Day with Thomas

We surprised Spotty Chop with a day out with Thomas. We were there by 9:30, thanks to the GPS…well maybe despite it. It brought us to what we think was an old entrance, we could see the carnival like activities, but as they say “couldn’t get there from here”. We finally made it and then got front row parking. Our tickets were waiting for us and Spotty was nearly dancing with glee. It’s Thomas! he yelled as we walked passed giant pictures of the Sodor family. Dada said “it gets better kid; we are going to ride on Thomas”! We watched as Thomas pulled into the station and then climbed aboard. Spotty handed his ticket to the conductor and got a Jr. Engineer certificate. We pointed out the butterflies, dinosaurs etc. that were out in the cranberry bogs and he seemed to be having an ok time. Not the “oh my god my parents rock and I have never had a better time in my life” that I was hoping for. Spotty isn’t a Thomas fanatic, maybe that’s it, I thought. But after we got off of the train, got our obligatory photo snapped, we found out what his deal was. Spotty climb up on that train so mama can take your picture, He wanted none of that. Apparently he spotted the fire truck and bulldozer that you could climb on and he was making a bee line to it, no one and nothing was going to stand in his way…well except for the sandbox. We are bowing to the inevitable; we will be building the kid a sandbox. It is where he is happiest.

We rode on a bunch of rides; Spotty decided that he really didn’t like the rides that went up high. He would only ride with me, I think if his daddy just took him they would have been fine, but you know how boys are. Spotty had the most fun at one of the games of chance. It was a duck pool filled with water and rubber ducks. Everyone was a winner and after you paid the man you got a prize. Spotty didn’t seem to care about the prize; he just wanted to splash with the ducks…until we started to walk away, then he need the GIANT hammer.

We ended the day with me loosing my pocketbook. Well actually, me putting the pocketbook down next to the boy toy who was sitting next to the lake on one of the benches and chasing after Spotty. Boy toy later got up and left my pocketbook there. Luckily it was still there. The people who were sitting next to us were keeping an eye out for me. We thought it was yours, why didn’t he bring it with him?

Good friggen question I replied, it must be a guy thing. They all laughed.

Spotty fell asleep on the ride home, he woke up a bit when we took him out of the car, but fell back asleep when we put him on the warm waterbed, I climbed in next to him and had a good rest too. All that fun can be tiring.

Shower Update

China Pearl didn’t look like much from the outside, but once you walked in the front door you were blown away. I was the first to show up and the manager showed me to the section we would be at. It was raised about the main floor, and overlooked the entire place. I started bringing in all of the “props” when a few of the other girls showed up. We spent our time setting up the gift table, wrapping the gifts for winning the games and fixing the tables up.

Boy toy called to let me know the MIL called the house, he wasn’t sure why. I called her and she was at the door waiting for help to bring everything she had in. So I schlept everything in, and then set everything up the way MIL liked, and then needed to turn away and take deep breaths. The girls kept singing under their breath. “just keep smiling smiling smiling”. The MIL is definitely used to being in charge and getting her way. The girl who’s mom is sick didn’t show up. The Bride’s sister was stuck in traffic and stressing out as she had part of the centerpieces. I gave her a call and told her under NO circumstances was she to stress out. She got her when she got here and it was all good. MIL kept saying (and getting louder) where IS SHE???? So I pulled her aside and explained that 1) she was stuck in traffic 2) she was stressed out about it 3) it didn’t matter, everything was fine. MIL didn’t bring it up again.

I think the Bride really enjoyed herself. She was surrounded by friends and family who all love her. We ate great Dim Sum, well…except for that 1000 year old egg soup…wouldn’t recommend it. The games were a blast! We did a pocketbook scavenger hunt and I have to tell you I have NO IDEA how some of these women can stand with the amount of CRAP they keep in their pocketbooks. Why would you have postcards? Scissors? I think the highlight was the toilet paper bride’s dresses. That just had to be seen to be believed. The favors went over well, and the looked so Frelling awesome. The cake was not only beautiful but delish!

I guess I didn’t need to stress out as much as I had because everything went really well. But damn I am glad it’s over.

Bridal Shower of Doom

Tomorrow is the BRIDAL SHOWER OF DOOOOOMMmmmmm…..my girlfriend in a moment of insanity asked me to be her maid of honor. I being the dork I am was so touched that I said yes. Did I mention that I have NEVER been in a wedding party? I have managed for almost 4 decades to avoid this, I have cheerfully listened to my friends whine and complain about Bridezilla, Hideous dresses, out of control MIL’s or Moms while snickering inside. “dumbasses”.

Now I am the dumbass, but you know, it’s not so bad. The Bride is one of the nicest people I know, she truly would bend over backwards to help you, and she is not a doormat. The other girls in the party are lots of fun. There is an Asia theme to the shower and we are going out for Dim Sum. I invited almost 80 and thankfully only 25 have accepted.

The MIL is making the centerpieces. The Bride’s mom has been dealing with her mom (mid ninety’s) who is not doing well, but she has been checking in with me to see if she can help and tossed some money in to help defray the cost that her grand daughter just can’t afford. Her sister is making funny fortunes to go in the centerpieces; making sure that I ask for all the money I am entitled to, and keeps thinking of items to add (stamps, you shouldn’t have to pay for all that postage). One of her work friends is in charge of coming up with “games” to play. The Bride wants games and we are all asking each other, “who is this person and what has she done with the Bride?”. The Bride’s daughter is making the cake (as well as our jewelry for the wedding). I put the favors together, and the gift. Unfortunately one of the girls mom is really really sick. I hope she shows up tomorrow.

I hope everything goes well; I have been really uptight because I want this to be a great party for my friend. Keep your fingers crossed.

Book Review - Stone of Tears

Onto book two of the Sword of Truth series. The book starts off with Rachel, the foundling that Chase adopted, watching something that made her very nervous. When she tries to tell Chase about it he pats her on the head and tells her not to worry. He and Zed are busy discussing the boxes of Orden and what should be done about it. Of course this is the time that some demon like killing machine makes his appearance kicks the crap out of Chase, knocking Zed over and proceeds to smack Chase to within an inch of his life. Rachel being the kick ass kid that she is remembers Wizard Giller’s magic fire stick and torches the demon like thingy. I hope we get to see more of Rachel. I like this kid. Mayhem ensues. Lots of death and destruction commence.

I like how the D’Harans are more fleshed out. One of my favorite quotes is from a D’Hara commander who when being told what the former Load Rahl was up to stated. “Bloody fool. He’s supposed to serve us, not take us into eternal night. Someone should have killed him.” My thoughts exactly
We meet up with the Mud people again and gain some new enemies as well as new friends. Damn Richard can be a dumb ass.

I had trouble reading this book. Even though I have read it at least 4 times once I got to the Sisters of Light I had to force myself to keep reading. I don’t know what it was. Perhaps it was Kahlan’s sacrifice? Lord knows I have no issue with the fighting. I really enjoyed Sister Verna and Richards trip together. I can just see now how much I am going to want to strangle Spotty Chop in the future. Nathan the prophet is an interesting character and as they say, there seems to be a method to his madness.

I don’t want to say too much about Kahlan, but girl has gonads of steel. One thing I like most about strong fantasy writers are how female characters are generally portrayed. They don’t make them perfect, but they can kick ass with the best of them.

Great read, can’t wait to read the 3rd one.

SPIDERS

Spotty chop is suddenly very afraid of spiders. It started off that he was scared of Spider Man. Not sure where that comes from as we don’t watch spider man or talk about him. We do have one of those blow up punching bad thingies but Spotty rides it like a bull.

Now he is afraid of the actual 8 legged creature. If I leave the room a short time later he will come running to find me crying the spiders will get me. Before he falls asleep he tells me the spiders are coming. I keep reassuring him that the spiders will not come to get him and that I won’t let them get him. But I have no idea where this is coming from. It did start after camping, there were plenty of spiders camping, and in the tent, but I never noticed him freaking out over them, and boy toy and I don’t freak out over spiders, we kind of nudge them along to get out of our way.

Maybe we should stop forcing him to watch Steven Kings IT?