Busy couple of weeks! Part 'Dallas.'

Before I continue with the story here (which will most likely take longer than the 2 days to drive this trip...so put your feet up and get some knitting done while I get long winded. and the dial up takes daysssssssss to load the pictures...) I thought I'd mention a little something to Rae.

In reference to your comments on yesterday's post. You have a cutesy little one at home. You're supposed to be 'on time' to get to work and take care of the little one. You can learn to be 'carefree' when the road-trip time comes when a) it's not your car, it's your child's. b) your child is in 'charge' of the trip (I know, I gulped when I read what I just wrote, too...scary thought - huh?) c) your 'child' is about to be 25, and you know that at his age, you were chasing around not just him but his older sister and had one more little one 2 months away from birth at that time. A road trip with his mom is a piece of cake compared to 3 kids under the age of 4 1/2 at home to clean up after! d) you still have PROMS, that's right plural...PROMS to live through with your daughter before you hit the road with her...once you survive those, a road trip is gravy.

Oh, and Rae? I'm sending you Excedrin when it's time to start shopping for those prom dresses. Keep me posted when the time comes! (I have 3 daughters....trust me..Excedrin for Mom and a magic bank account helps).

Now let me give you some back story on my son and why this was an 'important' day. My son loves baseball. Not just loves...but breathes in baseball like I breathe in knitting! When he was born the ladies from my church wanted to know what I'd like to have for him. Living in the greater Los Angeles area, Dodgers baseball outfits was my answer. As he got a little bit older, my parents helped us to outfit him in Detroit Tigers clothing. Cute little bugger. At that point, he thought the Tigers were the bomb! Until that public school thing hit and he relearned that there were other baseball teams out there in the world, and he lived 'near' Dodger stadium. GRRR...

The year after he graduated from high school, he bought his first 'packet' of multiple game Dodger tickets and took me to the game on Mother's Day. He had one rule. No knitting Mom! HUH? That was really hard...but I gave in and took my brand new cell phone that day. It was a blast! It was the first time my son had taken me to a game, and we were able to take my parents along for the 'ride' via the cell phone and sing 'take me out to the ball game' from 3,000 miles away together. Years earlier, I came upon a couple of great tickets to a game in Dodger stadium and I took my Dad, my son and my youngest daughter. Our seats were in the second level, directly overlooking home plate. They were so good that you could call the pitch before the umpire got to it! So, to call Dad from the game was one of those cool memories I'll never forget and share a 2nd game with him 'at' Dodger Stadium.

Anyway...continuing on...(see, told you..long winded-I've been told)...this kid really loves baseball. Baseball facts, baseball games, baseball trivia..baseball everything. A couple of weeks after his high school graduation, he was at Dodger stadium and used the disposable camera he'd left in his car from Grad night. He took pictures of the stadium after ordering his jersey. Just after snapping the last picture on the roll of film, out from the stadium...who did he run into? Tommy Lasorda! Figures, huh? The one time he's there, no witnesses...and no more film. That was one excited kid on the phone....MOM...MOM! You're not going to believe this! Guess who I just met!

Cut to a few years later, he transfers to UCLA. UCLA has a baseball team. UCLA pretty much pre-drafts their players ahead of time, but this kid is brassy enough to approach the coach and asks to be a walk on try out! Unfortunately, he didn't make the team, but the coach liked him so much that he asked him to stay and help the team out. In exchange for being a pitching coach and team manager, he got scholarship money to help pay for school! And road trips with the team. Which translates into free tickets to the games. Not too shabby-huh? Oh, and he met Charlie Sheen when he came to have batting practice with the team one day, too.

Ok ok ok..back to this trip..and THIS baseball story...Here's our first look inside the stadium.

One of the things he loves to do, is to watch batting practice. The CALIFORNIA ANGELS were out on the field when we went into the stadium. (I hate the 'new' name and refuse to use it-get a map people, they aren't in Los Angeles, that's the 'other' team.) Texas Rangers vs. the Angels.

At this point, we had a new conversation. It went like this on my cell phone:

M: Dad!

My Dad: Hello.

M: Guess where kiddo and I are?

D: Um, in Indiana?

M: Nope, we're in Dallas!

D: Dallas! What are you doing in Dallas?

S: Mom-technically it's Arlington.

M: Ok, technically it's Arlington, Dad. We thought we'd go see the Angels play some baseball.

D: How'd you get there?

M: I flew into Indiana to help kiddo drive home for the summer, and we thought we'd 'stop off' on the 'way' home.

D: HAHAHAHAHA That's a bit out of the way! Good for you!

With batting practice over, we started hiking up the stadium. Yep...hiking. What a cool stadium! The box seat entrances, which I neglected to get pictures of...had pictures of past baseball greats. Try has hard as he could...kiddo couldn't get into them to 'peek'...he didn't have the right ticket.

However, he did manage to do a little more of this:
Yep..more texting...and yes, to two girls. Again.

But check out this view! Amazing!

Now, of course, we had to eat dinner at some point, and honestly, how can you go to a baseball game without a hot dog? Here's probably the only way you'll ever see me eat ketchup. (They didn't have any BBQ sauce. darnit)

Then, our seats were wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy up here...where guess what kiddo did....yep..back to the phone! And yes...girls, again.

Here's something you won't see in a California or a Detroit stadium...the whole crowd singing Deep in the Heart of Texas!

As the game went on...we walked around the stadium a bit, and worked our way down behind center field. Nice view I tell you! We saw Sammy hit #596, but son refused to take any pictures of the moment.

S: I don't take pictures of cheaters.

M: Ulg...but this is history in the making.

S: I don't care. I don't take pictures of cheaters.

If you see the skyline above the 'song board'..you'll see some pretty dark clouds rolling in. We stayed to the end of the game, but not for the fireworks. We chose to hit the road again before a nasty Texas sized storm was due. Even the stadium people were warning the fans about the storm's arrival. It was late, and we had at least 20 more hours to drive. And as you can see, I'm already tired here. (Notice the 'comfy while we drive' attire I'm modeling)

Blanket update....6 more lace pattern repeats to go..and ticket, as of this afternoon has been procured! I will be able to hand deliver baby shower gifts in person on Saturday! (I'd show you another picture in progress, but it's already taken me over 4 1/2 hours to upload this much) WOOO HOO BABY! I'm going home for a week....starting this Friday!

It's a good thing, I promise.

Busy couple of weeks! Part 'Indy'.

This has been a couple of weeks that have passed by very quickly! I'm glad that I have taken pictures so at some point I will be able too sit back and enjoy what we all had together! Hopefully, on dial up these days (ulg-don't ask) I'll get this story up in parts as uploading will allow me to add pictures.

First, was the trip to Indiana to meet up with my son and our drive back to California. Let me say this...my son has the coolest set of music on his I-Pod! Hours and hours of great stuff..country, to 70's, to Motown, to dance, to hip hop! and a few of those songs you tell your kids; "you have to wear head phones on that..cuz it's not something I want to hear". Followed with; "don't you EVER let your Grandmother hear that!" The only time on our whole drive home that a song was repeated, it was by request. That kid has some kinda collection! (sure hope he's got it all backed up on Cd's...ask me how I know this is important! GRRRRRRRRRR.....)

Continuing with the story... I got into the airport on an earlier flight. Just a bit ahead of his arrival to pick me up. That first conversation went like this:

Me: Hey kiddo! I got the earlier flight so we can hit the road earlier.

Son: Well, I'm not exactly finished packing...

M: What do you mean-'not exactly'? I called you this afternoon and told you I was going to try and get in earlier.

S: Well, I know what I'm bringing home, but it's not in the car.

M: Haven't you been off of school for a few days now? And I couldn't come in before Thursday, so you had EXTRA time to pack?

S: Well, you know. I had people to see.

OK, so he gets to the Indy airport and off we head into our little adventure. Stopping off at his house (6 grad students in one house...6 MALE grad students in one house) to pick up his stuff and hit the road...it's nearly 10 pm now. There are piles of clothes-some even folded (when did he learn to do this? ) on his bed, and there is this stack of books from one semester to cart home. (So glad I didn't have to read this amount for college) and this is the pile of papers he needs for his research paper this summer! (I'm so glad this kid loves to read!)

As we go up and down this staircase to bring down his stuff next to the door...he starts texting on his phone. Not one, but with two different girls. (Mom pulls out preemie blanket to work on while he's deep into conversation. Thank goodness for knitting!) He then gets to his computer to print maps for the trip. (Mom feels much better with maps in hand. ) Keep in mind, with all the driving back and forth for three years of school, his plan is to add to his goal of seeing a baseball game in each stadium across the country. Last year, AFTER he pulled out from his apartment, he asked us to check which teams had home games while he was out on the road. I texted him driving directions over the phone to the stadium, for a haircut and finally home post game. This year I said I wanted maps prior to leaving. So the next conversation went like this...

S: Mom, do you want to go to a baseball game on the way home?

M: Heck ya! I love going to games with you! Where abouts?

S: We can go to Dallas, or Houston, or both.

M: Do you know how far away Houston is from Dallas?

S: Not too far, really. About the same distance.

M: Are you kidding me? It's at least 4 hours in the opposite direction of where we need to go after the game. Texas is a bit of a 'swing' out of the regular path home, but Houston is a much bigger swing. How long do you want to take to get home?

S: OK, so we'll just go to Dallas and not to both, OK?

M: Sounds like a plan.

S: Well, Since the game is at 7pm tomorrow, we really don't need to leave until 2am and we'll still have plenty of time to get there.

M: Wake me up when it's time to leave.

S: Mom, we need to get this stuff downstairs. You don't need to sleep.

At which time there is more texting with the girls and I decided to plug in my camera batteries to make sure they're both full before we head on off down the road. (baseball game will need to be documented..right?)

S: Mom, don't do this..it's a bad idea. You're going to forget it.

M: Kiddo, I'm sitting right here, the light is on and I can see it every time I walk into your room and there's no way I'm going to leave this behind. It's going to be fine.

S: I'm telling you Mom, don't do it!

M: Kiddo, We have to unplug everything before you leave, it's going to be fine.

(Cue the music. You know the kind....da da dada da dadadadadada............)

Once everything is downstairs and the first battery is fully charged and in the camera, I thought I'd plug in the 2nd battery and give it all the charging that time would permit while he was packing the car. I stood in front of his TV staring at the battery to make sure I wouldn't forget to take it with me. (getting late now, and I'm feeling the 1:30ish time)

S: Mom! Don't do it! I'm telling you...not a good idea.

M: Kiddo. I'm right here. Let me know when you've finished packing the car and don't forget my bag and computer case. I'll be right there. I don't know how many pictures we'll take at the baseball game and I don't want to run out of battery juice.

S: Mom....

M: I know...but it's going to be alright....I promise!

Car is packed...and off we go! Right to the grocery store for Red Bull and Pepsi for son, water and diet Coke for me. As we are pulling away from the store he says...

S: I wish I had had the chance to say Good bye to everyone. I had been invited to a party tonight and didn't get to go.

M: Well, we haven't left town yet, swing by if you want to say a quick goodbye! It's only 2:08am. What's a few more minutes?

(3 days later, he admits to me and his sister that he went inside the gathering to greet his friends and nearly forgot MOM was OUTSIDE IN THE CAR! He almost stayed for the remainder of the party! Ulg. Good son....good son.)

Finally...off we go...heading south in a packed car...music playing and on our way home! Here's where the 'girl' stories all begin...he's got a ton of 'girl stories.' So cute. Remember those days of past? Flirting, dating, hearts crushed...Listening to music as we head on out of town. (Dang, great music!) Mom has put a limit on the songs tho'...no songs that would remind him of old girlfriends. Period. Mostly he stuck to the rule. Well, unless I didn't catch him and turned it to a new song, that is.

Down the road, I decide to take a nap so I'd be awake and ready to drive when it was my turn. Well underway, somewhere near the MO/Ark border I wake up in a sweat! Shaking and panicking! "Slightly" panicked!

M: MY CAMERA BATTERY! I LEFT IT AT YOUR HOUSE! (saw that one coming, didn't you?)

S: Told you it wasn't a good idea! (said calmly with a bit of a smirk on his face)

M: I HAVE TO HAVE MY BATTERY AND MY CHARGER!

S: I'll be back in August and I can send it to you then.

M: ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I CAN'T GO THAT LONG WITHOUT RECHARGING MY BATTERY! CALL YOUR ROOMMATE, GET THEM TO MAIL IT TO ME.

S: Not going to happen Mom, they're gone for the summer.

M: GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

S: I told you not to plug it in.

M: I know, I know...but...but... ulg. dangit (kids just loveeeeeeeee being right....huh?)

Driving along, I'm seeing soy bean research fields in Arkansas and the gas tank is low. Very low, and making Mom nervous. Kiddo thinks it's funny to stress out Mom and this is how the gauge looked! I rest my case. This music better be good to keep the vein in my head from popping...

Pulling into Dallas gave us several hours before to the game to find something to do. There was a Best Buy around the way from the stadium where we went to buy a new battery and recharger for my camera. Another situation where it 'all depends on the week...'

M: Here's my camera. We are traveling and I left my battery and charger behind. I need new ones, do you carry them? We're only here for the baseball game. Do you have any? Generic would be just fine.

Best Buy Dude (polite name for the kid I'm ready to strangle..figuratively speaking, of course)...Ah, we don't have any for your camera, but we can order one for you.

M: I just said we were traveling and only stopping in town tonight for the game.

BBD: I can order it, it would be here in a couple of days.

M: Do you listen? We're only here for a couple of hours.

BBD: Oh, I'm sorry. We don't carry rechargers that would fit your camera.

M: What's this? Would this work for my camera? (box of generic recharger hanging on display wall)

BBD: Oh, Ya, that would work. I didn't know we had that here.

M: ...I know, I know, it 'all depends on the week'....(my head hurts.)

Next part soon....here's the baby blanket that seems to have no end...it's due in Michigan on Saturday for the baby shower. Count down begins....will she make it? Stay tuned....

Yarn Puke...

Don't you just hate it?

3 1/2 hours, 3 pieces of yarn, so far...what a waste.

This is NOT good.

UPDATE: 6 1/2 hours later....it continues:

skein 1: 2 pieces (already knit up)

skein 2: 3 pieces

skein 3: 2 pieces

picture me, not a happy camper.

rather frustrated.

rat's nails.

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day!

This has been a varied Memorial Weekend over here at the Bruinmom's abode. Kids busy and traveling, are now home and preparing for the week ahead. Two to work, one to studies, and one to jury duty. The keys are now out of the car, thankyouverymuch, and the alarm is miraculously working again. Go figure how that all happened. The Dealership and Roadside assistance phone numbers are now loaded into the cell phone. Grandpa is doing well on his Chemo treatments and hasn't (knockonwood) felt any side effects. The purple blanket is coming along nicely after a bit of 'time out' in the corner for it's bad behavior.

I have a confession to make. I think I may have become a wee bit of a CNN junkie. It happened back during the Anna Nichole constant updates. (I know I know...like a train wreck, you couldn't stop looking at it.)

Anyway, last night while the house was quiet I turned on the tv and flipped over to CNN. They were re-running a special they had on the combat hospitals over in Iraq. Stories were told not just of the wounded, but also of the doctors and nurses who are working so far away from home and families. There was a time (fleeting as it was) where I considered going into nursing. Had it not been for the amount of math and oh ya, blood involved, it might have worked. NOT.

My grandmother was great as a nurse. I can do the listening, and the hand holding. I can't do the blood. Maybe that's why I was so glued to this program. These are men and women doing a job I certainly can't do. And I am thankful that they are doing it.

The longer it went on, and then repeated itself, all I could think about was the Ships Project and how I really need to get some more hats knitted up for the medical units. While the injured are being transported they're in planes that are cold. It's weighed on my heart this weekend.

A couple of years ago, before I got hurt, I was working with a group called Operation Interdependence ( http://www.oidelivers.org/ ) . I loved the work I did there. We would pack up 50 quart baggies with little things and letters in a box to ship over. Just before Christmas that year, I knit up 50 beanies to add for the winter time. My ortho doc said having that knitting goal was the best thing I could have done to regain my grip after falling. He doesn't understand. Having that goal made my time of laying in bed make me feel useful. I got more out of that than I think I ever gave to them.

So, today, while working in the garage, and remembering my Grandmother, being thankful for the time with my son yesterday, and my girls recently...I vowed to get some hats done for the troops. I can't be a nurse like my Grandmother could, but I can knit.

Now, if the people in my family would quit getting pregnant, I'll get some beanies done to send over for the medical units in remembrance of Grandma. And in honor of the Vets in my family. For a job well done!

Hope your weekend was productive and thoughtful in your households, too.

Lessons learned...

So, let's pretend you have a Saturday afternoon. One in the middle of a holiday weekend. You're looking around prior to the weekend begining and say to yourself. "Self, I think we should plan something unique for this weekend."

At which time Self would repsond, "Yourself, I do believe you have a plan there."

Now, take all those wonderful, fun, exciting plans...and toss 'em out the window as you realize that you have locked your keys in the car, it's now Friday night and the car alarm fob decides to stop working and won't unlock the door. Oh, did I mention that it's 10pm at night...and you're in a rather large parking lot? And you're not within walking distance of home. And your kids are a)back in Boston, b) at the Dodger game, c) watching the Dodger game at home, and/or d) driving up to San Luis Obsibo for the weekend with old college buddies.

Ya. a-d. All 4 possiblities. All 4 kids. Busy. And no matter how you point that fob, or spin it around, it's not going to work. Not.one.little.bit. Bless the son who arrives in the MIDDLE OF HIS BELOVED DODGER GAME to rescue her. (Did I mention that the son is a HUGE, and here I'm talking, HUGE Dodger fan? Testament to the good son that he is, he came right away.

While waiting, it was far too dark to knit lace and I couldn't find a way to balance my book light. So I pulled out a book. A simple diversion to the fact that the next Debbie Macomber book isn't out in paperbook yet, so we resorted to this one. Granted, there's been the word 'knit' in it twice, but not a central part of the story line.

Son arrived, picked up Mom and we drove home with the latest of girl stories along the way. (I love these times! And yes, I know I have to finish the driving trip accounts. Soon..very soon!)

Baby daughter calls home later with more advice for Mom. Baby daughter is a mechanical wiz. She starts to quiz Mom about the possibilites keeping the keys in said car. And Mom away from said car. We agree that it's time to call in a night and plan on calling the alarm company first thing in the am to 'fix' the situation. Oh, ya, and it might be time to get a second copy of the only key to the car made. Ya. She's a smart girl. (I know I know...procrastination...I'm really good at that.)

Scene, two...(or really is it up to three or four by now?)

1) Wake up early Saturday morning and watch the clock ticking away...so calls to the alarm company can commense. Waiting...waiting...waiting...ding it's time...

2) Start leaving phone calls on the 1-800 and local numbers provided with alarm company paperwork. Notice that the pre-recorded messages at said alarm company says they return phone calls DAILY from 8-5pm. Notice that it's 8:03 am. Ok...maybe they're listening to their morning phone messages and will return messages shortly. Keep waiting.

3) Divert attention away from being carless. Turn on computer and read e-mails.

4) Pull out purple baby blanket and knit.

5) Put down purple baby blanket before making too many mistakes.

6) Start calling son to decide when you can go back to pick up car once alarm company comes to your rescue.

7) Leave 3453490 messages for son since he's not answering his cell phone.

8) Leave more messages for the alarm company and write a blog just before 11am. You just KNOW they HAVE to be a great company and they WILL answer their phones soon. After all, it's a Holiday weekend and they would WANT to respect the fact they are your prefered alarm company. Heaven knows if the car had been stolen, they surely would be at your beck and call and get the car back asap and in great condition. RIGHT?

9) 1:30pm. Still leaving messages for alarm company and son. Nothing is returned.

10) Start to panic now. Holiday weekend and no car.

11) Tell Self and Yourself...shush up. You're adults now and can't freak out.

12) Call the dealership and tell them. HEY! You picked this company, I need help, I need my car...tell me what to do!

13) Hear the Service Manager (after 3 phone calls in their system) tell you that you're still covered in the bumper to bumper warrenty and their roadside assistance should be able to unlock the door for you.

14) DOH! Ya, like they could have had this done and over with last night. LAST FREAKIN' NIGHT! (don't tell son. He missed his baseball game)

15) Call son, have his step mom wake him up...tell groggy son, 'Hey, kiddo! Time to go!"

"huh?" he says very slowly....."what are you talking about?"

"Kiddo, we have to go get my car, they're going to meet us there."

"huh? why now?"

"Uh, cuz it's 1:30pm and it's time to get going."

"oh, ok. Be right there."

16) Half way to the car, call road side assistance. They already gave you the directions on what to do when you're at the car. They now tell you they can't find your file. You apparently don't exist now in their files. They'll have to create a new one. No biggie they say. They'll send someone out immediately. and Please answer your cell phone when they get close to double check on the destination.

17) Arrive at car. Send son home. Good son. No need to stay, they'll be here very shortly. Look around at miles and miles of seamingly endless parked cars as far as the eye can see. Cars. No tow truck guy.

18) After 15 mins, notice that 'sunny Southern California' is very windy today, and you didn't bring a sweater after reading emails about the rest of the country being overly warm and in the 90's.

19) Start shivering and call the tow truck company. Oh, he's going to be there in 45 mins. They say. Pull out knitting, and snacks, and lean on the now very dirty bumper of the car and watch the wind 'help' unwind the yarn.

20) Make a note that next time...bring a lawn chair. Try the alarm fob again. Nope, still not working.

21) The tow truck company call and ask if you can see the guy. No. Well, he's in lot B. But I'm in lot C. Wait some more.

22) Tow truck guy comes. HORRAY! He's going to save the day! Wait...he's using a glorified coat hanger? That keeps flipping around the inside of the car? This could take a bit of time. Pull out knitting. Decide not to lean on your car to make it move from his 'delicate' surgical postion of the 'coat hanger' and lean on car next to yours. Try not to lean on the bird poop or the wad of gum that seems to want to follow your feet.

23) 24 minutes later, the door is open. Yes, 24 minutes. Makes you think that your car is really safe if it takes that long to 'break into' it. Then laugh when you think that a teenager could break into it in a matter of seconds. Yet.... All the doors are opened! Success!

And.both.alarm.fobs.are.suddenly.working. Both.......not.a.thing.wrong.with.them. As the alarm guys drives off. No apparent reason for it not working. None, Whatsoever.

24) Get in the car, text the kids that the car is opened and everythings ok.

25) Get on the freeway. Pull to a halt. Stopped freeway. This is LA afterall. Totally stopped.

26) Finally get home, 20 hours after you realized you can't get the car door opened. Go to have a sit down and relax a bit. Pull out purple baby blanket.

27) Tink back 7 rows of lace pattern in purple baby blanket. You've skipped a YO somehow and no matter what you do, you can't get it fixed.

Figures. Yep. Long weekend.

The Yarn Harlot might just have the right idea. She just pulled her bike out for the summer.

Oh, the lessons learned? Possibly, have a second key for your car..and mostly..don't lock your keys in the car. And pre-program your cell phone with roadside assistance numbers. Oh, maybe KNOW you HAVE roadside assistance. Ya, I'm going with the 'don't lock your keys in the car' one first.

This is an interesting mix you've gotten us into...

Isn't it 'fun' when you go to get in the car, realize your keys are inside...and your alarm fob won't open the doors...your kids are out of town for the weekend....and you're not within walking distance to home?

Oh! It gets better....you get a ride home, you wake up early..and the alarm company WON'T answer/return phone calls...then you call the dealership who sold you the car...to find out..you're still covered under the bumper to bumper roadside assistance plan, but now there's no one around to bring you BACK to the car.

And they could have taken care of the whole mess last night.

If you only knew.

Or knew and had the phone number entered into your cell phone last night.

"sigh" going to be a long weekend...

I've been tagged

Here's how it goes. . .each person tagged gives 7 random facts about themselves as well as the rules of the game. You need to tag 7 others & list their names on your blog. You have to leave those you tag a note in their comments letting them know they have been tagged & to read your blog. So here it goes! Here's my lucky 7: Rae http://knittingtales.blogspot.com/ , Yvette http://grandmasknittingplace.blogspot.com/

1) This is the first time I have been tagged, and I procrastinated. I didn't know what I was going to write about. I had to go search around a few other blogs to get an idea how to write these things. (fear of failure-huh?) I wasn't tagged once, nor twice...I was actually tagged 3 times! (so much for failure) Thank you Laurie, http://knitwitarmywife.blogspot.com/ , Melanie http://lilknitofthisandthat.blogspot.com/ , Brian http://360.yahoo.com/bmcgaunn . This was fun~even after all my stressing out over what to write! (I really do have a blog now, huh? said in my bestest Sally Field's voice)

2) The one and only time my Mom and Dad came to California for Thanksgiving, my turkey turned inside out! After all the years of making Thanksgiving Dinners from scratch (picture perfect, of course)...the turkey cooked too fast. When I went to flip it over, it split, turned inside out, with grease and stuffing splattering all over the place...even the ceiling.

3) In 1989 we drove home in 45 hours to surprise the Grandparents for Christmas! (Southern California to Michigan) On Christmas Eve the kids were all dressed up, holiday basket in hand filled with goodies, and were sent to the front door of my parent's house singing, 'We Wish you a Merry Christmas!" My brother (the only one in the 'know') had been inside the house with a video camera. Mom thought she heard the wind howling outside as Dad was 'prompted' to answer the door. It wasn't the wind making the noise! It was a great surprise well pulled off. The next morning we repeated the same process at their other Grandparent's house. Their Great-Grandmother was so surprised, all day long she kept repeating, I can't believe it. I can't believe it. (I miss her).

4) My Dad's ancestors arrived on the Mayflower. My paternal Grandfather lived on a ship in the Great Lakes until he was 12.

5) My Mom's Dad and his family came back to the United States on the Carpathia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RMS_Carpathia after living in England for a little while when he was a toddler for his health reasons. Grandpa's picture hangs in a museum in Northern Michigan from back in the time he worked up by the copper mines. He also played basketball in college. He met my Grandma when she was his nurse in the hospital. (I miss her a lot).

6) I spent my first anniversary eating a brand new food product called Chicken McNuggets at McDonald's with my 2 1/2 month old daughter. One of my cousins was jealous because back home never got anything 'new' to try. I was jealous that she got a huge bouquet of roses for Valentine's Day.

7) In high school, my typing teacher nicknamed me "Klutz #2" after Kim and I were racing each other through a typing test one day. I went to return the carriage and it popped off the typewriter and landed on the floor. (Kim had the title of Klutz #1 and I miss her, too).