Read, Shred then Burn

I finally got a family member infected mit the EllJay - laloshin has an account, and you be nice to her 'cause she hits hard.

She may not post often, depending on whether or not she needs to kill Princess Legal Eagle or MeeToo right that second.

Okay, so it was MeeToo's birthday this week, and we drove up after my meds wore off enough to make me legal. This time, we took a route that allowed me to completely avoid I-75 *glee!*
The route took us through the old west gate for Oak Ridge, a relic remaining from the "Secret City" era. Then we started seeing signs for the American Museum of Science and Energy - the pull was too strong and I had to follow. We got there after hours, but HunnyBabySweetiePieDarlin' wandered up to the door and noted the place was also open Sundays one to five.
Continue on to the House of Seester (NS - that's how she pronounces it, like she's a refugee from a Cisco Kid movie... but that's how to tell she's in a good mood.) Mama, for once, was not up to her elbows in a home improvement project. She said just finished painting the house (the parts of the house not covered by the siding guys) earlier in the week and was taking a break. Seems everybody was tired, and cooking didn't sound fun. Especially after cleaning up after Princess Legal Eagle and MeeToo's cupcake-making extraveganza. So we call Panda Garden. New place, and will get my repeat business. Little hole-in-the-strip-mall restaurant, but no steam table. Everything was nearly fresh-made (in the last hour, at least), delicious and they KNOW HOW TO PACK TAKE-AWAY ORDERS FOR TRANSPORT! *massive glee!* Hyperactive Lad still is not trying it yet, but he did say the crispy noodles were good.
Sleep patterns make me usually the first adult awake on these weekends, and this time was not different. I make coffee, and MeeToo makes his breakfast request. This weekend, he wanted his birthday cake, so he could go ahead and open his presents. Apologies to Mr. Cosby, I wasn't buying it (Saturday, anyway).
HBSPD and I ran away around noonish to see the new McKay's used media store. If you find yourself in Knoxville, it is worth braving the construction to see this place. Books, DVD's, CD's, CD-ROM, and games for just about every gaming platform available in the area - we spend too much every time, but we keep going back.
We came back just in time to meet my aunt and grandmother at the house for the PARTY for which MeeToo had been pestering us to start for HOURS (any wonder why we bailed to the bookstore?) and the obligatory tour of the grounds. While PLE engaged in the time-honored tradition of "testing" the younger sibling's new toys, we watched the koi and complimented the new plantings. Outside, away from the kinder. No fool, I - Maw-Maw's much easier to handle than the terrible trio.
Breakfast for dinner - with two-and-a-half alpha females in the kitchen. PLE isn't old enough to cook, so she supervised.
Luckily, I had picked up danish-like objects and turnovers for breakfast Sunday the day before. No more bacon in the house.
We left early, for we had a mission - we must see the museum. History and mad-science buffs that we are, HBSPD and I were having a large time, and HL enjoyed parts of it, as well. He doesn't stop to read the cards, he just pushes the buttons. Hee. He even managed to startle a proctor with The Laugh (you know the one - BWAHAHAHAHA!) He got to participate in the VandeGraaff Generator demonstration, and only had to get zapped twice before he decided that was enough fun, thank you. The boy's going to let the minions test that stuff from now on.
Other than that, there was much driving, with new music. One of the finds at McKay's was the highlights from the War of The Worlds musical, with the Richard Burton narrations. Not quite what I remembered, but enjoyable, nonetheless.

I have returned form the depths of the wilderness where I have confronted my addictions, and found myself wanting. I did not know I was quite so reliant upon one in particular, which I find disturbing. Being cut off from the Internet was worse than making a pack of cigs last from Monday morning through Thursday noon.

( I have returned from the darkest reaches of Boxwell.  )

Thoughts on communication

( Language )

Sometime about the turn of the century, Mama started pestering me about writing down the stories I told around the fires of our peoples. I waffled, stating I didn't have the time. Of course, the real problem was I have been reading the tales my grandmother has written.
Maw-maw has been compiling the family history as she saw it. Now in her tenth decade (she's going to hate me for hinting at her age, more on that later) she seems to be looking back through frosted rose-colored glasses. There have been comments made at family gatherings, some sotto voce and others at full volume, that the events were not as she said. She glossed over some events, ignored others and reveled in the ones that make her look good.
I'm no different. I have many stories, but few that I am the star, or that translate well to those outside my head. Others may remember some of these events differently. Tough, write your own stories.

( Secret Origins )
( Childhood )
( Driving and Riding )