Well blow me down!!

The other day, the weatherman said it would get, and I quote, "a little windy." He even said it while raising his eyebrows as if to say, "sure will be fun, won't it?"

I didn't think it would get so windy that the mountains, just mere miles from my house, would be completely obscured by dust. You can even smell the dust in the air. Inside the house! My nose is all ticklely too. Crazy!

I'm wondering how Mike's day is going. The SAR group got a "callout" for Willard Bay. Someone drowned a few days ago and they are helping with the recovery of the body. I can't imagine how big the whitecaps are; and knowing Mike, he'll be hungry when he gets home 'cause waves and Mikey don't mix.

Of course this hits the day before garbage day. Seriously, it never fails. On garbage day all the neighbors stuff gets blown into my yard. I haven't been drinking beer, I don't get the paper and I hardly use plastic wrap- yet all this crap ends up in my yard.

At least we're not in "stinky Idaho." Our friends, Liz and Travis, dubbed it as such. Liz is a Montanan to the core and Travis mumbles that he grew up in Utah. They even taught,then 3 yr. old Andrew, to hold his nose and say "stinky Idaho" in his cute, nasal-ly voice.

The wind never. stops. in Idaho. NEVER. Idaho Falls is a constant barrage of wind with dirt, snow and leaves mixed in. No wonder girls there use so much hairspray.

So batten down the hatches and hold on to small children. Let's hope we don't end up like Dorothy!

'Rents visiting

Mom and Dad are here "on business." That's code for signing the tax return forms at the financial planner's office and then spending the rest of the time visiting with friends and family.

We went to lunch at a the Bench family stand-by, Wendy's. Grandad fed fries and Frosty to baby Lena while Mom and I talked about the Karren's reception this weekend.

Of course we went by "the Wagon" (The Chocolate Covered Wagon) for some treats for my brother, Mike ( he loves those sandwich mints) and popcorn and truffles for others. I actually didn't eat anything when I went, not even a sample of caramel (is that good or am I insan?).

Afterward, Lena needed a napper-dapper so we visited while she slept. I introduced Mom and Dad to Facebook, which they have absolutely NO INTEREST in doing. So naturally, I desperately moved on to the family blog. I think they have even less interest in that although I said, three times, "I'm doing this for you guys so you don't feel left out." (I'm also doing it for you, Dear Reader!! Please don't feel left out!) Could I BE more desperate?!?

Evidently not. I moved onto the new topic: their 50th wedding anniversary. I had a nice sit-down dinner on a patio outside the institue building for immediate family and close friends, but Mom said, "No. Let's just go to a restaurant." I said, "I will plan it for you! Just give me a budget and I'll make it work!"
"No."
"We could set the table, etc to coordinate with the colors she had at her wedding"
"I don't even remember what we had!"

Dad breaks, "Michelle, WE'LL (pointing at himself and me) will plan the annivesary and all your mom has to do is show up!"
I like Dad's style.

I haven't given up yet- I still have the whole week to talk Mom into the dinner.