my holiday started yesterday

Yesterday (Tuesday) was the last day this week we have to go to school. My students think they're the only ones super excited about three days off for Thanksgiving!! Heck, I've been looking forward to this holiday break for months!!!

After school yesterday, Marvin and I drove to South Carolina to watch my nephew's basketball game (he's a high school senior). It was about an hour and a half down there, stopped for supper along the way, watched the game, then an hour and a half back -- we got home about midnight! We haven't done something like that in a long time -- spur of the moment, Marvin looked at me when I got home from school and said, "You want to go to Tyler's game tonight?" Sure, why not? My sister tried to get us to spend the night with her, but that would have taken away from the thrill of the adventure. We had a great time (even though Ty's team lost). I can't believe how my sister's boys have grown up. Her oldest is 20 and a junior in college. Her baby is now 17 and will graduate from high school in the spring. I remember very well the days they were born, and it seems like just yesterday. I'm very close to these two boys. They spend a month or so with us in the summer, a week at Christmas, a week at Easter, and a weekend about every month or so. They call me often and share their lives with me -- I know their friends, who's-dating-who, how the grades are, etc. (I even know some things I haven't told my sister -- not "bad" things, just crazy-teenage stuff they've done. They trust me, and if I told my sister everything, they wouldn't feel like they could confide in me. If it were something big, they know I'd have no choice but to tell her.) Anyway, my sister teases me and Marvin and says we have "visitation rights" to her boys. Since we don't have children, she's been really good about "sharing" hers with us. Tyler was shocked to see us at the game. "You rode all the way for a Tuesday night game? How cool is that?" he said.

We got up this morning kind of late (8 a.m.), and Marvin cooked breakfast (eggs, grits, bacon). Then, Hop-Sing had a check-up at the vet's office at 11. Hop-Sing has arthritis and takes meds for that, and he also has severe allergies (he's allergic to grass, among other things) and takes meds for that. Between Marvin's meds and Hop-Sing's meds, I could open a pharmacy!! Vet said Hop-Sing is doing great but for me to watch his weight (Hop-Sing's kind of fat -- 22 pounds, and vet says that's too much for a "toy" breed -- Pug/Peke). I know, I know, I know --- I need to say "No" when he begs for chips, marshmallows, cheese, and "people" food. But I have a hard time saying no to him.

Okay, so this afternoon Marvin's getting a treatment. I'm cooking a few things. Tomorrow morning, we're going to my mom and dad's (2 hours) for lunch. Tomorrow night, we're going to try to get back for Marvin's family's Thanksgiving supper. Friday, I'll put up my Christmas tree. Friday night, I have "ball game duty." My high school's football team is in the play-offs, and I had my arm twisted into taking up tickets (Marvin loves football and goes with me to watch the game). Saturday night, it's "family night" again for Marvin's family. Sunday's church...Whew! I may be glad when Monday comes and I go back to school.....

Hope you all are enjoying your holiday.