Back In New Yawk

Hola. I'm back from a much needed although not very relaxing vacation. I have no complaints about it really, it was very nice seeing everyone, but aren't you supposed to sit on your ass during the vacation? I did a fair amount of that, but also a fair amount of running around (90% of the blame for that lies with my being a bit of a social butterfly, at least as far as people I already know goes). Next time y'all can meet up with me somewhere for some fishing or some sightseeing or something.

The rundown:

Saturday the 2nd: Too much time on planes. Too much time in Philly. Finally got to my parents to see the wife and kids. Promptly hibernated.

Sunday the 3rd: Don't really remember. I know I went to see my grandpa, and probably played a fair amount of Bro Kev's X-Box.

Monday the 4th: Connor is 1! Hard to believe? Yup, me too. The parents had a barbecue, my uncle Blaine made some awesome smoked meat for everyone, and I saw many, many friends and family. Had a great time, then I hibernated some more.

Tuesday the 5th - Thursday the 7th: Nuthin' doin.' True relaxation achieved in spurts. Some shopping, more X-Boxing, watched AVP - I do not recommend.

Friday the 8th: Out to Motown (Moses Lake, WA). In-Law Bill (Paca to the kids) made awesome porkloin, had a lot of wine and a fine Cuban cigar. Hibernated - Washington summer is much easier to sleep through than an Adirondack summer.

Saturday the 9th: Jet Skiing with Bro James, Bro Kev, and almost Sis-in-Law Sara. Sailed - once unsuccessfully, once very successfully. Got a heavy duty sunburn in the shape of Batman's insignia - you know, everywhere on my shoulders I couldn't reach myself.

Sunday the 10th: Bit more Jet Skiing and sailing, bros went home, I stayed, and some mild relaxation did occur.

Monday the 11th: Just another day in Mo-Lake.

Tuesday the 12th: Headed back towards the Wet Side of Washington. Stopped to see Keith and Natalia - had an awesome Thai lunch in Ellensburg - the burg that's grown into a town and possibly a small city since I was in College there - absolutely delightful lunch we had though. They're expecting their first child - that's gonna be a busy house! Dog, cats, chickens, garden, infant, jobs...And I thought I had a full plate!

Wednesday 13th: Met up with the Twins...Sorry, no link. Couple of college friends and their girlfriends/fiances, I don't know what (What is the status guys? I'm outta the loop here in the boonies). We ate salmon, I failed to take pictures, hilarity and joviality ensued. If either twin reads this - could you send me some of the pictures your significant others were taking? I'll post them here if they're electronic. Also, I watched BlackHawk Down at some point during the week - I do recomend - of course, I seem to be the last male in the US to have seen it.

Thursday the 14th: Traveled all the way to Marysville (about a 2 hour drive from my folks place) for a barbecue with Tammy, her husband Ingvar(sp) and Ian - I used to work with Tammy and Ian at Celltech in Bothell. Evil, evil Celltech. At least when they axed all of us, I got a decent severance package...And wound up in New York. Anywho, it was nice seeing them, but someone needs to hurry up and invent a teleportation station. Marysville is too far, and Seattle traffic sucks too bad - we had one cranky baby by the time we got home (Ethan played with Bro and Sis-in-law Scott and Starr).

Friday the 15th: I was supposed to go to a wedding, but after so many days of running around, shopping, taking my iconic grandpa to see the doctor, etc. I flopped on the couch with my wife instead. Sorry Chad and Andrea, hope it was a lovely time, good luck in your life together! I'll perform the baptism when your first child is born - I am a Universal Life Minister minister after all...Of course about all I've used it for is to "bless" some wine at a party with K&N once back in college. Riiiiight. Also, watched The Life Aquatic - awesome movie. Especially the guy that sits around with a gut string git-tar and plays old David Bowie songs...In French.

Saturday the 16th: Ate some prime rib with the family, got on a plane, didn't sleep all night, spent too much time in Philly - again. Got a ride from a coworker (Thanks Frank), got home, crashed.

The home front, after being gone for two weeks: Garden is rockin,' so are the weeds. Rhubarb's dyin,' so am I in the heat. I have two nice tomatoe plants in the garden now - I didn't plant them, though, If Cindy didn't have the camera 3,000 miles away, I'd take some pictures. I'm so pleased at the thought of tumaytuhs. I'd also post some pictures from the trip - o' course, they're mostly just of the kids in different environments than normal. That's parenthood for ya! The cat seemed to miss me - he won't leave my side when I go outside to pull some weeds, thin some crops, or grab some radishes and lettuce. Annoyingly so - I've almost stepped on him about half a dozen times.

Many thanks again to Peter and Paula for keeping the garden and the cat alive while I've been gone - we'll have a barbecue once Cindy's back. Maybe I'll make some more delicious salmon, Fresh from the...Wait a minute...

Thanks for stickin' with me while I rambled...Word! Sorry for any spelling errors - Blogger's sllepchekc doesn't seme to be wurking.


Bow to me!

Gonna getcha!

...And I'm out, just like this one...