Vacation/Wedding Part 1 of 2

Good morning.  This is going to be a long one and perhaps divided into several posts because it is SOOO long!  This entry is about our trip to New Mexico for Rich’s Daughter’s wedding on September 15^th.  We start here …

September 8, 2012 @ 6:23 am @ odometer 22210 miles leaving Brookfield with a destination for the day of 517 miles to go

September 8, 2012 @ 10:26 am @ odometer 22479 miles destination 344 miles to go

We are coming up to St. Louis.  We had taken a small half hour nap after a long GREAT conversation with Rich, especially weighted in ideals of multiple focus though became distracted after he emphasized funding our program (writing and publishing).

We picked up our Design book.  Rich was talking of little lakes like Horseshoe where he could fish. 

We are going through St. Louis and took several pictures of the arch.  We have got 200 miles to go west on 44 to Tulsa, Oklahoma.

10:39 am We are before Kansas City, listening to Rich’s music station and am taking a mental note that today’s baseball game is between KC and Chicago White Sox.  The last song we listened to was “Last Kiss.”  We are listening to the 50’s Chanel. 

We are on the design book p. 11 (left side) and it said that students should pick out their own objectives in their learning program.  We thought of our structure for the NEWS DID/MPD Syntopicon and that the categories or section headers could become optional courses in an inclusive manner that students could choose as jumping-in points and the courses would be structured taking in consideration of the bloggers feeding information into those sections as study modules – and then tested to analyze data and then ask the students to make new conclusions and to match title of section – if their title of section – if this title then, “I think”, or “they think…” and within that frame, we can consider a), b), c), d), & etc.

12:09 pm, odometer 22564, 260 miles left or four hours and 16 minutes.  We stopped in Elk Grove, MO and had Subway roast beef and cookies and also stopped for gas and washroom.  Rich is getting like 21.8 mpg, gas is about $3.79 and at about 16 gallons cost is way over $50 .

L Saw dead dog on road

We’re on page 20 of the book and on I-44 West.  We changed the car computer map to an accurate address of Outrigger Motel our first overnight destination.  There are 245 miles left or 3 hours and 53 minutes to go.  We have 123 miles before we get to the next change of direction.  We saw Emu’s on a farm for that purpose.  And, we passed the Evinrude Boat/Motor dealer we had stopped at before with Rich on our first Missouri trip to Bronson several years ago.  The music playing now is, “Rain on the Roof.”

22818 odometer at 3:46 pm, arrive at the Outrigger Motel, 10603 Hwy 59 N, Grove, Oklahoma

It seems sunny and there were a lot of cows and we were very cranky when we got to the motel, but then Rich checked us in and let us eat a leftover cookie from lunch and that seemed to make us feel a little better.

He said we couldn’t say negative things about the houses being small and “ugly” because they were peoples’ homes and then he unrolled our window to give us something to be cranky about.  We like much better air conditioning and we met some flies.  We thought things looked raggedly.  Rich says there was a lot of grass, so they could have a lot of cows and horses.  We noticed that a lot of houses were made of one-story sheet metal frames and lots of them had gates with names on them, but Rich wouldn’t let us name our apartment.  They also had a turnpike.  We had to go over a bridge to get to the small town of Grove.  It was a peninsula.  There was a place to rent boats and Rich said in February, he and some of the guys would be coming to this town/lake for a week, but he’s not going to take us with L.  He couldn’t tell us if people talked differently.  I don’t want to be the only one with a Chicago accent.  He took a long time to check-in.

The hotel is in a L-shape and includes rooms, pop, ice and candy machines, and office and attached swimming.  The motel looks very empty, but one woman was sitting outside of a room watching us and one kid maybe about 14 or so was standing by the pool fence reading rules.  Rich said we have to get dressed and we are going to see the lake and then go out to dinner.  It’s a little scary being in a strange place.  Rich has been inside for 15 minutes, but is now coming out and we’re still a little whiney.  The time is now …

4 pm and Rich is headed toward Lake Road Resort and going around the south side of the lake.

At 5:37 pm, we started smiling again because we got rid of the frustrating paper map and picked up a camera and pen/paper to take pictures of cows and fences by the lake and to take notes.  But, then we had to work our way around the lake.

10 to 127 W.

5 – 565 S. Ranch

245 toward Lakeman Shore

28 W.

Cross River

82 N

85 E then

85 N

S 317 Rd

310 Road

Returned to Harbor View Yacht Harbor to the west side of bridge about third cove west and to the north side

September 9, 2012 at 22896 odometer @ 7:37 am leaving motel 742 miles to go 11 hours and 43 minutes to drive to destination – Rio Rancho, New Mexico where Jillian and Chris live.

We had a great day and night last night.  We were slow to warm-up to the room and Oklahoma, but we did it by dinner.  After checking into the motel, we did a lot of checking out the lake and different roads and eventually we wound around the south side of the lake and went to eat at a yacht club that was very nice.  It was out doors, and we had all you can eat fajitas.  We had two and Rich had five!  It was on a long dock outside facing the Marina water.  We saw fish jumping and the weather was excellent.  We had one Bloody Mary and our medicine about then, so we were feeling fine.  We afterward stopped to fill the thermos with coffee for the next morning and get some wine coolers and then we had a VERY nice time with Rich *Giggle*.  The bed seemed fine after taking off the bedspread.

We remember the shower head being low, but it was quick to heat up.  After that it was fine.  We packed-up after Rich took his medicine and his turn in the shower.  It was fast and easy.  It seemed to take longer than expected to get to Jillian’s because of the extra miles.  Rich had stopped earlier than half way so he could check out the fishing lake for February.  Rich came out of the gas station with more coffee refills and cookies and we left the city at 7:46 am.  Rich stated that the only thing that was important was learning where to fish and he ran into a couple semi-pros who gave him some good clues.  There were a lot of bass boats at the convenient store.

8:02 on turnpike and saw llama farm WITH llamas!

11:02 pm @ an odometer reading of 23127

We just left Oklahoma City.  Rich has seen oil rigs, but we haven’t captured one on our camera yet.  They are sneaky!  Rich talked to Jillian and Bob on the phone.  Jillian is going in for her last fitting.  We shared cookies and yesterday’s sandwich with Rich.  We never saw downtown Oklahoma City.  Around the area they were selling Bermuda Grass.

492 miles left for the day or 7 hours and 42 minutes.

We stopped at Loves and emptied the coffees and Rich got the windows because we were complaining about all the slimy-type bugs.  We had had the computer up and we checked a little on Twitter and re-started the course on gamification, but we had to stop on lesson 1.5 and 1.6 because of all the buffering problems we were having loading the video on Rich’s laptop.  He said he normally has problems with videos.

Odometer reading of 23191 @ 12:02 pm

We were looking for lunch.  2 exits up will be a McDonald’s with 444 miles to go or 7 hours left.

Odometer reading of 23431 @ 2:29 pm.

We just crossed into New Mexico by San Jan.  Rich kept waking me up to see things.  He explained about the big gully’s he was calling arroyo’s and then later the mesas.  We saw two small deer too by one of the roadside fences.  

Jill called @ 2:30 pm and we had 197 miles to go in 3 hours and 13 minutes.

We noted Jill’s address and then we noted the address at the Inn at Rio Rancho where we would be staying (1456 Rio Rancho Blvd SE, Rio Rancho, NM).

Odometer 2364 @ 5:47 pm

We had gone through the beautiful mountains and had taken a ton of pictures.   We are at the Inn and Rich said we have a room on the second floor which brought complaints.

Monday, September 10, 2012 @ odometer 23648 @ 11:46 am with 15 miles to drive or 27 minutes to go.

Rich got oil this morning and he washed car windows.  He had taken the first shower and then went for sweet rolls and coffee while we took our shower.  He spent time on his computer, then us.  We had too much trouble on our netbook because it is not recognizing certain letters and I couldn't connect to our phone hot spot without entering code (with those missing letters).  When Rich went out, we uploaded pictures from his computer and then placed them on Facebook with just one short note.  Now we are on our way to take a tram to the top of the mountain

It has been a very good morning and it was nice to get to the Inn and Jillian’s the night before.  We stopped at the Inn first.  The room is extra large.  Rich and I both brought stuff up, but of course he brought much more and heavier stuff.  We are on the 2^nd floor overlooking the beautiful courtyard and we are faced toward the mountain.  Rich just reminded us that we forgot to take our coats, because it was going to be cold on the mountain.  Oh well.

Last night after Jillian’s, we had a couple of wine coolers in the dark on the extra-wide balcony and we took that opportunity to talk over a few things, but we were both tired.  We slept until 8:30 am.  We’re not going to say too much about Jillian’s because we want to preserve that privacy, but we are just 10 minutes from her and we went over for late dinner last night.  We met Chris her fiance and talked and talked.  She has a very nice house.  It is of course styled in south western with extra height built into some Adobe-styled arches.  Jillian made dinner and it was so nice to talk with her.  She showed us some things for the wedding and it was just a real nice time.  So happy to be here!

Odometer 23678 @ 4:59 pm.

We had such a good trip on the mountain, “Sandia” for the early afternoon.  The tram ride-up was very fun and terribly scenic. The tram ride was two miles/15 minutes to the top. It jumped a couple parts near the connection posts.  We took a LOT of pictures.  Rich had me bring the walker which was a great idea.  It also allowed us to board first, so we could be tucked out-of-the-way.  We got a good area in the tram.  Most people had to stand-up.

At the top, we were timid coming up to the edge of the mountain top even though they had good metal railings.  It was just that it was so deep and rocky.  They had a long zigzag path for walkers and wheelchairs and I liked that although we stopped for a couple of breaks going back up to the tram.  After a little bit of looking, we stopped at the restaurant on top of the mountain.  It was a reasonable cost and had window views that really were something.  Rich had a cheese-bacon burger and a diet coke and fries, and we had a hot ham sandwich with onion rings and a medium-sized Margarita.

We sat outside after lunch and rested in the sun out of the wind.  Rich and us talked during dinner, but we were kind of quiet.  We were doing a lot of looking and just feeling being there.  It was so unique.  I can count like no trips to sitting on the top of a big mountain.  It was very romantic and fulfilling.  It was just so huge it was hard to put a scope on it.

After we rode the tram down to the base (Rich was comfortably standing behind me), Rich let us stop in the small gift store.  We liked best the small earrings.  We were thinking of our girls, but just got items for the Chicago group of DILs and Granddaughters.  The gifts were mostly earrings, but we got a bracelet for Isa.  It was so much fun picking up the gifts and choosing.  Rich helped too!  One set was a little more expensive, but it was my favorite.  It was real turquoise and delicate sterling silver.

On the trip back to the Inn – about 20-30 minutes, we talked some to Rich about the experience, but mostly we went with a couple of rounds at looking at the jewelry.  I don’t really have much jewelry, so it was a very big deal.  We haven’t decided what to get Maury yet.  Rich said a hat, but Maury is picky about that kind of thing.  I’d like to get him a little more for watching the house and kitties.  Rich suggested a small gift with some cash – which is always good.  I would like to pick-up Joe some leather to work with.  I think that would be fun (OK that didn't happen :( ).  Rich says that tomorrow we can shop a little more.  He gave us some shopping money and it might as well have been a million bucks because it seems so much fun and out of normal to be getting tiny extravagant gifts.

After we went back to the Inn for about 1 ½ hours, then we went to do a little shopping for Jillian (food/liquor).  During the middle, we sat outdoors with Rich and he napped, and then we worked on the quilt getting about 3/5’s done.  It was so pleasant on the sunny, but breezy side of the building.  After we steamed a shirt for Rich, but now Rich is here and we’re 5 minutes away from Jillian’s.  Pizza and a game tonight!  Rich said he doesn’t have anything to add, but I know he is very happy.  We need to look at the scenery now!  J

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at odometer

57113 – Stone Face Tavern?  Don't remember this reference.

We saved these next addresses though for the quilting places we'd visit

Quilt Bugs 505-994-0269 3301 Southern Blvd. SE Rio Rancho

Mountain Sky Quilting 505-896-6856  409 9^th St. NE

Quilting by Monique 505-994-2803  901 Tiffiin Meadows Drive NE

Creative Stitches by Shirley 505-891-4792  650 Lakeview Circle SE

Touch of Class 505-792-8664  2614 Comino Cordoba SE

023758 @ 4:43 pm

This is us at the grocery store again.  Rich is picking up a few things for dumplings.  It’s been another nice day.  We spent time on the computer including an hour talking to Linda, finishing the quilt, took a shower, saw sunrise with Rich, and then Rich cooked dinner in a crock pot at the Inn.  And, THEN, we went out shopping and looked at about 5-7 locations.  We were looking for quilting shops, but almost all the locations turned out to be private houses.  We then stopped for lunch at Chili’s.  I had a tostada and Rich had a burger and we had a Margarita, and he had a diet coke. 

We were close to the quilting store named “Southwest Decorations.”  We had called ahead.  Rich’s car map had taken us in the wrong direction (NE instead of NW).  Also, Rich seemed sluggish and missed a few stops.  He stayed out in the car and read his fishing maps when we got to the store and we went in.  I took the walker with me again, so I could browse slowly and rest while looking.  I had two very good store assistants.  I was pulled in with colors, especially rich golds, reds, turquois, etc.  We found one we liked right away, but knew it was too expensive, and after talking to the sales lady, we looked at other quilts up on the wall.  There was a good amount of space and a lot of visually attractive patterns.  I really liked the Southwest patterns and colors right away.  The first sales lady went to the second though, and they arranged for us to do the beautiful quilt we had liked the most as a block of the month (BOM).  It would cost $29 a month, plus $5 shipping each time. Block of the month means they ship one square (15" x 15") at a time. It was a Navajo Native American quilt and this group seemed to be mostly in the New Mexico and Arizona regions.  It was very fine applique with small zigzag stitching detailing the quilt.  Then we got a $79 Chevron pattern to hold us over.  The Chevron was more a regular-pieced quilt instead of an applique and the pattern was repeating so much easier to handle.

After we got home (it rained), we looked at the fabrics in our Chevron quilt kit and then showed Rich a picture of the pottery quilt on the computer.  Then we took a nap while he read, and then we got up and did the computer while he napped.  We spent most of the time looking at the Southwest Quilt shop web site.

After that, Rich got food ready and we both loaded up for Jillian’s.  We have the quilt too for Jillian and Chris.  This is the one we'd made and were giving as our wedding gift.  The stupid part was that Rich fell on the last step, but saved the dinner, and then we rushed to check him, and then we also fell on the last step.  We were both feeling pretty silly and so took pictures of each other.  Rich had already fallen earlier this morning while outside to watch the sunrise together.  His chair had gone out from under him.

Now we’re both safely in the car.  Rich says we have more rain and dust storms coming and indeed the wind was picking up.  He had cooked pork and then he will be making sauerkraut, dumplings and gravy which is a favored food of Jillian’s, but new to Chris.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012 Odometer 23774 @ 2:11 pm

We’re back at the grocery store.  Rich just filled out the super saver card at Smith’s Grocery because we’ve been here so often, he thought he could save some money with the card.  We just got back from getting both me and Rich’s hair trimmed, and we’ll leave our Inn at about 4:30 pm for Jillian’s.  I think we’re having some kind of Chili tonight because Chris’ son is coming home from college and it is a favorite of his.

Last night, we were wound up leaving Jillian’s because it startled us more than her that she hadn’t finished making plans for the week (Thursday and Friday) with people all coming over.  After, she stated she was all good.  I didn’t mean to push into her business - we were just making sure she was using the time wisely – especially if she wanted her father to pick up a few things which we had figured would make things easier for her.  We were stressing that it was important that they could enjoy their friends and family while they were there.  I knew though that because Jillian is Jillian it is like singing to the choir.  She’s very organized.  More like my bad :(

Friday, September 14, 2012 Odometer 23897 @ 2:07 pm

Afternoon, we are back at Smith’s.  Rich gets whatever he needs while we stay out in the car and catch-up on our writing.  By now Rich is very familiar with the store, but we are in a rush today if he’s going to make it back to the hacienda by 3 pm.  He has to get all of Jillian’s stuff within 30 minutes.  It will then take 23 minutes to drive in time for the rehearsal.  We just had a quick stopover at our room at the Inn.  Rich needed to get the cooler, lawn chairs, and his mother’s suitcase and clothes.  They were being pushy, but Rich and I hadn't realized they'd packed his mother's liquor in the bag for us to take in Rich's SUV.  Before that we’d been at the Hacienda trying to settle in his Mom and Bud.  Bud was getting ornery in thinking that he’d have to do things for himself instead of waiting for Rich who was trying to coordinate his tasks - politely.  So, Bud got out of the car and started pulling things from the back and he got Mom out before Rich could find out where their room was and the room was about a block away over gravel.  So Rich had to reload the car and put his mother back in the seat which was hard, because he was having to lift her and Bud didn't want to be patient.  Rich drove to the room at the Hacienda bed and breakfast  which was also where the wedding rehearsal and wedding was going to be.  It took a bit of time which made Jillian nervous about her Dad's timing.

Jillian’s Uncle Tim was the nicest.  He came over and introduced himself while the three of us were in the car (without Rich) and then after Bud had gotten out, Tim sat in the back seat with me and fooled around in a nice manner.  He had met Rich’s Mom and Bud before.  It was a nice period of getting introduced to him.  He seemed really nice.  His wife Mary was more aloof.  Jon also came out and over to the car, and he gave his grandmother a kiss, but he did not say hi or acknowledge me, which fell a little flat.  They said that Rich’s ex was in her room and we did meet Jillian at the parking space.  She had traveled to the Hacienda early to bring vases and to get her mother coffee.  We still don’t know how that is going to work out, but we will stay at a distance and not say anything to her unless asked.  I’m thinking she is going to say something mean, so we have to be prepared for that.  I think we’ll just smile back and acknowledge that we heard her, but have nothing to add … like ok, I hear you, but as Jillian has been fervently repeating, “it is not my problem.”

The trip to the airport for Rich’s mother was fine and we arranged with Rich that I would drop him at the curb and then wait in the cell phone waiting area.  To my surprise, Rich let me practice drive HIS car around the Circle twice.  That was nice.  And, we felt pretty comfortable, but stayed quiet so Rich wouldn’t worry so much. He didn't seem to have any problem inside the airport getting his Mom and Bud.

He is back now loading the car with grocery items and paper goods for the rehearsal dinner after the practice.  It is going to be at Jillian's house.  Rich got help from the store and it is now 2:23 pm so 7 minutes to spare, and we'll get there on time.  He is moving efficiently.  His mother and Bud complained most the way to the Hacienda, but we were quiet and watched out the window until our bad mood with listening to them passed.  Again, not our problem.

Yesterday was a very good day with Rich’s Aunt and Uncle.  They came to our room to meet us Wednesday night and his aunt started the hugs – Yay!!  We spent time with them next at the bar at the Inn for a drink and then everyone went back to their rooms for sleep.  They had flown from the Carolina’s to Denver and then had driven 5-6 hours to New Mexico in the rain.

The next morning, we were ready before Rich when his Aunt Diane stopped by to pick-up the salad which we had held at our fridge.  We made arrangements to pick them up for breakfast/lunch and then the four of us went to Jillian’s and had a nice time.  We then also met Chris’ parents who seemed really nice.  They brought some food and happiness with them.  The mother’s name is Sugar and the father is Ray.  Ray led a very intelligent welcoming conversation so all that was good.  But the party broke up when Jillian had to leave to pick-up her mother and brother at the train station.  We understood later that the mother had come in at a mood and reclused herself at her laptop while others to to know each other – including Tim and Mary Jillian’s Aunt and Uncle.  Rich said that it is normal for Mary to upstage her sister (his ex) by being a little more active and welcoming of others.

We left with Bob and Diane, Rich’s Uncle and Aunt, and went back to Chili’s to eat.  It was nice that different people drank or didn’t drink in balance throughout the day.  I might have been the tipsiest though later that night, but at lunch we were fine.  The group had decided to go together to one of the local casinos, because Diane likes to do the penny slots and she was willing to show me how to do it.  It was a good time at the casino and the game I played was called, “Double Happiness,” which was a penny slot.  We lost $30 in total and then stopped.  Rich and his uncle watched the first half of the Bears/Packer game, and then I sat with Diane at another game.  She had lost $70 before when I’d lost the $30 and had put $20 more in and came out of the game with $37.  She stopped while she was up. 

We didn’t have ID with us so we couldn't go up to where the guys were sitting at the bar with the big screen TV, but Diane went and got them.  It made me feel pretty young.  Bob and Diane turned out to be really nice people.  This morning they stopped at our room and we ran through plans.  They didn’t want to go to the rehearsal, but they agreed to meet at Jillian’s afterward.  They didn’t have problems being on their own for the first part of the day while we did errands and got Rich’s Mother and Bud.

Well 6 minutes to go before we get there.  Let’s hope everyone behaves nice!  Right?!

Saturday, September 15, 2012 at 11:05 am  odometer 23988

We’re back!  We’re waiting for Rich to pick-up chairs at Jillian’s and then we will be going back to the hotel. 

We just finished eating with Rich’s Aunt and Uncle.  We had a nice time, but Rich did more than his fair share of talking.  I think Bob and Diane were eager to go.  They were going to the casino again before the wedding.  We ate at the same place as the other day (Weks), which was across the street from the Inn.  The meals were normal.  We had omelets and Rich had some kind of breaded meat with gravy and fries.  It was nice catching up with everyone about the night before.

The night before turned out not as bad as feared by us - we got to the Hacienda and stayed out on the porch with Rich’s Mother for a while and then the party moved to the center of the buildings where the wedding would be held.  Everyone was there and then Jon went back to get his mother.  She had sunglasses and seemed quiet and reserved.  We felt comfortable in that we met everyone else before and by then we were working with our camera.  The practice went well and didn’t take too long.  Bud and Mary took a few pictures, but we seemed to take the most, so we put them up this morning on Rich's and Jillian’s site.  Rich told us that Jillian had checked her facebook and found them and seemed ok with me leaving them there.  Chris’ sister had also seen them and posted that she liked them.  Chris’ family for whatever reason wasn’t at the rehearsal. 

We didn’t talk to Rich’s ex naturally, and we both probably watched each other periodically, but seemed careful to avoid direct eye contact.  She stayed close to Jon and that was pretty much it.  We had heard Mary (the sister) talk negatively of Rich and most likely me as well.  I think at that time it was more Mary.  She said something about how do you put up with him being here.  I think consciously or unconsciously, she was trying to start trouble.  I just faded out.  I didn’t want to be hearing negative thoughts on Rich or myself.  That was probably the worst of everything happening.

Afterward, we went over to Jillian’s place.  She had had her Dad pick-up some things and Rich asked me to get Chris to help carry stuff in.  Chris came out and picked-up a few more guys on the way which seemed fine.  We saw a couple of younger gals on the couch, but followed out to the backyard where the party was really at.  We sat by ourselves for a few minutes up on the step/ledge.  Rich’s mom had commanded a lot of early attention and Chris’ family were there to take her humorously.  They gave her a very wide berth and seemed to honor her for her age and spirit.  We then met up with Rich and sat with him mostly and listened for a while to Rich, Tim and Mary, and Chris’s Dad, Ray.  Then after a while, Rich’s Aunt and Uncle joined the group.  Diane and Rich’s mom (the two angry sisters) did not communicate, but we’re next to each other back to back.  Bud and Bob communicated, but no one needed to push Diane and Rich’s mother any more than they would want to accept.  Both of them took positions that they wouldn’t be the first to communicate.

Rich’s ex came to the house, much after things had gotten started (after the pizza was served and most had eaten).  She and Jillian were doing something together – I heard maybe getting the wedding dress pressed.  Again, we stayed in separate talking groups and avoided eye contact.  About 8 pm or so, Rich’s mother indicated to me that she was ready to leave so that we should let Rich know.  Rich and us then brought her and Bud back to the Hacienda and then Rich and us went back to the party at Jillian and Chris’.  Rich and us had agreed before going into the party that we’d just stay for just 45 minutes because we were both tired and not big party-goers.  Rich talked ball with some of Chris’ friends from an umpires’ perspective to a coach's perspective and we were happy that Sugar invited us over to talk to her and Chris’ boss’ wife.  That was a really warm and inviting experience.  I was grateful and happy to get time with her.

After we left the party, Rich got us a small fish sandwich and a vanilla shake for us and we went back to the room.  It didn’t take long before we were back in bed for the night.  The next morning we woke up before Rich again and showered before he got up.  We had been sick probably from too much sugar.  We posted Jillian’s rehearsal pictures on Facebook and by then Rich had gotten up and gone for coffee and was back to use the computer.  We kept reminding him “Father of the bride” and tried to assure he got plenty of good attention!  J

Odometer 23994 @ Saturday, September 15, 2012 @ 12:41 pm

Rich is just getting back with the cupcakes and now has to go back into Walmart for the cake and then he is going to need getting safety pins, smokes and lighter from Walgreens.  He said the cupcakes are heat sensitive, so he turned the air in back to 60 and then after he went back for the cake, we turned the two front thermometers to 60 as well.  It was sunny and warm and we wanted to keep Jillian’s bakery goods VERY cool!  The sun is knocking on the windows so we can’t be too careful or too cold.  Jillian might appreciate this one day as an afterward story on the making of her wedding day so we took a picture J.

               

I put all my extra change and pens in Rich’s car carrier and put my ID, phone, pen and camera things in the blue cloth pouch that Linda made.  I decided that I was going to carry my Kindle with us too.  It will help to keep us grounded.  Whoops Rich is back and we have to now go to Walgreens.  AHA!  He’s gone again.  He made me turn-up the air to warmer so when he got out, we turned-it back down to 60.  No cupcakes or cake is going to melt on MY shift!

Rich and us are a little edgy – we still are taking our own view of precautions to make sure everything goes well and neither of our minds are being super flexible.  I think down deep Rich is happy, but on the outside he is a tad grumpier than us.  I think he wants everything to go smoothly specially in consideration of his baby girl getting married.  That has got to weigh on a Father of the Bride.  He said he would ask where the safety pins were so he wouldn’t spend too much time, but, we should be ok.  It is now 1 pm, he’s got the cake, it only takes ½ an hour to drive and that would put him at 2 pm getting to the Hacienda and the wedding doesn’t start until 3 pm.  Pretty sure he won’t take that long, but he’s driving super careful so the cake doesn’t slide.

Rich looks real nice in his black shirt and pants.  This is the shirt his daughter got for him and she also gave him a deep purple tie, that is ready for him to put on.  It matches the groom's father.  I approve heartily of his appearance.  His hair has been trimmed too.  He and I were wavering as to it being necessary, but Jillian was REALLY sure it needed trimming - so whether or not to cut it stopped becoming an issue.  I asked him if we could write down any words for the day, and Rich said, no, and that he would remember the whole day forever.  He’s so cool!

We’re now done with the shopping and headed toward the wedding.  It is now 1:14 pm and the computer says 15 miles, 20 minutes.  I just checked with Rich and he said he wasn’t thinking, but would start thinking.  He hasn’t put together his fatherly words yet about what he would like to say to the bride and groom.  So we told him we could be quiet.

The pins were to help us with our dress.  We wanted our shirt pinned to the underneath thing so it wouldn’t show.  Rich says I look pretty.  I’m not so sure because of our size and style of dress, but I still like it and it is comfortable – I’m hoping that I don’t look like a big plum and embarrass Jillian.  Jillian’s colors are purple so I’m thinking I will fit in.  I hope that we get a picture of Rich and me with the bride and groom.  I snuck in my new gray shoes instead of the more formal shoes because they are more comfortable and the black ones are too high to be wearing on pebbles and grass.  It was mostly a safety move.  No one wants to detract from the bride on her special day.

We’re feeling good now and Rich seems to be dreamily looking at the beautiful houses on top of the hills.  Things are worrisome though in that Rich turned his side of the car back up to 70, UGH!  I took my medicine and the smell of the cake is sweet.  I haven’t seen the cake yet, but the cupcakes are all baseballs.  Rich convinced me to not bring with me the blue bag, but leave it at his mother’s room or in the car.  Hopefully, the car will be right outside her door.  We’re hoping the chairs get right outside their door also and they are there earlier than the cake.  One of the brothers is supposed to bring them because we’d left them at Jillian’s and Chris’ the night before and no one was home when we stopped to pick them up.  No problem.  We’re probably repeating ourselves now … maybe we’ll finish the last 10 minutes looking out the window at pretty.  Good luck Jill and Chris!

Sunday, September 16 2012 @ 10:56 am  odometer 24083

We dropped off Rich’s mother and Bud at the airport

12:36 pm 24017

We left Natty’s ball game with 1294 miles to drive @ 21 hour and 23 minutes to get home.

We were feeling a little sad, but nice too.  We like our place and it’s been a long time not thinking about it.  We have a bit to write about though now too.

We’ll start with the last thing first.  We stopped by at the high school ball park where Natty’s college team was playing.  Jillian met Rich and us at the parking lot.  We found Chris’ parents at the top of the covered bleachers.  We sat down in Chris’ row and Rich and Jillian got hot dogs or chips and pop.  That might be the last thing Dad paid for Jillian’s most wonderful weekend.

Rich said we could only stay to see Natty bat once.  We watched him a few times out in left field.  He plays center, left and pitcher.  We got lots of pictures of him batting.  On a full count, Natty got a walk and then he got to second but then his teammate struck out.  Jillian said the team was 0-3 in the game.  Rich said it was probably about the 4^th or 5^th inning and because they were tournaments, they probably were only 7 inning games.  We said goodbye again after the one time at bat.  We had gotten to take a few more pictures, but not many.  It felt kind of deflating, but again nice to head home and have Rich all to ourselves on the long ride home.  Rich said we might get a Slurpee too!  That will always get us moving.  I think we are stopping near the mountain top for lunch in about an hour.

We told Jillian today about her mother saying that we couldn’t take pictures.  She said we could stop taking pictures at the wedding.  I had been sitting at my dinner chair/table and taking pictures of Jillian and Chris dancing their first real dance, and then Rich's ex-came and stood directly between the kids and us and then after came over to my chair and made her statement at not taking pictures, and then she walked quickly back to her chair.  I took a picture of her walking back to her space.  That and Jillian having trouble buttoning up her train were the worst things about the wedding – though the buttoning was worse for Jillian and not me and for me the comments her aunt had said were less nice.  I continued to take pictures throughout the time and now.  I think Dr. Marvin will be proud of me.  I miss him … a LOT!  Especially, when I pause to write.  Mostly when I write I imagine talking to him and telling him what is happening.