2007-07-20 - 4:26 p.m.
My roomate's grandkids spent the night last night and it was a great time. This morning they were all tuckered out from the chaos of trying to cook at 11pm with a kitchen full of kids and a dog that will sneak a mouthful of food at any oppurtunity. I was de-boning some chicken breats for my meals today and my roomate was making fried zucchini and sausage (you eat what you can find at 11pm hehe) Tyler the oldest of her grandkids is 12 and was helping to fry the zucchini. Vicki: "Tyler! Don't throw the zucchini in the grease! You'll splash it everywhere!" So we ended up giving Christina ranch dressing with watermelon, which to our suprise and chagrin... she loved. This prompted her older sister Tehya who is 8 to want to try it. Now Teyha apparently HAS tastebuds so she ended up spitting it out. Tyler was smart enough not to even try it. I woke up this morning and was greeted by Christina who hugged my legs and smiled sleepily up at me from beneath a mop of tousled curls. I had slept in, as my shift didn't begin until 10am, so when I stepped outside my hair was dripping wet. I couldn't believe it was only 60 degrees as I slipped into my car. I live in a tiny little town that is located on the banks of the Susquehanna River (say that three times fast!) I cross a beautiful metal bridge that takes me out of town. Before I begin my hour long commute to work I stopped at the Christian run gas station at the edge of town. I always fill up here for 3 reasons: 1 - They are always cheaper than all the other places There is a certain attendant who I just love to talk to. About a month ago he asked me if I had any children because he was helping out at a local Vacation Bible school. Gas Station Guy: Do you have any kids? So every time I visit the gas station he asks about my kids and we launch into another crazy improv. After leaving the gas station I rolled down my windows all the way and let the wind dry my sopping wet hair. I truly have the most beautiful ride to work you can imagine. The roads are pretty quiet at 9am on a Friday morning. The road I take curves along the river. On my left the trees stretch al the way up the mountain towering over me. On my right the road falls away to reveal the tops of trees and the river sparkling behind them. It's like driving in heaven, floating along the tops of the trees with the blue sky spread out above me. I took time today to really just enjoy the beauty around me. Being from Wisconsin I grew up near Lake Michigan but the land was very flat, so I am constantly in awe of the mountains. I catch myself staring at them all the time. For an hour I weave along the river until I start to get closer to the city and I drive through this amazing section of road where the trees have grown together at the tops and it forms this canopy of dappled shade where if you're lucky and drive in the early morning the Godlights will sneak past the cover of the leaves and dot the pavement in these awesome golden beams. I love to stretch out my hand and touch them as I go through. The trees become less lush the closer the city gets and the scenery is replaced by adorable little Mom and Pop businesses. My favorite to drive by is a small pastry factory that always has a column of sweet smelling steam rising from it's little stack. I love the moment when I pass it and my car is filled with the smell of whatever mouthwatering confection they are making that day. Finally I descend the hill and City Island comes into view. It looks like an island full of castles by the shape of some of the buildings, with the more modern skyscrapers clustered in the middle. It's cool to see this city that seems to rise up out of the water, connected to the land by one large metal bridege. It always seems so magical to me somehow. Especially at night when all the lights are on and the dome of the capital building glows like a beacon,
Tyler: "Sorry Grammy!"
Christina: "I wand ranch dressing"
Vicki: "You can't just have ranch dressing Teeny You have to have it with something"
Christina: "I have wif watmelon"
Vicki: "Eww. No that isn't how you eat watermelon"
All: BANDIT! NO!!!
Christina: "I wand ranch dressing"
Vicki: "No"
Christina: "NaaaaaNaaaaa I wand ranch dressing"
All: BANDIT! NO!!!
Vicki: "With watermelon?"
Christina: "Yeth"
Me: -looks up from de-boning chicken- "Dude. Let her. She'll learn that way...plus it'll be interesting to see her face. Then when she goes on her first date you can tell the ranch dressing and watermelon vomiting story"
All: BANDIT! NO!!!
2 - They are full service and I don'thave to drag my lazy butt out out the car.
3 - I gotta support my people!
Me: Yep!
GSG: Really! What ages?
Me: A lot of ages
GSG: Oh, a lot of kids eh?
Me: Yes. I have 86.
GSG: 86?!?! That has to be terribly expensive!
Me: Well, they are invisible so they tend to not eat much.
GSG: Well that is a plus.
...or in the morning when the sun rises from behind her.
All too soon the ride is over and I pull into the parking lot at work. My building rests at the top of a large hill over looking the amazing countryside, able to see the mountains and trees stretching for miles. I wish I had a picture of it - it is GLORIOUS!
Well. Time to work!
2007-10-09-Spiritual Bubble Bath
Make This A Favorite
2007-10-02-Song Of Solomon
2007-09-27-How Deep The Father's Love For Us
2007-07-29-What A Day
2007-07-21-Don't Always Listen to Your Friends!