the watch as her daddy walked in and out of the house, that’s when she got the bright idea to run out the door. Julie spotted her right away trucking out the door and ran to stop her, she thought it was a game and ran faster, straight to the road. They don’t live on a busy street but of course the minute your child aims in the wrong direction a car will be there and it was. Julie screamed her name Luke turned and yelled at her it scared her enough to stop; luckily the guy driving spotted her and stopped. Let’s just say she couldn’t sit well for a little while.
Last week my Moms brother was out enjoying the day playing golf, he mentioned that night he had a slight head ache and wasn’t feeling so well but figured the nice air might help him, mid game he fell from a massive stroke. My grand’s came home early from their trip to be with him and the family, Sunday he passed away. It tore a hole in my Gs heart to have to bury another child so soon; my Mom didn’t take this one so well. I guess being such a shock makes it worse.
Mom called me in tears trying her best to tell me about Uncle Dave, her stuttering and sniffles were hard to decipher exactly what had happened. It breaks my heart to hear the pain; she has such a sweet light springy voice as if she’s singing all the time. Before she hung up from me she was going to call Luke and Jacks to let them make arrangements. Tuesday we all are driving up to Anderson, SC to have his funeral.
I can’t say I really knew him that well because he did live so far away, we saw him on holidays and family reunions, their family traveled as much as we, with him being in the army.

Got it!

I can’t say just how excited to be, that the country club is allowing our crew to do a major landscaping makeover, we didn’t get every project we wanted but to have the opportunity to do what’s assigned will surely lead to more doors opening. I stressed over this job for weeks, working and changing my plans about to get them to see we can do the perfect job.
This means a summer full of long hours but assures us of a job for the summer, the way the economy is I’m happy to get what we have. Chris is overjoyed to be around a pool full of bikinis and happy hours that will be close to work.
I had a few e-mails asking if I finished off that Dagwood sandwich Bee made me, of course I did and almost had room for a donut. --- I was miserable later and gave the Bowflex an extra workout that night.
This weekend Lori and I watched Twilight twice, she didn’t seem to get the movie as much as the books. That’s pretty common since the book goes into greater detail than the slide show of a movie. She asked me over and over why his lips were so bright and why it seemed to be in black and white. I gave her the spiel about how it needed to look dark and dreary and his lips needed to look that way because vampires have blood stained lips. She gave me a “eww” on that and snuggled in tighter under me.
During the second showing I knew the topic would change, she rambled on how the main girl in the movie (Bella) parents weren’t together anymore. But that she seemed to get along with her dad really well, unlike we do with ours. I asked her how exactly she doesn’t get along with our Pops, and in her slow but blunt way she told me. “I don’t like his loud voice, he yells at you and Jacks and makes Mommy cry and sometimes he slams”. I was worried the old fool was picking on her; if he has, she never admitted to it.
She’s worried that Jacks won’t come home anymore, I told her not to even think like that. That he loves her more than she could ever imagine and would be home soon enough to pick on her and make her giggle. Just sometimes its best to stay out of someone’s way when they are so angry, she asked me “like the vampires have to stay away from the werewolves. “ --- Exactly.
Sunday came in and hoping the grandparents would be home from the vacation but its two weeks not one, so I had to fiend for myself on the Sunday dinner and lunch scene.
Monday rolled up and I received the good news about the new job and have been running ever since. Now, if I can keep a slight document on how that progress goes it should be interesting, all that fun will start next Monday.
Thanks for all the well wishes!

Spring is in the air

It’s going to be a busy day for me today and then a long weekend; I planned it just like that. After the dread of last weekend I feel the need to keep super busy. I am pretty proud of myself and have kept my temper intact, even when some loon kept calling wanting me to do something over that I worked on about 3 years ago. I offered to make an estimate but they want it for free, if you don’t want my maintenance plan then don’t expect free later on.
Today, I go for my final meeting with the country club peeps, keep your fingers crossed for me. It does look promising per one of the members.
Later on well, mid day, I’m going to pig out at the café and drink oh, about a gallon of sweet tea. Bee is making a Dagwood sandwich for me that I have been excited to try out, minus the tomatoes. She says I can’t finish it, she doesn’t know my eating habits very well.
The majority of the week I’ve been out of the office, working with the guys, I miss that. Mostly dropping pavers down, it’s relaxing to lay out a pattern and figure the best route to go, kind of like when you were a kid playing with Lego’s. For some crazy reason old George keeps popping up in my mind.
I just finished with a impromptu meeting with the girls in the office; they want to do a cookout one weekend with the whole crew before the season starts off. Sounds like a great idea; I’m letting them make the particulars and offered my home or the greenhouse for the locations.
Lori called me last night, she thinks she forgot something at my house so this weekend will be at Gs house and she might stop over. She knows she doesn’t need an invitation to see me but I get why she’s doing it. Maybe she and I can catch a movie together at the house; I think Twilight is on DVD now, have a little pop corn and a chat.
Chris and Wayne are talking Florida again; I’m not so sure, since the economy is so bad its best to keep things close to home. Besides if the country club offer pulls through this will keep us busy enough and them swimming in bikinis right at home. Although the stupid stunts they pull on women most of these girls know them. Well, they need a challenge.

*I found a shiny quarter on the side walk*

Whoops it’s Wednesday!

Hump day, over the hill day, all easy from here day, what ever you’re flavor is, Wednesdays can’t be beat. After my long Monday I slept for what seemed a year, this time change is kicking me in the pants.
The weather here is beautiful, the breezes are picking up and I see spots of yellow from the pollen forming, most people would snarl their noses at that but it just means growth to me. I’ve kicked myself back into gear with putting everything in schedule, this means phone calls and appointments and play time. -- No really, everyone is in that attitude that Mark owns his business so he can stop what ever he’s doing and chat it up for 45 minutes --- wrong. .
I spoke to Luke last night; he’s kicking about the nu-kids that will be arriving in about 5 months. The economy has him worried that they might not be able to enjoy their arrival as need be. Well, no one asked him to pop out a tribe in 5 years or less, he will and they will be fine.
Lori had a visit with the dentist and just like her older siblings she could run into the 13 months of fun with braces, of course she’s a bit young for them now. This rang terror of wire and rubber all crammed in that pie hole of hers, she doesn’t get that the small portion of geared up humiliation, it brings a life time of enjoyment later. Luke wore them for 2 years and Jacks and I managed for a little over a year. Now with the new technology she could go with those plastic trays and no one would notice.
This morning I spoke with Jacks before he raced off to his busy life of work and school. He was proud that some girl at work was going for her licensing exam for architecture. He must have been tutoring her during work hours or something because he had that task and the “Lady of Many Changes” still bothering him. His love life is going swimmingly now that he’s putting his foot down on a few rules himself.
I won my bet on who would sell their house first; Diann came in for the win. Poor Cari who has had her house on the market three months longer just received her first offer yesterday. She came in the office all jubilant that she may have sold it, when I asked her how she was sure, she told me when a prospective buyer comes to the house they turn on some recording device to hear the conversations. When she told me that, a chill ran up and down my spine, she’s hit the bottom of the paranoid barrel now. This also prompts me to want to send a “Plant” in to take a tour of her home. Evil be my nameo……

Birthdays – revisited

So this month is considered the birthday month my grand’s and Lori, even though they aren’t at the same time we like to celebrate them together. Why Lori wants to celebrate at this time is beyond me, I think she likes the idea of getting two birthdays.
The whole family was in, not only my brothers but Pops and some of my aunts and uncles and of course a load of their kids. They had 7 boys and 4 girls so we had a pretty big bunch.
Early Friday we had breakfast, catching up on everyone’s lives and where they might be going. Luke and his gang were banging about, Jacks was talking about work and school, two of my cousins are getting married and a few are about to have either their first child or just another. We had breakups and divorce conversation and of course, my all time favorite -- health chat.
That afternoon was shopping or cooking or napping for the ladies and golf or walking around on the farm for the guys. The kids hit the beach or down town.
Dinner that night was at a Japanese restaurant, that we all love, you know that kind the cook comes out and does a show over the hot skillet flinging food at you.
Of course, it wasn’t all giggles and smiles, I won’t go into the drama before dinner just yet, but most of it was outside the restaurant, so we didn’t look so much like the redneck family screaming at each other
During dinner I’m sitting at the table and my phone rings and I get the scowl from G, I forgot to turn it off and why I even brought it was goofy. Everyone that I needed to worry about was at the table; however I can say mine wasn’t the only one that rang.
After dinner presents were given out and giggles, my PG is a true nut at heart. He would be happy making everyone smile. He told stories of his youth and how he met G, funny little tidbits of what my aunts and uncles were like as kids it was pretty entertaining.
Today I am sleepy, tired and all on wore out, ready for a long nap. I plan on running in schedule for a few weeks, to regroup and then laze off.

Friday at last!

I called my brothers this week to make sure they had everything cleared for today and a little of tomorrow, they both were set.
Luke will be here before noon and Jacks is already here jumping around, happy to be home. Every once in a while I hear a crash and then “sorry”. You would think, after all this time he would have grown into his big puppy feet.
The other night Lori calls me all excited about her Wednesday in school, she’s going to have “The” talk in class, you know, the one where the guys go in the gym and the girls in the library, then chat it up about what’s going to happen to them in the next few years.
I cringed when she told me, “It’s time for “that” talk already?” She giggled, the weird part is she wasn’t excited about the talk; it was the sparkly deodorant they would be passing out after. Well if the girls receive deodorant I’m worried about what the guys might be getting.
They didn’t pass out anything when we had the group sex chat; of course the person who talked to us was the Coach/Drivers Ed teacher. I think at that time he was seeing one of the senior girls in the joining high school, he was a great role model.
I plan on having my on Sex Ed example for Lori and her name is Julie. Julie is getting on up there now, but of course having twins makes a difference. Showing how hard of a time she’s having walking, sitting, sleeping - moving in general would be a great moving slide show.
They are having a time with her being pregnant and then two tikes all over the place. Kyle is a handful in himself, full on hyperactive that one is. He races through the house like its all about to blow away, as if he needs to see if for one last time. Julie says you know there is trouble if he’s quiet; a while back she walked in on him making a sculpture out of cheese - in the middle of his bed.
Camen is in the grunt and point stage, my G doesn’t like that one bit, “she’s old enough to start talking.” Julie just has a bit much going on, I’m sure its easier to give her what she wants right now than to force her to say it. Anyways Luke says he can be in a sound sleep and his eyes pop open as if someone is looking at him, sure enough, Camen is nose level at the mattress staring at him. Grunting and holding her pillow wanting up with them. Luke says he grabs her pillow and she takes off down the hallway padding to her room to get a stuffed animal as well, and then climbs into the bed. The minute she’s down asleep he grabs her and takes her back to her room. Needless to say my G scowls on that practice too.
Well, today is going to be jam packed with festivities and family, so no work for me today or tomorrow.

Ponderings

So today Diann flops in my office chair a bit misty eyed, oh please don’t say you are quitting! She wasn’t, she only needed a bit of down time and a chat with someone other than her family.
We all have those days I’m sure, everyone tugging you in fifteen different directions can be overwhelming to a body. Doesn’t matter how old or healthy you may be, not having some alone time is disturbing. When I do have that time I cherish it, maybe that’s the key time to sit down and write out your feelings or listen to music – really loud or go watch a sunset. Hum, watching a good sunset sounds pretty nice to me; I haven’t seen one in weeks.
Its those small things in life that bring me back together, sunsets, misty meadows, waking to birds singing hell, waking period is pretty awesome. The misty meadow came to me this Sunday, I jumped out of bed around 4 am and sat out on my back patio, my grands pasture is connected to my back lot; the meadow there was so peaceful. Although there was one cricket chirping about that sporadically would get a little loud on me. PG hasn’t cut the hay so it was waist high with a slight mist floating above it as the sun rose. All I needed was some chick walking towards me in it with a plate full of hot breakfast. As I sat there day dreaming I noticed the grass moving as if some thing were walking in it, there was – it was Poochie. Who names their dog Poochie? My cousin does! Jeff and family are visiting the grands this weekend and I guess the mutt was out on a tour of the farm and made it down my way. Wet dog, yes, that’s another great part of life, that robust musty smell and the nice habit they have of shaking off right beside you, so much for going back to bed.
I did have a nice weekend, visited the café and ran about with friends. I also pulled in a round of golf. I plan on taking Jacks to the new driving range here this weekend. He loves to whack at the balls as much as I do without having to walk after them.
This new time schedule has me all messed up, today the day will fly by and tomorrow it will be an eternity. Thanks to all that visited the café and sent well wishes to me it’s much appreciated.

Café

We didn’t do too bad on our first day, a few mishaps here and there. We forgot a few non essential items that will be gathered this afternoon. Nothing was burned or complained about but of course, most of the people there was family, all the guys came in to eat. – They get a 10% discount.
My Mom and grand’s were there all smiling, Lori wanted to skip school so she could come but lets not get her into bad habits as of yet.
Bee asked for her cousin to help only during the café hours, at first I was thinking that might not be needed but soon as the weather starts to warm it might just be helpful to her. Since she also has to manage the greenhouse during those hours as well, it could get hectic. Right now the hours are from 11 am to 2 pm until we see what might be needed.
At the end of the day all I wanted to do was go to bed, being wiped out. Maybe it was the stress of the opening or maybe because it felt like I was run over by a Mac Truck. What ever the reason, it didn’t take long to drop off to sleep.
Talked to Jacks a little just before knocking out to let him know how the day went down, and coaxed him into a bit of a bike ride next weekend. I need my buddy around some and miss him a lot, he needs it as well—at least, that’s my excuse. *There's not a lot to give if you're giving in*
Next Friday is the big birthday bash for my grandparents and Lori, have I found presents yet?
Today will be checking on the café then making a short jaunt down to the country club to give my spiel of what improvements can be made there. After that, a night out with the gang and maybe a movie, there’s this creepy haunted movie being advertised on TV but not sure if it’s out yet.

**yesterday I found a nickle on the ground **

OMG!

Amy, just give me the name of the group and song again please! You know how I adore hearing half way on a phone, Miss Yawns.... I love you!





(For those of you that don't understand)

She called me late last night, played a song on my voice mail that she has been dying for me to listen to. It had to be playing on a crackly radio or some sort of juke box made of tin.

Flitters…

Jacks and I spoke some today, he was in some sort of quandary (oh yeah serious stuff). It wasn’t much really, he’s just is lost in his direction right now, that happens to the best of us. Not too long ago I went through the same process, I assured him that it’s just a wait and see deal, hoping that some light comes and points you where to go.
He has above average intelligence to work it out, but I was proud that he came to me to talk. Where he is living now, he really doesn’t have anyone to truly discuss his feelings. Yes ladies, we gents do have feelings other than planning out how to get into your pants. Of course he has Jess, but her plate appears to be full as well, so we discussed his options, really it wasn’t a huge drama fest, he didn’t know what to build next, and it was bugging him not to come up with ideas “My mind is dry Mark” I cackled when he spouted that. Then at work they are really bearing down on him with some high flaootin lady that wants a just so-so house. I draw a room she likes it then “let’s add this and remove that” of course the removal is something she added the day before. I think it’s a combination of work and school and then our idiot Pops bugging the shit out of him about the Mystery of the Missing Tool set, of course Pops hasn’t sent me a detailed inventory of the missing property, so I can just replace it all and shut his ass up.
Beth has been rambling in and out of my life the last few weeks; I have no idea why all the sudden urge to want to pester me. I knew something was up when she just so happened to visit the country club the other weekend. Yesterday she gives me a call asking some advice on a new roofer. How would I know who is a good roofer? I suggested the one that roofed my house, I haven’t had any leaks as of yet. I’m not sure how I feel about these “accidental” meetings. When we broke up at first I couldn’t stand the sight of her, if someone brought her name up my stomach would cringe. Then it just turned to disgust now it’s nothing really, I have no feelings for her what so ever. I do at times worry about Elijah and how he is getting along; I still feel she’s not the most stable person on the planet, he’s not my kid so I have no say in his life.
Maybe it’s a case of the willies for me since the café opens tomorrow….. I will post results on Friday.

Running around and around….

I’ve been very busy this week and its only Tuesday, on Thursday we open the café, why that day you ask? Long time ago, ok about 3 years ago, I used to help in a bar, the owner had his grand opening on a Thursday night. I would have opened on a Friday but it wasn’t my bar, he told me opening on an off night during the week is a good way to see what kind of numbers you receive. Weekend’s people are more apt to go out but not so much on a weeknight/day.
Spoke to Jacks the other night and told him about Jane, he was pretty upset over it. Her funeral is tomorrow but in Atlanta so I can’t possibly make it so I sent a spray of flowers in our names. Luke would go, since he lives there but she wasn’t his teacher.
He was all crazy telling me about the kids and their adventures; Kyle does his play on Friday night, he is some non speaking vegetable, it’s nothing big but they are excited none the less. Camen is still in her “No” stage, you ask her “want some cookies?” she says “no!” and her head bobs up and down to a yes. I quickly reminded him that he has two more just like her on the way very soon. He gave me a whimper and a sigh and thanked me for reminding him. Julie is doing great.
The Country Club I made a proposition to redo the pool area and tennis courts would like to see some more of my work and go over some numbers, this looks hopeful. I did just about the same proposal last year to another club but they didn’t take the bait. I figure if I get my foot in the door then the other clubs might follow suit. The ladies in the office are in some sort of race to see who can sell their house first. Not really, but it appears to look like that, one started talking about selling and then they both decided in the last month they wanted new houses. Each morning one asks the other if they showed their house that night. I love Cari to death but I have my money on Diane, she just is a bit more organized and doesn’t have 2 over grown, no let’s make that 3 overgrown kids – one is her husband.