... psst ...

guess what?

i may not give Lonnie back.

he's THAT MUCH fun!!

My Suspicious Mind

Just to give you an idea of how madly suspicious I can be, I’m going to fill you in on the Great Key Incident (which is technically still a Work-In-Progress):

I have a pretty extensive set of work keys, that grant me access to everywhere in the plant but two locations; because of this I have many, many staff requests throughout any given day to borrow my keys, access to which I by-and-large grant with no troubles. There are so many keys on this keychain that it is completely separate from my “real life” key chain (which itself is pretty full … I may be a key nut).

I have the outer access doors key, the office master key, the Security Room key, the PPE (personal protective equipment) key, the supply closet key, the locker room key, and the petty cash key, not to mention a myriad of filing cabinet keys, to name a few … but it’s the supply closet key that sees the most use from my key-borrowing staff. In general, if a staff member has cause to borrow my keys repeatedly, I simply authorize one of his/her own for him/her. So s/he will stop bugging me for mine at the most inopportune times (an “inopportune” time being any time s/he asks for it once s/he’s reached my patience limit).

So, a particular staff member, who shall henceforth be known as “Cuhrazy”, seems to absolutely delight in asking for my keys, almost daily, sometimes multiple times a day, right when I am in the midst of something that requires my full attention. I tend to signal the staff that I am working on something of this nature by closing my office door … and locking it … partially covering the window from the inside (so peepers have to stand on tippy-toe to see in) … scheduling the time as “busy” in my Outlook calendar … and sending all my calls to voicemail.

None of which seems to phase Cuhrazy in its quest for a pen, or folder, or staples, or any number of other office supply It simply must have, right now. Of course, this is the same It that inserts itself into any conversation involving it’s support staff, apparently of the erroneous opinion that just because they report to it, it has every right (It was recently reprimanded for accessing it’s people’s Outlook from their desks when they were elsewhere and not only reading through their e-mails, but forwarding some to itself and then holding disciplinary meetings with the "offending" employee … It was thoroughly spanked for that invasion of privacy, but you get my point: It is wildly inappropriate and lucky to still be employed).

So, Cuhrazy has been employed with us for a number of months now, and the rest of us have worked the kinks out of dealing with its oddities and personality quirks. I’ve been telling It for a few weeks now to get it’s own key (which I’ve already authorized), ostensibly so It won’t have to wait ‘til I’m available, but really to get It off my neck when I can’t afford the aggravation and wasted time). It has yet to do so.

Wednesday was the last straw. I had twice the work to do this week, having been on vacation the week before and not having a backfill, but It just had to have the keys. So I declined and sent it to Key Master for its own (Key Master's office being less than 30 feet down the hall). It grimaced, muttered under it’s breath, and harrumphed off.

A while later I watched as It harassed one of its support staff, then asked if It had had any trouble obtaining the key. It informed me it hadn’t yet (interesting, since it simply had to get into that supply closet badly enough to interrupt me … again … earlier). I offered to get the key for It from Key Master. It refused. Later in the day I checked with Key Master that It had gotten a key: yes. Good, all’s well that ends well. Except.

Except that when I was packing up to leave for the day my keys were gone. My keys that are stored throughout the day in my desk, and that only three people have ever removed without my express permission: 1) First Person, who has blanket approval to take them whenever needed (but who always lets me know anyway); 2) Second Person, who only took them once in an emergency and only then because Third Person assured her it was okay); and 3) Third Person, who happens to be Cuhrazy, and to whom I read the riot act when It lifted the keys without permission, and who knows never, never to do so again.

I know for a fact I had the keys that morning, I know I had them when It asked for them, I know they were gone after It was in a snit for not being allowed to use them. And yes, I suspect It took them.

So I sent a BOLO e-mail to all staff members for the keys, and spoke with the Sanitors to ensure if I did somehow drop them unbeknownst somewhere in the plant they’d be returned. And both Thursday and Friday Cuhrazy made it a point to smirk … er, ask … me, more than once, “Did you find your keys yet?”

Thursday afternoon, when I was grumbling to a colleague about the sitch, said colleague filled me in on some other It-induced shenanigans of which I wasn’t previously aware involving seemingly klepto tendencies and episodes of light-fingered-ness. Hmmm. Then It asked again if I’d found my keys yet … again (the "yet" is what really sets me off).

So, when Bossman came back from a business trip (forgot to mention that), I confirmed still no keys and asked if I needed to get some of the locks changed, and the conversation grew to include the entire story from my perspective (all he’d had prior to that was my general BOLO to staff) … and he asked me if it was my "gut feeling" that It took the keys. So I had a micro-second heart-to-heart with myself and said that if It did take them, then It was either stupid or evil … and that my gut feeling was that it was too much of a coincidence, so yes.

And Bossman then chuckled and informed me it wasn’t the first item that had come across his desk of this nature involving Cuhrazy. He said he’d jump on the e-mail to shake the tree and we’d see what fell out. And within five minutes of his RE e-mail, It came and asked if I’d found my keys ... yet … to which I replied, “It’s not have I found them yet, but rather has the person who took them returned them yet. And the answer is no.” Because I was far to the right of "peeved" by then.

Bitchy? Yes. Justified? Perhaps not. I had kind of expected them to be back in my desk at some point, with no one fessing up (we discovered during a review of the security footage that my end of the hall is currently off-line, natch). But here's the deal: unless someone says, straight to my face, that they had the keys and can provide a plausible explanation, I will continue to believe in my bones that this nutjob took them and is either toying with me or is just plain mental. Neither very enticing prospects, eh?

Wicked Awesome Poem Wednesday ... a Day Late

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long as I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth,

Then took the other as just as fair
And having perhaps the better claim;
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet, knowing how way leads onto way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh,
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I-
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

-Robert Frost

Visiting Dignitary

Meet Lang, a giant among (my) dogs.

My crew and I are dogsitting this big ole sweetheart ‘til the 2nd. His name is Lang (Chinese for “Wolf”), which I mispronounce horribly (good thing Lang responds to “Lawn”!) and he’s just about the most gorgeous German Shephard I’ve ever laid eyes on. Instead of black and tan he’s black and red (these pictures do not do him justice) … never saw quite this coloring before, but oooooh! Pretty!

And what a lovable fellow! Once Boogie and Kaia got over their nerves, all three started running and jumping and generally romping around chewing on one another like a box of puppies. I have to keep in mind Lang’s age and repeatedly reign in their shenanigans before someone (namely our houseguest) gets hurt. I’d hate to return him to his regular people in a bad way. I work with Lang’s “mom”, and she and his “dad” are overseas on vacation.

Lang is 9, and he’s a bit stiff and definitely has some hip dysplasia going on … so he requires a little extra care in that he can’t go up or down the deck stairs outside; to that effect we’ve been traipsing down the carpeted inside stairs (where he has some purchase) to the basement and using the ground floor door (this has required significant gutting up on my part, as the black hole betwixt the house door and the storm door is the Domain of the Big Honkin’ Lisa Eatin’ Spyderz).

Lang also gets 4 pills at supper, and three are huge, but I just drop them into his bowl and he eats everything (Lang’s eating habits have thrown a slight curveball, because I can’t leave the girl’s food out like I regularly do … he’d eat himself sick on it ... so they only get to eat when they’re outside, which right now is overnight due to the heat ... although the next 3-4 days they should be able to stay out all day, so they’ll be happy).

I was nervous at first, but he’s doing well … doesn’t know a gate signifies “no trespassing”, though, so walked right over it while I was at work today (and down to the bedroom where he ate the bowl of cat food that was out; I’ll have to shut Maddie & Joey in there tomorrow), then happily greeted me at the door when I got home this afternoon, sweeping his tail back and forth in a lazy arc… and repeatedly goes to the front door with his stuffy (green blob in pic) waiting on his people to return.

Last night was Lang’s first with us, and I was afraid he’d cause trouble at bedtime (he’s been shadowing me around the house like a giant cat ... Lang is much, much bigger than 88lb Boogie), when I gated him out of the bedroom so Maddie and Joey wouldn’t flip out … but he actually went out to the kitchen and lay down in front of the oven (not even on his bed) and slept through the night (as far I know). Didn’t even twitch at 4:30am when Boogie & Kaia went off full volume at my leaving-early-for-work-and-setting-out-the-trash neighbor.

The biggest change in my (non-existant) dog-care routine is that Lang is on a set schedule … the girls just generally do what they want, when they want … Lang has a breakfast time, a snack time, and a supper time. Plus three specific bathroom break times.

I’ve just discovered, for about the umpteenth time, that my girls spoil me with how low-maintenance they are. Heh, good girls!

... Ultimate Quote of the Day

I got this e-mail from a friend this morning, and it cracked me up:

Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater.
If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby.
If you give her a house, she'll give you a home.
If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal.
If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart.
She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.
So, if you give her any crap … be ready to receive a ton of shit!

Thanks, Christine!!!

And what is the deal with spam in blog comments?!? Sheesh.

Zzzzzzzz ... SNORT! Wha?

Guess what I've discovered? I'm sleep deprived! Yep, after spending a full week sleeping through the entire night without waking a single time (in a slender little twin-sized bed, no less) only to return home to my big ole comfy full-sized bed and numerous wakings throughout the night ... pause ... it has come to my attention that maybe ... just maybe ... Joey and Maddie are nocturnal creatures who are up all night (insert "Der!" here).

Yup, for sure. Case in point: last night

• Lights out at midnight.
• Up just after 1am: Maddie wants someone to put the pats on her. That someone being, oh, I don't know ... me! (this may occur up to three times a night, depending on Maddie's mood)
• Zonked out again, after removing Maddie claws from my forearm (not the result of kitty anger, rather of "nonnies" ... those of you with feline critters have no doubt experienced this phenomenon of simultaneous purring/shredding "love").
• Up around 4am: Joey's climbed onto my pillow, practically on top of my head, purring loudly (I consider this his "prep" to get up "for reals" around 5:40am, seeing as he does it every. single. night).
• Up "for reals" at 5:40am .... Joseph letting me know he's ready for his closeup ... er, breakfast ... now!

So, after yawning my way through only my second day at work back from vacation, and discussing the sitch wth Mom, the plan is to (gasp!) shut the critters out of the bedroom tonight and see what happens.

But I already know what's going to happen.

First, I'm going to forget to put something in front of the door, and both are going to sit immediately outside it and stick their clawed paws under it and try to puuuuull the door open that way.

Second, I'm going to stumble up out of my cozy nest and move the suitcase in front of the door.

Third ... and most important ... I'm going to get a full night's sleep!!! WOO HOO!! YEE HAW!!

Back in MO Mode

This is a photo I took from the Prudence Island Ferry on Friday morning ... the photo is not that great, but it's of the gorgeous 12-Meter "Heritage" (US-23) under sail in very calm weather. 12-Meters hold a special place in my heart based on my childhood memories of the America's Cup races that used to be held out of Newport Harbor. Plus, they are just plain beautiful boats.

Back to me: arrived back in MO around 9pm last night after almost a full day of travel (RI to DC short leg, 3-hour layover, DC to MO long leg). Very tired! Read “Maneater” by Gigi Levangie Grazer in its entirety … pretty funny, laughed out loud more than a couple times … perfect airport travel and/or beach read … with that name, the author coulda, shoulda been any one of her Star Chamber.

The worst part of any vacation for me is the air travel, so of course it bookends all of them. As I get older, and more planes crash, I dread it more and more. I know take-offs and landings are the two most dangerous times, so grind through them in extreme agitation, concentrating on not hyperventilating while Machine Head runs through my mind, “breathe in, breathe out!” Thank you, Gavin Rossdale!

It prolly wouldn’t be so bad were I not a total control freak … if I were actually piloting the plane I’d be fine! Instead I have to stare straight ahead at the bulkhead toward the fore of the plane while my stomach clenches around whatever is in it. For someone who never got seasick in years of sailing as a child (and in some pretty rough weather at times) I’m a horrible motion-sickness sufferer in cars (unless I’m driving or have shotgun) and planes. Bleh. Anyway; survived just fine, par usual. But it’s when I get back to MO each time that I decide I’m driving the next time!

Brig, of course, was waiting at the gate, so we got my baggage and then I (quite selfishly) made her come to Walmart with me to restock on the way home so I wouldn’t have to go back today (I know myself well enough to know I ain’t leaving the house day after I get home from vacation!). Thus lengthening her day by an hour or so, because she still had to drive back to her house afterward … sorry, Brig!

The menagerie is extremely happy to see me (always most awesome!) and hasn’t let me out of site for more than a few minutes since last night. Joey’s eaten quite a few times, and the girls have been laying practically on my feet with their rawhide treats … even Maddie didn’t wait the usual requisite 24 hours before she deigned to “notice” my reappearance in her life.

Good to be home.

Now, about the picture below … in keeping with those from my blog on the 8th, this is the house I spent most of my childhood in. It looks much, much different these days. When it was ours it wasn't shingled, but rather was painted a light gray, with pale green garage and front doors and dark green trim everywhere else, and we had a beautiful Maple tree in front of the living room windows on the left. In fact, the living room windows were completely different (two large on top, two small push-out on the bottom). And although we did have the double driveway (natch, with the double garage), we didn't have the additional parking lot to the right (in fact, over there we had a lovely evergreen tree that eventually towered over the house) ... and we had bushes and other shrubbery along the right side of the house and under the front picture windows. Oh, and the shed in the backyard to the right wasn't there.

What I'm saying here is this house ... formerly my home ... was much better when we lived there! And I totally admit to being completely biased here. But I'm also right!

Vacation's End

Today was my final day of vacation in RI, and it was terrific! I did not, however, take many pictures (other than this one on the ferry this morning, to document how calm it was) … thought I’d give it a break for the day. That being said, Dad video’d Mom and I making like kabuki players and creating cuh-razy shadows on the ferry wall during the trip back to the island tonight (we were looking very Beavis & Butt-Headish). We then returned the favor while he did the same. It was only after our hilarity petered out that we realized the folk in the next bay had a full view of our show and were filming also!

Hey, we do aim to please our audience!

We were all a bit tipsy after having cocktails and dinner at Persimmon, this spectacularly out-of-our-league Bristol restaurant to which we had a hefty gift certificate (what can I say? Friends are awesome!). We had:

• Passion fruit mojitos and gin martinis.
• House salad greens with crumbled blue cheese in a soy/vinaigrette.
• Cool cucumber and Jonah crab salad with citrus and young herbs.
• Mosaic of fresh melon, melon sorbets, coppa salumi, and calaminth.
• Pacific halibut filet crusted with Niçoise olives and fresh herbs, fresh-dug potatoes, greens and native vegetables, with tomato consommé.
• Grilled daycatch wolfish filet, sweet corn, squash and chanterelle mushroom ragout, light butter sauce with fresh tarragon.
• All natural young chicken cuit sous vide, stuffed morel mushrooms, potato purée, creamy mushroom emulsion with black garlic.
• Warm peanut and banana cake with banana ice cream, caramel and chocolate sauces.
• Yogurt and vanilla panna cotta with native mixed berries, berry sorbet and shortbread crumbs.
• House-made coffee ice cream with chocolate sauce.

Are you jealous yet? Because you should be!

Luckily Persimmon is just up the road from the ferry (e.g., within walking distance); we stumbled back to the Landing in time for the last ferry back to Prudence, during which we put on the show for our fellow travelers. Then got back to the house and promptly ordered up a PPV movie (Knowing), which we’ve been watching with giant bowls of vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce … apparently we need ice cream after fine dining and cocktails!!

But prior to all that, I had left the island on the 10:30am ferry to meet up with childhood friends I last saw for a couple hours 10 years ago, and not for at least 7 years prior to that (I’m saying “prior to that” a lot in this post!).

Although Jules had to leave early for her youngest daughter’s big softball tourney 100 miles away (an all weekend affair), Cathy and I were still gabbing out on her deck five hours later, when I had to leave to meet Mom and Dad for dinner.

Getting back in touch was wonderful! We talked about a hundred different things, but really just barely touched the surface of memories and current lives and blah, blah, blah, blibitty blah. I can’t get over how very much, yet very little, Julie and Cathy have changed! I can’t wait to see them again. Thank goodness for the internet, no? This way we can keep in touch easily until my next visit to the Northeast.

So I fly back out to MO tomorrow, then have Sunday as my last real day of vacation, then it’s back to the daily grind until January/February timeframe … vacation has accomplished all I needed it to: bring it on!

Now I have to get off the computer because a HUGE spider was stalking up and down the wall to my left and I’ve lost track of him and now must get kitted out for big game and go on a large-scale hunting expedition to rid my demesnes of his presence! Until then I’ll keep feeling imaginary somethings crawling across my feet, or up my legs, or around my neck and down my shoulders … eeeek!

Topping Off the Tank

What a rush vacation has been … almost as if it has been specifically designed for me to recharge my batteries in preparation to jump once more into the potential chaos that is my regular 9-to-5 (or 8-to-4, as it were). Which, I suppose, is the point, right?

It’s been days of rest and relaxation, visiting with family I see once every year or so, exchanging gifts, watching movies, reading books, taking numerous pictures; in general reconnecting with my old self. I’d almost forgotten the sheer number of shades of blue and green to be found this time of year in Narragansett Bay … lovely!

And the temperature can be upwards of 30 degrees cooler here than in MO; it was so chilly today we only opened a couple windows and closed them before supper … meanwhile I worried that Brig left the girls outside back in MO, where the temps were supposed to have reached the low-to-mid 90’s. Not because Brig is in any way irresponsible, but rather because I really am that much of a worrywart (even when they’re kenneled … at the vet’s, no less … I generally call at least three times a week to check up on them).

Tonight we were watching the Jim Lehrer News Hour, and the story on Poet/Author Jim Harrison. I totally got sucked in. I know this because at first it was very distracting to listen to Mr. Harrison speak, as he’s a chain smoker and has the breathing difficulties that often result from a lifetime of heavy smoking. But.

Soon I was so drawn in by what Mr. Harrison had to say, and how he said it, that the distraction just fell by the wayside. I’d love to spend an afternoon with him. I plan to pick up some of his poetry, the latest tome of which is called “In Search of Small Gods”, and features his “The Golden Window” in its entirety. I cannot wait to read the whole thing, as the excerpt I read fair knocked my socks off (this is the part where you get a little bit of a future “wicked awesome poem”):

I hope to define my life, whatever is left,
by migrations, south and north with the birds
and far from the metallic fever of clocks,
the self staring at the clock saying, “I must do this.”
I can’t tell the time on the tongue of the river
in the cool morning air, the smell of the ferment
of greenery, the dust off the canyon’s rock walls,
the swallows swooping above the scent of raw water.

Prior to that Mom and I took a drive around the island, and yes, I snapped a large number of pictures, but am only sharing these few here (there are a bunch more over on Facebook, so go take a look … I think I’m up to three albums this week). It was originally going to be a quick circuit after we went to the “transfer station” (e.g., dump), but you know how it goes … we left around 2:30 and didn’t return for hours.

We ended up walking the beach over on the West Passage side of the island, and reminisced about all those beach walks we took around Saquish almost 40 years ago. Remember the Thompson’s outhouse? And how Dad set us up on rock-hunting contests (the one with the best rock got a bag of M&M’s or Circus Peanuts)? And the horseshoe crabs? And swimming under the boat? And believing Mr. Thompson’s stories that the microbe-induced colored sands were “Indian paint”? Or how about Mom & Dad making hash and poached egg breakfasts? And fighting off the seagulls when we tried to grill off the stern of Tallow II? All kinds of stuff.

I kind of pity the people who haven’t grown up by the sea … what did they do for fun growing up?

Memory Lane Sure is Long ...

Today Mom and I took a day trip off-island so I could meet my cousins’ new (to me) sons. It was a little bit of a trip down memory lane as well: we stopped by my grandparent’s former home, which my Grampa built almost 40 years ago.

Then we drove through the neighborhood I lived in as a very young child, in the home my parents bought brand-new … I still remember going to visit our new home as a three-year-old while it was under construction, and running through the ribs of the insides before the drywall was up.

It was interesting to see what the current owners have done with each (painting, landscaping, upgrades, and improvements), but I still prefer both the way they were … I think that’s a sign either I’m getting old or really don’t like change … or both!

But before we did that, we stopped at Dunkin Donuts for regular coffees and bagels. I love Dunkin Donuts coffee … it’s just about the best in the world, and we don’t have it in my faraway midwest digs (although a colleague at work insists there’s got to be one somewhere in KC, I’ve yet to find it!).

Then we got to my Aunt’s and I got to meet the babies for the first time in person, cousins who are only 6 months apart in age, yet completely different. What an absolute blast the afternoon was! At one point my Mom and Aunt left to get us all lunch from D’Angelos, and our franchise dream was born:

My cousin Melissa and I will open a joint Dunkin Donuts/D’Angelos in Kansas City! We’ll be RICH!! How could we possibly not succeed! D’Angelos has the rockingest grinders this side of gustatorial nirvana, and there ain’t nuthin’ that can rival double D’s coffee. I’m hankering for a cheeseburger grinder and a frozen latte already!

My vacation continues to be just plain perfect.

Wicked Awesome Poem Wednesday

Had I the Choice

Had I the choice to tally greatest bards,
To limn their portraits, stately, beautiful, and emulate at will,
Homer with all his wars and warriors--Hector, Achilles, Ajax,
Or Shakespeare's woe-entangled Hamlet, Lear, Othello--Tennyson's fair ladies,
Meter or wit the best, or choice conceit to wield in perfect rhyme, delight of singers;

These, these, O sea, all these I'd gladly barter,
Would you the undulation of one wave, its trick to me transfer,
Or breathe one breath of yours upon my verse,
And leave its odor there.

-Walt Whitman

Foggy Morning

Looking Across the Bay to Bend.
The view of Mt. Hope Bridge.

The view up the Bay.

No Monday Morning Blahs Here

So we took a ride up to Potter’s Cove and motored over to the New England Boatworks Shipyard (the former Bend Boat Basin) for lunch at the Melville Grill. Due to our method of transport and the distance involved, lunch lasted upwards of four hours; pretty relaxing day. Once we got over there we checked out the remains of the Quonset hut explosion and four-alarm fire from back on April 23rd (the one where something like ten of the firefighters ended up in Newport Hospital for evaluation after the cyanide gas scare).

I didn’t bring my camera because I just knew that if I had it would’ve ended up overboard. In any case, they’ve done a terrific job of cleaning up after the fire: the two Quonset huts that were destroyed are completely cleared away down to the concrete, and the damaged huts surrounding them are all in the midst of ongoing repair, but the basin is open, as is the restaurant. Because I know you’re soooo interested in what we’ve been eating … we had Mojitos, Coronas, a Rueben, a pizza, a Chicken Club, and a Chicken Salad.

Once we got back to Prudence we rode over to Joel’s & Jane’s, where Mom, Jane, and I played in the surf with their Golden Retriever Annie … while Joel made Dad one of his rum punches, which included three different rums (Captain Morgan’s Spiced, Malibu Coconut, and Malibu Mango), grenadine, orange juice, and a slew of other stuff. They were feeling grand!

Mom, Dad, and I headed back to the house and hung out; watched the USS Bulkeley leave for parts unknown, and another funky looking little red transport that had a couple boats and quite a few new cars stacked on top of the cargo carriers (don’t see how the paint job on those new cars could possibly survive an overseas trip exposed like that, so they must not be going far) … eventually had burgers and cereal for supper (Dad is absolutely done with beef right now), and ice cream sundaes while watching “He’s Just Not That Into You”.

Tomorrow will be an actual “rest” vacation day, with absolutely no plans whatsoever … I defy you to get me out of my jammies!!! Although I may (gasp!!) crack open my work laptop (yes, I brought it, because I am nothing if not dedicated) and run through some formulation changes. From a hammock. With a tall, frosted glass of something tasty at my elbow.

As it is I'm about to head off to bed, where I'll be serenaded all night by the dulcet tones of the two bell buoys right off the point. Be jealous, be very jealous!

The Day After, Still FUN!

View of M&D's house from the "other" side (Sohar's deck), with a great look at Killer Hill ... looks completely different from this perspective!
Finally got a better snapshot of the USS Bulkeley, keeping us safe. The large white building to the right of it is a 21 storey high-end condominium complex, just to give you an idea of the size of the ship ... that puppy takes up a lot of Bay!

The place has cleared out, and it's just Mom, Dad, and me left. We're currently watching Carlos Santana in concert ... this man is phenomenally talented.

Most of us never woke up until after 9am this morning ... it was wonderful sleeping in (until Dad and Mark couldn't stand being the only two awake and started making enough noise to wake the rest of us ... they took full advantage of the fact that sound carries near water).

We had a big ole breakfast of scrambled eggs, grilled mild and hot sausages, blueberry muffins, banana bread (with chocolate chips ... thanx, Kathryn!), english muffins, coffee, and juice ... out on the deck and down in the yard ... too nice to eat inside!

The remaining kids (Evan, Not-Our-Evan, Chris, Tommy, and Kathryn) promptly took off for fun activities involving jumping off the public pier and otherwise swimming down at the beach, and the rest of worked at entertaining ourselves and each other (not very difficult, trust me!). About the most real activity we had was moving our chairs around the yard out of the sun as the afternoon progressed!

Mike's group left first, for the sail back to Newport, and the rest of us had a cookout of marinated steak tips, macaroni salad, potato salad, corn on the cob, and cole slaw (we are so spoiled!).

Then Mark's crew took off for home, tubing along the way for the Evans (I tried to get pictures, but they were too far away by the time Not Our Evan started, so it's just too tiny to see well).

And now it's 8:38pm and finally getting dark out. A very relaxing day after.

...

TUG! Who doesn't love a tugboat?
"Canoe" - Mom's & Dad's little gem.

"Quest" - Mike's & Kim's pretty little lady, heading back up to Newport.

"Surf Runner" - Mark's & MaryAnn's funboat, heading back to Warwick.

Mt. Hope Bridge from Sandy Point ... very pretty day!

Happy Birthday, America!!

Surrounded by family is the best way to be. So far my summer vacation has been plu-purfect. Mom, Dad, and I had the place set up by 8:15am, when the first folk arrived (Kevin and his crew ... minus adopted 4th of July-er George and his two youngunz due to serious enough accident to keep him in FL this year ... bummer, but he'll eventually be okay, so not-bummer as well).

Next were Mike and his crew (came over on his sailboat), then Steve and his crew (came over by ferry), then Mark and his crew (came over on his powerboat; two trips), and various neighbors throughout ... this year's turnout topped out at 32. Hot dogs, cheeseburgers, shrimp boil, pork chops, bean salad, potato salad, cole slaw, seed salad (you had to be there ... terrific!), regular salad, corn on the cob, cookies, cup cakes, brownies, peaches, soda, and beer.

Parade, water balloons, screecher balloons, smoke bombs, cookout, swimming, jumping off the pier, badminton, whiffle ball, and plenty of fireworks, fireworks, fireworks all around us, up and down the Bay (Newport, Fall River, Providence, Bristol/Warren, Portsmouth Abby, Portsmouth High School, Jamestown, Prudence Island) ... and pictures of much of it, although none of the actual fireworks themselves.

Great, great day ... what the 4th of July is all about: family and appreciation for all we have, and all those who have given it to us.

..

Navy destroyer on full alert ... just in case, they can be fully underway within 15 minutes.
Tough to get a good pic through the trees (from the front deck) ... will go down to the beach tomorrow for a better shot.

My boat ... I wish.

.

Getting ready for the parade
Most popular entertainment item at the cookout

Second most popular entertainment (water ballons)

Prep for shrimp boil

I'm Here!!!

These guys made us meatball parm & chicken parm grinders for supper ... yummy!
Bit of down-home fun ...

Here's Nibbles Woodaway, scarfing down his Awful Awful (the Newport Creamery's awesome ice cream shake ... the two, New England Pest Control and Newport Creamery, are running a joint promotion). I'm going to try to get a better picture on my trip out next week, so you can see the bitchin' sunglasses better.

Just proof we left T F Green in one piece.

And yes, I brought the sunshine to RI with me!!

You're welcome ... you are very welcome.

And a HUGE shout-out to Brig for house-sitting/pet-sitting for me while I'm back here in 'lil ole rhody ... Thank you, Brig!!!!!! YOU ROCK!!