Today

Last night, very late, I got a call from my dad's primary care doctor. My dad had taken a turn for the worse, he said. They were doing everything that could be done, but things did not look good. He told me that he expected to be calling me during the night.

I tried to sleep. I must have, because I woke up to the sound of a distant train whistle. Normally in July windows would be shut, but it's been cool here and I clearly heard a whistle.

Being that my dad is an old C&O Railroad guy (welder) I half expected to get a call saying he was gone. "Life is Like a Mountain Railroad" started playing in my head.

But, I fell back to sleep and woke up as THGGM was leaving for work.

A few minutes later I got a call from the doctor.

My dad's condition had improved. His doctor seemed very surprised by this.

No one here knows just how long he will be able to keep this up, but, it was a very nice surprise to have him call me at the usual time this morning and have him tell me what he had just eaten for breakfast.

That's why I have posted the video above of him eating his lunch.

Presently the doctors are working to find the correct balance between keeping his kidney function up and his fluid levels down.

My family and I would appreciate your prays for him.

We know he is in good hands, and he knows he is in God's hands.

See Judy Run. Funny Funny Judy.

There are many things I've been planning to blog about recently.

But, then my mind explodes.

What IS going on here?

I don't know.

It seems that I am not getting things accomplished at all this summer.

This is the pillow I made that has an almost completed matching duvet. The pillowcase needs a hem.

A-hem.

I guess I'm the someone who is supposed to finish this. It was, after all, my idea.

My plan was to use it in the old crib we were going to refinish sometime this summer. You know, "THAT SUMMER" that only exists in ones head during the long cold days of winter. I sort of imagined that THGGM and I would collect everything we needed, and together we would work on this project in our lovely garage which has plenty of room for projects like that. Together we would reminisce about that long ago day that we sold our 1966 Buick Le'Sabre to buy that crib for our first born. Like old married couples do, we would stop for coffee and a cookie as we were flooded with happy memories of days of yore. It seems that after 31 years together we would both remember on those long cold days of winter that we don't actually work well together. Oh well. This is only our third grandchild. Maybe we will get it done in time for a GREAT grandchild.

Well. Would you look at me? I just never seem to lose hope.

Now, if you do not like gross stories, stop reading now.

In my quest to rid my cat of fleas, I've taken to brushing him two to three times a day, outside. If even a gentle breeze blows our yard comes alive with swirly tufts of fur. Uncle Barb loves to be brushed. LOVES it. If THGGM is in the back yard, Uncle Barb (remember, i had nothing to do with his name) will stand at the back door and meow to be let out. THGGM is not pleased with this. If there ever was a question about my being the neighborhood crazy cat lady the question has been answered. I TALK to my cat while we do this. It helps distract me from what I am actually doing, which is combing out fleas one at a time and smashing them. On several occasions I have smashed out an egg. I thought that was weird enough.

But, in my world, nothing EVER seems to be weird enough. No.

Now, I DO wear glasses, and one would think that would serve as protection, except that I cannot see anything up close with them on, so, my life has been reduced to peering over the tops of my glasses while trying to see tiny things.

Fleas are tiny things.

Their eggs are even tinier.

Today, I deftly smashed a flea and POPPED AN EGG INTO MY EYE!

Remember, dear reader (i seriously do not think that anyone besides ME is ever going to see this, what with the warning and all) that my eyes do not tear.

I tucked Uncle Barb under my arm and while blinking furiously made a mad dash into the house.

By then the egg (about the size of a grain of sand only it's NOT sand, it's a flea egg!) was resting comfortable in my eyelashes.

Had someone asked me this morning how I planned to spend my day, removing a flea egg from my eyelashes would not have entered my mind.

See Judy spin and twirl. See Judy get dizzy. See Judy fall over. Funny funny Judy.

Let's see.., there was more to be told, but we shall leave Judy here, in her fallen-over state, to rest where she lays.

Fine Find

This weekend THGGM and I went antique looking.

He was unable to find anything in his price range ($0.00).

I found this!

We'd gone with the idea that we were 'just looking'.

But, I found this plate.

Do you not also think that it is cute?

I KNEW you would.

It has a nice stamp on the bottom.

I've seen plates with barely recognizable graphics in them go for $35.00 or more.

So, when I turned it over I was shocked to see that it was only $7.00.

Quite possibly, 'babies toting guns' isn't a popular motif for collectors of vintage baby items.

Whatever.

I like it.

I really really like it.

Early Sunday Morning on the Back Porch

Who would have thought?

It's early in this picture.

That's THGGM reading me a 'funny part' from Dumas' The Three Musketeer's.

We've both been talking a bit odd lately (lately?) as he is reading Dickens and Dumas and I am reading Bronte' and Austen.

We just cannot 'quit this'.

Oh, well.

I talked to my dad this morning and he had had a very bad night with hallucinations again. This happens EVERY time he takes a particular antibiotic. 'They' say this doesn't happen, that it's from the pneumonia, but WE know differently. The doctor on call today told me that he is making improvements but that it will be a very sloooow process. Improvements are good.

I, who am NOT taking an antibiotic, had a weird dream last night. In the dream I was riding a cow trying to round up Jonge and Famke who had wandered off into a field somewhere. Over a ridge, I think. The cow was slow, and they were fast. Interpreting dreams could be quite fun, one would imagine, but I think this one came straight from a picture on Daughter's Facebook of Jonge and Famke sitting on a cow statue at Binder Park Zoo. Well, that and waaaay too much caffeine in the evening.

My plans have all changed. If you know me well, I do not handle change well. Well, actually, I do not handle change AT ALL. Except for the money kind. Because when it comes to money, all I have is change. Which seems to sum up my life lately, too. Some change we don't talk about.

This week I had three appointments scheduled with my dad, and two that I still had to fit in somewhere. Instead, tomorrow I shall be cancelling three appointments, and wondering when in the world I will be able to get him to FIVE appointments. Not that I'm complaining. I want nothing more than for him to get better and come home.

Next week Daughter goes back to work. She works part time. EXCEPT for next week, when she will be working six days.

Can you feel it? That weird feeling? Like, the world is spinning faster and faster and I am sitting on a giant plastic cow that will not move! And.., everything else.., it's moving farther and farther away from me...

And, on a lighter note. I got a new camera. It's a Nikon Coolpix that ended up costing under $13.00. I haven't had time to properly read through the book, but today I did shoot random pictures throughout the house (i really need to dust!).

I brought it along to the hospital, thinking that while my dad napped I could look over the book and the camera. All that did was cause my dad to worry. He cannot accept the fact that his baby is 51 years old and cannot see a thing unless I lay my nose upon it. He is SURE there is a doctor who could fix this for me. Soooo, I put the camera and book down and we watched a Fox Sports station that had dogs riding surf boards. I don't care WHAT the announcer said, the dogs did NOT look like they were having fun.

It was a fun weekend. Busy. But fun.

And now I shall move along, doing whatever it is that I do.

What DO I do?

I don't know.

(just ignore the screaming. i'll be fine. really, i will.)

It Happened One Friday...

My sister got married!

It was truly a lovely occasion and we are ALL so happy for the two of them.

The reception was wonderful also.

I took a lot of pictures.

Most of them had some man in the family holding a baby.

It's a theme around here.

The men do love babies!

This is a good thing, as we seem to have a good number of babies.

These are the next two to get married.

We all seem to like weddings too!

But look who didn't make it to the wedding.

My dad.

He is back in the hospital with pneumonia. Again. His doctor says he will be there for at least another week.

As the senior member of this family, he likes weddings and babies too. And, he felt really bad to miss his oldest daughter's special day.

Hopefully he will be up and at 'em for the next wedding!

Hope. It's a wonderful thing!

Christmas. Only Five Months Away!

Bits and Pieces of This and That

Please bear with with me, as I have a migraine. I'm sure this is because I pointed out to THGGM that soooo many people seemed to be having headaches this week and I was happy NOT to be one of them. Of course, you KNOW what happened next.

Anyway.., I slept all morning and am slowly coming around.

My plan for the day WAS to take my dad and possibly Jonge to the nursing home to visit my mom. It's Pet Show day there today.

I'm soooo not there. As you can tell.

I DO remember yesterday.

My sister and I went thrift store shopping and to lunch at Hunan.

If you would please imagine that the wallpaper in the kitchen is gone, I think you could sorta kinda see the look I am aiming towards. I've not HIT it yet, but I'm getting closer.

The basket was a mere $2.99 and is holding linens.

Two weeks ago I found the red handled picnic-ware and yesterday I scored with the blue!

I'm still reading "Agnes Grey". So far I've learned that I would have made a horrible governess.

In other news:

My dad is still recovering. Today he noticed that he was a wee bit more short of breath. His physical therapist came just after 7:00 AM. I'm thinking he needs to slooowly ease into his day. Not start it with therapy. But then, what do I know?

Tomorrow my sister is getting married! We do want him to be well enough for that.

It has been almost two years that we have lived in this house. We have an uncanny knack for making a place look like we've lived there for decades in a very short time.

Still. I'm happy to report that ALL boxes are unpacked. Well, except for the ones that I opened up and quickly shut again. And, somewhere, I still have a box of really cool velvet roses.

I do not want to EVER have to move again. Not ever. It brings me such joy to know that when I die I can't take it with me.

But, until then, I keep collecting bits and pieces and arranging them in a pleasing manner.

Sigh...

It Was a Good Day

Kado Is Five Weeks Old

Kado has such a cute little sleepy smile!

And a very different sound asleep face!

And a charming 'hey, look at me!' face.

I got a new camera today.

He has yet to mind having his picture taken.

But, with time, I know he will out grow that.

Jonge has been known to look me square in the camera and proclaim, 'Stop taking my picture all the time!'.

So far, my favorite option on my camera is the one labeled 'food'.

I thought I had something really interesting to say today, but, whatever it was either doesn't seem interesting now, or, most likely it never was.

Oh. And JUST FOR FUN there is a dragon fly - or maybe it's a damsel fly - soaring around my kitchen. Clearly, I did not order one.

As you may have guessed, I took it's picture.

I am the bug and baby paparazzi.

Together Again!

I thought my dad seemed fine today. We went grocery shopping in the morning, and then I brought him to my house to visit with these people!

They hadn't seen each other since Father's Day, which as you remember was a very long time ago. We dined on peanut butter and honey on whole wheat with fresh sweet blueberries.

Week End

So here I sit, putting the weekend to bed.

I had hoped to get a lot of projects finished around here during July, but that isn't working out as planned.

This weekend as I wandered aimlessly through the house trying to bring back some semblance of order. I kept bumping into unfinished projects that I had completely forgotten about.

Let's see..,

There is the "Dick and Jane" duvet cover and pillow that I have almost finished. It still needs a hem and 'poppers' as my SewHip magazine calls snaps,

The flannel blanket I made for Kado still needs all four corners tacked down in a somewhat pleasing way of stitching which I've yet to learn,

But did I get to any of these over the weekend?

Not surprisingly, no.

I played a bit with my new train set. Even dragged up a nice old wooden box to store it in. It's important to me that all of the bits and bobs of old toys remain TOTALLY separate from each other. That is also important to Jonge, so he is helpful. We now have an old wooden box of building blocks and an old wooden box of Fisher Price odds and ends.

Slooooowly I am filling up that collection of old wooden boxes that we've been building as we find them at rock bottom bargain prices.

Soon I see myself attending an anonymous group for people who cannot stop buying old wooden boxes.

I've sort of a feeling that this will be a disease I am stuck with until it is ME in the old wooden box.

Anyway..,

THGGM finished reading "The Man in the Iron Mask" tonight. Can I just say that I am proud of him? For 30 years of marriage I don't think he read anything more than Calvin and Hobbs. Suddenly, he is reading A LOT. While I was leisurely making my way through "Mansfield Park" he was polishing off "A Tale of Two Cities", "The Count of Monte Cristo" and "The Portrait of Dorian Grey".

I had been going back and forth between "Agnes Grey", the Sonoma Diet book, a book about removing salt from the diet and a book about Alzheimer's. But, on Friday I got tired of them all and picked up Bill Bryson's "Neither Here Nor There" and just finished that moments ago. It made me REALLY never want to travel to Europe. Not that I was planning to go anytime soon...

My dad seems to be making improvements. This weekend THGGM and I shopped around for new cordless phones for him. Since he cannot just hop up quickly to answer the phone, and since he would NEVER not get up to answer a ringing phone I had decided FOR him that he needed to ditch his old phones and get something just a teensy bit more technologically advanced. This will require some doing. FIRST, I will have to learn the phone, and then I'll have to teach him how to use it. I'm finding this unnerving, as it isn't as simple as just picking up the phone and then replacing it when the call is over. BECAUSE, if his phone is not hung up correctly, his LIFELINE button will not work.

I haven't been sleeping so well lately. This is because 'what if' scenarios just keep playing over and over in my head.

To relax, I've been taking Uncle Barb outside and brushing the few remaining fleas off of him. Uncle Barb likes this. The fleas, not so much.

I remain ever hopeful that the cleaning lady will return next week. She took a few weeks off to hold babies and visit the elderly.

I Found One!

Tonight I made one quick stop at a thrift store.

On the very unorganized (it was the end of the day there) toy shelf I found a large bag FULL of wooden train stuff!

Lots of it!

Jonge already has a cool wooden train set that he got from his aunt and uncle, so this one is for me.

And just look at how fast it goes!

I'm going to have a lot of fun with this.

Can't wait until my dad is well enough to come over here and help me set it up. He's an old railroad guy, so I'm sure he can figure it out. I already asked THGGM if he wanted to play, but, I think that what he said means 'no'.

Today

Somebody has gotten bigger!

Since yesterday, my dad has made some more improvements. The visiting nurse still thinks he should be hospitalized, but, he isn't.

So, I am keeping a close eye on him, and am happy that he has that "Lifeline" button he can push for help.

Between visits with my dad today, I drove over to visit these people.

Jonge and Famke LOVE their new baby brother.

Here, they are playing 'rocks in the river' with the couch cushions.

Nobody seems to be suffering from lack of attention, except maybe Charley. But, Charley has ALWAYS been this way.

Summer Sounds

This is what it sounded like on my breeze-way this afternoon.

Breeze-y, windchime-y, cat's meow-y sounds mixed in with traffic. Always traffic. I try to imagine that it is the sound of the sea, but it SOOO isn't.

Anyway..,

Today was going to be my ONE day of the week at home.

It didn't end up that way.

I went to my dad's early to meet with the visiting nurse. She was not happy with his breathing or the look of the sores on his leg. She thought he should go back to the hospital and made a call to the doctor. The doctor felt he should just increase his Lasix, back to the amount he had been on before this most recent hospital stay.

The visiting nurse comes again tomorrow morning. I talked to my dad tonight, and he said he was feeling pretty good. Had one episode of breathlessness, but that was when the physical therapist was with him.

I am not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV. Actually, I don't even enjoy WATCHING doctors on TV. Changing the dressings on the bandages? I did that. It was icky, for lack of a better word. Bleeech.

Later in the afternoon I was back home. As I approached my door, I noticed that there was mail sticking out of the mail slot. As I pulled the mail out, I suddenly got wet.

How strange, thought I. It hadn't rained a drop while I was gone.

Then I smelled 'it'. Some unattended neighborhood cat had PEED on the mail in my mail slot! It had run down the letters like a slide and landed on my breeze way floor.

WHY?!

Poor old Uncle Barb was NOT happy about this. Nor was I. He meowed his unhappiness while I cleaned up the mess while muttering, why?!

I don't know why.

So, for fun, I took Uncle Barb out into the backyard and fine-tooth-combed a half dozen fleas out of his fur. And killed them dead. This is a battle I intend to win. The numbers are rapidly decreasing.

THGGM ordered pizza for us for dinner. I must have had that look.

(i want my mommy.)

Once a little bit of order was restored to my world, I collapsed into my squeaky rocker and stared off into space in that restorative sort of way everyone needs from time to time.

Wish I Were Here

Okay. Not really.

I'm glad to be sitting right here at my computer.

It's been a looong week already, so glad that Monday night was beautiful!

That reminds me of one of my favorite quotes.

The weather is here. Wish you were beautiful!

Kado is one month old today! I just find that SO amazing!

Tonight I got to hold him, but he preferred cuddling with Pake. They were even wearing matching outfits. Sadly, I forgot to bring my camera.

My dad is improving every day. In an effort to avoid going to a nursing home for rehab he is having nurses, OT's and PT's coming to his home.

Today we took a trip to the nursing home to see my mom. She was doing very well, and even looked over at me, nodded towards my dad and said, "He looks GOOD!".

My dad was able to feed her her afternoon pudding. I think it helps SO much for him to feel useful.

I spent the morning setting my dad up with "Lifeline". Now he has a bracelet with a button on it that he can push anywhere in and around his home that will summons help. We tried it out and it works very well. I highly recommend this service.

Soon we shall work on getting him new phones. Phones that he will not have to get up to answer. Phones that do not have cords.

But, everything NEW is not as easy to figure out when you are 83 as it is when you are say, three. I might have to ask Daughter if she could loan Jonge to my dad for a day so HE can explain to him how all this new fangled equipment operates.

And now, exhausted, I drop into bed.

And The Day Improves

THGGM and I left at 4:00 for Grand Haven. Dinner was eaten at Snug Harbor, overlooking the channel.

It was another perfectly lovely day!

Since I'm not sure how the words will line up with the picture, I will tell you that I love the picture of the fishing line following the arch of the cat walk. Great fun watching the fisherman haul in a large steelhead.

One of my favorite things of being on the pier is seeing the difference in the water from Lake Michigan (on the left) to the channel water. And, I just adore 'vanishing points'.

This picture. Oooo. Could have been taken anytime in the past 100 years, maybe?

Our evening ended with ice cream at Temptations.

Good times.

Why Do You Tell People This Stuff?

I have a reputation, and it isn't a good one.

Over the weekend I removed just short of 100 fleas from dear old Uncle Barb (uncle barb is a cat. i did not name him.).

As I recounted this to THGGM, he said "You're not going to blog about this, are you?".

Were he to write a book (and i wish that he would!) it would be interesting. My sad tales of mice infestations (last house) and now fleas are about as interesting as it gets over here with the exception being, of course, when Jonge, Famke and Kado are here.

I have to make a LOAD of phone calls today. Some are made, some I'm gathering more information for, and some will have to be made when I get to my dad's house.

I SO very much hate to make phone calls. It takes forever to get to a real live human being, and then once I do that human being ASKS FOR INFORMATION I DO NOT HAVE. I've been tempted to say, "Look. For as long as I have been on hold, could YOU hold while I run over to my dad's house and get that information for you?"

Today I feel ever so whiny.

I hate it when other people whine. But, like 'boring' I am working to raise 'whining' to an artform.

Anyway. The BEST way to remove fleas is with a fine toothed comb. Thank you, Mary, for that advice. It works like a charm. I'm also cracking those little buggers so don't anyone call P*T*, I mean *E*A on me. Old Uncle Barb is MUCH happier too. I had really thought that his itchy skin was just another symptom of his diabetes. Poor boy.

Now I shall tell one more boring thing about my morning.

THGGM got up for work at 4:00 this morning. I was able to sleep in until the leisurely hour of 7:00.

Since I planned to get an early start, I quickly jumped into the shower. Once I am soaking wet, I realize that SOMEONE who shall remain INITIAL-LESS removed MY shampoo from MY shower (you know, the all pink shower that he won't use). So, I reach for my towel so I can make a mad dash into the other bathroom to retrieve MY shampoo only to notice that my queen size towel is not anywhere in the bathroom. There are NO towels whatsoever in my pretty pink bathroom.

Okay. That was my fault.

But still.

So this morning I learned that body wash makes an excellent shampoo. And, I dried off somewhat adequately on two Christmas dishtowels I found in the linen closet in the hallway.

I think I need one of those "I've fallen and I can't get up!" buttons like my dad is getting.

I shall press it and say "There is no towel in this bathroom, could someone please bring me one?" Yes. To me, that is an emergency.

May the day improve.

well Well WELL

I found nine spoons tied together with lace. The price was good.

I turned them over to discover that they are stamped "Grand Rapids". I like knowing where my spoons come from. Don't you?

At a kitchen store I found this red server.

What I especially like about it, is that it doesn't have to be three plates on top of each other.

The bottom two tiers swing out, which is just perfect, in my humble opinion.

I'm not exactly sure WHAT will end up on this when not in use for serving, but I'm sure I shall have loads of fun playing around with it!

This is a lovely piece of Zells.

I was sooo very happy to find it.

Aren't they just the cutest?!

I seriously did try to resist, but I could not.

Pake and Beppe. Yup. That's us.

Actually, we were outside more than in today. It was GORGEOUS in Saugatuck.

I forgot my camera. You will just have to take my word for it.

Great Find!

THGGM and I were able to get away today.

We went to Saugatuck to look around downtown. It's sooo nice there, and the perfect weather was an extra bonus.

Lots of boats in the water.

We also made a stop in Holland at an antique mall.

THGGM found this beautiful pitcher. It is Royal Bayreuth.

The antique mall actually had TWO of these, but one was over twice the price of the other. THGGM made a few inquiries and was told that this particular dealer isn't big on researching his purchases.

Hmmm.

THGGM has a very good eye for things like this.

I have a very good eye for vintage chippy. And, if it isn't vintage chippy when I start with it, it will be before I am done. (I don't think THGGM wants me to touch this.)

It was a fun day.

Red

It's been an interesting week.

But, yesterday I managed to work in some fun!

One of my sister's came to town. We went together to visit my dad, and also to visit all the fun places in the hospital, like the upscale gift shop and the great coffee bar.

Really. Blodgett hospital is a nice place to visit.

My dad is improving. I am SO thankful.

From there my sister and I hit our favorite Wyoming restaurant, Hunan. This is something we used to do every week in the summer, but lately life has gotten complicated, and last summer I think we only made it there once.

Next it was off to our favorite thrift stores. I'm happy to report that I found everything I didn't even know I was looking for.

Best find? I would have to say it's the two Kitchen-aide pans. Red.

The worst part of the day was discovering that my cat, whom we have had for over a decade, is COVERED in fleas. He has NEVER had even one flea before this.

So, I spent the evening trying to discover a non-chemical way to remove every single one of those horrible dastardly bugs. Uncle Barb is old and diabetic so that eliminates hauling out the big guns. I see a bath with lemon juice in his near future, and eucalyptus leaves scattered across his favorite sleeping places. If it doesn't have to be fresh lemon juice or new eucalyptus leaves, I can get started on this right away.

Although, this was NOT in my plans.

I see red.

First Monday of July

I tried, but I couldn't get all of Jonge in the picture today! He is a big boy now at 3 1/2.

Famke had just gotten up from her nap and was still very cuddly.

I'm finding it hard to believe, but Kado is three weeks old today.

He also had his first doctor's appointment.

His weight is now 9 pounds, and he is 22 inches long.

Happy, healthy and hungry!

There was a 'bee' in the house (actually, i think it was just a rather large fly) and Jonge wanted me to get it. I asked for a fly swatter, but he said he didn't have one. So, he brought me this. He said it would work. I said it wouldn't. He told me that at least I could TRY.

In other news..,

My dad seemed some better today!

Stitching and Mending

I talked to my dad this morning and he seemed to be doing better.

The doctor could tell just by listening that his pneumonia is clearing up.

Next up will be relieving him of the extra fluid in his system.

He sounded much clearer this morning also.

I am SO glad.

Yesterday he was suffering from a bit of mental confusion. He does this EVERY time he takes antibiotics. The medical staff think it is due to his shortness of breath and fever.

Dr. Judy thinks it is antibiotics. I come from a looong line of people who respond oddly to common medications.

The picture has NOTHING directly to due with this post, but see that little stitched doll? I made that for Famke when she was a baby. It has been missing for, oh, about a year now. I thought it was loooong gone.

Since I don't have a car and my dad is in the hospital, we have his car. Mostly, I take THGGM's car (which by the way we just sunk $1500 into last week) because my dad's car is HUGE and I am mostly parking in a cramped 'under construction' parking ramp. When I went to the hospital yesterday I remembered (finally!) that my dad wanted his cane. As I was pulling it out from the backseat, what should appear but Famke's doll!

How in the world it got into my dad's car is a mystery.

I'm just glad to have her back.

And so thankful that my dad seems to be on the mend!

Week Interrupted

Let's see...

If I don't write down SOMEWHERE what is happening, I won't remember.

Wednesday night, my dad - who was being watched closely due to elevated potassium levels - came down with pneumonia.

This again required an ambulance ride to the hospital, and what looks like it will be a looong stay.

The pneumonia has gone from a spot on just one lung to both lungs. Also, the fluid they are trying to remove from his body is not coming off as quickly as they would like and his kidney function is not so good either. On top of this, he presents as dehydrated, so the doctor is going to give him some IV fluid and try to find an acceptable balance.

His primary care doctor is on vacation. Has anyone else noticed that the doctors who get to work holidays LOOK like they are on a middle school field trip?

He, of course, wants to come home.

Hmmm.

Happy Independence Day!