Uncle Ray

Update 2/1 – 2/7

I spent this week catching up at work, and then struggling to stay away until 8, which I felt was an appropriate time to go to sleep.  Some days I made it, other, I definitely did not.  So let’s call those 5 days a blur of boring. 

On Friday evening I decided to drink an entire bottle of wine myself and throw myself into cleaning/unpacking my second bedroom.  I called Janette to keep me company while I sorted – and lucky that I did, because it happened that she was coming into town the next day!

On Saturday, I continued to clean and I found a couple of gems like the thong that Julie made me (actually one for each of us) to wear under our gowns for graduation.  I think we had a thing going where we gifted each other random underwear for a while, b/c I also found a bejeweled satin thong that was incredibly heavy for the little amount of fabric that it was made of. 

And then I went to Anderson’s baptism.  It was awesome to see Dr. Rach’s whole family in attendance.  That same family was in the first pew to witness the embarrassing spectacle of me, after 28 years of successfully getting communion, I missed my mouth and almost dropped the body of Christ.  I, thankfully, made a miraculous, albeit awkward save only to look up and see Dr. Rach and her sister cracking up at me. 

Sunday I met up with Janette, Neville and Azalea for about ten minutes – I’ll take what I can get!

It was also Super bowl Sunday, so Kelly and I drove to one of her friend’s house to watch the game.  No sooner did I walk in, did my mom call me with really bad news… My Uncle Ray had died. 

There are no words to say how much I cared about my uncle.  I think it’s safe to say that the next couple of emails are going to be on the sad side, but I’ll sprinkle them with a couple of stories about the man who brought so much wisdom and strength into our lives.  Living with him for 12 years was truly a gift, and I am so thankful that I got to know and love him for so long.  I didn’t just live with Uncle Ray – I talked to him daily over coffee, one of my favorite times of the day.  I got to know the everyday Uncle Ray.  What he really enjoyed, what he hated, what was stupid, what was acceptable.  Uncle Ray would sometimes, take you aside and impart wisdom to just you.  Every time it felt harsh, and abrupt, but also true.  With those chats, he really was trying to get me to help myself be a better person, have a happier life and also showing me how much he really loved me.  I remember when my grandfather died, my sister said how lucky we to hurt this much because we wouldn’t hurt so deeply, if we hadn’t loved so strongly.  I think often how true those words really are. 

And here are some funnier moments because I’m starting to tear up…

Uncle Ray: The thing about driving you crazy Zach, is it's a short trip.

Uncle Ray: I once tried to fix a Carburetor.  We tried everything.  Finally, we looked at the booklet it came with and on the front it said, “When all else fails read these instructions."

Dawne: I guess they know their audience.

Dawne: What happened? 

Uncle Ray: Some moron dropped the pump on my foot.

Jordan: First thing you do is fire that guy. 

Did I mention that Uncle Ray dropped the pump?

Uncle Ray had some surgery to improve his sight that left stitches where his eyebrows had been.  He forgot about this when he went to Costco.  He saw a small child crying on and giving his father a hard time.  Uncle Ray's response was to say to the father, "I'll give you 50 cents for him."  The small child was immediately terrified, stopped crying and ran to his father as his mother tried to contain her laughter in the next aisle over. 

Okay, we started out the week having dinner at Red Robin.  Lucas was ruminating about how he wanted to go skateboarding with his cousin Ashley, and then dreaming about all the awesome skateboarding he'll be doing in California. 

Uncle Ray: You won't have time for that when you're spending all of your time getting straight A's.

Lucas: That's what I was thinking. 

Me: Is that what you were thinking?

Lucas: No, but I'm saying that that is what I'm thinking so we don't have to talk about it.

Uncle Ray came over for dinner while Aunt Pat was on a road trip to Olympia.  I figured I had to cook chicken for the pups anyway, I could go the extra mile and make us some dinner too.  Although, he interpreted that as me feeding him dog food, but it was really delicious and healthy dog food.  I can’t help it if they eat better than we do. 

Great Wall Heroes

Update 1/27 – 1/31

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/ex6y9er2uojktni/AAC7GRV7wiBP0uykpSvMZo-Ta

This is the time we went to China.  I know this was actually my “India” trip, but I loved Bejiing.  The first thing we did was go to a “fast food” noodle place and had the most amazing tea.  It was warm and lemony and sweet with honey, and for my sore throat, it was like heaven. 

We got up bright and early the next day and went to the Forbidden City.   

Guide: Only 2 times have they painted Mao’s painting

Zach: Not exactly steady work

When we got inside the Forbidden City, I asked my historically minded cousin some serious questions.

Me: So, is this where Mulan met the Emperor?

Zach: Tiffany.

Me: I mean I know Mushu blew up that one building with fire works… did they end up not rebuilding that?

Zach: Tiffany…

Me: I know, but is it?

The whole place was gorgeous, with totally clear skies.  We found out that the wood columns were actually the most expensive part of the palace.  And then we took a drive to a Jade place to have lunch and I bought a Buddha for Maureen.  And then we drove to the Great Wall to become heroes, in the laziest way possible.

Shutterbug, running out of battery: I need a picture of the Great Wall but I also need one of Col. Sanders.

Guide: Thanks for waiting

Lady: we didn't have a choice.

Guide: put your coat on

Lady: Why?

I walked as far as I could without having a panic attack at how steep everything was.  Seriously magical.  And then we went to a traditional Peking Duck dinner.  After that, we did a little marketing which was not at all what I was expecting.  Zach got some head phones and sheets, so he was very successful.  Then I insisted that we get more tea that that heavenly fast food place before we headed home.

We stopped in LA for a couple of hours to hang out with Dawne and pick up the Percy boy after his own vacation in Long Beach with his mom.  When we got back to Seattle, we went out with Lucas for a bit – which was really nice to just chill for a bit. 

Lucas: was there ever a scooby do villain called scooby don't?

And that’s all I remember!

Minito is my Idol (AKA that time we want to India.)

Hi Friend,

Update 1/18 - 1/26

I haven't put my pictures together yet, so in an effort to be efficient, here's a link to the top posts, and then I'll follow up with more later. :)

https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/malariapimp/?hl=en

or a more comprehensive compilation: https://www.dropbox.com/sc/a05qjq4fmd6smig/AABfwZPB7Hx1aBlWGZhVBPCza

Zach (looking at a carved elephant trinket): Something like this takes so much work and it's spent on something worthless.

A couple getting photographed with the Taj behind them.

Kelly: Shana thinks that is an engagement shoot.

Me: or the first look. Like ever.

Zach: I feel like the Taj Mahal is like if charlie chapman was a building

Shana: what?!

Tom: Bad luck for choosing the wrong gender.

Tom, Kelly, Zach and I went to the Taj at sunrise.  We were driven by a guy who, during the course of the day had 5 different modes of transportation, but was always wearing a beanie that simply had "BOYS" written on it. 

Me: Why don't you go Jimmy those doors open

Zach: alright! That sounds like a great way to get kicked out of the country, but not before a sound beating.

Kelly: that lady was not happy about you disrespecting this place

Zach: sure, but I didn't get kicked out of the country so... Success!

After being followed around by a photographer at the Taj

Tom: that was Zach's muse or rather Zach was his muse Zach; they are afraid of the police bc the police will beat the shit out of you.

Tom: oh look you can buy a book or a spider.

(after seeing a large display case that only had one book and one large spider in it.)

Zach: so I followed the path up and there was a dark corridor with just on guy sitting on a stool with an AK47 and, instead of startling him, I ran out of there so fast.

groaning after posing on our knees

Ebony: You should come work out with me.

Ebony's friend: Negative

Zach: what is he saying?

Guy: if you aren't a licensed photographer I won't just prosecute you I'll beat the shit out of you.

After posing with some more strangers

Me: I don't understand it.

Zach: what's not to understand? We're a freak show.

People were constantly asking us to take pictures with them - but none more than the one and only Shana, whose tattoos and brightly colored hair was a spectacle.  I thought it was simply because everything was so bright, but after talking to one guy, I realized the cost of getting so many tattoos was also a sign of her immense wealth.  The paparazzi was in full force.

Zach rode a camel, as in jumped on a camel mid carriage ride, but I couldn't take a picture because there was a dead body being carried through the street. I'm not complaining, I'm just stating facts.

At one point, Zach left his phone in a car.  I think he would have preferred to lose his wallet.

Kelly: Did Zach get his phone back?

Tom: yeah "Boys" gave it to him.

Zach and I went to Agra fort alone for a late night adventure.  There was a "show" scheduled, but I know we showed up for the wrong time, but because we were there, I think they switched to English.  This was great for us, but ended up causing the other 15 people to leave before the end.

Fellow traveler: You speak English really well. Did you go to an America school?

Young man: No, we have schools in India.

While we were Rathambore, I ended up getting really sick with a fever, so that day I can't say I was in the best mood.  But we did go on Safari.  I really wanted to see a Sloth because I thought that was me keeping my expectations low.  Only, it turns out they don't have sloths, they have sloth bears that are harder to find than tigers. 

Traveler 1: Deer! deer!

Traveler 2: I have those in my backyard.

After looking at a box on the jeep that only had a symbol on it.

Zach: Either Finland or first aid can be found in there.

Kelly: Tom locked me in the courtyard. He said it happened on its own but I still had to climb the wall.

Russian Traveler: Ten percent loss of tourists is normal on every trip.

While visiting a local village:

Guide: What do you think this is?

Traveler: Condoms?

Shana: I didn't say it!

Ram (originally from India): People don't use condoms here!

One family in the village invited us into their home, and made us Chai tea and biscuits.

Shana & Vance danced with one of the older gentlemen

Shana: everyone has that uncle and its him!

Ebony: I think it would be rude to pay for the rest of the biscuits.

Ebony's friend: But if you over pay that's just consumerism.

Ebony's friend: I thought mulberry was a type of hand bag.

Ebony: When I got checked by TSA I counted every single one of my Capri suns to make sure they were all there.

Me (about the people we visited): they seem so happy

Ebony: you would be too if you were home on a Friday.

At one of the stops on the trip:

Ebony: I got a mars bar because life is hard and then you die

Me: And also you wanted a Mars bar.

Ebony: I took my kids to Disney, and it's really hot in July. I didn't care though, I made them keep walking around the park all day now when I ask, You guys want to go to Disney? They reply:

Hells no!

At lunch:

Russian Traveler: I've got good story about soup.  This guy who had put his dad in a nursing home, decided he wanted to do something special for his lonely dad on his 90th birthday. He called an escort service and said, "I want you to give my dad SUPER SEX!" the clerk replied, "I have just the woman." So right after lunch his dad was relaxing in his room watching Jeopardy, when this beautiful woman walked in his room and said, "I'm here to give you super sex" the old man said, "I'll take the soup."

Overheard on the bus by a couple

Husband: Our problem is we have too much family

Wife: We don't have too much family

Husband: Even one person is too much

Wife: We are blessed  

There is no other way to say this, some people in our group are remedial.

We get to this palace with these historically significant metal canisters and Shana in the voice of the count says "two silver pots ha ha ha"

Cricket

Kelly: I'm excited to see someone else break a bone.

Tom: I've never seen someone break a bone playing cricket.

Me: you've never seen Rhonda play.

Zach: it's always interesting on the wrong side of the road

Me: interesting is a word I wouldn't use.

Tom: I can't wait to do this again but on a motor bike. You can be on the back of my bike

Kelly: I'll just meet you at each city in the world spree bus.

Tom: a day and a half later.

Kelly: I want to tour the country in one of those water pipe engine trucks

Tom: you don't need to get anywhere quickly just loudly and inefficiently.

Oh yeah, I should have mentioned.  When we stopped at the stair well, we were also corralled into a water pipe engine truck and paraded around one of the villages for their amusement, which we totally deserved.

Zach and I were not huge fans of listening to the tour guide, so instead, we listened to a pod cast called "There's no such thing as a Fish."  It was hilarious.  I found out later though, that we might have laughed at some inappropriate moments, like when Som was explaining the caste system.

Som: You look like you'd want to eat in a palace.

We went to this "Palace" hotel, and had a fancy dinner.  That's also when we sat next to Stephen Fry.  I did not ask him if he was going to any good parties, even though I'm sure some of our other travelers would have if they had been with us. 

We also went to a fancy dinner at the Amber Fort & Palace.   Unfortunately we totally didn't time it right so Tom was concerned about the cab driver who was supposed to pick us up and wasn't able to enjoy his meal.  He was pretty upset the following day as well.  I found out much later, actually while we were in the palace at Jaipur, that the reason why he was so upset was because Kelly told him, "Don't be a Rhonda" our least fav person on the trip.  Rough.

Rhonda: "I'll tell you to stop when I want to get out and shop for jewelry"

Som: "And now we'll go out of our way to drop Shana and Vance off"

Tom: Minito (the driver) is my idol

Me; Seriously? He hit a cow twice today.

Tom: Just a tap to get him moving along.

I think I actually started into the next week, and I didn't really explain at all what we did in India.  So here's my quick summary for those who like details.

We went from  Delhi - Agra- Ranthambore - Jaipur to Bejiing (which is the next update.)

We went to Gandhi Smriti, the former residence of Mahatma Gandhi where he spent his last days. Baby Taj, Humayun's tomb & Jamma Mosque and Agra Fort. We had Hi-Tea at Castle Kanota, (a location in the film "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"), Ranthambore National Park for the safari ride, and also a visit to a local village. The Taj Mahal, Amber Fort, where we rode an elephant up to the top of the fort.  And we saw Hawa Mahal in the pink city. We rode a rickshaw, a tuk tuk, and elephant, a jeep, a bus, a camel and a crazy truck bed.  We fed cows for luck, we drank local rum (I think) lots of Indian food, basically had an awesome time.  And I only needed to use me She-pee once!

More on china soon!

#MalariaPimp

Update 1/11 - 1/17

What I remember about this week is that I had a panic attack at work because apparently I am not the cool and calm adult that I thought I had finally become.  Unfortunately, I blamed myself for the majority of it, which made for a great start.  Then, there was a last minute trip down to San Diego that I definitely almost missed because I was chatting with a co-worker.  But it was nice to have 30 minutes in the sun on the way to and from my meeting.  I even took a picture of the parking lot as proof that I was there.

My friend Jen posted this on FB and it made me laugh so...

"Time for my favorite part of the evening:  Time when I spend 1.5 hours cooking, 20 minutes dragging everyone to the table, 15 telling them to stop throwing food on the floor and hitting each other and another 45 minutes sweeping up all the dinner they didn't eat.  Motherhood truly is a beautiful thing..."

I also found out, while talking to my doctor, that I did need Malaria pills for the trip.  When I told the rest of the group:

Tom: I'm literally getting my jabs now and my dr prescribed me malaria tabs too.  Also apparently I should have gotten my hep A jab week ago too so if you all could test my food for me that would be great.

Me: Done!  I thought typhoid is two weeks out too?

Tom: Okay I guess you can test my water too.

Shana: My doc said yes.  I tried to get it filled at walgreens but it was $100! Going back to the ghetto clinic where I can get them for $20.

Zach: Can you pick me up some too while you are at the ghetto and I'll pay you back? Or is it not ghetto enough to get more?

Shana: Even in the ghetto you have to have a prescription.  It's hard out there for a malaria pimp.

I had to shove in two Physical Therapy sessions and a Cortisone shot before I left.  I also invited Becky over to keep me company while I re-packed.  We had a couple of bottles of wine while individually packing pee-pockets with toilet paper into ziplock bags.  Although, Becky thought that they should have been called "She-Pees."  Either way, I was not going to be caught unprepared when having to pee in a hole. 

And then we were off to India!

While we are waiting in a horribly long line at security, Zach says, "someone ask if there's single rider. "

As we were running late and in the security line.

Me: Are you guys at the gate?

Tom: Just taken off.  See you in Delhi I guess.

Me: I don't find you humorous.

Tom: Okay, the pilot is revving the engine and flashing the lights at another plane.  I think he wants to go.

While looking at movies on the flight

Me: We have to figure out when we should sleep.

Zach: Are you kidding me? I'm not sleeping. Do you know how much it cost me per movie to watch these?!

After waking up on the same flight

Me: I feel like a failure, I thought I would wake up and ten hours had gone by.

Zach: you got some good sleep in - almost two hours. I couldn't sleep with all the screaming children. On a positive note it gave me time to count how many kids under the age of ten are in the rows behind us. Guess.

Me....

Zach: if it helps three are 37 seats.

Me: 30?

Zach: close. 21 - and I didn't count the ones in front of us.

later Kelly stopped by to tell us about the infant near them

Zach: I can't believe she's complaining about one baby

We barely got to the first flight on time and then it ended up being delayed an hour and half and then I barely made the second flight.  But I grabbed a cookie flavored Starbucks latte in Beijing so it was all good.

I heart BJ shirt was found at the airport

Kelly: Oh for Beijing

Shana: And nothing else

Me: My laugh will serve as homing device for the group. 

Me: I'm not sure I like this.

Zach: the leis?

Shana: is this how we're starting this trip?

Some Hashtags that were used...

#malariapimp #evenintheghettoyoustillneedaperscription #notquiteoffthegridnamaste #notquiteair #isthereasinglerider #waitingforthegroup #thegrouphastowaitforus

After going to the Ghandi memoriam

Lady: What did you learn

Me: Peace is good, all religion should be one, loin cloths are great

Lady: That's a new one

Me (After seeing the loom): I'm just going to say it's a loin cloth.

After our ride in a rickshaw:

Me: I actually got hit by a car.

Me: We wouldn't have done this on our own (after the rickshaw tour)

Zach: Yeah we would have gone to the red fort.

Apparently, in India, there is a process to figuring out exactly what time you'll be married.  So when we got to the hotel in the middle of the night, someone was getting married.

Zach: I'm going to make sure my wedding is not fun. First it will start at 3 in the morning.

Tom: I'm kind of intrigued by this one

Shana: the Kingdom of dreams!

We walked in the dark to dinner tonight and as we were walking we saw two gigantic wild pigs. I was terrified the whole walk.  Then we got to Kingdom of Dreams which was like a Vegas amusement park slash food court. 4 folks wanted to leave immediately and Zach and I stayed - and it ended up being so much fun!

And here at the pics from that first, very long, day!

More soon! 

I Work at the Mall

Update 1/4 - 1/10

My only saving grace here is that so much time has gone by that some of these are going to be hella short.  For example, the first week of January involved getting settled into the new offices.  My co-worker, Corrinne, has started telling people that we work at the mall.  And, because this is both accurate and funny to me, I am going to start copying her. 

As I said, I had Nala all week, along with weekend visits with Casper, so we went to the park a lot.  I found a new dog walker for the pups, who is lovely.  I started obsessively watching Nurse Jackie, even though I really do not like Nurse Jackie and was hard pressed to find something redeemable about the show.  And yet, it took up all of my free time. 

I had found out that Zach actually got denied a visa which freaked me and had me yelling at everyone else in our group to get on that.  (I'm a delight to travel with... really.)  I also started packing for India.  I had every intention of packing light.  Two pairs of pants and 4 tops for two weeks.  That gave me plenty of room to pack a plethora of medicines, first aid and continuously buy random things all week that I might need. 

I bought a shelf that goes over your toilet to go over my garbage can.  I'm equally embarrassed and proud of this storage solution.  I built a bunch of other shelves and tried to slowly unpack my second bedroom.  So what I'm really saying is this week was boring with only two notes to even remind me that it happened, and the first I don't even know what it means:

Thanks but I don't want to watch the game.

I'll let you ponder why I thought that was hilarious.  And I found this on someone's desk at work:

Hole in My PJ's

Update 12/28 - 1/3

When I stopped by Sean & Stacey's I snuck a pic of Sean's birthday card from his sister in law, Michelle.

My parents took us out for a very fancy pre-new year's celebration at the Castle.  Basically everything is better at a castle, including hot cider on our way out so we didn't get chilly in the car. 

I also went out with Evivova to see "Sisters" at the same movie theater that we worked at.  I worked two days at this concession stand, while Eva worked one day, and then quit after she had to clean this bathroom.  

I met Sean and his friend Pat down town for lunch.  I had the pleasure of meeting Pat in Seattle once, and fell in love with her at once because she is a delight.  So it was no surprise that lunch with her was also delightful.  It's cool how when you're not commuting you can stop and appreciate how beautiful the city is, like the majesty that is Grand Central.   Oh yeah, my dad just dropped me off at the train station and as I was getting out of the car he asked, "hey, do you want to take this knife with you?"  It was a steak knife so I'm still not sure if it was for my safety or because I have a hard time cutting things. 

Kevin: There's a hole in my pajamas.

Mo: Most ppl wear underwear.

Kevin: Are they insane? How is that comfortable?  I'm just saying...Well I'm wearing them backwards

Mo: So you're crack is showing?

Kevin: I have a long shirt on.

We spent New Year's Eve at Sue's playing games!

Mo: Um Sue, is this a set of balls?

Watching the Taylor Swift video

Mo: This is like the Tom hanks video

me: Saving Private Ryan?

Mo: Yes!

Mo: I told Patrick to bring some AA and some AAA batteries... Look at what he brought.

Patrick: do you have any Tylenol? My mom is having an early hang over.

Frita: I forgot to ask Sean for his old coat.

Mom: I bought you a new coat.

Frita: yeah but...

Mo: If you just want a crap coat I have a couple of those.

Mom: Always trying to throw out my coats.

Mo: Not throw out donate.

Frita: Exactly!

I accidentally said, "oh! I picture frame" when I opened this, before I actually got a good look at it.  I'm the worst, but it really does look good. :)

When I got back from NY, Percy was reunited with Casper and Nala and we basically just recovered for a beat before work started up again. 

Floor Mozzerella

Digging myself out of my writing hole!

Update 12/21 - 12/27

The last thing I did before the holidays was to pack up the office for the move from Kirkland to Redmond.  I know the cement building that looked like it was made for a safeway or ace hardware or bowling alley (depending on what legend you believed) didn't have windows, and it was always a little cold, and dark - but I loved the history that was made there by so many before me.  I loved that it was weird, even though I hated running back and forth between buildings all day.  I had many desks in this location, but our last location was up in the "loft" and it's what I'll remember, mostly because I actually took a picture of it. 

I almost bought this guy as gift this year because heh.

The week in NY started with celebrating Sean's birthday.  I got him a "Guitar for Dummies" because I remembered that he had jokingly asked for a Guitar at Thanksgiving.  I knew it was a risk, more with Stacey than anything.  I mean I lived through Lucas learning the guitar and it was painful.  But at least this guitar came with a tuner.  Jackie said she wanted to do a Dirty Santa the following day.  It was short notice, but I accidentally brought 12 extra presents with me, so I said sure, why not?  She also told me that when they decided to do a Secret Santa with Stacey's family, Jackie for some reason thought they were supposed to get a gag gift.  I'm kind of sad I wasn't a part of that one. 

We had an epic Christmas, as always.  My mom totally out did herself and we were completely spoiled.  I did my traditional stacking of the presents in which each pile is for a different person and is in front of them, but looks like one big pile.  Which also means I get to choose the seating, so I put myself next to Jackie this year.

Stacey: I've brought Morgan to the doctor several times for her leg.

Morgan: Mom said if I was a horse she would have taken me out back and shot me already. She told the doctor that.

Sean opened a classic "Love Frita" present to find the Odyssey game he had pulled down from the attic when we put the decorations up.   With that and the Guitar he was having quite a good week!

Bailey: What?

Bails (to Mo): How long was I out?

Mo: Since the socks.

During the unwrapping, a package from Amazon arrived.  It was a present for Jackie, so I took some used wrapping paper and just folded it around the present and put it in Jackie's pile.

Me: You'll just have to know it's from me.

Jackie: Not sure how.

Kevin: I'll trade the socks for the kindle.

Patrick: No, I won't.

Jackie (15): I'm teething. My 12 year old molars are coming in. My dad says I'm a little late but it's okay.

Stacey's dad and sister Carla stopped by mid unwrapping. 

Carla: So what did you get?

Jackie: Well..........And Tiffany got a stain!

Choosing a Fanny May

Me: Aren't you nervous about picking one with peanuts?

Jackie: I love my life. Yolo

Sean: Kevin's new name is Beast of the East.

Patrick was an alter server at Christmas mass, and then we went over to Maureen's for an awesome dinner.  After Christmas, Carla and I hung out with our nieces.  We did our usual eating all day with a smattering of games.  At the other Christmas, Morgan and Jackie got into an argument with Carla about who had the best Hot Chocolate.  Now, I am a bit of a connoisseur when it comes to Hot Chocolate goes in Westchester, so when they told me we had to go to Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks to settle this, I was all for it. 

(Dunkin Donuts tasted like it came from a packet, which is the only reason why it beat Starbucks btw. )

Then we went to Lil Sorento's for dinner.  This is when Morgan dropped a mozzarella on the floor, pick it up and proceed to take a bite. 

Carla: Morgan! Are you eating floor mozzarella?!?

Morgan was laughing so hard she got distracted and then dipped her floor mozzarella in the communal sauce.

Carla had asked Stacey about the Santa situation in the house.  Bailey is 17, Jackie is 15, and Morgan is 13.  Stacey keeps all of the presents in the weight room.  When Morgan saw Jackie go into the weight room, she was so worried about the secret being spoiled she ran to Bailey and asked, "What should we tell her?"

I think that’s a wrap for this week... More soon!