Sunday - Sunday was the last full day of my folks' visit. Today they will head down to CT to visit some family there for a day. This morning dad and I took Claire and Abby to Mass and out for breakfast afterwards.
Gutters - When I got home Michelle asked me to go with dad and buy an extension ladder. We have been trying over the past few months to find a gutter guy/handyman who could come to clear our back gutter. We tried several sources and you would think we said the household was infected with the SARS virus. No one followed up our calls. So dad and I went to the County Store and bought a 24 foot extension ladder that we brought home in the Odyssey. When I went up there, I was amazed at how little it took to back up the gutters. It was about half a pound of mud and pine needles -- no leaves. Once I removed it, the gutters, which were filled to the rim with water, drained rapidly. At least I know the downspout is clear. Other than the bit of unsteadiness I felt when I was half way up, it was a pretty simple job. I guess I just feel better knowing that when it happens again, I'll be ready for it and won't have to wait for someone to come out.
Library - It's a bit embarrassing to realize that even though it's been over a year since we moved to this house, we haven't been to the Milford town library. I took the girls there yesterday afternoon and the three of us got library cards. They have some nice children's programs there. It was Abby's first exposure to a library so we had to explain a little about how they work. She likes books (she always wants to read one when she goes to bed at night) so she liked the concept. The girls checked out a couple of books each. Given Claire's school's reading requirement, I think we'll be going back every couple of weeks.
Ice cream - Of course, with it being the last night of visit and the end of the weekend, dad and I took the girls out after dinner for ice cream at Santos Dumont. They had an interesting flavor we all tried: pumpkin ice cream. It tastes a bit like spice bread or pumpkin bread.
Movie - This weekend I watched a 1952 movie called We're Not Married . It was a bit of a fluffy comedy with a cute premise and some big name actors -- Fred Allen, Mitzi Gaynor, Marilyn Monroe, Victor Moore, Ginger Rogers, Zsa Zsa Gabor. After a few years of marriage five couples find out that their ceremonies were not legal because the justice of the peace had acted a few days before his license was officially valid. My favorite of the stories was the gold digging wife (Gabor) who was about to rake her oil tycoon husband over the coals in a greedy divorce settlement. The look on his face when he gets the letter from the state office and his accompanying change in demeanor is priceless.
Pope near death - There are numerous reports that John Paul II is very near death. For the past several years it has been reported that his health is in serious decline, but now it sounds like the end is near. He has always said that he would carry his cross to the end. Please pray for the holy father. Raymond Arroyo, who leads EWTN's news desk, has this to say about the current situation.
Humor - [via my dad] You know you're living in 2003 when: