Notes From a Busy Weekend, Part Two.

Saturday was filled with a baby shower. I know, you’re thinking to yourself, “Why, in the name of all that is holy, would Mac be invited to a baby shower?” I thought the same thing. But Alix and Jarren are friends: people I am proud to call friends. And they are having a baby. And I was invited, so of course, I went.

Oh, and this was my kind of party. Noon to 3, with a barbecue following. I didn’t have to stay up to some ungodly hour, like 10PM. And there was a full bar.

And the Huntington’s and the Seal’s were incredibly welcoming and friendly.

Sigh!

Notes From a Busy Weekend - Part One!

On Friday night, Richard and I went to see a performance by the Columbia Gorge Sinfonietta. In the 23 years I’ve lived in Hood River, this was only the second time I had gone to one of their concerts. The first time was a good twenty years ago, and they were called the Mid-Columbia Sinfonietta. I was surprised by how good they were. I was struck by remembrances from my school year’s band classes. A couple of time I thought, “That could be me up there!”

Then I remembered my utter and absolute lack of musical talent.

Sigh!

Happy Earth Day

It Ain’t Easy Having Sexy Elbows.

While on my recent vacation to the Old South, it was pointed out to me, by one of my beloved sisters, that my elbows were an abomination. My elbows were totally gross. My elbows could kill a bull elephant at 20 paces. I won’t mention the sister by her given name, so let’s just call her the Elbow Policeperson. (It’s a code name: no one will figure out who she is.)

Well, the Elbow Policeperson spent the entire time we were in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida and Georgia rubbing lotion on my elbows. She made it her personal goal to make sure my elbows were ‘pretty’ before I returned to Oregon. She made me promise that I would continue to pour gallons of lotion on my elbows daily and get one of those pumice stone when I returned home.

Afraid to offend the Elbow Policeperson, (she would drop everything, fly out to Hood River and beat the crap out of me it she thought I wasn’t following her directive), I did as she requested. (Does it damage my Macho-Index if the pumice stone I bought was called ‘Ms Softskin’?) I have followed a demanding regimen of lotion and pumice; softening my elbows and then ripping the poor unsuspecting skin off the bend in my arm. And the Elbow Policeperson was right. They are frickin’ beautiful now.

I walk down the street, and total strangers stop me and ask to cuddle with my elbows. I am barely able to fend off the appreciative throng. It is becoming a nuisance.

I took pictures of my elbows and was going to post them with this entry. But then I realized that would make my blog one of those age-restricted websites. When you tried to read my fascinating ruminations, you would first have to agree to one of those annoying precursors:

“You are about to enter a site with adult content. If you are not of the legal age in the jurisdiction from which you are entering the World Wide Web, please hit the “RETURN” button. If you are an old depraved fart and want to continue on to this offensive website, feel free to hit the “I AM A PERVERT” button.”

It's a bitch being an elbow god!

Oklahoma City

Remember the 168 people who died on April 19, 1985 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Obama: Give Gay Couples Hospital Visiting Rights

Today, President Obama issued a memo ordering the Department of Health and Human Services to require than any hospital that receives Medicare or Medicaid to allow patients to determine who can visit them.

I admit, I cried when I read the memo.

I should note, at no time was I questioned or denied access to be by Wayno or Richard’s side when the time was appropriate. It was a nun at Providence Hospital in Portland that got me access to the ICU when Richard had heart surgery. With that said, I should say that I had been worried. A Catholic Hospital; was I going to be denied?

It may seem minor, but it is such a major victory. At least for me, in my life.

You go, Barack!

April 15th, Any Year.

As a tribute to my father, my taxes are post marked today. It doesn’t matter that I’m getting a refund. It is how it is done.

Pictures of Southern Exposure - Part One

The French Quarter or Vieux Carré. New Orleans, Louisiana.

The French Quarter or Vieux Carré. New Orleans, Louisiana.

The French Quarter or Vieux Carré. New Orleans, Louisiana.



My feet in the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Pictures of Southern Exposure - Part Two

Pretty much all we saw of Florida



Eufaula, Alabama

Eufaula, Alabama

Welcome to Georgia

Pictures of Southern Exposure - Part Three

Stone Mountain, Georgia







Atlanta Airport

Signs from the South

You’re on a trip with your four sisters… how can you not love this one?
Let’s be honest, this one could hit the gutter so fast that I refuse to comment.
I love the name Piggly Wiggly. I don't know who named the grocery store, but I hope they got a Pulitzer Prize for retail naming.
Sadly, we forgot our swim diapers, so we were unable to play in the fountain.

Three Must-Sees in Alabama

The Boll Weevil monument in Enterprise.

The Bumper Chicken in Brundidge.

The Whiskey Bottle Shaped Tombstone in Clayton.

There may be other things to see, but I don’t think so.

More of the Meaning of Lila

My life in a nutshell!

Sign on Bourbon Street

Okay, is that the size of the beer, or the size of your butt after the beer.

Southern Exposure

First, it needs to be clarified: the emergency summit just called by the Southern Temperance League is in no way a consequence of our sib trip through the south. It was an entirely different family that caused the uproar.

Remember those roving gangs of Pella? Well in New Orleans they are much more hospitable, but they have cannons. So,you have to be... umm... a true gentleperson.

Here we are, enjoying some refreshing and healthy fruit juices with our lunch.

Don’t ask. I’m sworn to secrecy.

Seven days ago, had you told me I’d be in a hell-bent chase to reach the ‘Road to Tara Museum' before it closed, I would have called you stark-raving mad.

Mobile, Alabama

For readers of this blog: just a couple of suggested comments when the authorities ask you questions.

"They would never do that. They are just sweet, sweet people."

"I'm not convinced that is them in the surveillance video. Beth would never go out with her hair looking like that, and Mac's butt is much firmer."

Having fun!!!

Greetings from New Orleans

Nawlins is great!

I'd tell you more, but as Jane so appropriately said, "What stays on the Sib Trip, happens!"

(Guess you had to be there!!!)

The Day After April Fools

Ho! Ho! Ho!