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Virginia City with the In-Laws

by Marilyn on October 5, 2008

As I mentioned last week, my in-laws came to stay with us on Thursday.  Luckily, we were able to get the house pretty much under control by then.  And I feel I should probably say again (though I have said it before) that I get along great with my in-laws.  I am really lucky in that regard.  So when they said they would be going to Virginia City on Friday afternoon and asked if me and the kids wanted to go along, well, sure I did!

I’d only been to Virginia City once before.  Kile and I had gone up for the day once when Harry was just a baby.  So I was interested to go back and see if it was like I remembered.  It’s an interesting town.  The entire village is a historical monument and is filled with Civil War Era homes and buildings and while there is a lot there that is falling down around the knees, it’s also got a lot of character.  It’s also VERY touristy.  For instance, the first shop we went into was a leather goods store that boasted everything they sold was $20 or less.  No foolin’!  (I almost bought a purse there.)

There are people who are paid to dress up in period-style costumes and walk the streets, talking to tourists and posing for pictures.  There’s a horse-drawn carriage for rides, a trolly car that drives around the various historical landmarks and more saloons in a one mile radius than I think I’ve ever seen before in my life.  Not only are there a lot of saloons, but there’s a lot of CANDY.  There are several shops devoted entirely to ice cream, candy, fudge or whatever else.  Most of the candy and fudge is made on the premises and I couldn’t resist getting a 1/2 pound of sinful peanut brittle for Kile.  We stopped for ice cream cones and Harry’s eyes about fell out of his head.  That was the highlight of his day, perhaps even his week.   The cones were amazing and even Liam loved sharing my strawberry cheesecake ice cream with me.

The kids were actually pretty well-behaved.  We left after a couple hours and drove back through Carson City on our way to Reno.  I sat in the back of my in-laws truck, between the two car seats and if I wasn’t getting smacked by Liam, I was getting clawed by Evie.  We had to pull off the road at one point so I could feed Evie, and I was impressed that she’d gone as long as she had before wanting to eat.  We met up with Kile and my sister-in-law’s family who had just gotten to town and had dinner at the Olive Garden.  Needless to say, it was a LONG day.  But fun was had and isn’t that the point?

While you wait!
This is the place to get a beaver felt custom made hat while you wait

Bell Tower
Lots of museums in this town too.  But oh, the brick is so pretty.

For Brit
I saw this and thought of a particular someone.

Ponderosa Saloon
Harry desperately had to use the bathroom so we stopped at this saloon to use their facilities.  They had lots of grisly paintings on the wall.  Like this one.

Church
An absolutely gorgeous church.

Busted
Harry got busted.  Interestingly enough, they let him keep his ice cream cone.

Riiiiiight
Do I buy it?  Not for all the gold in Virginia City.

The view goes on and on
Quite the view.

Main Street, Virginia City
It really is a cute little town.  I’d like to have a decent camera and spend a day there sometime.

She had fun
Evie enjoyed herself too.

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Day Trip With The In-Laws

by Marilyn on October 3, 2008

I haven’t had much computer time today, but here is a little peek at what I’ve been up to with my in-laws today. I’ll follow with more pictures and the rest of the story soon. I know you’re all probably waiting with bated breath. (is it too late to insert sarcasm?). I’m writing this on my iPhone in the back of my in-laws truck, squeezed between two car seats (and subsequently trapped), with Liam screaming in my ear so I had better cut this short. Mwah!

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You Need to Read - September 28

by Marilyn on September 28, 2008

Better a day late than a dollar short, right? (Though, come to think of it, I’m a dollar short too.  Damnit.)  I had to post this week’s list because there really were some good posts on it and I felt guilty for not giving them their due.  And I know I shouldn’t feel guilty anyhow and that’s what I was trying to avoid by taking the break and all, but… what can ya do?  I’m going to try to tackle this list a little differently than I normally would too.  So bear with me.  And thanks for your patience too.  You guys are faboo.

First off, I have Let Flickr Take You On A Picnik! from Blissfully Domestic by Kayla Meow.  Have you heard about Picnik yet?  I played with it a little this weekend and I think it’s love.  Best of all?  Most of it’s features are FREE, you just need to sign up.  This picture below is a good testament of what can be done with Picnik:

Eyelashes
BEFORE and AFTER

Convinced yet?  Go read that post if you aren’t and you will be!

Also on this week’s list is Trauma from loraleeslooneytunes.com by Loralee.  This isn’t an easy post to read.  Chances are, you’re going to need a box of tissues to get through it.  I know I did.  Her pain is so palpable in this post that you want desperately to be able to reach through the computer screen and hug her, bake her a lasagna, SOMETHING.  I know enough of her pain to know how soul-shattering it is, but in the end, I have no idea the trauma she has experienced.  She’s in my heart.

Next is an issue that is near and dear to my heart. Boys Will Be Boys? from Dutch Blitz by Angella.  I take (and always have taken) large exception to the notion that all boys are rough, wild and obnoxious.  If anything, I think what makes boys that way is their parents expecting that’s how they’ll be.  And I hate it when people excuse rude/poor behavior by saying “boys will be boys”.  That’s no reason not to have manners.  Whether you’re a boy or a girl, you should be able to say you’re sorry.

This next post is just as awesome and is about a very important issue. Guest Poster: Bugfrog from Greeblemonkey by Aimee’s husband Bryan.  He talks about how and why some people say they don’t or won’t vote and how exactly that line of thinking is flawed.  We should ALL vote if we even remotely care about this country.  Republican or Democrat.  We need to make our voices heard.

I always love to see a new post from Y up.  File this one under “afraid to hit publish.” from Joy Unexpected by Yvonne was yet another post from here where she lays it on the line.  And this time, she lays it on the line about her thyroid, her weight and how it’s affecting her.  And she basically says she refuses to let it affect her any longer.  She wants to get healthy, darnit, and I want to get healthy right along with her.  I just love her honesty.  I wish we could all be as honest in our writing.

This next post is actually something I’m worried about.  In the Voting Booth, No One Knows You’re a Dog from MOMocrats by Cynematic discusses the possibility of people getting to the voting booth and, though intending to vote for Obama, will not be able to for one reason or another.  Mostly?   Because he’s black.  I am scared to death of this happening, people.  That we would turn away from the best hope our country has right now simply because of the color of his skin.  Prove me wrong, people!

And while I’m feeling all aggravated, here’s something that’s been making my brain bleed: High Fructose Corn Syrup Is Your Friend! from MamaPop. Have you seen these ads?  They drive me CRAZY.  I’m sorry, Corn Refiners of America (or whoever you are), but your campaign is stupid, insulting and DANGEROUS.  I guess that’s my way of saying that I’m not convinced and I will still be looking for ways to cut HFCS from our diet.  Because, seriously, I don’t need this stuff in EVERYTHING I eat.  Do you?

And that, my friends, is the list.  If you’ve seen my previous post today, we’ve had some strange happenings here at Casa de Porter.  This morning, we heard a loud BANG followed by the sound of ice crackling in a glass of water.  And lo and behold, our sliding glass door in the kitchen SHATTERED.  Just like that.  Why?  Your guess is as good as mine.  Some of the glass has already started falling out of it and I’m at a loss as to what to do.  FIGURES.  Sometimes, I really, really  hate this house.

Wordless Sunday

by Marilyn on September 28, 2008

Wordfull Sunday

by Marilyn on September 21, 2008

So.  Here it is Sunday and I’ve got nothing to say for myself.  Truly.  I should be ashamed of myself.  But when the weekend rolls around, I’m so in the business of CHILLING OUT that it doesn’t leave a lot of room for waxing poetic on my blog.  So I apologize for the lack of interesting content but you should be happy to know that when I’m not posting here I’m enjoying myself so that’s something, right?

In other news, I got through my Google Reader today.  Which means, TA DA, I’m all caught up.   I don’t think I’ve been caught up since BlogHer.  So I’m just tickled to death about this.  Now no one post anything for the next couple of days so I can enjoy the blank-ness.

Also: I gave up on asking Kile to read “Twilight”.  I’m just sad, is all, that no one I actually know in real life wants to read this book and talk to me about it.  Do they think I have bad taste?  That I would have them read a book that I know they wouldn’t enjoy?  Bah.  Just sad.

Which of course always gets me into thinking about my friend-less existence and how much that really sucks.  But we’re all tired of hearing about that.

On that happy note, I’m going to leave you with an iconic picture Liam trying out Harry’s old tricycle.  It’s just a crappy iPhone picture but I love it anyhow.

Liam on a trike