Scott chose meatball subs for dinner with chips, Egg Mcmuffins for breakfast and sandwiches for lunch. I spent several days the week before shopping for his food items. He started the cooking process at home by putting the meatballs in the crock pot. My suggestion following multiple GS camping trips. Use resources wisely. However, his ScoutMaster did not see it the same way. Boy Scouts do not appreciate cooking with electricity. Fortunately, the boys finished dinner before Scott was shut down and had to put his crock pot away. He even set up my tent for me since he arrived earlier. Allison dropped him off. Thank goodness for big sisters. I came later in the afternoon with the rest of the equipment.
Tom and I were invited to his intern Nishay's house to have lunch earlier in the day on Saturday. Tom's intern is from Pakistan and she wanted Tom to meet her family. They all live together, including her parents. And her sister was visiting from Austin, TX with her young daughter, so she wanted Tom to meet them before they had to return home. So we were both invited to lunch along with several other fellow Northrop employees. Tom was all nervous about their customs. The women are not allowed to touch men, so no hand shaking from the men to the women. And the family was mostly women. So just a lot of head nodding and How Do You Do. And Tom wanted to bring something to the luncheon(his old stand by-a bottle of wine). But they don't drink. So his student suggested we bring a vegetable plant. OK. They want to put in a garden. It just so happens I was in Home Depot buying all my flowers when she texted me with the recommendation. So back in I went after loading the van with all my plants and I bought a patio tomato plant. Everyone likes tomatoes. They did too! Then Tom wanted to bring a dessert. But it has to be Kosher or Halal. He went online and checked out all our grocery stores and club stores. The Safeway sells Kosher/Halal desserts. I picked out a chocolate mousse cake which was a big hit! Their 5 yo niece got into the dessert before we even had lunch! Turns out we had a wonderful time and were amazed by the home they were all renting. She has 4 sisters, all working, very bright and beautiful women. Her mother was amazing. Dad was a bit quiet. Who could get a word in edgewise with all those women! They rent an amazing house -all stone with 20+foot ceilings built in the 1800s. A very large yard and garden that is cared for by the owners. Someone is renting the basement level and another family lives in the carriage house out back. Just amazing. After lunch we climbed the very narrow, 5 story wooden steps to the rooftop to look out towards downtown Baltimore. I have to do some reading on the history of the house, but they said a preacher used to live there. The house was amazing, the family was amazing and so was the food. We had traditional Pakistani meal-lamb, basmati rice, Naan bread(like pita), chick peas, scalloped potatoes and a strawberry/spinach salad. For dessert they had homemade rice pudding-a massive bowl, chocolate covered strawberries and of course, Tom's chocolate mousse cake(a big hit too).
So after saying goodbye, I headed over to Scott's camp site-very stuffed-only to enjoy chicken fajitas cooked out by the Adult Patrol Leader. What a wonderful way to spend Memorial Day weekend. And I did not miss out on the Food and Wine Fest afterall(minus the wine of course). After stuffing my face, it was just about time to go to bed! The boys played a few games of cards, but we needed to get up by 4am to help set up the yard sale! It was a bit noisy sleeping next to the I-70 freeway, but we managed to stay dry and warm enough. It was actually a very hot weekend during the day. Thank goodness no rain. We all got up early-Scott made his patrol breakfast and the rest of us were on traffic duty, directing vendors on where to set up. By 8am, shoppers began to arrive. And then the boys started shopping. Scott picked up an electric Razor scooter(so far doesn't run). Also a huge, old Craftsman drill(minus the bits) and a computer printer. I picked up the free 2016 calendars for my patients at work. I felt like I was walking through my father's garage as I peaked at all the tables. One gentleman had a large robot like Scott's robotics team and another had a large scale helicopter that he was flying around the fairground. Certainly an interesting mix of humanity and electrical stuff, aka junk to me. Although that is what Tom says about my Arts and Craft(Craps) shows.
Anyhow, everyone grabbed a sandwich for lunch and then it was time to clean up, pack up and go home. I decided to spend the rest of my day at the hairdresser with Mom Bozyk. She was asking to have a perm and I decided I needed a hair cut and it was time for summer highlights. So we were both there for about 3 hours. I could hardly keep my eyes open. Afterwards I planned on bringing Mom B over to our house for dinner. Tom was ready to throw some steaks on the grill when it began to downpour. So instead we all went out for dinner. Much more relaxing.
On Monday, Memorial Day, while the family slept in, I headed to work. I had signed up to work since we needed staff to cover and I knew we would be in town. This way I get a paid holiday and paid to work a regular day. While I was at work, Tom had Scott drive himself and Allison out to Hagerstown to shop at the Outlet Mall. Allison needed to do some clothes shopping for outfits to wear to work.
Allison visited the Maryland Chemical Company for orientation before she starts her summer internship next week. She had some paperwork to fill out and job descriptions to go over before she is an official intern. Scott was just happy to have another day off. He spent some time working on his English project-writing and illustrating a graphic novel. The teacher already reviewed his work and especially loved the sketch book he is using that he got last Christmas(not to mention his story line and artwork). And his math teacher sent them home with an online Math test that he had to complete before the weekend was over. No rest for the weary.
I also managed to get a few extra projects done around the house since I took off work the Thursday before the Memorial Day weekend. I discovered that I had some personal time that I needed to use up before June or I would lose it. So I decided to take a day off and get some gardening done. I wanted to transplant a few stray bushes, repot a few lilac bushes and pull a whole lot of weeds from my flower garden. Mainly so I could see all my peonies that were getting ready to bloom. With all the rain and sun we have had a lot of plant life. Plus I needed to pick up my mom for her dentist appointment. Afterwards I visited her apartment complex for a Family Open House with drinks and hors d'oevres. The staff presented some current activities that are being planned as well as some remodeling that will begin this summer in the building. Families also had time to ask questions. Mom enjoyed an indoor BBQ dinner and then joined me at the family meeting. We then had a mother-daughter team lead a singing group. Overall a very nice evening.
On Friday I was busy gathering supplies for Scott's scout trip. I had the van all packed with tents and sleeping bags for both of us. That evening though, Allison and I headed over to the military cemetery with Scott for the annual WE REMEMBER activity of placing flags at each gravesite. Scott has participated in this activity since he was in Cub Scouts starting in 3rd grade. I think next year I will see if our Girl Scout choir can't sing for their ceremony.
Sending out a Big Happy Birthday to Stacey who celebrated her special day while on a Nursing Conference in New Orleans.
WE REMEMBER Memorial Day Flag Ceremony /Joe and Scott
Memorial Day Scout Camping Weekend/Hamfest
Memorial Weekend luncheon/Tom's intern's house Circa 1800s(we climbed to the roof!)
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