Another Update From My Retired Parents

FINALLY, after almost a week of plotting, I got one of the Rum Runners t-shirts and I didn’t have to go to work for them, just stole it.  You know, “THE LIVER IS EVIL, IT MUST BE PUNISHED” t-shirt.  Wait until you see it.  It’s GREAT.  Something about simple pleasures for………….

Have started an exercise program.  Every morning, three laps around boat and mooring ball.  Doesn’t sound like much at first but do the math.  40’ of boat, 20’ of bridle and then another 20’ of mooring ball line for a total of 80’ per side.  While top of triangle (mooring buoy) is only a couple feet across, bottom of triangle (boat) is 24’ across if stationary but it is swinging back and forth at least 20’.  Call it 200’ per lap and add something for currents times three laps and you are somewhere between 600 & 700 feet which is 1/8 mile.  While this is not much for a swimmer, I am NOT.  I would literally drown in fresh water.  Jumped off raft into our lake last summer and almost did just that.  First time in fresh water in about 20 years.  Anyway, I really can’t swim.  Just have a lot of natural flotation that I’m trying to get rid of.  The rum is helping.  AND, most lap swimmers don’t do their laps with a Budweiser in one hand.  Have them try that and see how far they get.  Remember, a fresh one for every lap.  Working hard at it.

Kid Speak

Jack coming down the stairs, talking to daddy.

"Dad, I wanna read the story about the wizard."
"The Wizard?" Mike asks.
"NO Dad! The Wizard!"
"Yeah," Mike looks incredulous, "The Wizard."
"NO DADDEEE! The WIZard!"
Mike stops for a sec. "The Lizard?"
"Yeah!" Finally dad gets it. "The wizard!"

I'm really going to miss that.
My friend Heather is Heavur.
we wike things, we don't like things
we go wif, not with
we play cool, not pool
"I need a toy to bed!" That one won't last long either.


And now, for your viewing pleasure:

Kids with a puppy. Her name is Tazlina. She's NOT OURS.

At Our House

When homework comes home that requires a ruler? This is what we have.

The Lives of my Friends

So, I have this good friend Heather.  Our kids get along well enough for us to sew together - even when the kids are awake.  Her husband returned from his second overseas tour in three years.  In the Army, this means he's been gone for two of the past three years.  Anyways, he came home this last time and is no longer serving in the military.  He's always wanted to have his own pizza place, and now he does.  What this means for Heather is that he's still not often a regular part of their day.  I think he leaves at around 8:30 to 9:00 am and comes home about 10 pm.
Last night when he came home he noticed that the girls' bedroom door was open.  He closed it.  Heather doesn't close that door.  Her youngest is now old enough to simply leave her bed for that of her parents anytime in the middle of the night without Heather having to move.  This development means that Heather gets more sleep.  If you're a mother, you know how important this is.
Last night, her daughter gets out of bed sometime in the middle of the night only to discover that she's been SHUT IN HER ROOM! She screamed like only a two year old in distress can and Heather leaps out of bed, runs from her room and right into the closed door.  Because who on earth would close the door?
So, she's standing in the hallway cursing while her two year old is still on the other side of the door screaming.
Her husband's solution?
"Heather, you really need to be less accident prone."
If it was my husband?  He'd stand a good chance of receiving a black eye.

A Letter From My Dad

(Jim V is my Granddad - my mom's dad - most letters are addressed to him)

Jim V,

The first picture is of your daughter contributing to the delinquency of
an Iguana at the infamous Mamacita's in Culebra. Spent two nights in
Culebra, motoring from Culebra to St John yesterday where we are on buoy
just out of Cruz Bay. Second picture is of my favorite book store
anywhere. Note the yellow sign stating: Coldest Beer in town! Frosty
Domestic Long Necks only $2.00. Sure enough, there is big open ice chest
in there with your choice of cold ones (NO RAINIER) that you can consume
while shopping for books. GREAT place. We prefer St John to St Thomas
but need to stay close to St Thomas as we pick up Julie, Steve and friends
on Tuesday. Have to get boat cleaned, laundry done and re-provision same
day. Will spend the night in marina to allow AC all night and
familiarization with boat and company. First time since we left Playa del
Mar. All systems up and running SWEET. Third pic is your daughter, this
time contributing to some duck things (webbed feet) near Cruz Bay St John.
I counted an even dozen but shortly thereafter a whole bunch more. Maybe
20?? Almost within arm's reach hovering while she threw up bread crumbs.
QUICK little buggers as very few of the pieces of bread hit the water.
They were back again this AM. One sits on outboard of dinghy and squawks
until you figure out he needs food then they all show up.

I have NOT started on my quest for the perfect Pina Colada yet. Maybe
when we go to St Thomas and I have a source of ice I can start the
process. Going to be tough without Tom and Jerri as I will have to test
for three. Will keep you informed as to progress.

All systems running, weather good (although predictions of 20-25 knot
winds next week) and we're almost ready for Julie and company. Plan is to
depart St Thomas on Wednesday heading around East end of island and going
to clear customs in Jost Van Dyke where we would hope to spend night.
Thursday, we will head East again wanting to go as far East as we want in
first few days in case weather turns bad.

Life is good.

Jim Bagley

Dining in Town

For years there has been nowhere great to eat in Wasilla. We had an awesome little place called the Alpine Garden Grill which served all sorts of "real" and delicious food but they went out of business. The food was great but the atmosphere was a little lacking. Well, someone turned one of the few original Wasilla homes into a restaurant called the Grape Tap. IT IS AMAZING.
We were part of a larger group and got to eat in the wine cellar. Awesome.


OK, yes I know this is blurry but I actually think, in this case, that it adds a little something.
The lighting is dead on and I like the blur with the lights and the wine bottles on the wall.
It was my Grandma Betty's birthday yesterday (I'm partially named after her) she died of cancer WAY too young and about a year before I was born. We went out to celebrate last night. Well, that, and Aunt Lynda was in town. That is always cause for good food.


A picture of me I don't hate. It took me until this year to figure out where I get the slight downward slant of my eyes. Look at the man next to me. I actually think I got a lot of those Vrooman genes.


This shows the room a little better but now the lighting is all wrong.
What a great night!

Really??

You're going to the school to watch your kid do a Mother's Day program. You have to know you'll be sitting in metal backless chairs. Do you not think about what you're going to wear? And what the people behind you will be subjected to?



And, sadly enough, this was not the worst offender.

Let me just send out this little word of advice. School play, not a night out at the bar with girlfriends. School. Elementary school.

Well...

My day's lookin' a little better, how about yours?

Spring Walk

I dug my camera out from underneath a large stack of fabric (my sewing and computer share the same space) because it was a beautiful day yesterday and we all wanted to go for a walk. After taking a look at that my children were wearing and at how dirty they were, I left the camera at home.
But it was worth taking a pic on the way out...

Jack Treats

One of Jack's favorite little treats is a piece of whole wheat bread with Nutella spread on the top. And really, if you're using a chocolate spread, you also need sprinkles.
This is what he looks like after finishing one of his "Jack treats."