Cammy Gamp 2011, Day 10

I missed Day 10 on the puter.   It was a lovely day.   I am sure we did something - starting to walk around in a fog.  In the morning we watched a Netflix bonanza called:   Dogs and Cats, the Revenge of Kitty Galore.  Somehow I felt there were references to a James Bond movie throughout, but couldn't say for sure.

Actually, after a delightful morning of doing little else, off to town we went.  We dumped the grammy (otherwise known as spouse, wife, girl, hey you) at HEB.   I drove the G'girls to a playground and gave them exactly 15 minutes to play.   It was hot.   Megan did not last the full 15,  Shelby made it to 15 min., and Kayla still wanted to go go go after 15.   We returned to the air cond car.

Drove by the post office and dumped off the Netflix movie - then on to HEB.   First order of business, drain the water fountains....and they did....multiple turns.   HEB has 2 fountains at different levels of heighth.  That was truly a blessing.

Now we jiggled to the frozen food area where everyone got to pick out their own Frozen Food Dinner for supper.   Seems like all 3 contained some form of macaroni and cheese.  Whoever invented macaroni and cheese should get the Peace Prize - not some stupid politician.   Macaroni has solved more lunch noise issues than any full blown war.

Loaded up the groceries, and off we drove to DAIRY QUEEN.   Small Blizzards all the way around.   The wife had a Snicker Blizzard - and, I think, all girls had a Cookies and Cream.  Of course I worked my way around a large Diet Coke.  Sugar products are not my friend.   Megan was soooooo thirsty still.  I took a cup lid and scraped ice on it for consumption.  She ate all ice.

Home - groceries in - dogs out - rest - eventually supper with Megan guiding the cooking of the TV Dinners.

In the meantime, it was "make a bracelet" time.   We found a deal where you get lock washers from Home Depot - round silver connectors from Walmart - and silver clasp from Walmart -- hook them all together with needle nose pliers and you have a really nice looking bracelet.  It could double as a charm bracelet - and it has the popular industrial look.  Try It.  You'll Like It.  Mikey Likes It.

Bedtime did not offer me the opportunity to beat anyone.  Ruined my whole day  as they slept through the night.

Day 11 is today.  Maybe it will be posted soon

Grammy Camp 2011, day 9

Day 9  started really really slow as little ones slept in - and I watered the yard.  The envelope was opened about 10 -  today's busy work ( craft ) was foam.   Walmart sells these foam stickers that you  put on bigger foam things.   We had 6 door knob hangers....2 per child.   They decorated and decorated and foamed and foamed.   It was a good easy craft.   The biggest problem was the division of colors.   Everyone always wants the same colors --  so,  rock/paper/scissors. 
=============

But the best part of the day:  Jennifer came to visit.  Jen is the daughter of my brother Pat...that makes her Roger's cousin and, I believe, the G'girls 1st cousin, once removed.  I don't know.  She is Jennifer and kids all love her.   Anyway about 4  Jennifer and her boyfriend Justin  and their English bulldog  or was it a French bulldog........think French.  Anyway they arrived on the doorstep.  Jen has a funny boxy KIA car that had an interesting look.    

Justin is a nice guy - tall - well maybe not as tall as Kareem Whats-his-name, but certainly taller than me.  The girls loved the visit.   Just to show you that Jen is wwwaaaaayyyyy above average,  she went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and picked up some craft type things which she brought with her for the kids.  Now, I can tell you from my point of view, that was special.  We have been slowly running out of busy activities for the day shift.

After a short period of loving and hugging and talking and kid's stories and you name it, Jennifer helped them make lip gloss, scented and colored.   It was a fun busy thing.   She is so good with the girls.

The dog.   Cannot spell the name.  Starts with  Ahhh-something - which is French for Anna.  Cute little black and white thing.  It is a fire ball.  After our 5 dachshunds and her dog finished the appropriate sniffing, little Anna didn't stop moving.  She was a fire ball or ball of fire.   This dog gave Oscar a run for his money.  Gadzooks, it was a cute little dog.

Think I will close; it is late.  Jennifer and Justin and Anna-whatever are invited back tomorrow if they wish to come.   Today was Tuesday -- girls will be around through Sat./ maybe  - we'll see.   It will be so quiet when they gone home.

M3

Grammy Camp 2011 - Megan talks

The following is a guest commentary from G'daughter Megan.  She will introduce herself and take the show from there.   Y'all be good now.

=============================================================
Hi, I'm Megan. I'm 11 years old. I'm gonna start middle school in 14 days!!!! I think that's 2 weeks. Yep I'm sure, 2 weeks. I live in  Lubbock, Texas. And of course, as you know, I'm his granddaughter.
 Grammy camp is very fun. Every day I wake up bout 9:00. Then we have a very delisouse breakfast. After everyone is ready and cleaned we open up the envolope.
(I'm not the world's best speller.) ;)
 The best day this past week was going to the Science and Nature building. At the science place we saw dinosaure bones from China. Some were really awesome!! There was one that looked like a unisaure!!!!! This creature had a big, long, crazy, weird name. For short Shelby, Kayla, and I called it a unisaure.
 On our way here to Corsicana, we stopped at "Walley-World" to get gas and some other things like ballons and flip-flops etc. When we were at the gas station Shelby said, "Draw something, Meggi." So i got out my notebook colored pencils and drew something. I drew a unicorn mixed w/ a dinosaure. I called it an unisaure.
Anyways, back to the China-thingie, all of the other exibits were cool, too. Then we stopped to eat lunch. I got a grilled cheese (to eat) and a Mountain Dew (to drink). After we ate we went back to the other exibits. We just finished the D.N.A. exibits when Kayla asked, "Can we go down-stairs??" So we went to the the "baby" area, and down there was a cow that you could milk. Except it didn't have milk, water was it's "milk". So I was milking it, apperently to hard, and i pulled off the milk thing... oh yeah, I think it's called an utter. Yeah I pulled off the utter! Opps... ;) Then after that we left for the nature building. When we got there, we went to the LEGO hall. What they made in that room was AMAZING!!!!!! The person who made that must be paid a lot of money.$$$$ He made that big hotel in Dallas. It was so cool. We went to the light show, then to the rocks & minerals. They even had GLOW IN THE DARK rocks!!!Then we went down stairs to the other exibits. Then we went for what we came for: the IMAX MOVIE. It told us about the time of dinosaures and water creatures. To me the movie was ok. After the movie, we went to the gift shop. I got sand that NEVER GETS WET... it was soaking wet by the time we were done playing with the sand! We got our toys and headed for the car. The car was so hot you wouldn't believe how hot it was in the car! But we still had to get in the car. We got in the car and got an energy drink (slushi) ;) and left for the house... 

                                                                  THE END!!!!

Grammy Camp 2011, Day 8

today's report will be on a different page.

G'girl's dog,  Sparky, a beautiful full sized dachshund who has been in the family longer than the girls,  had to be put down this morning.  He had become quite ill and was going downhill faster daily.  This morning he had problems standing.

Rog & Pen called the girls this evening and broke the news.  

I know that a lot of people would have taken their kids to the Vet for the process....but, is that really the way you would want to remember your Sparky.

I had to take my Mandy down over 7=8 yrs ago.  I still can remember her eyes looking up at me.   I cannot handle this type of thing.  I suppose that is why I have not taken in 5 more dachshunds.   We humans are not the smartest creatures.

oh, well, while I am here....
Today, Grammy Camp - Christine / Laura / Tom all left fairly early for home leaving the children alone with the  grandparents.   We wrapped them all up and hustled them to the theater to see  Smurfs,  3-D.   This is a fun kid's movie - I'd guess no Academy Awards - 3D ==== my first time to see 3D since my childhood.  It was interesting.

As a kid I saw a few in 3D like The Fly  and  The House of Wax.   Those were great 3-D movies for sure.  They scared the pants off me (so to speak).    In Levelland, we had 3 movie houses, theaters, picture shows ...  The Wallace (for 1st run stuff),  The Rose  (for 2nd run), and the Old Rose (for Spanish movies).  The 3-D movies were at the Rose for some reason.  Also we saw "The Greatest Story Ever Told" there.  That is a sidebar subj.   In JHS, the entire JH was walked down the street - about 6 or 7 blocks, during the school day - we walked to the Rose and saw "The Greatest Story Ever Told."   Can you see the politically correct people doing that now?

Back to Grammy Camp.   Went to the show.   Afterwards, I said, "Where do you want to go eat for lunch?"  In unison they chimed, "Subway."   I argued and argued -  after all Subway is really nothing but glorified baloney sandwiches.    Nope, we went to Subway.  The Grammy loves Subway so she was very well pleased.

While we were there the guy behind the counter had to talk to me about the Marauder.  See previous bluggys for that to make sense.

Home, the spouse took a forever nap - and I taught the girls how to make bread.  The bread is in the oven right now.  One regular loaf of white bread  and another loaf wrapped around cinnamon and sugar -  Both will be great.   They had a lot of fun mixing the dough with their hands.   Our boy Fritz and Greta enjoyed laying on the floor under the table licking up the spilled flour.  Oh, yeah, now I remember one of the reasons we have the 5 dogs - not as cleaners, but for the joy they bring watching their innocent stunts.   

Grammy Camp 2011, day 7

On the 7th day - aren't you suppose to get to rest?  We have.   Thanks to having my two daughters (plus Tom), the day has not been major tough.   Everyone slept late due to staying up half the night.   Naturally, Tom & Laura were up early fishing.  She caught 2 cats off the dock with cat fish bait.  Wha a dirl.

Lunch was ham / corn / salad / and fried onions & potatos.   Didja know that Napolean's favorite meal was fried potatos and onions?  Didja know?  He had that the night before his Waterloo.  So far, we have not had a waterloo here this afternoon.

The envelope was opened - activity for today:   face painting.  We bought this kit at Walmart.  Christine did Kayla's mug,   Shelby and Megan fixed each other,  Tom & Laura enjoyed slathering paint on each other.   Photos were taken  = and faces were scrubbed....not because we told them to.  Their choice.  

One other activity = photos of everyone in a tie dye shirt.  There was a discussion about the spelling of tie -- tye dye won the discussion.... or   tie die one da talk.  Seems like I failed to mention that white T-shirts were bought for Christine, Laura & Tom.  They dyed last night.  My wife had a light green shirt with a spot on the front.  It was dyed too.   I was the only one without a shirt - so I took the photos.   They'll get revenge by outfitting me in a tye dye suit in my casket...probably even be barefoot and suspenders. 

We are closing in on 5 p.m.  Fritz gets to eat at 5 - he cannot tell time, but he "knows" when it is five.  Good dog.   BJ (spouse) is napping as well as Christine.  The kids don't comprehend a nap.

Sometimes I fergit what I relayed previously.  Last Friday was my wife & mine (obviously)  49th anniversary.   Now I remember, I told you how I feasted her at the Sirloin Stockade with the 3 g'girls in tow.   Wife  talks of an Alaskan cruise next summer to celebrate the 50th.  I am nervous about doing things I've never done.  Buck Up  they say - it will be alright.

if anything extra happens today - I'll add below.

Have I ever told you about the Queen and King?  Maybe later.
mmmmmmmm

In Heat

I was responding to an email and figured out - the response would be a good enough blug.

As all should know, we are having 100 +  degree weather here in north Texas.   I have lost count, but it is nearing 30 days in a row.   Now major rain for months.

Some lakes are down more than ours.  Richland-Chambers Lake is down about 5 ft. This gives us less than 4 ft of water under the boat on the dock. Our 100+ degree temps are continuing.   Read in the paper that El Nina is striking up again which normally gives us drier weather.   It might have been El Nino - but I would bet it was El Nina.

Our main prayer is for a couple of major hurricanes to come ashore around Galveston to Corpus. Then, we would get water and more water. Now, the ethical question - water for my lake and yard vs. the mayhem along the Gulf coast. The answer of course is simple...Katrina where are you when we really need you?

We are getting up in the morning in 85 degree heat.  Then, it gets hot.  I feel sorry for the band directors having to fight through this.  Athletes don't have my sympathy - working out in the heat is just the price THEY pay for becoming millionaires in the future.    Most band kids don't make it in the big time money pit.  All h.s. athletes do - or will - or just ask them....better yet, ask their parents.

Yes, as I sit here in the morning heat watching the sun rise, I can be thankful I am not herding 100 some kids back and forth across unwatered grass...keeping my eyes open for that kid who begins to sway funny in the LITTLE or NO breeze...they with their little flasks of water; I with my Super Big Gulp...trying to balance the upperclassmen power and knowledge   versus  the Freshman syndrome of klutz and childish-like behavior.  Then, lest we forget, the power struggles with twirlers and flags and  more seniors and drum majors and asst. drum majors -- and, not in my ex-world --  but asst directors who get in the way more than help.  I was lucky in Manor to be blessed with nice helpers.

Another thing that drove me crazy - I had to design a marching show around the number of students that I BELIEVED would show up the first day of class.   Let's say for arugument here that I have exactly 150 warm bodies expected for the fall.  Now I subtract the drum majors, flags, twirlers from the total.   Then, one must calculate a percentage of students who will fail some class during the first 6 weeks - your marching show at contest cannot use these.  Sure you have a general idea how many will fail = but are you right. 

So let's say you believe  you will have exactly 100 marchers ( + front line) for UIL contest.  You design a show - get music etc.   It doesn't matter what you think, you are always wrong.   Sure, some schools have 200 to 300 band students.  They have a different problem.   the guy with the 50 piece band, how does he plan for failures.   I had my plan.  Sometimes I got it  right - other times I was re-writing the show when the grades came out.

In Gainesville, many a year past,  I could count on 50% of all band students to fail at least one class EVERY 6 weeks  all year.  50%.   One year I lost BOTH drum majors and half the drums.   I was starting to get a little better group of band students in there when it became apparent, I had no future in Gainesville.  That, my dear, is another long bluggy which will go unstated here at this time.

enough - heat bad - retirement in the air conditioning good
3m/mtz

Grammy Camp 2011, day 6

Frankly cannot remember if this day 5 or 6?  Everything is becoming a blurrrrr....  That is not accurate, but it was fun to write.

Christine, Laura & Tom  are here for a couple of days to blunt the days -- should have written daze.  All are in the living room weaving bracelets from tiny string or wrapping bigger string around clothes hangers.   The dogs are all here enjoying the backyard, which is hart to do at 100 + degrees/  Dogs will be dogs as they say.  I'm sure there is someone named "they" who has said that.

Sloppy Joes for lunch -- enchiladas (our style) for supper....or is it baloney sandwiches?  Y'know there is nothing better than a big ole baloney and cheese sandwich slathered in mustard and liberally drizzled with hot pepper sauce.  I'm talking the vinegar you find on those little green peppers that you shake out.   More than once I have taken a toothpick and pulled those delicious little green peppers out of the jar upon my plate.  And with baloney sandwiches, they excel. 

Lately I have gone to more of a peppered lunch meat while the spouse leans towards turkey things.   Or summer sausage, yum.  This has nothing to do with Grammy Camp - just good.   Remember as a kid, I'd make a baloney/cheese sandwich and pile potato chips between the meat and the bread.  A most satisfying crunch I'd say.

Christine has adopted a little dog - long hair dachshund who has lost his hair.  He is recovering from a mispent childhood...tiny at 8 lbs.   Isabella  I think is the color and is also the name of same.   The littlest girls seem to have a thing for carrying this dog around.  No other dog is getting special treatment.  Nobody has offered to carry me around either.

Other than the weaving, the youngest g'girls and I filled the bird feeders....which reminds me of a stone.   Bird food.  I have been buying big sacks cause it is so much cheaper.  I found a 40 lb bag of corn and a likewise size of sunflower seeds - Plan:  mix together and create my own bird food and squirrel food.  Good plan.  You never know about mice in a garage, so I have been keeping the birdfood in the spare bedroom.  This worked out just fine.

A couple weeks back, Laura & Tom were headed this way so my wife began the "cleaning of the guest bedroom"  process.  She walked in that room and little black bugs were everywhere coming out of my big sacks of bird food.  They are the little bugs you might see in flour.  Food was moved to garage (c'mon  mice have a featst )  and the suction device rolled up.  The room was taken part and bugs went down the big tube into bug heaven.   We think we got them all.  Laura & Tom had a restful evening and didn't scream out once.

Twice maybe, but not once.
============================

As I signed on to AOL this afternoon and read the news headlines - one stuck in my mind:  "Get a Bikini-Ready Bottom in Days."   It all depends upon how you view this sentence.   Can you imagine me with a bikini-ready bottom?  What does that mean in my case.  If I were much younger, single, and going to the beach to find girls - is that what is meant by  "get a" ?  I am thinking there is confusion here on my part.

==============================

Just read that the energizer bunny was arrested yesterday - charged with battery.
--------------
Driving back from Lubbock couple weeks ago - going through Breckenridge.  At the intersection on the left was the 1st Natl bank.   Across the street was a small loan operation called "Gotcha Loans."  That's what it said.   Gotcha!!!!
------------------
Same trip at a convenience store,  big Ford Pickup, 4 door, dually, pulls up.   Painted on the hood and the doors:   "You ring,  we spring.  Gomez II  bail bonds,  Lubbock.    Never had heard that little bit before.    You ring -- how about instead -- Hey stupid, you quit breaking the law and I will have to find a different way to make a buck.
------------------
one last thing before I reenter the world of Grammy Camp.  I went into a Taco Bell last month.  The lady behind the counter looked up at me, and I began to order   "I'll take a #8 ....."
She said, rather loudly,  "Hold On Just A Moment!"    
       I froze.  Froze solid.   She moved back a bit and said  "Sorry, sorry,  No, not you."
She had been talking to the guys in the back on her headset.    Awkward.

okay, I'll return later and add something to this day. 
m