Trying to Recover

Well, it is September, which kicks off the "burrr" months and, if you know my wife, begins the preparations for that day that comes but once a year.  I am of course referring to HALLOWEEN!

At our house we spend more time preparing for and decorating for the big day.  Wendi usually has one or two projects in mind to add to the decorations.  Last year it was the Apothecary which turned out amazing.

It is mostly Wendi as I am not really very crafty unless it involves a computer or a wood shop.  I need to have a plan, precise measurements, consistency and either a mouse or a power tool in my hand.

Today Wendi wanted to work on making scary books for Halloween.  We had got shopping at some 2nd hand stores and found some that had old looking pages a couple weeks ago for just this purpose.  This involves modge-podge, painting, decorating and a general lack of power tools.  She invited me to do one but, as I am pretty sure we established earlier, it just not my cup of tea.  To be honest nothing is really my cup of tea.  I simply don't care for tea.  I have had my share of tea in my day, but have never enjoyed a drop.  If somebody was to cast everybody I know into characters from Alice in Wonderland, I could not be the Mad Hatter.

I decided that I could at least lend her a helping hand and picked up and started sizing up a human skull.  I thought having a skull protruding from the front of a book could be cool so I decided to cut his face off (maybe the Knave of Hearts).  I tried the kitchen sheers but the bone-like plastic was too much.  Next a steak knife entered the skulls mind, but I soon realized that I would soon be putting a lot of blood and tears into this project if I kept it up.  Then it came to me...the rotary tool.  Yes, that made short work of the skulls face and my blood remained right where I like it.

I sanded it flat and got it ready for Wendi, but she was already hard at work with her own dumb idea.  "Why don't you use it for one for yourself?" she taunted me.  Well, I must admit that my pride got the better of me.  Watching her do it made me realize how simple it was.  "A child could do this!" I blurted out accidentally, and then it was on...yes, like Donkey Kong.

After taking meticulous measurements and making sure I had it centered, I hot glued the elf's face to the front of my book.  Soon I was modge-podginizing with book cover with tissue paper and painting it.  Then I started learning new words like "Second Coat" and "Dry Brush" and I had to take a break to refill my manly meter before things got too crazy.  As soon as Richard Simmons left I painted and painted, and dry brushed, viola...my masterpiece was complete.





Wendi had of course not only finished hers but had gone back to watching "the doctor".  I looked at her completed book and I realized that my initial decision was the correct one.  I should have stayed out of Mr. McGreggors garden, but it was too late.  Hers turned out amazing while mine looks like something that a child could have made out of macaroni and lima beans.

I suppose there are some lessons that can be taken away from all of this.
#1 - Know your limitations.
#2 - Follow your instincts.
#3 - Be a graceful loser.
#4 - Only go to bed once each night.
#5 - Things never turn out as cool in real life as they do in your head.
#6 - Modge-Podge tastes just like Elmer's Glue.
#7 - Just because something says "Eat Me" doesn't mean you should.
#8 - Dylan cheats at cards.
#9 - Each can of alphabet soup does not legally have to contain all of the letters of the alphabet.
#10 - Life moves pretty fast.  If you don't stop and look around every once in a while, you could miss it.

Long Distance Surprise

Wendi had another birthday.  It's getting to be like clockwork now.  Theoretically a civilization could build a big calendar based on it if they wanted to.  I think it would be funny to make it stop abruptly for no reason, that should throw some people for a loop someday.

Anyway, she always goes all out for my birthday, and this year was no different.  She bakes and decorates cakes a lot but she knows that I am not a huge fan of cake (yes, I know).  This year she made a cake that she knew I would appreciate...a fruit cake.  No, not the kind that your in-laws re-gift you at Christmas, but a real pile of freshly cut fruit in the shape of a cake.  I loved it!

She always makes my birthdays special, where I feel I always struggle to make hers special or even memorable.  Fortunately, I have some of the best family on the planet.  Somehow I was able to convince my cousin, Wayne, and his wife, Linda, to bring their beautiful little girl on a 12 hour drive and spend the weekend in Utah to celebrate Wendi's birthday.  It was a tight fit but he managed to bring my other cousin, Kathy, and her little boy too.  Somehow we kept it a secret although Wendi insists afterward that I was "acting weird all week".  Newsflash, I pretty much always act weird, so I was really acting normal.

Finally, the day arrived.  Like a child waiting for Santa I tracked them as they made the long trip up and first thing in the morning they knocked on our door.  Yep, it was all worth it, at least for me.  It was a sweet reunion.  Smiling and tired faces were more than a welcome sight as hugs and high-fives were liberally distributed.

The weekend went by too quickly but was filled with fun.  We were able to fit in a shopping trip, Tucanos and of course a night of staying up until our slap-happy antics had us literally rolling on the floor...literally.  The party was a blast with a house full of friends and family all there to support Wendi as she crossed the yearly finish line.  It was amazing to have everybody there to share in the festivities.

But all too soon it was time to pack up the car, with 10 bags of fresh produce, and send our family back to their lives and for us to do the same.  We missed them almost immediately, but I think it was just enough to recharge our batteries...at least until November.

A special thanks goes out to Wayne, Linda and Kathy for making the long trip.  I truly appreciate the effort and sacrifice you made to come up for just a few days.  I hope that you know how much we love and appreciate you.  Thanks for being so awesome!

Thanks also to Riley and JD for weekend full of smiles and melt-downs.  I am sorry your rooms were so close together.

Thanks also to Eric & Lisa & Family for making the trip for the party.  To Jen & Todd and Family for coming over and hanging out.  And to Tom & Sabrina and all the gang for coming and bringing the party with you.  And Evan, it is always good to see you.

Thank you all for helping make Wendi's Birthday a celebration and most importantly and P-A-R-T-Y!