(Almost) Wordless Wednesday

MY WATCH DOG!

CSI: St. Paul

It has been a week, almost to the hour, since Hannah and I were victims of a home invasion robbery. Someone followed Hannah on a bike when she was riding her skateboard home from work at 9:30 p.m. She was "creeped out" when she noticed him behind her, and again when he loitered at the corner while she came in through the garage, but once she was in the house safe and sound we put it out of our minds. Between 11:30 and 12 midnight, I heard noises but Hannah didn't. I was in the living room with those windows cracked open, and she was in the family room watching TV and working on her computer. We discussed what I heard, and she looked out the windows but didn't see anything unusual. We dismissed it as industrial noises outside from the businesses on the next block, and reasoned that only I heard it because only MY window was open. All the rest of the house windows were shut and locked, shades pulled, except the front bedroom window which was only closed - unbeknown to us. Hannah and I were walking around, talking back and forth and had the majority of lights on on the main floor. When she told me she was hopping in the shower, she put her phone on the steps, I handed her mine to plug in , and I finished reading the last 2 pages in my book. Two to three minutes later,I stood up and walked toward the hallway. There was a man with an orange cloth of some kind wrapped around his entire head except his eyes, and he was standing in my family room about 20 feet away. I started yelling at him and he bolted with me right on his heels. Outside at the bottom of my hill, I stopped and ran into the house to call for help. As I was talking to the police dispatcher, I pounded on the bathroom door for Hannah to come out. Police were there in 4 minutes, although it felt much, much longer. I was really afraid because I couldn't figure out how anyone got in. The doors were still locked. After the police went through the house with guns drawn, they found a window pried open and a screen slit and pushed out in the front bedroom. They figure he had been waiting in that front bedroom for a while. They discovered he had used our grill scraper to pry open the flush, unlocked window after trying many others. They were shocked at how brazen the crime was since we were awake, had lights on and live under a streetlight. After 1 1/2 hours of investigating, they got fingerprints, and had a dog track the scent to an address (that the police were very familiar with). As I was giving a description of the intruder to police, Hannah overheard and exclaimed that the guy who followed her home from work had worn an orange T-shirt. (We also found out from a neighbor the next day, that she had seen him hanging on the corner around 11 when she went outside to get her barking dogs!) He got our brand new cell phones, Hannah's brand new computer and Hannah's purse, all within a few steps of each other. The next day, Bob found the bike the sleazeball had been riding hidden between our fence and our neighbor's garage. He also found a muddy shoe print outside near our patio. The bike belonged to a gang, but the police have it now. We also let him keep using Hannah's cell phone for 48 hrs because he was making calls and the police were tracking it. We have since changed Hannah's phone number since every criminal in the tri-state area probably had her old number by then. We have not heard a thing from the investigator since, and probably never will. Hannah and I are having trouble sleeping, but are trying to get our lives back together. We now sleep with 3! outside lights on and all our windows blocked. CAUTION; RANT AHEAD. I will never understand how some people think they can just take things that don't belong to them, and how parents do not question when their kids show up with expensive new "toys". BTW, Even though I was always a "Law and Order" type of girl, I am even more so now. I have jury duty next week, and would be telling a lie if I said I could be fair. If the cops pick you up and the district attorney charges you, that's good enough for me. I am in absolutely no way THOSE kind of people's peer. I am not friends with anyone who has been charged with a crime like this, and frankly I wouldn't want to be. I will be disclosing my opinions to anyone who wants to hear it, and they can dismiss me from jury duty if they want! Be Safe Out There!

The Wunderkind

Nate went fishing with his Uncle Marc on the St. Croix and caught 2 HUGE STURGEON! The first was 49 inches and 45 lbs. and the second was 59 inches and 60 lbs.. Bigger than him! They drew a crowd of spectators in boats during the 15 minutes it took for him to reel the monster in. They let out a cheer when he landed it. I don't think fishing for sunnies off the docks will ever hold the same appeal.
I went to Nate's football game tonight at North St. Paul High School. He got in a few good tackles and a recovery. He amused us with his pro mimicry- like a slap up both sides of a teammate's helmet, or a flying chest bump to celebrate. Joining the peanut gallery was mom, dad, Jake, Max, Diane and Dale. The warm weather dissolved a few seconds after sundown, and the field was wet to boot! Note to self- remember to bring warm clothes and a chair. I was able to keep track of him for most of the game by his white socks with a black stripe, but he was a laundry nightmare at the end of the game and I found myself cheering for the wrong kid. But they won, 13-12. Yeah.

How To Entertain A Hausfrau (or three)

This is as good as it gets for women of a certain age. On Friday, Diane and Gloria were going garage sale-ing and I tagged along at the last minute. We saw lots of good stuff: an almost new electric frying pan, two pine single bed frames from Germany, loads of household things, but not much we felt strongly enough about to bring home. We each spent maybe two bucks. I bought a hardcover tome on the last few centuries of wallpaper, paint and fabric for a quarter; another 25cents each on an Amy Tan paperback, a memoir of surviving the Holocaust, and a book of facts for kids that I thought Luke might like; and half a dollar on a bagful of doll accessories for Sophie's baby. I passed up a $35 wooden ironing board for my sewing room because I felt it wasn't enough bang for the buck. I've always wanted one, especially for when we move to my imaginary dream house with a spacious sewing room where I can display everything I love. Diane mentioned in passing that she saw a promotion for a Junk_o_Rama that was going on this weekend, so I came home and researched, and found out the Junk Bonanza was being held in Shakopee and we had already missed the first two days! http://www.junkbonanza.com/ That was unacceptable. You haven't lived until you junked! So I called Diane, Gloria, Jill and Robyn and made plans to go. (Robyn and I had been going to these things for a few years.) Bright and early on Saturday morning, we made the drive to Shakopee (sans Robyn who begged off with a migraine, and Jill who was already spoken for.) While following the map-quested directions, Diane, who was my navigator, expressed concern we weren't traveling in the right direction. I don't drive there enough to be confident, so I had to call Bob. With his assurances, we were within one mile of our destination, when I made a snap decision about some iffy wording in the written directions and got lost. We stopped at a gas station. A very good looking James Brolin look-alike got out of the car next to us. I asked him for help,but he was lost too. The kid in the station got us back on course with only a couple blocks of backtracking. We got a primo parking space due to some barrier crossing, and were on our way. We each dropped about $20 there. I loved lots and lots of junk, but only bought two things. A bagful of vintage crochet flowers to embellish Sophie's jeans, and TA DA, a wooden ironing board for $15. We browsed the rest of the day through the sale. There were also many interesting and clever ways to repurpose vintage junk like these: a bracelet made from many old watch faces, pearls & rhinestones; Totes and pillows made from feed bags or grain sacks; clothes for Sophie made from vintage lace, fabrics and embroidered linens like the kind I make her; really cool vintage lamps made from god-knows- what kind of farm cast-offs; and bins full of vintage flashcards, spools, name tags (think Elmer), and jingle bells to name a few. There was a lot to look at, and was well worth the $8 admission for the people watching alone. There was a very interesting man dressed in short denim cutoffs, workboots and socks, a black tuxedo tails jacket, and a hat with feathers! I know we are going back next year. Plan on joining us! There is a sale, (A Gathering of Friends), coming up in October at Lyndale Bachman's that is a distant second to this but still worthwhile. We'll be there.

Good News/ Bad News

Bad News First: Sophie Jane was crying the blues today. She had real tears. She missed her brudder. And her mommy. And her daddy. And her brudder. And her house. And her Molly,"because she's pretty." And did I mention her brudder, (who started all-day kindergarten).
Good News: Nate made 2 touchdowns in the first six minutes of his football game tonight!!! Way to go Nate.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

A New Leaf

I generally don't like Autumn. But I have been trying to turn over a new leaf, as far as fall is concerned. I spent the last couple of days searching for things to like about it. The beautiful weather we have been having is making it considerably easier. So far, I appreciate fall for : *The sunny, not a cloud in sight, blue skies and pleasant days. I mean seriously, have you looked up? *.The quality of the light in the evening. I just love that rich, golden hue. I would imagine this is what is is like in Tuscany. *My garden full of hydrangeas and sedum. Everything is taking on that rosy glow from the nip in the air at night, and the grass is still green. *The fact that my cat loves me enough to make a present of her hunting. The mice are too distracted getting ready for winter that they don't see her coming. She leaves them for me one or two at a time on my doorstep. * No air conditioning bills. *Fall decorating- I was lucky enough to go home with a floral arrangement from my nephews wedding 5 years ago. As beautiful as it was with fresh flowers, I like it equally as well dried. I have been changing out the actual flowers for new ones as they deteriorate, but I think I've kept the spirit intact. I am also hoping for new bittersweet courtesy of Danielle's Uber Hubby Mark and his "camp" in Wisconsin.

Big Red, Junior Red, and "Don't Wanna Go to Bed"

I had a big weekend. I started at Nate's JUNIOR POLAR'S football game on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. , and ended on Sunday morning when Jeff and Molly came rolling in with the motor home. In between was a whole lot of kids. Three to be exact, but once you're outnumbered, it might as well be 30! After Nate's game, in which I might brag he caught two interceptions, and tackled on 99% of the plays, we went to Molly's. Jeff and Molly took off for a birthday getaway for Jeff, and Grandpa took Nate to football pictures. Max went in for a nap. When they came back, Nate rested, I napped with Max, and Grandpa and Jake went fishing. We took the kids to T.G.I.F.'s for supper. It was an experiment that went well. The kids were pleasant, ate everything, and we all shared a piece of vanilla cheesecake for dessert. When we got back, we built a castle out of the Giant Legos in the backyard play area, finishing just as it was too dark to see. First order of business was making the boys take a shower before bed. After I threatened Nate that I would be sniffing him when he got out, and if he didn't smell clean I was hopping in the shower to wash him, he scrubbed as rosy as a baby. Jake followed and came out with his Clifford, the Big Red Dog costume as PJs. My philosophy on putting the kids to bed was to wait until they begged to go. Max was the first to go down, probably closer to 10 than I'd like to admit. Jake cried "uncle" at 10:30 or so, and Nate and I watched the National Geographic channel until I found out it was 11:30! I didn't sleep that hot (note to self, bring your own pillow), but the kidlets really slept in. Nate climbed into bed with me at 9:30, followed by Clifford, I mean Jake, and Max yelled at 10. We ate breakfast, got changed and went out to play until Molly and Jeff pulled in. Since Molly won $100 at the casino last night, we all went to lunch. Thanks Molly.

School Daze

School started for 4 of the 5 grandkids. I just hate this time of year with it's shorter days, cooler weather,and endless schedules. It is so depressing for me. I hated to send my own kids to school and it is even harder to think of my little guys going. I don't remember hating school when I was a kid, or having my own kids hate it, so I don't know where that feeling comes from. It must be seasonal disorder, and I am projecting it on to an easy target.
I had a very interesting conversation with the Audette boyz about school. First of all, I found out that Jake cried when it was time to go home after half day kindergarten. He wanted to stay for cafeteria! Molly now signed him up to try out full day kindergarten two days a week. He was very excited to tell me about his uniform. Yellow shirt. Blue pants. Special name tag. And about going to Jesus' house. Where he got to put water on. And Jesus is a grown-up skeleton with skin on. (I think the Audettes ought to go to church more often.) He's most impressed with the bus ride with Nathan.
On the other hand, Nate cried when he had to GO TO school. He'll get used to it again. He likes reading and math. He is not so impressed with spelling tests. I told him if he reads more often it'll help him with that. He is reading a Goosebumps book right now, and is looking forward to the "How To Train Your Dragon" book that I picked up for him.
The little Murrays were already in bed by the time I got done talking to Nate and Jake. Apparently the first day was a little traumatic for Luke. (And Sarah) He is at a new school, and is there for 10 hours a day with extended day care and all day kindergarten. When Sarah picked him up he cried in the parking lot cuz he thought "he was lost." He DID like his 2 recesses, 2 snacks, and lunch. He remembered his lunch PIN which he practiced with a stage whisper to me and Patrick the night before. "It's a secret!" A teacher told him that she is putting him in 5th grade tomorrow. Ha. I'm sure he'll get settled in- can't happen fast enough for me.
But Sophie was such a social butterfly at her first day of preschool that she didn't even say goodbye to Sarah when she dropped her off. She talked a mile a minute when she picked her up. When she went in to school, she was told to find her name on a hook to hang her backpack. She picked "Michael"! With a little coaching, she found "Sophie." Luke could read books by that age. When she was born with blond hair, we did say that we would have to lower our expectations. But seriously, Boy Genius would be a hard act for anyone to follow.
Zach started his Sophomore year at the U of M. He likes his easy schedule on Tuesdays and Thursdays. He loves his new campus apartment. He never even mentioned his classes.
T.G.I.F. tomorrow. A couple days off will put everything in perspective for them, and hopefully, me too.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

Toddler Tuesday

We had Sophie and Luke again today. Since today was Toddler Tuesday at Nickelodeon Universe,and the weather was cool, we decided to take them to the MOA. This was the first time we had taken Sophie on the rides. We took Nate back in the day, and then we took Luke and Jake up until this spring when they started looking for more excitement from their amusement park. Today the torch has passed again. Sophie is fearless! I remember the first time we took Luke on the carousel, he screamed his head off. She giggled as she rode on the Zebra. And giggled at the Diego Bus Ride. And the trains. And the big trucks. And giggled some more at the free-fall Wonder Pets ride and the hot-air balloons. And really giggled at the pineapple bouncy house and the roller-coaster. In fact the only time she cried was when she was too short for the height requirements for the bumper cars! She GIGGLED her way through the park. I wish you could hear that laugh. Luke had a good time showing his sister the ropes. We went to Chipotle for lunch, where Sophie ate her quesadilla and Luke played with his. Both kids were tired and took a nap as soon as we got home. So did Grandma and Grandpa.

The Great Minnesota Get-Together

We made plans to take Sophie and Luke to the Fair today, since we knew they wouldn't get another chance to go. I HATE the Fair, but I LOVE the kids, and I wanted to see my mom's memorial brick by the Grandstand. ( My mom loved the fair and went many times a year, every year. I went with her and Jill last year to make it easier for her in the wheelchair she was using. It was the first time in 30+ years that I had gone.)
Of course we got off to a rough start, since Sarah showed up without Luke, who had stayed at Molly's for an end of daycare overnight. It was also freezing and windy and I had to choose warmer clothes for the kids. But we picked him up and off we went. We started off at the barns. Luke noticed the poop right off the bat. He was skipping to try to avoid it.We had a discussion about horses dietary habits from the clues i the poop. We saw the lambs, cows, sheep, chickens, ducks, llamas, alpacas and pigs. We went to the baby animal barn to pet, what else, baby animals. We saw chickens hatching from eggs, 6 day old piglets-18 of them, calves, lambs, rabbits, all one cuter than the other. Sophie was much braver than Luke in touching them.
We went straight to the All-You-Can-Drink Milk booth (from which the trip to the barns had totally put me off of), but the kids loaded up on chocolate milk. I had told them that chocolate milk came from brown cows. City Kids!
Next stop was the Department of Natural Resources building and pond with all its Minnesota wildlife - dead and alive. On the way out the kids stopped to watch an owl and touch a snake. I passed.
As it was nearing lunch, our next stop was the Beer Gardens, as it used to be known back in the day. While the kids and I settled in, Bob ran from place to place for food. We started the kids off on hot dogs and french fries, but they only wanted the garlic french fries. We then plowed our way through the cheese curds.
We stopped for a potty break, which Luke found endlessly fascinating. "Did you know there are 12 sinks? Did you know one of them has a different faucet than the others? How many toilets are there?" After he dried his clean hands on his pants, we were a short jaunt to the Giant Slide.
Sophie was big talk until she saw it, then declined. Luke wanted to go on by himself, which I took to mean on his own burlap sack, but Grandpa took to mean "all alone." So , Sophie and I are sitting on a bench, watching the top Grandpa's head wind his way through the line, and all of a sudden, Bob turns around and comes back. Sans Luke! I push my way through the hoards of people at the fence, and see him climbing the Giant Stairs to the Giant Slide ALL ALONE, looking over his shoulder at the crowd. I frantically wave my arms for him to spot me, and yell. He comes down the GIANT SLIDE like a trooper but nervously looks around until he sees me, and says " I thought I was lost." I HAD WORDS with Grandpa! Luke recovered immediately, and blew it off.
We went to the Grandstand to find my mom's brick, which I finally find, only to burst into tears! The kids are running in the courtyard and don't see me. Luke finds bricks with his name on it. We walk through the Grandstand but no merchandise is calling our names, so after letting them play with carved wooden frogs that "ribbit", we are off again.
We make our way through the crowds deciding between mini doughnuts and Sweet Martha's cookies, and end up with both. We top them off on the milk booth again before heading for home. By now the kids are asking to go.
We met our proposed goals set that morning, and got home in time to hand off 2 screaming, fighting, sugar-jittering kids to Patrick for a long, long, long ride to Wisconsin. Sorry Patrick. I hope they napped! All in all, a good day at the Fair.

Living With Mr. April

Here's a Behind-The-Scenes Scoop.
For a while this spring, every time I'd suggest something for supper to Bob, he would decline. "I don't want to eat junk like that." He was off on long bike rides. He was snacking on strawberries or celery sticks. He would lie out tanning. He stepped up his work-outs. He would skip supper and make himself eggs at night. I thought he was having a mid-life crisis.
Then one day Jeff came in to collect the kids and caught Bob shirtless. "Wow", said Jeff, "have you been working out? You lost weight," and JUST LIKE THAT it dawned on me! Holy smoke, he isn't having a midlife crisis after all. He just lost his mind. He wants to do the Firefighters Calendar. He's competing against 20 and 30 yr. olds to get a spot. I started laughing hysterically and could not stop. Bob blushed furiously. I told Jeff my suspicions. He made Jeff swear to secrecy. Well, we all know how THAT turned out - Not so secret. His kids were mortified. But, as Bob says, "Score one for the old guy."
The St. Paul Firefighters 2011 Calendars are out. They are $15 and proceeds go to The Autism Society of Minnesota and The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.