We're Ba-a-a-a-ack!!!!

Well, we picked up the computer tonight after dinner. I got everything reconnected and up and running (obviously). But I'm really tired now, so I will catch you up on all that you've missed since Sunday later. Maybe over the weekend, but maybe not til Monday, since we have a jam packed weekend!

If ya don't hear from me.......

Well, After I sign off here tonight, I have to disconnect my computer. She needs to go to the "doctor". And no, not Dave, either. He's in Arkansas. I don't think it would be cost effective to sent my unit down to him.
Dean's buddy Paul, who used to live next door to Dean's mom, is a computer guru like Dave. I even think his job is similar to Dave's.
We contacted him and he said he would take a look if we brought our computer to him. I know we need more RAM, so that's one problem. And when I gave Dav remote access and HE looked around in my computer's innards, he said we had a bunch of adware and spyware and that would cause problems.
So, we will see what Paul finds. I think he'll have it a couple of days. we'll see. Depending on what HE finds, we will either buy more RAM and some upgrades for this one, or just keep using it the way is until we can buy a new one. It depends on that cost effectiveness thing.......
______________________________________
Dean and I had to go to the funeral home today. Another one of his mom's neighbors died. Joe. He seemed like a good egg for the time I knew him. His wife passed last year in May. Now he was recently diagnosed with congestive heart failure and was given the option to give up driving or have surgery on a valve in his heart. Joe didn't want to give up the freedom of being able to drive, so elected to have the surgery. Unfortunately, he died on the operating table.
They thought his chances of surviving the surgery were good, from what I understand. Guess they were wrong about that. I would have given up the drive's license if it were me at that age. If I get some desease that is going to number my days, don't tell me. I don't want to know. If there's a cure that's guaranteed, then maybe. But otherwise, don't tell me. I don't want to sit around just crossing the days off the calendar.

You Can Let Go Now Daddy

Even though I don't want to. They keep playing that song on the radio, especially during work hours, and I cry every time. So Here are some pics of my dad.....If I can ever figure out how to slideshow them, I will do that and add to the neat things at the right...


Daddy at Brian's Highschool graduation. Circa June of 1989? Dave'll let me know for sure after he reads this, I'm sure.



This was Dad as Father of the Bride when I made the biggest mistke of my life in August, 1992. But I believe everything happens for a reason, and if this day wasn't part of my life's path, I would have never have met Dean and be the wife of the wonderful man I am married to now.



This was a group picture that I cropped so I just had dad. I think it was taken around Christmas of 95.


This is my Mom and Dad. This was taken in August of 96 for their 50th wedding anniversary. 2 days ago would have marked 62nd anniversary. Mom would have been 81 this past June and Dad would have been 83 this August 1st. I still miss him like it was yesterday.....

Jordan goes camping; Surprise Visit; A song that just hits you; Cleaning weekend; We can grow our own groceries; September schedule

We went camping at the race track last weekend and Jordan went too! He seems to really like it. I think mainly because he can be outside most of the time and he gets so much individual attention. He plays and rides his bike all day long! He likes the races too, even though he falls asleep before they're over. But he is only 2 and half.

Tom, Jordie and Zack

Mac, Tom and Lisa (Lori too, but you can't see her face)

Our friends, Tom and Lisa and their 2 boys, Zack and Mac (Zachary & McKenzie) who are 17 and 15, camped with us too! They brought their go kart and Dean took Jordie for a ride. He loved it!

Mark Wilcox, Nick (Virg's boyfriend), Billy's Dad and Jordan

Jordan and Pappap at the races!

When Jordie fell asleep at the races, so after Billy's race, I took Jordan out to the camper and put him to bed. Then the real fun started! Once a year, Dean cooks for the masses. The masses refers to alot of our friends at the racetrack. He made about 40 each of burgers and dogs, a few brauts, and I had made macaroni salad and Lisa made brocolli salad. We fed everybody and we all having a good time. Dean's cousin, Donnie, with 2 of his buddies. They brought a whole pick up truck load of pallets they wanted to put on the campfire. We didn't want them to burn them all at once cause the fire would be too big. The Mileys who own the track, are nice enough to let us camp there any time we want, so we like to be courteous about it. They had started the fire very early. It was raging when I brought Jordie out to put him to bed.The cars of people in the races were still parked near the firepit. So, as I walked by, I let them know about it. (strike 1) After I got Jordan in bed, I started setting up the "buffet" table and slicing the tomatoes and getting the other stuff out of the cooler. Then I hear this rapid succession of bangs. They were between their truck and the back side of the camper and had lit off a whole pack of firecrackers! I ran around and told them I have 2 year old sleeping right in that camper. Don't do that outside this window. (strike 2) So everyone else makes their way out of the races and Dean starts cooking. the idiots are then horse playing in the same spot that they had lit the firecrackers. Again, I go over and tell them about Jordie sleeping in the camper and to take the horseplay somewhere else or just leave. (strike 3)

Everyone has eaten and is thanking us and the idiots start stacking the pallets in front of the camper. I tell them they better not leave them there or put them all on the fire at one time. (Strikes 4 & 5) Then dean told them too cause I had told them what I said to them. So, after they burnt the last of the pallets, they decided to leave, I guess, and were all in the truck. Dean was in the camper and all of a sudden comes running out like it's on fire and reaches into the truck and is yelling at the one guy. I found out later that the one guy said "Man, your cousin's wife is a F*#@ing bitch!" So the guys get out of the truck and the one starts calling Dean on. After a couple of minutes the other one says if he won't fight you, I will. Dean says "I just fed you and you wanna kick my ass?" So, I guess the guy thought about it and told Dean he was right and they man hugged. When they let go, the other guy sucker punches Dean right in the mouth! I heard the hit and when I looked, my husband is on his back on the ground! I start to go to him, and as I do, he gets himself turned over on his hand and knees, with the other hand holding his mouth. As I got there, he pulls his hand away from his mouth and there is all this blood. I snapped. It was like it wasn't even me. I marched over to this guy and said how dare you? What's wrong with you? We feed you and let you hang here. And I just hauled off and punched him dead in the face. The crowd of our friends that had gathered during the inital skirmish let out a unified "oooh". Then one guy in the crowd says "if you hit her, I'll knock you into next week!" That's when I came back to reality. We had to find Dean's glasses cause the punch sent them flying off of his face. Then I went to tend to my bleeding, hurting husband. He ended up with a very swollen, cut lip that was bleeding profusely. He needed stitches. He wound up with 4. During that time, the instigators left and didn't show up att he races this weekend. AS for Dean's face, you can't even tell now that anything happened to it. It's great that he wanted to defend his wife's honor, but the f*#@ing bitch comment was never intended for him or anyone else to hear, but he did and it pissed him off. He loves me sooooooo much........What a way to show it!

Jordan on Sunday morning in the camper
________________________________________

I had a surprise visitor the other day. My son, Nick! He came to show me his new car and to give me a demo cd which contained 3 songs by his band. The car is a Cadillac DeVille, a '89 i think, but is really cherry. It was owned by an older guy and garage kept. The miles are high, but if he takes care of it, it will last him along time. The songs on the cd are really good . I really like them. Nick plays guitar. he never had a lesson in his life and can't read music. He plays by ear. Another talent, along with his ability to draw, that he got from my dad.

__________________________________________

Speaking of my dad, I was at work the other day and a song came on the radio by a chic named Crystal Shawanda (think she's native American? Uh, Yeh.) called You Can Let Go. See the video by clicking on the 2nd vieo at the right. A more audible version is the 4th pink square. Lyrics only, no video, though. (The top video is just there as is the 3rd. I have no Clue. They just came along for the ride I guess.)The song tells how her dad was helping her learn how to ride her bike and she tells him he can let go now she's ready to do this by herself. Then she is getting married and her dad walks her down the aisle and after saying he gives this woman, he doesn't let go and she tells him again you can let go now daddy. Then the man is older and in the hospital and is about to come to the end of his life, but is hanging on. She has to give him permission to die and again tells him you can let go now. I can't even post this without my eyes filling up. When I heard it for the first time, I couldn't stop the tears. A co worker came in the office and thought something was wrong and was really concerned. I told him it was ok, just a sad song on the radio.

__________________________________________

And for this weekend. Dean and I brought the camper home and I scrubbed the outside and the top and underside of the awning. It gets really dirty at the dirttracks and sitting in the lot at work where we keep it. I cleaned the inside really well and Dean siliconed around all the windows and the door to seal any place that might leak and filled the water tank. I scrubbed the big cooler and washed the truck while Dean went to the grocery store. Then we put everything away and took the camper back to work. It's now ready to go to Eldora the beginning of next month!

__________________________________________

And I actually cooked dinner on Sunday! Deans does almost all of the cooking at our house, being the chef that he is. He calls himself the "trained professional". I made stuffed peppers. Dean grew the peppers in our garden along with zuchini and tomatoes. The stuffed peppers were awesome! I can still cook!

__________________________________________

About next month, here's a schedule for ya. Aug 29th-racing at Lernerville. Aug 30th-racing at PA Motor Speedway, or PMS as it is affectionately known to its patrons. The 31st- a cookout at our house. Sara and the gang are invited, as well as Nick and Dean's brothers and the one brother's girlfriend. Sept. 3-leave to go to Eldora in Ohio for the World 100. Sept. 13-wedding. The bass player of the band we follow, the Fabulous Gunslingers, is getting married. The 18th, 19th and 20th is the big race finale at PMS. Then the 26th is our Deep Creek weekend! Whew! It will be a busy month! So, if I don't post, you'll know why!

The Nevillewood Wedding; Reba's new video

This past Saturday, 7-26-08, my boss son got married. The ceremony AND the reception were at the Club at Nevillewood. The Club is probably best known for the Mario Lemuiex Golf Tournament that used to be held every June. The Nevillewood Community is home to some 1 and 2+ million dollar homes, as well as the Club itself. The Club has famous members such as former and present Steelers, as well as Penguins. (The hockey team, not the animal) My boss and her husband are members, as well as residents in the community. The wedding was very nice, the food was great as was the drink. The bride and groom are honeymooning in Key West, Florida until Sunday. Then they will go to my boss' house and open their wedding gifts. They opened their cards on their wedding night and my boss took the cashish to the bank. I have found out that they are expecting and the bride is 9 weeks pregnant, but they were getting married anyway and kept it hush hush as to not overshadow the wedding.
___________________________________________________

Have you seen Reba's new video for "Every Other Weekend"? The song i duet she sings with Kenny Chesney and is about a couple who has divorced and they meet in the same corner of the same parking lot every other weekend so the dad can have his visits with his kids.
Now, have you ever seen Reba's Show on Lifetime? It's a show about a divorced couple who has a better relationship now then when they were married. They live around the corner from each other. Brock, Reba' s X, is a dentist who fooled around and fell in love with his dental assistant that Reba had him hire. She got pregnant and Brock left Reba to marry the pregnant Barbara Jean. Reba and Brock had 3 kids. Sheyenne, Kira and Jake. Sheyenne got pregnant by Van, who she marries while still in high school. The baby is a girl. Elizabeth. Sheyenne, Van, Elizabeth, Kira and Jake all live with Reba. Kira eventually moves in with her dad, Barbara Jean and their baby, Henry. Doesn't like the rules there either and moves back with Reba. You get the picture.
Well, the actress and actor that play Sheyenne and Van on the show are the divorced couple being portrayed in the new video! How cool is that?
____________________________________________
I know that this is the first post in a couple of weeks, but it's summer and we are busy being us!

Mommy got a bubblebutt; Debbie Dowd's birthday

This past weekend, 4th of July wekend, we went camping at Raccoon State Park with Jordan in tow. We tookhis tricycle and his ride on Fisher Price truck. He learned how to pedal (for the most part) his tricycle! It was great!
We arrived at our camping spot Thursday afternoon and it was raining a bit. It was dry all the way out and when we turned off the main road to head into the park, the raindrops started. If it could have held off for just 45 more minutes, we could have gotten camp set up. At least outside. So, dean ended up doing the initial part of it in the rain. The leveling of the camper, putting down the stabilizing jacks, unhitching it from the truck, with me holding the umbrella over us both. Then the rain stopped for a while and he was able to do the other stuff. Move the picnic table, put the awning down, and get the lawn chairs and that stuff set up.
It raind off and on the rest of day, as it did Friday the 4th. So, Jordan, Dean and I made the best of by staying in the camper watching CARS the movie, playing with Jordan, or staying outside under the awning. If the rain quit, Jordan rode his bike or truck, or played with his RC truck. Mainly Dean and I played with it and Jordan chased it and fixed it when it got stuck on a stone or uneven pavement, or went into the grass. Later in the day, we sat around the camp fire. It was very relaxing and Jordan had a blast. For some reason, the song Big Ol' Butt came up and Dean sang it. Well, Jordie, being 2 and a half, repeats most of what you say. I didn't want him to go home saying that, so I had him change it to Mommy got a bubblebutt! We knew we'd proabably hear from Sara about it, but haven't as yet.
Saturday, we went to the Country Restaurant for breakfast, then to the dollar store and Shop N Save. We stopped at the country store on our way back to camp. When we got to camp, some friends of ours, Nick and Virg, came up behind us on Nick's motorcycle for a surprise visit! It was nice. When they left, the 3 of us took a nap, got up and had dinner and went to the races. Jordie had a great time! I took him down on the track for the driver autograph session and he just thought he was the big cheese. Our friends that race made a big fuss over him.
He kept saying about the fireworks, but I ended up taking him out to the truck with 2 races still left cause he was sooooo tired. I put his jammies on and put him in his car seat and he was out in no time flat. He slept right through the fireworks!
Sunday, we packed up and came home, stopping for breakfast after taking the camper back to it's place, then we took Jordie home. We came home and unpacked and Monday was back to the old grind.
_________________________________________
7-11. No, not the convenience store chain. The date. Tomorrow is 7-11 and it's Debbie Dowd's birthday. Who is Debbie Dowd? She was a cute little blonde girl who had a brother named Timmy and their mom's name was Carol. Carol had a boyfriend or fiance named Dean who was a UPS driver. They all lived next door to my sister when she lived in Prospect Park. I spent all the weekends during the school year, and the entire summers at my sister's. I would baby sit her kids on the weekends, and in the summer, I just liked being there because A. I was away from my mother and B. There we soooo many kids in her neighborhood! Anyway, I have just always remembered that 7-11 was Debbie Dowd's bithday. I think she is about 9 months older than my oldest nephew, Dave, of Just popped in my head fame. Or DaveinArk as he is also known. So, I think her actual birthday is 7-11-67. I think I remember cause it rhymed. Like those little poems you leaned in school to help you remember stuff? In 1492 Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Those types of things. I am sure she is married or something by now and her last name is no longer Dowd, but where ever you are, Debbie, Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!

Busy, Busy; Soggy and no racing

Well, no I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. I am here, safe and sound. I had been busygetting ready for our racing/camping weekend this past weekend and with all the lists to be made and laundry and ironing to do, and plans being made, I just didn't have time to post.
Some might wonder about the safe. We have had rain for 16 out of 30 days in June. The storms this past weekend were brutal. We even had a tornado warning here in West Mifflin on Sunday!

We left to go to Lernerville Speedway on Thursday afternoon. Dean came to my work and we loaded up the camper, hooked up and were on the road shortly after 3:30. About an hour later we were at the track and found our camping spot and set up camp. Then the rain came. Then it cleared up. Friday it rained. Then it cleared up. We got some racing in on Friday nite.

Saturday, it rained and rained and rained. Bad lightning and thunder. A tree fell over in the field where people were parked right across the road from where we camped. It rained and rained and rained. If you go to Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzZPVoBI5z4 and see what the drunken idiots did to entertain themselves since there was no racing. It was very, very soggy. And in my own defense, I did not partake nor shoot the video. We found it on one of the racing message boards we visit.
They were going to try and get the race in on Sunday, but Mother Nature just would not cooperate. We packed up camp and camehome to beautiful blue skies with Simpson clouds, but that didn't last long. The sky got very dark and the wind got fierce and the annoying beeping came over the the TV to tell you to tune to channel 20. Channel 20 announced that thre was a tornado warning for our area and persons living in mobile homes should seek shelter elsewhere. We were invited to go to our neighbor's sister's house, but it was not needed after all.

Yesterday was back to theold grind, but it is yet another short week for we are closing the office at noon on Thursday to start the holiday weekend. Dean and I are taking Jordan and going camping at Raccoon Creek State Park in Beaver County. Hopefully, this weekend's weather will be better than last. We want to take Jordie to the lake to swim and play, to the playground and to the races on Saturday nite! We are going to take his tricycle and the ride on truck that Aunt Dar got him for his birthday, so he will have alot of fun. Weather permitting. Keep your fingers crossed. I'll let you know how it was next week!