Labor Day

Welcome blog fans to yet another exciting edition of Trenda's Travels. I'm writing you in the late morning on a typical morning in paradise here in sunny Grand Junction. It's Labor Day, and I've been preparing for a day of relaxation. Just so you know, this is a very relaxed blog with lots of tangents. Enter at your own risk. Here's the lead up to today:
On Friday afternoon I ran some mad errands around town. You know, just the little things that could be done anytime before baby, but seem to accumulate rather rapidly after baby's arrival. So I mapped out a plan and ran from one place to the next getting minute chores done. Some exciting things though. One of which was visiting the Village Squire on Main street and getting my tux measurements for my best friend/roommate-for-life's wedding on October 15, Jon White. There's a lot I can and will say about Jon, and I'll tell you more about him as the wedding draws near. But just a teaser: Jon and I are brothers seperated at birth. The first day of college at TIU in Deerfield, IL, we were unpacking all our stuff. He and I were noticing all the similarities we had. One, we looked very much alike--tall, skinny, with rather protruding noses (not that we commented on that one, though). Then there were bands--Caedmon's Call being a big favorite of ours. Heck, we even had the same tooth brushes, wore Old Spice deoderant, and had been to Singapore. You'd think with all the similarities we had that our first year would be smooth sailing. Well, not quite. I was dating Andrea who was at Wheaton College across the burbs, and I spent more than my fair share of time on the phone and down in Wheaton on the weekends. Plus, I was a zealot my freshman year. I was the one causing holy ripples on the pond in our suite of 902 Owens. So I was, oh, how should I say it, a little offish that year. But Jon, my faithful brother, waited for me to grow out of it all. He got to know and love Andrea like a sister, he definitely had a part in prayer that eventually prompted God to put a mirror in front of me so the finger I was pointing at others (trying to get them to be more like "Christians") was pointing back at myself (humility check anyone?) While we bonded a lot Freshman year, Sophomore year was when we really started to understand and respect each other, a process that continues today. Jon--shout out to you brother--Carpe Diem. O.K., tangent #1 complete.
The rest of the chores were boring, but I did get an orchid at Lowe's for 50% off. I've been wanting one for years, but the price has always detered me. This thing was on a shelf with the rejects. No flowers, a giant scar on one of its leaves, and a dead steam where the flowers had been. So me and plants, if you don't know it, I like the underdogs. (by the way, you're entering big tangent #2--better grab a bowl of popcorn) In college, I bought a trio of plants in one pot and named this flora trinity Rad. Most of Rad died throughout the four years at Trinity, but a remnant survived and is still alive and kicking under the careful watch of my other Trinity homey, Erik Wessel. Wessel's out in PA, probably cheering on West Virgina's college football program again, as he should, since they have a very good chance of making a playoff appearance this season.
Another plant was Legolas. Andrea and I bought Legolas our Junior year--he was our Christmas tree. He was some kind of pine tree, but I don't think he lived as long as we would have liked. There's a funny story with Legolas and Jon, I'll have to tell you sometime.
The best underdog plant story was this big, beautiful palm that we got from IKEA, also our Junior year. This plant was cool! It was the perfect palm, and we put it back in our tiny bedroom. Life with this plant (I never had time to name him, you're about to hear why) was short lived. Within the first couple of days we had him, Andrea went back to water him one night. I was doing homework at the kitchen table, when all of the sudden I heard this blood curdling scream, really the first one I had ever heard from Andrea. It scared the living daylights out of me. I jumped out of the chair, sending it backwards as I flew to the bedroom. By the time my feet even hit the ground though, Andrea was already flying out of the bedroom and down the hall towards me. There was the usual panic/miscommunication as we tried to get on the same page. She eventually managed to tell me through her adrenaline-pumped words that a lizard the size of my 12" shoe had leaped out of the plant at her, trying to viciously attach itself to her throat. I was all freaked out from Andrea screaming, and by the way she screamed, the lizard surely had to be on the rampage. So I went and grabbed something--a bag, a wooden spoon, a baseball bat (I can't remember exactly), and gingerly tip-toed into the bedroom. I searched the plant from top to bottom, I looked under the bed, the dresser, in the bed, in the dresser, in the closet--all to no avail. For days I searched for that lizard, which I named Camo (camouflage) for his ability to disappear. I began to wonder if it was a chameleon! About a week went by, and one day Andrea was watering yet again. I heard a yip and saw her run from the bedroom once again, and she was screaming, "He's in there on the floor, I saw him I saw him!" So I immediately rushed in there, unarmed, and started my patrol. I was ready for anything. I cautiously got on my hands and knees to look under the dresser, and I saw what looked like a big black dust bunny. So I grabbed the flashlight by the bed and pierced the darkness with the beam of light. There, to my surprise (and disappointment) was a tiny gecko, no longer than an inch and a half! This tiny little thing was on his last leg, probably from not having anything to eat, and being in a weird climate. I gathered him up and studied him for awhile. Knowing all to well that Andrea (and our college budget) would fail to support this little guy, I took him out into the woods behind our apartment on campus and set him free with the sliver of death lingering in the back of my mind. I try not to think of that day... But the plant, well, Andrea was a bit paranoid of that plant (and any palm since then). So you can imagine the scenario at the return line at IKEA. Here I am, standing behind this beautiful palm, looking a little sad.
"Hi sir, how can I help you today?"
"Well, I need to return this palm."
"O.K., is there anything wrong with it?"
"No, nothing's wrong with the plant. It's the lizard that came with it that was the problem."
"A lizard?" the girl questioned, eyebrows raised.
Yeah, a lizard."
"How big was it?"
"Oh, about this big," I measured it out with my fingers.
"Is it still in there?" she asked while taking a step back.
"No, I set him free, but my wife is sure theres more in it."
A long pause. I looked at her, she looked at me.
I gave her my receipt, she rang up the refund, and we parted ways. I looked back once, only to see the girl a safe distance from the palm, pointing it out to another employee who was to put it on a dolly and wheel it to the back and a future of uncertainty. I held back the tears. Tangent #2 complete.
Well, back to Friday afternoon. I rushed home after two hours of running around and helped Andrea get the house ready for our guests, Amber and Damion Gustafson, and their 8 month son Esten. Amber works with Andrea upstairs at Crossroads as an accountant. Damion is a welder and a "bad-ass" as he describes himslef. He mountain bikes, rides ATVs and motorcycles, boats, hikes, camps, etc. But don't get the wrong impression, he's a great guy! Rough around the edges, but funny and good-hearted. We enjoyed a great dinner with them out on our patio, Andrea having made that great peanut chicken satay (thanks to our friends in Moab for the recipe) with grilled zuchs and a pasta salad from the Gustafson's. We played Apples to Apples after getting Esten and Ellie to sleep. A great Friday night for sure.
Saturday was pretty laid back, as I played Notre Dame at Georgia Tech on XBOX NCAA 07 while Andrea was out running some errands. I cut that game short when Ellie starting acting up. I didn't get to play again until the afternoon. In between games I watched the college football kickoff on ABC, then the Stanford @ Oregon game till the half. That evening Andrea and I went to Dave Allgood's birthday party at Scott and Marius Mercier's house. Dave is a news anchor on FOX news who recently moved to Junction from Texas and spends his life at Crossroads when not at work. Scott is an incredible cyclist who was on the U.S. Postal team along with Lance Armstrong a few years back. Probably a big name in the bike world. It was tough going to the party at 6:00, since that was when Notre Dame was set to take on the Yellow Jackets for the season opener. I was decked out in full ND regalia, as was little Ellie, so Scott (whose team, #9 Cal, lost miserably to my sister's alma mater, #23 Tennessee!) turned on the game for me. What a great guy! Even with it on, I did pretty good at staying out back and socializing. I went in to catch Brady Quinn pull the quarterback draw and then rush in for the touchdown to make it 10-7 before the half. I breathed a sigh of relief. Once we got home, Ellie and I finished watching the game, though Ellie kind of dozed off towards the end. But I'd say she did pretty good for her first game. And man, is she cute in that cheerleading outfit or what!? Enjoy the pictures of her in it, becuase that was the last time she'll be wearing it. I bought it size 3-6 months, and she's already outgrown it. I had to squeeze her in it! Taking it off was like peeling a tight orange. Hopefully we can exchange it for the next size up, as there are still 11 games to play!
On the college football note, here's where we stand after week one. Hilary's Tennessee won, Dad's Minnesota won, Nancy's Georgia 'Dawgs won, Whitney's Auburn won, and Notre Dame won. Will's Georgia Tech was the only loser, and unfortunately, there had to one. Sorry Will, no hard feelings brother.
Sunday found us at church for a really good message on volunteering. Andrea and I are going to get involved with our church this fall. We've been lazy for one thing, but also busy. So we're looking forward to "getting our gifts in gear." At home, we got the house picked up yet again, as we were hosting a Bunco party later that evening. Andrea made a cake that resembled a die (bunco is a dice game) with white frosting and Oreo's for the black dots. Really good! Bunco was a blast, but Andrea and I lost all our money. Kind of stinks when you're the host house and you provide the pizza, the paper plates, the drinks, etc. and still yet fail to win any of the prizes. Oh, well, maybe next time. It was cool seeing everyone, and our good friends Troy and Jenna Noem were able to make their first Bunco appearance, and both won prizes! Way to go guys!
I got my Crossroads Kids curriculum done yesterday so that I could play and relax and write novels today (how are you doing so far, need some coffee or a Coke to keep going?) I got up early in the cool of the morning and hopped on my bike for the first time since I got it fixed. I rode west on the backroad to Fruita and back. I got a little jealous when I got passed on my mountain bike by two guys on their road bikes. I was cranking out my top gear, and these guys breezed by me with no effort what-so-ever. So maybe my next bike will be a road bike. As I cruised the back fields and desert landscapes of the Colorado National Monument, I was tempted to take the trip up and over. But I decided not to discourage myself wtih that monstrous ride. There are some crazy uphill switchbacks just to get on top of the Monument, then you still have to get to the other end and down and back to the house. Once I ride to Fruita a couple times to build up my endurance, maybe I'll try the Monument ride. A lofty, but attainable goal.
So today John and Diane are up from Montrose. John and I are going to play some football while the ladies run into town for some shopping. Tonight we're going to have steaks on the grill with Olathe Sweet corn. Should be good!
For all your Ellie lovers out there, here's an update. She is big! She's making little vocal noises a lot more. One of my favorite things is in the morning when she first sees you, she opens up a huge smile as though she actually missed you during the night! What a sweet heart.
Well, you've made it. Give yourself a pat on the back--seriously! You deserve it. I know I can get to rambling at times, so just throw me a bone if it ever gets out of hand.
We love you all, and hope you have enjoyed your Labor Day weekend as much as we have. Until next time, I'm Graham Trenda. And from all of us here at Trenda Blogcasting, Good Night.

Love,
Graham, Andrea & Ellie