memorial weekend post

[radlilim]

May 26, 11:00pm
The normal three and a half hour ride up north to mom and dad's actually took five and a half hours due to horrible holiday traffic out of Madison (it took a hour to get to Hwy 51, which is normally a 20 minute trip) and construction in like three places along the way. Everyone but mom was sleeping when I arrived, so I'll say hi to my sister and dad tomorrow.

While bringing in my stuff, mom and I noticed a weird looking frog on the door. It appeared to have no front legs. I poked at it a bit and it showed it's legs and moved on. And like an idiot, not fifteen minutes later I rubbed my eyes and got frog slime in them. Which hurt a lot. A lot.

Not turning into a very restful weekend so far. Sleep should help, though there is talk of starting to work on grandma's roof at 7:00 am to try and beat some of the heat. I don't think that will happen, but one never knows.

May 27, 5:15
Didn't start working at 7:00, but was woken up then. On the roof by 8:00. Long day up there. Got sun burnt on my neck, face and arms. Got a bit of heat exhaustion. Got yelled at a bit (so much for a relaxing day). Got my finger stepped on. And then 2/3 though the roof we got rained on. There is no working on a tin roof in the rain. Now we are at mom and dad's, drinking a bit, chatting and making dinner. Sauna soon. Tomorrow will be more roofing if it doesn't rain. Not sure if we will get to the lake at all. I'm very tired, but I'll stick it out to keep the family happy.

May 28, 7:00 am
Slept for eleven hours in my bed and maybe another one on the couch before that. We are off to the roof again in a moment. I am still tired. My neck is really burnt, I'lll have to put on sun-screen right away today. Here's hoping we don't roof all day again. There was talk of cutting out early and going to the lake. We'll see.

11:30 am
We aren't done with the roofing yet, but boy am I done with the whole project. We only quit cause there is something that we need to be at down by the lake at noon. Yesterday the short tempers and yelling didn't start till after lunch, but today it only took a hour or so. I want to leave and go back to Madison this afternoon, like my sister is, but grandam seemed so excited that I was staying the extra day that I'll try and stick it out. After grandma Kivela died I really want to spend as much time with my last grandparent as I can. Grandma made a comment about when I would be leaving the city and moving back up here. I didn't expect those comments for a while yet. I feel like I'm 15 again, not doing anything right, getting yelled at and getting injured all the time. Volleyball, softball, the Shamrock, Apex and the Hilton all seem really far away. I suspect that after this weekend I won't be able to look forward to coming back north for a restful time. I might have to start looking for a new "get away" spot. Maybe a park near to Madison where I can go camping by my self. I'm really burned now, and even after I put on a lot of sun screen. Maybe I'll just go and take a nap at the lake. One more unpleasant thing this morning. I weighed myself and I am 10 pounds heavier than I was at Easter. I'd like to think that it was muscle or something, but I'm not sure.

8:30pm
At the lake now, have been for a while. After lunch (which was pot luck and not very good) I took a nap until my sister left. Got up to say good bye to her and then we took a pontoon ride around the lake. I was fine as long as I kept moving so I was in the shade of the canape. We went out for dinner since no one brought any food to the cabin. I started to feel better after some food. Until then I was tired, headachy, nauseous and dizzy. I'm pretty sure I have heat exhaustion. We are sleeping at the lake tonight since dad has a meeting at eight am. We'll go into town after the meeting for breakfast. At the moment me and dad are waiting for everyone to get back, since while the two of us went home for coffee and clothes for tomorrow, the rest of the family decided to go for another boat ride.

May 29, 8:00am
The group is up and having coffee. Dad is off to his meeting shortly and the rest of us might put up the screen tent. Or go kayaking, it's still in discussion. Breakfast will be in a hour or so when dad is done and we head into town. I feel better, mostly. The true test will be to see if the sun gives me a headache again. Not a lot of plans for the day, though we do have to put flowers on Grandma and Grandpa Kivelas' graves.

2:15pm
Now is about the time I was thinking of heading south, but the traffic looks pretty bad. So instead of sitting in my car for 5 hours or so I'm going to hang out with mom and dad (everyone else left), go to the cemetery, have dinner, and then head back this evening. I usually don't like driving in the dark, but I think it'll be OK. I could also lave tomorrow morning around 6 or 7ish and get to work a bit late. We'll see. Weekend has been OK, I guess. The sun still gives me a headache and I'm not totally rested, but I"m better. Hopefully this'll last after I get back.

10:20pm
I went to the cemetery with mom and dad and we put flowers on grandma and grandpa's graves. I remember doing that with grandma when I was younger. We'd put flowers on grandpa's grave (who I never met) and then we'd walk around and she'd recount the other grave markers from our family. It was kinda weird doing that with mom and dad. After that we went to another older couple that have always been like grandparents to me. Walter is an amazing man and has done so much in his life (I did a report on him in high school), it's sad to see him get so old. He's shorter than my mom now.

Dinner was buffalo and asparagus and after that I headed home. I feel rested, I think. I had kinda made plans on the way to quit the HIlton this week, but after getting my bills I think I'll stick it out a bit more for the extra cash. I also got some In Nomine planning done in the car. I think up my best ideas there.