Thanks Suzie

Dang. If only I'd gotten the word earlier.

Should I go to grad school?

Kids and Screaming

Usually I'm the unfortunate one that has to sit at the back of the plane with all the screaming kids since my travel plans always seem to get made last minute (I guess it's possible that since I travel the economic route this could have a little something to do with it as well). Anyhooooo ... yesterday I managed to finagle a second row seat and really enjoyed my three hour flight without having to listen to the engines or know when ever passenger flushed. However, about a half hour from the end of the trip a three year old two rows behind me started screaming bloody murder like someone had just broken her arm and was trying to set it ... over ... and over ... and over.

I really tried to not be one of those passengers that turns around and looks ... I know those moms are embarrased and are trying to shut their fool kids up, but after 15 minutes of banchee behavior and my headache that had developed, I had to peek. Sure enough, it was the lady that had walked her daughter onto the plane with a leash and a harness. Yeah, when I saw the daughter-on-a-string I thought it was a little bit ridiculous but it didn't really clue me in that it is probably a sign of someone that just doens't know how to be a parent. This lady just let her kid SCREEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAM (I don't mean cry either) for a half hour and all she did to try and calm her was make a very faint shhhhhhh every 20 seconds or so. Finally, a perfect stranger calmed her down by letting her play with her bookmark. This girl is either going to be a librarian or she just needed a toy. Me thinks the latter is more likely. Why the parent didn't try something, the world will never know.

I'm not opposed to having kids on planes, and I know why they cry. Planes are scary things. Sometimes I want to cry. But maybe we should evaluate which parents should fly the friendly skies.

As if I don't already have a wedding to attend shortly and then that honeymoon thing followed by the Other Reception and the drive from Dallas to SC

But today I had my "orientation" for graduate school dos accompanied by the work program I'll be starting. Oh and as soon as we get back here in a month (after completing above duties) we'll have to start up that house buying thing and the whole getting married thing, with a quick interlude of the brother's getting married a month later thing. Yup. That should about do it.

Most importantly, I have my entire extended family watching the first season of 24. If anyone owns it and wants to let us borrow it, you'd save us a cumulative rental fee of about $75.

It's about the weather, which I know is really old and boring but at least it's not about the wedding

I can't believe how much it has rained here this month. I think it will be quite the achievement to post this blog without the power shutting off as well. I feel like I'm in some sort of tropical (humid) climate and in the rainy-season. It's still about 100 degrees every day but the nights and mornings are so pleasant and cool. The folks and I swang on the back porch with the kitties last night and watched the storm tear branches from the trees. Probably safer inside, but not nearly the fun!

At least it will probably be cooler than we were expecting for the wedding now (DANG! I almost made it without mentioning the "W" word, I swear I'm not one of those brides)

A different kind of game

When you watch a baseball game from the OWNER'S BOX (as Karo, BK, and I did on Friday night - Thanks BK!) it really, REALLY changes your perspective on the game. You gotta be on your toes though. Sitting right next to the dugout can prove to be quite precarious from a foul ball point-of-view. And it really adds to the fun when you can actually see the answer to boxer vs. briefs question.

Karo came away a much more learned person than before the game, having learned many a baseball rule, and what exactly that guy-that-just-stands-there-next-to-first-base-and-doesn't-do-anything-ever is actually doing.

Err ...

I might have been a little jumpy with the asterisk. I'm not sure I'm ready to give up on The Abbots, the Browns and the gang just yet. I'm such a sap when it comes to that show. I'll lose DH, we'll talk about the other one.

I keep meaning to tell you that ...

M&D (local reference to Mom and Dad) TIVO'd my shows while I was in ColOmbia including Scrubs, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives*, & Everwood* ... all except the season finale of EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM. And Television Without Pity only recaps DH, which I've really lost interest in anyway.

* will be removed from Missy's Fall 2005 Television Line Up. My heart has been won over by 24 and Lost, and those will probably please the rest of the house more anyway. Compromise means never having to watch Star Trek.

Stop feeding me! I have to wear that dress here in about 25 days!

Every day since I've been home someone has made cakes, cupcakes, homemade ice cream, potato salad, deviled eggs (DELISH!) brought over bags of cheetos or slapped some brats on the grill. I can pass on the ice cream relatively easy, not really my thing, but at church Sunday there were rows upon rows upon rows of cupcakes and there is NO walking by those without sucking down at least a bakers dozen. I actually attacked the cupcake man when he tried to sneak by with the ones with sprinkles.

This really has to stop. Not forever, just for ... oh ... 25 more days and then someone can FILL my hotel room with cupcakes. Or .. hmm .. it does seem like there will be cake available that day too ... but from what ...

Quickie

Sorry guys, things are just crazy and hectic still. I wrote a couple posts on the plane but I don't have them with me. I did spare you the details of the airplane musical chairs debacle that was brought on by the Dominican who wanted to sit with his wife and son (not child, he was about 35) yet the three of them all had reserved seats in the middle of three different rows (and none of them had seats in the row he insisted on them utilizing). I was forced to relinquish my beloved aisle seat to squirm between two very stout gentlemen to accommodate his desperation. It was quite pathetic.

Thanks to all my amazingly wonderful friends who showered me with e- and snail-mail cards full of welcome homes and birthday greetings!