Christmas in July - 2012

Christmas in July? With NO snow? That is like a Chicago hot dog with catsup on it. But Norm's aunt goes and visits everyone for the December holiday and nobody gets to see her decorations and stuff, which are really cool!. So, she decided to have her Christmas party in July. Any reason to have a party works for me!

Another good reason to have Christmas in July is so Santa can bring you summer gifts. Mittens and hats and stuff are great in December, but you would never get Frisbees, snorkeling gear, and camping stuff in December so July works! Although I have to wonder if the elves would be mad giving up part of their vacation. Maybe I should send some extra cookies back with Santa for them...

See what I mean about the cool decorations? All of these figures are metal and the church is stained glass. These remind me of when I was a kid!

Jingle Bells... Jingle Bells... Jingle all the way...

I don't know if they are made out of lead, cast iron or what, but they are heavy. And the paint on them is fantastic!

Not only are they older than Norm, they are nearly as old as dirt! (But the difference isn't as big as you think...)

Here is the hostess, Norm's Aunt Barb. Not only is she Norm's Mom's little sister, she is a terrific artist too and she is cute to boot!

Big Bill kept asking me if she was single. I had to tell him that she was out of his league and not to waste his time trying.

Not only did this cake look good, it tasted fantastic.

One thing that I have learned in writing this blog; it is often unwise to take random, unannounced pictures and later comment about them. Family sees you more frequently than others and they don't hesitate to give you a whack when THEY think the picture I used was unflattering.

This is Matthew & Tommy with me & Big Bill. They are Norm's cousin's boys. I don't know what the official term is, second, maybe third cousin, something like that.

I know Matthew thought Norm was a strange bird for walking around taking my picture, but once he makes my blog he will KNOW how cool it is to get your picture with me.

This is Jax. He is one of the new additions to the family. He was eyeballing his dad after he sat down next to me. I told him I didn't do anything and the funny smell was Big Bill, not me. I don't think he believed me though because he bailed as soon as the shutter snapped.

 

Cam & little brother Jax on the left.
Brock & little brother Heath on the right




The next generation. These babies are the grandkids of Norm and his two sisters. Four boys and a shy little girl who likes bumble bees.

I also learned while at this event not to trust Cameron & Brock when they get together.

Bunnie ears! To ME!!

I've never...







Norm just reminded me that I have a BUNCH of entries to make in order to catch up on my blog and that folks don't want read about grandkids all the time. I just think that Brock is way cool. Cam is right up there with Brock and that Heath & Jax, I'm sure, will catch up soon.

Anyhow, I better get to getting before someone accuses me of being verbose.

Merry July Christmas!

Travis

I can't call him that anymore's Birthday Bash - June 2012

(Norm 3's B-day Dinner, I can't use the nickname he had as a little kid, even though HE PICKED IT!) We really enjoy celebrating each others birthdays. On this special occasion it was Norm 3's 29C birthday.

Norm 3 decided when he was 29 he wasn't going to get any older. Thus, 29, 29A, 29B, this year 29C.

Scotch-a-roos for a birthday cake! How cool is that?

How silly of me. I forgot to introduce a new member of the family. This is Rufus, he lives with KC & Kyle.

Rufus said he is a bit of a hippie, but we don't judge folks. He said that since the 1960's were his favorite decade he wasn't going change and went back to the 60's in 1972. Numerous people have tried to talk Rufus into becoming more "current" and he just smiles a little, pats his pocket and says the 60's had the best of everything and he isn't going to change.

Rufus used to hang out with a country singer named Willie but recently there was a lot of commotion about the kind of incense they burned. Rufus is a BIG fan of Willie's incense. Rufus said after Willie got into some trouble about his choice of incense Rufus figured it was best to get on the road again, that was when he met KC & Kyle.



"Walter" the 1965 Aristocrat Lo-Liner

Now that I have met Rufus it got me thinking and I have to wonder about KC.

KC was the one that originally came up with the design for "Walter" one of the family campers. Now she meets and brings home Rufus to hang out with. Hmmm....



Strange incense, hippies, peace, love, counter culture. Hey, I LIKE IT!!!


Enough about Rufus, back to Norm 3's birthday bash dinner.



Jason, Heath & Joni





Marah & Heath

 You know the family,



KC & Kyle





   All attended of course. Hey, where is Brock?





The birthday star Norm 3, Liz, Rufus & me



Norm 3 has a major tendency to push the boundaries farther than they have ever been pushed. One lesson he learned from Norm was "It is better to beg for forgiveness, rather than to ask for permission" and Norm 3 even pushes that boundary sometimes much to Norm's chagrin.

Here is what I mean. What do most folks do when the waitstaff comes out and sings their rendition of Happy Birthday? The birthday person sits nervously, smiling, waiting for the song to end, right?!

  



Our server Sue telling Norm 3 to "Get Down"
He thought she said "Get Down" so he boogied harder

 Nope, not Norm 3! This is what he does...

Climbs up onto the chair and dances along to the music. Freaks out even the coolest of managers. (Uptight managers nearly have coronaries and normally need oxygen afterwards.)

But it is all in fun and if anything silly like falling off the chair were to happen Norm 3 would be told by Jules, "pick up the shattered pieces of your life and move on" and that would be the end of the matter. This clan tends to accept responsibility for their actions, even when the actions are kind of dangerous.

Naturally when we go out as a clan to celebrate, the server gets roped into the craziness too. This is Sue, our server, with Norm 3 , me & Liz.

Sue was a lot of fun and a fantastic server. What a terrific, hearty and memorable laugh she has. If you are going to have something that is contagious, have a laugh like Sues!

Thanks Sue, we had a great time, thanks in large part to you! (Now you can charge for autographs & be a bigger rock star!)



"Wheredeego?"



See, I told you Brock attended, I didn't think for a minute that ANYONE would actually doubt that what I say is total fact...but just in case some have yet to be convinced.

I would show you pictures of Norm 3 opening gifts, but this year he asked for boring gifts; CASH ONLY.

This is what he is using his birthday gifts for:

 A 1952 Chevy that needed a heart transplant. Out with the old tired in-line 6 cylinder and in will go a V8.


Well that will do it for this chapter.

Stay Safe but have fun,

Travis

Sailing is WAY COOL! - June 2012

Disclaimer: Yes, I posted a few of these pictures on my facebook page. But, like Paul Harvey used to say, here is "the rest of the story..."

I have been boating a few times in my life, in a canoe, paddle boat, motorboat, rowboat, pontoon boat (a favorite) and even a surfboard, but I haven't been sailing for years! Norm, however, even with all of the time he spent in the Navy, had NEVER been sailing!

I knew a lot about sailing, mostly from books, but I did crew a ship in the World's Cup way back when in my younger days. I fancy myself as a bit of an expert compared to Norm. The owner of the boat, Dave, on the other hand knew a whole lot more than I did, which really surprised me!

They listen well though as I was giving them instructions on how to rig the boat to sail. Another surprise for me was the way Norm could tie knots. I never knew that about him. I guess his Navy time did have some benefits.

I'm not totally convinced though. Dave only had him tie one knot, repeatedly... I think the knot that Norm was tying he learned from his Dad when he was a kid.

That is Dave in the stern and Norm amidships. (For you landlubbers stern - back, midships - middle.)

Norm was having a hard time grasping the fact that I told him he had to untangle that pile of line. He said it wasn't needed. After Dave and I both told him that there wasn't any line on a sailboat that wasn't needed he untangled it.

I think Norm got used to being a boss in his career and forgot how to be a lackey. Norm ended up being just a deckhand and got used to his role pretty quick.

Jules said we had to play nice or she wasn't going.

See, we can get along...

Okey dokey, all rigged and ready for the water.

Hey Dave, the water is the other way!!

Ok, I've got the best seat on the boat and we're ready to go.

Dave was a great host and captain. He made sure to explain a lot to us about sailing. I think the most important thing was how the boom got its name.

Clearly it wasn't a rocket scientist that named it...

At one point I told Norm to tighten the jib and made the mistake of not having Jules or Dave hear me. The next thing I know I'm tangled in the anchor line and Norm is asking Dave if he should "release the anchor".

Luckily Dave started asking why and Jules immediately asked Norm "Where is Travis?"

Catastrophe averted. Jules said if we acted up again one of us wasn't going to make it back to shore. Norm and I left it at that.

Back safe where I belong.

The only thing missing was Big Bill. It seems that BB gets a tad seasick on vessels larger than his bathtub at home. I told him we would work on it later.

I asked Dave if we could anchor for a while and if we could go swimming in the middle of the lake. Dave, I learned isn't fond of swimming.





Captain Dave



That about wraps up our sunny afternoon adventure. I'd tell you what lake we were on but I'm worried that the worldwide attention would make the lake too crowded.

Needless to say though, if you happen to see us out on the lake, pass-by close and I'll yell a hearty AHOY MATEY!


Now you know,

"the rest of the story"

Travis