Weekend recap....

While yes I should and could have posted Thursday - I didn't. Hope your turkey day was all that and a bag of chips... or extra gravy, whatever.

First as I type this the Steelers are about to lose to the flipping Buffalo Bills - the Bills who have won -- what 2 games all season? Where is the team that beat the living crap out of the Raiders last weekend? Where is the fire? Yes I know it's cold in Buffalo - but you're a COLD WEATHER TEAM TOO MORONS! I stopped watching after the defense let them have 4th and 2 with the game on the line - and yes Nana football words were abundant... that is why we call them football words. Stupid Steelers.


So - the weekend... we had Wednesday's rant and apparently I should have spent as much time with my packing list - who besides the dork that is me - forgets her glasses AND her contact lens solution only to end up at the grocery store Thursday morning...

(more football words as they are about to really lose this game - stupid Steelers)

Also would have lost the bet on the arrival time home for Bubba - apparently they kicked him out at 3:30 on Wednesday after a lovely ride home - 5:00 Pm we were packed and out the door at 5:30. Traffic wasn't awful, we went up another route, we sat in a bit north of Frederick, then zippy home. We did hit chunky rain in the 'mountains' of PA but the roads remained wet. Home, wine, mellow - Bubba not happy it's just us for Thanksgiving (see Wednesday for that discussion) then bed...

Thursday was up, moving, blind, put in contacts with Bubba's solution, burning eyes run to grocery store, home, blind, shower, cook, contacts back in, dinner, stuffed, ahhhhhh

Friday up moving, on our way to the in-laws amazingly no major words said between husband and wife during the trip, we visit his grandfather's grave - and I'm beginning to wonder if we're the only ones who do... (another reminder WE don't live there... digressing) We meet up with the Parental Units D' Bubba - in the new place... with appliances my mother-in-law bought but will never be able to use... when you complain about grease splatters in your new fancy convection oven it isn't the probe (in the chicken you dirty minded...) it could be the shallow pan. And when said Daughter in law mentioned that - "Never thought of that one I figured I did something wrong in the oven it cooked it too fast." Makes your head hurt doesn't it?

She's got more bells and whistles in this kitchen than my last work project. And this from a woman who readily admits - "Email is too confusing". I wanted to slap my husband - and steal his mama's kitchen. Seriously.

So lunch out - home, relax, realize that AGAIN best laid plans for holidays have been tossed into the shredder and somehow it's my family's fault. And I want St. Pete to take note - I was the one who said "We'd work something out so everyone has a fair share." I talked to my siblings only one of whom might toss sugar in the engine that is THIS plan. We shall see.

I have discovered a few truths about my husband's side of the family, first and foremost I don't get them but I can make do. Second my husband is anti-social with them as he is with me. He did spend some time teaching Joe how to play chess on the computer - and lastly exactly what is my mother-in-law trying to do with all those angel's around the house? What bad ju-ju does she think is surrounding her that all those angel statues will make a difference? Just wondering - as I am the one giving her more every Christmas... but they are the stay inside a cabinet kind - with boxes and papers... the one Bubba commented on was a 3 foot statue that stood outside her front door - it was this huge cement colored angel, we walked up and Bubba's comment "Holy Shit" - punch his ticket straight to the pearly gates. We have a winner.

I mean she's got that one - two sitting on her front "yard" of 1 foot of mulched patch in front of her condo, on the kitchen window - behind her kitchen sink, then tucked away everywhere... but then again my father has Santa everywhere - all year long... so who is to say what about who.

We discover through conversation that the supposed plan for Christmas Eve has been put in the shredder Bubba, of course in his oh-so patient manner jumps all over his mother, and she in turn jumps all over my mother - haven't yet figured out how that came about but I said nothing in the moment, then said later I would work with said siblings of mine and make sure everyone got holiday time. I also invited her down to Christmas dinner since her family was working and it would be just us... then she admits to cooking dinner before everyone has to go to work (nurses in the family). Did she think to invite us? Of course not. Again I would like it noted that I have not pointed that out to in-law type relation - in case St. Peter would like to take notes - I racked up some major goodie points this weekend... then probably wiped out most of them with this post - but hey I try right?

Elder niece came over with children - yes plural - in tow, played with baby, had some fun, then passed her off to everyone else to fuss over and Joe and I played Legos and Monopoly for the better part of 90 minutes - just us two. I don't think this kid gets a lot of play time - but I could be wrong. I know that Baby Daddy 2 (M for short) drives a truck during the week and is generally gone alot - and I know like I know my name Niece A isn't having fun with her eldest - I wonder when the shine is going to wear off Baby Addison or A2 for short. And that is mean and snotty. Sorry gang if I can't be a royal B here where can I be... this is my space - this is my happy place.... Plus I KNOW this is my major league stick in my own personal person craw but dag nabbit its mine... and I hate it. I do nothing different with those two that I have done with any kid in my family - I play I talk, I cuddle I listen. I love spending time with them, Joe was even fun because I got a response - he wasn't doped to the hills. Of course I tossed the wrench into it - and asked if he was still on the drugs - "because he's much more engaged" and the answer I got -"its the end of the day he's coming off of them" I just smiled and said Oh OK. (Hey! Pete ... please note!!)

So back to my mom's late, Saturday with the family, had a great day, kids are loud and crazy and my brother needs to take his children in hand - they were great when he was home - perhaps you live a bit more cheaply and raise your kids. They are not ADD they are undisciplined - smack your eldest child's behind once and that ends the slamming of legos into one's Aunt and Uncle's thighs. I know I've got the bruises to prove it...

BUT - a good visit - we talked about Christmas Eve - could we work something out with his idiot family? Right now darling Brother is the fly in the oil but we'll see what we can work out... or not. We ate at the usual place - a fun thing with the kids on a new no chemicals diet - good luck with that one. Just ordered a book for them... Wendy will read up and hopefully that will help.. or make her think I'm a bigger pain in the backside. I got one for dear Sis too... but her daughter is just bossy not obnoxious. I did get an "I love you" from the younger of my brother's daughters...

Bubba and I did discuss the possibility that niece could be thinking about #3 - I said - NO way -- #2 is still fun and new... and heaven help me if she is...

In the midst of all this points raking I did have one "oh poop" moment. Adult niece two the one getting an education and working - said something to her grandmother - my mother in law about Niece one and having more children that she is going to have to support and once again the filter slipped... "No that is not Grandma's job it's A's responsibility to take care of the children she brings into the world."

And yes I got a dirty look - sue me. Maybe it's best we only have 3 days home. Keeps me out of trouble.

The cherry on the sundae of this trip home? Up Sunday morning at 5:30 AM read that again boys and girls - 5:30 AM to drive home like the house was on fire. There were 12 other people on the road and we whizzed by them so freaking fast I'm not sure I counted correctly. Plus I read - I couldn't sleep and it helps to keep the screaming fits at bay... I did comment on the speed when I heard my poor truck start to whimper. Someday I'd love to take his car home and abuse the crap out if it instead of my family truckster. So we're home at 10:30 in the flipping morning - yes we missed traffic - yes it was a smooth ride (when you don't touch pavement) whiz bang you got to rake leaves and you took me out to breakfast... you could have left at 10 AM and had similar results but no we wouldn't have seen the Steeler game... see top of post.

(BTW they shocking went on to win - color ME amazed)

Now he's off getting a massage from the busy weekend of driving up and back, sitting on his ass and eating. He didn't lift a dish, or glass except to refill it.

ARE YOU LISTENING ST. PETER - ANYTHING? ONE STINGY POINT I do dishes!

Never mind -- I like the heat and Mom said she'd save me seat.

Pizza for dinner because I just don't want bothered. Stay tuned should be a quiet week.