First movie

While J was visiting, mom and I decided to take him to his first movie! "Marmaduke" was playing, so we decded to try that one. He did pretty good, considering that he was just 2 years old! He wanted to be fed constantly, so there was a steady stream of snacks from his backpack. We took a walk once, and a trip to the restroom once, along with a stop off at the snack bar for him to have a box of chocolate-covered raisins.

At the end of the movie, he said "Bye, Ma-ma-dooook" and then the lights came up and we could see that he was *covered* with chocolate. Sounds like a fun first movie experience to me!

Reading

I just finished a book called Sarah's Garden. It is an inspirational fiction book in the Amish genre. When I first began to read, I didn't think I was going to like it. It just didn't draw me in. But it didn't take long untl I was caught up in the storyline. After that I happily made my way through the book. The main characters, Sarah and Grant, seemed realistic to me, and I hoped for some resolution for them.

The only thing that I didn't really care for was the constant italicized usage of Pennsylvania Dutch words. I didn't object to the usage of the words, but rather the italics, because my eye was constantly drawn to those words on the page. Perhaps that's just a quirk of mine, but at any rate, there were enough of those words on each page to annoy me.

All in all, the book was enjoyable, and I look forward to more novels written by Kelly Long.

Disclaimer: This book was sent to me via the Booksneeze program, in hopes that I would offer a review. No other compensation was given.

A visit to Aunt Jean

When J was visiting, we decided to take him to visit his great-great aunt Jean.

J enjoyed loving on Aunt Jean's dog. And the dog seemed to enjoy it too.

Aunt Jean, mom, and J.

Me and Aunt Jean.

Wayne

My paternal grandfather died when my dad was a young boy. My dad and grandparents, and pretty much the rest of the extended family, had moved up north during the 50's because that's where the jobs were. After my grandfather died, my dad and his mom moved back home. And a few years later, my grandmother remarried. That man was Wayne. And that is what I called him---I'm not sure why I never started calling him Pa like my other grandfather.

Wayne had a rough childhood. His father was killed and his mother remarried and they had 2 more children. His step-father, whle basically a good man from what I have been told, treated Wayne like the proverbial step-child. He would buy candy for his son, and not give Wayne any. I know that sounds like a little thing, but the fact was, 40 years later Wayne still remembered and was hurt by that. That was just one thing, and the step-father showed remorse later on for how he treated him, telling him he later knew it wasn't right. Wayne had an aunt, Aunt Kate, that he was close with, and who raised him for a number of years.

At any rate, the whole point of telling this story is to say that Wayne was a wonderful grandfather to me. I was the only grandchild, as my sisters had not been born yet. And I was spoiled, no doubt about it. I've heard often that "he thought you hung the moon." As a child, you don't realize just how special that is. But now, as an adult, I realize what a safe place that was for me---unconditional love. Wayne passed away December 26th, the year I was 10. He had pancreatic cancer, and it moved fast, as that disease typically does.

Reflecting on my relationship with Wayne makes me think of my 2 1/2 year old nephew, and the relationship the two of us have. I see the complete, earnest trust reflected in his eyes, and I feel the unconditional love I have for him. And I hope that never changes, for either of us.




Wayne as a teen

Wayne and his grandparents

Wayne at the house he was raised in by his Aunt Kate

Granny, Wayne, my dad, Wayne's brother, mother, sister, and aunt.

Wayne's aunt, grandparents, uncle, sister, and himself

Comfy?

J, just hanging out.

Two Priuses and a smart car go into a steakhouse...

I think the environmentalists are taking over the world. Or at least the local steakhouse. Which is kind of ironic, when you consider meat production accounts for about 18% of the world's total greenhouse emissions.

And yes I was there, and one of those cars is mine. But I promise you, there was no steak passing through this vegetarian's lips.

Sometimes a box just isn't a box

In this case, it was a spaceship. And that was after he had been slid around on the kitchen floor in it by myself and his other auntie.