A-Typical male's journal.

They had implied that the party was all afternoon. Heck they served alcohol--something no one has ever done at work while I was around before. Not that I drank any, alcohol holds no interest for me. I decided what the heck, and slipped on out. It might make it hard next Friday, when I need the whole day off, but I've already committed to that day. I'll be glad when the holidays are over, and I can show them I'm willing to work. Just let me see my family and stay healthy, that's all I ask.

So, we piled into the car, and drove home. We quickly packed, and got Dickens settled into the car, and we were on our way. We've taken to driving down Monroe road (which becomes John road in Matthews, and Old Monroe Rd in Stallings. In Monroe it'd called, appropriately enough, Old Charlotte Rd) all the way to Monroe, and then, and only then, cutting over to Highway 74. It was getting dark about the time we left Monroe, but at least we'd left most of the traffic behind.

It's interesting when you travel on a road over and over, how often you stop at the same places. There's the Arby's in Monroe, and the Hardee's just before we get to Hamlet, and the Wendy's in Hamlet. All places we've stopped more than once.

In fact we stopped in Hardee's for a short pit stop. I was feeling pretty tired, so I was going to stay in the car for a bit. Then I decided to go and wait with Azura in line at Hardee's. As is my habit, I tapped the lock, and locked all the doors, and shut them. Then I turned and saw that Azura had left her keys in the car. We each have our habits, I've always locked all my car doors, and just have the habit of getting the keys, and locking my door, even when I was parked in the driveway at my Parent's house. Azura is used to her car which no one would steal (We were just glad someone would tow it away!), and so she's used to a more lax habit.

The manager of the Hardee's, a short black woman, brought out a hangar, and helped us unlock the car, as she told us how she'd done the same thing a few weeks ago. At first Azura blamed me for being stupid, I just told her that I was willing to take the blame, if she would admit to being 'not so smart' about leaving the keys in the car. Sometime after we were back on the road she apologized. I was a bit miffed, she called me a 'doofus'. I'm the only one allowed to do that.

Nevertheless, we still made it to my parent's house in Wilmington by 9:30. Since I was sleeping on the couch, and Mom was going to stay up until my brother got home, I talked Mom and Azura into a game of RoboRally. I was surprised, but Mom actually liked the game. She never got to the first flag, but she still enjoyed herself. I came within 3 squares of winning, and played a wrong card, which handed Azura the victory. I have to remember that Mom came very close to getting a programming job, and that we are more alike than not. It's hard, since some of our attitudes about life are so different, to remember that some of our interests are the same.

Not long after that game, my brother and his wife --and their two dogs--made it to Wilmington. Now, Dickens, and my parent's dog Taylor are good advertisements for dogs. They are well behaved, loving dogs that just don't act badly. My brother's youngest dog--Huey--is just the opposite. First of all, he can't be left alone. "Alone" is defined as in a different room than everyone else. This wouldn't have been a bad thing except that he couldn't be in the same room as Dickens. Neither dog is fixed, but Huey was always the aggressor. Dickens is a very tit for tat dog. That is, if you give him love and kindness, he gives it back to you, you play with him, he plays back. You growl at him, and he growls right back. We came very close to an out-and-out fight.

We improvises several gates, and door closings, dividing the house up into different areas, depending on which dogs were where, and which dogs were awake. We had a gate between the Kitchen and Den that you could slide, but I always seemed to let one of the offending dogs through when I went that way. Luckily, we had a DogLock. That's like an AirLock (two doors and everything!) only it's dog-tight instead of air-tight.

Sorry, I really shouldn't rag on my brother's wife. I mean, my brother and myself are so completely different, why should our choice of SO be similar? It shouldn't, of course, and isn't, so I guess that makes sense. But still, women like that always got on my nerves.

We all walked around the house, asking each other, "What is the plan for today?" Azura asked me that a couple of times. Finally, I said, "Well, I'm going to sit here until someone tells me what we're doing today." What we were avoiding was simply saying, "Hey let's open presents!!" No one wanted to be the first to say it, but it's what everyone wanted to do. Personally, I couldn't wait to see how everyone reacted. I knew the shelves Azura made were going to be a big hit.

My Dad finally broke the stalemate. He's never afraid of being the one to look brash, obnoxious, and uncouth [He is occasionally all three, but only when it's needed to get something going, like, well, like on Saturday.]

Mom and Dad got Azura and I a nice 6-piece luggage set. We decided to leave most of it there, for fear the cats would take a fancy to it. It really is a nice set, I'd hate to see it destroyed. We also got a nice car cleaning kit --filled with Amway cleaning products! Azura received many baking implements, I can't wait to see what the heck they do:) My brother liked the puzzle I gave him. He was sort of looking-forward-to-but-dreading that I'd get him one like that. I told him I had no choice once I saw it. The only bad thing was, we didn't get started on it, but that was my fault.

The best gift I got was when we were dissembling to my brother about the exact date of the wedding, Mom looked at us, somewhat angry. "I told you I got the place!" she said, miffed. Then something on my face must have revealed my surprise, when she querulously added "Didn't I?" I smiled and said, "No, but you did? You got the date?!?" She nodded, and I said "Great!". So now you know, May 2nd, I'm going to be a Married Generic Joe.

After we were done, I took a nap while Azura went to the beach, and Mom and my sister-in-law went shopping. I don't know what my brother and Dad did, but I'd bet the world 'golf' came up. Azura woke my around three when she got home, and we went out and cleaned the car.

I'm a real slacker when it comes to car care. I've never handwashed my Taurus in the two years I've owned it, and it sat for months with stuff in the trunk that had been there since I moved in February. My car was needless to say dirty, and faded, and desperately needed a bath. I'm glad to say it's somewhat more shiny now. I told Azura to buy some more of the polish/wax stuff, and I'd spend my next saturday on it.

When we were all done, my brother wanted to know about this RoboRally thing. "Can we play?" he asked. Mom said, "Yes, that's a fun game, I really liked it." I was looking around goggle eyed. This is my family, right? Why would they even care about doing something I want to do? They never have before. So, Azura, myself, Mom, my Brother, and his wife all sat down to RoboRally. Everyone figured it out mostly, except for my sister-in-law, and that was mainly because we didn't have the time to teach her (it takes a little while to catch on--my Brother got it fast, and everyone else had played before). I was impressed with how well my brother played the game. It was nice, for once, for us to both be good at something. And it wasn't in a bad competitive way.

In case you hadn't noticed, It's a Wonderful Life is only being run one time this year (during Christmas--I once saw it in June). It actually happened last year, but I missed it. For the next three years, NBC has an exclusivity agreement with it. Luckily for me, I saw that it was going to run Saturday in the Wilmington paper. So, we sat down and watched. There was no argument or discussion. Dad vacated the room, but everyone else sat down and watched it. Azura told me she'd never seen it all the way through. Now, at least, I know why she hasn't gotten my (weak) jokes, as I ran around the apartment shouting "Zuzu's Petals" or "I love you Building and Loan" No, I'm not insane, but you should be glad I haven't been watching The Tick lately.

Afterwards, we all just drifted off to bed.

Throughout the morning, I had a chance to talk to Mom and Dad, both separately and together. First together, I explained to them about leaving the luggage. They understood. It was the reason we were going to leave the bridal gown at my parents. Sure Taylor chews (and eats) socks, but they have places to put stuff that's out of the way.

Mom left to do something, and I asked dad for a credit card. We're driving to Arkansas next week, and I wanted something to fix the car, if I could. And possibly to use to pay for a hotel room (although, I didn't tell dad that) He told me that he'd give me the Firestone card, but only if I'd replace those two front tires. That's Dad for you, forcing you to use the gift.

I sat reading a few minutes later, and Mom wandered in. "Joey, " she said (she's the only one who still calls me that), "Are you OK?" Surprised by that, I turned to her, and said, "Other than being sick? I'm fine." "Oh," she said, "I was just worried." I assured her that I had a wonderful weekend, because I had.

I asked Azura about it later, if I seemed down. She didn't think so, thinking it was all just my sickness. I actually feel better (emotionally) after the weekend than I did when we started. I'm sort of getting that Christmas Spirit.

Azura and I packed up our stuff, and headed over to my grandmother's. We wanted to stay longer, but really couldn't stay long. We are, after all, sick, and well, a common cold like we've had could kill my grandmother. We helped her open her cow throw blanket. [My grandmother has been forced into collecting cows--it's because of her married name, which has a cow reference in it...] Poppop (my grandfather) presented us with the cards that contained checks, the only gifts I've gotten from them since my grandmother got sick. She always used to do the shopping. We'd get several gifts. One from her and Poppop, one from Santa, one from Rudolph, one from the dog. Each of the dogs, when she had three poodles. My grandmother loves Christmas. Or loved, anyway. It's so rare to see her excited and happy by anything anymore.

After that, Azura and I went off to see the "World's Largest Living Christmas Tree" which, purportedly, is at the water plant in Wilmington. I wonder if it's gotten shorter because of the hurricanes, lately. Or if it was more impressive when I was smaller. It's not a Christmas tree, exactly, it's one of those old twisty Oak trees like they have at the beach. It's easily over a century old, and a beautiful tree.

After that, we just headed on home.

Generic Joe's A Typical Male