Being in Wilmington

Well you know you are in Wilmington with all the towers and steeples.  The municipal building and the churches on Third Street certainly are landmarks.  Patt and I were in town for three days as Patt was attending a conference and I, well, I was there too.  Andrew loaned me one of his bicycles and I rode around town two of the mornings we were in town, taking a few iPhone photos.  Someone forgot to remind me to bring the camera.  

 Rode on quiet brick and cobblestone streets, 

and followed streets to dead ends at all sorts of interesting places.

of course saw lots of churches, St Mary's here. (I think)

And Andrew's house too.  We had dinner with Andrew and Jenna one evening, delightful evening it was. We ended up back at their house on 2nd St. which is just up from all the action area of town.  It is a real nice little two story, old, historical,  house complete with a plaque and an  actual stone marker in front of the house commemorating (?) British troops being stationed at this location and surrender of American forces at this particular site too.  Way to go Andrew in "protecting America and all"

Andrew took this photo and sent it to me of the dinner cruise ship that Patt and I were on (look closely on upper deck towards the back-- those two are us).

Patt's convention had chartered the dinner cruise and Patt took me as her date.  My name tag said guest of Patt Crissman, hers had numerous ribbons as in connoting someone at the convention who among other things sponsors a booth, has been to a bunch of these meetings and is a board member too.

 The cruise was fun and as we went past the port stuff we saw a ship from Panama.  Patt recognized the flag, I could read the word "Panama" on the back of the boat.

  and up river along the wetlands it was very pretty.  It was a grad time being in Wilmington.  I like going to conventions.

Meanwhile Back at the Ranch

While away, things around the ole renovation project moved a little slowly for a stretch, cabinets got installed, then things slowed as "waitin' on doors", "granite guy at a convention",  plumbing order not complete, and so on.

 So things just sorta sat here and as Patt has put it we have renovation fatigue.  Hot plate cooking and construction mess is not necessarily a life style we would chose at this point our lives.

 Well granite guy got back from his convention, and  so with helpers, as apparently it is heavy,

 he installed the granite counter tops.  If the back splash stuff is in, I reckon those people are next.

Doors were delivered yesterday, perhaps this project will indeed be completed.  We again are hopeful.

Flight home

As is rather obvious I had help with my luggage at the airport there as I was preparing to leave.  Those with sharp vision will notice Isaac just at the top of Lydia's head will to the front pulling my carry-on bag at a rather high rate of speed.  (You may have noticed the terminal is large and new -- you noticed correctly - you could add nice too).

Flights were all on time, seat assignments as good as you can get since none were upgraded to business ( darn it) and gates close, immigration and such smooth and of course sad to leave and glad to be home.

Last day is here again

A regular day includes me taking the kids to school followed by noodles on the street and watching the world go by for an interesting breakfast, which indeed is a good way to start the day --  The ride is not far, and gets the day started.

It has been fun taking the kids to school, and after leaving them experimenting with and settling on a breakfast.  this is the view from my breakfast table - observing and occasionally, but not to often being observed.

Today though we did some special shopping.  In addition to my departure tomorrow, Matt is leaving for a few days and will have an opportunity to take some school supplies to an impoverished community.  He was supposed to make this trip while I was here but schedules got changed and well he didn't, they rented a new apartment instead.  That is another story, but the trip is got delayed and is now on.

So the kids took some of their allowance and went to the local dongshei ("stuff") store -- that by the way is and excellent name for the store -- think old time hardware store crossed with old time 5 & dime store with" made in Japan" stuff from the early 50's -- yes that cheap plastic and metal stuff -- it is still being manufactured

name something other than food and clothing -- it is in there -- and the store is smaller than the living room-  kitchen of your house.  but packed.  Seriously -- coat tree - check , tape measure - check, cook pots- check, toy Dr. set- check, basketball- check, perfume- check, window fan- check, hammer- check, and so on.  

Though we were not buying toys, there were some that did need to be checked out, especially the big trucks. 

And the isles and a little tight,  

they bought notebooks, pens, pencil boxes, erasures, stickers, each item carefully selected.

 the proprietor  patient and helpful

The kids do a lot of shopping here and know the store and staff well.
(and are well known)

and of course I enjoyed watching it all, very very much.

in the morning it is off to the airport and home, been great --sure will miss being here but looking forward to getting home too.

Where's John Paul ?

though the answer to that question was easy this time, it is not always so.  A very frequently called name is "John Paul"  oh John Paul"  where are you?  This little guy, is unbelievably curious, excited, excitable, and fast, very fast -- also coordinated for someone who is two and a few months old--or so it appears to me.  

Apparently he is left handed though not yet certain as has not completely settled hand preference nor has he selected favorite toys playing with all of them and building things with these large legos.  

He may take a stool off the porch around the corner to the key pad entry to the door to the stairwell and start punching keys as he sees the upstairs neighbors do or take one of the riding toys and be off.  Matt and Laura's efforts at boundaries are a work in progress.  ( probably always will be.  I have not shared that piece of good news with them )

 and goodness he is one loving little boy.  Note how he has tilted his head into my chest.  He does actively engage with others --- his grandaddy is one pushover for this kind of response.

 Adventure taking and in the park you had best be fast and not let your attention drift.

 As he and Isaac will be either together or gone separate directions rapidly in a hurry.

 John Paul, Luke, Laura and I went to a wholesalers shop area that is somewhat near where they live that supplies the many little stores, markets, streets vendors,  shops, and bulk purchasers  that are in the area.  It is row after row of speciality wholesale type shop one selling toothbrushes, another soft drinks, another candies, another shoes, various kinds of packaged or bulk foods and so on.

 and yes Laura drove right down that alley way after the white car did a 180 degree turn with lots of back and forward motions as the other motorized carts tried to squeeze through prior to completion of the turn -being very helpful to all concerned and expediting the process -- (not -- and sometimes I wonder just how anything gets done here )

 and here is John Paul about to start unloading the box that the clerk has loaded for Laura,  ( hence earning a chance to hear his name again).  I am holding Luke and  a camera.  Laura has been talking to the clerks, calling to John Paul as he moves around the store  and checking a list.  I assume when I am not here, Luke is in a backpack or one or both kids are at home with the helper.

what reminds me of our kids ?

Karen asked what reminded me of our kids when I was with Laura and Matt's kids, well first it ought to be easy for Karen to answer that question from looking at this photo.   She played with one of them when she was little.  This one.  

That is just for a starter too.  Yes indeed Lydia does look just a bit like Laura.  Lydia above at 5 and one half and Laura below at close to 5 but not quite is my guess.  Julianna looks a bit like Laura in profile I think and some expressions for sure.  I know Isaac is related to Laura because she was the last one with him just as he was born, but he is a ringer for his Dad.  No mistaking that, about all Laura's contribution to Isaac as far as I can tell is keeping him warm for those nine months.  And have already mentioned Luke's similar body construction to his Uncle ( solid ) 

 Crafts are a big deal, much like they were for  their Mom and Uncle and cousins.

 and neatness does not always count.  the effort and concentration is uniform and intense much like it was in times of yore.

 Snack time is also a big hit and much appreciated.  Molasses cookies with red hots are also huge, which ought to be a sure fire memory for Laura and Stephen.

and though in general good humor and grace and good will generally prevail, an occasional space / sharing / turn issue does come up that is not resolved amicably initially which I think was also true back home in Raleigh.

another note that is similar is that the kids do seem to have a real good time and spend a lot of time laughing -- and going to bed early --There are lots more similarities and some differences too, and time place and situations are always changing - --