A Year of Change

Yup, it;’s hard to believe but the misses was up before me! I heard some noise downstairs around 5:18 and after looking around (like next to me in bed) I discovered it had to be you know who downstairs rustling around. Sure enough she was up getting ready for the swim meet at what I thought started at 6:30 am but soon learned was 6am. It’s 5:30 right now so things will start moving fast around here.

I’m not sure if I’ll go at 6 as I have to keep my leg up and get the swelling down. I’ve just been doing too much.

We went to Costco late in the afternoon and walked out 30 minutes later and $400 poorer. All the things we bought we’re things we needed.

Time to get moving, lots going on and it’s June 1st!

bye

Here we go, summer on! Get ready for all the festivities. Yesterday Mom picked the boys up with their exemplary report cards at 12:15 and went straight over to the last day of school party at the Chalkers. You may remember (as they do it every year) they have a huge party with a dunk tank, jumpy castles, all kinds of games and food and a margarita machine for the adults, every year. It’s become an annual right of passage to summer. The kids stayed until around 4pm as the oldest had baseball practice.

Earlier in the day I took my truck downtown to get a bedliner sprayed in and the misses picked me up so we could stop into the Ritz Carlton to get things ready for next week. She then was busy preparing teacher gifts for about 7 or 8 of them which was confusing to me as each boy only had 1 teacher. I guess I forgot the gym, music, and art teachers as well as the Principal, and assorted secretaries and the teachers the misses wants the boys to have next year! Anyhow she has it all figured out.

When I picked up the oldest from baseball, one of the other kids parents (who is also a coach) followed me home as I offered them some wine for their camping trip which they’re going on today. They ended up staying 2 hours visiting which was nice but unexpected and a little long.

Today I have PT (physical therapy) which I need as my knee has been swollen since I drove to the doctor in Vail. The misses too has a lot going on but I can’t remember what all she’s doing, same with the boys.

Tomorrow is June 1st, hard to believe. We’re jammed all next week, (actually for the next 6 weeks)  and then in Aspen the week after that and then off until July 4th and 5th when we’re back in Aspen. After that we’re going to try to go camping and we’ll also be running a mile of fence up at the ranch, so yes it’s already a busy busy summer.

Time to go, yesterday the internet was down so that’s why no blog until late in the day when Grandpa Bob called to make sure everything was okay.  We are glad you are reading Grandpa Bob and Eleanor.

Take care

Internet just came up, here’s a comment from yesterday

Doug says:

Our day started early, 5am and then the oldest and I finally rolled in from his baseball game at 10:10pm. We won and he played great but that’s another story for another time.

Today is the last full day of school and I’m off to the doctor in Vail at 8am. Here’s a comment from Aunt Robi, might be the best we’ve seen in a while!

robi says:

Only 1 comment yesterday, from Grandma Annette,

Annette says:

First off, thanks to those that gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country, they should not be forgotten. When you think about it, being in the military is really pretty thankless and frankly, we do forget them. We don’t pay them well, their retirement benefits are not very good, we don’t provide much medical support, mental and/or physical, after they leave and we basically ignore those older vets that really need help. It’s a fact that the majority of male homeless people are veterans. Why do retired senators and congressmen get 100% full pay for life but not our vets? Rather embarrassing, if you see a vet today, thank him or her.

Now to the day, here’s some comments,

1. Tom says:

   May 26, 2013 at 2:28 pm

   I for one have no plans, besides playing the piano! Oh boy sounds fun, huh?

   Ok Uncle T, it does sound fun. We’re excited for your first concert. It’s admirable to take up playing the piano at YOUR age, he ha. But really, learning how to play an instrument or a new language, or anything new, I don’t care if it’s tying flies for fishing, is all good.

   Reply
2. Annette says:

   May 26, 2013 at 7:11 pm

   Make up something fun for us. We went to see Star Trek and then out to dinner with some friends at the Stockton Yacht Club. That was all we had planned.Star Trek is really, really good. Jean and I saw Gatsby last week and we really liked it. Go see it for the costumes and houses and of course Leo. Go with a girl friend, the boys wouldn’t like it. Its cool and windy here and going to rain tomorrow so maybe I will go to another movie Fast and Furious 6.

   Grandma Annette is the movie queen! She sees more movies than anyone we know. They should give her some kind of special pass that gets her preferential seating and allows her to cut lines when getting in and at the snack bar. I wonder if she smuggles a flask in???

   Alright, for the rest of you, here’s what we heard you we’re doing,

   Aunt Ali was working on her tan in the back yard, for most of the day……naked!

   Aunt Robi won a beer drinking contest and then went out for some beers…..

   My Mom was content as usual in her compound “copping out” in her words, of any invitation to go anywhere or do anything. She’s lucky she’s so happy not going anywhere or doing much of anything. Now we know where Uncle T gets it!

   Grandma Dixie was voted queen of flower arranging by the City of Sacramento. Not only can she arrange flowers but she can make friends with all other 180 contestants and know them all by first name, while doing so…..

   Grandpa Bob watched 32 episodes of Duck Dynasty…. (if he didn’t, he really should, he’d love it!)

   Grandma Eleanor hit 133 antique sales in one day and found all the treasures at each one…hard to believe she could get anymore trinkets in her house!

   Pa Don taught all the nurses at he rehab center how to play bridge and recalculated their water usage saving the home thousands of dollars a year not to mention thousands of gallons of water….

   And meanwhile, I bought a herd of horses (397 to be exact) and a bunch of guns. The boys as usual had a day full of playing with birthday party’s, sleep overs (actually a half sleep over as the youngest came home at 11:10pm!)

   My lovely wife of course paraded around all day in a cute little nurse outfit. I think she figures she’ll turn the table on her neck and become a medical provider instead of a medical patient! Plus she looks really cute in her get up….I don’t know if it’s helping her head but it works for me….

   So that’s about it, wonder what you all will do today. We’re supposed to go to a bbq today at 4pm but we’ll see how the day goes. We made bbq chicken last night and the misses dropped some at my Mom’s and Junes down the street. As I said I invited my mom over but she preferred we just drop some food, copping out you know.

   Tomorrow I lose these freakin compression socks. I could lose them today but when they say 2 weeks, they mean 2 weeks, so they told me. I’m lucky to have such great circulation as some in our family aren’t so lucky. Personally I think it’s all diet.

   So time to run, hope all’s well, we have a big big week. Her’s just a few of the things we have on our plate. I have physical therapy a few times, need to go to Vail for my follow up appointment, the kids get out of school on Thursday, we have 2 baseball games and 1 practice, Mom needs some acupuncture and I’m sure will plant something, both kids have swim practice, the oldest has inter-murals and the youngest has no less than 14 play dates scheduled in 6 days. I’m sure there’s more like getting the dogs groomed, cleaning out the basement and the boys rooms, driving up to Ft. Collins to pick up some stuff, taking the oldest to ride his motorcycle, hooking up our trailer and Ranger and bringing it to the house and getting ready for all the Bocelli festivities as Andrea, Alberto and Cinzia come to town June 3rd. So today is kind of our last day of rest. After reading all that, maybe we should skip the bbq and just stay home! We’ll see.

   Have a great day

Yesterday was a long day. It started with Mom taking the youngest to the swim meet as he woke up and wanted to go. The oldest slept in and spent the morning with me. We ran a few errands and then picked up Mom and the swimmer around 10:30.

Later in the day the youngest guys friend came over and the boys found a garage sale down the street.You’d be amazed at all the junk they were able to procure for a mere $6! They had boxes and boxes of stuff spread out all over the front yard. The must have been good negotiators. Mom spent most of the day sleeping after she arrived home as she just couldn’t keep her eyes open.

So in the spirit of trying to generate some participation (if not I’ll go into politics!) what are you all doing this weekend? We need some info, some comments, you know, the good stuff. So today’s job for all of you is to post a comment with your Memorial Day plans. Annette, are you taking the boat down the river? Grandpa Bob and Eleanor, you have to be going somewhere, right? Grandma Dixie, you must be heading back over to see Don. Uncle T and Aunt Ali, are you guys doing anything special and I know my little sis, Aunt Robi, is doing something as she’s a go getter. So, let’s hear it!

Everyone is still sleeping here as the kids were up until 10:30 again. They had set up a tent in the backyard and were going to sleep outside but came in around 10pm. Good thing as we discovered a raccoon in the front yard right about then and shooed him away and he ran straight into the backyard. I asked the boys if there was any food left in the tent and I’m sure you know the answer to that, so the misses and I were outside cleaning out cheetos and cheezits and putting the tent up on the backyard table so our nocturnal masked raider wouldn’t tear it up.

After watching Dr. Oz on tv (he seems to be one of the guys that actually know what he’s doing) I gave up wheat and sure feel good. He did a study that shows in most people, a piece of whole wheat bread raises your blood sugar twice as much as a snickers candy bar! That on top of the sluggish feeling you get from big swings in blood sugar prompted me to give it a try. Of course the misses already avoids all wheat. Anyhow I sure feel better and am sleeping better too. It’s not as hard as you’d think it is either, oh well, to each his own.

Not sure what all is going on today. The oldest wants to ride his motorcycle so we’ll try to fit that in and he has a birthday party at I think 4. Meanwhile I’m sure the youngest is already booked with playdates. He’s so busy he needs a secretary to keep his schedule straight.

Time to run, only 48 more hours until I can lose these compression socks. The knee is good but I did a little too much yesterday. The misses neck is still sore but that’s old news. Hope it’ll get better soon. So remember, let us know what you’re doing, otherwise I’ll just make some stuff up for each of you!

Up early this morning to water the grass and feed the dogs. It’ll be 88 today so we’ll crank up the air conditioner. Yesterday I went downtown to join the youngest, Mom and his two friends at the Oxford Hotel for lunch. The kids had a good time. Seems the place, which has been around since the mid 1800’s, is haunted. The boys got to go upstairs to one of the two rooms that is supposedly haunted. I then headed home while Mom continued the walking tour around downtown.

Around 5:30 we headed to the pool for the opening night bbq. The kids had a blast. They’re supposed to be at a practice swim meet this morning (our pool only to get the kids used to it) but we’re skipping it. Everyone is a little tired, especially the boys who were both up until 10:30. Plus it just takes too much of the weekend and the oldest hasn’t even had a practice. Neither boy really wants to be on swim team but Mom is adamant about them participating. They’ll like it once they get going and it’s great exercise for their growing bodies.

Everyone is still sleeping, duh, and it’s about 6am. I did get to lose the compression socks for the party last night but put them back on as soon as I arrived home. Only a few more days (Tuesday) until I can throw them away.

School is effectively over. They go Tuesday and Wednesday and half day Thursday but will accomplish little. I guess Mom and I need to gear up for having them home for the next 90 days!

I think we’ll plant the vegetable garden today and we have a few other things to do. Great day for a bbq, we’re going to finally put out the fantastic lawn furniture Grandma gave us from Arizona as we’ve been waiting for the rain to go away. I’m worried it’s so nice, someone might steal it as we’re putting it out front. I might chain it down just to be sure.

Time to run, hope everyone has a great weekend. See you tomorrow.

You might remember a few years ago when the oldest had his Day in Denver. It’s where the entire 3rd grade goes downtown on a walking/exploration tour of the city. They have workbooks and have to find specific landmarks along the way. When the oldest went, Mom and I took he and his friend to the Oxford Hotel for hot chocolate and pancakes and the youngest sure remembers that! So this morning, after my haircut, I’ll join up with Mom (who has volunteered again, there’s nothing that woman won’t do for her kids!) and take the group to the Oxford Hotel for chocolate milk (too warm for hot chocolate) and whatever they want to eat. The youngest is calling it brunch which is about what it’ll be by the time I meet them.

Yesterday after school the oldest went with his friend and parents to Sonic Burger for 50 cent hot dogs as it was Official End of School Day across the country. Ours of course runs until next Thursday at noon. He then rushed home for baseball practice until 7pm. Meanwhile the youngest went to swim team practice.

Today after school, his friend Jennifer comes home with us and we’ll all go to the opening bbq at the pool. I called the doc to make sure I can take off my old man socks which they ok’d. Thankfully I only have about 3 more days in these things. That’s been the worse part of this whole thing but blood clots are blood clots and I don’t want one!

Mom is still sleeping and I already made it to the grocery store for eggs, bacon, milk and bread. Both boys are on the couch with me watching some movie. I need to get back to the gym and was going to try this morning but I’m running out of time. Also time to ice my knee. Time to go, no politics today, the administration is making its case for being a joke on it’s own without me telling you. It’s incredible how they change their story daily and say it like nothings wrong. Finally the American people are wising up! Bout time.

God Bless.

He’s back! Although we lost as the other team had a really really good pitcher, our guy had one of only 2 or 3 hits the entire game. He was glad to be back with his team. We left at 4:15 and finally made it home around 8:15 as the game was way up north, about 30 miles!

Yesterday the misses went downtown and I had to take it easy to keep the swelling down on my knee. I did pretty well at the game as I kept my knee up the whole time. Here’s a comment from Eleanor,

Eleanor Tafoya says: