Very Crazy Weekend!

First off, Thursday night as we were going to bed, Big June's (that'd be my grandmother) nursing home called. She had fallen and broken her hip. We knew it was only a matter of time it would happen. During her many stays in the hospital, she would refuse any form of physical therapy - therefore she lost her ability to walk. This did not convince her though, that she couldn't walk.

They kept a chair alarm on her wheel-chair, and a bed alarm on her bed. She figured out how to either disable them or remove them completely. Then she'd make her mad dash for the T.V. room. Not this time.

All said and done, she made it through surgery just fine; and I'll get an update when Dude and I go in the morning.

On to Saturday! Non-stop driving/parties. One of the women who works with the meal ticket (my wife :D), was having a party for her son who is about Dude's age. Great time, great food (lots of authentic Spanish stuff), and of course we could only make an appearance there. Stayed for about 45 minutes, and then back in the car.

Had to get to party number two. The meal ticket's nephew was having a graduation party. This one was much closer to our home, which is on the far side of the middle of nowhere. Lots more good food. Ice cold Coronas!!!!! And some really amazing black bean dip.

The kids had a blast in the pool, so much so that I think Dude is overcoming his fear of the water. Then it was on the the living room where they had put together a slide show of John (the nephew/grad.). The best part of this was when they came to a picture of John and my wife - when they were both much younger - Darth Punkin just pipes up and says in the cutest voice "is that you Mommy?"

The whole room just goes "awwhhhhh......" It was really one of those great moments.

Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!!!!!!!!! Two very exhausted kids. Two even more exhausted parents. Once they finally went to sleep, it was on to Coronas and some great homemade guacamole (recipe to follow). Darth Punkin loved it! It was not completely unproductive. I did get half the lawn mowed, and the meal ticket got a lot of stuff done in the gardens - with the help of the kids (pre-nap) in their jammies of course.

Eventually, and inevitably, I had charcoals turning grey in anticipation to cooking some form of beef. The meal ticket had given the kids a bath, and was getting them ready to bed while I was grilling a nice hunk of London Broil! All loaded up with the same type of seasonings one would put into a pot of chili! Grilled up some broccoli crowns too - which came out really good.

Dinner was delicious, the conversation was great, and the clean up was easy!!! Great way to end a very hectic weekend!

Guacamole:

• 4 avocados - peeled, pitted, and cubed
  
• 1/4 cup red onion - finely chopped
  
• 1/4 cup red pepper - finely chopped
  
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro - finely chopped
  
• 1/2 lime - squeezed, at the appropriate time
  
• 3 cloves of garlic - minced
  
• 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
  
• 1 tsp kosher and/or sea salt
  
• hot sauce - your choice and your desired amount - I make my own (roasted jalapeños :D) and I like it hot
  

Combine all ingredients into a really cool bowl. Mash the living crap out of the avocados. This is the important part: DO NOT TASTE IT NOW!!!!!! Believe me, you will not want to stop! Cover and refrigerate. Leave the house. Go get some beer and nacho chips. Go to that really good beverage center on the other side of town - take your time. Come back, put beer in cooler, cover with ice, open one (if you're me you'd insert a lime at this point). Get guacamole, open chips. Say hello to supper.