I hadn’t realized it before, but sister in law Kathy helped me see that we are living the life of the rich and famous. First, there is my Carlin house, located in a (semi) gated community. I mean, I DO have to open a gate to access my front yard, and hence the front door. Then there is our house out in the (Howe) countryside, which,currently, is being let out. Last, and perhaps least is our Mountain Get-Away nestled between two similar houses in the transportation yard in the far away Ruby Mountains. Are you jealous yet?
UltraDad’s new job with the NevadaDepartmentOfTransportation (NDOT) requires that he reside in the mountain home. UltraMom’s job, school and, questionably, her sanity require that she mostly reside a little closer to civilization.
The weekend before Thanksgiving, UltraMom, Dad, Johnny, Jimbo and Jessica spent a few days in Emmett at the lovely home of Panther and JohnRyder. Besides having a great time together, we also managed to have some much-needed work done on my car and purchase a new-used refrigerator for Udad’s new home. My car was ready sooner than expected, so UltraMom was able to head back to Nevada for a couple of days of work/school, while UDad went straight to Howe for early visiting and to pack up a little furniture and whatnot. He seemed a little edgy for part of the holiday, and I’m sure it was anticipation and nervousness about starting a new job and getting the house ready for habitation.
UltraMom had driven the old Taurus to it’s new home at Heather’s house the day before Thanksgiving. She got to see Heather and Heath’s new residence, play Guitar Hero until her hands were both numb, and spend the night on their very comfortable couch. Another interesting aspect of that evening was paying a visit to Heath’s Dad, Don and significant other, Marsha, who live in the upstairs counterpart to Heath and Heather’s basement home. Don works for the US Post Office repairing their equipment in various locations. He had been out to the Howe Post Office very recently. The house was full of his collections and Marsha’s cooking and needlework. Most notably, Don collects old (antique) record players, of which he has three, and old records, of which he has over 200. Even more notable and noticeable were the clocks. I think he said there were 40 or so, ranging from Grandfather clocks to table top or hanging clocks, all ticking and all chiming on the hour, not always at exactly the same time. It was fascinating listening to Don and Marsha talk about their passions and interests. Heath looks and sounds eerily like his Dad, and happily, everyone (Heath, Heather, Don, Marsha, Callie, Rocky and Nimbus) gets along pretty well.
Okay, back to UDad and the house. Saturday morning found UltraMom and Dad, with Dad’s pickup packed to the gills, heading back to Nevada. Sunday found them heading to Ruby Valley after also loading up UltraMom’s car and stopping for groceries.
Pat had arrived before us, having spent the night at sister, Kathy’s. From Kathy’s to home, Ruby Valley was on the way, and Pat had a few of John’s things in HER pickup. I’m really glad she was there; she was an enormous help getting the fridge in the house. She and John ended up having to take the doors off the fridge so it would fit through the front door. She stayed for lunch and a little more unpacking, and then she was off.
Now the fun began. UltraMom scrubbed out the fridge and cleaned countertops. She gave UltraDad the choice of cleaning the bathroom or washing out the kitchen cupboards. “Bathroom, of course,” said UltraDad. UltraMom, surprised and pleased, had been sure he would make HER do the bathroom. By the time she finished washing out umpteen jillion cupboards, the pleasure had pretty much evaporated. There was just enough energy left to vacuum and carpet clean the living room area and UDad’s bedroom, and help set up the bed kindly donated by Pat. Sometime in the midst of the unpacking, UDad realized he had brought plenty of underwear, socks and jeans but not a single shirt. Also missing was 1/2 of the coffeemaker. But he had a table and chairs and a bed, and had cleverly brought along the camp lounger received from the kids for Christmas a couple of years back. He also had a phone. Seeing him settled in, UltraMom headed back home to begin her own week.
Next time: First Week on the Job
After hosting Thanksgiving dinner in Carlin, NV for the past two years, the venue was moved to Howe, ID, where UltraMom and Dad used to live (for 30 years or so). Of course, a great time was had by all, with the added luxury for UltraMom of not cooking a turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pies, or anything else, for that matter. The roll call for dinner at Bill and Patty’s on Thanksgiving Day:
Howe Residents
Bill (UDad’s brother) and Patty
Chuck (UDad’s other brother) and Joy
Tom Kime, longtime friend of family
Corey and Jessica, friends of Bill and Patty’s
Residents of other Places:
Colorado: Kayce, Patty’s daughter
Carlin, NV: UltraMom, Dad, Murphy and Rowdy
Carlin, NV: Pat, (UDad’s sister)
Pocatello, ID: Heather, UltraMom and Dad’s daughter
Idaho Falls, ID: Jimbo, son (the baby)
Nashville, TN: Johnny, that snobby law school student
Idaho Falls, ID: Chenoa (Pat’s daughter), and Mike
Cheyenne, WY: Billie (Pat’s son) and Brandi, as well as their nephew Daltin and Niece Kiana
Boise, ID: Nicki (Bill’s daughter) and Chad
So, how many were going to St Ives, or Thanksgiving dinner? I count 22.
Some of us stayed with the Howites, (UltraMom and Dad, Johnny, Jimbo, Pat, Nicki and Chad, Kayce and Heather for one night) while others just came out for the day (Mike and Chenoa) or got motel rooms in nearby towns(Billie and Brandi)
Lots of pinochle was played with various and sundry partners, and one night Umom managed to get up going games of Catchphrase, Chronology and Cranium. Of course all was accompanied by lots of snacking.
Finally, on Friday afternoon, the much anticipated football game was played in Bill and Patty’s yard. The football field was a little short, with friendlier goal-running topography on one end, so all new plays originated from the other end. UltraMom had planned to capture the game cinematically as she had in years past , but in the end, was needed to even up the teams and provide a counterpoint for 8 year old Daltin. It went something like this:Nephew Billie: “Okay, whoever picks Daltin, the other team has to take Aunt Kathy. I choose Jim.” The final teams were: Billie, Jim, Nicki and Daltin against Mike, Chad, Johnny and UltraMom. Billie’s brainiac play mainly consisted of hurling the ball into the end zone where Jim would elbow opponents out of the way and catch the pass for a TD. Nickie was no slouch, though, and made her fair share of catches and TD’s. Daltin even had a few. They were no match however for team UltraMom. Umom herself managed to elude the persistent Daltin to score a TD or two. Gotta admit, though, mostly it was the combined skills of her teammates who wracked up the narrow victory.
Actually, a much better game than the Boise State-Hawaii game turned out to be.
All in all, a good time with family, which is what the holiday is all about.
UltraMom, home for the holidays
Next Time: UltraDad moves into his new digs.
Sounds like you had a great thanksgiving. I didn’t have to cook anything either. Mostly it was because I got kidnapped by my younger cousins and didn’t escape until the food was all done.
First off, let me say that UltraGirl is feeling better all the time, and we are not sure, but we think we’ve started feeling the baby moving around which is exciting. UltraGirl promises she will work on her post about dog day soon, but I thought I’d jump in with a few baby pictures. Without further ado, here are the first 4 ultrasounds we’ve gotten. We should get another one in a couple weeks.
I love the ultrasound pictures!! Keep them coming.
Amazing!
Ok, I just got royally reamed out by one of my sons (yeah, the middle one) because he had not been informed of this momentous occasion in UltraDad’s life. Hoping to forestall further offspring censures, I breathlessly bring you “UltraDad’s New Job”.
I’m sure you know, unless you just happened upon this post by chance, perhaps by doing a search for, oh
say
”offspring”, UltraDad really hates his job driving a huge truck at a local gold mine. And, no, he cannot bring home samples. Although he gets seven days off in a row once a month, the rest of the time his schedule is hellacious, alternating between some crazy formulas of 12 hour (14 if you count travel time) day and night shifts. About a month ago, he had the opportunity to interview for a highway maintenance job in Ruby Valley, a remote place about an hour away. A week ago last Friday, I returned home from a weekend away to find a message on the old answering machine: he got the job! UltraDad was off hunting, and unreachable by phone, so I left a message with his nearby sister. By the following Friday, he had passed his drug screening and given his notice at the mine.
This job will require some adjustments in our life style. For one thing, UDad will be living, most of the time, in a house provided for him (rent: $50/month plus utilities) in Ruby Valley, and I will be living here, at least for the time being. It is a remote area with only a few houses. UDad will be working only days, unless he has to plow some emergency snow. He will probably get more job satisfaction. He will also get less money.
But he is over the moon with excitement and relief, which is a far superior state to the chronic depression I had seen him in for the past two years (with the exception of when he’s going hunting, of course).
His last day at the mine is Nov 18th, and his first day of highway work is Nov 26th, which will work out well with our planned trip to Howe for Thanksgiving.
So, there you have it. No saying I didn’t tell you. The funny thing (to me) was that Johnny was not upset with his Dad for not telling him about his new job. No, it was UltraMom who got the blame. After all, poor UltraDad is technologically challenged, and apparently incapable of using his cell phone unless he needs to find me in Walmart.
Your one the scene reporter, UltraMom
PS. Heather, I know you read these posts. I really need to figure out how to get this Taurus to you. I’m planning to drive it to Howe for Thanksgiving. Dad and Aunt Pat are driving pickups to bring some stuff back to furnish Dad’s new home. Are you and Heath both coming to Howe for Thanksgiving, so one of you could drive the Taurus back? Or do we need to meet you somewhere, or plan a stop in Pocatello? Answer by comment. Or, as a last resort, call me.
Woohoo congratulations big guy!
Heather, return your Mother’s phone calls for heaven’s sake!
Congrats on the new and better job!!!
A while back, I put a little placeholder on this blog mentioning some extremely good news that I’d had on August 20. Well, it is (finally) time for the unveiling. I am extremely tickled to announce that UltraBob and UltraGirl hope to carry their Ultraness into the realm of Parenthood. That’s right, a little Ultra is on the way, and it seems like Mommy will not be letting me name it Ultra.
It is with an increasing sense of wonder and a gradually decreasing level of terror for me that we head towards another appointment with the doctor and hopefully another Ultrasound to commemorate week 16. I have never in the past been able to make heads or tails of an ultrasound photo, but I completely get these. It is amazing what a little personal interest will do for you.
So far, the magical UltraGirl seems to be having a textbook pregnancy, following all the symptoms to the letter. Her morning sickness ramped up and calmed down at the appropriate times, and then she picked up the constant congestion that she was supposed to. She’s really a stickler for the rules it seems. She is starting to have a bit of lower back pain from time to time, which worries me quite a lot, but she has been wonderful if a bit hormonal at times.
My favorite episode so far was when I asked if she would like to have a sip of my latte. She angrily turned to me, arms akimbo and demanded, “Why do you always force me to do things like that?!?” Fortunately even in her hormonally delicate state she could not fail to see how ridiculous this was and we both had a good laugh about it right before she slammed my head in the waffle press.
I have been spending half of my spare time reading up on what to expect and the other half trying to come to terms with the fact that our lives will never be the same again, and trying to figure out how I can possibly not completely muck up this fatherhood thing.
I still haven’t quite come to terms with the fact that our baby will not spring from the womb ready to walk around and have rudimentary conversations with me. I don’t have a mental picture of the nothing but eat, sleep, poop, and cry phase of a babies development, or maybe my mind is blocking it to keep me from running away screaming.
Having realized that it will be our last chance to go on a trip together as free people while we are in our 30s, I am planning a trip to Osaka and Kobe where we will enjoy each others company, some great food, and some interesting sites. Any must-see, -do, or -eats?
And now a word from UltraMummy:
Except for the first month of the pregnancy, until about a week ago I was feeling worn out from morning sickness, but fortunately it is disappearing and I feel really thankful even though I still have a stuffy nose and back pain. I heard other mommies have nausea right up until the moment they go up on the delivery table, that would be horrible and I feel fortunate.
Also until now, all I had was misery from the nausea, but I didn’t really feel like I had a baby inside me. Finally entering the 5th month, my belly’s becoming large enough to almost be noticeable, and I’m finally starting to get the sense that there is a miniature human living in downstairs UltraGirl.
UltraBob has been very helpful and considerate, and he’s much more conscientious than I am about making sure I eat healthily, get the appropriate nutrition, and other aspects of making sure I have a healthy pregnancy. He’s going to have to do all the housework around our house while I’m back at my parents’ house the month before the baby is due and a couple of months after the baby is born. Traveling back to the parent’s house before and after the birth is a Japanese tradition known as satogaeri, but UB is still having a hard time getting used to the idea. He was, of course, greatly comforted to know that he was invited to come with me.
Speaking of Japanese traditions, the subject of my next blog post will be the activities that take place during the day of the dog in the 5th month of a pregnancy in Japan. Tanoshimi ni shiteitene (be looking forward to it).
Congratulations!! I look forward to hearing about little Ulta in the future.
Congratulations to the new UltraClan.
I’m really interested in hearing all about the Japanese pregnancy traditions, rituals, and lore. I know that the gestation period is “ten months ten days” in Japan as the months are lunar ones. Works out to the same number of days as the Americans’ 9 month gestation.
So, is the baby going to be born on my birthday???
Finally, the secret is out! And in such a classy, but uproariously funny manner! It struck me, as I was reading, that the “Ultrasound” is such an appropriate name for a picture of the nascent little “Ultra”. UltraGrandma wishes tradition sent you to the Dad’s mothers house for awhile! Wait a minute....I think there is one....let me get my book on McDonald family lore....
Congratulations, I’m really happy for you guys, and look forward to being the scary foreign uncle. I also think it’s pretty hilarious that it is an Ultrasound, in the context. In fact I suspect that Bob started this ultra trend all those years ago with this very end in mind. What a devious character!
Congratulations! I recommend ‘My Boys Can Swim’ (from Amazon.co.jp) for him, and Kaz Cooke’s ‘Up the Duff’ for her. Glad to hear you’re feeling well. I was one of those ‘sick till the day they were born’ people.
Wheee! Public congratulations to you both!
I’m still amazed our kids are going to be born very roughly around the same time.
Tell UltraGirl I’m puking in sympathy for her.
I was expecting some pictures of the newly acquired mountain retreat....