Dual funerals and the "cheese touch"

Some of you may already be aware of my maternal grandmother's passing last month. She had been ill for quite a while, and was laid to rest on Mother's Day weekend. On Wednesday of this week, I received a phone call that my maternal grandfather had suddenly passed away. It was quite a shock for the family, as he had seemed to be doing well and keeping busy since my grandmother's death. So, for the second time in a month, the family gathered in Arkansas to mourn the passing of another beloved family member.

Since most of the youngest family members are scattered throughout the midwestern and southern portions of the U.S., the kids were a little shy around each other during my grandmother's funeral. However, they all seemed a little more at ease around each other during my grandfather's funeral. By the time dinner was coming to a close on Friday, my daughter and my nephew had started a game of "cheese touch" tag in the restaurant. For those of you not familiar with the "cheese touch," I believe it is referenced in the book _Diary of a Wimpy Kid_. My daughter and nephew were discussing their favorite parts of the book prior to starting "cheese touch tag." The game of tag made its way through two tables of our family, and even included a couple of confused wait staff at the restaurant. Once everyone at our tables started crossing fingers to show immunity to the "cheese touch," we decided to call it a night.

The next morning, at the funeral, the casket was opened at the end of the service to allow one more public viewing prior to the burial.

My cousin's son, being one of the youngest children in attendance that weekend, gave our grandfather the "cheese touch" before the casket was closed.

My grandparents enjoyed their family, and loved it when we were all able to come in for a visit. They were also both active people, and I belive they would have enjoyed seeing their family playing this friendly game of tag. My cousin's son understood this, I think, and passed on the "cheese touch" so we could all play together in Heaven.

I seem to have aquired matching peace lilies as a result of the funerals. They have been given a places of honor on our front porch. I have decided to name them Granny and Boo. When I water them, or repot them, or mist the leaves, I will also tag them (from time to time) and say "cheese touch" so we can keep the game going.

Evil neighbor, part 3

Quick update: He has, so far this week, mowed his lawn TWICE! I supposed my mission has been accomplished. Or, perhaps, his mission is to get me to mow MY lawn twice. Drat!

Evil neighbor, part 2

Okay, I think my neighbor was mowing three days earlier than usual because of a line of storms coming through our area this week. I'll know if this is a competition, for sure, the next time he mows his lawn.

Evil neighbor, part 1

Any neighbor who makes lawn mowing or general lawn care a competition is evil.

Since the grass has been long enough to mow, our neighbor has had the following maintenance done on his lawn:
1. deck washed and possibly restained.
2. lawn seeded
3. pesticide applied
4. decorative rock rearranged

Needless to say, our neighbor is retired and has the means to enhance his yard. I have no problem with either of those two facts. Heck, if a little extra grass seed blew into our yard by accident, I'd have no problem with that, either.

However, a few weeks ago, we were out of town for several days. Prior to our trip, I cut our grass three days earlier than usual so I wouldn't have an unsightly yard when we returned. I'm thinking I have inadvertantly thrown down the proverbial gauntlet, because he has mowed his yard a day earlier than me for a couple of weeks since then.

One afternoon last week, we were mowing our yards at the same time. Pratically side by side for the adjacent parts of our back yards. Sigh.

Today, he is mowing his yard THREE DAYS EARLIER THAN USUAL. I don't really have time to mow this evening, or tomorrow. This is probably what he was wanting...a spectacular looking, closely cropped carpet of green...made all the more attractive because of our dandelion ridden jungle.

I'm seriously contemplating a quick mowing tonight to see if he will start mowing twice a week. >:}

Hair liquid?

I took H. on a walk to the community grocery store, this morning, to pick up a newspaper. I figured it would do us some good to walk, instead of take the car. It was fairly warm outside, and H. was wearing long pants, so of course he became hot after only a short walk.

He starts to complain about melting. Over and over.

I tell him he is doing fine and we are almost to the store. I tell him we can stop at the town square after we get our paper. We can sit on a shaded bench and read the funnies together before we walk home.

He tells me he REALLY IS MELTING!

I tell him he is only sweating.

He SWEARS he is really melting now. He tells me to feel his "hair liquid." He takes my hand, places it on the top of his head, and moves my hand around in the hair. He takes my hand off, and shakes it at me.

"See? Don't you see my hair liquid?"

Hmmmmmm. I got nothing here. Not an ounce of anything on my hand. However, I acknowledge that he probably could use something cold to drink when we get back home. After our trauma is solved, maybe we can sit down and read the funnies.

Countdown to the DNC (initial reaction)

I'm miffed at the Hill-ster for agreeing to one thing at the beginning of the primary season, and then fighting to seat the delgates at this point of the primary.

Shame, shame.

Watching the post seating decision news reports, and seeing how emotional Michigan and Florida citizens are about the decision, really causes me to wonder about the precedent our country is setting.