Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Independence Day

Independence Day is coming. The Fourth of July makes me think of fireworks, barbaques, and that movie with Wil Smith.(the one where the aliens blow up the White House).I can't say I have seen that whole movie but Jack will stop to watch if it shows up on cable.

Another thing that I think of for this weekend is family and friends. You see, we almost always saw my in - laws on holiday weekends like this. They would usually have us over to swim and cook out. When scheduling events for the weekend, my Delaware peeps would know to ask, "When are you seeing the Ziegler's?" and we would schedule accordingly around it.

Because I like to entertain and see people, my holiday weekends could have us at 3 or 4 events between family, friends, and neighbors. This year is different. We left the Ziegler clan on the east coast as we departed the Outer Banks. Even if we were in Delaware the in -laws have JUST moved so there would be a new location for our gathering.

Here in Tennessee, I am still making friends and meeting neighbors. I don't know anyone well enough to invite them over. It makes me sad. I let the sadness wash over me in the van on the way home from the Outer Banks. Well, maybe not completly wash over me, but I did let it roll up and lap at my toes.

I know myself well enough to know, wallowing in sadness is not my thing. To that end, I have decided that like the colonists I too shall declare my independence in the state of Tennessee. This in no way means I want to go to war with my past in Delaware, but it does allow me to be embrace the fact that my family will have it's own quiet cookout, will watch the Independence Day Parade in Farragut, will go on a family bike ride and we are able to start our own new holiday weekend traditions.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Family Fun

I have a loud family. When we get together there is talking, laughing, and hand gesturing. That is not to say we don't have our quiet moments also. At the beach everyone sitting quietly reading. However, when we snack or eat, there is talking, laughing, and yes, teasing. We have running jokes and silliness as all families do.

There is the long standing flatulence humor regarding my father. My sister Gayle and I have some inside sayings that will get us in fit of giggles in no time. I would have to say though that the one who gets the most teasing is my mother. We love her and tease her. Each of us has gaffs we make or misunderstandings and we all get ribbed about it. It does seem though that we chuckle at things mom has done more than the rest of us. I fear as my nickname is sometimes "Little Joyce", I am following in her footsteps as the one to be teased the most in the future. I can take it, unless I start to cry because I am a crybaby. (which I get teased about) I cannot go into all the family stories of silly things I have done or others have done which make us all laugh.

I will today share the story of another well meaning grandmother who I am with this week. If she were my mother, she would be teased ALL week and then some. She is lucky she has only one child here. It is much easier to tease in a mob,(I have 4 siblings)because you get the joy of bouncing jokes off each other. This is the tale of "Wind Breaker". I share it with you because, it is something easily my mother couls have done.

A group of us were out shopping. My grandmother friend had agreed to search for playdough for a grandchild. We went to many shops and she found something she felt was a enough like playdough. It was brightly colored and in a container. She bought one for each child in the house. Upon returning, we are unloading and I see this product. It is indeed pretty and looks like a slime/silly puddy product. I look closer and see that the container calls the product "Wind Breaker". I start to think, uh oh. I ask the grandmother,"Did you know this puddy is meant to make farting noises?" (of course she did not) Well we all discuss it, and since it was for the youngest most of all and he can't read it should be fine. (there are instructions on the container of how to actually get the best ?#@!? noise)

We were of course, wrong. We show the children the "playdough" and give instructions to keep it at the kitchen counter. It takes no more than a minute for the group to read the side and begin emitting fart sounds like crazy. The joy of calm, quiet creativity, that had been intended was squelched by air bubble noise and giggling. There was some "find dad and make the noise and say, Daaadd!" type stuff.

Thankfully, the sounds of farts gets boring fairly quickly for girls, and boys when they are say, not 9 years old. Fairly swiftly the puddy was put aside. The adults still chuckled over the purchase and the sayings on the container,"Wind Breaker - hearing is believing!" and "Caution - do not take to church, avoid classroom use, keep away from family gatherings"

If this event had happened with my family, I have no doubt this product would be used and abused all week.(Do we all remember the marshmellow shooters anyone?) I had pictures in my head of how many times someone would "wind break" at opportune times. I also know that the grandmother in my family, had SHE bought it, would NEVER live it down.

Monday, June 21, 2010

10 minutes and 10 hours

We used to live in Delaware. Delaware also called "The First State" or the ever popular "Delawhere?", is a small state. In the past I have spoken of it's virtues of never allowing me to get completely lost. The state itself is to small and all the roads interconnect. The other thing about Delaware is that for some reason most things you need to get to are "about 10 minutes away". Doctors, karate, gymnastics, food shopping, the YMCA, many friends houses, were all not far.

To be fair, I will say our new house in Tennessee is very much like this also. So far it takes about 10 minutes to get to the important places school, food, shops, chocolate, ice cream, and of course wine. I am struggling with one thing, the drive to see friends. My length of time to see pals is no longer 10 minutes. It is 10hours. My family has now made a journey from Delaware to Tennessee and back east for vacation in roughly 2 weeks. The drive is beautiful. The traffic is not bad. The drive is LONG. There are no tolls to slow you down, the speed limit is 65 or 70 most of the way. You can drive easy. It is still,10 hours.

Jack and I sat eating our continental breakfast at the hotel. We were commenting on the ease of our travels and the systems we have developed to make things work. (God Bless the GPS)Even so, the trip is 10 hours. It is long. We know now how to break it up, we are finding ways to make it fun. It is still 10 hours. I am sure we will do it enough that this journey will become the new normal. Even so, I miss my 10 minute friends.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Travel Advisory: Zielger Resort and Spa

ATTENTION! This is notification for vacationers and travelers. The Ziegler Resort and Spa is OPEN during reconstruction. The Hot Tub is renewed and ready for your enjoyment. The Hammock is hung and swaying in the breeze. Both patios are open and food service is easily arranged. The Chef is experimenting with new recipes each day. Her motto is FRESH! FRESH! FRESH!. If you prefer indoor seating, the formal dining room is almost complete, and the breakfast bar will soon be finished.

The Game Room is coming together and ready for games, plays, music, and dancing. If you are in need of quiet relaxation the bright and sunny formal sitting room is the place to put your feet up and relax. We appreciate your patience and are looking forward to the final decorations being done by early August.

Remember, The Zielger Resort and Spa is the place for you! Close to shopping, Dollywood, and hiking!

Other complimentary services are free laundry services and chocolates (provided by Schakolad, Chocolate Factory) on the pillows, and daily papers to read. Please make your reservations soon!

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Lost and Found

If you can't find something, move to a new house. My family was fortunate to have packers come and not only wrap and box our stuff. They loaded and unloaded it. I will say that one thing has been crazy when unpacking, odd objects turn up in boxes.

The men that came to pack and move us were professionals. They swarmed in like locusts, devouring one floor and then the next. If it was not nailed down, or rather even if it was attached to a wall, if you did not specify, they unattached it and packed it up. I attempted to keep track of what my family needed and keep it separate. These pro's were great and left things I protected alone. We only had one instance of trouble. I kept explaining to my children, do NOT leave things out. If you want it to go with you put it on the sheet of protection! My eldest changed out of clothes into a swimsuit to get wet at a neighbor's house. Upon returning the movers had packed her clothes!

While unpacking, I have found many objects that I did not know were even lost. An attachment to the chopper I gave to Goodwill, the lid to a Yankee Candle (I never could figure out why I was ONE short), a rack to our old microwave, the remote to the under cabinet TV we left for the buyers, receipts I think the new homeowners would like to have, and sink strainers for the sink of the previous house.

I am happy to say I have not found anything damaged. I teared up unpacking the vase given to me as a wedding gift from my Uncle Eddie (who is now deceased). I have unpacked many rooms so far and I am happy with how things are going. If for some reason though, if you are missing something and you have ever been to my house, call me, I may have found it!

Saturday, June 5, 2010

The Movers Are Coming, The Movers are Coming

The Movers are coming! The Movers are coming! It screams in my head like Paul Revere riding from town to town swinging his lantern.

The Movers are Coming! The Movers are coming!
Clean the house, purge the house, keep the house clean

The Movers are Coming! The Movers are Coming!
Sell the house, keep your job, keep the children on track

The Movers are Coming! The Movers are Coming!
Fix the gutter, fix the heater, fix the tree

The Movers are Coming! The Movers are Coming!
Clean some MORE! Purge some MORE! have a yard sale

The Movers are Here! The Movers are Here!
Keep things you want safe, see you house emptied before your eyes, see your life loaded on a truck 1 box at a time

The Movers are Here! The Movers are Here!
Pack up the tv, empty the fridge and freezer, give away cleaners

The Movers are Gone! The Movers are Gone!
Clean your house some MORE!, walk around in shell shock at the emptiness, listen to the echo, shed some tears

The Van is loaded and we are one our way. We need to get to Tennessee because...

the movers are coming, the movers are coming.