Five Days With Signtopia Expansion Pack 2.1

I have been busy lately. The past three weeks or so have been a bit hectic, yet wonderful. First, since my last post on the blog, I have taken a trip to Tennessee for my Mom's birthday....spent four days there, then six days at home, and then off to Texas for five days.

Time flies........and so did I. Me and Supernurse flew to Texas to see our youngest grandchild and hand deliver some Nascar toys for him to play with. Not that he really needs any more toys or cars........or trains......he loves trains........but lately he has been enthralled with race cars........Nascar........zoom......zoom. Apparently his mom and dad have been unable to find any Nascar cars in Leander or the surrounding areas so they put in a request to ole Signtopia to track some down in Baltimore..........which I did..........at Ollie's. Aside from that........there was no special event or occasion to make the trip except that me and Supernurse wanted to see the rugrat play indoor soccer......his first foray into the world of competition with other rugrats.

There is no way we are gonna pass up that.

On this trip, he was a bit smitten with me. On past visits he was all about "Mom-Mom".......this time "Pop-Pop" was his focus.

Of course.............that is.......when he wasn't focusing on his cars.........hehehe.

He's a great kid and he takes the cars very seriously.

As if he was in dire need of more stuff, Supernurse goes and buys a racetrack for his cars........needless to say he was thrilled. He particularly loves it when they crash.

Supernurse was very happy and that alone makes me very happy.

It doesn't seem all that long ago that my little Noodle Girl was little. I miss the days when my kids were little........time flies by so quickly........and now she gets to experience what me and Supernurse have experienced.........and we get to visit and spoil her kid.....hehehe.

I am lucky to just be there to see moments such as this.

I spent alot of time corrupting my grandson..............you know what I mean........."brrrrt"......."what was that?"..........."A frog on a motorcycle!"........and "BRRRRRRRT!".........that was a "Monkey on a Harley".......hehehe. I spent the majority of the time tickling him and making him laugh.

I never envisioned this when I was younger..........but somehow it is as if it was all planned.

We managed to get to see him at a soccer practice during the week..........which caused me to have flashbacks to when I was the indoor soccer coach for a bunch of monsters in White Marsh.......what was I thinking.......oh well........this time I am a spectator.

And spectate we did. His real soccer game was Saturday morning at 8am.......8AM!!!!!!!!!! at the YMCA............8AM!!!!!!!.........arrrgghhhh.........this is the time when I just start to have vivid nightmares while I snore away for five hours. Oh well............no rest for the wicked.

It was great watching him chase after the ball.............along with all of the other kids at the same time..............knowing that while he was running after the ball he was making race car sounds (in his mind he was racing). Even when he stopped for a drink......it was a "pit stop".

They don't bother with the score at this age level.............which is a good thing because his team was slaughtered. Still.......after all was said and done.........both teams were winners and celebrated as such. Expansion Pack 2.1 happens to love tunnels because of his fascination with trains......so when the parents line up to make a tunnel at the end of the game, he was the first in line for it............

So what does he do after he gets through the tunnel?

He runs around everybody and inserts himself at the end of the line and goes through the tunnel again! Smart kid.........hehehe.

So that was it.......after his game we drove to the airport in Austin and headed for home.

This is what Washington DC looks like from the airplane. Supernurse slept on the plane.........me?.............no sleep for me. I listened to a podcast of the Mark Levin show on my iPod and chowed down on some nasty crackers that the stewardesses pawn off on people.

Back to the grind............we get home and Supernurse got ready for work......that's right.......she had to work that evening in the ER.

We must be crazy.

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Go West!

Ole Signtopia is gonna be busy this Fall. For starters, me and Supernurse are heading off to Texas again for ten days to visit our daughter. Then, in October, about two weeks later, we will be heading to Mexico for vacation.............oh yeah right..........that's right......Signtopia is always on vacation.

Somehow, someway...........in the midst of all of this..........or maybe immediately after.........I have to get busy painting Maryland Blue Crab shells. I have about 130 of them ready for paint. Then, I need to get myself in gear and market them on the internet. I have some great ideas for the shells.

Here are a few of my thoughts today:

Finally, Baltimore has someone other than Pat Jessamy to prosecute criminals. For 15 years, Jessamy has somehow managed to keep her job as States Attorney for Baltimore City.........and Baltimore City has somehow managed to keep itself crime ridden for over the past 15 years. Was Jessamy to blame?.......maybe.......maybe not........but we all want thugs to be held accountable for their actions. Jessamy said, after her defeat, "I will be MOVING FORWARD"..........go figure!

I am still getting comments to the blog entry entitled "Jehovah's Witnesses Should Read This" which I had written over about two years ago.. I find it amazing that so many people are interested in whether or not Venus and Serena Williams are members of that cult group or not. Can you say "Moths to a flame?"

Ravens lost to the Bengals.............Joe Flacco was lethargic. Every time the camera showed a close-up of him, he looked like he was dazed and confused and working in a zone other than a football field. Gotta blame the coaches on this loss. Flacco should have sat out the fourth quarter...........he really wasn't there anyway.

Until next time, here are a few videos that I thought was interesting:

What A Trip - Part 2

Okay.......so we had finally arrived at my daughter Noodle's home in Leander, Texas.

When we got there, Princess Fartknocker and her brother Joe Flacco had already been there for a few days. The plan was that they would visit their other grandparents, who just so happen to live just outside of Austin, and then spend some time at Noodle's and then me and Supernurse would show up, stay a couple of days with them there and then load everybody up into the van and head to Spring Hill, Tennessee to celebrate the Fourth Of July with my mom and sisters and nieces and nephews...........almost a complete family reunion.........my sons would not be able to make it and Noodle's husband had to work. My other daughter Ms Moneypenny and her husband James Bond would be there in Tennessee by the time we would get there.

It is always wonderful to visit Noodle. Me and Supernurse miss her dearly and do what we can to visit as often as we can.
Noodle and my son-in-law Harry Numbercruncher.............

...........and there he is...........Signtopia Expansion Pack 2.1.........he is growing fast and he is amazingly smart too.............then again, he DOES have certain genetics....hehehe.

They have come a long way and more and more things have been done to or added to their humble abode. They added the porch, bought a new grill......added some planters, a picnic table, some Adirondack chairs..............

........and went further with the landscaping. It looks great.........they have done a good job.

Supernurse got her Sonic fix and I got my H.E.B. fix.......and after a few days it was time to hit the road again.

Stay Tuned.......in Part 3 you get to read about the terrifying start to the rest of the trip.

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What A Trip!

Holy Moly...........what a long drive down the road it was. Through Maryland..........and all the way down I-81 in Virginia to Tennessee. All the way across I-40 through Tennessee. Through Memphis into Arkansas. Through Arkansas....Little Rock.......and Texarkana. Then down through Texas......Dallas......Waco......and finally Leander.

That was alot of driving........and way more than I would want to do these days. Somehow, I felt good and had no problem driving 12 hours at a clip. We drove from Baltimore to just north of Memphis .......about 12-13 hours.....where we stopped for the night. The roads were good, traffic was moving well and everything was good.

The next morning we headed through Memphis and into Arkansas. Arrrgggghhh........we stopped at a welcome center for a break and was told by the host there that we would be just outside of Little Rock about lunchtime...........so she recommended that we stop at a place called Brown's. She said "Brown's has great food and is the best buffet in Arkansas". Okay......sounds good.....we will do that...........................hmmm........I should stop being so easily convinced of things.

Let's just say that if Brown's is the best food buffet in Arkansas......then there will never be any need to ever stop anywhere again while driving through that State. After eating at Brown's, I now have no desire to ever stop in Arkansas again......except for gasoline. I would like to think that I know a bit about smorgasbords............I managed one in Merritt Island, Florida.....many moons ago...........and this "buffet" was disgusting...........then again........perhaps the folks in Arkansas think it is a step up from everything else in Arkansas. Well......the food "was" edible.......I didn't cough it all up later...........the food line was not particularly the most sanitary operation.............and the people.....locals and tourists acted like they never saw food before. What a big mistake this was........we couldn't wait to get back on the road. Here is just an observation for you..............apparently there is alot of inbreeding going on in Arkansas. West Virginia ain't got nuthin' on Arkansas........this is inbreeding to the tenth power.

Arkansas spawned two Governors...............Bill Clinton and Mike Huckabee...........both ran for President of the US............I remember hearing that Clinton left the Arkansas governor's residence in such a shambles that when Huckabee was elected he had to stay in a trailer on the property while everything was fixed back up. I believe it. This stop in Arkansas has made quite an impression on me.........and really puts certain stuff into perspective. Today, if you say Clinton.......or even Hilary........I will have to think "Arkansas"!...............Arrrrrgghhh!

The drive through Texas was good and went smoothly. Dallas was quite a sight.......very beautiful skyline...........the only somewhat unnerving moment came was when we stopped for gas, south of Dallas......maybe near Killeen........the tank was about empty and I couldn't keep going down the road to look for a place that appeared populated.........so I headed onto an off ramp towards a lone gas sign on a pole that had a banner attatched that said "Now Open!".

The gas station was the only thing in the area...........except for the truck trailer sitting on the parking lot. The trailer had a wooden deck and steps!.........it was converted to some sort of church type operation. Holy evangelism! No need to go there.........I pumped my gas, went inside to pay, and encountered the female clerk at the register..........and she looked like she had some kind of horns growing on her forehead. This was like an Outer Limits episode.......or maybe I had stepped into the Twilight Zone. The woman was very nice. Supernurse hadn't seen anything like that before.........all she could say to me after we got back into our van was "She had nice makeup on those things sticking out of her head". I figured that there were alot of crops in that area......farmland.........and just maybe the woman suffered from contamination from crop dusting or some other kind of environmental hazard.

After a few more hours, finally, we arrived in Leander at our daughter Noodle's home.

There is more to tell........stay tuned!

Signtopia Expansion Pack 2.1 Has Another Birthday

This trip to Leander, Texas was loaded with necessity. Aside from the need to see my Noodle Girl, the trip was for me and Supernurse to be present and accounted for on Signtopia Expansion Pack 2.1's second birthday. There was no way we would miss that. That's me, of course, in the photo above..........sitting in a Mexican restaurant in Leander. The name of the place was Jardin Del Rey.........which may sound fancy schmancy........but it is a mom and pop kind of place.......a real down home, nitty gritty, nothing fancy, certainly not upscale, Mexican home cooking kind of place..........and it is really popular in Leander. The food was good........I had some enchiladas, but there is no question that the enchiladas that I make are far better........in fact.........the best there is. Oddly enough, we were in Texas in a Mexican restaurant........even though me and Supernurse will be in Mexico on November 1st. Go figure. I probably have seen more Mexicans in the United States in the past week, than I will see in Mexico for ten days.

This trip was all about the birthday boy. Gee.......it's hard to believe....and accept that it has been two years since Signtopia Expansion Pack 2.1 took his first breath. Damn......I must be getting old.

Here is the little guy chomping down on a birthday cupcake. Once the eating of the good stuff was out of the way, it was off to mess-making...............presents need unwrapping and..........as surely as Sheila Dixon has a plan............Pop-Pop has to assemble something.

Arrggghhh!........I could have sworn that I set down a rule that there was to be no more stuff bought that wasn't already put together. Somehow I think that it was one rule that will be ignored far beyond the years when I reach the age where someone will have to explain to me just exactly what a screwdriver is.........not to mention having to tell me who I am and why I am there and being forced to try to read instructions that make no sense.

So the deal is............I get almost finished putting this contraption together and Mr. Patience decides to jump the gun and try to take off with a major part that I need.

Hmmmm...............Hey there!..........Yo!.........Ahem!...........I wasn't finished.........yet.

Eventually.......I did finish the job..........and he was very happy with his new set of wheels. Me and Supernurse bought him his first tricycle and we were both extremely happy to have been there for this.

Expansion Pack 2.1 was busy unwrapping all of his gifts and I can tell everyone that he loves each one of the gifts that he got. It was a great birthday and I can safely say that Expansion Pack 2.1 is a very spoiled child.......hehehe.

On Sunday, it was of course Game Day and I needed to watch the Ravens game. Expansion Pack 2.1 could care less about the game...........he is all about trains and tunnels. Me and Supernurse had bought him a Ravens outfit to wear on Sundays..........not that it would help the outcome of the game.

So while Pop-Pop is busy shouting at the tv screen............Expansion Pack 2.1 has more important things to do. Drat!..............my guys lose the game with a missed field goal............Arggghhh!........Oh well..........better "foot" next time..................

Time has flown by...........and we have flown home already. I miss the little guy already.

As I mentioned before........no sooner I get home, I turn around and head off to Mexico on November 1st................and both me and Supernurse are really looking forward to a nice vacation away from everything.

Meanwhile...........I hope my dollar is worth something by the time I get to Mexico.

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Another Flight To Texas

It was time for another trip to Leander, Texas to visit the family members that decided that living in the Baltimore area was detrimental to having a decent life. For the record.......I cannot blame them one bit.........yet me and Supernurse stay in the Baltimore area. I do love Baltimore.......but it is out of necessity as opposed to anything else. Think of Baltimore as your own intestines..........yeah........you need your intestines regardless of all of the crap that goes through.

Anyway, there we were at the Baltimore-Washington-Thurgood Marshall-Sheila Dixon-Rawlings-Blake-O'Malley-DuBurns-ACORN-International Airport..........Supernurse took a nap as we waited to board the Delta flight to Atlanta. Once in Atlanta, we would get on yet another plane to take us to Austin. The only problem today was weather and the resulting chain reaction of delays. Our flight was delayed........but not too bad...........things only got worse once we got to Atlanta.

While waiting.......I looked around behind me and I saw a familiar face standing over to the side.
Look at the picture above and see if you see any celebrities anywhere.

Do you see a celebrity anywhere?............Look over at the right side of the photo.

No..........it isn't Mr. Clean...........

...............It was none other than Hall Of Fame Baltimore Oriole Cal Ripken Jr.........the Iron Man himself. He stood there quietly, by himself.........and as I looked in his direction I noticed that hardly anyone seemed to notice him standing there............I guess the party is over and he no longer gets people pestering him for an autograph. He still looks the same.....maybe a bit heavier and older..........but no entourage with him. Maybe folks did recognize him and did the right thing and held back and afforded him some personal space. Of course Cal was flying first class and he would get to board the plane before the rest of the Baltimorons that were waiting.

Anyway, we all boarded the plane and finally took flight.........in the rain. I had to sit next to this small man.....I will call him "Mr Fidgit". Mr Fidget spent the entire time fidgeting with his paperwork that he had with him. About ten folders of papers that he shuffled repeatedly. Most of those papers, from what I could not help but see, were regarding some sort of water purification equipment. This equipment was part of some plans for Israel. In particular, one of the areas was Galilee. It's not everyday that I see a plan for Galilee. It was a bit of a bumpy ride but me and Supernurse.......and Cal Ripken Jr.......made it safely to Atlanta.

Our connecting flight to Austin was also delayed...........and this time we had some icing on the cake..........as the crowd of people waited at the gate, we took notice of an unusual amount of handicapped people in electric scooters..........about eight of them.......also waiting to get on board our flight. THIS was also gonna delay the flight because there had to be extra attendants to help those handicapped get situated on board............the scooters are to wide to fit in the aisle on the plane.......special wheelchairs were brought out to get these folks to their seats. There must have been a convention of ........well.........I guess I won't say it.......but there must have been at least a convention of some sort......for people with their particular affliction.

Oh well.......so we eventually took off for Austin...........very late.......and finally, we arrived in Texas.

The adventure continues............

Signtopia Expansion Pack 2.1 Update

Me and Supernurse recently spent a week visiting our daughter Noodle in Leander, Texas. It was a getaway, yet it wasn't a getaway. When we arrived, Princess Fartknocker and her brother, the former Mayor Of Simpleton, were already there waiting for us.........go figure........sometimes you just can't escape.....hehehe.

Princess Fartknocker and her brother were there to visit with their Aunt Noodle for a week and they were also going to spend a week with their other two grandparents.....who just so conveniently happen to live just outside of Austin as well. (They visit them each summer.)
We see Princess Fartknocker and her brother all of the time and therefore we do not notice so much how fast they have grown. But because we do not really get to see Signtopia Expansion Pack 2.1 in person and up close.....except via the internet......it was stunning to see just how much he has grown. I must say that I was amazed when I saw him shaving.......hehehe....just kidding.....but dang!....he ain't so much a baby anymore. Time flies.

I know.......I know.........looks like a big attitude.....right?
Pictures can be decieving...........he is as sweet as can be......and he is a thinker. I don't know that I have ever seen a small child like him play with such concentration.......he is very serious about everything he does.

In Leander it was hot.............hot as a torch. They had triple digit temperatures for something like 40 days straight. It wasn't humid though like back in Baltimore. The air quality in Leander is very good and we weren't sweating at all................it was just that when you sat outside, you could feel your skin burning away.....hehehe. Me and Supernurse sat outside frequently. Supernurse had to wear shades........Me?......I have so much hair I am already in the shade....hehehe.

Expansion Pack 2.1 loves playing in his pool.........Me?.....nahhhh, I have an aversion to being boiled alive.

He seems to love it though.

When he wasn't in his own pool, we took him to the community pool next door. He likes that pool alot and has a great time.


Aside from the opportunity to see Signtopia Expansion Pack 2.1, I got to spend some time with my daughter Noodle. I love my Noodle Girl and I miss her so much. It was extremely difficult for me when they moved away to Texas but I had to accept and deal with that. I wouldn't pass on any opportunity to go visit her.

That's my Noodle.........and I am very proud of her. She is smart......feisty......just like her mother.......a very good mother.........and she, just like her siblings, is an important part of my existence........without them I am worth nothing. Even though she may not fully realize it, I enjoyed every minute spent with her.

What can I say?...........Princess Fartknocker! One day in the future, when she has her own grandchildren.....I hope she can say "I had the greatest Pop Pop."

Meanwhile..........Expansion Pack 2.1 is all about his trains...........Thomas the Tank Engine trains.

He spends most of his time playing with them....he knows them by name and number and color, too. He isn't destructive with his toys. He certainly isn't Little Gomez Addams......hehehe.

While there, Noodle wanted me to paint some canvas squares to hang on the wall in Expansion Pack's bedroom. She was redecorating the room and changing everything to a Thomas the Tank Engine theme.

Toot! Toot!

We had a great time and look forward to returning there again in October.
By then........Expansion Pack 2.1 might have a beard