We've had a busy week or so. Last Thursday we went on a trip to Reno to visit Mike's Aunt Lorraine and cousin Gary. We stayed the night at Circus Circus and took the kids to the midway for some fun in the morning. After a big buffet breakfast we headed down for the festivities. The kids had a blast playing all of the carnival-style games and winning prizes. After an hour or so we were ready to leave. Alicia and Reece had played nearly every game there and my leg was really starting to throb from all of the activity and not being elevated.
We headed over to Lorraine's new apartment where Gary met us. We all sat and talked for awhile, catching up on our lives and then decided to go out for lunch. We were going to go to one of the casinos, but they didn't allow children in - even in the restaurant! That is the first time I've seen that, but they were strict and I didn't want to break any laws so we left and headed to Red Robin. After a big filling lunch we said our goodbyes and Mike, the kids and I were on our way home.
On the way we stopped at Boomtown so the kids could ride the rides in their children's area. Boomtown is a great spot for kids - if you want to spend the money. They had a blast and rode the ferris wheel with seats shaped like covered wagons, the old-fashioned carousel and a ride that took them up and dropped them quickly. They convinced Mike to take them on the 9-hole miniature golf course in the building, something he regretted nearly immediately. While they golfed I sat with my poor leg elevated and waited for them to finish. Once they were done we spent our credits (no money there, just credits on a card) on a couple of prizes and something to drink for everyone and once again we headed out, arriving home late Friday night.
The rest of the week was pretty uneventful until yesterday, Thursday. We got a surprise phone call in the afternoon from Mike's brother Troy. He was driving from Fresno to Sacramento and wanted to stop in and say hi for a few minutes. Of course we said yes - and then we panicked. The house is a disaster since I had my fall! Poor Mike tries, but he can't keep up with the cleaning. I had fortunately just called my brother and asked him to send my niece Anayla and nephew Khori over to help a bit so they did do a bunch and make it a bit more presentable when Troy and his friend Shane showed up.
It was very nice to see Troy. We hadn't seen him but once since their dad died in 2003. He seems to be doing well and was in good spirits. Khori was over the moon in ecstatic happiness because he finally got a chance to meet Troy. Khori plays guitar and has discovered Troy's band Tesla. Khori has been working hard at learning the songs that they play and was a little upset that I didn't tell him Troy would be here because he didn't bring anything to have signed. That was fine because Troy set him up with some autographed drum sticks and took some pictures with Khori. I am sure that as soon as Khori is not grounded, one of those pictures is going to be set as his default on MySpace.
Today, Troy's son, affectionately called Little Troy and a drummer in his own band, came by to see us. He and his dad are currently estranged and did not know that each of the other was going to be here in town. I first met him when he was an 8 year old boy and now he is a heavily-tattooed man with a long braided goatee. He's still a little sweetie, though, and I can see glimpses of that little boy still in there.
A few minutes after Little Troy arrived with our good friend Adrian, another of Mike's brothers showed up. Denny lives in L.A. but is up this way on business. He is also in the music business, but he is in management. We haven't seen Denny in about a year so this was a nice visit as well. He brought with him the birthday and Christmas presents he's been holding for the last year for the kids. The house is now messier than ever but the kids are very happy. Alicia got a chest with dress-up clothing and a Cinderella princess carriage and Cinderella doll. It really is a beautiful gift for a little girl. Reece got a roaring dinosaur that knocks over a stack of plastic pieces that form some sort of hut or something. I'm not sure what it is, but he's crazy about it. He also got - and this is the big-ticket item - a Superman bicycle! Uncle Denny is coming back on Sunday morning to put it together for him. Boy, does he ever spoil our kids.
This evening, I got a phone call from my sister's best friend, Amie. I was a little surprised because I don't think that Amie has ever called me before. She told me that Karnette was involved in a motorcycle accident. Amie assured me that Karnette was okay and that Amie had Karnette's girls with her. Apparently Karnette had been out riding with her friend Cynthia and took a corner too quickly. It was sharper than she expected and she hit the shoulder and went sliding. She thought she dislocated her collarbone and was taken in the ambulance to the hospital to be checked.
I just got off the phone with Karnette and she didn't actually dislocate anything. Instead, they think that she has pulled the ligaments. She is in a splint and doped up pretty well, but still in a lot of pain. And yes, she is planning on riding a motorcycle again.
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