The Dynamic Duo

Written Sunday, March 18th
My gold standard of a good time is time spent with my kids, so, of course, having Jim home for a week rates as platinum. (that IS better than gold, isn’t it?) He arrived mid-afternoon just a week ago, and left the following Saturday. Today UDad and I are mostly spending our day missing him, but we’ll do better once we have a little Jim-withdrawal behind us.
UltraDad was able to spend a couple of days with the kid, and I think they spent most of their time putting together UDad’s new table saw, which was fun for both of them. Some more time was spent working on getting UDad’s elk antlers getting them in shape for mounting on the wall.
UltraMom had Weight Watchers, and led an awesome inspiring meeting on emotional eating for three (yes, count-em, 3!) people in Carlin Tuesday night, and an equally awesome, inspiring meeting on emotional eating for 40 some people in Elko on Wedneseday. But she was feeling a little shorted in the area of spending-time-with-Jimbo. And so, she worked some hours on Wed (not usual) and took Thursday off so she could have a Jim-day all to herself.
Thursday was, as far as I am concerned, a pretty much perfect day. After breakfast and sending Dad back to bed (he was working nights), Jim and I took a nice long walk with the “boys” (ie, poodles). It was nice to have someone to take Rowdy, while he lunged and grabbed his leash. Murphy, of course, was the perfect gentleman.
Then, it was off to Elko and a stop at the bank so Jim could take care of his finances. A kind of funny thing happened on our way to the bank…. As I got out of the car, I put on my jacket. Now, I had not worn this particular jacket since washing, and as I got it arranged, something white caught my eye. A Kleenex? (not at ALL unusual for UltraMom). No, as it turns out, it was underwear, caught on the jacket Velcro. I discreetly told Jim I would meet him inside, and headed back to the car to ditch the embarrassing extra garment. When we were seated, visiting with our personal banker, I noticed something else. This time it was a sock. I’m just glad I noticed the garments in the particular order that I did. I showed this one to Jim, and he claims that every time he looked my way after that, I waggled it at him, but I really don’t think that is true. We all know how prone him is to, how shall I say, embellishment?
All that banking made me hungry, and I think it had the same effect on Jim, so we headed over to The Star, a Basque restaurant in Elko where they have the best steak sandwiches on the planet. The salad and French fries are also outstanding. The hostess, whom I always notice on the infrequent occasions that I dine at The Star, was, as usual, charming and attractive. She was also very friendly, to the point that it seemed she knew me. It wasn’t until after the meal that I found out why; she belongs to the Elko Weight Watcher group and had been at my meeting the night before! Small world?
After stuffing ourselves, Jim was up for whatever I wanted to do, and what I wanted to do was to show him the Michael P. Jordan Memorial Tree Grove out by NYTC, the youth correctional facility. In the near future, I’ll post some further information on the tree grove, but we had a nice time there. Some of the evergreens are huge, and, of course, the deciduous are not yet leafed out. In fact, the tree grove has fallen into a bit of disrepair; not sure if plans are to maintain it or not.
Then we stopped by Ralley’s to get my prescription and pick up some brats and chorizos for dinner. Jim said it would be nice to have some chips and dip to go with them. I said we would have to pick up some chips, and then on further reflection, I added “and some dip.” Jim kind of rubbed my face in that one and kept asking me, “So, for chips and dip, we need to pick up chips and what else?” We also had a nice fruit salad that I artistically arranged in a hollowed out pineapple shell, just like my mother used to. To make it even better, Pat came over and enjoyed the repast with us; we ate early, about 5 P.M. so UltraDad could eat before heading off to a night of work by 6.
Now, heretofore, we had been so busy working on Jim’s taxes, we had had no time for my favorite activity: playing games! I let Jim know this was unacceptable, so he graciously beat me at several games of “Authors”, and then we watched “Phantom of the Opera” on DVD, which I mostly stayed awake for. This was kind of a nostalgia thing cause when I was at Jim’s college a coupla years ago for Mom’s Weekend, we saw that movie at the SUB. Twice. The music is superb, as is Emily Postum, I think it is, who plays Christine. And of course, we all love the Phantom.
The next day, I had to work and Udad had the day off. I wasn’t sure what the boys were planning to do, but I strongly suggested they order pizza or in some other way take care of their own dinner. So, I was a bit put out when I arrived home, late, to find them sitting about in a state of apparent stupor with no dinner in evidence. After a brief dinner discussion, I called up and ordered pizza. Then UltraDad suggested I come outside and see what they had been doing all day. I aimed my flashlight around the back yard, looking for something different. Finally, I was led to the side of the yard, and noticed the brand new chain link fence that stood in front of the broken down wooden one that had recently been unsuccessful at keeping Murphy and Rowdy in their own yard, and away from the St Bernard puppy and grouchy, perpetually barking Cocker Spaniel that were always chained in the yard next door. Whew! Now THAT is a sentence! I was overwhelmed by guilt and gratitude. (I had strongly been hinting that SOMEBODY fix that wooden fence). What a relief not to have to worry about “the boys” getting away.
The next day Jimbo had to leave, but we talked him into letting us buy him lunch in Elko on his way out of town. Too bad he couldn’t have stuck around a few more hours, because UltraDad, sisterinlaw Pat and I went to see “Wild Hogs’ at the local movie theater, and I don’t care what Johnny thinks, it was really funny!

Wow, this is the Saturday after I originally wrote that post, and I am only now getting back to it. I seem to be on some kind of writing hiatus, but I promise to kick myself out of it soon, for my sake as well as yours!
Today, UltraDad and I are off for a little adventure, trying to find the Hot Springs in the Marshes by a map drawn for me by one of my store “customers.” I’ll let you know how it goes.

UltraMom, back in the saddle again