Hamburgers and yard sales

So I'm sitting here in front of the computer, trying desperately to come up with a specific topic of discussion for this entry. But, to be honest, I have a million things to talk about and nothing important to talk about all at the same time. So I'll just write until I get a more interesting interruption!

This weekend was the hamburger festival up in Ohio. It was pretty neat--although you really can only eat so many burgers before you start to get queasy at the sight of them, so it wasn't as much of an all-day event as I'd thought! Perhaps if the band had been better, it would have been more fun to just sit and enjoy. But it was HOT. The burgers were fantastic, though! Even the Elvis burger was worth the experience... a burger with bacon, banana jam, and peanut butter. The flavor experience was bizarre, but at least I can say I tried it!

I had the somewhat sad task of going through my grandma's house, trying to find anything and everything that I wanted to take with me so that it wouldn't get sold. How in the world do you do that? For 29+ years, that's been the place I go every time there's a holiday, special occasion, or a free Sunday. (Granted, the visits have been fewer and far between since going away to college, but the idea remains the same.) Everything I looked at is just so ingrained in my mind that I can't imagine it not existing in the place where it is now for the rest of my life. I don't know a Christmas not spent in the living room there. I have NO idea what to expect from Thanksgiving and Christmas this year! It will certainly take some adjusting. Anyway.

As I wandered through the rooms, I pulled out toys I used to play with, wall hangings I associate with my grandparents, anything I thought I could take with me that would have some meaning or use to me. If I could, I'd take everything... but I already have WAY too much stuff! It appears that I'm getting a whole bedroom set, plus a couch, some bookshelves, a record player, and some tables, so it's not like it's all going away. But it will be reallllly weird to have in my apartment the furniture from the bedroom that I slept in as a young girl visiting my grandparents. It will be neat--don't get me wrong--but it will still be pretty weird.

I also tried to take a handful of things that were very distinctly Papa's. I took one of his hats, a few of his flannel shirts, some pajamas, a tie, and a couple things from his desk that I remember being there when the computer was a Commodore 64 and I was 6 years old. It's not like there's any danger of me ever forgetting him, but it felt sad and weird to have to take things of his just so that some stranger wouldn't get them. Then it makes me wonder about all the stuff *I* buy at yard sales or flea markets and what the story is behind THOSE owners and... ack. Damn historical curiosity (or historical OCD, however you want to see it).

Anyhow! So that was my weekend. I also saw Dark Knight. It was nice to see my husband (Mr. Bale) again. He's so handsome. Yes, that's it. Handsome. That's the proper way to say it! :)

Annnnd now it's back to work. I have no real time off in the forseeable future. I really need to start finding things to do with my weekend evenings so I don't go crazy! It's bad enough that I work most every Saturday and Sunday, but then I don't even get to go do anything fun afterwards! Maybe I should stop being on call AND working from 5pm Friday to 5pm Sunday. That might help...