Our New Friend

I was excited for the kids to finally meet our next door neighbors. A couple expecting a new baby live there, but every other weekend and all Summer a nine year old boy comes there to live with his Dad.

I had heard the couple speak of the child, but today we all got to meet him. I was at first thrilled to note that he is Asian too! Hogan's mother is Korean, and he lives in Chattanooga through the week and across the state line in Georgia on the weekends. He is a great kid, is into all that Mac and Alina love, and they all hit it off. He and Mac share interests in Bionicle, Pokemon, Bakugan, Nintendo, and they are both reading the "Warriors" series books!

I am very happy that we are all developing a feeling of "neighborhood" around here! - McP

Father-Daughter Dance?

This year Alina and I invited her friend Larkin and her father Tony. We first went to O'Charley's and had dinner. Afterward, we drove to the Walker County Civic Center and went to the dance.

Alina did not want to suffer the embarassment of actually dancing with her father! She indulged me a couple of songs, but really got going when only she and Larkin could hit the dance floor. I thought I would have until at least the teen years until I became too much of an embarrassment for my daughter! Oh well, it was a fun eight years being the hero of her life - perhaps I can resume the role in a decade or so! - McP

AT LONG LAST, A BED.

I don't know how I would have made it through this transition without my family. They helped me secure this wonderful new home, they helped me bring it up to living standards after years of not being occupied, and my sisters pitched in to get me a mattress and box springs - except that it triggered a frustrating roller coaster ride with Sears as to whether or not they would actually send me these items, and whether they would send the right items. First, as I waited for the delivery, they told me that they for some reason had cancelled the order. Weeks later, they told me the order was in, but that there was only one-half of the box springs, meaning that I would be in constant danger of a tilt that would roll any occupant off the bed!

Finally, today it came, but the drama did not cease. The delivery man tried to argue that it was a queen size mattress that they sent, for a king size bed! Finally, I just told him to try it. It fit perfectly.

I needed to get Cal down for a nap. Trouble was, he had quietly hidden himself thinking that I would forget all about the nap requirement! - McP