first time in 3 years there hasn’t been a major family event here in the casey casa, so husband got to watch the washed-out 500 on sunday. we headed over to southern illinois to sister’s ranch for some food and frolic yesterday.
great food, good friends—-the only thing missing was my kids…..
i’ve been babysitting sunny for 2 weeks while her family is in california. they’re due back this evening. it’s always like this: she spends a while under the bed, then adapts and enjoys herself. she and wink do their perfunctory hissing at each other the first day, then become pals. while they’ve casually ignored each other most of the time, they’ve spent some play-time and some guard-time together.
(wink feels a little sorry for her deformity–he tries not to stare at her extra eye)
the rummage sale went great–made about $350! casey’s “man” items went especially well: cloth or rubber gloves 25cents; leather gloves $1 pair; lots and lots of windows at $1 each. my bedspreads/quilts all sold, most of the rugs and desk chairs. the church pew went for $50–still a bargain, but i got it for $20 last year (we call that flip-this-pew). it was fun, too, talking with our neighbors as well as the occasional white-trash that drove their smoking cars up from the gutters and didn’t buy a thing because they were looking for clothes. interesting people-watching, and a little bit of tattoo-judging.
i’m back in vbs. seems i was given MusicTime because i fussed last year, but wasn’t actually told that. i’m putting on my christian attitude and will have a great time.
that means we’ll be putting off our blueridge parkway getaway until the following week, but that’s okay.
3 more days of after-school-care. i have 4 reference forms that need to be filled out and submitted to support my school corporation job. i read these things and am unwilling to let just “anybody” fill them out—i need folks who are willing to lie about me…….
since i sold the church pew i’m adding a swing to the front porch. i’m going out shopping for that today and hope to get some painting done this week. we have graduations, receptions, and scout events to attend also but when we get to the end of the week–aahh…
we’re having a rummage sale here at sonnystone this saturday and all of the junk is out of the attic in the dining room, waiting for prices and the rain to move in&out so we can take them out to the porch.
about a month ago i went down to the school corporation and got on the nurse sub-list. they still have my records from the 20th century so the personnel thing was easy. feeling lazy, i waited a couple of weeks to call the head of nursing because i was afraid they might put me right to work. when i did call her she asked if i was interested in a permanent position, i said sure. the nurse at one of the middle schools is retiring and i went out and worked with her and for her on thurs and fri last week. everything went really well—many of the staff are old patients of dr. k. i’ll interview for the job this thursday, but it looks pretty for-sure that i’ll be starting next school year, work hours (get this) are 8:30-12:30…hope i don’t get too tired.
vbs season is upon us and i have decided to go out of town this year. i’m obsessively planning a blue ridge parkway getaway featuring mountains, waterfalls, bluegrass music, and a winery. sounds so peaceful.
sonnystone is looking good and my veggie garden is one of the prettiest i’ve had. the roses and lavendar are already blooming. on the right-hand front of the above picture you can see the hollyhocks that are tremendous this year. the new garden is still a work-in-progress, but everything is a work-in-progress to me.
Smirkin’ jo in her derby hat
as for my hasselhoff-esque moment: i kept my shirt on and was able to eat 1/2 polish and kraut without getting any on me.
so there.
derby day started poorly: we’ve had so much rain that the bench that my potted herbs were sitting on fell over, spewing basil, tarragon, thyme, and a small cilantro on their faces in the garden path. we scooped them up and attempted to right them and they do seem to have survived. we headed out to rummage sales and the bargain of the day was two metal lawn chairs for $5 each–good shape, need paint. then it was over to rural king where they were out of the on-sale ferns, so i got a rain ticket (ha) and bought some rose food. while there i found a wonderful derby hat, really a great hat for any day, for only $4.99! we picked up some beers on the way home and started in prepping for the race.
heading out to the track with 3 beers in me and a spectacular hat on my head made me more than giddy. husband had picked his horses and i was very confident in our combined numbers. it was a beautiful day at ellis and the crowd was just enough, not too much. after one beer out there i went to the bathroom and found a track friend (not barry) and he bought us another beer. i was beginning to slur and squint, still having a great time. 5 minutes before the race we got our last beers and got into position. we were watching the show on the big screen from the front-row benches and stood up to watch what i was sure was going to be a real win. the 2 minutes went by quickly and my head was so spinning to see none of my horses even come close that i spilled my beer. we sloppily sloped out, still incredulous at our loss.
driving out of the parking lot, husband did not heed my command to turn, thus sending me over to the disgruntled drunk mood. it goes something like this: i can’t believe you’re mad at me for driving out the north exit instead of the south exit. i’m not mad at you. then why are you pouting? i’m not pouting. then why are you giving me those disgusted looks? i’m not giving you disgusted looks. etc. etc. etc. by the time we got home, i took my pout and disgusted looks to the couch where i immediately passed out. waking up 2 hours later, all i could think was: i can’t believe none of those horses even showed……….
the queen looked to be having a great time, didn’t she? i read that she didn’t place any bets, so her smile didn’t fade. my hat was better, though.
the confidence and devil-may-care attitude that i take towards my bets during the ellis park horse-racing season is completely missing when it comes to my ky derby bets. in the years before i actually committed money toward the endeavor casey and i would bet a “service” on a chosen horse and i often won; ever since i started going over to the track and really betting, i either lose or spend so much on betting the field that it doesn’t pay off. it’s a mind-set and i’ve decided to get-over-it by going with 2 horses that appealed to me for no reason except name: i’ll be placing my usual $2-to-show on (drum roll): cowtown cat and nobizlikeshowbiz. i’d love to know who the queen is betting on.
rain, rain and more rain. all the plants and most of the seeds are in and i’m loving this jump of growth caused by the steady spring rains.
i’m counting the days (14) till school’s out. going for a pedicure this a.m. the sun should come out just in time for the run for the roses tomorrow and i’ll be over at the track cheering.
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