For the first time in a few years, I spent a couple hours with Gram. She is in the hospital after a fall and I was the closest person available.
We did what we do. We talked about trips. Abby and I are just back from Florence, so Gram told me about her trip to Forence. As Gram remembers, she went in the 1930’s. “Before the war”, she notes. Abby and I just came back from a Florence where I called ahead for museum reservations and listened to Rick Steves podcast tours. I imagine Gram’s trip was a little more like a Bicycle Thieves Italy (black and white, dusty and full of smoke.)
Per usual we recapped some of our old trips. Summer trips to North Carolina and Tennessee. I spent hours eating salt water taffy and reading novels and Triptiks in the co-pilot seat.
We talked about how lucky we are now. The great grandchildren are beautiful and I’m lucky to have Abby. I am grateful we have Gram to share these times with.
Gram says JC reminds her of me as a boy. Sometimes she forgets that I am the man who was the boy. The boy in his towheaded squirminess re-animates the good times we had.
I just called Florence, Italy from my office phone in Orlando, Florida for 2 cents per minute. Google Voice allowed me to do it.
I logged on to my Google Voice account, copied the phone number from the Florence museums’ web site (http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/), selected my office phone number from the drop down and clicked call. The phone on my desk rang. An announcer reminded me that the call would cost 2 cents per minute. The call was clear (better than my iphone) and the total charge was 10 cents. It was deducted from the $1 credit for signing up for Google’s free service. A payphone call across town costs more than that.
I have a couple more Google Voice invites if anyone is interested.
Arrived home today to PrettyGirl rushing from the front door with her helmet on.
I tried to take her biking Saturday, but she screamed bloody murder when I tried to snap the helmet on. I’m ornery, so I ignored it. I strapped the screamer on and did a quick loop despite her protest.
Sunday she decided it was time & we went for a ride around the block. She screamed when I got back home and pulled her off the bike.
Tonight she screamed when I took her off; we’ll have to go further.
1/14/10 JC learned how to swing by himself.
We drove out to Wekiwa to celebrate PrettyLady & JC’s recovery from undiagnosed ailments that forcefully moved bodily fluids in unpredictable ways and exhausted both of them.
It’s a pretty nice park. The drive is easy, less than 20 minutes from downtown Orlando. The kids liked the playground, but I’m always intrigued by the spring. I’m a Floridian. A constant temperature of 74 degrees sounds great in Summer. The swimmer I spoke to had a New Jersey accent.
We made it home, though just barely.
Highlights of the return trip included
1. JC blowing chunks on himself & mother on the flight from Atlanta
2. All of us patted down at the Florence Airport. (No really, they patted the 4 year old and his 1.5 year old sister.)
Set my out of office message for tomorrow and Monday, Done.
Alerted co-workers of my absence and my backup, Done.
Downloaded Thomas the Tank Engine episodes for the trip, To Do
Charge the camera battery, To Do
Tomorrow we are off to Florence to visit Bubby & Papa John. JC is excited. PrettyGirl is unaware. PrettyLady has her own, much more exhaustive To Do and To Worry list.
Perhaps I’m wrong when I say PrettyGirl is unaware. We got her roller board suitcase out this morning. She proudly dragged it all over the house. Not yet two years old and she has her own, pink, monogrammed luggage. Last trip we didn’t bring her rollerboard. She repeatedly stole the boy’s suitcase when he wasn’t looking. Shouting, running and a knock down drag out followed. This time we have to take her bag. We can’t have the kids wresting for luggage in the middle of Hartsfield International. (Note: the safe money is on PrettyGirl when she takes her brother on. She does not fight fair.)
Wish us luck. Wish our fellow passengers patience. We’ll take pictures.
Let’s Panic (http://www.lets-panic.com/) is like the Onion for parents. It reminds me of the days & nights listening to my lover moan about What to Expect When You Are Expecting. She was supposed to live on water and raw vegetables, while exercising and planning for natural child birth or risk birth defects and crippling, life-long guilt.
Send first time parents to Lets-Panic.com.
I’ve been wearing my mother’s garage sale finds for the morning walks with the dog. I have a corduroy coat with faux shearling liner and a 2 foot collar span (straight outa the 70’s) and a subtle plaid, fully lined, 3/4 legnth, flasher-in-training London Fog trench coat. This morning the dog balked and wouldn’t walk beyond the first corner. I don’t know if he was cold or didn’t want to be seen with me.
We had an excellent holiday. The photos below are random shots from my phone.
JC has reached the age where he really enjoys Chistmas. We had to walk through the toy department of every store to say “Tell Santa I want this and this and this and this…” It was a relief to find he could ask for everything and enjoy what he received. I think he most enjoyed having lots of family and lots of attention.
PrettyGirl is still a little young, but she loves all her dolls and the strollers and car seat and assorted accoutrement.
PrettyLady dressed us well and put up with us all, without resorting anthing stronger than cava.
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