I am beginning to think that every month will continue to be more crazy than the next, as this one had a lot of highs and a lot of lows. Mothers day included a break from our normal Captain Ds meal, but I can't remember where we went instead. Sam got Mom some life saver gummies. I got mom whatever painting she bought to come from me. But overall, Magan was just happen to have the whole family there, including a pretty regular at the house Noel.
We finally got new couches this month, which was a long time coming, and courtesy of LilyWhite Photography. It was a big purchase, and I am just glad Magan got what she wanted...I think. The guy that picked up the old couches was a great country feller that had dip so thick in his bottom lip I could see the bottom of his teeth, but he was "glad a young feller" could help him get them loaded.
We finally sold Rico, Davis' truck, this month. As it was just sitting and no one really wanted to drive it anymore. I went out to show it to one person in Chelsea, then another in Pelham, but apparently did not give Magan full details, so she watches on Life 360 like a weirdo thinking that I have been kidnapped and taken to a Publix in Pelham. Well, that is where I did sell it, and got a large wad of bills in my pocket. I expressed some humorous concern to the people that bought the truck, but apparently seeing me for the old man I have become, they asked if they needed to stay and watch over me till my ride got there. Seriously, I was at a Publix, not a Walmart...I was safe.
Davis was getting his Credit Union account set up online, and messed up his initial password, so he had to call and speak to customer service. While speaking with them, they had to confirm his identity, which he correctly answered his name and email, but then failed when they asked him his birthday. Because once again, I had filled out the paperwork when we created the account, and mistakenly put in 2/17 instead of 2/19. This is a running joke, and a real brain gap I have...as it was the same mistake that almost did not let Davis get into the White House. Davis said he knew right away what happened, when the teller paused after he shared his birthday. He had to explain that his dad does this all the time, then had to spend another 5 minutes verifying his identity using other methods.
Davis had another good month with scholarships, being awarded $4K/year to add onto his scholarships at Alabama. Not realizing this was even an option, we celebrated and cheered. Then later in the month was notified by UA that he had been awarded too much, and they could not award him more than tuition. So we just laughed it off, it was cool for a moment. Then at the end of the month, the school of engineering offered him a similar scholarship that will go above and beyond tuition...haha. So there you go, Davis is continuing to rack up with scholarships.
Other pictures below show Sam making it to the Pearl Jam concert with Colby and Ben. Magan also helped me with a fun Kid's class at church one Wednesday night. There was a fun day with the cutie Ratcliff girls, one of them had a birthday, and it made Magan's whole day to have Eloise run up to her and give her a big hug on this day. The Pickleball days are now overtaking the disc golf days, altho we had a little of both this month. Ruby went on a Breakout Escape room with Kaylee, with Magan getting frustrated that no one worked as a team. There was a really good Honduras prep day at church where all of the scenes for "The Good Samaritan" were produced. A random wedding in Cullman attended by Sam and Noel. Stella performing amazingly with a Disney showtune show...she sang just like or even better than Shakira. Belle went to the lake with the Rawls, and went real fast on a boat.
At our Hatch Cyber Inspection, the NRC inspector wore a Fedora hat to match the one I wear in my profile picture at work and at industry events. And many of us wore Hawaiian shirts because that is his typical dress for the inspection week. Fun to have such good relationships with our government inspectors. Always tough weeks, but better when you can enjoy who you are working with. Deidra also bought all on our team shirts for "World's Most Beautiful Baby", picturing Dallas LeMaster, our other IT manager on the team. Dallas had actually won this prestigious award I think in 1984 or 1985. So Deidra and I were pinching his cheeks in the picture below with our team.
This was also a terrible Saturday that began with Sam and Noel going to Six Flags. I was up early probably looking to get some blog work done, when I remembered they were going as I saw a text asking if they should pick up a season souvenir cup. I quickly replied of course, but then after checking the weather (very rainy all day), I decided to try and make their day a little more magical. I wrote back and told them "Hey, you guys have both had a great year at school. Treat yourself on me, get some season passes (on sale that day) to the Aquarium downtown and you won't have to worry about the rain. I felt really good with myself, and only later in the day kicked myself over and over again for not giving any advice to driving in Atlanta. Well, next I got a call from Sam needing the Alfa insurance card as he had been in a wreck. Everyone was ok, but car was totaled and would not be driven home. So after getting Sam all of the info he needed, I hopped in the car and headed towards Atlanta. Fortunately, they were 1 block away from the aquarium, so they loaded up everything out of the car, and probably looked very strange carrying all of this into the aquarium, and spent their day touring the fish, as I made my drive over. I picked them up and brought them home that day, stopping at our normal Arby's spot for supper. I will not describe the traffic violations and issues Sam had that day, as that is his embarrassing tale to tell. But if any are reading, my lesson learned as a Dad was to take a timeout when plans change...explain to your 20 year old what driving in Atlanta is like, explain the dangers that are there, then suggest other places that are not Atlanta for next time. I will say that this dad got a little emotional as he sat and watched a sweet young couple across from him at that Arbys. I love that Noel and was just as scared for her when he called as I was for him. So I guess no matter what happens in their relationship, I am already committed to her as part of our family. And trying to hold back tears, with the faint smell of a Beef and Cheddar sandwich, I shared that with Noel. So, it was a horrible day, but there were good parts, and Sam better have learned lessons, as his insurance is about to break me. Plus we get another visit to Atlanta on 7/21 to talk to a judge...the fun never ends. I will drive this next time.
And lastly is moments I hear about each day with both boys working at Rozars with Granddad. They are already good friends, but I think they are growing even closer with this summer working together. They come home each day usually with a story about grandad being busy with this or that, some crazy paint opening smell that was horrible, random hopefully not asbestos patching projects in the building, and constant discussion of how many pallets they put up on that day or whether they got Tuscaloosa ready for the next morning. One day they were both cackling trying to tell me a story about the forklift propane tank having a leak, and the forklift vendor telling them not to use it at all, because it was dangerous. Then they needed two pallets moved, and Granddad asked them to walk to the other end of the building so he could move the pallets with the potentially explosive forklift. They both said they figured this would be it, where they would have to watch their granddad blow up on a forklift. But it did not happen, so it left them with a story and lots of laughter. Probably not as funny unless you hear them telling the story...or if granddad would have really blown up. They also tell me about the food...I have seen some giant corn dogs, heard about some huge burgers, and lots of random free lefterovers chuck brings back to Rozars. Actually I just ate two moon dogs they brought back as left overs as my lunch on this Friday in June as I write. About time for them to get home...I wonder what tales will be told today.
