Category: vacation

Yesterday, Debbie and I took Danielle back to Rhode Island. The GPS disapproved vehemently of the fact that I was speeding, and showed her disapproval by showing my “current speed” in red. She also disapproves when we leave the planned path to go to the bathroom or get gas or get something to eat. She’s just a spazzy control freak, that stupid GPS.

(She certainly comes in handy when, say, you leave the highway to search desperately for a McDonald’s to use the bathroom and get a drink, only to find out that the McDonald’s is CLOSED. Hello, Newton, Massachusetts, I am looking at YOU.)

Danielle wasn’t feeling well – she was developing a cold – and while I know she had a good time visiting with us all (she only lives a few hours away, but she has a pretty busy schedule and hasn’t been up to visit in a long time), I know she was also glad to get home. Aside from not feeling well, she had a class yesterday afternoon. I dropped her off at home, gave her a big hug, and then Debbie and I headed for home.

The drive from here to Rhode Island is supposed to take about 7 hours, round-trip, but it took us more like 10. There was rush-hour traffic to deal with and potty breaks to take. I have to say, it was not a bad drive at all – we might have to make this a regular thing, going down to get the spud when I come to visit!

The graduate with his very proud cousin and his very proud aunt.

(By all rights, a picture of him with his mother should be here, but she’s a party pooper and wouldn’t let me post a picture of the two of them. HMPH.)

This kid – he’s just so amazing. Not even 18 yet, and he’s a licensed EMT, a volunteer firefighter, has a job where they rightfully think the world of him. He’s sweet and funny and has such a good heart. (And not for nothin’, do you SEE how cute he is?) I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am.

Mainers, knowing that in a few years this kid is going to be riding in an ambulance saving your lives should make you rest easier.

CONGRATULATIONS, BRIAN!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!

Meet my great-nephew (son of my nephew = great-nephew, right?). Three months old and unbearably sweet.

Saw my 21 year-old nephew and his girlfriend (mother of his child) for a few hours on Saturday and again on Sunday. So young and so in love. I loved being able to hold their child, the first of the next generation, and watch them interact. The two of them, clearly in love but not desperate to prove it to everyone in attendance, were sweet to watch. They’re adorable; you’ll have to take my word for it.

I took ten thousand pictures of that baby, you know I did. Camera nearly cracked from the overload of cute.

(Yes, I adore wee babies and holding and kissing them. Does it make me want one of my own? Not for a single moment.)

Alright, I’m outta here, on my way to Maine. My nephew is graduating this weekend, AND my other nephew and his girlfriend and their baby are coming to Maine to visit for a few days, AND I’m going down to Rhode Island to pick up the spud and bring her back to Maine, so this weekend is going to be chock-full of family.

(For the curious, I went ahead and purchased the ASUS Eee PC 900 8.9-Inch Netbook off Woot yesterday, thanks to that very bad influence Megan, who pointed out the deal to me. I’m wishing I had it already, because after lugging the laptop AND the big camera through the airport today and again on the way home, I’m going to need a visit to the chiropractor.)

I’ll be blogging via Flickr-to-Blog today on my way to Maine (assuming there’s anything interesting to take pictures of and assuming I can get my goddamn phone to send pictures, as it’s suddenly stopped being willing to do so) and then I’ll be sporadically blogging from Maine.

“Wait! Take me with you! I WANNA GO, TOO!!!!”

While you’re waiting for the blogging-from-the-road excitement to begin, you can check out the pictures of the foster kittens (who have gone to stay with another foster family while I’m in Maine.) or if you’ve ever wondered “Just how many coops DO they have over there at Crooked Acres?”, you can read the fascinating entry about that over here.

See ya when I see ya!

If I can’t blog via Flickr-to-Blog, I’ll update via Twitter.