Sort of have fallen behind on my blogging. I still need to provide my comments on my walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. I ran out of time trying to play catch up and get ready for the trip to Northern Virginia. Of course, if I would have commented about the pending trip to VA it may have given away what my sister and I were up to – a surprise 70th birthday party for my dad. It became the week of birthday.

It started off with a birthday dinner for my sister and dad July 9th at the Melting Pot – a really neat fondue restaurant. Fonduing was also one of my mom’s favorite things to do – of course she had everything we needed to “do” fondue at home. Jeff had never fondued – so it was quite an experience for him (and a workout for his American Express card).

Monday – July 10th was Megan’s birthday – we spent it at King’s Dominion – Megan was able to add two more roller coasters to her list. She’s afraid of them so it’s a start. Her favorite (non rollercoaster) ride was the Scrambler. Then we did one of the things my sister and I have done in the past – an “old time” photo. I’ll get scans of it posted as soon as I can.

Wednesday – July 12th (my dad’s birthday) morning was Pink Flamingos – 50 of them (we couldn’t get 70). Dad spent the evening with his R.O.M.E.O. (Really Old Men Eating Out) club – it was the night the cruised on the yacht. It was a perfect “distraction” from our upcoming Friday surprise.

Thursday we took my dad to breakfast at his favorite place – Bob Evans. The rest of the day was spent running the party supply errands – drinks, snacks, balloons, more decorations – we rented a helium tank to blow up 82 latex balloons. The neatest thing we did was to go to a little shop called Paint Your Heart Out that specialized in allowing he customer to paint ceramic bisqueware. This needs it’s own entry.

Friday – July 14th – the big day. I started off trying to my Monkey balls – it turned into Monkey Goo. I think I should quit trying to bake when I’m in Virginia – this was the second baking “disaster” – at least this one was edible. After making the brownies (which survived rather nicely), it was off to pick up the helium tank and then start the decorating process. We started decorating at noon – the party was at 6PM. Megan took charge of the helium tank and the balloons – all 82 of them. Last minute mania but we managed to pull it off with a lot of help from Kelley’s friends. A little after 6PM – my very surprised dad came in – we pulled it off.

Some side thought will follow regarding those who were too selfish to show up.

The snooping into Megan’s personal things story seems to have more to it. Perhaps I should go find some extremely embarrassing items for Megan to leave in her drawers and closets – maybe that would stop the nosy bodies.

Now I will defend a PARENT’S right to snoop, dig or whatever necessary if they suspect something is amiss – but this person is no where near being Megan’s parent.

It truly amazes me, if Megan’s father is so worried about what Megan does when he’s not there, why does he leave her alone? Or better yet, why doesn’t he talk to her instead of asking her sister? Of course, manners and polite behavior don’t seem to be a strong suit when you allow house guests to snoop through your daughter’s personal items.

Too bad there are some people who still have problems with the fact that Megan has a good relationship with me. I guess it irks them that Jeff and Megan are trying to work through the step-family relationship too. Hmmm, what is it that I was told, “get over it?”

Been meaning to say that for a long time and just when I thought I could “let it go” (as it’s been suggested I do) he pulls another bonehead move. Plans were being made for Megan’s uncle (who is more like a father to her than my ex) to meet us and pick Megan up after our week of birthdays. We had suggested Chattanooga but he opted to come back up to the Morristown area again. Things were somewhat confusing because Megan go a call from her uncle that sounded like he was on the road heading up. He likes to drive up the night before and head back the next day. Right after that call she gets a call from her father wanting to know where she was but never gave her a reason why he wanted to know. Perhaps IF he had EXPLAINED that he was also heading back up to DC and had stayed the night at the same hotel as her uncle, MAYBE Megan would have wanted to spend the evening with him, her uncle, her cousin & family. She had no idea that he was even at the same hotel until after we dropped her off. She tried calling him but never got an answer. She and her uncle waited around for him but got tired of waiting so they headed back to Nashville. Once again my ex the great communicator strikes again.

Seems the cousin & family stayed with the ex. That in itself was “nice” – but even family should be respectful of oher family members things and not go through Megan stuff moving and even breaking things. Geez, I still feel bad to this day when I was staying with my sister and broke one of her nutcrackers.

Another issue the ex loves to deny is that Megan has asthma – oh I love that one. Six asthma related admissions to the hospital with pneumonia but she doesn’t have asthma according to him – but I degress. Granted, yes it is his apartment but when he allows his “guests” that reak of cigarette smoke to sleep in Megan’s bed which in turn makes her sick – the least the jerk could do would be to wash her sheets and spray down her room before she gets back. Considering he’s not doing a good job with Megan’s health insurance (he does have TRICARE – yeah right that’s top notch) I have every right in the world to bitch when he does something that makes her sick.

Okay, I’ve ranted enough about my (best Red Forman voice) dumbass ex. I’ll try not to let his stupidity ruin the fabulous week of birthdays. More to follow on that, plus a few other tangent rants about who didn’t bother to show up.