Alabama - Day 2

You'll hafta wait until later to get my journals from Alabama, but for now, here is day 2:

Alabama Journal 2

Tuesday, May 24, 2005

By the time I came out of that near comatose state of sleep Monday afternoon, even Dad was up. Apparently this Alabama crew is operating on California time, staying up way too late for me, and sleeping until mid afternoon. Worked for me on Monday, lemme tell ya!

Middle Bro whipped up some eggs (a cheese omelet) and sausage, and we four guys ate like we had never eaten before. It was most tasty and most appreciated. Of course the banter around the table was the usual cut-ups (not really put-downs because we love each other...oh we make fun, and we tease, but nothing is taken seriously...after all, it is us!), and compliments to the chef. And, miracles of miracles, by the time we finished our breakfast, Donna arose from her slumber! Donna works 40 hours in a three day work week, so, she sleeps a lot to make up for lost time when she has a day off. Or so, we're told anyway! Before breakfast I did finally hear from Elliott, who had completed his first day of training for his traveling group at the school. They were writing D-group lesson materials, and were planning on going swimming for exercise in a bit when he called. My Bride also called at 2:45 (I hadn't eaten breakfast yet), saying she was leaving school early because her throat was on fire, and she felt really bad. This bums me, because I am not home to take care of her. We did speak again after I ate breakfast, and she was home, in her PJ's and ready to take a nap. I encouraged her in that regard, promising to talk with her again later to check up on her.

After Donna had eaten, we discussed plans for the evening, and decided we would all ride to Lincoln, Alabama, where Donna works at "The Marina" a bar/restaurant that isn't open on Mondays. Donna had a few things to finish up before the place opened on Tuesday. Dad and I talked a while out on the deck overlooking the river (remember the name of the place is "The Marina"), Donna quickly got things taken care of, and we decided that we would eat "lupper" (remember, breakfast didn't come until mid-afternoon, so this was lunch and supper combined, and "sunch" doesn't sound as tasty as "lupper" to me). We ate in a little restaurant called the "Race Track Diner" where Donna had worked before going to "The Marina." Donna knew everyone there, including the other patrons. It was quaint, in the southern style...something that just doesn't happen even in lil ole Vero Beach. The food was excellent. Lil Bro even got some tots with his order, so we got a Napoleon Dynamite conversation going. Dad and Middle Bro are not yet conversant in the ways of ND, so the fact that I brought Emily's DVD with me was made all the more important. Of course we were told that Dad's DVD player wasn't working with the current TV configuration (even though Lil Bro and I fixed all of that last year when we were up here), so Tuesday will see me checking out the TV wiring situation to see what needs to be taken care of in that regard. I text messaged Elliott about the tots, eliciting another phone call from him later in the evening. We IM'd each other some then caught up on his weekend. He passed the Pardue Grandpa test, so I told him that he was in like flint. He also was reminded of a meeting a year and a half ago with the Pardues during a leadership conference we attended in Jacksonville. Mom asked him if he knew her daughter who worked in maintenance at the school that year, driving a tractor cutting grass at FCC. He didn't know her at the time, but we both got a big laugh out of remembering that conversation.

Peggy was feeling better when I spoke with her, but was getting ready to call it a night. Good idea. The VCR I set up to tape "24" was doing its job, so I was happy to hear that. I hung up with her, only to get an immediate call from Emily who was jealous that I had spoke with my Bride but didn't ask to speak with my Chick-A-Boo. We talked for a few, I reminded her to take good care of her Mom, then rejoined the clan in the TV room watching a Braves game. I had apparently missed the highlight of the evening. Dad had been sitting in a patio chair, leaning back. He made the statement, "some of the stupidist people I know have a string of degrees." Then, this Masters Degree dude tipped his chair over too far, and fell. He was uninjured, which led everyone to fits of uncontrollable laughter. We decided that sometimes Dad goes too far in trying to prove his point! HA!

We did finally hear back from Aunt Phyllis, and have plans to meet with her, Ray, Jim and Yolanda Tuesday at 5:15 in Pell City (about halfway between Anniston and Jasper). It will be great to get us all together again. That hasn't happened since 1997 when Grandpa Johnson was diagnosed with cancer. This time, we are getting together just because we are; not because someone is sick or dying! Thus a microcosm of the reason for Lil Bro and I making this suicide run of a trip to Alabama. By the time 10:00 PM real time hit, the Braves had won their game for a change, and I was ready to lay back down for the night. Oh, that air mattress feels so good when you are dog tired! Tuesday is filled with doctor's visits for Donna and Dad, and for our Goggans/Blount reunion. It will be a great day!