18 february 2012 (sa)

written in my notebook on 19 february. transcribed on 22 february.

got up at around 7:00 am. intended get going by 9:00. dragged a bit in the morning. did most of the packing first thing.

breakfast

bagel w/ butter
orange
c boost
coffee
iced tea

left for newport news around 10:00.

stopped at the tfb in warrenton to get cash. didn't want to come up short.

made good time from warrenton to falmouth. stopped at the hardee's in falmouth mostly for a bathroom break but decided i was hungry.

lunch

cheeseburger
fries (half)
iced tea

good burger. so so fries. that hardee's never really seems clean.

made very good time from falmouth to n.n. except for a back up around fredericksburg. i think that is perpetual.

met mommy, karen, claire, mark, and stephanie at steve and nick's for lunch

it was the first time i've seen stephanie since possibly 1996. she seems little changed.

lunch (again)

cheeseburger
cole slaw
iced tea

very good burger. ok slaw. incredibly cheap.

glenn and susan arrived while we ate. it was very nice to have almost everyone there.

scott, mary, and amanda were expected but did not arrive. apparently mary got stopped because her license plates were expired so they met us at the hotel.

we got to the hotel around 3:15. i stayed in the suite with s., m, and a. so i took my stuff to their room and stayed there for a while. they were playing with tom on amanda's android. very silly but sometimes very funny.

every one got together to meet at about 6:00. we discussed how to help karen get some breaks in caring for mommy. i don't think we came to any conclusions but i think karen felt better just hearing the ideas.

we went to the dav after that. arrived at the hall around 7:30. mark and stephanie went to bill's house in yorktown instead. karen was meeting friends. everyone else went to the dav.

mommy was at the place of honor but we were late so we sat at the opposite end.

dinner

roast beef w/ gravy
shrimp
baked potato
birthday cake
iced tea

cake was good but i wish i had not eaten it. tea was crazy sweet. food was ok.

we stayed until about 9:15. mommy was given an award and made a nice speech. she was the toast of the evening.

i don't think we got most of the jokes. i think mommy would have stayed all  night but every one else was tired out.

came back to the hotel with mary, scott, and amanda. we followed susan who drove like a nutcase.

slept in the suite with s., m., and a. i felt bad cause amanda ended up the couch. but i guess it worked out ok.

bed was cozy. got several hours in with the mask.