9/3/07

new logo! This was created by wonderful reader Christine (and was supposed to be used for last month’s logo, but it got lost in the shuffle!). Thanks, Christine!!!!

* * * This got so damn long that I had to make several entries out of it instead of just one. You’re welcome! (Click on any picture to see the big-ass version; all pictures open in a new window.) * * * First things first – I didn’t see the Spud while I was in Maine. Like an idiot, I told her we’d just figure it out when I got to Maine. By that time, she’d made plans on the days I could go to Rhode Island (or bring her to Maine), and she’d just started a new job, so it didn’t work out. Next time, I’ll make plans in ADVANCE instead of waiting to see what happens. The spud is doing well – has a boyfriend, a job, and has located the nearest mall, thanks for asking. Saturday I left Alabama on the 6 am flight. Which meant we had to leave the house by 4:30 to get there by 5. One thing I miss about living in Madison: Ten minutes to the airport. Knowing that it was supposed to be a tad cool, I put on a long-sleeved shirt I’d bought the day before. Five minutes into the drive to the airport, I made Fred pull over so I could change into a more comfortable t-shirt. The flights weren’t bad – I went through National on the way up. That was one crowded fucking airport. Due to the fact that I was wearing a short-sleeved t-shirt, I froze all the way to Maine, but after the 100+-degree temperatures we’d had for the past ten days, I wasn’t complaining. Debbie picked me up (I landed about an hour late) and we went to lunch at The Olive Garden. As usual, we ordered way too much, and brought leftovers home with us. At my parents’ house, my brother and niece arrived, and we had ham Italians from The Kitty Korner (GOD I love ham Italians) for dinner. We sat around and talked for a while after eating, and then everyone left, I talked briefly to Fred, and went to bed early and slept for ten hours. Sunday Breakfast out at the Kopper Kettle in Topsham. I lurve eating breakfast out. Well. I lurve eating EVERY meal out. I had an omelet and it was awesome. So was the grilled blueberry muffin I shared with my mother. From there, my father went off to do things and my mother and I went to Bath. I love shopping in Bath, because there’s a Reny’s located there (it’s a discount store) and I always find something to buy. I ended up buying two long-sleeved t-shirts for $5, since all I brought with me were short-sleeved t-shirts. The shirts I bought at Reny’s are comfy, and it wasn’t until later that I realized they’re Life is Good shirts, factory rejects I guess. This thrilled me once I figured it out, because it’s been my experience that the Life is Good stuff is pretty good quality, and to get them for $5 is a motherfucking bargain. Later, we had a birthday party for Brian. He turned 16, and so we had a family party at my parents’ house, and he brought three friends with him. It was far too cold to swim in the pool (pool temp: 72. Brrr!), but they gave it the old college try. My uncle showed up for a brief time, and we sat around and talked and watched the teenagers. Teenage boys, I had forgotten, can be amusing as hell. This bunch of boys was particularly amusing, especially when I broke out the glow-stick bracelets I’d bought the day before at the Dollar Store. After Brian opened his gifts (from Fred and I, he got our old laptop. He SHOULD have been surprised, but he’d apparently figured it out, the brat. The laptop’s still in really good shape, and he thanked me no less than three times.), his friends (with some help from my brother, since Brian’s not a small kid) tossed him in the pool. In the process of the birthday party, I took about 300 pictures of Brian making faces. He cracks me up, that kid. Monday My mother had an early hair appointment, so we picked Debbie up on our way through Topsham, dropped my mother off at her appointment, and went to the mall at Cook’s Corner. I adore the Hallmark store there, and I did a lot of browsing, and I picked up a lot of stuff to buy, but in the end I put it all back and didn’t buy anything. This became something I did a lot of during my trip to Maine. I did as much shopping as I always do, but I did MUCH less actual buying. I’m very proud of myself for that, but it kinda sucks for y’all who frequent the giveaway page. Not that I won’t still be giving stuff away, but I didn’t overshop this time around, and thus won’t have as much to get rid of when I go on one of my “Jesus CHRIST we have too much shit!” sprees through the house. We went to Sears, and found that they had Lands End polo shirts for $10 each. I called and asked Fred if he wanted me to buy some for him, got the go-ahead, and picked several up for him. Score! Bob Goodlatte fights the good fight against his opponent Joan Badespresso. My mother finished with her hair appointment and we looked around at TJ Maxx (and again I walked out without buying anything, GO ME!), and then we headed for Freeport. We had lunch at The Muddy Rudder and then went shopping. I wanted to hit LL Bean, Cool as a Moose, and the Big Dogs store, but apparently Big Dogs is no longer in Freeport, or if it’s there, we couldn’t find it. In LL Bean I bought a bunch of cat toys (they have a huge dog section, and one little packet of cat toys. Travesty! However, the LL Bean cat toys are a huge hit around here, so I bought more than one pack. I can’t find them on the LL Bean site, but these are the toys. The cats LOVE them, at least until they rip them apart and eat the catnip and go sit on the cat tree in a drugged daze), in Cool as a Moose I bought a t-shirt and a few small things, and after we looked around a little we headed out of Freeport. We were almost out of town when we stopped at The Pet Pantry and browsed. This store was another that had a ton of dog shit, and then a small cat section tucked away in the back. Y’all can call me a crazy cat lady all you want, but I think it’s CLEAR that cats are the redheaded stepchild of the pet world. Fuckers. I found a few things to buy (you just shut up. They did SO need more toys!), and then we went to my parents’ house. The color of the store is enough to sear your retinas. Definitely an eye-catcher. There was probably dinner in there somewhere, but I don’t recall. In the evening, we went to the movies. I wanted to see Superbad, but I was the only one interested in that, so we went to see Invasion instead. I like Nicole Kidman, but good christ that was one completely forgettable movie. There was Nicole Kidman and there was running around trying to stay awake and maybe a kid and some goop, but that’s about all I remember. Don’t recommend it at ALL. * * * Previously 2006: No entry. 2005: No entry. 2004: “She looks… she looks.. she looks like a PIRATE!” he gasped. I started giggling. 2003: I guess Spike TV really IS television for men. 2002: When married characters are that cruel to each other, all you can think is, “Why the hell are they married if they hate each other so much?” 2001: Gatlinburg pictures! 2000: No entry.]]>