family bonding- beer pong

And there you have it. Memorial Day we had a nice little family lunch in the back yard, with our dogs all having fun, and all of a sudden, George decides she wants to learn to play Beer Pong. Mind you, in a month, George will be 54. FIFTY-FOUR! But she wanted to learn to play. So we obliged. Even EA, who generally disdains and scorns anything having to do with George. Of course, EA had already been drinking some, and continued to do so through the game, so perhaps that was her sneaky way of it being OK. As you can see, EA and Slim were on a team and George and Christopher. Later I played with EA against SisterK and Christopher, but I wasn't very good. It was interesting to say the least. My father sort of just watched in disbelief. Drinking games with one's mother. Hum.

In other news, getting new glasses, as my vision has changed again. Will post pictures when the new spectacles arrive. Had to get a wider set of frames to accommodate my giant head (stupid steroids) but they're cool. It is funny that NOW my reading vision is fine, but my distance (ie driving, movie viewing, trying to read the clock) is awful. Lovely. This time we went with brown, but still Nine West. Expensive buggers (especially since stupid Aetna doesn't cover it). 

Also, began dog obedience training with Viv. Disastrous thus far. She is afraid of the clicker and training in general- continuously runs away from me and acts as though I'm trying to "get" her. Ratty dog. And, being that I am the LEAST patient person in the world, I'm already getting frustrated with her. But trying not to. Really. We'll see how it goes.

gray gray go away

It is incredibly dark outside right now. Like mad cloudy yo. I'm trying not to let it drag me down....aka trying to not be completely unmotivated to do anything, including running to the store for tp and butter (two things we are out of that are kind of crucial. yes it may be gross that we love butter, but whatevs. loves it we do, and we're out). If I obtain said things, then I can return home and make breakfast. Which is less fun nowadays since I'm the only normal carb eater around. Mom and EA only eat GF, and dad doesn't eat pancakes or french toast and whatnot, trying to be all healthy like. BOO. So if I make breakfast, it is just for me, and then I feel like a cow. Which, in all honesty, I am right now. But I finally got to lower my steroids a bit so hopefully that will be changing soon. A little less puff, please.

In other news, got a pedicure from a nice little fellow yesterday....Kat wanted to get a manicure and I figured since I haven't been able to really reach my feet to do a good pedi, I could let some stranger do it, do a nice job, massage my feet for a while, and in return I would tip him very very well (like too well, good thing my math skills suck I just made that guys day). It was nice, and now my toes are adorned with a fun bright shade of summer pink, and my heels aren't covered in dead gross skin. It is amazing how much they exfoliate you in these places.  And how much comes off, ick. I shouldn't spend money on such things, but having well taken care of feet is actually one of the things diabetics are supposed to do, so I consider my once every million years pedicure that I let myself get to be a medical thing.

Also, I had the stellar idea of the TRON family taking a trip in an RV....which sparked the conversation that S actually HAS an RV (though the bathroom is broken, perhaps we can get it fixed for cheaply....since knowing me and our group, it would probably be best to have a working bathroom) though I don't even know if her parents would be even remotely ok with us taking it. Nor do I know how large it is, and there are like 7-8 of us at any given time. Good thing we all love bunking up? Well, it is just a thought. I really had this vision of a great cross country (perhaps not the whole country in one sitting. That is a lot of miles and a lot of hours with the same people in one tiny space) trip with us chillin out, and we could find campgrounds and make s'mores and stuff at nights, and basically everyone could drink to their heart's content except whoever had to drive the next day, and it would be great. We'd see things we haven't seen yet, and we would totally TRONonize the whole thing. Plus frankly, I miss spending time with these people as a group. And if we had an rv, the whole notion of everyone getting up mad late the next day wouldn't even apply. Only the driver and navigator would have to wake up and everyone else could just sleep in the back until they felt like getting up. Ugh it would be perfect for us. Anyway, I know it is a long shot, everyone is busy, poor, etc, but I still thing it would be awesome. 

That is pretty much my round up. For the memorial day holiday, having a basket lunch at Harkness Park, we'll have to go early and stake a spot (near trees and a griller) and then we can play with the dogs all day and then have food and fun and (not for me) sun. And perhaps a walk on the beach, or through the lovely mansion gardens. I'm pumped. I think the count is me, Kat, Chris, Beth and maybe Wills, then the parents if they so choose to come. Our parents that is. Not the boys'. Should be nice. 

commencing to....?

So Friday I went over to Purchase to witness the remaining children of the TRON clan graduate. I was shocked to have the benefit of seeing Stevie walk as well, and was most upset that I hadn't known he was going to, so didn't have a gift for him. So his will be sent via post. But KHawk, Al and A I had their little commencement presents and it was wonderful to see them. Of course I, being the Momma Meg that I am, just starting crying. Didn't get all crazy though because 1-no need for drama, and 2-I don't actually produce a large amount of tears unless under extreme duress. I also got to see JoseMiguel who was there to see his bf graduate, and a few professors. It was rather nice on the whole. I miss them. I was informed that Cole and Phil live in Brooklyn, about 4 blocks from A and S, and then Stevie is like 10 minutes away. So I guess it is true about everyone living there. Almost. KHawk will be on campus for summer, and Al home in Queens, so I am hoping we can all get together soon and have a real family type dealy.

Then I returned home, and had a McG girl night with my sisters. At C & K's. It was very amusing. A bunch of folks, good drinks, good times. Then Saturday lazed around feeling poorly (not hungover mind you, but might as well have been, since I stayed over and missed two med doses I just was icky. boo) then later took Viv's to the park with cousin Levi, then went over to help with the cupcakes for sisterK's wedding tea for her friend today. They came out ok. Then today, Pablo, EA and Ab's drove down to DC to bring Ab's back to her new residence, and EA will stay down there for a bit. So since I'm home alone con los perritos, I did a shit ton of laundry (still going), did dishes (have another load to toss in), and baked banana bread with some bananas that weren't long for this world (came out rather tasty). So now to finish the chore stuff, and make dinner, and find a good film to watch. 

Have been feeling pretty good lately, hopefully can cut the steroid dose down, since the weight issue is annoying. The face and tummy fat needs to go. I'll probably get to the gym this week, hopefully, but it will be better if the steroids are down. Not 100% yet, but I will be soon. And then, back to life with a renewed sense of vigor. Or something like that. Still waiting to hear back about job interviews, and working on the grad school list. Whittling down the 15 to how many I want to visit. 

That's all, folks.

aaaaaalpaca!

So Mom and I trekked up to the Adirondacks to visit my Uncle A, Aunt J and the twins Z&T. The girls will be 3 June 10th, so they are in the worst part of toddler-dom, and of course tantrums are rampant. But it was pretty good, even little T, who is the screamer, is getting better. J is trying the "no whining" rule, and prompts them to ask for help with what it is they need. They are doing pretty well. And Z, for the most part, isn't all that high maintenance. They just both want their mom at the same time. Like all kids that aren't only children. We went on many adventures. We went to visit alpacas (the girls put a lot of emphasis on the AL part), we saw some deer and ibex, we went out for really good mexican food, and we had a campfire. And searched for raccoons. I got to relax a bit in that fresh mountain air, got compared to FDR, and my feet are finally almost normal again. I actually felt really good. I'm hoping the good breathing keeps up with the new meds and that I can feel up to par soon. I need to go back to the gym. It might be hard, and I know I won't be motivated, but I have to be. The steroid weight gain does not need to be as bad as it is. I could put in much more effort. Anyway....I'm beat from a weekend in the mountains, and not too inspired to write a lot, but pictures I can give ya. enjoy!