So. . . I'm a little weird. I guess if you've known me for any length of time you probably know that. But I'm going to tell a little story that will make my weirdness very clear. . .
When I was in (I think) first grade, we took a long road trip. My memory isn't very clear on the details but I'm pretty sure we were moving from Boise to Twin Falls and my dad had gone on ahead in a moving truck so my mom had to make the long, long journey with just me and my sister. I do realize that it isn't that great of a distance between Boise and Twin Falls but I remember feeling like it was just endless. To help the time pass more quickly, my mom invented a game that included special, little wrapped up presents. I think my sister and I had a list of items with things like cows, road signs and billboards on it and whoever found the item first got to open a present. Well, this is where my weirdness comes into play. I knew that one of the gifts was a roll of toilet paper just by the look and feel of the package. I remember being determined to find the first item so that I could be the winner of my very own roll of TP. I really didn't need to worry because I'm pretty sure I was the only one competing for that particular gift. Along with winning the roll of toilet paper, I'm pretty sure I won a bar of soap as well. I don't think I shared my treasures with anyone.
I cannot explain this behavior. I only know that, 39 years-ish later, I still have TP issues.
I'm cheap but still (a little) classy so I buy the cheapest of the expensive toilet paper. But for some reason I usually only buy a 12-pack. And then, of course, we run out. ALL the time. I will put off buying more TP right up until it's almost crucial that we re-stock. Without fail. It's like the episode of Seinfeld where Kramer drives the car as long as he possibly can and finally runs out of gas just as he pulls back into the car lot where he originated. I'm that way with TP. I can't explain it but I'm pretty sure it has something to do with that single roll of toilet paper that I kept to myself for as long as possible when I was six.
Believe it or not, there is a point to this story. . .
When my mother-in-law recently asked me what I wanted for my birthday, guess what I asked for??
I know, weird, right??
Anyway. . .
Sunday evening we had a double birthday celebration for me and Gloria. Jeanie, as usual, fixed us exactly what we each wanted for dinner:
Homemade noodles for me. . .
. . . with berry pie for dessert. . .
And french toast for Gloria. . .
. . . with angel food cake for dessert.
In honor of Gloria's last days as a "child", we all made play dough creations. . .
Matt made this lovely table and chair (I heard he had a little help. . . ). . .
Jeanie made jewelry. . .
McKenna worked very hard . . .
. . . and created this beautiful elephant. . .
Dick made a delicious carrot. . .
Marreen made Marreen. . .
Someone gave Tony brown Playdough. Not sure if that was a good idea. . .
Zach spent quite a bit of time. . .
. . . and created these. . . (?). . . I'm pretty sure it has something to do with stabbing and/or zombies. . .
And, last but not least, my pig. . .
We opened the gifts. . .
And blew out the candles. . .
And spent a very enjoyable evening celebrating with family. . .
Even though my actual birthday isn't for another week, this was a pretty good way to start the count down. And I think I'll be set on the TP front for quite awhile. . .
