Uncle

My Uncle Jerry called.  He is planning a trip out.  He wanted to know the lay of the land as it is right now. So I gave him a mom update. I'm sure Beth gave him an Aunt Cris update.
He has just been through the caregiver role with his Uncle and had lots of good advice.  And just forewarnings.  Good things to know.  Things I probably did know, but hadn't really thought about.  And it proved me right in taking Mom camping with us at the beach.  I'm still not super thrilled and a little apprehensive, but it will be okay.  The day is going to come when we won't be able to do things like that.
Anyway I offered to let Jerry use Mom's car. It is insured so why not.  It is just sitting in the garage.
Always good to hear his voice and will be even better to see him.

Carpet Hunt

Oy.  we only made it to two places before we ran out of time this morning.  We started at Lowes.  After a few minutes someone did come "help" us.  After we discussed red we were informed that all the samples are for carpet that is special ordered and won't be in for four and a half weeks.  Then he showed us the wall of what is in stock now....and that is two and a half weeks out for installation.  Wait....what?
I can't even imagine special ordering a 12 by 13 piece of carpeting.  Looked at what was in stock and just weren't interested.  Nothing remotely red.
So we then went to Hazel Dell and stopped at Cascade Flooring.  Now they are the people who helped us with the rental.  Bought the whole house worth of flooring from them.  Five employees in the place and not one acknowledged us.  We got candy out of the candy bowl.  We used the restroom.  We walked to the back of the showroom and no one even saw us.  Amazing. So we left.  I'm sure they didn't care.  Maybe we projected that we are a small job.
Small enough to be a remnant job.  We are still on the hunt.  And it could take us four weeks, but I doubt it.

Too Hot

Two day of about 100 degree days.  We holed up both days.  I managed to get some more done on the office dismantling.  Discovered I may have to completely empty the file cabinet before I can move it. Anyway I was able to measure the room to get a feel for how much carpet is going to cost us.
The little man said he would like red.  Well there are many shades of red so maybe tomorrow while Sissy is at school we will take a trip to the store and look at carpet.
Yesterday the kids had a good time with the sprinkler and somehow water got all over the kitchen floor.  Yeah....I have no clue other than wet feet.  It had looked like the little woman had it cleaned up.  And she did mostly.  Except for the little spot I didn't see but felt as I slipped and made my way to the floor.  Guess it was a good time for that as we were just taking it easy.  Rested again today.  I haven't fallen in quite awhile.  Always a pleasant surprise.  NOT.
So Michael posted a saying on my facebook page; "No person who can read is ever successful at cleaning out an attic." I doubt she knows about my love of attics and snooping.  I think she thought of me because as I was dismantling the office I kept finding cool things that distracted me. However as much as I was greatly distracted and amused I will be successful at cleaning the office because it becomes the little man's room.
Here is a cool picture I found.

Maybe tomorrow we get back to the 10000 steps.

Raspberries

And the summer begins.  Marti told me a couple of weeks ago that berries would be ready soon.  This week she said they were ready and to come on over.  Well Friday I got involved in the office dismantling project.  That blew that day.
This morning she sent me a reminder so we hurried and got ready and went over.  Didn't want it to be too hot when I was picking.  We all picked for a bit and then the littles and Marti disappeared inside.  We have a goodly amount of raspberries.  Methinks we need to make a batch of jam.
Then the day got too hot and we did nothing else.  Had great plans for today, but not at 100 degrees.  Maybe next year we go to the Starlight Parade.

Amazement

So today I got a text telling me I was going to see Heart, Cheap Trick and Joan Jett at the amphitheater.  I had commented a couple of months back about the concert.  It is one that would be worth seeing.  And then I didn't give it much more thought.
It came up on facebook again a few weeks ago and I looked at tickets.  It was well on it's way to be sold out.  At that point I just figured it was out of my comfort zone for seeing a concert by myself.
So today I get the text and I almost cried. I didn't know what to say beyond thank you.  See I am usually the one who goes out of their way to make some one's day.  I will make the plans and see that it all (hopefully) works out with all of life's curve balls.
While I have been working on expanding my world, I would not say it is successfully.  We are doing a lot, the littles and I.  But we are not letting many new people in to our world.  We are just doing things.
So when I do let someone in it is surprising if that someone goes out of their way for me.  I never expect it. I never ask for it.  I will roll with it though.  And so I am in amazement and grateful and it is going to be one heck of a good concert.
I've seen Heart before and my brother saw one of the sisters in a small venue in Seattle.  He said it was great and the concert I saw was amazing.  I'm excited.
Now to find a babysitter.  Again.  The bain of my existence. Second only to the ice cream truck.

Rolls With It

So the neighbor boys tend to be a little mean at times.  Not the beat you up kind, just the words kind.  So I'm outside checking on something and one of them tells the little man they don't want to play with him and go away.  Well the little man just stops and then inches toward them a bit at a time.  Like a cat on the hunt.  Too funny.  The neighbor boy was about to say more when he realized I was there.  And then his mom must have realized something was up because she came outside also.  So we just did our own thing and the little man made his way to playing with the group.  The little woman ended up joining the group.
So when it was time to come in and go to bed I asked him about it.  He said they let him play a little bit, but that they were still mean.  And then he said that was okay......he got what he needed.  He just rolls with it and doesn't let some stuff bother him.  He can be like a duck.  As long as it is not his sissy.

More

Talked to an exterminator at work today.  What we have are called pavement ants.  We know there is a nest under the neighbor's driveway.  I tried to feed them some malt-o-meal but they just got busy moving it out of their way.  If they would have ate it it would have killed them.  C'est la vie.  So now I am looking for some stronger poison.
Did more weeding.  I am pretty sure it will be a never ending job. Just about got the three clematis along the fence cleaned up.  I never got a definitive answer on whether you prune them or not.  So I just cleaned out all the dead stuff.
And the hollyhock is starting to bloom.  The jasmine is blooming and smelling divine.