The past couple of days have been a little busier, but not by much.  I think I have spent more time awake during these days than I have in a long time, not getting to sleep until after 2am on the last two nights.  Thankfully, I can usually sleep rather late in the mornings, so I manage to "catch up" during that time--assuming the phone doesn't ring.

Yesterday, Randi and I decided to have lunch at BIG BOY'S in town, mainly because we felt like eating burgers and hadn't eaten there in a good while.  They do have some really good burgers, and their fries are not bad either.  Of course, Randi always gets tater tots, and she seems to enjoy those.

Supper last night consisted of hot dogs and chili, chili made from the spaghetti sauce I cooked a few nights ago.  Although I prefer eating hot dogs at a baseball game or fair, I have to say that these were pretty good, especially with fresh chili.  I prepared the whole package so that Sid could have some for his lunch today, along with the left-over chili--and he did do that.  In fact, both he and Randi decided that they wanted that again tonight, so I had to cook more chili for the remaining hot dogs.

Since Randi and I had not gone to Piccadilly's in a while, we decided to do that for lunch today.  I almost changed my mind when I saw the clouds in the sky, but we managed to make it without getting any rain.  In fact, I think we may have missed a pretty good shower here at the Cottage because I noticed some rather big puddles in the driveway area.

After eating our dinner, we went to the Super Wal Mart located in the "ring" of Cortana Mall.  I wanted to get a few items of baby things for my niece who is expecting her baby before too long.  There was a baby shower for her this weekend, but I just couldn't make that drive again, since I have to do that again this weekend.  But, I did want to get some things for the baby, so that's what we did after dinner.  I won't write what we got because I don't what that little baby's Grandpa (my brother, Ricky) to know what we bought, but I think Janet (the baby's Mom) will like this stuff.

When we got back here, I suddenly got very sleepy and tried to take a little nap, but it didn't work.  I think I may have nodded off after Sid got home, but it couldn't have been for very long 'cuz I didn't miss much of the program that was on tv.  Hopefully, tonight will bring restful sleep!

I have been wanting to change the pictures of our grand kids that I have on my fridge, pictures printed on magnetic paper, so I did that today.  I tried to find some recent ones and was pretty successful.  In fact, I liked these so much that I decided to use them for my new little frames that I got at DOLLAR TREE the other day.  I got FOUR of the frame sets, each one consisting of THREE places for photos (wallet-sized).  I already have a similar set on my shelf, but this one will be of more recent pictures.  In case you haven't noticed, I LOVE pictures.

Joey sent me his long, newsy e-mail today; in fact, he actually sent TWO of them, mainly because he thought he had sent one last week about their camping trip, but he hadn't.  So, he sent a second one about that trip.  They sure did seem to have a good time, in spite of arriving there at the same time as a little shower.  Joey and Beau enjoy camping, but they're not totally "primitive" in their camping likes--they have cots, for example, which I think is perfectly fine.  I used to love cooking outdoors when we went camping with our kids.  In fact, I think the only one who didn't really camp with us was Joey--we went one time with him as a baby, but it was so hot, he was miserable, and I swore that was it--and it was!  It wasn't his fault, but that didn't make any difference.

Anyway, they had a good time and had a week filled with their usual activities, including their game night.  Joey mentioned that things are already "changing" in Denver w/re the DNC being held there.  I'm sure there will be lots and lots of traffic increases there, but maybe, as Joey said, they'll get to see some of the bigwigs of the Democratic party.

In case you don't watch FOX NEWS, by the way, they have started a special few programs regarding both candidates, with last night being about Obama, his character, family, where he grew up, etc.  Tonight, McCain will be the subject with the same themes.  I think they have several others scheduled, but I can't remember where or when (sounds like a song title, doesn't it?).  Anyway, I enjoyed the first one and plan on watching the one about McCain tonight, 7pm Central time.

That's it for tonight.  Hope you have a great evening and a wonderful tomorrow!

"Nothing in nature is isolated.  Nothing is without reference to something else.  Nothing achieves meaning apart from that which neighbors it."

                                                                             --Goethe

NOTE:  Sort of like saying, "One thing leads to another" doesn't it?  In nature, as in life, no one is alone; each person is important to every other person.  We learn from one another; we trust one another; we depend on one another.  In nature, as in life, this is an ultimate truth.