Ed's 40th birthday ...

... is next June 11. He wants to go to Disney World. I've never been to the Magic Kingdom -- Ed took me to Epcot Center about 10 years ago.

Does anybody have any advice on package deals? Resort information? How to go on the relatively cheap? We'll probably go with his parents and maybe his brother/wife and two small boys. I'm told the best time to go is the week after Easter until early June to avoid crowds and possible heat.

Seriously, he's like the kid in the TV commercial the night before his first trip to Disney, which I've mentioned before: "I'm too excited to sleep."

And then while stumbling, I found the picture below. Something to look forward to next year, I think ...

Weekend in New York

As I said in the previous post, Ed and I went to New York to visit his family. His grandmother celebrated her 90th birthday, and his grandfather, who has had both legs amputated because of circulation problems, was busted out of the rehab facility for the day on Saturday to celebrate the occasion.

I hope if and when I reach 90 that I'm still plugging along as well as those two are. Since I never really knew any of my grandparents, I consider Stanley and Jeannette my grandparents. They are definitely two peas in a pod, and it was good/fun to see them interact.

Ed's brother, sister-in-law and their two infant boys -- Jack and Sawyer -- came down for the weekend too. Jack is hell on wheels, but boy is he a cutie. He'll be a good big brother to Sawyer, who was just born in May.

We took Bailey along for the ride, leaving Dexter and Zoe behind with Josh to watch for the weekend. Having all three dogs would have been a nightmare, especially with the two youngsters (the dogs) being the crazies that they are. But I think Bailey had a great time, as the picture above shows. She loves to ride in the car and put her head out the window.

All in all, a great weekend.

Is it my birthday?

Already? I had no idea.

Like my dad used to say, it's just another day, except people sometimes like to give you cards and presents. Kind of like Christmas.

How old you ask? I'm 48, which is a milestone in my family, seeing as how mom didn't make it past 47. The old 5-0 is right around the corner. Ed better have a big party planned for that one I tell ya.

He's already on me about his 40th, which is next year. Now THAT should be interesting. Says he wants to go back to Disney World. I've only been once, and that was when Ed took me to Epcot Center about 10 years ago.

I've got a year. I guess I should start talking to his parents ...

Deck-O-Vation update

Check out Ed's blog for the latest on his warped little mind and the latest in our home renovations, including the new French doors he installed by himself.

He really is quite the handyman. And just in time too. The new siding will be delivered this Friday with installation starting next Monday.

I really can't wait.

Catching up ...

Two things -- check out Ed's blog for an update on the Deck-O-Vation (and other assorted weird things he finds on the internet). He's done a whale of a job on the deck, and I'm so proud of him. This place is going to look so much different and so much nicer when all the construction is done and the siding gets put on.

And my Cubs are still the hottest team in the National League, and now are only 3 1/2 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central, and only 3 games out of first place in the wild-card race. It's going to be a great finish to the baseball season...

If it's not one thing it's another ...

... My softball nickname isn't Dora -- as in Dumb -- for nothing. Something always seems to be going on or wrong when it involves softball or picking up a hammer. And those two things have nothing in common except that I got hurt doing both this weekend.

My work softball team finished the regular-season 10-6, and is the No. 8 seed in the MMSL tournament July 14-15. I think it's a great finish and not a bad seed. But I was hurt in the second game Saturday, pulling my left calf muscle when I hit a divot in left field chasing a foul fly. Two days later and it feels like a bad charley horse. I have no doubt I'll be ready for our four games this weekend in my gay league.

Then, yesterday I was helping Ed with the Deck-O-Vation and hammered my left-flip off finger. It's swollen and blue today.

Now if I can just find somebody to flip off... Maybe Ed, since he went out and bought a new iPhone...