The last leg of our journey was to my sister’s house near Cleveland. Once again, all the nearby relatives descended. We made Hungarian kielbasa from my grandfather’s meat grinder and sausage press–intestinal casings and all. If this grosses you out, please scroll quickly.
Just outside the garage, my dad set up the smoker his dad had made to complete the first stage of cooking, but then… the rain came.
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We hit six states in 12 days.
First, we flew to Minnesota and stayed with my sister-in-law. We saw most of Hubby’s extended family. Some drove four hours, one way, in the same day. Ooof.
We had dinner with Hubby’s college friends, another meal with his high school friends, stuck our feet in one of the state’s 10,000+ lakes, visited the famous Mall of America (especially the Lego store), and, most importantly for blog purposes, had breakfast with a blog buddy. 🙂
Meeting TTA was loads of fun. She and Hubby are both teachers, so I enjoyed my eggs Benedict while they talked shop. Learning how she and her husband met was most entertaining. (Sadly, he was in England at the time.) And I discovered that rabbits have personalities like humans do. Now I kind of want a bunny. She wrote about the visit on her blog.
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Allow me to take you back in time two weeks to my daughter’s and my lovely visit, as they all are, to the DMV. (In case you’re new here, I get a little sarcasticy. I also make up words.)
Daughter’s driving test appointment was at 1:00. We got there around 12:30 and were able to check in right away, but there was a long line of testers ahead of us. We waited on the floor inside for quite a while. Finally, we joined a long line of cars waiting outside. It was 85 degrees, so we kept the van running with the A/C on for who knows how long? An hour? Time has no meaning in those situations.
Also with us was my 8-year-old son, missing school because he hadn’t been feeling well. Like all boys his age, he was quite placid, sitting patiently in the backseat, tapping his knees, humming pleasantly. (Sarcasticy again.)
I turned on the radio to try to calm him. He used the opportunity to “sing along” by saying, “I’m booooreeeeddd” repeatedly in time to the tune. Great stuff! (Yep. You’re getting it now. Sarcasm.)
Finally, it was Daughter’s turn for the drive test with “David,” if that’s even his REAL NAME, so Son and I “relaxed” on an outdoor bench in the shade.
Another mom whose daughter was in line behind us eventually joined us.
“This is nerve-wracking, isn’t it?” I said to her.
“Yes, and this is my daughter’s second try.”
“Oh gosh. I hope she passes,” I said, meanwhile, thinking smugly that SURELY my daughter will pass on the FIRST try.
My oldest daughter is a last-minute, make it in the nick of time, always in a rush due to poor planning, sort of person.
I hate when my kids take after me.
I was driving her to work. A typical ride with Mom turns into a gripping the sides of your seat frenetic adventure.
But not this morning.
I could also call this “My birthday month, Part 2… No, really!”
Yes, I know it’s nearly November. I’m behind at life. Also, I must clear Mrs. Instructor’s name by stating that she was in no way demanding I post my stories about her. Unlike her predecessors, Chex Mix Guy and Sensei, she has not become an attention monster. You know who else hasn’t? Surfer Dude. He knows full well about this blog and has never, to my knowledge, checked out what I’ve written about him. Wouldn’t you think he’d at least be curious? Amazing.
Okay. On with the pics, etc.
When we last saw our intrepid heroes, Heather, Neighbor, and Ilsa planned a coffee date do-over, this time at a joint called Archer’s Arrow, totally chosen by me for the name alone.
Writing and Martial Arts 