LOL

Quinnism

He was recognizing the 30-year marriage of a couple. He thanked God for "30 years of maritable unionization and hope for them to keep a strong bond until they are both dead."

Peach Bellini

We spent the afternoon at the mall in St. Louis and did a lot of people watching. I found myself thinking that I would be so much happier if I had those cool sandals or if I could find a pretty sundress or if I could buy one of those ruffle-y blouses.

We stopped at The Cheesecake Factory for a bite and sat at the bar next to a small woman, whom at first I thought was on oxygen. With a few sly glances, I noticed that she was not wearing oxygen tubing, but an NG tube. She had it carefully draped around her left ear. And she was missing her left arm from above the elbow. And she was missing her right hand. Her right forearm was lightly wrapped in white gauze. And she was alone, drinking what she told me was called a peach bellini - through a straw. She probably wouldn't be able to safely pick up a glass with condensation.

I watched her sip her drink. I watched her carefully fish out her credit card to pay. I watched as she used her left arm stump to hold the paper still and her right forearm to slide the pen slowly, slowly toward her right arm to hold the pen upright. Then she must have had a tendon in her right forearm that she was able to control, using her right arm as a base, to write her name with perfect penmanship. I recalled a scene from a Daniel Day-Lewis movie when he writes the word "Mother" with his left foot.

We made small talk and I learned that she had been born with a rare skin disease, requiring many surgeries. I learned that she had moved from Texas in order to be closer to the hospital that could provide her needed care. I learned that her name is Emily and that we were both planning to attend the Bold Fresh Tour that evening. As she left, I helped her with the chair. I wondered how much longer she would be able to go places on her own. I wondered how much longer she would have feet.

I realized that new sandals were not really going to make me happier.

Guess Where We Went

The Bold Fresh Tour St. Louis. Pretty cool. Beck is quite the entertainer. O'Reilly must have been up past his bedtime because he was a bit more cranky than usual. The best part of the show was watching how they play off each other and tease one another mercilessly.

Disposable Income

My sister Jamie has some. She uses some to buy jigsaw puzzles. She is often working on jigsaw puzzles. She uses some of it to pay for maid service. I laughed when she told me what a thorough job her maid does. Her maid even put Jamie's almost-completed jigsaw puzzle back in its box last week in order to clean the table it was lying on.

Happy Birthday Cuz

It's Logan's birthday tomorrow happy 15th,
Love Rachel (:

Titan Arum

also known as corpse flower because of its dreadful stench, bloomed this week. Here's a picture of the kids (with blue slushie lips).

Clarification

Nan was my maternal grandmother and lived independently in her own home until her death a few days ago. Except for bouts of depression since the death of my grandfather in 1996, her mind remained sharp. My paternal grandmother is also 84. She lives in a nursing home due to dementia.

I have a friend who says she prays for crazy when she gets old. I'm not so sure. Going to bed one night as an old woman with my wits about me and waking up in heaven in a glorified body sounds OK to me.

The Beat Goes On

The beat of very many family members reminding me of my entrance into a new decade of life. I did make a good haul in the gift department! Thanks, everyone!

Mr. Rellim was unable to attend this party because he had commitments at the World Pork Expo. When asked why he did not have this trip written on the calendar, he looked slightly confused and said, "It's the World Pork Expo! I go every year!" (Sorry, babe, not on my radar.)

That's All She Wrote

My grandma, "Nan," died yesterday. She was 84. This is the picture from our visit last month. Quinn was looking forward to cashing in on her promise to take him snipe hunting this summer.

Ten Years Ago

Ten years ago, I was thirty.
If you look on the wall in the background, you will see a picture of me with my kids on my thirtieth birthday. I look the same (of course!), but Quinn was only two and Rachel was four. How time flies when you're having fun!

X X X X

So far, so good.

For Lunch

Spinach Feta Calzone (without the onions, per Rachel's request).
I added bacon - just because.

Summer Vacation

We've been invited, but I'm waiting for Mr. Rellim to write his work commitments on the family calendar so we can sure up a date. Could be just what I'm looking for - no traffic, no crowds, good company (my sis) and free accommodations. Whadyathink?

Fishing

The kids were fishing at a graduation party at a friend's pond last week. It was the first time in a long time. At one point Quinn ran up to me and shouted, "Mom! My kebob came off the pole! A fish must have eaten it!"

I knew he'd used a worm for bait and I was slightly confused until I saw that his bobber was missing from the line.

Currently Making

Clone of a Cinnabon
Mike and Quinn are gone, so I have a fighting chance of getting to eat one!

Postscript: Baked and eaten! Yumm-o!

Good Friends

-and a little brother

Green Thumbs?

Tomato envy, anyone?
Mighty fine hydrangeas!

Grandmotherly Advice

At my grandma's 84th birthday party, she held my hand and started to give me some advice about turning forty (about which she was thoroughly surprised). "Listen honey," she began, "if anyone gives you any mumbo jumbo you just tell them to stick it -- Oh look! It's a bus!"

Grandma lives in a nursing home as her dementia (or Alzheimers?) has made it difficult for her to take care of herself. The bus driving by broke her concentration, but I'm pretty sure I got the gist of her advice.

Shots!

Rachel and Quinn both got a shot at the doctor's office today for their school physicals. Rachel was anxious, so I told Quinn to read something in order to distract her. He picked up a pamphlet and started reading, "Puh-ber-ty in boys will cause growth of the pen-nis and test-ic-leez. . ."

It was an ample distraction and sent Rachel and I into spasms of giggles.