Saturday's Road Trip

I woke up at 6:30 AM on Saturday and put a pot of coffee on. Then, I went and did the Blog. I ate another bagel with some coffee for breakfast, because it's gonna be a busy day.

So, first came the errands. I got my hair cut at 9:30 AM. Then, I dropped off the library books (no time today to pick out more). Next came Westborn for veggies and I ordered my roast for Christmas dinner. Then came Meijer's for groceries and a winter bath robe. My nice light summer one is a little chilly for the season. Finally, it was stopping at CVS to pick up two prescriptions.

I unpacked everything, checked the air in my tires, packed up three 4-cup frozen containers of my Beef, Mushroom Barley soup and three of the Split Pea with Ham, a box of no-salt white crackers and one of low-sodium Wheat Thins and, by 12:30 PM, I was heading for New Baltimore to see my Mom.

I took my usual route (I-96 to I-94 to the New Haven/Richmond exit, then into New Baltimore and Mom's) and got there is just over an hour (I was curious, so I checked: It's 51 miles door-to-door). I did stop at the St. Mary's Cemetery for a quick visit and a one-sided conversation with my brother Pete, my Dad, my sister Anne and my brother Carl's Betty, along with B___'s mother and father. Damn! I really wish I knew where exactly my brother George was buried! I remember it to this day, because I started a family tradition by waiting and then throwing a handful of dirt down on the coffin, wishing him Godspeed. But, I don't know where he is to visit him...

But, back to happier thoughts... My brother Carl was already there when I arrived. He had brought me a coffee from McDonalds and, thanks to the miracle of Styrofoam it was still warm (apparently he thought I would be there earlier. He doesn't understand my Saturday morning errand runs!)

Another problem: He apparently thought I was bringing fresh soup. So, he was a bit disappointed when I pulled out my frozen soups. If I had known he was going to be there (and be hungry) I would have brought the fixing for my Shrimp Bisque - not only is it fantastic, but it's impressive to watch being made; involving brandy and two-foot flames, lol! And, it's a decadent taste, LOL!

Since we were both there, we got to work. Carl set up his outdoor display on the back deck. Whoever took it down last year lost two of the poles of one Christmas tree. So, we coped by using a coat hanger and hanging it from a hook on the eave. He found and installed a timer to turn the two of them on and off, and tacked down the wires to the deck (so nobody trips on it). BTW, since I can't kneel and neither can he, I was very interested in how Carl got from standing to laying prone on the deck. He does have the moves, man!

Meanwhile, I was in charge of determining why one of the strands of light on her little Christmas tree didn't work. I checked the fuses, but they looked good. Finally (because I was destroying the hard work somebody went through to set it up) Carl suggested not trying to take off the old string, but just adding a new strand we found. So, that's what we did.

Next, because Mom has recently acquired a hospital bed, her old mattress and box springs were just leaning against the bedroom wall. Carl decided if they were to fall over, they might crush little Cora and Mom would be trapped in bed. So, with GREAT difficulty, the two crippled kids got them out to the garage. I also took out the old bed frame, but left the casters in her closet.

Now, why didn't we just put them out on the curb for the garbage man? Well, according to Mom, the hospital bed is easier for Cora to get her into and out of, but Mom is having a little difficulty getting used to sleeping in it. So, if she ultimately decides she doesn't like it, we can always put her old bed back. I understand that, completely. I bought a new pillow a month or so back and still haven't decided if I like it!

We both checked out her Christmas cards to date (I am jealous, because I have like, two. She has maybe 15, so far). She especially appreciated the one from my daughter Amy and her two Carl's, with Carl V, saying he would he would see her next summer at the cottage on a voice chip. That was sooo cool.

So, since we were done with the chores and Carl was apparently starving (no hot soup), he decided to leave. I stayed and visited with Mom to about 3:00 PM, when I decided I better hike back home (snow and freezing rain predicted for tonight).

So, I headed out. For some reason I can't explain, I turned off the FM Classic Rock and turned on the AM news, weather and traffic station. And, that's when I learned that I-94 was closed down at 9-Mile for a "police action" and the back-up extended to I-696 (about three miles).

So, when I got to I-696, sure enough people were starting to hit the brakes. I, on the other hand, got off onto I-696 and headed west to the Southfield exit, then to the Southfield Freeway and I-96 and then got off on the Inkster exit. It had started snowing about half way there, BTW. But, snow and alternate routes aside, I was home by 4:15 PM.

When I got inside, the cats demanded treats, so I provided them. I went through the mail and then took out some Polish Kielbasa to thaw. I bought some Sauer Kraut this morning and it will be the Sunday night dinner. I went outside and filled the bird feeder and then changed into my relaxing clothes (Note: I did NOT say "my tile clothes).

I started a small batch in the washer to clean my new bathrobe. Then, I spent an hour or so filling in the Blog. For any of you who think this is simple or easy, I invite you to try and document your entire day, day after day, some time. It's really quite a pain in the *ss!!! I was listening to the song, "Jungle Love" on the radio, BTW. RE that line: "Everything's better when wet" well, obviously, they have never used a wet tile saw!!!

So, at 6:30 PM, I quit for the night. I started the second load of clothes and hung up the first.

I warmed up the last of the Swedish meatballs and noodles for my dinner. I watched one cooking show then switched to a taped Heavyweight championship fight. But, what was cool was that after that fight, they showed the entire Manny Pacquiao vs Oscar De La Hoya fight! (It was like $50 pay-per-view last weekend). The Pac-man was awesome! I turned the TV off afterwards, knowing nothing would top that, tonight.