Jul 25

If You YELL — will it –?

A couple of nights ago, a typical commercial was bellowing from the TV, to an empty room.  Papa was editing photos, I was doing some computer thing, and D1 was sitting on the sofa, reading a book.  The din was remarkable, so Papa stood up to turn the TV either down or off, and stopped in the doorway, at D1’s shoulder.  He shouted, “It works better if you YELL!”  D1 had to be peeled from the celling.  I rolled off my chair,. laughing.

 This simple little laugh has carried us through a couple of days.   If something doesn’t go exactly right, someone raises their voice, saying, “Will if work better if I shout?!!”

Now, this may seem simple to you, but sometimes the simple things save us from the complicated world, and this is saving me right now.

Oh, yes, and Papa’s pictures from the Ray Goins Family benefit are here.

Jul 25

Green Light?

The children went home last Friday, or did I mention that already?  So, about the green light—.  I was driving GS3 either to or from the Detroit Zoo, where he attended Summer Safari last week.  At some light, one of those advance green arrows the traffic engineers are so proud of, the 3 or 4 cars in front of me never moved.  I muttered something about what color green they were expecting.  From the second row, in the neighborhood of my 3 year-old granddaughter’s seat came a not so little voice, “PEOPLE, do you have your green?”  Wow, if I’d forgotten what a huge influence we can be on little ones, I remembered in a hurry. 

We went to the Goins benefit, and had a good time.  Saw Karl Shiftlett, Dave Evans, Sam Jackson and the gang, McCoy Grass, and more.  Melvin put on two sets, I sure can’t get enough of John Rigsby’s fiddle.  He’s turned out to be quite a showman, he filled in with Karl and it was a sight to behold.  Shows like this are a green light- go when you can.

But, most of those people were either talking on their phones or using them for e-mail, or reading the morning paper, or whatever.  Very few people in the Detroit area seem to be driving when they’re driving.  Oh well.

I’ll be posting the benefit photos on Papa’s site later today.

Jul 20

List Revisited

You may remember the list.  This morning, after viewing the damages made by one cat spilling one glass of water on my desk, I decided review of the lists was necessary.

List one, to do:

Map to Beanfor the Goins benefit.

Family tree chart for the reunion (done yesterday, thanks to D3 helping me.

Genealogical Society Financial Reports (Needed next Wednesday, back burner).

Genealogy look-up for a cousin of Papa’s (next week for sure!)

John’s check (to pay for an item we took off his hands) (take to reunion with chart, see above)

Pay taxes on house (without penalty until Sept 3rd.)

Letter to Mom’s cousin, explaining why I didn’t contact him when Mom died, but did contact another cousin, and thanking him for his sympathy card.

Letter to Mom’s cousin, thanking her for the sympathy card, and also for letting the other cousin know abut Mom’s death.

Pay a hospital lab bill by calling them and giving CC number.

Write proposals for 2 prospective customers for my small but growing web design/hosting business.

Send a set of photographs to the owner of the campground where a recent event, that Papa photographed was held

Pack Van to take kids to D2, and to camp at Bean Blossom for the Goins benefit.

Credit union, deposit checks, get cash

Send check for Lex’s registration (after drying off the paperwork, which the cat spilled the water on)

List 2, to buy:


Bag Balm (I gave mine to D2 for GD 3’s problems)

Dill pickle siices (can’t eat burgers without, I guess) but we have.

Syrup (opened last one with last night’s pancakes)

List 3, The  “Taking 3 grandchildren home (don’t forget these) list”:

dresses and good shirts, hanging in side room

big bag of videos

GD1’s medicine

Toothbrushes and GS3’s medicine from bathroom

Phone for D2 to use

List 4, the going camping in the van for one night, pack it list

Thing for windshield is in Lex, get it.

Blanket

Pillows

Our medicine

Papa’s camera

Cooler with some sandwich stuff

Clothes (from table, can’t miss)

Clothes, from side room, (can’t miss)

Map (remember to make it, and take atlas)

Papa’s camera (this one is in the van already)

Air mattress

Towels

Bathroom bag

Chairs

Umbrellas and rain ponchos

Besides this modest list, I need to get 3 kids up, fed and dresses, take GS 3 to the Zoo (leaving at 8:20 and arriving before 9:00 a.m.) for day camp, be at the dentist at 10:15 for fillings, pick GS3 up at 4 p.m., and continue on to pick up Papa at work so we can:

Return children

Drive to Southern Indiana for the Goins benefit.

So, either there is too much to do, or writing it all down makes it seem bigger.  On the plus side, I’ve had a shower, and taken MY medicine, perhaps that will help!

See you all later!

Jul 18

Home

I’ve been home since Sunday, with three small visitors.  They seem to be sucking up all my time.  But, we’re having fun.

Tell me how a little girl who usually sleeps till 8:30 is up at 6:30, dressed and ready to go.  I guess being old enough to go to the zoo for day camp is more important than I know.  Makes me feel warm and fuzzy, at least for a minute.

Something important for this weekend.  There will be a benefit for family of Ray Goins, who recently passed away, at Bean Blossom.  Ray was sick for some time, and I understand that his wife is in need of assistance at this time.  Ray (was) and Melvin (is) pioneers of bluegrass, and have assisted many fellow musicians themselves.  Come on folks, join us there!

Jul 14

Open

The library I mentioned is open today.  It’s a nice place, and pretty busy.  There is a problem, though.  The internet works only on the lower floor.  Surprise, surprise, the genealogy and history section is on the upper floor.  I can’t believe it, but it’s true.  I did some research, then I came down here for the e-mail. 

 I’m going home tomorrow, and GS3, GD1 and GD2 are coming along.  There is daycamp at the Detroit Zoo for those old enough, and fun at other attractions for those who aren’t.  And and exciting week for Papa and me!

Jul 13

McDonalds Again?

I guess if this place wasn’t so close to the place we’re staying, I wouldn’t come here so much.  No–that’s not right.  If this place wasn’t so close, and didn’t have internet I wouldn’t come here so much.

I was going to head for the local library, but a reality check revealed that the library here isn’t open on Friday evening.  Our hometown one isn’t either.  I guess I’m usually not looking for a library on a weekend.  Usually, especially in the summer, Papa and I are looking for some music.  We might be at the Kentuckians of Michigan in the winter, and in the summer, some festival, park, or other place with music.

It cooled off here in Saginaw, so Granny has cooled off some, too.  The kids are doing better than I am, but isn’t that the way.  We did a really cool thing today, we went for a boat ride.  There were a couple of draw bridges we went under, but to me, the most interesting features we saw were the two swinging bridges.  A train was crossing one, so we saw it open and close.  Very cool, and reminded me of the old song sung by Dan Paisley, “The Old Swinging Bridge”. 

Now, I’m going to as the rhetorical question that GD2 always asks,”Is that enough? (Too much?)”. 

Now, I’ll answer, “Yes, too many links!”

Jul 10

Hot Day – Again, but not so humid!

Another hot day here in the Saginaw Valley.  I’m back at McDonalds, not sure why, but it does get me a little quiet time.  The kids wore me out today.  Too bad I’m not 20 years younger.  Funny thing, some people my age actually have children the ages of my grandchildren.  I’m not exactly sure how they do it.  But then, perhaps I’m soft.

We had a fun day at the playground.  They found the sand pile, and we actually went home and got sand toys to use in it.  That is, be brought them back after our 3 hour lunch.  That’s not 3-martini, it’s a burger, some chicken pieces, and some chocolate milk.  Then 2.5 hours in the “play place”.  This is a shiny new Md’s, ant the playplace is also shiny new.  They’re better than they used to be.

I raised my children without one of these, but then, we were at home, with our own games and activities.  These children are transplanted to another town, staying for a time at someone else’s house, and (except for a few favorites) their toys didn’t make the trip.

That makes the play place, and a playground, and a sand pile precious things, even for fair-skinned, sunscreen coated, sweaty, red-faced little kids.

Jul 09

Another Monday, hot and humid

Here I am, at a McDonalds, trying to catch up with the world.  Not doing too well, and not doing to badly either.

I’m posting Papa’s pictures from the Mountain Top Festival, held in Pennsylvania last weekend.  The speed of the connection is so slow, that it will take me 3 hours to do so!? 
I’m going to adjust the settings at try again, but, perhaps it will have to wait till I get home next weekend.

And, someone’s way too tired child is whining, whimpering, crying, or throwing a tantrum, depending on how you look at it.  I think the poor thing is pretty tired; after all, it’s 8 p.m., almost.

I spent the day trying to keep up with 3 underage (at least under my age) children.  It gets harder each year.  And it was HOT here today.  But, we did a playground, a library, and then a friend of D2’s had them over to play for the afternoon.  I kept busy with chores that seem unimportant, but do need to be done.

Tomorrow is another day, perhaps I’ll gain energy tonight!

Jul 09

Post from my computer diary, written 7-7-07

Saturday, not Sunday, and we’re headed home a day early.  D2 needs a little help right now.  Her sisters are assisting while we get ourselves across the turnpike and home again.

Granny needs to clean out the camper, put away the food, wash her clothes and get going again tomorrow.

The great Mountaintop festival is a memory for this year.  I know those still there are going to enjoy today’s line-up, including Karl Shiflett and Melvin Goins.  We had the privilege of seeing Grasstowne, a new venture; I enjoyed both their shows.

When we realized we’d have to leave a day early, I visited for a minute with Martha Adcock.  We’ve been privileged to see Eddie and Martha with Tom Gray for several years at Mountaintop, and previously saw Martha and Eddie regularly at Wendy Smith’s park in Northern Michigan.  I am reminded each time I see them of a magical night several years ago, when Randall Hylton and the Adcocks were booked on the same day at Wendy’s.  After the last set, Randall and Eddie took to the stage together, a performance to remember.  They played guitars, I’m not sure which of his girls Randall played, but it was great, a memory I treasure.  One more thing, you can’t get enough of Tom Gray on the bass, this was our second opportunity this year!

On the Fourth, we sat in our chairs behind Lex, watched, and enjoyed the fireworks launched from nearby towns.  It was cloudy, but there were plenty to see from that great vantage point.

So, we’ll go home, and get real, and this year’s vacation will become another sweet memory.

Jul 09

Post from my computer diary, written 7-1-07

Sunday, we’re on our way to Pennsylvania.  We got an early start, which we blew by stopping to eat a nice lunch.  I guess that’s what vacations are about.

We spent the weekend near Leslie, Michigan, at the Wheel Inn Campground.  A quite place, and we had a nice rest.  A few bands played, a couple of which were of interest to us.  On Friday, Granny saw something that made her very happy.  It’s Rachel, doing what she seems to love to do.  Papa observed that she was almost dancing with that bass.  She said she would be playing some dates with her family this summer.

On Saturday, the Mike Adams Band played a set.  A couple extras sat in, and it was a predictably excellent performance.  A great way to start a week off!

Papa’s photos from Friday night are already posted; we’ll try to get to Saturday’s tomorrow.