Tuesday, May 31, 2011

How I spent my three day weekend

Memorial Day weekend was dreary, rainy and downright boring. I hate to admit boredom because I could have made better of it--but I didn't--so it's really my own fault. As I've said many times, there's always something going on here, but I sometimes choose not to take advantage. Rich had to work all three days and you know how I like to whine about that. It's really not as bad as I make it sound, but I like to get a little sympathy once in awhile. Seriously, the man gets no holidays. And it's hard to take off a different day when there's so much going on and he has staff on vacation, etc. Mind you, he does not complain. I am the complainer in the family. (I've taken on this assignment with relish at times!)

I did get out to Alaska Ship Supply on Saturday and bought a bunch of flowers to plant in our boxes in the yard (above, still waiting to be planted).

And we re-potted two of our hanging ivies. Those of you who know me from years ago will be proud and astonished to know that I managed to keep these plants alive long enough to need larger pots.


Otherwise, I think I spent the whole weekend in the house. I was so bored that I even dragged out all the hoodies that had lost the strings from their hoods and reworked every last one of them.

Well, all but one grey one with a string that's gone missing. I also passed about another half hour searching for said string. So you know I was desperate for something to do.

Memorial Day is kind of a weird one for me. I was an Air Force brat so I have an appreciation for the life that is led by military folks. My dad sacrificed and my family sacrificed through my growing up years. I don't want to disparage people who choose this life and I know it is not an easy one, especially (b.i.g. understatement) for those in a combat zone. On the other hand, I am a peacenik and I don't want anyone else's husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, sister or friend to die in an overseas adventure that didn't have to happen in the first place. I am not crazy about nationalistic thinking. I am not crazy about violence as a problem solver. I am not crazy about killing people to teach people that killing people is wrong. So I can't quite get worked up the way some people can when it comes to celebrating this holiday. My opinion is that the best way we can honor the troops is to bring them home to their families and friends and let them get on with the life they really wanted. I know that sounds naive and idealistic, but so be it. That's my wish.

We've been taking multivitamins along with our diet. I usually don't like to take any medication, prescription or over the counter, and Rich hands me the daily dose or I would probably never think of it. I did get a little bit hooked on those soft Gummy chewy vitamins last year when I was with Bonnie and Emery in Houston. I brought some back with me and have purchased a few bottles since, but ran out awhile back and couldn't find any here. I noticed these other chewables (notice the "centrum silver" designation--for us old folks) and just assumed they were similar. No. They were dry, flat, chalky tablets, kinda sour tasting. I put them aside immediately and we moved on to something else. Well, those ran out and tonight Rich offered me one of the chalky ones. I said, "No, they are gross." He said, "Think of it this way--they're almost like a sweet-tart! It seems like dessert!" After five weeks of no sugar, you know what? He was right! I kinda want another one.

3 comments:

Suzassippi said...

Yep, sounds like you had way too much time on your hands--restringing hoodies? LOL

You and Rich still have to come over here one of these days--I am the tour guide fabuloso now.

Gigi said...

Yep, definitely could have found some better things to do that day. But now I am not annoyed by hoodies without strings. haha

Someday we will take that trip! Enjoying your posts and photos! When do you go home?

Suzassippi said...

I leave PE tomorrow afternoon to return to Cape Town, and then fly out Saturday night at 11:30 p.m. (love the late night flights--sleep all night and wake up for breakfast.) That's the long leg of the flight, so the Amsterdam to Memphis flight will not be bad, given my ability to nap in that direction as I am going backward in time. LOL

Lira and Court are taking me to lunch at a new place in Gugulethu called Mzoli's, and we will take a last wine farm hopping day on Saturday. I can't believe it is over again already.