* tap tap *

Is this thing on?

* tap tap *

It's just me, checking in again, albeit way late ...

It's cold in McKinney, there's ice on my car, my garage is full, my storage unit is full, my daughter sold her car and she's driving Rick's now.  He's carless and hating it.  We spent the evening at WalMart last night (whee) and I came home with a new trash can.  Again, whee.  We're headed to a basketball game tonight and I'm looking forward to eating the peanuts.  I'm carb-free now ... so I'm hoping I can have the peanuts. 

Liz has a new job at a book publishing firm and she's just been promoted to a publicist.  Ted Danson's ex-wife is one of her clients and that seems to be all she can talk about ... Casey Danson this and Casey Danson that ...

And I'm in the process of buying a new car.  My lease is up in April and I want to have another car all ready to go.  Like now.  I can't seem to stay off of car-buying websites.  Jeep. 

Low carb, SUV, Cirque D'Soleil, Sunroof ... those are the only words in my vocabulary anymore.

Maybe summer.  That word figures in there pretty often, too.

Jeep.

sailing, sailing ... flooding, flooding ...

So, we did go to Hawaii.  We were fortunate enough to set sail on my daughter's ship, The Pride of America, and get to see her in action at some of her work events.

We also met her "intended", Ben Adams.  Lovely man.  Lovely couple.  We will be proud to have him join our little family.

While in Hawaii, we heard the most beautiful words in the world; "You have an offer on your house" from our real estate agent.  You don't know how much I wanted to hear those words.  I nearly cried.

Being in Hawaii though, I realized that I would no longer be able to hide scuff marks or cracks in the walls nor water damage.  I became stressed, worrying about hiding things and making the house sellable, but what could I do?  We had an offer.  And those words sat above any concerns that I had for the house.

We accepted the offer from the kind folks who wanted our house ... and we were still in Hawaii when the inspection happened.  Yeah, I really was forced to lay down my paintbrush and stop the madness.  I did it willingly.

We witnessed our future son in law ask for our daughter's hand in marriage.

We returned to Texas to begin packing up our big ol' house ... and start the closing process.  And find a new place to live.

AND THIS IS WHERE THE CRAZINESS BEGAN.

We packed and we packed and we packed.  And Rick got sicker and sicker and sicker.  And the Texas weather got hotter and hotter and hotter.  And Elizabeth and Ben (the intended) jetted off to Scotland and England ... and watched their luggage not follow them.  They spent two weeks with us in Frisco all the while waiting on their luggage to catch up to them. 

And wouldn't you know it?  The ring that Ben had planned to propose with was IN the suitcase that hadn't found them yet. 

Hundreds of phone calls to the airline and I finally jumped in and alerted the media.  Yep, I did.

WFAA's Monica Hernandez came to our little (big) house on Creek Point and filmed a story about a guy who wanted to propose to a little Texas gal ... but didn't have his luggage (and all of his worldly belongings) and didn't have the ring.

One phone call from WFAA and dang!  The airline found the luggage!  In Baltimore, of all places.  Go figure.

More packing, more closing junk on the house .... and finally the luggage arrived.  WFAA arrived, too.  They came back to film the actual proposal ... which was pretty darn cute!  We all hauled off to The Shops At Legacy and watched Ben propose ... and watched the news station film it.

AND .... right before we were slated to close on our Creek Point house ... we had a flood inside.  Of course we did.  OF COURSE WE DID! 

Got that all cleaned up and we were all set to close on the house ... WHEN RICK GOT SICK!  Ambulances and everything. 

Sigh.

Just when you think you've got it all under control ... the escrow folks would not close until Rick could sign, OUTSIDE of THE HOSPITAL, which he couldn't do.  Why?  Because Rick's little bout of a bladder infection began to spread ALL THROUGH HIS BODY ... enough that his bloodstream was infected and he had to be put in isolation.  NO ONE would go through the trouble to gown up and go in for Rick to sign the closing papers.  Not even the HOSPITAL NOTARY.  Like, seriously?

So, we waited.  And we extended our closing date.  And we searched for an apartment.  And we found ourselves NOT getting into any of the apartments that we wanted to ... sad tale after sad tale.  We were about to be homeless.  And you know what?  I didn't care.  I knew we'd be fine. 

So, Elizabeth was now engaged, Rick began to improve by leaps and bounds (turns out he was also a bit toxic and had to get some of those awful pain meds out of this body) and dang if ELIZABETH didn't turn around and get sick.  OF COURSE SHE DID.

We were still packing and packing and packing ... and getting further and further behind it seemed.

We finally had to call out for help ... which we did get, in the way of four women who stepped up and helped us.  Note: Women.  Yep.  Women for the win!

So, to summarize, we finally did close on our house once Rick was out of isolation.  We nearly emptied our Creek Point house (a wayward desk and a few garage items had to stay behind, sadly) and moved into an apartment complex overlooking a baseball park in Frisco.  We have belongings in two different PODS and a storage unit AND WITH OUR MOVING COMPANY.  Yeah, don't tell me about having too much stuff.  That's all I hear from my dear, darling daughter.

107 degrees, 108 degrees, 109 degrees.  The temperature kept a'climbin'.  Life got hotter and busier and crazier ... but we were out of that house. 

And ... on July 31st, I returned to work.  Suddenly my summer break was over and you know what?  I'm totally ready.  That was the wildest summer ever and I'm happy to see it go.

Rick is home in the apartment with me.  Buddy and Jeannie are there, too.  And Elizabeth is recovered and prepping to return to her ship for one final contract ... and to her beloved, Ben.

Anyone doubt me when I say that we had a flood on day one?  Yeah, didn't think so.

And there's a wedding in the works (November 30th) and that's what's on our minds now.  Floods don't bother me now ...   HOWEVER, if the wedding goes off as planned, well, it'll be the hottest day of the year and yet, it'll rain.  We won't be ready on time and the dress will be delivered to Kansas.  And the whole place will flood.  I just know it.

'Cuz we're Kahles.

but before we can go ...

"Excuse me, Ma'am.  We can replace this blown air conditioner for a mere $9000.  Shall we go ahead."

Yep, it got a might hot in our house two days ago.  And the puddle on the floor beneath one of the a/c returns got a might big.  I had the choice of calling a plumber or an a/c repairman for help.  Opted for the a/c man ... and whaddya know!  I was right!  I only had to pay an a/c man this time.

$9000 later, we have a new, working unit.  Of course, we are $9000 poorer now.  Heck we're just flat-out poor.

Rick explained to the repairman that we are poor ... and that we are headed off to Hawaii on Saturday.  That nice man gave us a discount of $1000.  Thank you, Rick.  Next time keep your big mouth shut about heading to Hawaii.

$9000 ... according to EVERYONE I KNOW or have ever met ... is WAY over-priced for an a/c.  AND we didn't really get a new one.  Just a bunch of new parts. 

Ugh.

I am going to Hawaii to rest, recover, relax and FORGET about life in the states.

In case I don't have very good reception on the ship (that's my daughter's excuse for why she doesn't text/call/email very often) I will see you all when I return on the 27th.  My daughter will be 27 then, engaged, embarking on a new life ... and I'll still be poor.  POORER, in fact, just thinking about a wedding.

~ Aloha ~

.

so saturday is the day ...

This very Saturday, this coming Saturday, I will ...

meet my daughter's boyfriend
meet my daughter's soon-to-be fiance (yes, same person)
see my daughter's workplace
see my daughter's living quarters
eat at the restaurant that she eats at daily
eat at the restaurant that she can never eat at (but I can)
order drinks at the bar that she hangs out in (her bf is the head bartender)

and just, in general, enjoy all that Honolulu has to offer ... aboard a big ship.

Sunday we'll head to Maui and start the process all over again.
Monday we'll disembark and try out the "Road to Hana".  I've always wanted to do that.
Tuesday we'll head to the Big Island and see if it's still there.  There's been a volcano erupting, I hear.
Wednesday we'll change positions on that Big Ol' Island, provided it's still there.
Thursday we'll head to Kauai and take in a Luau.  The pig is already trying to escape ...
And on Saturday, back we go to Honolulu for an extra day. 

It's a whirlwind and I'm very nervous.  Yes, I am.  And I don't know why.

Maybe it's because of Rick and his pain problems.  Or his cognitive problems.  Or all of his problems in general.  Maybe I'm the problem.  Most likely ...

Maybe it's because I was just in Honolulu in October ... and it weren't real pretty.  Maybe it's because I don't like ships.  Or harbors.  Or flying.  Or travelling.  Or vacationing.

Odd.  I used to live on a cruise ship.  I grew up around harbors.  I used to be a flight attendant.  I used to be a travel agent.

Hmmmm.  Maybe I just drank too much caffeine this morning.

desperation

Fearing that my house will never sell, I done went and lowered the price again.  We are now $25,000 lower than when we first started this game.  This silly, silly game.

That's $25,000 that I will not have to buy a new car (I wasn't in the market anyway), $25,000 that I won't have to spend in Hawaii (and yes, I could find a way to spend that in Hawaii) and $25,000 that I won't have to spend online at Zulily.  Shut up.

Hey, maybe I could retire!  Oh wait, I'm not actually getting that $25,000 ...

But, it's all good.  Because our house, the one that's being built, is done and ready to inhabit.  See?  All the walls are up and it's beckoning us in.

It just looks so inviting ...

I can see the front door.  Right there.  Riiight through there.

Good thing there's no rain in sight.

.

prince charming

In exactly 23 days, I'll meet my future son-in-law.

I've never actually wondered about this day; where it would take place, when that day would be ... but I've always wondered what he would be like and how he would fit with Elizabeth.

This is what I pictured:

Medium build, medium height.  Medium to dark brown hair.  Young, but a couple of years older than Elizabeth.  A degree (or close to it) in some sort of something that would lead to a regular ol' office job, even though she desperately wanted someone who knew Hollywood inside and out.

And trim.  I pictured someone wearing jeans (niceish jeans) and a dark polo shirt.  His version of dressed up.  Yes, I was not hoping for a GQ man; not a magazine-pretty man.  My guy for her has some dirt on his hands, but not too much.

He also can wrangle her down.  She can be headstrong, but he could calm her with his gentleness and kindness.

She has a cat ... but he doesn't care for cats ... but would put up with hers for the sake of their marriage.

In exactly 23 days, I'll be meeting a man that fits absolutely ...

NONE OF THAT.

Yep, I'm a good guesser.  Not.

Mr. Benjamin Lee Adams has won Elizabeth's heart and, may I add, mine.  Rick is still working on opening his up to Ben ... but she and I both know he will.

Mr. Adams is purt near the opposite of everything listed above.

He's not a medium build, he's fit as a fiddle.  Not medium height, he's STINKIN' TALL.  Try 6'5" on for size.  And please note, Elizabeth is a whoppin' 5'2".  Hooo doggy.  He's a tall drink of water.  And, I mentioned fit as a fiddle ... I'm told he works out everyday.  She likes to, too ... but hers is mostly for show.  His seems real.

I imagine he does wear jeans and a dark polo shirt, but I ain't seen it yet.  So far, I've only seen a work uniform.  That's right, he wears a work uniform, as does she.  They work at the same company.  On the same ship, actually.  Fortunately they're in the same state.

Is he a couple of years older than Elizabeth?  Nope.  Try 19.  Okay, 18 1/2.  She's about to have a birthday and he just had one.  So, uh, closer to 19.

He doesn't work in an office ... he's the head bartender on their ship.  She likes that.  I hope she doesn't like that too much.  I'll judge that when I meet him.

He hasn't mentioned cats yet ... but he does like dogs.  I plan to offer him ours.  And Elizabeth's cat, you know, to break him in.

Most importantly, HE CAN WRANGLE ELIZABETH.   We've always prayed for a nice young man to enter Elizabeth's life to take care of her and watch over her.  He has assured me (via telephone) that he's up for that job.

I don't know much else to say until I meet him ... but I do have this video that I like.  It shows a side of both of them that puts my heart at ease.  She gets goofy/giddy and he wrangles her back into line.  Yea Ben!

So, in 23 days I'll have more to report.  For now, you can see for yourself what I'll be meeting!

She's a short drink of water.

Hey, there's a blue polo!

*

And ... here's the video!

.

aloha oy

We'z headin' back to the land of sunshine and industry.  Yep, Hawaii.  It just ain't what it used to be and it just ain't paradise.  It IS industrious, though.  But nope, nothing paradis-y about it no more.  But we're going.  And this time we'll get to actually set foot on Elizabeth's ship.  We didn't do that last time (in October) when we went to surprise her ... and when I went to celebrate turning ... turning ... well, turning THAT number.  Still can't say it.  Let's just say I'm old.

So, we'll take her cruise, watch her work and then head back to the mainland, as the islanders call it.

We'll disembark on a Saturday and oops, couldn't get a flight back until the next day.  Dang.  Have to stay one more day in Paradise ... even though it ain't Paradise.  But it really is.  And day on vacation is paradise to me.

And since we just had to stay one more day ... I had to get a hotel room for said Saturday night.

After studying prices and location and proximity to the beach, I picked out a Marriott, cuz, let's face it, I do Marriotts and Hiltons.  Occasionally I'll even do a Sheraton.  But this time?  It was a Marriott.

I scoured and poured over all of the hotel photos and was surprised to learn a few facts about my beloved little Marriott.  Maybe even about Honolulu in general.

The hotel I picked has a lovely ocean view.  I can only hope that my room gets to share in some of that view ... but what the heck.  If not, I can force myself to go downstairs and see it in person.

But that's not what I really noticed.

*

I noticed this ...

The lobby.

The empty, empty lobby.

What?  Does no one work here?

*

Apparently no one works here, either.

And not only that, there's no PEOPLE milling around.  Where are all the people???

*

No one here ...

*

No one here ...

*

and

No one here!  Not a soul eating or drinking.

Have I landed on Mars?

*

Heading on over to the convention/banquet rooms, I see this ...

NO ONE conventioning nor banqueting!

What the heck?

*

More 'no peopleing'.

At least this room has tables, though, in case, you know, I may want to sit down.  Not sure who'll wait on me, though.

*

Heading back outside to see if the view is still there ... and I decide that THIS won't be my view.  It just won't.  With the kind of luck I have ...

*

THIS will be my view.

*

See?  Here's my room.  You can see my awesome view through the window.

And look!

More no peoples.

No one sleeps at this hotel!

*

Good grief.  I was right.  It ain't Paradise and no one wants to come here anymore.

I'd complain ... but there ain't no one here to listen.

.

Since last checking in, my dear, darling, daughter Elizabeth has been dragging me all over creation completing tasks that she has been unable to do while cooped up on a ship for 18 weeks.  18 LONG weeks, as she tells everyone who'll listen.  And d,d,d Elizabeth has missed quite a few things while being gone.  Most notably, Chipotle.  It's hard to believe, but that child went a whole eighteen weeks without Chipotle.  I'm sure Chipotle noticed.  I'm sure they were considering filing Chapter 11 over it.  Maybe 13.  Maybe both.

Besides Chipotle, I've also eaten a gluten-free Thanksgiving meal that d,d,d E prepared, as well as a gluten-free fish and quinoa meal just last night that she put her brain to.  The Thanksgiving meal?  Well, I've had better.  This one would've been better, too, if we hadn't forgotten the mashed potatoes.  The fish last night?  Well, a glutenful crusting would've been nice.  But fish?  All plain and alone?  Huh uh.  And you may keep the quinoa.  Please keep the quinoa.

We've seen Reba McIntire in concert, we'll be seeing Celtic Thunder soon and, of course, her favorite, Cirque du Soleil.  She's drug me along to Christmas Light Display after Christmas Light Display.  Can't get her to put lights on OUR tree, though. 

Tonight is a holiday concert at our church.  We'll go.  Wouldn't want her to miss that.  (Actually I'm singing in it ... so I wish she WOULD miss it.)  I'm sure we'll find a gluten-free bakery after that.

If you drive by my house in the next five weeks, you will not see Rick's car in the driveway.  Nope.  That car has travelled to as many events with d,d,d E.  I can't tell if it WANTS to go or it if just likes that it's finally getting some action.  Rick doesn't drive it much anymore.

And finally, d,d,d E has a little jaunt planned to Miami now.  It's always somewhere.  If she drags me along, I swear I'll drop from exhaustion.  I'm not 26 and I don't climb steamship stairs for a living.

I'm ready for that long winter's nap, Santa ...


ho, ho, yawn.

.

d. d. daughter ...

... is at it again.   Home for three whole days now she came with plans to spend every waking moment with her dear ol' mom and dad ...

And then off she goes to see the world.  She claims she'll be back in time for Christmas ... or not, depending on how the wind changes or how much money she has in her knapsack.  Napsack?  I never knew how to spell that word.  Actually never needed to, either.

Alas, she bought herself a ticket to Belfast.  That would be Belfast in NORTHERN IRELAND.  That would be in a troubled part of the world.  And that would be stupid, not only because of the destination but because she's going alone.  But stupidity is her middle name.

So, here her mom and dad sit ... pondering whether to put out the decorations or not, whether to haul all of those boxes down all of those stairs or not, whether to cook the big ol' goose or not.

The goose won.  Christmas or no Christmas, daughter or no daughter, we's a-eatin' and a feastin'.  Ain't gonna let Northern Ireland stop us from that!!

AND ... it won't have to be GLUTEN FREE!    Whee!

☆

...

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...........

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recapping

Our trip was short and sweet so there's not much to recap ... but here goes.

When you go to Hawaii ... watch out for Nene's.  They are allowed to cross when they see this sign.

I took this picture of this gorgeous golf course.  I didn't notice the storm coming in.  I also don't see the restaurant we ate at.  

A)  I was totally in the wrong spot for our dinner that night.

B) I didn't care, because the view was beautiful.

C)  It was my birthday and I was allowed to do whatever I wanted.

We eventually did find the restaurant we were looking for ... but it was nowhere near here.

It was nowhere near here, either.

But it IS a gorgeous shot, thank you very much.

This pretty sight was our view from our hotel room.  

Not too shabby.

Rick liked it, too.

We enjoyed this view while dining on our fine Hawaiian cuisine.

McHamburgers and McFries.

Yea, Hawaii!

And while we were "home" in our high-rise digs, my dear, darling daughter was "home" in her own digs.

Meet, The Pride of America ... my daughter's home away from home.

Behind all of that barbed wire, security guards, police and passenger-check-in stuff ...

lies a tiny twin bed and a tiny Barbie-sized closet that my daughter calls "home" ...

for three more days anyway.

;)

still in hawaii

So, exactly why did Rick and I head to Hawaii?  And for only four days?

We had to.

This fortune was in my fortune cookie about a week before and I always take fortune cookies very seriously.  Especially when it comes in TWO DIFFERENT COOKIES!  The gods really wanted me to take a vacation, I guess.

So, I complied.  And I made Rick comply, too.  After all, why rile up the fortune gods?

Thought I'd show you some of the fun things we learned in Hawaii ...

I learned that when floors are wet, you must dance.  And it must be a hoe-down.

If necessary, though, you can sit down while you dance.  I prefer this slip 'n' slide move myself.

It's hard to dance, though, when your feet are not allowed.  

Maybe that rule is only for purple feet.

This foot didn't dance.  But it did find itself some sand.

... and some water.  It hadn't seen an ocean in a very long time.

No feet here, but Peter Pan was discovered in Hawaii, too.

Did my hair ever calm down?

Nope.  Sure glad the 'comb over' is back in style...

And that's our lesson for today.

Not sure what we learned ... but we learned it good.

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