When Sarasota meets Chicago!

Yes, my week is flying by too quickly!! You've been subjected to too many 'post work' rants so I'm sparing you...except to say that since when is Art Class more important than Dental Health???? Really, we had a teacher tell us yesterday that we couldn't take her class for their dental exams and cleanings because "They aren't allowed to miss Art"....WHAAAT???? So the Art Institute is now going to make sure their forms required to stay in school are provided gratis? Don't think soooo! Oh, I see, they can just color their cavities white and make it all good??? Grrrrrrrrrrrrr...... Due to our spectacularly sunny and warm weather of late (read sarcasm here) Mari had a 'make-up' game Monday after school. Monday also happened to be the day that Mairead's basketball playoffs were scheduled too. Since my Dad was in from Sarasota for the impending wedding, he decided to spend some quality time with his grandchildren. Now picture this scenario, an 84 year old man who has had a mild stroke and lives year round in warm, sunny Sarasota suits up and heads out to catch the first half of Mari's soccer game and then hustle back to the car to catch the second half of Mairead's basketball game. What was he thinking?!?! His host, Auntie Peggy, acted as chauffeur and I provided the sideline gear. Notice that we saw sunlight that day!!!!! But poor Grandpa is used to his sunlight being accompanied by 80 degrees or more! Our balmy 50's left him huddled under the trusty waterproof blanket that lives in my trunk. Even the steamy conditions of the gym after Mairead's game were not quite up to his usual which meant the fleece jacket never came off the whole night. Poor man's blood has just gone too thin in that easy living climate down in Florida....wish I could have the same problem....I REALLY NEED another vitamin D transfusion on Lido Beach....soon! As a quick off topic closing thought I'd just show you the two very different Mari's I saw that day. Above is her sporty look with pony tail and shin guards while below.... the girl's just gotta have beads! Weekend Preview: Julia is sporting a new haircut which you will have to see in pictures from the wedding since, as usual, I did not get on film. I am notoriously bad for living in the moment and not thinking about recording it for posterity! On our pick up trip to get Mari I only took 14 stills and two minutes of video during what turned into an 8 day stay(due to US embassy losing her Guatemalan passport!!!!). Thus the open invitation to Auntie Peggy to accompany us anywhere with her every ready camera. Also to be seen in the pictures from the wedding, the 'new' Mari! Not that her parents are glad for this but let's just say the store clerk that sold her the dress she's wearing wanted to know if it was for Homecoming???? Sigh, she's not going to be 12 until December!!!