Caz and Angie had a 6 am flight back to school. They also had a tight window to make the shuttle back to Auburn from the airport in Atlanta. Demi halfheartedly volunteered to get up and drive them to the airport. I vetoed that. I got up and let the kids sleep as long as I could. I gauged traffic but we still had to leave shortly after 3:30 AM. We had some chatting on the ride in. More than I expected at that hour. I was able to get in my last conversation with Caz before sending him down South. I gave them a hug at the curb and sent them on their way.
Coming home was even faster. I toyed with going to the gym but I surprised myself. Even after gassing up the 4Runner, I went back to bed. And, I fell asleep. What a novelty. It wasn't a great sleep. But it was better then nothing. I didn't want to fall asleep during Rivalry Weekend. I had FSU and Auburn in the Iron Bowl, back to back.
It is hard sending Caz back to school. This year was a bit better. Knowing I would see him is less than month helped. I can't imagine what it will be like sending them both off next year. But I will put that off, for when I have to deal with it.
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Thursday, November 22, 2018
Thanksgiving 2018
It certainly was nice to have the whole family together this year. This Thanksgiving seemed more traditional. Family traditions are important. (I may have mentioned that before:))
I got up a bit early to go to the gym and to run. I wanted to get in a workout to offset the gorging to come. I ran better than I have in months. That made me very happy.
I woke the kids up for the Duxbury football game. Caz was eager to have Angie experience a Duxbury Dragons football game. She was nervous about the weather. In fact, we all were. It was a record day of cold. We trotted out all the winter gear. Caz and Angie even wore snow-pants. The hand-warmers were collected in droves. I busted out the LLBean Baxter State Parka. It is the warmest coat they make. It has pocket for your hands, that go into the down, so I knew my hands would be in great shape. The wind chill was down to zero. We all had face shields and sunglasses. We didn't leave any exposed skin. At half time, my toes were cold. I had the smart wool socks and my warm, insulated LLBean rubber shoes. Those couldn't keep the chill out. The kids all had blankets but I don't think Coco wrapped his feet. He was frozen at halftime.
We met at the warming station, in the Steele building. I saw the kids head there at halftime. We had a split vote. Caz really wanted to stay. Coco really wanted to go. Angie put on a good front and voice her desire to say, but I think her head and heart wanted to go. The Dragons were up 21-0. They looked like they were rolling. We eventually decided to cut the game short. We stopped for breakfast and hot chocolate on the way home.
Thanksgiving at Lex's was great. The battle of the turkey's, smoked against baked, was entertaining. We all ate and ate. The kids all played in the basement. We actually had to pull the drinks off the deck before they froze. We sat by the fire and watched football. It was a really great get together. Coco and Caz should have memories from this for all time. That is all I really want.
I got up a bit early to go to the gym and to run. I wanted to get in a workout to offset the gorging to come. I ran better than I have in months. That made me very happy.
I woke the kids up for the Duxbury football game. Caz was eager to have Angie experience a Duxbury Dragons football game. She was nervous about the weather. In fact, we all were. It was a record day of cold. We trotted out all the winter gear. Caz and Angie even wore snow-pants. The hand-warmers were collected in droves. I busted out the LLBean Baxter State Parka. It is the warmest coat they make. It has pocket for your hands, that go into the down, so I knew my hands would be in great shape. The wind chill was down to zero. We all had face shields and sunglasses. We didn't leave any exposed skin. At half time, my toes were cold. I had the smart wool socks and my warm, insulated LLBean rubber shoes. Those couldn't keep the chill out. The kids all had blankets but I don't think Coco wrapped his feet. He was frozen at halftime.
We met at the warming station, in the Steele building. I saw the kids head there at halftime. We had a split vote. Caz really wanted to stay. Coco really wanted to go. Angie put on a good front and voice her desire to say, but I think her head and heart wanted to go. The Dragons were up 21-0. They looked like they were rolling. We eventually decided to cut the game short. We stopped for breakfast and hot chocolate on the way home.
Thanksgiving at Lex's was great. The battle of the turkey's, smoked against baked, was entertaining. We all ate and ate. The kids all played in the basement. We actually had to pull the drinks off the deck before they froze. We sat by the fire and watched football. It was a really great get together. Coco and Caz should have memories from this for all time. That is all I really want.
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Cousins Day
Caz and Angie were really sweet. They planned a whole day with Caz's younger cousins. Caz and Angie wanted to take the kids out for a whole afternoon of fun. And that is exactly what they did!
Angie had been very thoughtful and had bought the kids Christmas presents. Caz and Angie wrapped them here, then went to pick up the kids. The four of them went to the movies to see the Grinch. Then they spent some time in the mall arcade. Not quite getting their fill of video games, they came back to the house to play Mario Kart.
This excursion was a huge help to my sister in-law. They were hosting Thanksgiving for a big crowd. There was already a houseful of guests to entertain and to dodge, while getting the house and the food ready. You know how family can be. You love them, but they can be challenging at times. My sister in-law certainly wasn't getting any help from her family. They were mainly underfoot and creating roadblocks. Having the kids out of the house was a huge relief. She was so grateful.
I am really impressed by Caz and Angie. To have the forethought to plan a day with much younger cousins, when you have a short, finite time her to visit, is really sweet. And Angie buying Christmas presents? I know when I was in college, I was not thinking about a girlfriend's cousins. Actually, I was pretty immature and selfish. I probably didn't give enough thought and attention to any girlfriend at that time. The price of the gifts doesn't matter. All college kids are broke. This is a prime example of being the thought that counts. Really well done kids. Kudos!
Angie had been very thoughtful and had bought the kids Christmas presents. Caz and Angie wrapped them here, then went to pick up the kids. The four of them went to the movies to see the Grinch. Then they spent some time in the mall arcade. Not quite getting their fill of video games, they came back to the house to play Mario Kart.
This excursion was a huge help to my sister in-law. They were hosting Thanksgiving for a big crowd. There was already a houseful of guests to entertain and to dodge, while getting the house and the food ready. You know how family can be. You love them, but they can be challenging at times. My sister in-law certainly wasn't getting any help from her family. They were mainly underfoot and creating roadblocks. Having the kids out of the house was a huge relief. She was so grateful.
I am really impressed by Caz and Angie. To have the forethought to plan a day with much younger cousins, when you have a short, finite time her to visit, is really sweet. And Angie buying Christmas presents? I know when I was in college, I was not thinking about a girlfriend's cousins. Actually, I was pretty immature and selfish. I probably didn't give enough thought and attention to any girlfriend at that time. The price of the gifts doesn't matter. All college kids are broke. This is a prime example of being the thought that counts. Really well done kids. Kudos!
Sunday, November 18, 2018
Pick Up Day
Caz comes home today. We pick him up from the airport around 8 pm. It will be so good to have him home for Thanksgiving this year. He is bringing his girlfriend home from Auburn too. He is excited to show her a New England Thanksgiving. We are happy to have her. She and her family hosted Caz very graciously last year.
He has all kinds of things planned. I love that he wants to spend time, taking his cousins out and about. Even though there is a big age difference, they are a tight bunch. I don't think a lot of 19 year olds would pay much mind to their much younger cousins. Good for him.
He has all kinds of things planned. I love that he wants to spend time, taking his cousins out and about. Even though there is a big age difference, they are a tight bunch. I don't think a lot of 19 year olds would pay much mind to their much younger cousins. Good for him.
Happy 80th Birthday
to my father. The man who set the standard of what it means to be a father, for me. The man came to this country, on his own, on a slow boat from China. Immigration in San Francisco assigned him a name and a birth date. He was taken by friends from San Francisco to live in Virginia because there was no room at his parents place in NYC. He served in the USMC. He worked multiple jobs while finishing college in night school. He graduated when I was 4 years old. He still worked multiple jobs to provide for his family.
My Dad supported everything we did. He was a guru designing Pinewood Derby cars. He filmed every sporting event we compete in, becoming the official videographer of the high school football team. He did things he didn't really like, just to give us the opportunity to try things like sailing or camping. A kid couldn't ask for a better father. It is what I try to be for my sons.
My Dad supported everything we did. He was a guru designing Pinewood Derby cars. He filmed every sporting event we compete in, becoming the official videographer of the high school football team. He did things he didn't really like, just to give us the opportunity to try things like sailing or camping. A kid couldn't ask for a better father. It is what I try to be for my sons.
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Gamecocks
Coco was accepted to the University of South Carolina! That is teriffic. Still waiting to hear on the Honors College there but this is great. He has choices of colleges now. How excellent! The Gamecocks are on the rise in football too.
Sunday, November 11, 2018
Texas 2018
My buddy, Thatcher, had been telling me I had to come see a Texas Tech football game for years. So since Coco was not playing a fall sport this year, I saw the opportunity to make that trip happen. I picked the game months ago, Texas Tech at home, against Texas. I set the date with Thatcher and now game time is finally here.
It was a long trip on Friday. We had to get up and leave for the airport shortly after 3 am. That is early, even for me. Demi was not happy but it was worth it to go see our friends. We were really looking forward to seeing Lubbock. This time was also exciting because their oldest son, and our youngest are in the midst of the college application process.
Their son, Luke, had been accepted to Ole Miss, Arkansas and Texas Tech. A couple days prior, Luke had been granted an exception to attend the TTU Business College as a Freshman. Coco had just finished submitting the application to FSU. We were still gearing up to apply to the South Carolina Honors College. Auburn deferred Coco to general admission. The boys would have a lot to talk about.
It was cold in Lubbock. The air temperature was 40 degrees, but with the wide open land, that wind just blows on and on. There is nothing to bock it and it just does not stop. It reminded me of the Loveliest Village on the Plains. We didn't stay out long for the tailgating. We moved quickly into the clubhouse to take advantage of the buffet. I mean, a Texas buffet with brisket? What's not to like?
The game turned out to be very exciting. We got to see the Masked Rider lead the team out of the tunnel. The students throwing burrito wraps onto the field was interesting. Seemed a bit of a waste but having thrown oranges at Colby, who am I to judge. Tech came from 17 down in the 4th quarter to tie it up. They left too much time though and Texas won it on a last second field goal.
What a trip though! We went to Cook's which was so cool. It was right out of American Pickers. The old gas and oil signs leading into and monopolizing the parking lot made for quite an entrance. The antique signage continued inside, with both metal and neon signs. Old restored cars were strewn outside and inside. The food was great too. Chicken fried steak! Have to have it in Texas.
The Thatchers were greats hosts. Their home was so comfortable. Everything is bigger in Texas and houses are no exception. Single floor living is really appealing. The white grape moonshine became our signature drink. I can't wait to go back.
It was a long trip on Friday. We had to get up and leave for the airport shortly after 3 am. That is early, even for me. Demi was not happy but it was worth it to go see our friends. We were really looking forward to seeing Lubbock. This time was also exciting because their oldest son, and our youngest are in the midst of the college application process.
Their son, Luke, had been accepted to Ole Miss, Arkansas and Texas Tech. A couple days prior, Luke had been granted an exception to attend the TTU Business College as a Freshman. Coco had just finished submitting the application to FSU. We were still gearing up to apply to the South Carolina Honors College. Auburn deferred Coco to general admission. The boys would have a lot to talk about.
It was cold in Lubbock. The air temperature was 40 degrees, but with the wide open land, that wind just blows on and on. There is nothing to bock it and it just does not stop. It reminded me of the Loveliest Village on the Plains. We didn't stay out long for the tailgating. We moved quickly into the clubhouse to take advantage of the buffet. I mean, a Texas buffet with brisket? What's not to like?
The game turned out to be very exciting. We got to see the Masked Rider lead the team out of the tunnel. The students throwing burrito wraps onto the field was interesting. Seemed a bit of a waste but having thrown oranges at Colby, who am I to judge. Tech came from 17 down in the 4th quarter to tie it up. They left too much time though and Texas won it on a last second field goal.
What a trip though! We went to Cook's which was so cool. It was right out of American Pickers. The old gas and oil signs leading into and monopolizing the parking lot made for quite an entrance. The antique signage continued inside, with both metal and neon signs. Old restored cars were strewn outside and inside. The food was great too. Chicken fried steak! Have to have it in Texas.
The Thatchers were greats hosts. Their home was so comfortable. Everything is bigger in Texas and houses are no exception. Single floor living is really appealing. The white grape moonshine became our signature drink. I can't wait to go back.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
Election Day 2018
Midterm elections. We introduced Caz to the wonders of the absentee ballot. We failed to explain to him that you don’t have to vote for everything or everyone on the ballot. He felt he didn’t do enough research and therefore was uncomfortable voting for someone he didn’t know. That kept him from filling out the ballot. So we all failed. We offered to talk about the candidates and issues. But forgot to talk about the actual voting process. Learn from failure, right?
Saturday, November 3, 2018
Boys Weekend November 2018
It’s Coco and Dad weekend. Caz is off at Auburn. Demi is with the girls. He had to work last night. So we didn’t get to hangout. He missed a good Duxbury playoff game.
Of course he slept late today. He has been playing CoD ever since he woke up. But football time is coming. Alabama at LSU. Pizza and wings. We are set up. Now we just need a good game.
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