Here we are...

Mondays, Mondays. Mondays always get me down. (Isn’t that a song?) Especially after a big weekend like the one that just passed. Waking up has been so hard this week.

Friday night we went to the skating rink for the girls’ birthday party. That is always an adventure, let me tell you. Actually, I think the word is cheap. As in cheap food, cheap décor, cheap entertainment...you get the picture. I swear walking into this place is like going back 25 years. It looks exactly the same. Not to mention the neighborhood isn’t the greatest either. (Not only was it cheap, but my guess is they waited until the last minute as well, or why else would we be having it at 5:30 on a Friday, when the place opens at 8 to the general public.) But the kids seemed to have a good time, and didn’t notice too much. I guess they are still too young. But that’s all that matters.

After the party we went home, and I packed up my stuff to go to Sebring for the Fried Green Tomatoes at Kenilworth Lodge. The Kenilworth is a lovely old hotel. They’ve done a lot of renovations over the last 3 or 4 years, as it was starting to show its age not too long ago. But now they have a new elevator, internet access, a flat screen TV (to watch the Bucs lose on, sigh!) and they made a little kitchen area in the ballroom where the cropping goes on. I know the kitchen helped Linda out a lot.

Linda and her gang work hard every year to put this together and it is always so good. I almost passed on it this week. The whole foot thing has been putting a damper on things, and I am just so wore out by the end of the day. But I decided just to shuck it all and go and have fun. And that’s what I did.

I got there around 11:30 on Friday night and went to bed around 2:30. Saturday I went to bed around 3. Both times because we were out on the porch catching up on the comings and goings on with the gang. Lots of laughs there. Just wonderful.

Saturday, Teri and I braved it to the local winery to try a hand (er, foot) at grape stomping. Well, Teri did, I just went along for the ride. But it was not to be that day. Apparently, this was the day of their yearly festival, with lines out the wazoo. Did I mention it was outdoors (read: HOT!) Oh, and it’s a farm actually. You know with chickens, and crops and stuff like that. Well, we talked our way in, just to buy a few bottles (they wanted $6 bucks admission.) And of course, as soon as we buy our stuff and head out, it starts raining. I really feel for those people waiting in line getting poured on. (Hey, feel for me, in the hot sticky cast on the leg!!!) Oh well, live and learn.

And of course, it wouldn’t be a crop without the food. We had a snack of Fried Green Tomatoes, of course. Then Melanie made her famous oven-fried chicken, with green beans, potato salad, corn bread, and for desert, Elle made a Krispy Kreme Donut bread pudding. YUM!!! Those girls all cooked their asses off this weekend. Of course, we had all our meals served with a smile by Linda, who doesn’t let anyone see her complain, right?

So, of course, a good time was had by all. This is a short week. I’m off Friday. Big sale at Macy’s on Friday. Doorbusters from 9-1 (remember when they used to only do that the day after Thanksgiving? Now everyone does it all the time!) Keep your fingers crossed that I FINALLY find a pair of decent fitting jeans (that aren’t made for the Jolly Green Giant) for the trip coming up soon! Oh, speaking of trips, if you haven’t already, make your way over to Facebook and check out the hotel we’re staying at. It’s in the middle of everything it looks like, with a fantastic view!!! Hasta!