Nine Day Summer Adventure 2011

So Day 1) Picked up rental car at 2:30 pm. to drive to Rochester to visit the Haradens.

Day 2) Left in the morning for Adair, IA to Mom's. There was construction in Des Moines and a girl no older than 14 (that's what she looked like anyway) merged into the passenger side of "our" car. The state trooper was cute anyway...on to Mom & Bill's. Stayed overnight.

Day 3) Visited with Mom & Bill. BIll unfortunately but predictably will need to go to a nursing home by Fall. Mom & Bill's son, Shane, are starting arrangements.

Day 4) Left Adair at the wee hours of the am. and got to Denver by 4 pm. We ate something good..not sure what but everything we ate there was good.Buster thought so too. He ate Danielle's cat, Chello's, puke.Niiiiiiice:( Stayed overnight.

Day 5) Danielle took the day off work but we went there to meet some coworkers and she showed us around. Then we went to Red Rock Ampitheater. Home. Ate supper. Chicken. Danielle made a delicious salad.

< from here on I forgot the camera ... I need to get a pocket-sized camera >

Day 6) Zach, Danielle & I went to the ARC... a thrift store... we bought things. I know ..I am so descriptive. I stayed at the 1157 Adams and made a couple of salads for super, laid around and snooped through all of Danielle's stuff while everyone else went hiking in Evergreen. I washed a pair of underpants and dried them over a fan. Dan fried fish.*** Danielle I did not snoop :) But I did use your fan to dry my underpants sorrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyy***

Day 7) 1)We walked to the Arboretum. 2) Ate the best ribs I've ever had & that is without a beer first.... Zach made them. num num 3)We walked to Jazz In The Park in the early evening...a salsa band was playing. Very cool. I really enjoyed that time alone by the band/dancers with you Danielle. 3) Back to 1157 Adams then walked to get a cone of homemade toffee nut ice cream just before the shop closed at 9 pm.

Day 8) We got up at 5:00 am to leave for Adair. Arrived there at 5 pm. Bill was having a "good" day so visiting was more meaningful:) Mom looked tired though:( Ate supper. Dan went to Casey's to get each of us a Casey ice cream bar. Ever have one? They are great! Stayed overnight.

Day 9) Got up at 5:30 drove home, cleaned the car & returned it. I got lost. Seriously. I forgot where the rental place was in St. Cloud. But then I remembered. Dan & I laughed and laughed and laughed about that.

Leaving...not on a jet plane!

Tomorrow for 1) Jamie's 2) Mom's 3) Danielle in Denver... then home.

Gone for 8 days & Buster is coming with us!

Later,

F :)

ALMOST unbelieveable twist to this strange "family" of mine.

The thoughts of a "reunion" evoked:

The few of you who read this, including you Danielle Mary , may be astounded and almost tempted not to believe that which I tell you regarding my family. Yes, Danielle, how I (we) managed to raise three beautiful human beings amongst all of this angst and revelations that occurred for me as you grew up is beyond me. Literally "beyond" as in why I believe in God even though he ( or she/it) was rarely mentioned in my childhood.

But there actually IS a part of "me" that I have yet to explore and that is the Jewish part of the family. Quick & brief:

In 1985 I went to Florida for a Housman reunion. Donna & Lisa, Dad & Cigdem, Charlotte ( Dad's nudist sister) & I THINK David, Dad's brother were there although I can't remember for sure. That trip truly is a blur for me. I cried uncontrollably and was inconsolable for nearly 9 hours on that day. It is the one part of my life's story that remains an entire mystery ... one that would take a lot of work to solve. Basically I have relatives everywhere who are an extension of my grandfather... Robert L. Housman's fam and I met some of them in 1985. I don't remember any of their names...oh Milton ... was Robert's brother, a retired pharmacist, and sooooooo looked like my Dad! He was in fact Dad's uncle... Robert's brother.I'm sure Milton has passed.

Robert married a gentile... my Grandmother ( the FIRST Mary C. Housman!) and so was literally kicked out of the family..... a jewish thaaaaaaang. One day I'll get to finish that story... but I'm not ready and there is no time.

But in case there are skeptics.... Google Robert L. Housman. You will find that he was a professor at the U of Montana...Missoula. And the first man in this country to earn a PhD in journalism. THAT I know because I personally corresponded with a man who worked with (taught with) him in Montana. I didn't believe this guy Robert existed myself so had to confirm. He was not a very nice fellow, having literally abandoned his own children ON THE STREET ... David tells that story. Oh. And after my Grandmother divorced him, he married a woman named Lillian & hey had a child , Mickey, whom I met at that reunion. It is STILL too much for me to process & I very conveniently throw and stash all of this in the back recesses of my brain and hope that some day I can "reconnect" with some of those offspring I saw through a veil of tears in 1985. But if I never do, I think I will be ok with it.

Shirt

CUTEST thing EVAR!!!! I am going to Seattle for 4 days in September for the Puckett reunion. Colin Puckett is expecting a son on 4 months. There is a story ( as usual in my life.....nothing is easy in this fam life I have) behind my life with Grandma Puckett's extended family but basically for a little background for this trip:

1) My Mom, Bink (Walt) , & Prissy grew up with Alan Puckett as their brother. He was in fact their half brother. I met him once in the early 70's. He died not too long ago.. here is his web site . He also co wrote a wonderful book on classic motorcycles of which I have two copies. Alan did all of the art work.

2)During that visit I also met his son, Giles who must have been about 16 yrs or so. Maybe 17. . Giles, his wife and son ( don't know their names) are coming to visit Walt in Seattle from Australia for a month in Sept..

3) This "reunion" trip is costly but I cannot miss the opportunity to see Giles... and Bink.. he isn't getting any younger. Bink lived with us while he went to college in the late 60s. My Dad was a surrogate Dad to him... his Dad (my grandpa) died when Bink was 13.

When Dad was dying Bink was with is in NC. yadayada a WHOLE different story.... so much stuff. So much info.

WHICH IS MY POINT!!!!!!!!! I want to know WHY Alan wound up in Sydney, Australia & learn & see from Giles how I am connected. ... Do we look similar ( he is my HALF first cousin..hahahha) ? Does he resemble Bink? Mom? Prissy?

Whew... all of this over a shirt!!!! Isn't it DARLING?????????

Good luck with that.

Good luck with that.


Let the unraveling begin:(

Watching Letterman!!!!!

Sweet Jesus summer is HERE!

I MUST LOOK FOR THIS SHOW.

We are going to Denver.

I'm not sure of the details yet. I am waiting for the go- ahead from Dan. And you, Danielle. Dad is looking around for tires for the car today & like I said, he's going to check in to cost effectiveness with renting a car instead of driving ours. He'll be calling you.

I dropped off a car load of mostly clothes and books at goodwill yesterday. I was SUPER surprised that the entire building has been re-done. At least from the outside. I didn't have my wallet with me so didn't go in.

With the heat I think I'll do some more goodwill hunting today. I already have another box of books ready to go. It won't be quite as easy to gather clothes..

Our WOW group has a meeting and ride Saturday. I'm looking forward to that. Hope the weather cooperates. May ride to school to drop off something that has to be signed for the LEAF grant I received for science club.

I see Letterman is still on. Craaaaaaaaaazy. I'll have to put that on my to do list for summer.

Talked to Mom... we are stopping down there on the way to Denver. I'm trying to talk her in to going to Seattle for the Puckett reunion. I have a room and a car. It's taking care of Bill that is holding her back but the boys are around & I've planted the seed... it wouldn't be a reunion with Cathy Puckett.... we'll see.

Morning visiters.

Woke up this morning at 5:30 to mass chaos between four of these and Buster's barking. They didn't actually tangle (thank goodness) but they WERE all just outside Jessica's window. I sleepily ran past Dan with a broom over my head and he yelled, "MARY!!! BUSTER HAS HIS RABBIE"S SHOT!!! YOU DON"T!!". Stopped me.

We are hoping mama will show up but I have my doubts.

F

Wondering how the Pub Crawl went ****taps foot****

Since I didn't go I suppose I don't deserve an snapshot. Oh well. HOW DID IT GO DAMN IT???? And did Kara go shopping, take a nap or both???!!!!

I had the distinct pleasure of talking just a bit with Jayne Bautch until my hair appt. at 3:45.

Did you guys know that in Jayne's former life she was a confederate spy, killed a union soldier, served time , got typhoid, was released and allowed to live in England to recuperate? See? If I would have gone on the pub crawl I NEVER WOULD HAVE FOUND THAT OUT!!!!!