Tales From the Trip

We are back in "wheat country." Well, these days, it's more "burned stubble" country, as all of the farmers have burned off their wheat fields now that harvest is done. See here for a picture of this lovely activity.

Here are some highlights and things learned both away and on the home front:

~110 degrees in the arid desert doesn't even come CLOSE to being as miserable as 91 degrees with 90% humidity.

~When my friend's sweet three-year-old daughter used to be a wild horse, she also lived in a corral and drank water from a stock tank with goldfish in it to keep mosquitoes away (she didn't eat the goldfish, though).

~I remember almost all of the songs to Blue's Clues. And I am still in love with Steve. I'm not sure who the new guy is, but he doesn't hold a candle to Steve.

~It is possible for a 14 month old to be so excited about the "cage" of bouncy balls at K Mart, that when he sees it, he literally starts to shake in anticipation.

~Fireworks aren't good for trampolines. A wayward firework, spark, or something landed on our trampoline and burned a hole the size of a quarter in it. Guess I get to see if I can find a new replacement bouncy part.

~According to my dad, our street resembles Beirut, Lebanon on the 4th of July.

~Some items just don't fit on the lower rack of my dishwasher, and if forced to go there, will retaliate by breaking off the sprayer arm that attaches to the top rack.

~It figures that the one appliance that I don't like very much in my kitchen (the dishwasher) when broken, can be fixed for a mere $11. So I guess I won't be shopping for the dishwasher of my dreams anytime soon.

~M--who is 13--will, if given enough time with someone, start acting 13. Complete with eye-rolls, sighs, and general signs of disapproval and embarrassment. Even with her grandparents. Who, after spending 3 days with her, I hope will NOT be telling me that they are sure I am exaggerating and all that kid needs to make everything better is a pony. Or maybe we are moving up to higher stakes. Like a new car.

~I am old. And because of this, I am now susceptible to jet-lag. I woke up this morning exhausted and bleary-eyed at 9:30 (7:30 in the high desert). It is now 10:10 pm and I can't settle down. Of course not. It is only 8:10 there.

~My parents are great! I came home to a clean house, clean sheets on my bed, and happy children who are bursting with stories about all they did this weekend (Even M, despite the eye-rolling, sighing and general embarrassment).

~I want all of my friends to live in the same town as I so that we can get together for coffee every day and I can see their kids more than 2 or 3 times a year.