Home at last!

We arrived at our "primary residence" 2 weeks ago after dark. The next morning, I went out and there were flakes of SNOW floating about. I said, "NO!, this isn't the way it was supposed to be." The terrible long winter our friends and family have been complaining about was supposed to be over when we got home. The plan was to enjoy 2 springs and no winter after January. Surely we weren't "home". A speaker we enjoy is John (Tim) Savage. (http://www.leadplus.com/Consultants.htm). In discussing understanding our thoughts and feelings, he talks about the ritual of "coming home". If you choose to stay with it, you are about to find out my ritual for "coming home". Since my body clock was somewhere between Pacific and Central time, I was later than usual, but decided to start my ritual by seeing if the "Mahomet Square" family restaurant was still in business. Well, not only were they still there, but the same local guys where there arguing over the same stuff. Ralph and Jim Bob would argue, Wayne would laugh and I would grin. The part that really helped me in my ritual was that Abel, the manager/cook and Brittany the waitress both remembered what I eat when I go there for breakfast. And it was delicious as always. A good start. Since then, I have eaten at Lil Porgys twice. MM good! (http://www.lilporgysbbq.com/) You'll miss out if you don't click on this link! When I got home from breakfast, the first order of business was to go spray Liquid Fence on the emerging tulips. As you can see we were successful in warding off the rabbits again this year. (got home just in time).

In the first few days at home, we got to visit with all of the kids except for Rod and all of the grandchildren except Celina who was with Rod in Atlanta when we were there, and Jack who was with his "guys". Last weekend, however, they were all at our house at one time or another. Jack and his "guys" did a little fishing (Johnny caught one). We had a great visit, but after spending 10 weeks "on our own", it was a little much. We weren't "used to" all of that. but it was great. Got to talk with my sister, finally visited with neighbors on both sides, ordered and spread mulch on the flower beds and am in the process of building a birdhouse for Pam. Got a replacement circular saw at Sears Craftsman Club "sale", took the explorer in for oil change (and dropped some more bucks on fixing a leak in the air conditioner), mowed the yard and trimmed up the dead stuff in the yard. Made a few trips to the Mahomet Ace Hardware for small items and we have eaten from Monicals (http://www.monicals.com/navbar/index.shtml) several times; and once from the Hidaway of the Woods.

Two things left undone; first need to contact Dell about the external monitor issue with the computer. Then second is to find the remote control for the basement TV (DISH). I have interrigated all likely suspects (short of water boarding), we have turned the basement upside down as well as searching the rest of the house. Guess I'll have to see if we can get a replacement... Really a mistery! But makes me feel at home. Tomorrow, I go to "work" at the U of I for a week, then I'll get back to "retirement" for a few more weeks.

So, I feel like I am nearly "home". Still have some stuff to put away, and other stuff to find. Want to be sure everyone knows that we didn't bring the earthquake home from California with us. We were also accused of bringing the Wyoming weather with us, however, after that first day with snow, the weather has been great (until the temp drop yesterday).. Again, thanks to the new friends we found in Corvallis, Oregon and Rock Springs, Wyoming for a really great "spring". Thanks to the folks at home for keeping the place safe. Thank God for all of the surprises we got to experience on this jaunt. Next is Michigan State where we will most likely stay at the same Hampton which is across the road from that shopping center with all of the great restaurants... Oh.. According to the doctor's scales, all of that good eating I told you about seemed to stick to us; we both gained a bit... Odds are we won't loose it before we hit Lansing. THEN.. we'll think about it.