7.31.10 - teaching everyone Tichu

Yesterday I went up to Wal Mart to grab a few things, and was amused by the contrast in customer service compared to the Wal Mart where Jack works (it's much friendlier here, it's ridiculous). Then I went *back* to BreadCo for lunch with Aunt Linda (it's tradition). I got the Frontega Chicken Sandwich for the 2nd day in a row, and was not remotely sick of it.

When I got home I got to try out Everett's new elliptical machine while watching my Youtube music video playlist on his 50" plasma TV screen. It was fantastic. After the workout, Everett, Ellen, Mom, David and I went to Sugar Creek winery to play--yes that's right--Tichu. I'm teaching everyone! We had wine, chocolate, cheese and crackers and played nearly a full game. We cut it off at 930 to 770 because a storm was rolling in (which was wonderful to watch, btw).

At home Everett and David showed me Fantastic Mr. Fox and Slammin' Salmon, and both movies were very funny.

Today I woke up and basically just talked to Mom for the first few hours of the day. Then Julie had her pre-wedding Pow Wow, and when it was over Troy, Erin and Aaron stuck around so that I could teach them Tichu. They picked it up pretty quickly, just like everyone. They had to leave before it was over, though. Alas.

That it so far, but it's been wonderful. Mom and I are getting ready to go to the St. Charles County Fair now. I just wanted to write this all out so in a year and beyond I'll still have the good memories.

7.29.10 - MO trip so far

Yesterday morning Jack and I got some frappuccinos and walked around Berkeley campus. We stopped once in a wooded area where squirrels walked right up to us over and over, and another time on a stone bridge over a creek. We had good talks about our lives right now. I really like him.

Then he took me to Oakland airport. The place was nearly empty--I guess flying on a Wednesday afternoon is the way to go. I breezed through security, played Spider Solitaire until we boarded, and read more of The Name of the Wind (which is picking up) during the trip. All was smooth. As the flight descended in St. Louis I got to watch a thunderstorm a little ways off. Watching thunderstorms from that height is wonderful, because you can see the nearly-incessant lightning.

Ellen and Mom picked me up from the airport and as soon as I got home I taught David, Everett, and Mike Tichu. Spreading the love. They picked it up pretty well, but Mike had to leave before we finished. Then David, Everett and I stayed up until about 5am watching old home videos I brought. We laughed till we cried.

I got up a few hours later (today) to take Mom to work so I could use her car during the day. I never quite went back to sleep. Went to BreadCo, had a (4 hour!) lunch with Angela visiting, which was great fun, and while I was there I ran into a friend I knew at L'abri! How bizarre is that? We are going to try to get coffee next week.

When I got home Ellen and I walked around the neighborhood a bit. I'm actually really enjoying the heat and even the humidity, just because it brings memories of other MO summers. It feels like there's little weather in the bay area by comparison. When I got back I finally crashed for a few hours.

That night David, Everett, Ellen, Adam and I went to see Julie and Denny's new home. It's about twice the size of my apartment at half the price (welcome to CA), and it is really nice. We stayed for a few hours, played more Tichu and watched funny music videos on Julie and Denny's giant projector screen. Went home around 1:30 in the morning. I think the summer weather out here is conducive to late schedules, because we don't want to go out until evening when it's cooled, and sleep during the hot part of the day.

7.23.10 - Editing home videos

A week or two ago I realized I have a working VCR stashed away in my closet, so I used it to watch 5-6 vhs home videos I haven't watched in years. They are from 2002, 2003, and 2005, and they have a lot on them I'd forgotten about. Some of it is very funny, all of it is nostalgic. 

So I've spent the last week or more recording all of the videos onto a computer and editing them in an attempt to make dvds for many of the people in the videos. (I notice I pledged copies of a lot of the videos to said people at the time of the recordings; better 8 years later than never, I guess.) It's been a fun project!

Since I don't need to be at work, and Jack is trying to get extra work done for Dad, I've been spending a lot of time at Dad's house. By "Dad's house" I mean "Dad's media room" because most of the house is covered in plastic sheets and cardboard while the kitchen sits in a state of disarray. The kitchen is being remodeled, so I spend nearly all my time in the media room, editing video files and playing Tichu with Jack, Neil, and Cody (who lives here now, btw.)

I leave for MO next Wed. It will be my first time there since Christmas; this is one of my longer stints away from MO since I moved to CA. I'm going to be helping Julie get ready for her wedding while having lunches and catching up with everyone there. Should be great fun, I can't wait.

7.4.10 - July 4th

This morning I got up a little early and made a (diet) cherry coke salad to chill in the fridge a few hours. Shortly after I finished, Henry came over, and we visited while waiting for Jack to get up and about. Then we all headed to the Berkeley wall for the largest wall ball turnout I've yet seen. There were enough people to play on both sides of the wall, and to later play a huge tournament-style game or several. Julie came and got to play. Dad and I watched; I, because I dislike sports and running, and Dad because his knees are sore. It was good to have him to visit with.

The games went on a long time and were sometimes hilarious to watch. Very competitive. Afterward, nearly everyone retired to Doug's house for a potluck barbecue. Far too much food, which was awesome. Brats, burgers, salads, corn, grilled zucchini (mmmmmm), pies, cookies, smores, etc. I taught three new people (including Julie) Tichu, spreading the Tichu love, and then I played in different Tichu games for a few hours. Finally we left, exhausted, and poor Jack still has to go to work! (He works overnight tonight.)

We didn't see any fireworks, but overall it was a very fun day.