A Mongolian 4th of July

Being raised not to be afraid to be a little different is something that I continue carry with me - and have passed on to my kids.  So when we were planning for the 4th of July I began to think that every one does the hamburgers and hotdogs on the grill with the same sides - baked beans, corn on the cob and the like.  Let's try something new.  We have ate at BD's Mongolian grill in the past - and I liked the concept.  You pick out your ingredients and then they are grilled on a solid flat grill.  Simple, fast - and the twist being was that everyone got to cook their own meal.

Becky has a table with a small fire pit in the middle.  So I found an old electric flat top skillet that didn't work any more and took off the plastic legs, then added some metal to make it longer.  Then I welded together a frame to place it on.  And so we had our grill.

Next step was the food.  For those that are not from the area - Jungle Jims is a huge privately owned grocery store that has everything under the sun in one building.  While some stores have an aisle for oriental food - Jungle Jim's has separate aisles for each country - Japan, Thailand, China, etc.  So I went there after work to get the all the fixings.  And as always I spent too much.  You see things on the shelves that you generally don't see - so you think to yourself "I'd like to try this" and "I'd like to try that" and before you know it you are lugging around a cartload of food instead of the 10-12 items you went there to buy.

On the 4th we gave everyone directions on how to prepare a bowl of food, then a small cup of oil with seasoning added and stood back.  The food and the process of making your own meal was a hit. Although Chad was a little reluctant - "My only experience with cooking was when I worked at Burger King..."

The grandkids had a good time as well.  We did buy some hotdogs and made some mac and cheese for them.  And from Jungle Jim's I had got them some Barq's root beer to wash it down with (one of those impulse purchases).  After eating it was time to play.  Becky bought a small bounce house at a garage sale and they had a good time with it.  Played with the basketball on the court.  Fought with balloon swords.  And enjoyed some pop rocks.

Cash was excited by the fireworks as most boys are - are these fireworks going to be on the ground or in the air?  What is a bottle rocket?  Can I see them?  All questions were answered at dusk when we started lighting them off.  We let the youngsters warm things up with some sparklers. But I will say that all the parachute rockets in the one package I bought were duds.  None of the poor troopers made it more than 10 feet in the air and most were dashed against the ground before their chutes opened. But the other fireworks performed to expectations.  Cash did scoop up some of the failed parachutists and I am sure that he is figuring out how to launch them properly today.

We had neighbors to our right and neighbors to our left lighting them off too.  So the kids got a splendid display all in all. No one lost any digits or burned any flesh - so all in all it was a fun evening. Viva la difference!  And you know if you didn't ever try anything different, you would just be eating McDonalds all the time, how boring would that be.

Annabelle goes visiting

This past weekend we took young Annabelle with us to see grandma Garrett.  Chelsea had to work, so she asked us to take her.  Annabelle may not ever remember grandma Garrett, but I think it helped Grandma to be able see one of her multitudes of great grands.  She was slow to warm up to grandma - we were in a new setting the assisted living home and so she was a little unsure of herself.  But she did give her a nice hug before the visit was over.

Afterwards we went to eat at Buckeye Jakes.  We got her some Mac and Cheese along with some chicken tenders.  During one of her visits to the table, the waitress noted, "she sure likes her macroni and cheese." We replied that she sure does.  And on cue Annabelle tilted her head back and blew a mouthful of mac and cheese into the air!  We couldn't help but laugh and several of the surrounding tables chimed in. So she started to get another mouthful and do it again. Being dutiful grandparents we had to suppress our smiles and in stern voices tell her to cease and desist.  Afterwards we advised Chelsea - only your child would do something like that. We did leave the waitress a generous tip for the additional work needed in the vicinity of the table.

This has been the year of the boy.  Ryker Tilton, Elliot Deeter, and Wesley Henrickson all arrived within about 6 weeks of one another. Young Wes has the distinction of being Heathers first grandchild.  I congratulated her on being a grannie. The other two are descendants of mine - I can only hope that they overcome this handicap. So far all seem to be healthy.  You never stop worrying about your kids and well - your grandkids.  I did send up a multitude of prayers that all would be healthy.  At a certain point there isn't much else you can do. As a father you always want to fix things - but some things you just don't have the capability to fix.  Vanessa had to fight gestational diabetes, and Samatha had mastitis, but they worked their way thru it all and are doing fine.  So maybe in spite of prayers from a heathen like me, all are OK.

Went to Gary "Might Dog" Smires and Christina's wedding reception at the Hillcrest Tavern. Good time all in all.  Their cake had a skull on top of it - candy/confectionary of course.  They met over the internet on a motorcycle website. They saw each like 3-4 times in person, then got married.  She comes from El Paso, Texas and has moved up here to be with him.  They seem to make a good couple. She has not seen snow, I think she will be thrilled the first time, then after about the 3rd and 4th snows she be wondering when will spring be here like the rest of us.

Young Elliot

Young Elliot Johnathon Deeter first saw the light of day on June 5, 2014.  A strapping young lad, he tipped the scales at a whopping 10 pounds even and was 22 inches in length. Glad to be there to welcome him to the world and see another life's journey begin. Perhaps I will get the football player that I have been looking for.  Although being born in Kentucky he might lean towards being a post player on the hardwood.

Interestingly the trip down Louisville was similar to when Elaina was born - a wet evening with flashes of lightening in the sky. It was a planned a C-section and so we got Elaina off to school in the morning, then went to the hospital. His blood sugar was low so they were keeping a close watch on him. When the nurses unwrapped him,the first thing I noticed was the big barrel chest, like his Dad. And with that big chest and matching mouth, he let it be known that he was not happy about being awoken from his nap.

They gave him some formula to get his blood levels set and he emptied the bottle in no time.  So he has an equally large appetite.  Some of the newborn clothing that they had gotten for him simply would not fit as he was too big for it.  Including a Brown's cap that was too small (to his parents chagrin and my delight) - so I made a mental note to buy a suitable hat for the young man from a real professional football team, the Ohio State Buckeye's.

We picked up Elaina at the bus stop after school and took her to the hospital with Violet.  Fun to watch the two sisters being all about Elliot - I think he will grow up with 3 Mums to watch over him. Any future girlfriend will have to earn the approval of all three.  Elaina is at an age where she will be helpful this summer.  And Violet will have to adjust to being the middle child.  Although at this stage, Violet is all about being the helpful big sister, and Elaina is like ho-hum I have been thru this big sister stuff before.

Friday Violet and I walked to the lake and did a little fishing in the morning.  I caught a little small mouth bass, about 8 inches.  She had some bites from the blue gill, but could not set a hook on any of them.  I will say that pre-school has been good for her.  She seems more outgoing and articulate. No shrinking violet this one.  A very caring person, she has been giving our Boston Terrier, Max, all the attention he can stand.

We had a good time at the swimming pool on Saturday.  Although Violet was tentative about going into the water.  So I went in with her and soon she was having a good time. Met some of the people at the pool from the apartment complex and they all seemed nice. Kids played together well so she had a good time.  Elaina played keep away with some of the boys at the deeper end of the pool.  Later we went to the Barrel of Fun ice cream shop - which as the name suggests is shaped like a huge barrel.

Eric brought home some beer and a bottle of wine to celebrate.  He also got me a bottle of "Arrogant Bastard Ale" - which is actually a good tasting beer if you like hops as I do.  I told him that Chelsea got me a bottle of it for a birthday not long ago - I guess that I have that effect on people!

Momma, Poppa, and baby Elliot arrived home on Saturday as well.  All seemed exhausted - it is just hard to sleep in a hospital.  The baby seems to be taking it all in, his new surroundings and his two sisters that fuss over him. Our job of watching the girls done, we left for home Sunday after a nice big breakfast.  Some Kentucky style biscuits and gravy and scrambled eggs.

We are 2/3rds done with the year of the boy - Joe and his wife's son, now young Elliot, and soon to come niece Callie's young boy will be arriving, which is Heather's first grandchild.  Oh it is fun to be a grand parent - you have all the fun of  fishing and swimming and doing the i scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream bit.  And at the first whiff of a dirty diaper, it is (Mom..Dad) you have a problem here and the problem is handed off to the duly appointed guardian and diaper changer. Not too bad of a deal.

Dear Margaret

Dear Margaret,

It is with deep regret that I must inform you that I will be unable to attend your graduation party in June. My oldest daughter has a c-section delivery scheduled for that weekend, and we will be watching her children during this event.   So in lieu of my presence I am enclosing a check.  Hopefully it will relieve you of the great sorrow you must be feeling right now.

I know that many think of this as a festive time in your young life. But I with the wisdom of years I must give warning of your impending adulthood.  If you knew what I knew, then instead of skipping down the graduation aisle, your class would shuffle solemnly to the stage, with heads bowed in dread.  And the music played would be a funeral dirge.  

Nay go back, back into the class room I say, delay adulthood as long as possible. Have the counselor recount your credits.  Perchance they miscounted and you would need to go back to school.  This actually happened at South a few years ago where the valedictorian did not have enough credits to graduate.   Or maybe tell the school that I really can’t remember the courses I took my freshman year, and that you would like to retake them to refresh your memory so that you don’t feel cheated. 

For once you leave you will have dreams of finding the cure for cancer, solving world peace, and other lofty goals.  And 10 years after you graduate it will be an accomplishment to make this month’s mortgage payment, drop off the child at daycare with matching shoes, and survive another day at some soulless corporate behemoth  without getting fired.   Yes the world will dash your dreams against the rocky shores of life. 

Many of your generation live their early adult years in their parents basement. Something to consider – all you would need is money for pizza and beer.  And no responsibility.  Get an xbox and the internet and you are set.  Yes if I had it all to do again this would be the route to go.  The only way that I would have left home is at the barrel of a gun and a quick lock change so that I could never go back.  

Your father has a basement  - so put it to good use, and use the check to open a credit line with Sarah’s pizza.  And the beer can be gotten by any enterprising American teenager.   And I think that it is a shame that an 18 year old can go fight in some god forsaken country, but they can’t go home and enjoy a cold one after a year of fighting for your life. But on the other hand I like the law for this aspect of it- because everyone breaks it as part of becoming an adult.  It’s a rite of passage.  And isn’t that part of being an American – rebelling against authority, or at least questioning it?  So don’t be afraid to rebel and question.

I am given to understand that you are class valedictorian and a member of the honor society.  Very surprising to me as I recall your father and myself in school.  We scarcely cracked open a book, they remained safely in our lockers until they were returned at the end of school year, no wear on them at all. And if curiosity had gotten the better of us and we had opened one of the books – well we would have consumed the same knowledge as a pair of monkey’s.   But then I think that the both of us are relieved that none of our characteristics were passed on to our offspring. 

Now maybe graduation isn’t going to be that bad of thing. Your generation can’t hardly louse things up any worse than what is being done now. And maybe we do need you to enter the work force.  You need to work hard to take care of our social security and medicare.  Focus on getting a good job and a nice house – with a big basement.   Your folks may need to move in with you instead. 

As Shakespeare once stated, Advice is wasted on the young.  So I am sure that you will not heed me at all but:

All things in Moderation.  An old saying but true.  Love, alcohol, etc.

Neither a lender nor a borrower be – Look at the crazy student debt that people are piling up.  After you graduate college and get your first job everyone wants to reward themselves with a new car.  Get a nice used one instead.

A job is an ends to a means – Not every job is the perfect job.  But getting a nice pay check and living for the weekends ain’t bad.

And the check – remember that studying takes a lot of energy.  And carbohydrates will provide you that energy, so yes even down this path – pizza and beer is the answer!

Irresponsibly and irrelevantly,

 J. Chris Tilton