On Friday, Jim and the boys left to go to Waco to watch the Cats play against Baylor. This boy's weekend was planned out and designed by my sons, who invited their dad to go along. It made me really happy that they decided to do this together. I love that they like to go do stuff together. Of course, Colin was here a couple weeks ago, pointing out that his "childfree Saturdays" are numbered! I think he is excited about the baby coming, and I think he is going to be a great dad!
Colin and Spencer bought a "baby wagon" and Colin was exited to take it on a road trip. You know, to make sure it is safe before they strap "baby Dale" into it!
The Cats did not win, but from the (very small amount) I heard from Jim, it sounded like they had a good trip! Jim came stumbling in at 2 am Sunday morning, saying it was fun and then he hit the pillow and I heard nothing else from him! I can't wait to hear all about it when he wakes up. I also hope he took some more photos that I can steal from his phone later.
Since Jim was gone, it meant that I had to get Harper and Clayton to the football game and attend all by myself. I am not sure if people are aware of this, but I don't really enjoy football (or organized sports at all really). I didn't want to sit out there by myself, and I don't really know many of the kids who are playing. Added to the fact that the band kids have to get to the game an hour early for some random reason, and I have 2 board meetings next week that I wasn't quite ready for, I pulled the opt out card. I dropped the band kids off on time and went and hid out in my office. I had Harper text me at the beginning of the second quarter, and I went out in time to watch the halftime show, and the second half of the game. I may not enjoy football, but I love the band. Harper (on the flute) and Clayton (who you can always spot with that bright green hat he refuses to take off) did a great job! The band kids work really hard, and although I miss seeing their old director, I really do like the new director. And I am starting to get to know the new assistant, who is so young he could be my kid, but has a fun personality and seems to be absolutely crazy about band.
Madison keeps me supplied with lots of photos of the girls. I need to remind her to be in the photos once in a while. (Taking random detours in the story of this blog is my absolute right).
Saturday with Jim gone, I had some plans to do stuff I like to do. You know, like watch this movie on Netflix I know he won't want to watch and make tuna roll ups (which he hates). And none of the things I had in mind happened. Instead, I had the girls help me clean. I picked a bunch of produce out of what is left of the garden. I helped the girls with outside chores that needed done, and then I took Quincy to pick up her car from the mechanic, and I ran some errands that we needed to take care of. I came home and shampooed the carpet, because it needed done badly. Then I took off with Harper so she could work at a concession stand at the Ottawa Demolition Derby for a fundraiser for her CWF group. Now, I have been around for a while, and I have picked up a few tips for making my life easier. Things like work the early shift. The set up is not easy for this concession stand, but it is so much better than working the late shift when the people are drunk and grumpy because you can never stock enough Mountain Dew to mix in with their Lord Calvert. So we had signed up for the set-up crew, and the first shift. We took off and as we were driving up the gravel road, the tire light came on. I stopped, and sure enough, the tire is hissing. I make an executive decision to try to drive into town to get a can of fix a flat. That would be a wrong decision. We didn't make it to the highway before it was flat. I decide to call the 4-H agent and then change the tire. Another wrong decision. Our car's spare tire is up under the car. You drop it down by unscrewing a bolt in the trunk. I cannot open my trunk, because the little switch is broken. Jim had ordered a new switch, and it arrived, but I didn't know how to put it in, so I had laid it on the desk. Second plan, call Mallory, and see if she will deliver a can of fix a flat, and Harper was able to crawl into the trunk to get this handy dandy air compressor that Jim put in there that runs off the cigarette lighter. Mallory was home and delivered the prized can. As I am bent over, trying to get the can of fix a flat into the tire, an older man stopped to "help." He gets out, looks at the tire and says "yes ma'am, that tire is flat!" Thanks buddy, I don't know what I would have done without you. Fix a flat in, air compressor hooked up - and FAIL. Air compressor is a worthless piece of junk. So I pulled the car off the road as far as I could get it, and begged Mallory for a ride to the house to get Preston's old car. I came inside to tell Saige I was taking the car and wash my hands, and what is happening? Maude has somehow got the package with the trunk switch off of the desk and has chewed it to smithereens. I cannot even make this stuff up! I couldn’t even be mad - it was just too stupid. We picked up the now dead switch, and jumped into Preston’s old car. Not what I wanted to drive to Ottawa, but at least it does have air conditioning! It is loud and has a smell that can only be described as pee, bad cologne and regret. We were an hour late, but we did make it there!
And just as I recalled, it was slammed. Harper ran her legs off, and I made about 400 nachos (not an exaggeration) and I lost count of how many batches of popcorn I ran through the machine. Problem was when our shift ended, only half the people who were supposed to be there for the next shift showed up. Being the guilt driven individual that I am, I told the 4-H agent that Harper and I could stay. So that is how we ended up working until I felt like my feet would fall off, and until I decided that I will never touch another nacho again, ever in my life. Also, I am almost positive that my hair will smell like popcorn for at least a week. Long winded way of saying I have 2 of these concession stands left to do (for Saige's CWF group) and then I will never set foot in Ottawa during the car show, or the demolition derby ever again. Ever. Never. Never again! Too many people. Too much redneck, even for me.
Sadly, when our shift was over, we still needed to grab a few groceries. Unfortunately, it was so late that the only thing still open was Walmart. I have been trying to avoid Walmart. Actually, I have been actively trying to avoid all major retail stores. But desperate times call for desperate measures. We ran in and got the bare necessities for groceries. Jim and I will run some night this week to get the rest. I did make an impulse buy when I saw these cute ghost blankets though. I have been meaning to get the couches covered back up anyway (due to the dogs and cats). When I got them home, I have to say I am not sorry! They are cute! And you know what they say? Happy wife, happy life!
This is Sunday, and I woke up for mass to find that I was feeling about half brain dead, Saige woke up sick with a head cold, and I decided I am not getting dressed or leaving the house today. The girls crawled back in bed, and I am alternating between working on this blog post and looking at my phone. I have made cherry turn overs and have a list going of things I have to accomplish today. I need a day to just be. Sometimes I look at what the week holds for me, and I get a little overwhelmed. That is how I am feeling today. A tad overwhelmed. I know I will be ok, but I am taking this day to get my head back on straight. To do little projects, and to perhaps put my feet up for a bit and watch that movie.
