Visiting with family

We went in to visit with Gram (Troy and Danica's great grandmother) and Pap Pap (their grandfather) on Thursday. We didn't do much, I did help out Gram by going to the store and picking up a few things for her. We just talked to them for the day. When Pap came home from work, he gave the kids a BIG box filled with Pirate stuff. The box had about 10 bobble heads, a blanket, a hat, a replica of Three Rivers Stadium (which had been demolished), an umbrella (which I took), a stuffed parrot and several statues. Now, I know that the Pirates are on a 13? game losing streak (kinda sounds like the Barons), but it is still cool stuff. Troy hasn't taken the hat off much at all. He tried to sleep with it on. They loved the stuff. Troy has a tendency to take the really cool stuff. He took the blanket and Danica got mad, so I made sure she got the stuffed parrot.

We just hung out for the day and got caught up on gossip, at least Gram and I did. The kids played and didn't leave Pap Pap alone all evening. We left fairly early since Pap goes to work at 4:30 in the morning.

On Friday, we went back in to see Gram and Pap. Gram hasn't been feeling well and I called her doctor on Thursday to make an appointment for Friday. She forgot to bring the card with the address on it with us and couldn't remember how to get there. She just told me, "It's way out the road". Nice precise directions. Anyway, after 2 calls to 411 and having them connect us to the office, we made it. After her appointment we went to Eat-n-Park for lunch, which I'll expand on in minute, got her prescription and went home. While Gram was waiting for her prescription, Troy, Danica and I went to the chocolate store. MMMMMMM! We got a few small things, how can you not.

Pap came home about 30 minutes after we got back. Again, the kids were joined with him at the hip. He and I did leave for a short while to get fish sandwiches for dinner. Gram doesn't eat meat on Friday, so fish it is. Both kids ate well and were allowed to have smiley cookies for dessert.

I haven't lived in Pennsylvania for an extended period of time since Troy was a year old (and that was just for 8 months). I know that things change. It is inevitable. However, saying something is new on a menu just because it hasn't been there for a few years, is not new. I love going to Eat-N-Park. I don't know why. Maybe it is remembering growing up there and the "not a care in the world" feeling. One of my favorite items on the menu at Eat-n-Park was the steak salad. It really is not very good as far as steak salads go, but I like it anyway. It hasn't been on the menu the past few times I was home, but I always ordered it anyway. They still made it if I asked. When we went on Friday, there it was, toted as a new menu item. Don't get me wrong, I am happy it is back, but put it under a different heading like "Back by popular demand", or "an Oldie but Goodie". Something else, just not a "New Menu Item".

Another difference was the great big Pit-o-mud that used to be North Park Lake. Coming down the hill and seeing a crater like opening instead of the lake was strange to say the least. The people in charge decided to drain the lake and clean out the sediment and silt to make it deeper (?) or cleaner (?). I guess it is a good idea. One really good thing to come from this is the lack of geese. I went through the area 4 times so far and no geese. I thought I heard something about them being a nuisance and relocated sometime in the past, but I can't remember. Anyway, no lake = no geese. I wonder what interesting objects they have found in the muck that is being removed. It would be fun to find out.

As for today...it isn't over yet. Earlier we went to a "neighborhood" yard sale. The whole neighborhood wasn't participating, but several houses were. Grandma go Danica some toys. Her favorites are the horses. She now has 6 horses of various sizes but relatively the same coloring that she is playing with non-stop. I got her a new backpack. It looks brand new and I am going to have her name embroidered on it for school. It isn't clear, so I'll have to make sure she can take it. It is her favorite color, purple, with roses on it. Very fitting if you ask me since her name is Danica Rose.

After going to the yard sale, we went to play at the "Purple Park". It is a handicapped accessible play ground in Alameda Park. The tops of most of the equipment are purple, hence the name "Purple Park". It was a little warm, but the kids played for an hour and then we went to get drinks. Right now, they are playing downstairs, Grandma is taking a nap, and I am sitting here typing. I heard it whispered that Danica and I were getting a birthday party and cake tonight with dinner. Shh, don't tell anyone.