Dinner Out

Had a nice dinner out with Michael, Katherine and Erick. They were all tired out from a work day, but it was a nice dinner. I had stuffed shrimp. Katherine, Erick and I went to Bed, Bath and Beyond afterwards. I bought a wicker dresser for $21--marked down from 70 something just because the frame was a little bent. I told Mike he can use it in his office.

He was in Connecticut today and Mohegan Sun. Went with my bil, sil and their son. It was 8 hours total driving/riding time (including a ferry and bus). I don't think I could stand all that driving. I told Mike if I was going to be on the road that long, I'd visit my sister again. He said it was interesting but he didn't win anything--just broke even. Not my idea of a fun day, so I'm glad I had the excuse of going out with the kids.

News Bulletin

We interrupt our program "90th Birthday Reunion" with the following report:

Last Friday, August 9th, 2013, Mike Pastore officially left his job of 30 years with CNA Insurance. It was not a decision made lightly, but considering certain uncomfortable changes in policy, it was the right one. I'm glad he did it. He's been working this past week to change insurance and set himself up with an LLC to do part-time consulting work. At first it was a little weird and scary but I think things are falling into place (especially financially) and we will do just fine.

Now, whenever I feel like it, I will return to regularly scheduled programming. Which means it is not really 'regularly scheduled.'

Family Bingo

Using an idea from Pinterest, I made up a Family Bingo game for the reunion. You can read about it on my other blog, 1000pointsofcreativity.blogspot.com. Not that anybody reads this blog.

Here are some pics:

I got tired of calling the names (reaching BINGO is harder than you'd think!) so my niece Jackie took over. That's her in the red sweater.

Life without computers

The kids actually did survive the four-day weekend without their computers, although I'm sure smart phones were in heavy use. Nicky actually brought him game system to play with in the hotel room. But at the reunion, they all socialized and enjoyed their time with their cousins. James took long, long walks up into the mountains, and sometimes Nicky entertained himself with an art pad. (He's actually pretty good at it, too!) Best of all, Michael and Katherine wowed everyone with their karaoke! (They sang "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" and everyone loved it! (I think I already wrote about this but I was soooo proud!)

Grandma and Katherine

My sister Susan took this picture of Katherine and her grandma. I think it's sweet.

My dad passed away when Katherine was about 2, in 1987. Susan told me a story about the last time he saw 'Kate.' They lived 45 minutes from us and I'd take a drive out there weekly. Dad was suffering from terminal lung cancer and was on heavy duty meds for pain. But, knowing Katherine was visiting he did not take the meds so he'd be able to enjoy her. I never knew this. Susan says as soon as we left he got out the morphine, which pretty much knocked him out. It was the last time he saw Katherine. I'm not sure where Michael was that day, probably with his other grandparents. Dad loved the boys, but he just adored 'Kate.' She is named for his mother, btw.

More Upstate Stuff

My sister's husband actually built the house they live in, as well as all buildings on their property. He is a contractor. It seems to be an ongoing project as more is done each time we visit--and it's probably been 12 years since we were last up there.

Anyway, they have a pool table downstairs the kids played with. I practice shooting but it took quite a few tries to get all the balls in the pockets.

Katherine found a piece of the game room's decor to play with:

That's a coyote, btw. Well, it used to be.

Family Reunion

We all gathered up at my sister's place for a four-day-weekend to celebrate my mother's 90th birthday. It was  a wonderful weekend filled with games and food and 'catching up.' It was fun to see the new great-grandbabies, three adorable little boys!
I have some pics of my own but here is a group shot of all of us from my brother's camera:

My husband is in the middle behind my mom, in a red shirt. I'm next to him in a black jacket.

It was a beautiful weekend, weather-wise; not too hot, just a little rain. They live in the Allegheny Mountains and have acres and acres of woods around them. Mike got to see a little bear. I wasn't so lucky, even though I did walk on some trails! Most walking I've done in a long time. I wish it was like this around us, LOL! It is so peaceful up there.