I survived my family reunion

Got home from the annual picnic early this afternoon. I'm thinking next year, I might skip it and do my coven's Lammas instead. Spending the whole weekend with my mother is just too stressful. I have got to stop letting her get to me! My sister didn't come, so I couldn't deflect any of it. Several of my cousins didn't make it either, so there was less commiserating. Had a nice visit with a couple of my aunts, though.

Most of us managed to avoid cousin Freddie (my mom's cousin from the Bronx, who is a creationist), but he got hold of Willow and my cousin's daughter Katie and gave them packets. My cousin Jennifer, who is Katie's aunt, and I went over to them afterward and told them that they must not believe anything that he told them. We're reasonably sure that they won't need deprogramming. We hope.

My uncle Ed, who hosts the picnic each year on his farm, took us for the annual ride on the wagon pulled by his restored 1932 John Deere tractor. About 3/4 of the way up the hill, the tractor died. Oops! Two of the younger guys walked back down and drove back with some gas, but they couldn't get it started. So the caravan of minivans started arriving to drive us back down. It wasn't really funny at the time, but we'll be telling the story for years to come! Ed ended up backing the wagon off the road and coasting the tractor back down to the barn. He'll probably go get the wagon with his newer tractor. I hope!

My uncle Robert bought Ed a John Deere windmill as a thank-you for hosting all these years. They managed to put it up in the garden without Ed or his wife Sharon seeing it. Ed walked right by it twice, so we made him stand in front of it so we could take a picture. He still didn't notice it. Sharon walked around the corner and said "oh my god!" so he turned around and we all laughed. He loved it. Men and their tractors; it's a beautiful thing.

I managed to remember to set both VCRs on Friday, so I have new Monk & Battlestar Gallactica to watch tonight. Yay ! It'll make for good decompression.

Good news: spinningwheels is home from the hospital! Hi honey, welcome home!

I survived my family reunion

Got home from the annual picnic early this afternoon. I'm thinking next year, I might skip it and do my coven's Lammas instead. Spending the whole weekend with my mother is just too stressful. I have got to stop letting her get to me! My sister didn't come, so I couldn't deflect any of it. Several of my cousins didn't make it either, so there was less commiserating. Had a nice visit with a couple of my aunts, though.

Most of us managed to avoid cousin Freddie (my mom's cousin from the Bronx, who is a creationist), but he got hold of Willow and my cousin's daughter Katie and gave them packets. My cousin Jennifer, who is Katie's aunt, and I went over to them afterward and told them that they must not believe anything that he told them. We're reasonably sure that they won't need deprogramming. We hope.

My uncle Ed, who hosts the picnic each year on his farm, took us for the annual ride on the wagon pulled by his restored 1932 John Deere tractor. About 3/4 of the way up the hill, the tractor died. Oops! Two of the younger guys walked back down and drove back with some gas, but they couldn't get it started. So the caravan of minivans started arriving to drive us back down. It wasn't really funny at the time, but we'll be telling the story for years to come! Ed ended up backing the wagon off the road and coasting the tractor back down to the barn. He'll probably go get the wagon with his newer tractor. I hope!

My uncle Robert bought Ed a John Deere windmill as a thank-you for hosting all these years. They managed to put it up in the garden without Ed or his wife Sharon seeing it. Ed walked right by it twice, so we made him stand in front of it so we could take a picture. He still didn't notice it. Sharon walked around the corner and said "oh my god!" so he turned around and we all laughed. He loved it. Men and their tractors; it's a beautiful thing.

I managed to remember to set both VCRs on Friday, so I have new Monk & Battlestar Gallactica to watch tonight. Yay ! It'll make for good decompression.

Good news: spinningwheels is home from the hospital! Hi honey, welcome home!