The Importation of Grandfolk

the hough family is quickly becoming aware of the fact that grandbabies are, in fact, powerful, powerful bargaining chips.

before we had alayna, guys, we saw our folks about once (maybe twice) a year. now that a granddaughter has surfaced in central florida, the importation of grandparents has risen dramatically.

the most recent example was a visit with my dad over the weekend. he had a medical conference up in jacksonville that he had to attend for his work anyway, so he just rented a car and commuted from orlando instead so that he could hang out at our place and dote upon his grandkid. he flew in friday morning and got to spend the day around the house, and then left saturday morning for his conference.

while he was in jacksonville, kris and i took the cannonball out to pick up her first pumpkin (conveniently located at the church we occassionally - and rather infrequently - attend). for whatever reason, they had a couple ponies there. i had no previous inclination that ponies had anything to do with halloween, but... what the hell. who doesn't like ponies, right?

anyway, we brought back a couple pumpkins and, the next day, dad and i showcased our pumkin-knifework while the kid got thrown in a monkey suit.

now, something i apparently forgot over the course of the last fifteen years or so - and i don't see how i managed to do this - was the fact that after a pumpkin is carved, it begins to rot. this makes perfect sense, as it really is, in fact, a vegetable (or is it a fruit? i don't know). and down here in sunny, tropical florida - where i highly doubt pumpkins are indigenous - these vegetables rot pretty damn fast.

and rotten vegetables left out in the florida sun which are occassionally brought inside = mold city. and mold city, dear friends, = allergy city for yours truly. not cool.

anyway, in conclusion, this was a short weekend visit, but still a good time. we officially have the world's largest airmattress, folks, so visitors always have a place to sleep at casa de hough.

a maraaba.

- brian