Adventures In Grandparenting

Some of my vacation trips are elaborate and go to exotic locations. Other trips are low key and familiar, but equally impactful. Hubby Tony and I just got back from one of the latter trips, visiting the California kids and grandkids. We spent five days with each family, making memories that will stay with me forever.

Foster cat Smokey Joe wanted to come with us

Usually when we go to California we fly into San Jose and use a rental car to get us to Modesto in the Central Valley. This time, though Tony found out that for only a small upcharge we could fly into Sacramento, rent the car there, then return it in San Jose when we left. That turned out to be a wonderful plan; the rush hour traffic going south from the airport was a fraction of what it would have been going the other direction.

As in previous trips, activities at both houses included playing games (both inside and outside), doing crafts, taking walks, and tagging along for errands. This time, though, in Modesto Tony and I watched grands Gee, Evee, and Ian for the better part of a day while their parents took care of some family business. Their mom left clear directions for snacks and lunch, but left the rest up to us. It was great fun to play Barbies with the girls while grandpa did "boy stuff" with Ian.

On Saturday, the day we were going to drive from one house to another we were headed to an extended family pool party in the morning, but our rental car wouldn't accelerate above 20 miles per hour. Google indicated it was probably a sensor issue that could be solved by turning off and restarting the car. That did indeed work, but neither Tony or I wanted to take the car on the interstate for an almost two hour drive over the mountains in case the problem redeveloped.

I contacted the rental customer service office, who told us to go to a Modesto branch for a replacement. However, at the branch a sympathetic clerk told us the only available car was a compact Mitsubishi Mirage. We took it. The car's tiny engine had a hard time going over the mountains, and the suspension was rough, but at least it got us where we were going.

At the second house, because of their parents hectic full-time work schedules grands Jay, Dee, and Ell were signed up for activities and Tony and I had some free time during the day. However, we made the most of our time with the family in the weekend and evenings. Grandma and Grandpa dropped off Ell and Dee at a camp one morning, and took Jay to a preview class for a possible after school activity. I also went with Son Brian to pick up Jay and a couple of friends at a baseball camp.

On our last day in California Tony and I headed up to the grocery store to get food to take on the plane. We took a circuitous walk through new to us neighborhoods, and when I saw this street sign I immediately knew my blog buddy Strayer would want to see it.

Five years ago: Recreation Opportunities Now And In The Future

Music If You Want It Or Not

Hubby Tony and I stopped into a coffee shop to get something to drink. After receiving the order we sat at a table in a shady spot to enjoy our beverages. Eventually Tony went inside to use the rest room. While he was gone music started playing very loudly in the parking lot. And not just any music....disco music!

Because I can remember random facts about 1970s disco better than I can remember what I did last week I immediately recognized the song "I Feel Love" by Donna Summer, which includes the profound lyrics:

Ooh I feel love, I feel love

I feel love, I feel love

I feel love

 

I feel love

I feel love

I feel love

As the song was ending Tony returned and we got ready to leave. However, the music wasn't finished. The next tune was "The Hustle", another one embedded in my brain with lyrics that are even more profound :

Do it!

Do it!

Do it!

 

Do the Hustle!

Do the Hustle!

 

Do the Hustle!

Do the Hustle!

(Are you singing along in your head yet?🤣) 

I quickly realized that our route across the parking lot would take us right past the source of the music, which turned out to be coming from the speakers of a huge white pickup truck driven by a man who looked to be about my age. He was pulling out of his parking space as I walked past, and he noticed that I was doing a little bop to the music. 

As he drove away the man told me he played disco everywhere he went because it was the greatest music ever.

Somehow I don't think everyone would agree with his assessment or his method of sharing his love.

Five years ago: Constructive Wait Time

Food Fun Photo Dump

I was cleaning out my phone camera roll and came across these interesting shots.

At one of the local grocery stores the meat department had packaged 'fixings' (lettuce, sliced onion, and sliced tomato) stocked next to the ground burger patties. The packages had a hefty fee added for convenience, but there was also no waste if you were only making a couple of burgers.

When I was in Switzerland earlier in the summer we had lunch at a restaurant recommended by our tour guide. The inside was very much like an old-style beer hall, and the menu was equally old style. My veal sausage with bread turned out to be a link about 15 inches long with a toothpick Swiss flag stuck into it, a piece of crusty bread, and a package of spicy mustard.

For a while it seemed like the local Aldi had an issue with carrot quality control. Instead of a bag filled with normal slim, straight carrots I found this one with 'legs' and stub 'arms'.

And then a short time later this multi-trunked carrot showed up in another bag. The interesting thing is the each of them tasted perfectly fine.

This unique entree started with a bed of polenta, which was topped with a thick slab of perfectly-cooked cauliflower, and garnished with pomegranate seeds and parsley.

Five years ago: Somebody's Got To Win. Right?

Ah, So Sad

The best jokes are the ones that come from friends.....

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Six retired Irishmen were playing poker in O'Leary's apartment when Paddy Murphy loses $500 on a single hand, clutches his chest and drops dead at the table. Showing respect for their fallen brother, the other five continue playing standing up.

Michael O'Conner looks around and asks, "Oh, me boys, someone got's to tell Paddy's wife. Who will it be?"

They draw straws. Paul Gallagher picks the short one. They tell him to be discreet, be gentle, and don't make a bad situation any worse.

"Discreet??? I'm the most discreet Irishmen you'll ever meet. Discretion is me middle name. Leave it to me."

Gallagher goes over to Murphy's house and knocks on the door. Mrs. Murphy answers and asks what he wants. Gallagher declares: "Your husband just lost $500 and is afraid to come home."

"Tell him to drop dead!", says Murphy's wife.

"I'll go tell him." says Gallagher 

Five years ago: Smooth!

What To Buy And What To Avoid

I suppose by this point most everyone has head about the "poo-poo parasite" (Cyclospora) issue in the United States. The parasite is contracted by consuming contaminated food or water. Symptoms are severe, watery, and sometimes explosive diarrhea, which can last for weeks if untreated.

The Food and Drug Administration thought they had identified the source of the outbreak-shredded iceberg lettuce from Central Mexico that came from one specific supplier-but it turned out to be a false positive result and the hunt is still ongoing.

In the midst of all this I found this great infographic about things that are safe and not safe to eat until the outbreak is under control.

Reader's Digest

Things that are safe to eat: Thick peeled fruits (like bananas, oranges, pineapples, avocados, and watermelons); firm, smooth vegetables (like cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots, and broccoli); layered vegetables (like cabbage); commercially frozen products (both fruits and vegetables); and cooked or processed foods (canned and baked).

Things to avoid, or only eat cooked: Raw berries (like raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries); soft-skinned fruits (like peaches, plums, nectarines, and grapes), raw leafy greens (like fresh spinach, romaine lettuce, and greens); prewashed salad mixes (like bagged kits and precut greens); precut grocery fruit bowls (anything including melons or berries), and fresh raw herbs (like cilantro, basil, and parsley).

If you live in the United States, how much have you been affected by the outbreak? Have you made any changes in your diet?

Frozen Dessert Delight

Hubby Tony left Thursday night for an event and returned this afternoon. While he was gone I had a great time arranging my own schedule and eating whatever I wanted to, including breakfast for dinner at home, a meal out with Son Donald, and a second meal out with just myself for company.

Although Tony traditionally cooks dinner on Sunday I told him I would take care of it tonight. There was some kale in the refrigerator that had to be used up, so I made Cookie and Kate's Farro and Kale Salad with Goat Cheese, which also includes toasted almonds, dried cherries or cranberries, and a flavorful vinaigrette. That healthy dinner meant that we could celebrate today's "holiday", National Ice Cream Day, by going out for dessert.

My classic hot fudge sundae was a delicious end to the weekend.

Five years ago today: Stopping The Burn

Twice-Given Gift

The last time I went out to dinner with a group of women one of them had a present for everyone and brought out a box of six tubes of color changing lipstick. Each tube had a different flower embedded inside. I received the tube with the pink flower. I learned that the lipstick goes on clear, but the tint changes depending on your body temperature (lighter when you're cold and darker when your temperature rises).

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However, because of some skin issues I am very careful with the products I use. The gift giver insisted I try it on my lips but I declined. Instead I rubbed some on my thumb, observed the color change, then thanked the woman and put the tube in my purse.

Later that night my thumb started itching so I knew the product wasn't for me. Instead, I offered the tube on my Buy Nothing group, and the next day it was on it's way to someone else's house.

Five years ago: Twosome Traveling

Up To Date

Back in 2008 Hubby Tony and I met with a lawyer to develop a set of estate-planning paperwork. After we received the documents from the lawyer we put them in the desk and I basically forgot about them.

At my last checkup appointment the doctor asked me if I had a designated medical power of attorney, someone who could make medical decisions for me if I become too sick or injured to make them myself? And if so could I bring a copy of the legal document in to the office?

The answers to her questions were both 'yes'. I sent myself an email to remember to find the document, but that message got buried in my Inbox. Last week when I was deleting old emails I found the message and asked Hubby Tony to pull out the paperwork for me so I could make a copy.

Leafing through it, I discovered a problem. All of the basics were still correct, but many of the details were not. The contact information for Tony and the alternate attorneys (my boys) reflected where they lived 18 years ago and the phone numbers they had then. Not surprisingly, some of the other estate planning documents also had the same issue.

Tony did some research and found out a notarized addendum with the correct information was all that was needed to make simple changes. This morning we went to the bank with our addendum paperwork and took care of the last step. Fifteen minutes later we walked out the door with notarized sheets and I can take the copy to the doctor's office next time I see her.  

Source

Five years ago today: Family Frolicking

Multi, Multi, Multi-Talented

On the first day of summer my post included a poem by Shel Silverstein. Victor S E Moubarak of Time For Reflections and The Christian Lounge left a comment on that post that in addition to prose and poetry, Shel Silverstein was also was a song writer, including the song "A Boy Named Sue", made famous by Johnny Cash.

I had no idea, but Victor's comment sent me down a rabbit hole of research on Shel Silverstein.

• I learned that some of his other well-known songs were Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show's "The Cover of "Rolling Stone" and "Sylvia's Mother, and "The Unicorn" by the Irish Rovers. His songs have been performed by Johnny Cash, Dr. Hook and the Medicine Show, the Irish Rovers, Bobby Bare, Emmylou Harris, Brenda Lee, Loretta Lynn, Marianne Faithfull, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson. 

• He was one of the leading cartoonists for Playboy magazine, and his work also appeared in many other magazines and newspapers.

• His comedy songs were often played on the Doctor Dimento show.

• And if being an author/poet/songwriter wasn't enough, he composed music for several films.

• He also wrote more than 100 one-act plays.  

If Shel Silverstein hadn't died in 1999 I wonder what else could have been added to his list of accomplishments? 

Five years ago today: Fun With The Families

No Change Needed!

I have thick hair with a mind of its own. Putting the cowlicks in their place requires the use of a brush and blow dryer. This morning I was whipping my mane into place when the blow dryer sparked and then died.

I immediately unplugged the device and thought about my next step.

The dead blow dryer predated my move to the condo, so it was at least six and a half years old, a good lifespan for a small electronic. It was the ideal device - enough watts to dry my thick hair, easy to move into different positions, and quality attachments that made the job easier. Over the years I had developed the perfect hair drying routine with it, and I wasn't excited about figuring out something different.

As one does in this internet age I started my search online. Ten minutes later I was doing a happy dance when I realized I could order the exact same model on a big box store's website and pick it up later in the day.

Five years ago today: Bathroom Humor