Although I appreciate the Spontaneity, We Really Need to Work on Prioritizing

        We blew the opportunity of picking blueberries for 50 cent per pound.  On Friday night Richard had announced to the troop that we would go pick blueberries the following morning and leave the house by 8:30.  I knew that wasn’t going to happen.  It was a rough night for all of us.

       I was a grouch.  I knew I would be a grouch all day if I didn’t get some sleep.  When I am so exhausted and cannot sleep I tend to cry.  I have cried a lot this month.

       On Saturday the gang did not pick blueberries nor did they go to the Safari.  Richard had decided on a dog park in order to save money.  He invited me to come along and felt disappointed when I chose not to.  He was going to be upset with me either way.  At least by not going I wouldn't be shooting off my mouth to offend. 

         What changed between Saturday and today that he had the gall to suggest taking the gang to Bandon.  Are you kidding me?  They are here to save money so that they can move out.  What are you teaching them taking them to Bandon where we both know we’re going to spend money and throw food away?  Plus we have already missed our window of opportunity to leave in the morning.  If we go in the afternoon we will have to leave in a hurry because we are burning daylight.  We don’t have to go.  There is always next summer. I'm sure they will still be here.

       I know I’m complaining.  It’s already an inconvenience having to step over one dog – but now there are two – not to mention the stuff still in the halls, on the deck, in the driveway, the shed, their room, etc.  I lost my game room in the process.  

    Ally leaves her toys wherever.  And I am appalled at how many half empty water bottles I have found all over the house.  CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELVES!  I AM NOT THE FRICKEN MAID! And Ally needs to be able to mind without attitude 

       Ally has not started school still.  When she does finally wake up she starts off each morning on her electronics.  Clair seems good about monitoring her - but then she is on her phone looking up times, places, etc. or texting. She never seems to get upset and has a lot of reason to.  She is the peacemaker.  She bridges the gap.  And there is a lot of gap.

       I lived in dorms when I was in college which I think is different from living in a regular apartment.  I have never lived in an apartment before, but feel like I am now.  Two units of people basically keeping to themselves.  We did have dinner the first few nights they were here.  Now they take off and don’t return until Richard and I have already eaten. 

       We’re all inconvenienced except possibly Richard who seems oblivious.  He doesn’t always prioritize either – and so how can we expect Biff when there’s no example to follow?  I think he’s looking to live on free handouts for the rest of his life.  He asked why I wasn’t working.  Richard defended me by telling him it’s because I can’t drive – which is true.  During certain hours that is. 

        Now reading scriptures and trying to calm down.  The Lord has sent me this trial so that I can learn.  I'd just assume not learn.

Tony’s Family Vacation part 1

         All three of the boys have said they would come visit – though only two have made it.  Randy brought his family over Memorial weekend last year. This year Tony said he would leave Salt Lake after Jaime’s graduation.  He left on the forth. They came by way of California so that they could see the Redwoods.  We did not realize that we lived so close. We had suggested to them that they could stop at the Vortex on the way here – but by the time they got there, it was almost time to close.  And then the GPS led them some funky way.  For they were only forty minutes out but took to hours to get to us.

        They chose not to stay with us as their middle child is allergic to dogs.  Though we did put Bonnie in the kennel on Monday morning, Liz still has allergies.  She remembered having been there before and was quite excited about her stay.  Jaime was not excited.  They do tend to miss one another when they’re apart.

                We played games for a few hours the first day they were with us.  They left after seven to check into the hotel in Roseburg 22 minutes away. Yesterday morning we took a squirrely way to get to Bandon.  Rochelle, my grandkids and I walked around old town Bandon while Tony, Richard and Jaime went fishing.  I led the other four around the pier.  The youngest two climbed on statues while the other two took pictures and after a while Liz whipped out her little camera and she started taking pictures. 

 

I was hoping that the trolley would be running, but currently is not because of budget cuts.  After we looked at a fish made of garbage we went back near where we had started and crossed the street over to the Washed Ashore museum and looked at more sculptures.  They enjoyed it.  And then we had lunch.

Richard had reserved three places on a charter.  Evidently there had been a lot of turbulence and both Richard and Tony got sick and threw up. But Richard did manage to catch one fish. Jaime, who hates seafood and fish, caught ten.

Four of the adults were tired.  Neither the 18 year old (Jaime) nor those belonging to Rochelle and Tony understand what tired it.  Tony, who had initially looked to be in worse shape than Richard, regained his color and ate some food.  Richard had some tea and ate a while after that.  He felt awful.  At least that’s the impression he gave.  It was too cold for the beach.  Don’t imagine those that had ridden the boat even cared.  I think the children had forgotten my mention of it.

We had parted ways and Tony and Rochelle took the kids back to Roseburg. It is so weird coming home and not having Bonnie at the door to greet us. I think all three of us went to bed earlier than usual.  Our agenda for to today is to just take things easy – play games while Tony and Rochelle take care of their laundry.

Labor Day Weekend

          Roland said he wanted to take Jenna to Universal this weekend as it was/is a three-day weekend and Jenna will be returning to school on Wednesday. What?!?!??  Never mind that we don’t have the money, but the idea of being in a car for over 24 hour drive and just one day . . . no thank you.  I don’t even like going down to Medford which is less than two hours away.  I think the car is to blame for my misshaped body.  Seriously.

          A friend suggested to me that I should go to the Circles of Sand in Bandon found here.  I thought it started on Saturday, but the two days left for the summer schedule were the first two days of September which didn’t start until today.

          She also told me to go to the “Washed Ashore Gallery” found here. Because Roland was looking for a get-away, I figured Bandon was closer.  We could go to the gallery on Saturday and stay over night so that we could go to Circles in the Sand today – which we did.  So even though all the activities and events we had come to visit in Bandon were free, the food and lodging was not.  I knew that we would overspend – but not near the amount of debt had we gone to Universal (if my pretzel body would have lived that long)

          I texted the primary president to tell her that I would be out of town and would not be there for church figuring Danny had the lesson – but they like to have two instructors sit with each class.  The primary president called me back right away to tell me I would be released today (I had made the request two months ago) and that Danny would become her new secretary and that her former secretary and her husband would be called to teach the Valiants and that they would start today.

          Whether I was released today or not, I don’t know. I do know that I will now be able to attend Relief Society and finally get to know the sisters who DON’T come to the activities.  Meanwhile I have at least three posts to share about just this weekend.  I don’t know when they will get written.  I am very tired right now and would like to go to bed.