A Sense of Community

Small Town, USA

First I have to say that I'm really irritated because I had this post about halfway done and then for some reason it didn't save and now it's lost in the interwebz. And I've been working on Phantom of the Wedding stuff so now I have to try and remember everything. And I also have to try and be as witty as I was. Laaame. 

This past weekend (which is now a couple weekends ago), Tee and his brother and I hopped in the car and headed north. They were taking part in an annual hockey tournament, and I was going along for the adventure. We drove for about 6 hours, and you all know how much I love that. But I drove the last couple of hours, with Tee navigating. We kept driving out into the middle of nowhere until we got to a gorgeous house on a bay, really in the middle of nowhere. We were staying with the boys' aunt and uncle for the weekend. 






Tee and I went for a little walk out on the bay, and we found shelf ice, which I thought was really cool. That's where the wind and such pushes the already frozen ice up and...spoiler alert!...it looks like a shelf. Here's a picture. I did not take it.

While we were wandering along I found one...thing...where two pieces of the ice jutted into each other. It looked kind of like a little ice tent that I thought I might be able to just fit into. And of course I wiggled my way in there. I do regret that neither of us had a camera. 

Later on we had a yummy family dinner, with some yummier wine, and headed to the local inn after. It was this cute little bed and breakfast type place but also had a bar and restaurant. Tee's aunt took me around and showed me all these old pictures of the town; it was really neat. After a couple drinks we were all ready to cash in. 

The next day was the hockey tourney. It was a lot of fun. But it was really freaking cold. It was supposed to start at noon, but apparently that was really only when people were getting there. It was neat though--everyone was so nice and welcoming. It did freak me out that everyone had their trucks parked on the bay...on the actual ice. Growing up with that sort of stuff, I've never felt a need to test the thickness and stability of the ice. It was fine though, and everyone made it out unscathed. In fact, there were some sort of frozen bubbles in the ice: 

Tee played two games and then decided he was finished. I was good with that, since I was frickin freezin out there, Mr. Bigglesworth. We rushed back to get ready to go visit with my Brother, SisInLaw, and Nephew. As I was rushing, I got a random phone call from (what I thought was) the area code of my college town. Turns out it was the Red Cross, and the guy had his whole spiel out before I could let him know that I was diagnosed with autoimmune and wasn't sure I could donate. I thought that'd be an easy out, but he was good. He proposed that I make an appointment and afterwards check to see my eligibility. I just wanted to get off the phone, so I said fine. When I checked later, it turns out I am eligible. Bugger. Not that I don't want to help...I just have this tiny issue of my fragile health condition. Alright, fragile might be a little strong. But it is kind of a loose cannon. I might just not go, which I know is rude, but I feel like I was backed into a corner. Meh.

So we drove a little over an hour to see my fam and OHMYGOSH my nephew is such a little pumpkin! (Isn't it weird that we give babies weird nicknames that don't even make sense? Like, obviously he's not a pumpkin. But it just seems so cute to give them random nicknames like that. We're weird.) 

Anywaysies at one point I picked him up and all of a sudden he put his little arms around my neck and gave me a hug. It was the best thing in the world! Then he did that cute baby thing where they don't really know how to kiss so they just kind of suction onto your face. So cute. 

I also loved getting to hang out with Bro and SisInLaw. SisInLaw sells ItWorks! stuff, so she did a wrap on me at a restaurant. Twas a very strange experience, but also a lot of fun. We didn't stay long, then made the trek back and met Tee's family back at the Inn. 

It was karaoke night, and Tee's aunt kept trying to badger me into singing. I kept putting it off, and finally the proprietor brought out his guitar for a solo open-mic night. Thankfully. (I'm not sure if I've mentioned my feelings on karaoke. There's always one or two people who think they're the best singer in the world, and they're...really not. People who's opinions I care about like my singing, so I don't want to be that guy.) 

About the time karaoke stopped, we all decided it would be a good time to call it a night. As we were bundling up and saying our goodbyes, the owner stopped us. He wanted to sing a song for Tee and I. We waited and a couple people came up to tell us what a cool thing it was to get that song; it really, really was. 

The next day we made the roughly 6 hour drive back. I drove for 4 of those hours, which I'm kind of excited about...because I was able to drive for 4 hours. 

I was exhausted after the weekend, and it took a long time for me to rest up. It was a nice weekend away in the cozy winter wonderland. Now I'd be happy for a weekend in a sandy paradise. 

Offspring

Continue rant.

I can't believe I forgot to touch on vaccines in the last post, especially since it's such a hot topic in the US right now. And, I'm not sure if I've mentioned it to you guys, but my immune system is slightly suppressed (did I lace that with enough sarcasm?). So I'm not really a fan of the current measles outbreak. Like, really really not a fan. So let's talk about this. Or, let me talk about it!

Perhaps it would be good to start with Jenny McCarthy. Poor Jenny McCarthy, who was simply a concerned mother. Tireless Jenny McCarthy who, when her child was diagnosed with autism, made it her mission to "cure" him and to find out how it possibly could have happened. Brilliant Jenny McCarthy, who...somehow...discovered that the culprit was vaccination. It's really not surprising that she was able to come to this conclusion, given her impressive resume. A high school diploma and some time in college, Playboy Playmate of the Year, and list of dumb-blonde-slapstick-comedy acting roles. Here are some of her best quotes: "I was a puke brunette." "I don't sleep in anything. I have to be nude, and if I'm not, I end up ripping my clothes off in the middle of the night." "There was a problem with studios how to write for me. It's a complex kind of character I am, because I'm built like a bunny but I talk like a dude." 
Ah, just inspiring. She only speaks on the real, important issues. It's no wonder that people listen to her over the scientists and doctors who have spent years studying and working with these diseases. They don't hold a candle to her!

Okay, okay, I'll be fair. It really is understandable that the anti-vaccine crowd doesn't just want to pour money into "big pharma." But I wonder...do these people take vitamins, or medicine when they're not feeling well? If they get diabetes or cancer, will they decide against insulin or chemo? If they need stitches, will they refuse local anesthesia? Because, unless you go completely off the grid and disconnect from society, it's near impossible to pay into the pharmaceutical companies. 

Many parents feel that they know what's best for their children. Well, they do. Except when they're fostering the return of debilitating, highly contagious diseases. Sometimes the government needs to step in and make laws, because you're making freaking stupid decisions for yourself and your kids! 

The experts say a new outbreak is what's needed for people to once again see the necessity for vaccination. That's scary. Both for the idea of people's shortsightedness, and the people who are getting sick. 
I've said it before and I'll say it again: WHAT is wrong with people? Maybe going completely off the grid and disconnecting from society isn't such a bad idea.