Barging Into A Party

Finally got the Molzer Dolzer out to Canyon Lake, along with Roger, Sylvia and clan DiGiorgio.  Bella drove, Gabe drove, then when Molly took over at the helm, it was the Exxon Valdez revisited.  Ok, j/k.  When Bella was at the wheel, she didn't want my hands anywhere near the controls, and would sweep my meandering mitts away with an imperious gesture of disdain. 

As retribution for some unremembered transgression, Molly gave Snoot Flutes aka Nose Whistles to her windy sister and the Gabe.  Like it's not noisy enough around those two. 

We beached the barge for an hour or two, the kids played on the beach, Joe and Kris cooked the brats, the two grandmothers in attendance hovered, clucking over the children playing on the beach, admonishing them not to throw sand, not to go in farther, not to sit down in the water, not to run, not to go over that direction, etc. etc. I keep murmuring in Gabe's ear, "You're not the boss of me; you're not the boss of me."  Instead of using it as I hoped, on his grandmother, he turned triumphantly to his mother and shouted it out.  Shawnee's icy stare and pursed lips made it clear who is the boss of me.

The Old Gang

Miles invited me to Inverness's annual St Patrick's Day lunch blow out.  Rumor had it there was partial nudity at last year's gala, so I trundled on down.  Nobody was hitting it hard, at all, and it was neat to tease my old cell mates and see that everyone is still vigorous and enthusiastic.  Weirdest thing though.  Nobody - not one person was smoking.  None of the other exiles were there, so I felt special.  Ida looks real good and is growing hair.  Everybody was sweet to me, save Dinah, of course.  JoAnn looks terrific and is going to join me in grandparenthood, with a boy.  Hard to believe it's been seven years.

Possible Loss Of Privileges

Gabe awoke in great pain from an earache early into last night.  He's such a tough little bugger that it must have been excruciating.  God I hate that.  Fear it might have resulted from the ice breaking swim earlier in the day, or something.  Gabe's mother trying not to point the Fickle Finger of Accusation, but she had to stay up all night with the little man.  This morning, looking through the otoscope, the aforementioned mother spied blood in G's ear canal.  Hope his ear drum is ok, but fearful.

Surf's Up!

Gabe wanted to go swimming.  In the past I've handled this by letting him take off his clothes and climb down to the second step, at which time we come into agreement to wait a while.  Yesterday was different.  He still wanted to swim, so I suited him up in his new buoyant suit and the little polar bear went right in.  Once Bella caught wind of what was happening outside, she came a runnin' too.  Two little twerps splashed and played for about twenty minutes before turning a lovely shade of sky blue.

Dressed the Gabester and took him to Fiddlesticks to drive the bumper boats and the Rookie go-carts, the only two events he's tall enough for.  He was the best driver on the track - the other kids couldn't catch him.  So's to make it more interesting, he slowed down, waited for the other (older) kids to catch up, then ran them into the rail.  My little Guy.  Track attendant pulled him over, 'splained the rules to him, to which G responded with his 90 megawatt smile.  T A waves him back into the traffic flow, and G T-Bones the first kid he comes across.  They'll forget what we look like and let us back in, oh, maybe a week or two.

The Noble Red Man

So the Tribes decided to be their own developer for the new shopping center.  In retrospect, our bid was perceived as a grab for turf.  Wrote a gentle letter to Tribal Council assuring them that we'd be available to help in any way, etc etc.  Wondering how eager the Big Box Boys will be to jump on board a project being developed by committee consensus.

Passion Or Obsession?

Just checked my stats for the on-line Freecell site:

Total Hours Played: 574.87

Best Streak: 118

Total Plays: 8353

Total Wins: 7891

Winning Percentage: 94.47%

I guess that last one could be considered a good thing.

K9 Youth In Asia

Neighbors acorss the street have two small dogs yipping almost non-stop.  Neighbor with adjoining lot (which lot has been diabolically designed to funnel all yippy sounds directly to my office window) had three miniature dachshunds, now accoustically augmented with puppies.  Composed amendment to homeowners association CC&Rs requiring all small dogs to be put down. Adjoining neighbors had marital spat, husband moved to apartment.  Yippy mini tubesteak he took with him was caused so many complaints from other lessees he had its bark surgically removed.  Moved back to 'hood and 'chsund now just sounds ashtmatic.  Have decided this interim solution to noise problem will be acceptable if applied timely and comprehensively.

Pancreatitus

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft was hospitalized with a pancreas infection, a terribly painful condition often leading to diabetes.  Bill Maher tonight opined that Mr. Ashcroft may have incurred the infection while "wiping his ass with the United States Constitution."

The Dirt Bidness

My neighbor and close friend has accepted a (top) job with a national cleaning contractor.  I hired him circa 1985 and we developed and nurtured a close relationship which has gotten even better since he moved in next door.  My 10 years in the dirt bidness ran the gamut between unpleasant and intolerable.  I hope and believe that at his lofty level in the company he will be free of those stresses and tensions.  Plus, the extra cake he's been promised - mucho extra cake - will pay for the aspirin, if it's needed.  Happily, he won't have to move, as his new employers have expanded the existing territory to include Phoenix.  Best of luck, G!

Mistress & Commandeerer

Took Team Schwoopie, Bro & Beloved and the Blonde to the party barge.  Fired right up, gassed up, put oil in it and headed east for our Three Hour Tour.  The grandkids and relatives coexisted wunnafully.  Boat motor wouldn't re-start after being turned off midway twixt the dams.  After Joe, Kent & I all got soggy up to our, well, up past our knees in the cole cole wattah, we got it going again.  Shaweenie has a real knack as a boat pilot.  Claims she always thought she was Ginger, but turns out she's just as suited to be Skipper.