Sunday Drive

Today I went to meet my Uncle and drive out to the property that we had talked about. It was a good hour drive, but it was nice. Luke for the most part behaved himself. I did find out that I have a lot more in common with my Uncle than I thought I did. He likes to bowl, I like to bowl; He likes art, I like art; He wants to go to Chicago to see museums, I had just talked to my mom about a weekend trip to Chicago.

My Uncle is collecting paintings by an Artist from Missouri named Jesse Barnes. He has several of the paintings, they are stunning! I just read from the website that Jesse Barnes will be near us on November 5th, I'm going to call my Uncle to see if he would want to got here and have Mr. Barnes sign his paintings. I think that would make his day!

I got this bronze angel candle holder from Partylite when I had my book show. I gave that and some french vanilla candles to go with the angel. I gave it to him as a way for him to remember April. I think I saw a small tear in his eye, though I can't confirm. I gave it to him before we dropped my care off at his house and went on our road trip. When we got there and he took the angel inside, he said to me, "I think I'm going to buy a shelf and put it under this picture (one of his Jesse Barnes pics that he had given to April) and put this angel on it."

Oh yes, update on Kahil ... seems Melinda, April's friend has friends in high places, she got advice from them. Since april didnt have anything legal written up about her boy, upon her death, he became a ward of the state. Since that was the case, April's mother (&brother) couldn't take him out of state as she had planned. Melinda has temporary custody of Kahil and April's mother and brother had to return all of April's belongings as they had no legal right to any of it. Poetic justice ...... Melinda has stayed in contact with my Uncle and will continue to do so.

I feel SO Honored!

So ... I told you about my cousin passing away. She was my mom's oldest brother's daughter. My Uncle Art is close to 12 years older than my mom. They went to Ohio together for the funeral and to get a few things that April left for my Uncle. Well, they went, drove up Monday night and got back home Tuesday night. It seems that April's Mom wanted to be in control of everything and the Memorial Service did not take place as planned. Because the Funeral home was getting conflicting "orders" they didn't do anything until my Uncle paid for it. April is going to be cremated, which was the plan all along, however, there was no Memorial Service/viewing/nothing. Its rather sad to me, I would think that April's son would want to be able to say goodbye to his momma. Anyway, April's mom is going to have something when she moves to her new place in IL after she gets April's ashes back.

My Uncle asked my Mom about him changing his will/bennificery. He has this piece of property that he got from my grandparents "estate" He's the oldest of 7 kids, each of these kids have kids of their own (14 still living nieces and nephews and and about 16 great grandnieces and nephews.) Now, I've thought this often, but never said it outloud till today and its so unreal to me right now ... In fact, before my mom called me to tell me she was home, I said to myself, that out of all her brothers, while I love them all, Uncle Art has got to be my favorite because he's never judged me, and always talked to me as a person and not a kid when I've seen him. My mom called and told me that Uncle Art told my mom that April had been the bennificery on that piece of land and that he weighed the "have and have not's" of all of his nieces and nephews and I fell into the "have not" category and he wanted to put me as bennificery on that piece of land, to be mine if anything ever happened to him, providing he didn't sell it before hand. My Mom told him that it was his land and that he should do with it whatever he felt was best and that she was sure I'd be honored.

I know this property isn't exactly the same as it was when I was a kid and went camping out there with my grandparents, but just the thought of those old memories ... and the thought that my uncle would consider me ... I feel SO Honored!!

My Sweet Stupid Man ....

If only he knew how much he means to me .... if he'd just pay attention, open his eyes, PULL HIS HEAD OUT OF HIS ASS.... Someday he'll know what he means to me .... someday we'll all hear a LOUD POP as he finally removes his HEAD FROM HIS ASS .....

I'm sad ....

I got a phone call from my Mom on Sunday night. My cousin April passed away on Saturday. April is my Mom's oldest Brother Art's daughter. Her mom and my uncle were divorced and her mom moved away so we really didn't get to know her to well ... They would mail pictures of April to Granny and Grandpa, I can remember how everyone said that she was my clone. Our pictures looked damn near identical. About 5 years ago, my uncle gave April my e-mail address and she and I shared e-mails and chatted here and there. Then her e-mail address didn't work anymore... She has a son that is a year younger than Austin. His Dad lives in Texas and he and his mom live in Ohio. Apparently that is where her mother now lives. It is my understanding that when April was pregnant with Kahil she found out she was HIV positive and it took 5 years to turn into full blown AIDS. Kahil is fine, he's not HIV positive or anything. April wanted her brother to take care of Kahil after she was gone, but apparently Kahil being half black and half white makes a difference in his book. I had my mom tell my uncle that if he needed me to I would take Kahil and raise him with my boys. My Uncle is in his 60's probably pushing 70 and I know couldn't take care of him ... She does have a friend that may be willing to take the little boy in. Its rumored that the Dad wants him, but only because that would get him more money from state aide.

I'm so sad ... I don't even really know her and have never met her son... My Uncle has now lost both of his kids, I can't even imagine what he's going thru.

Colorado ... If only Mom lived closer to there, I'd consider moving .....

Colorado was FABULOUS!! Weather was PERFECT! So much cooler than St. Louis! All in all, the trip was the best I've ever been on ... Luke didn't handle the mountains as well as we hoped he would, the poor baby up-chucked twice as we headed into the higher elevations, Austin did well. Never once did we hear from him "Are we there yet" or "I'm bored" It was for the most part the greatest vacation experience ever!

We started out last Friday, July 22, first stop was Sweet Springs, MO for the night, we ALL were to tired to keep going, made it to Denver, CO on Saturday evening. Austin was so excited to see mountains, Luke could care less, he just wanted out of his car seat. Sunday morning after church we headed to Frisco, CO. Such a cute little town. Dillon Lake surrounded by mountains .... looked like something out of a movie! LOVED IT! Monday, we drove thru Vale and Aspen and stayed the night in Montrose. (Austin said that he saw a bear when we were driving, I can only believe him ... I didn't see it) We stopped at many road side "Kodak Moment" spots for pictures ... at one little rest area in the mountains, there were some cute little chipmunks, I tried to take their picture, but every time I bent down to try to get a picture, they would jump towards me and more came out ... of course, I screamed and ran to the car each time ... Austin and my Mom were rolling ...Austin said, Mom, Its just a chipmunk, why are you scared, its not like they are going to eat you" I just told him, "Hey, he was fat and had friends!!"



<-- can you guess what my suvienor from the trip was? you guessed it, I got a porcelin chipmunk.... Tuesday we hit Gunnison and took in the sites at Black Canyon of the Gunnison, I got sunburned ... Luke's little nose and cheeks got burnt too and we weren't out very long at all, really, I kept him shaded with the umbrella and we sat in the car. We stayed the night in Gunnison. Wednesday we headed to Monarch Pass. Austin and I rode the cable car to the top of the mountain and had quite a view of CO and saw a patch of snow just feet from where we were standing on the mountain. It was very beautiful! Wed night we stayed in Silver Saddle Motel in Manitou Springs. Thursday we went to Garden of the Gods and Old Colorado City and checked into our hotel in Colorado Springs. We attended the "opening ceremonies" for the State Games, which was VERY cool! Friday Austin bowled at Fort Carson and took 10th place (which, if the handicaps for all players were figured by the same person he probably would have done better) On Saturday, Austin and I went to the top of Pikes Peak, we rode the Cog Railway up the mountain, it was such a fun ride... we saw a buck and a marmott ... when we got done, we headed home ...got back home on Sunday at about 5pm.



<-- Pikes Peak








<-- Black Canyon of the Gunnison







<-- Monarch Pass




Here are some pictures that someone took of Pikes Peak Cog Railroad and Garden of the gods that I found when doing a yahoo search, just so you get an idea of what we saw!!