A weekend of memories

(While I was writing this, Sean called. He took the just-repaired laptop in to the office for the first time today. )
"I think something's wrong with the laptop." He sounds pretty calmn, how bad could it be?
"What's wrong?"
"I plugged it in and opened it up and got the green light to come on but the screen is staying black."

Hmm. Maybe he walked away and the screen saver came on? Maybe the loose connection is back to haunt us?

"Try closing the screen and opening it back up." That's what used to work when the connection was loose.

I hear him click it shut, then open it back up. "Nope, still black."

Hmm. What could it ... (*insert lightbulb flash*)

"You're sure you turned it on?"

I love my non-techie husband...
****************
This past weekend was one of those happy moments you don't want to let go of. A really long, three and a half day moment. So much that for the last two days I've held off writing about them, knowing that once I put the words down in past tense, they'll really be past. History. Finished.

But it's time to let them become history, and just hang on to the memories of good times. So here, in no particular order, are some good times from my last few days.

Sis, My Brother-In-Law (MBIL), and MBIL's son My Nephew (MBILS,MN) came to stay with us for the Memorial Day weekend. They drove straight through Thursday night, getting here in the 1amish hour Friday morning. Happy was hearing their voices out in the driveway "whispering" over who needed to carry in what bag.

More happiness was having the first bottle of red opened and the hot tub going on in the next 30 minutes. More happiness still was having Sean finally get home from Trivia and tracking down Chris, and sitting outside for hours talking and drinking our way through a second bottle.

Friday was one long happy, with our introduction to Pink Lemonade Margaritas** (recipe at the end), V-8 Pina Coladas (psst... I don't think MBIL knew he was drinking V-8), sunshine, laughter, and much food. And a cd mix titled, appropriately enough, Cheese. "Everybody was Kung Fu fighting!" Chocolate Chip Cheesecake for MBILS,MN. Outdoor movies at The Flag Pavillion with 2500 other people, and leaving after watching the cartoons and the opening credits to Jurassic Park Late night conversations. MBIL telling stories of Europe while Under The Influence of Hottub.

The beach, made happier by leaving the beach and jumping into the cold pool. Lunch by the pool. Afternoon naps. Cooking too much food to fit in the lowcountry boil pot. More wine, more food, more water. Sis and I making so much great dinner that absolutely no one had room for dessert. Serving MBIL's Birthday Pie in the hot tub anyway, singing and candle required.

Drinks by the river. Phantom of the Opera! Front row seats! Hot young conductor. An old man snoring through the first Act (happy in a snickering sort of way). Last minute birthday shopping with sis. No one being at my house an hour before the birthday party starts (including me!). Forgetting the ice and all but hanging up on mom (ok, that wasn't a particularly happy moment, but it was memorable!) Sis being the best co-cook ever. Cooking a kick ass dinner, and having a safe delay spot 20 minutes out of serving time (because this is my husbands family we're talking about as guests - punctuality is not a strong point). 12th birthday party for my son. Strawberry Cake, Strawberry Icing, Strawberry Ice Cream with the box butchered by an ice cream opening novice. Realizing at 11pm that 3 nights in a row with 4-5 hour sleeps are catching up with me. Sitting outside at midnight and realizing I wasn't going to make it to 1am...

BIL's Birthday Blueberry Pancake breakfast, and wishing it wasn't Leaving Day. Then a very quiet house, still echoing with memories of 3 days and 4 nights of laughter and love.

Hope your weekend was filled with memories of your own.


**Pink Lemonade Margarita Recipe.
(Yumm!)

1/4 cup Tequila
2 Tablespoons Orange Liquer (Triple Sec, Grand Marnier, Orange Napoleon, etc)
2 Tablespoons pink lemonade frozen concentrate
3/4 cup ice
2 Tablespoons Sprite (or equivalent)
Sliced Lemon to garnish

Mix first 5, pour into glass, garnish with lemon, drink.
Repeat as long as you can. I'm thinking, with 1/4 cup tequila and 4 Tablespoons mixer, it's not going to be that long.

(After I finished this, my non-techie husband called back.)

"OK, I've got it on, now how do I get online?"

"Look down at the bottom of the screen, there should be 4 or 5 icons - hover your cursor over them and tell me what they say."

"Ok." Slight pause while he figures out how to use the touch pad instead of a mouse. "The first one says Boomtown Wifi Network, Connected, Signal Strenght Very Good."

"It says you're connected?"

"Yes."

I cough to cover the giggle. "Ok. See the Mozilla icon on the start bar?"

"What's Mozilla?"

Another cough. "See the Internet Explorer icon? It looks like an 'E' down next to Start."

"Yes, I see that." He sounds puzzled.

"Click it." Pause while he clicks. "What happened?"

"A window opened and it says Google." I can hear the amazement in his voice. "That's it?"

"That's it."

"Thanks! Love you!"

"Love you too."