Sauerkraut Here!
This weekend I drove to Boise, Idaho to celebrate my nephews third birthday.
As I told you, last week was extremely overwhelming. In fact, on Thursday, I called into the flower store and asked if I could have the night off. I still feel guilty, but I was so exhausted and I had a two-hour drive ahead of me. When I got home I had a short visit with my mother and another short visit with my grandmother, before I hit the sack.
Eight months late, but worth the wait! My birthday gift from Mel, I can't wait to hang it on the wall.
Friday morning I said goodbye to my grandparents, my mother and scooped PDX up from her grandparent’s house. Not long after I picked her up I was pulled over near American Falls for speeding (17 miles over the limit), in a construction zone, without proof of insurance. Sigh. Yes, I got a ticket.
Later we stopped at our favorite gas station to pee, get gas and grab a coffee. After I pumped gas I went inside, took a pee, got some coffee, ordered a weird taco thing, refilled my coffee, bought some chapstick and walked outside to discover that I had left my driver side door way open… With cash, a cell phone and all of my belongings sitting there for the taking. To my surprise nothing was gone.
As we continued down the road, eating our nasty Mexican food, my leg got an itch and when I went to itch it I dumped my enchilada sauce covered tater tot things all over my car and myself. Nice.
When we finally got to Boise, it took us forever to figure out how to get to our hotel, but eventually we got there and discovered we had booked the cutest little room.
After running a few errands, one of which was getting new shoes (tires) for my car, we headed to my brothers house to hang with the nephews/make his birthday cake AKA the “Cowboy Cake Cake” or the “Woody.”
The cake Izzy wanted...
The cake Izzy got. Auntie Sauerkraut got sleepy.
While I worked on the cake PDX helped me by doing random little chores, like making the cupcakes. My precious little nephew helped her by dumping in some ingredients, squishing an egg into the mix (he was supposed to hold the egg) and stirring the batter. Occasionally I would look over and catch him eating mouthfuls of batter. He had so much fun making his cake cakes I couldn’t get mad at him.
While we made the cake/cake cakes Dweedle roamed around our feet eating hunks of the cake scraps and he was just as happy as could be.
At the last minute friend I Heart to Fart decided to drive to Boise, Idaho to take part in the festivities and see PDX.
Conversation with Izzy
Auntie Sauerkraut: “Iz, Uncle I Heart to Fart is coming.”
Izzy: “I Heart to Fart… MY I Heart to Fart?”
Auntie Sauerkraut: “Yup.”
Izzy: “ I love I Heart to Fart!”
Precious.
It’s so amazing to me that my nephew is at the age that he’s starting to remember things like this.
Another conversation with Izzy
Auntie Sauerkraut: “Are you my best friend?”
Izzy: “No.”
Auntie Sauerkraut: “No!? Who’s my best friend?”
Izzy: “PDX best friend.”
So in love, so in love.
I found myself working into the next morning to get my nephews cake done (3:06AM, to be exact) before the party. Despite my exhaustion I pushed forward for my precious little nephew, but I had so much fun in the company of my friends and family. And my brother had so much fun telling my friends stories and showing them photos of his deceased dog. Ha, ha!
I love my brothers face in this photo.
Rico Suave... And his mental patients.
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Good friends... Kind of.
Maybe not.
When I finally finished the “Woody Cake Cake” my amigos and I headed back to the hotel where I made I Heart to Fart iron my dress for the party. And then we all crashed.
The next day I woke up as early as I could force myself to and headed to my brothers house to get ready for the party and finish the cupcakes.
When we got to the lake we ate some pizza and waited for guests to arrive.
Getting his first, and only! Tattoo from Uncle John.
Shortly after the party started I Heart to Fart and PDX pulled up. When Izzy realized it was I Heart to Fart he took off running, all the way across the park to give him a hug. It was pretty cute.
After presents my amigos and I headed back to the house to pick up the cake and cupcakes.
Auntie Sauerkraut got him a sword and cape! P.S. I'm so head over heels for this kid.
His parents got him a Woody Doll! He loved it!
We did the cake thing and I remembered on the way home that we never sang happy birthday, what the hell!?
Izzy was being a good boy by letting his little brother eat some of his birthday cake...
Seconds later, he tried to push him off the table.
It's all good Dweedle got what he wanted...
And went back for more when Izzy wasn't looking.
After cake Izzy played “sneaky sharks” with PDX in the lake and the rest of us hung out. When the party was over the three of us went back to the hotel where, without knowing it, I fell asleep. When I woke up, I headed back to the house to hang with my nephews for a little while before their bedtime. Still pooped we headed back to the hotel, looked up places to visit on our trip and went to sleep.
Sneaky Sharks with Mel.
Roar!
The next morning we awoke, packed our shit, ate a carb-loaded continental breakfast and headed to my brothers house to say goodbye. I hate leaving my nephews. Nothing makes me feel better than being with my nephews. And my little Dweedle bug is so snuggly! I love it!
After saying goodbye I drove PDX to the worlds smallest airport and drove away. Seconds into my journey home I missed my road dog and found myself wishing I had more time with her.
The journey home was rough because I couldn’t stay awake. I stopped in Mountain Home for some coffee, but it didn’t help. Eventually, I decided I had better pull over and sleep, but instead I bought a huge Pepsi, chomped on some sunflower seeds and drove with the windows down. After awhile it helped.
After an exhausting weekend I finally made it home. Because Mr. Coconut and I barely see each other he came to visit and he took me out for a bite to eat. After dinner, I fell asleep on his bad leg. Poor guy, I always fall asleep around him.
Moving on…
Today was my follow-up appointment with the doctor/surgeon. He said everything went really well; he removed my bandage, revealing a scar that looks like a little worm lives under my skin and he informed me that I have The Cancer.
Before - Pretty neck.
After - El fucked up neck.
Because everyone was pissed at me for not telling them about my surgery I am sharing this information with you…
I’m still trying to figure some stuff out, but here’s what I know… I have cancer (I forget the name). It is Stage 1. The lowest level, the higher numbers indicate more extensive disease: larger tumor size and/or spread of the cancer beyond the organ in which it first developed to nearby lymph nodes and/or organs adjacent to the location of the primary tumor. The plan is: I have having surgery, again, in August. They are going to remove my other thyroid and after surgery I will do iodine radiation (?). Then, the cancer should be gone and I will be on thyroid medication for the rest of my life.
Sigh. So, I will keep you updated.
That is all.
Sauerkraut
