It was an okay trip. Got to see ALOT of family and relatives. Got to see my dad march in the Memorial Day service at Church...I took about 75-80 pictures....they turned out great! My favorite cousin was there. I hadn't seen him in a year. Actually, the last time i saw him was the day his son died. It was emotional, to say the least. I saw some other cousins and distant relatives. I also went out to the cemetary and saw my peppae's grave (grandfather). Hadn't seen it in about 15 yrs.
Anyway, Sunday my mom had planned a "gathering". A few relatives, but mostly friends. My in-laws, my sister & her family, a couple of cousins...all came out to my mom & dad's house.(about 25 in all) We cooked out, ate, ate, and oh yeah, ate some more!! Then we went out behind the barn and did some target shooting! I LOVE going out there!! That is the ultimate in stress relief!! Get a fully loaded gun in your hands and blow "BOB"'s head off! (Bob is the name we give the targets) Anway, it's usually the guys and me doing it. I only shot once because I wanted to spend some time w/ my mom & stuff, but I hit it 10 out of 15 shots...all in the 7/8/&9 rings!! It totally kicked butt! It was a really nice afternoon. Totally exhausting, but nice. I ate way too much, but I really didn't care!
It was really kinda funny....Friday, DH & I spent the ENTIRE day helping sis#2 & her DH husband load and move stuff and get their house ready to sell....then Saturday, we spend the day w/ my parents & dh parents...we get back to sis's house around 8:30 pm....I get out the iron & ironing board to try to get stuff ready for church on Sunday and sis TOTALLY blows a gasket!! yelling about the iron and everything/everyone! She totally lost it!! It was actually scarey, but it ticked me off BAD!!! I had been trying to put on a happy face for the day, and I had done a pretty good job up until this point. Anyway, as she screaming, I cut her off! I started to walk away from her and go in the other room (what I usually do....and have done for 30 fricking years) but something snapped. I spun around and started yelling back...big time! I remember seeing my 13 yr old niece go upstairs, and my son head down to the basement family room...anyway, I said some things that really got her attention. (the f word came out a few times too...

) And I told her I didn't know what medication she was on, but that she might want to increase the doseage because it wasn't curbing her psychotic episodes, and she might also want to take something for each one of her mulitiple personalities!! I said a few more things and then walked out. She stood there w/ her mouth hanging open. I have NEVER defended myself to her. I just always walked away. Anyway, I ironed our stuff, went upstairs and told DH that we would be going to a hotel the next night. He asked me if i was ok and i laughed..I said i should have done that years ago. Anyway, sis got down on her knees the next morning and apologized and asked for forgiveness. I told her next time she talked to me like that, I would personally show her the spot on my butt that she could kiss. She said that I got my point across loud and clear the night before. (my ds10 went downstairs that night and told dh "boy, aunt #2 sure made mommy mad, didn't she?"dh told him to just stay down there where it was safe.

)
Anyway, we waited until today to tell the kids about Riese. I told them on the way home. (we were about an hour from home) I told them that he died on Thursday(of old age) and I didn't want them to be sad the whole weekend. DS asked if that was why I cried off and on over the weekend and I said yes. He said, "I didn't think you had a headache after all." darn kid. He was pretty strong about it. DD6 cried big crocodile tears. Of course I cried again, and dh was too, but he didn't want anyone to see so he put on his sunglasses. They both asked questions....why, where, when, can we go see him, can we get a new puppy?? By the time we got home, they were all questioned out. I thought I was done crying, until I went into the backyard....wrong. I'll try again next week.
no weigh & pay today....i ate myself blind this weekend and boy did it feel good!!

I'll be back on track tomorrow....after I finish this root beer float!!
Sorry this is so long...had alot to tell you guys about.
I am doing ok though....sad, but okay. Like I told Jen (blueyes) Time heals the pain, but this is now, and now it hurts. pretty profound if i do say so myself.
talk to you all later, and thanks again for being there for me.
marie