Supermom

"Having visited Metropolis, my life is more complete."

Words from Supermom.

Another road trip

"We have to stop!" Michelle shouted. She said this just as we passed a sign for Metropolis, IL.













It's important that baby learns all the essentials, like superheros and where they're from. No one can live properly without superheros.













Especially Superman. This is just something we could not pass without stopping.

Charleston

A few years ago Stevie and I took a road trip. We had in mind to see some historic sites and visit some battlefields - part of Stevie's high school research one summer.

One of the cities we managed to visit was Charleston, SC. We didn't get to see much of downtown, but visited some old mansions and plantations. What a unique place Charleston is, connected by bridges, surrounded by water. So many historic places, we had a hard time choosing what we really wanted to see.

Charleston is lovely, with it's colorful buildings and cobblestone roads. This is one of the oldest cities in the country, and there's so much to see and do.

One place we really wanted to tour was Fort Sumter. But for some reason, the days we were there the old fort was closed for maintenance so we only got to look at it across the water. In case you didn't know, Fort Sumter, the location of the first battle of the Civil War, is in the middle of Charleston Harbor.













I've been in Charleston again for a conference, hoping to see a little more of the city. I did get to see the downtown area but still did not get to tour Sumter. I guess that will just have to wait until another time. I definitely want to get back to Charleston again.

Dinner guest

Tonight's dinner had interesting company. We ate inside at the Charleston Aquarium and this Moray Eel came out to watch. I got annoyed at a woman who started tapping her keys on the glass and I might have yelled "stop that!" before I realized I'd done it.

What is wrong with people anyway - and I'm not talking about me.

Lovely dinner, though I did feel slightly guilty for eating Grouper and enjoying it. Funny, but I didn't see any Grouper in the aquarium tanks. I hope that was only a coincidence.

Live long and prosper

Howard, my great uncle, is part Vulcan. He must be, since he's currently celebrating his 96th birthday (Saturday) and shows few signs of slowing down.

Since Howard is my great uncle, he is Michelle's Great-Great Uncle, and Bonita Rose's Great-Great-Great Uncle. We should just switch that title to 3G Howard. It's easier to type.

Last year Howard had his knee replaced. He's eager to show the scar and tell how he needs no crutches, cane, or walker to help him get around. He likes to brag about walking 2 miles - and he should. That's something to brag about at 96.

Howard enjoys life, you can tell that by listening to him talk. And talk he can! If Howard's in the room there will be no shortage of stories.

I hope I'm half as lucky as Howard is, to live as long and have such a pleasant demeanor when I'm a great grandmother or aunt. I'm glad he's my uncle, and I'm really glad I share some of the same genes as he has. Maybe that means, there's hope for me to "live long and prosper" too.

Columbus Zoo

On our last day in Columbus together we all decided a visit to the zoo would be fun. We'd heard that Columbus Zoo had polar bears and we all wanted to see them.

This is the nicest polar bear exhibit I've ever seen. The bears were very accommodating, too, and performed playfully for us.

We spent over an hour with the polars, so only had time to see a few of our other favorite animals but it was well worth the trip.




We also got to see the Red Panda


and Vampire bats



By the end of the day our own little panda bear was happy and tired.

Carry all

When I had babies I started off hauling Michelle around on my hip. That make me walk funny and took a long time to stop doing - I sort of formed a habit.
By the time I had Stevie things had changed. Baby carriers had just begun to be popular and I had a couple of them. One that fit on the front and the other that allowed me to carry Stevie on my back, a little like a wolf spider.






Today there are a lot of options. Michelle just got a new pack called an ERGO, which is possibly the nicest carrier I've seen. It's very easy to put on all by yourself and baby really loves it. She can be close to her mom and food source, plus it has great bottom support for baby. It can also be a front OR a back baby carrier. Bonnie Rose really loves it.

She even likes it when Nana or Papa use it - that's important. But her favorite person is still her mom

- just as it should be.

I love Lucy

Lucy is a cool cat. Luke and Katie have spoiled her. She pretends she hates it every time I come to visit because I sleep in her room, but when I get ready to leave she acts like it's such a disappointment. We could not get her off the car when we were driving away, I'm not sure what she was trying to get us to do, but it didn't work. I wonder how she'll act next time come for a visit.

Fly away

The plane to and from Pierre is a small one, it seats only 26 passengers and uses no jet bridge. It's sort of nostalgic stepping onto a plane from the tarmac, and makes you realize how much air travel has grown over the years.

I'm not saying that Pierre's in the dark ages or anything....not really. But getting there is just not as simple as getting to say - China.













Today people start flying away from Columbus after Stevie's wedding. Columbus is a bit larger than Pierre so there are no tarmac photos. This airport sees more than prop planes on its runways. You'll just have to settle for a photograph of me leaving Pierre from last week.

Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Coleman

A perfect wedding on a perfect day.

Sight-seeing in Dublin

One of my favorite past times is visiting graveyards. The one in Dublin is very old, and even has creaking gates and creepy crypts.














It was fun walking through and reading the headstones.












...and knocking on the crypt doors. Michelle sort of wanted to hear something knock back.

Teddy Bear Picnic

You cannot believe how many of these are on YouTube. Vote on you favorite version.

1.


2.


3.


Funny thing is, Bonnie Rose likes this one best.

Shoe shopping

Michelle has always hated shoe shopping, but not nearly as much as Steve. Luckily this day turned out to be beneficial to both of them, even though a little boring at times.

Looks like someone else hates shoe shopping equally.

Only Steve and Michelle would consider doing such a thing...

Jet Set

Bonnie Rose is more or less a jet-setter these days. In just a few short days she's been from Shanghai to Chicago, Pierre, and now Columbus.
And she knows how to dress. Take these headphones. Not just any headphones, Papa got the nicest Bose silencer headphones and it was a good thing. The flight to and from Pierre was unbelievably loud - far too loud for a baby's ears. Those Bose really helped her relax.

The flight attendant kept coming over and checking on her, giving her a set of wings, which she wore proudly, even during her nap.

Naptime with the Bose was so much better. Michelle didn't worry about the noise hurting Bonnie's ears. Between the headphones and Mommy's pillow, it was a very relaxing flight, even if Mommy got a little airsick. Seating only 26 passengers, flights from Pierre aren't exactly on luxury liner planes.

Congratulations to the Tschetters

Jenny and Ross had a lovely wedding. It couldn't have been otherwise; two lovely people planning an event to share with people they love. They made it so very obvious that this event, much as it was for themselves, was just as much for the people they would share it with.

May their love grow deeper as their lives grow longer.

Wedding prep

There are a few things I don't really like; graduations, bridal showers (actually I just hate the games), weddings, and working an 8 to 5 job. But this summer I'm getting to do some of those things and learning to honestly enjoy them. Except for maybe the 8 to 5 job.

Like today's event.

Jenny's wedding crept up on us. We knew why we were here so you'd think we'd have been better prepared. But we sat around all day doing nothing then all of a sudden it was time to dress.

We were lucky to have Steve help us by taking the baby for a walk so Michelle and I could get ready. We're in a bit of a tight space and the room is trashed, so getting ready was a bit of a challenge. Without Steve it might have been more difficult, wanting to keep the baby happy, and waiting too late; entirely our fault but, nevertheless, it still could have been a greater challenge without help.

Jenny and Ross honored the people who are important in their lives. The best man and maid-of-honor did quick but elegant speeches. People were visiting and having fun, the band was great and the bride was absolutely beautiful.

Jenny took time to visit with each person who came, making them feel - as she always does - as if they are the most important person in her life.

Ross is a lucky fellow. Jenny is the catch of the century.

Do me a favor

I enjoyed Jenny's wedding. It was nice to be needed (setting up the slide show) plus, it was nice to sit back and listen to the conversations of some of Jenny's family and friends.

It was also a good reminder for me. Knowing who I am and what I'm about, maybe you'll understand what I'm about to say. These are some strong feelings I have about life and how I live it. Listening to people around me (not eavesdropping) I was reminded how strongly I feel, and thought I'd better share it, so you'll all have it for future reference.

1. Don't let me look back. We all have bad experiences and memories. But being memories, those days and events are gone. Get over them. Let them go. Move on. From this day forward, I should glean any lessons from those experiences and let the rest go. Dwelling on the past doesn't make the present a pleasant place.

2. Don't cater to me. Help me when I need it, but make me do most things by myself. Encourage me to think - don't be too harsh - unless I'm too stupid to listen. Then just smack me and tell me to lighten up.

3. If I'm forgetful, just smile at me. Don't have too many expectations for what I'm capable of. Just hug me, kiss me, then go about your business. I don't want a babysitter. If I need one, leave me home.

4. If I'm deaf, don't talk to me. If you have something really important to say, write it on a napkin. It's miserable making people around you listen to you shout at an old fart. If I can't hear, that's my problem. Don't make it yours. And definitely don't make it anyone else's.

5. Celebrate. Life, love, family, home, heritage. Know who you are, who I am, and how we're all connected.
Then just be glad.

Pierre

I mean it when I say that Pierre is one of the nicest cities I've ever visited - and I visit a LOT of cities every year. I can see why people choose to live here. People seem proud of their city, as they should be. It's well worth a visit, even if it is a good bit out of the way.

Friday we spent the day just bumming around the city, shopping at Walmart and Penny's, touring the capitol, visiting the memorials along the river. We walked along the Missouri River, smelled the sulfur in the springs, enjoyed the scenery both natural and man made. In winter the water behind the capitol remains warm in the cold climate (due to hot springs), inviting geese to winter here instead of flying south. It's such an incredible place, one I want to keep coming back to.












There are lovely memorials just outside the capitol building, World War II, Korean War, Viet Nam war. All sit off by themselves to commemorate their respective wars and fallen soldiers.














The Capitol Building in Pierre is celebrating its 100 year anniversary on the 16th of June. Built in 1905, the building is incredibly beautiful, full of local stones and imported Tennessee marble. The artwork shows the story of South Dakota and how it came to be settled, first discovered by Lewis and Clark so very long ago.

Grins and Frills

It's a good idea to dress up your baby with frills and bows, but when you go to the farm you've got to wear your Oshkosh.

You've also got to keep your baby safe, put her in a dresser drawer so she won't harm herself. It's the best place for a baby outside of mommy's arms.

4 Wheeling

I have a major complaint about the Neuhauser farm; pictures just never do it justice. We had such a great time on the farm, Jenny took us for a quick mini tour of the 10,000 acres,












Michelle got to see the wagon wheels with Jenny, from the original Neuhauser farm homestead.

The four wheelers were great fun - no risk taking moves, just slow driving and taking in the scenery.
Steve had a passenger, and also had extra fun hauling logs with Jenny's dad, glad to be put to work doing farm duties.

Friendly farm

My friend is getting married. I call her my friend because I knew her first. That makes her mine.

Jenny's family farm (or ranch, depending on how you view it), produces mostly wheat and millet. Like most good sized farms in Pierre they also have cattle.

Then there's the elk. Jenny's dad added several hundred elk to the ranch in 1998. The elk are some of the most elegant animals you'll see, living and roaming until hunters arrive. The family named the farm Deep Creek Elk Ranch, and open their grounds up to paying elk hunters who want to bag this giant beauty. I'm not really sure what you can do with an elk hide, but the meat is tasty and the antlers make a lovely chandelier.

If you want a chandelier but don't want to kill an animal, no worries. Elk shed their antlers annually, so if you wait till late winter or early spring, they'll just be lying around on the ground for the taking, all in one piece.

Jenny's proud of her family home, and especially proud of its history. in 2009 the farm celebrated its 100 year birthday. Here's Jenny to tell a bit about it.



Steve, Michelle, Bonnie Rose, and I spent the day at the farm just taking in the scenery. Frankly, pictures don't do it justice. It's so amazing, the way the earth meets the sky as far as you can see. The scenery is so incredible, it makes me feel like dancing with wolves.

Miniscule issues

Why do hotels insist on giving you those tiny bottles of toiletries, and making the print so small you can't tell what you're using? Who do they think wears glasses in the shower anyway?

Take my advice, using mouthwash on your hair just doesn't work the same as shampoo.
And lotion makes a horrible conditioner.

All the babies

The day before I left Amanda brought the kids over to see me. It was hot and they were tired but it was so nice to see them. to see me.














Now the other baby is here, and soon, all the babies will be together. Such fun times.

Sleeping in the city

Last week I slept in Indiana. Luckily it was not in Indianapolis, that's one of the stinkiest cities I've ever been through. Instead, I laid my head close to Purdue (University Hall pictured below), and even got a mini tour of the grounds, by a dear friend who attended there.














The week before I slept in Bridgeport. It's pretty there, though the city is very industrial. That surprised me, being so close to Yale. There was absolutely nothing to see in Bridgeport, all they really have to their name is P.T. Barnum. He built three homes there and housed his circus in the city. Bridgeport is a very old area, settled in 1659, so I was surprised to find very little of historic value close by. But I slept well, even if I was there alone.

Tonight I'll sleep in Chicago, and this time I won't be alone. I'll have Michelle and Bonita Rose with me, to snuggle and keep me company through the night. Tomorrow we'll head to Minneapolis and pick up Steve, then head off to Pierre. Now that's a lovely city. If it weren't so far away I'd like to visit it more often.

I know I'll sleep well there. So many people I love to be with.