Last Month of School

 I'm sure the time dragged for the girls while their mom was gone, but they did great.  Graysen managed to get herself up in time to get to school on time every morning.  I guess.  I didn't hear any different.  Kate got to school just fine and showed up in the afternoons just missing mom a little bit.  They were here most afternoons, doing homework, reading, talking - short afternoons.  But we had a sleepover last night with Carly that they seemed to really enjoy.  I might have over-prepped for it.  Gone are the days when I would make plans for certain things to do - and we would actually do it.  I had a list of possibilities for Sunday afternoon and night, and here's what they did:  

Carly rode her bike over with her sleeping bag in a backpack and got here a little bit before the girls - who packed quickly and made several changes in plans over riding or walking over.  Ryan had to repair a tire of Kate's bike, so that happened too.  Then they rode around town, just cruising up and down streets - one of those things that has left me behind.  They're on their own and now we have to depend on what they've learned and the attention of other riders and drivers.  Luckily, to be the day before a holiday, the streets were almost deserted even though it was a beautiful day.  Wes, Carly's dad and my former neighbor, remembers his childhood in Maryland, I think, where he would go out on his bike and stay out all day, only coming in at night.  I think he's a little more accepting of that than I am.  I do want periodic check-ins from them. 

They entertained themselves by making videos and taking pictures to compile into crazy things that cracked them up.  

Then just riding in circles in the back alley for a while and sometimes doing tricks that made me cringe but that they laughed at.

When that got old, they packed up some snacks and drinks and headed to Queen Kitty Hill, about a block away up on a hill that overlooks the parkway.  Then they got on the bikes and just rode around a little bit more.

Pizza was discussed, ordered, brought over by Ryan, and eaten.  

I'm just seeing pictures on my phone and posting a few of the ones I can make sense of.  That's very few.

You can't have a sleepover without playing around with makeup, and this was no exception.  Kate had been to a friend's house the night before and done nails, so that was taken care of.

I love the beauty of 11-year-old skin.  No makeup needed but so much fun to try!

Seems like just yesterday these three were making "potions" from whatever they could find in the kitchen and playing Old Maid.

I'm surprised the cats were able to sleep, but I joined them pretty quickly.  Elise was the designated late-night host, and I went to sleep hearing a whole bunch of laughing coming from the next room. 

Most of the pictures were pretty weird, and this one was too but more interesting than some.  I'm not sure what they were looking for here.

Looks like my phone is going to need a big clean up today.  If I have to depend on their photography, we'll never know and remember how life was in their lives.  

I'm still waiting for Emily to let me know she's home.  I wasn't clear when I talked to her earlier how much of a wait she had at the airport and how the time changes would affect things.  They were on Cumberland Island for the weekend and then in a cabin in Middle GA for the rest of the time.  I think she's looking forward to doing laundry and getting clean again.  Hope she's not working tomorrow!

There are still a few things happening before the end of school.  The 7th grade band and choir are going to Leavenworth on the bus Wednesday, and that's pretty exciting for them. 

Kate's last musical will be the same night, I think.  Her fifth grade class will have their visitation to the middle school and meet the teachers and explore night this week.  That's pretty exciting for her.  She's again be in the same school as Gray and Carly - for one year.

There might be a couple of end-of-the-year activities for both school.  Like Beach Bash or something like that.  

No one knows what we or they will be doing this summer.  Library time, lots of reading.  I'm a little disappointed that there don't seem to be a lot of events going on for their age, even with 6 libraries to choose from.  There will be soccer practice and DMW practice, Mah Jongg for me, and maybe some work on cleaning out the garage.  Always planned but never carried out.  I don't really care if I get anything done.  It will be enough to do a little planting and sitting on the porch in the evenings and just being warm.  The last 3 months of my 70th decade will be doing exactly what I want to do - when I want to do it.  

Timely message from Emily.  She's home from GA and in her car headed home.

Just a picture dump of our week at St. George's Island.  Everyone needs some time off to just do nothing they don't want to do every once in a while.  I need several of those times a year.  

The house was about right for us.  There were 3 bedrooms and 2 baths plus a bottom-story kids' apartment - which the girls hardly ever ventured into.  There was a ramp too for going up and down those steep endless steps.  All 4 sides had chairs, so we were prepared for a crowd.  I think there were over 20 seats.    

The WinBins making their presence known in Florida at what else? A boiled peanut stand.  

In reverse order.  Everyone was sad to leave.

Visit to the lighthouse park and Mike's El Tigre brick.  Em and the girls trying to make themselves heard to those of us who remained on the ground. 

More Travel

 This time the travel doesnt involve me, and I couldn't be happier.  Emily left this morning from Sea-Tac to go to ATL to then go and meet Rebekah in Jacksonville.  There, they'll take the ferry to Cumberland and stay there for a couple of nights.  I'm still not sure why this particular place, but it sounds like something they'll enjoy.  Then they head up through GA and travel to Thomaston where they'll meet a bunch of friends and have a little reunion.  Can't believe it's working out.  I know they'll have a good time.

Meanwhile, we'll hold it down here in WA.  Em deserves some time all to her herself, but you'd have a hard time convincing Kate of that.  Graysen seems okay with it, but I know it's going to be a long week.  I'm afraid Aunt Cece and I might prove a little boring by the time the week is up.  I don't even know what we'll do. 

They will come here after school today, I guess.  I'm going to make salmon for my next few meals and do some zucchini in the air fryer.  I think the girls will like that.  Maybe Mod Pizza tomorrow night since there is a donation to the SMS Music Club for every pizza bought.  

I skipped MJ today since we already had 4 players and will go Thursday.  I'm too sleepy right now to even play a game online.  I guess it's a good time for a nap.  

If this is all I can pull out of my life, I can't see much reason for having a blog, but I do enjoy not having much to worry about or take care of.  I do have a few spots I want to clean out gradually, and today might be a good day to start it.  

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I never came back and posted any more - because nothing else happened that was noteworthy, so I'll just finish up my Wednesday here.

Noreen and I went to Carnation to the senior center there for an AI information presentation.  I know next to nothing about it so thought I might learn something, but before we had been sitting there a minute, I had this feeling of sleepiness come over me.  Noreen said she did too.  I wasn't expecting too much out of an information talk, and there were not too many exciting things to hear that I didn't know about.  There was a pretty big group of folks there, and there was a lot of discussion and questions, but I was trying to hold my eyes open and hope my phone was off.  

It sure was a nice morning for being out and enjoying the sunshine.  We had asked for a recommendation for having lunch and had a few suggestions.  We decided on the Carnation Cafe which was practically across the street from the senior center.

On a warmer day, it would have been nice to sit in the outdoor spots and enjoy the warmer weather.  Just not quite there yet.  

We were hungry after having been released and got sandwiches - one meatball and one Tolt Hamburger.  They were quite good, and it was a nice place to eat.  

Driving back, we enjoyed the blue sky and clouds and a little glimpse of the dahlia fields.  

The girls came in after school, and we just sat around and chatted about lots of stuff -- Watching Les Miz tomorrow night with friends, Gray wanting to take piano lessons and ice-skating lessons, Kate not wanting to commit to cross-country,  making another grocery list for Aunt Cece.  They are just the sweetest girls and welcomed my walking a few blocks with them.  

I feel so much better than I did last night, and I'm thankful for that.  I think I'll check in on the SEC Baseball Tournament tonight and play a few games of MJ and go to bed early.  

Giving Up on Spring

 I woke up this morning to hail hitting my windows.  I took the screens down because the windows look better with no screens and because the cats spend a lot of time jumping up and hanging there when they're ready to come inside.  Now they have to go to the front door and wait.  It would have been a good morning to stay in bed, but I woke up to a text from Noreen asking if I wanted a cuppa - nice excuse for a visit.  We've only chatted through texts for about a week now, and it was time for catching up.  We did cover quite a few subjects and got a bit of world problem-solving done.  I always feel better about life in general when I leave one of our visits!

It was pouring when I left to come home.  And cold.  Looking at the 10-day forecast, I don't see us reaching 70 for that period of time and most of it with rain.  Ugh.  Once I get a little taste of sunshine, I'm ready to have it daily.  

Just got a video from Emily in Michaels showing me a bunch of 70s-looking vases and glasses and my sweet girl.

Our Harvest Gold and Avocado Green things were a little more tasteful than those, I think.

Yesterday was early-release Friday, and Graysen got here about 2:45 with some make-up work to finish and her book to read.  When Kate got here an hour later, they were glad to see each other and get a snack.  It isn't anything I plan, but I sometimes just stand in the kitchen and tell them what's in the cabinets and refrigerator, and they let me know if it sounds good.  Gray and I even went to the garage freezer, thinking I had put a cheese pizza in there the last time I went to the grocery story.  Unfortunately, there was no pizza.  They settled for some sausage links like we had at the beach - plant-based ones that they love.  Kate got excited over a bowl of grits, and I grated some cheese into it.  We rounded out the snack with a few handfuls of Fruit Loops I had forgotten about.  

They left to go home, and I did nothing the rest of the evening except what I wanted to do, but I can't remember what that was.  I'm sure I played a few games of MJ on line.  I've now won 68% of the hands on the 2026 card.  Some of them I'll never play, and some I've won multiple times.  

Since nothing is going on today, I'll post a few of the Spring Break pictures.  I've already forgotten where and what most of them are, but I'll remember what I can.

We left on May 8 and had a good short drive to the airport.  It was so nice it almost made me not look at all the traffic.  We were able to get a glimpse of Mt Rainier, but I wasn't quick enough to capture it.

It's such a production to get 5 people and all that luggage into the airport.  We parked, and Ryan and Emily ran the heavy suitcases to be checked inside while I waited with the girls with our carryon stuff.  Then Ryan ran out and took off to park while the girls and I went in and found Emily.  It wasn't crowded, and I had nothing to do but wait on her to do all the hard work.  

Once Ryan got back inside, we headed for the security lines.  We were TSA prechecked, or whatever that's called, so it was a simple matter to just take out IDs and show them.  There was no taking off anything or taking things out of bags, so that part was easy too.  It was a pretty long walk to get to our gate, and the girls gamely carried my laptop bag along with their things.  

    

             Kate wasn't unhappy here, just bored and ready to be on our way.

Once we got there to the gates - 2 or 3 at the end of the concourse, some with delays - there was no time to go to the bathroom or get a bottle of water. So many people.  I was definitely pampered this trip with early boarding on most flights, and it turned out I was the first one on the plane.  That was a new and welcome thing for me.  The only downside was that I had to sit by myself and the rest of the family were way back behind me. I ended up with a nice young couple who were friendly but not chatty - my favorite type of seatmates.  

We changed planes in Houston, and I don't remember much about that.  We just had to get our carryon stuff to the next gate and get on. 

 

This was the flight I had Kate as my seatmate.  She was fun to be with.  It looks like this was just 2 seats with the others across the aisle from us in some configuration.

I thought I would have taken more pictures, but I didn't.  This trip, I got a strap-on waist thing for my ID and phone and a few other little things.  That was the best, because it kept me from forgetting where my phone was and having to fish it off the floor.

Below may have been in Houston or New Orleans.  We made brief stops in both airports and tried to get something to eat at one of the food courts, but nothing looked interesting, and some of the places were closing for the day.  

The next step was riding a shuttle in New Orleans to the rental car place.  It was a nice big comfortable bus, and we got to rest a little bit.

The rest of the night was my least favorite time there.  We got a big nice car, but we filled it completely up and headed for the hotel.

I haven't traveled in a lot of years, and I thought I did pretty well with my anxiety.  But I didn't enjoy the drive to the area and finding a parking place and getting into our rooms.  I'll have to find out the name of the hotel for tomorrow.  

Not that it was any fun for the others, but Ryan and Emily are adventurous, and the girls went straight to sleep once we were in the car.  It was close to midnight in a strange city and no parking available near the hotel.  Ryan got out to walk around and look for a spot, and then Emily went to find him, and I was not that thrilled to be left in the car with the children.  Finally - not long but seemed like forever - we paid for valet parking, which was just unlocking a small parking area attached to the hotel.  Once again, deciding what we needed, getting groggy girls up the elevator, and getting settled is all a blur.  Kate slept in my room, and she was out so quickly.  

I don't remember anything about the room except that was the one with no hot or even warm water.  Right when I needed it the most.  It didn't seem worth it to complain, so I waited until morning and had a lukewarm shower.

We had little balconies, but I spent almost no time on mine.  We heard pretty music for a little while - what we finally learned was the calliope from the Steamboat Natchez going past on the Mississippi.  Nice touch before we had to hurry and get out to try to see some of New Orleans before meeting Rebekah, Emily's high school friend.

This girl had a long sleep and hardly moved all night.  I think that was true for all of us.

I took one picture in NOLA.  One.  I've been there a few times, but Emily really wanted to show the girls Jackson Square.  Our time eventually got used up, and I was not too disappointed.

I'm exhausted just thinking about it.  Maybe I'll have a few pictures for another day.  I'm looking for the name of that hotel now to see if there's anything interesting about it.

Just as I was finishing this up, my phone sent me another airport adventure from May of 2019.  I'll pick some of those pictures and post - so precious, those ages.

Heading back from St. George's another time.  In Tallahassee, we saw Millie and Allen to their flight and then found out ours had been cancelled because of storms in Dallas.  Speaking of anxiety, I was there nursing a swollen foot because of some infection that had come up that morning.  We ended up renting another car and driving most of the way across Georgia to Atlanta where we got about 4 hours sleep and then got a flight to Los Angeles via Charlotte.

These little girls handled it much better than I did, but look at those tired little faces!  

AND - 12 hours later - more hail!

Spring Break 2026

 I do realize I haven't posted very much about the trip we took to St George's Island and the places we visited on the way there.  It's so overwhelming when you don't write it down as it happens, and I was a little bit out of my comfort zone sometimes.  Once you stop travelling, it's hard to get back in the groove.

I don't have time to record it all, but I am looking at some pictures this morning of the Malaga Hotel in Mobile where we stayed for one night.  I could have stayed there much longer, even with the mini shower in my bathroom.  

I'm trying to reimburse Emily and Ryan for my expenses, and it's hard when they won't tell you what they are.  I did stay in my own room 3 nights, so I'm having to do a little research and find out how much I spent.  

I'll have to go back and find out where we stayed in New Orleans.  It had character for sure, but we were all exhausted and got in so late and left so early we didn't have much chance to enjoy it.

But I do remember this place.  The Malaga Hotel.  I sometimes didn't know exactly where we were, but I do know this was on Church Street near Government and close to downtown.  

The inviting room on the first floor, right corner was my room with a little balcony out the front French door.  I think it was called a Historic Suite and part of an original hotel (just overhearing some of the conversation about rooms as we were checking in).  It was perfect for me, and I enjoyed relaxing and being by myself for a little bit. The family stayed on the second floor. 

These are the pictures I took, but this website has a lot of pictures and reviews.

I wasn't the only one tired after a long day of car travel and car games with way too much luggage surrounding us.  We knew - and still carried too much!

 

I have to say the courtyard was my favorite spot.  I may already have these pictures posted, but we enjoyed the fountain and the flowers and just the quiet.  We saw very few people there even though they were pretty full.  

We were impressed by the beds.  Not your usual hotel beds but so very comfortable.  No complaints by me!

The little bathroom was fine, even if a little bit smaller than we're used to.  

We enjoyed exclaiming about the size of the shower - probably smaller than an airplane bathroom.  It takes a little planning, for sure.  Hot water though - which is something we did not have in the New Orleans hotel - not even a little bit in my room.  

I took my book along but read maybe two pages on the plane rides there and two more at each hotel.  Then it was lights out for me!

This looks like the former front entrance before all the additions. My room is there under the stairs.

The next morning, I found a cup of coffee and brought it to the courtyard.  Unfortunately, they only supply the bare necessities of a breakfast, and that's a carafe of already-made coffee.  I was late getting there, so I refused a fresh pot just for me.

 

I did read a few more pages of my book, but I was more interested in walking around looking at the flowers and smelling the fragrant plantings.  I didn't mind that it was a really warm day either!

I found this spooky-looking stairwell in my exploring.  I don't even want to know what's down there.

Emily and I found a few flats of plants over in a corner that we had to resist finding a hose and watering.  Overall, the garden was beautiful, but we worried about those neglected ones.

It was such a nice place, and I wish I thought I would get to go back one day.  I did leave my new phone charger plugged in, something I thought I had trained myself NOT to do.  

Thursday Mah Jongg

 I can't promise this week has been all I wanted, but it's almost over, and there have been good times.  

Yesterday the girls came over for just a small amount of time.  Graysen had a band concert that night and needed to get ready.  Elise and I wanted to go, but it didn't work out.  Emily sent me one video that's funny.  Gray made a face when I showed it to her and said, "We were SO bad!"  I thought they sounded like a beautiful orchestra myself, but I did enjoy the little funnies - the false start that everyone tries really hard to avoid.  It was cute, and they went right ahead and started over.  I'm still trying to find the composer for this short piece that I recognize from a hymn from childhood.  So pretty.  G is the 3rd from the right on the first row.  

I have little faith it will work.  I can play it fine on my phone and in my files, but getting it here is somehow beyond me.  Maybe there will be some Facebook pictures from the school soon.  

She said they were playing Hey, Jude, and when I found out I couldn't go and hear it in person, she promised to play it for me.  

Kate had been begging to play Mah Jongg Wednesday, and we had time for only some quick messy games.  She's getting really good at recognizing what is a good hand and what she doesn't want.  And lucky too. 

I knew getting out today would be good for me, and I had Thursday Mah Jongg to lure me out.  It was a really pretty day when I left with just a few gray clouds appearing as I drove to the Y.  For 2-1/2 hours, we were completely oblivious of the weather or anything else.  I love our group.  We are sticklers for the rules but still add some levity and fun along the way.  I won two games today, which is better than I have been doing.  On my last one, we got to test one of the rules.  We were down to the last maybe 10 tiles, and everyone was giving up hope and thinking we would have a wall game (no winner), but the very tile I needed was discarded, and I called for it.  But so did Sharon across the table. I think it would have given us both a MJ - the details get fuzzy - but I would have had the next turn, so I won by default.  Both of us had already won a game, so it was fine all around.  We are doing so well that even the losers are within one or two tiles every game.  

We've learned we can talk a little bit while we play and tease each other and still usually remember whose turn it was next.  Usually.  Sometimes we sit there with blank stares and have a long discussion of what the last play was.  

I'm so glad the Y gives us one of the nice rooms to play in and furnishes the sets.  On Tuesdays, we have a couple of tables, and I go if it looks like we'll not end up with an extra person or 2.  One group has been playing a lot longer than us, and we're a little intimidated by how fast they are.  We kind of like to sit and savor or frown at how the latest tile has affected our plans, but we got in four games in 2-1/2 hours today.  And learned there is an upscale-sounding store in Bellevue that we need to visit. 

When I got home, Elise said Graysen had come after school and had been doing homework, and Kate had just walked in from her school.  Lots of mac and cheese making and cold drinks, and I even put out a veggie plate with buttered sourdough bread for the girls.  I still seem to be the only one to like hummus.  

Kate made me get right back into MJ since the tiles were still out on the table.  We went through the whole process of building the wall and picking our tiles and then doing the Charleston.  She's getting the idea of the ritual of starting, which is fun for me.  Elise and Graysen steadfastly refuse to participate.  They could make our Charleston so much more exciting if they would.  I don't know what's wrong with them.  Kate did some more drawing and discarding and making a hand, but then she wanted to build walls, and we got pretty silly, making a fence from the Bams, cows from the Dots, and birds of course.  Even a horse and then a giraffe.  Who knew we could be so artistic. 

They headed home at 5:30.  It's always so sad to see them walking up the street and trying not to yell "BE CAREFUL"  They know I'm thinking it.  

Tomorrow is early release from school - Gray at 12:30 and Kate at 1:30.  I do hope they have some interesting plans for the afternoon.  They're usually tired after school and don't want to do much, but they need to get out and enjoy the warmer weather.

Noreen and I are scheduled to take a one-hour class on AI next week.  I do need to get a little understanding of how it works before I get in some sort of trouble with it.  I'm tired of new technology and wish I could just enjoy the things I know without new and potentially dangerous stuff coming at us constantly.  

The BLT I had for supper was exceptional tonight with my Crisp Apple Bloom, an energy drink that I'm obsessed with but have received no energy from yet.  It just tastes good.  Unfortunately, Gray feels the same way and is unhappy about limiting it because of the caffeine in it.  Kate is satisfied with the Capri Suns and has a few pouches every time she's here.  

I did have enough energy to wrestle my duvet into its cover after washing - all by myself - so I guess that's something.