Yesterday's post and Girls Weekend reminded me of another little prank from my past.
Someday I hope my boys will read these posts and perhaps they will realize that their mom used to be fun (because I am sure they will think I am a big ol' stick in the mud when they are teenagers). One of my favorite stories is of my dad getting caught skipping school and going to play pool with his buddies.
There's a place in The Woodlands just north of Houston called The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion. We shopped near there during Girls Weekend. It is an outdoor amphitheater with regular chair seats but also a sloping hill where people can sit on a blanket and/or bring a picnic to watch the concert. Very fun. Possibly romantic if you are there with the right person.
Several of us went to see James Taylor. We bought the cheap tickets which meant sitting on the hill. I can't remember for sure, but I think I was there with some of the girls who taught school with me so it definitely wasn't a date night for me. While we were waiting for the performance to start we happened to see Joe** one of the guys who taught with us at Second Baptist School. Joe** did not see us. Joe** was on a date. We did not recognize Date Girl so our guess was that this might be a first date or a very new relationship. Joe was reclining on the blanket with the beautiful girl, the picnic basket, and the perfect weather (and soon the JT music). He didn't know of the triple dog dare 40 feet behind him.
I walked down the far side of the hill like I was going to the restroom so he wouldn't see me. I walked up the "aisle" closest to Joe looking around like I was trying to find my group. When I saw him, I acted very surprised and said in a somewhat excited loud voice,
"Joe? Joe? Oh my goodness! I can't believe it's you. I haven't seen you since you broke off our ENGAGEMENT."
Everyone on their blankets near Joe immediately turned to watch thinking, "Oh, this is going to be good."
Date Girl is clearly uncomfortable.
Joe's face is red and he is trying to say something but before he can speak, I say
"What has it been? Two months? I can't believe it has been two months!!! How are you? And how's your family?"
Then I promptly plopped down on their blanket continuing to ask rapid fire questions.
I am surprised Joe didn't kill me right then and there. My friends are watching 40 feet up and while they can't hear anything they can see his and her priceless facial expressions.
Date Girl's mind is racing. "He was engaged? He didn't tell me that. She is sitting on our blanket."
I try to keep it up without laughing and even introduce myself to Date Girl. Finally, Joe is laughing because he knows I got him good. He is saying, "Rachel, stop it. Rachel, I am going to kill you." This makes me start laughing so I can't keep up the act.
Joe reluctantly introduces me to Date Girl as one of his co-workers (and not a former fiancee). I leave them alone so he can convince her that I really was just kidding.
Now that was a fun concert!
**Names have been changed to protect the innocent especially since Joe didn't marry that Date Girl but he is happily married to someone else and has two kids (so I hear).
Happy Birthday to my nephew Thom today! Have a great day! Next year's the big one!
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Throwback Thursday
The date: 1996ish (definitely pre Sept. 11)
The place: George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, TX
The mood: Always be careful when you ask someone else to pick you up at the airport.
Back in our single days in Houston it was common to ask another single to pick you up at the airport if you had to travel for business or go home to visit family. It saved on parking fees and it was usually easy to find a friend to help.
We had a friend named Trey. He was the director of our Sunday School class. He was one of those guys who always had a snappy comeback for everything or a snide remark. He loved pulling pranks and always seemed to have the last laugh. He teased others mercilessly, but was an all around good guy.
Several of us from our class were having dinner together one night and one of the guys said he had to leave to go pick up Trey from the airport.
I may have suggested that we "pick him up" in style. We went home to find appropriate attire and make a poster. I wish the pictures were better quality.
He never ever told anyone when he was going out of town ever again.
The place: George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Houston, TX
The mood: Always be careful when you ask someone else to pick you up at the airport.
Back in our single days in Houston it was common to ask another single to pick you up at the airport if you had to travel for business or go home to visit family. It saved on parking fees and it was usually easy to find a friend to help.
We had a friend named Trey. He was the director of our Sunday School class. He was one of those guys who always had a snappy comeback for everything or a snide remark. He loved pulling pranks and always seemed to have the last laugh. He teased others mercilessly, but was an all around good guy.
Several of us from our class were having dinner together one night and one of the guys said he had to leave to go pick up Trey from the airport.
I may have suggested that we "pick him up" in style. We went home to find appropriate attire and make a poster. I wish the pictures were better quality.
The sign read, "Trey Vick -- Congradulations on ur parole. We knowed you didn't do it." When he got off the plane we all started yelling and cheering and congratulating him on his parole. He was shocked and speechless to say the least. Trey is in the white Polo Sport tshirt. 
He never ever told anyone when he was going out of town ever again.
We did pull this little prank a few more times to our unsuspecting friends. Every time I flew after that I always got a little nervous when it was time to deplane.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Fly the Friendly Skies
My flight to Houston was 2 hours and 18 minutes. That's an important detail in this little story.
Like a good little girl, I went to the restroom before I boarded the plane. But for some reason about 30 minutes into the flight I had to go again. Maybe it has something to do with altitude and pressure changes on my bladder or the coffee I drank at home. Who knows.
I head back to the restroom and lock the door. No light comes on. So my first thought is that I didn't slide the lever into the locked position. So I open the door and close it again and slide the lever shut. Still no light. Try again. Nothing. I am sure the people in the back of the plane are starting to formulate some opinions about the girl in the bathroom who keeps opening and closing the door.
Then I second guess myself even though I've flown hundreds of times. Is there a light switch in the airplane bathroom? I feel around for one. The germaphobe in me is freaking out touching all those nasty surfaces. Nope. No light switch.
Do you know how dark an airplane bathroom is? No lights. None. No crack with a little light filtering through. Pitch dark.
At this point I had waited too long. I REALLY had to go to the bathroom and couldn't hold it so I proceded in the darkness hoping that I wouldn't miss. (Sorry if this is too gross for you.) See, I am a squatter and that is all I am going to say about that. On a level of difficulty scale, this bathroom trip was a 9.825. It would have been a 10 if I were on crutches or had a small child with me.
But here's the kicker: I finish (sucessfully) and wash my hands. I walk out and the flight attendant happens to be near the back of the plane by my seat. I could not make this up if I tried.
Me: Did you know the light is out in the bathroom?
Flight Attendant: Yes. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. They can't fix it until we get to Houston.
Me: (just staring at her with a dumbfounded look)
FA: Good thing going to the bathroom is one of those things we do everyday so we can still do it in the dark.
Me: (fake laugh) yeah, good thing???
No lie. Then finally at about the 1 hour and 30 minute mark (remember the flight is only 2 hrs 18 min), the flight attendant comes on and says this:
"Ladies and gentlemen, the light is not working in the lavatory. It will be fixed when we get to Houston. In the meantime, there is a flashlight next to the wall of the lavatory IF you need it. But please return it since it is a part of our emergency equipment."
Seriously? Do you think you could have offered the flashlight option, oh I don't know, at the beginning of the flight when she KNEW there was no light?
That same airline (I won't use names but it rhymes with Dontinental) now charges $50 to be put on the list to fly standby. I was going to try to get an earlier flight home on Monday and I asked the agent if I could do that. She said it would cost $50. There were three people on the list ahead of me so I asked her what would happen if I didn't get a seat. Her response? You'll lose $50. I asked her to explain it again because clearly I was missing something. Same story. You have to pay just to get on the list whether you actually get the seat or not. Wait, am I in Houston or Vegas? Because that sounds like gambling to me!
Like a good little girl, I went to the restroom before I boarded the plane. But for some reason about 30 minutes into the flight I had to go again. Maybe it has something to do with altitude and pressure changes on my bladder or the coffee I drank at home. Who knows.
I head back to the restroom and lock the door. No light comes on. So my first thought is that I didn't slide the lever into the locked position. So I open the door and close it again and slide the lever shut. Still no light. Try again. Nothing. I am sure the people in the back of the plane are starting to formulate some opinions about the girl in the bathroom who keeps opening and closing the door.
Then I second guess myself even though I've flown hundreds of times. Is there a light switch in the airplane bathroom? I feel around for one. The germaphobe in me is freaking out touching all those nasty surfaces. Nope. No light switch.
Do you know how dark an airplane bathroom is? No lights. None. No crack with a little light filtering through. Pitch dark.
At this point I had waited too long. I REALLY had to go to the bathroom and couldn't hold it so I proceded in the darkness hoping that I wouldn't miss. (Sorry if this is too gross for you.) See, I am a squatter and that is all I am going to say about that. On a level of difficulty scale, this bathroom trip was a 9.825. It would have been a 10 if I were on crutches or had a small child with me.
But here's the kicker: I finish (sucessfully) and wash my hands. I walk out and the flight attendant happens to be near the back of the plane by my seat. I could not make this up if I tried.
Me: Did you know the light is out in the bathroom?
Flight Attendant: Yes. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. They can't fix it until we get to Houston.
Me: (just staring at her with a dumbfounded look)
FA: Good thing going to the bathroom is one of those things we do everyday so we can still do it in the dark.
Me: (fake laugh) yeah, good thing???
No lie. Then finally at about the 1 hour and 30 minute mark (remember the flight is only 2 hrs 18 min), the flight attendant comes on and says this:
"Ladies and gentlemen, the light is not working in the lavatory. It will be fixed when we get to Houston. In the meantime, there is a flashlight next to the wall of the lavatory IF you need it. But please return it since it is a part of our emergency equipment."
Seriously? Do you think you could have offered the flashlight option, oh I don't know, at the beginning of the flight when she KNEW there was no light?
That same airline (I won't use names but it rhymes with Dontinental) now charges $50 to be put on the list to fly standby. I was going to try to get an earlier flight home on Monday and I asked the agent if I could do that. She said it would cost $50. There were three people on the list ahead of me so I asked her what would happen if I didn't get a seat. Her response? You'll lose $50. I asked her to explain it again because clearly I was missing something. Same story. You have to pay just to get on the list whether you actually get the seat or not. Wait, am I in Houston or Vegas? Because that sounds like gambling to me!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Chalk One Up
Before I had kids, my friends with kids told me that dads interact differently with their kids than moms do. Whether it's changing a diaper, giving a bath or playing, dads just do it differently. I didn't understand at first. But now I do.
Fletcher went to a birthday party recently and he received sidewalk chalk in the goodie bag. I was in the house cleaning up the kitchen after dinner. I'll let these pictures speak for themselves.
I know I said I would let the pictures speak for themselves, but please note Kevin's face.
And neck.
Luke is just now starting to learn his colors. Kevin put some pink chalk on his feet and Luke frantically started wiping it off saying, "Not pink. Not pink. Not pink."
Monday, July 27, 2009
Girls' Weekend 2009
I've been at Lake Conroe just north of Houston for our annual Girls' Weekend since Friday.
Kevin is at home alone with the boys for Boys' Weekend (Fletcher started calling it that). Pray for him. Fletcher has big plans since mom is away. On Thursday he told me, "Mom, I can't wait to take you to the airport." I wasn't sure how to take that.
We won't be doing any whitewater rafting this weekend, just relaxing by the pool and enjoying time together without kids.
Kevin is at home alone with the boys for Boys' Weekend (Fletcher started calling it that). Pray for him. Fletcher has big plans since mom is away. On Thursday he told me, "Mom, I can't wait to take you to the airport." I wasn't sure how to take that.
We won't be doing any whitewater rafting this weekend, just relaxing by the pool and enjoying time together without kids.
Friday, July 24, 2009
The Summer Garden
What an adventure this has been!
Of everything we've planted the cucumbers have done the best even though they have taken over a portion of the fencing around the garden. Fletcher and Kevin have especially enjoyed eating them. We were getting tomatoes too until the blight completely destroyed them. They were all very small though.
We took out the carrots and the onions because they weren't growing. We are holding on to a little hope for the strawberries and leaving the peppers just in case. I didn't have much hope for the blueberries in the first place since they were an impulse purchase at Sam's. I probably should do some research to see what kind of blueberry plants grow best around here.
This white flower is a bloom on one of the strawberry plants.
I did buy a pack of mini pumpkin seeds for the boys to plant. It says it takes 100 days to grow. So that means we should plant them today. I don't think we will plant anything else for the fall.
Will I do a garden again next year? I'm not sure. I have learned alot, but I still realize there's so much to learn. I think I know a little more about what NOT to do. With North Carolina's unpredictible spring weather (remember it snowed on March 1 after we planted stuff on Feb. 15), I don't think I'll do a spring garden. But we may try another summer garden.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Throwback Thursday
The date: 1969-1975
The place: All of these were taken somewhere in the vicinity of Sulphur, Louisiana
The mood: Oh, there is just so much to say. So I'll give a brief rundown of each photo. Please feel free to comment if I miss anything.
1969ish - please note Denise's lovely glasses and orange ensemble. Poor David hadn't had eye surgery yet to fix his lazy eye, but the shorts with longsleeves adds a nice touch. Mike didn't get the memo that white socks don't go with black dress shoes. Me - I really just didn't want to take the picture. That sofa was a luxurious dark green vinyl.
I like this picture alot. It is one of the few we have of our entire family. I was probably about 2 years old so this would have been around 1970. I am not sure where we were because I don't recognize that couch. Denise is rockin' that plaid skirt. My mom looks so young with her headband and flippy hair.
1972 - Mike was 14, Denise was 12, David was 6 and I was 3. My MawMaw Petree (mom's mom) made our matching dresses. Don't miss the fact that David is wearing a plaid tie that matches his plaid shirt. Now there's a new fashion trend that didn't catch on. Mike would spend hours in the bathroom trying to get his hair to do that.
Probably 1973 - I was a flowergirl in a wedding. Sorry Mike, you were just too tall to fit your head in the picture. That corner of the living room was our "photo corner" for some reason. Don't miss Mike's white shoes. I think we still have that set of encyclopedias somewhere. I spent hours looking through those when I was a kid.
1974 - David and Mike were both secure enough in their manhood to wear varying shades of pink. Mike still had the combover bang thing going on. Denise had seriously long hair. I remember wearing that little necklace was kind of a big deal for me. Um, David, what were you looking at?
1975 - Mike's hair changed from the combover to the butt cut part down the middle. Nice black leisure suit with very busy shirt. That 70's Show would have loved this for their costume department. David is stylin' with his white bow tie and shirt. You can't tell from the photo but I went with the nautical sailor look in this photo. My sister cut her hair all short and sassy.
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