A Slice of Life in Louisiana

I'm home for the week. I got here last Saturday at 10:15 am, after leaving home at 4:00 am-ish. I enjoy getting up early and driving; it's quiet, and there's not much traffic. The sunrise is amazing!! And so is the lightning.

I was born and raised in the Texas hill country and am definitely a Texas girl. I've lived in New Mexico and Kansas, but Texas is definitely home, unless I'm with my parents in Louisiana, then that's home.

What makes my parent's house in Louisiana "home"?

*The marble board made by a a great great great on the table ready for a game between me and Mom

*The plants....so many plants (and they're ALIVE!!)

*Mom and Dad

*Going to the gun range with Dad

*Sleeping in

*A calm and relaxed, stress-free feeling

*Cooking, sewing, shopping with Mom. This visit we finished my son's quilt by tufting it.

*My fur sister, Callie

AND

*ALL THE BOOKS (this shows not even a quarter of the books at home)

This morning we will be doing some cleaning and organizing at my brother's house. He works offshore and isn't home too much, so his house kinda shows it. 

A few more days to enjoy the calm and quiet before heading home to get ready for school.

Sincerely,

Reluctant Writer

Slice of Life: "Just Another Manic Monday" ......

...to quote The Bangles.

My son's car has THREE recalls on it! A window master something, an airbag, and then something else (must not be life-threatening, or I'm sure I'd remember. Monday was THE day I was getting my wedding ring back after taking it in to be resized. After many years, I had decided it was time to do it, so I could wear it, again! Up to this point, I'd been wearing random rings on my ring finger, but was ready to take the plunge. I was expecting it to cost HUNDREDS to resize it, but a half size and $65 later, it would be on my hand!! 

I woke up Monday, called the Toyota dealership, and they could fit me in at 7:30; it was 7:10. "We'll be there!"  Then we'd go to my son's dentist appointment, then go pick up my ring! 

We opened the garage door, and.......NOTHING! IT WOULDN'T OPEN! My son's car is in the garage. We tried in vain to get it open. Even trying to do it manually wouldn't get it open! I called Toyota, let them know the car was stuck in the garage, and I'd call back if we  got it out.  M and I went to breakfast, instead. I mean.... we were up and dressed, so why not? 

Then we went to the grocery store where M looked at me wide-eyed and said, "You've got THE BREAD. THE BREAD FOR GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES." My reply: "Yes, I do. Go get cheese. Whatever kind you want." He perused the sliced cheese and came back with.......colby jack. We got back home, tried the garage, again and still nothing.  I made M his grilled cheese (doctored up cream cheese and sliced cheese. It really is quite wonderful. Got the idea from a little restaurant in Kansas), then....

I called Sears, and they'll be out today to the tune of $300.....

The dentist appointment? One small cavity and a permanent retainer wire broken in two places. $225-275 to replace the retainer. Do I go further out (about a 30-45 minute drive to the orthodontist he hasn't seen in over to save $50?) Or stay here in town and pay $50 for convenience? Since it won't happen until September when we're all back at school, I'm leaning toward convenience....

Oh, my ring? Yeah.....Didn't get that yesterday. Probably won't today. Maybe tomorrow. In the meantime, I'll go through school stuff I brought home and Netflix binge "Stranger Things".

Sincerely,

Reluctant Writer

"Don't laugh, but..." A Slice of Life

These words came out of the mouth of my 18 year old, 6 foot tall son, followed by: "it's kinda nerdy, but we're gonna go walk around and play Pokemon Go!" This is followed by a slight blush and a laugh. I laughed with him, and we talked a little about it. It wasn't long (the next day, to be exact) before I was on the Pokemon Go bandwagon.

Monday morning was busy for us. He had to go up to North Lake to change his schedule,;I had a meeting at 9; he had to be at work at 10.

North Lake by 8, then on the way to Einstein Bagels we grabbed a few Pokemon, then headed to my meeting where we passed a Pokestop. Between the end of my appointment and getting him to work, we drove around for about 30 minutes looking for Pokemon-related things, talking, laughing at each other and other people playing and just spending time together. Please note: I DID NOT PLAY AND DRIVE! I had a willing passenger, or I pulled over.

There's nothing I enjoyed more yesterday than spending time with my son on a common quest for Pokemon and Pokestops. Looking over at him, taking up the entire passenger side: long legs and big smile,  I could still see the silly little boy who played Pokemon on his Gameboy.