My mother and I are staying in Grand Rapids, MI with my aunt and uncle (her sister and her husband) for a family reunion that took place yesterday at a local park. The reunion happens every two years. It was asked during a brief family meeting if people wanted to hold it annually since no one is getting any younger. I voted yes, but the majority preferred to keep it every two years. One person said that way it "wouldn't get to be old hat." Another person next to me grumbled that if they had it every year it would be "too expensive to travel." I felt like telling him hey, buddy, don't complain to me about travel expense--you probably drove in from a few hours away in Michigan. My mother and I FLEW in from BWI and we're here, so shut up. :)  I should say that overall it was a fun time, with good food, and that I got to talk to some cousins and aunts that I don't see very often. There was one cousin I hadn't seen since we were kids. She was easy to recognize, however.

One of my cousins asked me if I still lived in Baltimore (and why Baltimore). I said I was born there, my mother was there, my family and friends are there, etc., and that while it certainly wouldn't be my first choice of a place to live if I could pick from anywhere in the world, it was home. He said he wouldn't like living in a big city (lives in a small town in Michigan). I added that there were definitely some good things about Baltimore (although, after watching/reading the local news about homicide and crime rates, it feels sometimes like you have to hunt a little harder for the good things). Another cousin who is a lawyer and lives/practices in the U.P (upper peninsula) of Michigan commented that she was surprised that recently she had to serve as a juror in circuit court (lawyers don't usually want other lawyers sitting on juries). I commented that I got a survey for a grand jury a few months ago in Baltimore City, but they didn't choose me. My cousin said, "I don't think we've ever had a grand jury trial in my county." I said that's right, it isn't like Baltimore City.

It's a pain when people ask you about your job and it ain't nuthin' to write home about.

Took lots of photos of the family reunion plus in-flight photos of the skyy, which will hopefully be up on flickr soon. Thanks to the miracles of modern technology, even though my aunt and uncle don't have a computer, I have a netbook and a usb modem. Needed a little entertainment at night--my mom and aunt and uncle are in the mid-eighties crowd, in bed by 10 p.m. Right now they are at church. Afterward they are picking me up and we are going out to breakfast (I think my mother and I are treating). Staying with them has been fairly comfortable--they have a large condo with two bedrooms and a bath in the basement that they use mainly for guests. My cousins have nicely driven Mom and I to the family reunion, from the airport, etc. If we had stayed in a hotel, I would have rented a car. Glad I brought some coffee singles--aunt and uncle and mom all drink decaf (ugh). And I actually have to make my bed. :}

Missed attending the Turning-Circle led summer solstice service at UUCC this morning. I'll probably be at a Bob Evans somewhere in Grand Rapids. May go to Meijer Gardens later (weather permitting).

My husband tells me that my cat came into the bedroom last night, saw I wasn't there, and turned around and left, and that she seems sad and keeps looking at the front door.

Hooray, learned how to use my cell phone as an alarm clock. :)