The Slip and Slide of Moral Decay

Sorry for the delay in getting back to y’all, but it seems that the first half of this year has been one of the most action-packed for me in quite some time). And thanks, Mel, for raising Viv and I from the dead….

So here’s the VERY SHORT version of the last two weeks…

KSG and I headed to Austin on July 9th for her brother’s wedding. She and I have been together for awhile now, so I was flattered, honored - and a little nervous - to meet her ENTIRE FAMILY at KSGB’s wedding! This wasn’t gonna be like her parents coming here, on my turf, for a weekend where we’d go to dinner, make small talk, and then call it a night. This was me surrounded by mom, dad, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents for two and a half days straight.

And it couldn’t have been more fun.

KSG was kind enough to quiz me on names and familial ties for the two days before we left, so that by the time we arrived at Austin’s airport, I could greet Grandpa by name, I knew which kids back home being talked about belonged to which set of parents, and that T would be the person that I could sneak away with for a cig break from time to time. KSG’s family is loud, funny, crazy, give each other a hard time, love a good fart joke, and aren’t afraid to dance poorly.

In other words, I fit right in.

We left Monday morning for Charleston, landed and waited for our bags. And waited. And waited.

They showed up at noon the next day, and were delivered to us by a really nice guy named Gene, whose car immediately died after he dropped off our bags. He called me and asked if I could give him a jump, which I did. I mean, how could you say no to the guy who just brought your life back to you so that you could leave for the second leg of your vacation?!?

KSG and I piled into the car for the 450 mile trip to the Outer Banks - an 8.5 hour drive to our beach house which contained MY (almost) whole family! Mom, Dad, one nephew + girlfriend, three sisters (+ boyfriends/husbands/kids), and brother (+ wife and kid). It was only fair, right? heheheheh…

KSG soon learned that she could bum it on the beach with my Dad all day long if she wanted, which kid belonged to which parents, and that M and J were always up for a cig and a beer on the balcony. My family is loud, funny, crazy, give each other a hard time, love a good fart joke, and aren’t afraid of karaoke.

In other words, she fit right in.

We got back from a great vacation on the 17th, and closed on my house on the 18th.

The tortoise next door says “What’s up,” by the way.

My nephew (sans girlfriend) came down on Wednesday for his college orientation, and I recieved some interesting news from friends in Minneapolis (MooCow - if you’re reading this, please shoot me an email. We need to talk).

I plan on moving into the new digs this weekend, unless other things come up (which they seem to be doing lately), and once safely ensconsed in my house, I should (in theory) be able to do some more posting. My boss just had her babies on Friday, and we have two folks in our department that have been here less than a week, so things have been hectic here to say the least….

Rock on.
Smell you later.
Feel the burn.
Blast the max.
Hug it out.
I like grapes.

-KS