I'll see you one LXT red coat and raise you a pair of white size 9 tennis shoes.

I am starting to see how this all work with you people. I set out clothing that you left the previous visit and you exchange it for some other article of clothing that you leave. I have seen a pattern of left items headed by childrens underware and athletic shoes. Coats and nightware also make the list. And then you like to act like I must have hid them from you when you are packing up to leave. Anyway, finders keepers....nevermind, none of it fits.

Anyway, it was great to have you all for Thanksgiving (that is those of you who came). I had a great time, but didn't get enough uninterrupted pinochle time. For some reason mixing cards with x-box tourneys never works. I found out that my halo skills have fallen behind and I must practice more for the New Years Halo2 tournament that is sure to occur. I especially need to work on weilding two weapons at once and the melee attack. I promise to be much more of a threat by New Years. Since my father stayed up to 1:30am with Greyson playing I am sure he too will be really good next time we play.

I am ending about a month of hellish work tomorrow. I have one last trip to Wenatchee, Washington tomorrow and then I should be able to relax a little for the first time in a month with a big project somewhat under control. Greyson has only one more week until he is done with this term. Until then I don't think I will be seeing much of him.

Time for bed. I have to pick up my rental car at 6am tomorrow for my 6 hour drive. All that for a 2 hour meeting and another 6 hour drive home. Seems a little much to me.....

Goodnight.

Turkey Time Part Two

I am thinking we will have the meal around 3pm possibly. However that time is subject to a large margin of error since I don't know what I am doing. My mother said that she would help me some and I am going to hold her to that. Should I set the turkey out to thaw tomorrow? Or just stick it in frozen at a low temp? I have corndogs as a backup meat source if need be.


Updated Thanksgiving Menu (so far)-
Turkey (Mel and G)
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy (Mel and G)
Stuffing (Mel and G)
Green Bean casserole (Mom)
Some sort of salad (Mom)
Crescent rolls (Mel and G)
Devilled Eggs (Mel and G)
Green Olives (Jenn)
Sweetpotatoes (Jenn)
Pumpkin Pies(Brian)
Mincemeat Pie (Grandma)

A Theft in the Family

We were disabled for a week with our somethingimportantblackbox that didn't work. We have a new one.Tucker "accidentally took a bag of M @ M's (from a store), and accidentally forgot to pay for them." They were actually skittles, but that's what he calls the stolen gems. So after he got home and his brother ratted on him and Tucker's face confirmed his guilt, we drove him back to the store where he broke out crying, and admitted his guilt, then payed for the candy. He was extremely worried they'd be mad at him and was relieved when they only told him "Let's not do that again."misha, our extremely cool cat has been missing for over five days. Since he sleeps in our room each night, and cuddles with Lindy during the day, we have to assume they're something awry. I'm really bummed. I think Lindy is too. Yes, we called the shelters and all that. Misha was brave and cuddly and sometimes thought he was a dog. He will be missed. Perhaps he and Oreo are frolicking in kitty heaven at this very moment. I have 90% of my Christmas shopping done, hence the lack of any money. It's a good thing the kids like rice for dinner. I figure I can make the Costco sized bag last a month if necessary, so if we're ravenous during the holidays, you'll know why.Our studs are on. A secure feeling. Thanks to my parents!!I'm almost finished with Chapter 5 which is 1/3 of the book. Let me know if you want to read and comment and I'll send an attatchment.After 11 cribbage games, I lead 6-5. Another match is planned for this evening. I also won at Uno while Tim cleaned up in the Clue games. We had a competive weekend with Jessica, the neighbor girl, joining us.

porter christmas plans

I think since Mel and Greyson don't get back 'till late in December, we'd like to plan our visit at Mom and Dad's from the 20 or 21st- 25th or 26th??? Do you have room and food for us? Maybe the boys can come visit before they have to leave. We can sled and skate and swim. Christian is learning cribbage. Let me know if those dates interferes with anyone's work or plans?? "We can also open the exchange gifts early if anyone wants to...while Mel and Greyson and the boys are around to fully enjoy it.

dodging and CSI

I've had enough of CSI (Crime Scene Investigation). Tim forces me to watch it with him on Thursday nights, and I always feel yucky at the end of the show. Last week there were three stabbing deaths and a girl found dead in a trunk. Now I was dropping Tim off at school and we both noticed a clunking sound from the car. After I got home, I decided to check it out. First, the tires, then under the seats...trying to find the origin of that rolling, thumping sound. Finally I opened the trunk. And there it was. Huge black garbage sacks, containing bodies...parts of bodies. And in that queer moment of knowing that I'd be the type of person to discover bodies in my trunk, I panicked.
I looked.
Good grief, tires. All four of our regular tires wrapped in black garbage sacks.
And I was mad. Not at myself for indulging in these type of thoughts, but at TIM. At CSI and all the other fanatic writers and produces for making such gruesome shows.

Tonight I'll watch Little House on the Prairie.

Tuck said in P.E. they played the "Hit each other game." I asked, "Are you sure it's not called dodgeball?"
"No. It's the Hit Each Other Game."

Alrighty then.

Ode to Misha

I had an old cat, and his name was Misha.
Bet your life he was a good cat too.
Misha chased a squirel up a hollow limb.
Squirel won, got the best of him.
Bye-bye Misha,You good cat, you.
Bye-bye Misha, You good cat, you.
Misha he died, and he died so hard
He shook the ground in my backyard
(if we had found his body)We'd have lowered him down with a golden chain
Every link we’d call his name
Bye-bye Misha,
You good cat, you.
Bye-bye Misha,
You good cat, you.

My old Misha was a good old tom,
You could hear him meow for miles around.
When I get to heaven, first thing I’ll do
I’ll grab my bell and call Misha too.
Bye-bye Misha
You good cat, you
Bye-bye Misha
You good cat, you
Bye-bye Misha
You good cat, you
Bye-bye Misha
You good cat, you
Bye-bye Misha.

Final Christmas Plans

Greyson and I now have our plane tickets down to New Orleans for Christmas. We are leaving on Dec 23rd and returning on the 29th. We will want the 30th to recover but would love to have people up and over for the New Year weekend.

We do have a small dog watching problem. So I am throwing out a request to any family members that would like to volunteer for some quality time with Ada over the Christmas break. She will come bathed and will be on her best behavior.

Mel

Hello Bloggers

So is everyone's life too boring or too busy to blog?

I know Jennifer has news - the results of her ultrasound. What was that girl's name again? Kaylena? I know it was something with the "K" sound and pretty.

I spilled the beans to the Porter kids that Greyson has Halo 2 (or is that II, two?). They were quite impressed. India had to stop our conversation and annouce the news to the rest of the clan. Greyson may be grounded from electronic devices due to a misunderstanding about how fluids and electrons work too well together.

I'm also waiting to hear the results of the Porter vs Porter cribbage match from Sunday. Maybe we could have a tournament at Christmas time. The rest of us can practice up at Thanksgiving. Does Brian play cribbage?

Time for bed.

Love,
Mom

What I want for Christmas

We adult children and small children have now all drawn names and are eagerly shopping for that perfect gift. And while some of you had some gift ideas for yourself, I was not able to produce any ideas on the spot. I have come up with a couple however, and will continue to update you as I think of any more gift ideas. Feel free to post any of your own needs, wants or desires (in term of gift ideas that is.

Mel- a new axe to chop wood
-installation of my recessed lighting in the hall (i already have the fixtures and wire, you would just need to install and fix the drywall mess)
- pants (size 12 long, maybe cord's from JCrew, Gap, Old Navy etc.but only if on sale as they are too expensive otherwise, I sound like my father don't I?)
- A how to play Guitar DVD- prefer something produced this decade

I will keep thinking and add to the list as ideas come to me.

So sleepy

It is amazing how having a fun weekend with family can also be so draining. I ended up falling asleep last night at 8:30 and didn't wake up until my alarm went off at 7:00 this morning. Ada basically slept from the time that Lindey left until we kicked her out of the house this morning. She had gotten out of bed to eat breakfast, but immediately returned to her circle of warmth to sleep. We haven't yet received her new outdoor doghouse heating pad, but luckily it looks like it should be a nice day.

I made a trip to costco to replenish my stockpile of food. We managed to eat only one of the precut servings of cheesecake and hid the chocholate chip cookie dough in the freezer for later. Traci was right on the ability of a five member family to go through the food. I will be more prepared next time. (Ada did score the dog toy pack out of the trip)

I did end the weekend as "Uno champion". I am thinking chinese checkers would be fun for our next get toghether.

Anyone want a fridge??

OK, last call for our extra fridge. It works and it's free, but we don't deliver. Let me know if you want it or I will find somewhere to get rid of it so it isn't taking up room in our garage.

We also have that camper propane stove/oven that I need to get rid of.

There also is this great 240 Z that we are looking to sell for $1500 if you know of anyone who is looking for a project.

What... you say this isn't Ebay???

Post Election Musings

Oh my - you are all treading into two of the three banned conversation areas--religion and politics. I think it would be more interesting if we blogged about the third--sex, of course.

Dad ordered a bunch of magazines, one of which is Redbook. It is chocked full of helpful hints in that department. I'm surprised it isn't kept behind the counter. I guess that only happens if there are pictures to help illustrate the concept or skill.

I have become cynical and don't even care who wins, although I did vote, and rightly so for Kerry as a vote more against Bush than anything. I don't think I can influence the world, but only my little sphere where I am. So, my children and their spouses are apparently in no danger of being sent to war and they all have good tires for their cars. They know their mother (aka mother-in-law) loves them. I buy yogurt for the little boy at my school whose medicine makes the school breakfast offerings very unappetizing. I always stop for anyone who even looks like they want to cross the streeet.

Mom

politics

I hate politics. Tim loves it. He's at the school until late tonight, but I'm sure he'd like to argue. He likes to argue and that's the thing with politics.

I want to go to Mexico. I need to learn Spanish too.

The thing with literal interpretation of the bible is hard. It's a complex book. Literal and Figurative. Jesus wasn't just a great teacher though. He healed, and suffered , and was tempted. He was God. Yes, not the wimpy, kind Jesus, but God incarnate. (My view, I know. ) He showed us that relationships were the only thing worth living and dying for. He showed strenght through resisting the easy temptation of force. Think of 40,000 angels. on his side as soon as he said " "uncle" or "screw you, I'm God." God went at it the hard way. The good way. He didn't depend on his own stength. I think that's something profound. He realized it wasn't all about him. His needs. His immediate desires of lust, hunger, pride. His anger at this world, it's acceptance of mediocrity, wow!


"Am I crazy because I see the world as it could become? Or, is the world crazy because it sees itself as it is?"

Don Quixote, Man of La Mancha

And out of the darkness....

In case you haven't read all the comments, our darling sister, Jennifer, has finally managed to remember her login and password at the same time and actually post a comment. It can be found at the end of the Halloween posting.

Maybe if we all gently encourage her, we can get her to become a little more involved.

WWJD? Warning: Political preachings aplenty

If there is any way I can appeal to the people voting for bush, or not voting at all, consider this, an acronym for taking the moral higher ground: WWJD?

Of our first 50 so-called smart weaponry launched at the onset of our invasion, 0 hit the intended targets in Iraq. I have seen footage of the innocent people, babies in particular, torn apart by our salvo. The Iraqis did nothing to provoke this attack. They didn't fire one shot at us or drop one bomb on us. Innocent Iraqi's have been imprisoned and tortured as a result of our invasion. But there is insurrection, you say. Why don't the Iraqis just lay down their weapons, allow the invaders to remove their way of life, and pick up a bible. These invaders after all, have been shooting them for their own good?

To say that we hit the targets with our bombs would imply that there are enemy babies to kill.

To say that misfired Iraqi artillery is responsible for all of the civilian casualty is ludicris, and we are ignoring the very fact that the artillery fired by saddam's army is a result of our invasion.

To say that ANY innocent civilian death is "worth it" or more disturbing, "collateral damage" in achieving what's best for Iraqi citizenry is completely contrary to which this whole concept of moral and principle that Bush and the GOP so fervently cling.

We are talking about pro-life. Killing the born as opposed to the unborn. And we are talking about "turning the other cheek" had Iraq done anything to us to begin with that deserves our forgiveness. They will be the ones turning the other cheek, or not. Many Iraqis are responding to our invasion in a distinctly American and patriotic fashion. Jesus would forgive us. I hold Bush and his administration responsible for our atrocities commited against the Iraqi people. I hold myself responsible, that I didn't do more to prevent the war in spite of what my heart was telling me. Bush has hardly followed the teachings of Christ. He has proven himself immoral at the very deepest level, a moral flip-flopper. As a result I would give anyone a chance who stood against him on election day.

India in the local news

The headline read, "School children learn why it it important to vote."


"Busy campaigining for their own chosen candidates, students also addressed the question of what they would do if they were president.
'I could keep people safe from being hurt and make money prices lower for everyone.' India Porter campaigned. "

Budget deficit and issues of war. She hit two hot buttons. Sounds like more taxes and no war to me. Kerry? Democratic by blood?
I know ; Smart, you say.