memories 4 Comments

Cleaning Out Keepsakes

I’ve been going through some boxes of crap I’ve moved from dorm to apartment to house, trying to clear out the small bedroom in preparation for painting sometime soon. It’s slow going, as it always has been for me. I’m such a packrat.

However… digital photography has made it just a little easier for me to let a few things go. There were some items that I just liked having around for those times when I would go through the box of crap keepsakes and remember when. I photographed the small clock I got as a present from my high school band director, then threw the broken thing into the thrift pile. I almost did the same with my old marching shoes, until I tried them on and remembered how comfy Drillmasters are. *swoon*

Some things I photographed, but I have no intention of getting rid of. This is one of them:

This card breaks my heart every time I read it. In case you’re not adept at Granny handwriting analysis, the card says:

With lots of love
your Granny + Charles
Sure would like to
hear from you
when you have the time

We love you
Kiss Diana for me I love her

I was in 8th grade, living with Mom and her first husband, Tom. Granny lived with my Uncle Charlie in Florida, and I hadn’t seen her in a few years. (My family lived close to her from the time I was in 3rd grade through the end of 5th grade, and we’d visited once or twice since.)

I had better things to do than sit down and write a letter to my Granny. I was 13 years old, with a best friend and schoolwork and spelling bees.

I had no idea it would be the last Christmas card I’d ever get from Granny.

Granny died just after Thanksgiving of my Freshman year in high school. My choir had just gotten back from a performance at the Public Square lighting ceremony in Cleveland, and my family told me about Granny when they picked me up at the high school. I couldn’t say I truly missed her, or felt a giant loss at the time… but later, not writing Granny would become one of the biggest real regrets of my life.

I hope that Granny understood. She had to have realized that I was a budding teenager, and not into writing letters to my great-grandmother. She’d seen a lot in her life, and having a great-grandbaby who wouldn’t write was probably understandable, if disappointing.

Now that I’m old enough to appreciate what she might have had to say… I miss her.

randomness

Mom-athon Wrapup

Saturday: Aaron, Mom and I went to the Crosby Festival at the Toledo Botanical Gardens. Had Italian sausages for lunch. Walked around for a few hours, took pictures with Mom’s new camera, ate frozen cheesecake on a stick, and headed home. Wore a halter top, and got a little sunburnt on my shoulders. (Finally, the long-awaited early summer sunburn!)

Later, Aaron went to Kris Heath’s bachelor party dinner, so Mom and I went to Kroger and got the makings for lasagna. Turned out awesome. Even left some for Aaron. We all played Killer Bunnies when Aaron got home, and I think Mom enjoyed it, even though she had a hard time reading the cards.

Sunday: We all ate lunch at the Reynolds Garden Café, then I went on a walk at Wildwood with Mom. After our walk, all three of us went to Borders at Franklin Park, walked around the mall, and ate some Dippin’ Dots. When we got home, Mom and I played some Tetris Attack, then we all went to Red Lobster for dinner. Mmm, Ultimate Feast.

Monday: Ate lunch at the Dragon Buffet, relaxed at home, took Mom to the bus station around 4:00. (Aaron took off of work so he could drive, and so we could have some one-on-one time later…) Mom’s bus was a half-hour late when we finally left at 5:30. Turns out that her bus ended up being over an hour late, and the bus we’d thought was hers was actually another bus. At any rate, on the way home, I figured out where I missed my turn on Thursday night. I don’t feel so bad for missing the turn onto Hill — it was hard to be sure it was the right turn even when it was light out, much less in the dark.

Of course, after a weekend of having my Mom in the house, Aaron and I made out like monkeys when we got home. And that’s all I’ve got to say about that.

Overall, it was an enjoyable visit. Longer than usual, but that was cool. It’ll be a slightly different dynamic if Mom ever stays with us for longer than one weekend, but we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, I suppose. This weekend was all about getting Mom to relax and have a good time and not worry about all that stressful shit at home. I think it was a success.

randomness

Mom-athon Update

Thursday night: Got to the bus station OK. Bus was only 10 minutes late after a 24-hour-plus bus trip. Proceeded to miss my turn off of Detroit while coming home and drove around the seedy part of Toledo for AN ENTIRE HOUR. Finally got home by taking I-75 North to I-475 West and South. After Mom and I got to the house, she called Gary, who proceeded to call back at least twice after midnight.

Friday: Woke up at 10:30am to find Mom already awake. Hung out and talked until Aaron got up around noon. Went to lunch at the Happy Rose buffet. Mom and I then went shopping. Best Buy didn’t have the selection of digital cameras she wanted, so we went to Circuit City, where she ended up purchasing the display model of the Kodak P830. Got Mom some socks and reading glasses at the Dollar Tree. Got me a skirt at Dots. Got Mom some shorts and got me a new convertible bra and some body wash at Target.

Came home, saw Aaron off to work. Did my PUSH workout while Mom watched. Started making dinner. Gary called. I made spaghetti while Mom talked to Gary. Ate dinner while watching Victor/Victoria. Played with Mom’s camera. Talked. Then Aaron came home early! Yaye! Mom went to bed just before midnight, and now here I am, blogging it all. 🙂

Saturday? Crosby Festival in the early afternoon, then Aaron goes to bachelor dinner with Kris Heath and company, while Mom and I possibly make something special for dinner here.

It’s nice having Mom around. I hope her circumstances back home aren’t such that she’ll need to move in with us, though… for many reasons, but certainly not because I wouldn’t want her around.

randomness 1 Comment

Mom-athon 2006

In about three hours, my Mom should be rolling into Toledo via Greyhound. I’ve taken a four-day weekend from work, and Mom and I are going to spend those four days catching up and chilling out.

I could do with some chilling out right now, actually. I’m super-stressed about driving into downtown Toledo after dark and hanging out at the bus station. I’ve been high-strung about it all day, even though it’s only 15 minutes away from my house. I’ve never driven there myself; I’ve only been picked up or dropped off, and that was years ago. I mean, I’ve got my maps printed out and highlighted and directions all ready to go and everything… but those one-way streets make it seem like such a maze, especially in the dark. I’m sure I’m over-reacting, though.

After I successfully get Mom home from the Greyhound station, we’ll have four days to do whatever. She only has a few requirements: Crosby Festival, Chinese buffet, and maybe the zoo. Oh, yeah, and a walk around Wildwood Metropark. I definitely want her to play Killer Bunnies and Carcassonne with Aaron and me, among other games. (Mom likes games.)

Apart from that, though, I’m not sure what we’re going to do for four days. We don’t really live in a “walkable” part of town; all we can really walk to from here is the rest of our neighborhood. Not like BG, where we could walk around campus, or to a coffee shop. Not that Mom likes coffee. At all.

Anyway, I’m sure we’ll think of something. For now, I have a few hours to get unfreaked about driving 15 minutes to the bus station, and to do a little cleaning. I already vacuumed the couch yesterday, so that Mei wouldn’t bother Mom’s allergies quite as bad. Now all that’s left for tonight is dishes, kitchen table, bathroom floor. The basics.

If I don’t post again this weekend, just know I’m out having a killer time with my Mom. 🙂

weight loss 2 Comments

Diet & Fitness Update, Week #22

Just a quick update this time…

I realized during my inadvertent hour-long nap this evening that I forgot to measure myself last Friday. So, although I know that I’m back down to 208 lbs and 34.2% bodyfat as of Saturday morning, I don’t have measurements to share.

Last week’s exercise was kind of slack: I did my PUSH workout on Monday, jogged on Tuesday, then did nothing for the rest of the week. I focused mainly on getting my carb-protein-fat ratio looking better, and keeping my calories under control, which I did fairly well.

The beginning of this week so far hasn’t been spectacular, and my Mom’s coming to visit starting on Thursday night, so I don’t have any preconceptions of losing a crapload of weight this week. We’ll see, though.