Pumped up!

So yesterday's skit at church was entirely based on Hans and Franz.  You can see Daddy above as one of the characters, completely pumped up.  Pumped up with stuffing in his sweatsuit, of course!

     But look at this picture here!  This is what happens when a CT Scan doesn't go according to plan. After stuffing our sweatsuits with fluff to make it look like we had huge muscles yesterday, today Daddy apparently found a quicker way to get pumped up!  "Ironic" is the best word:  today, the nurse apparently didn't get the vein quite right, and when they pumped the imaging fluid into me, my arm started swelling up!

      Yes, it was pretty uncomfortable for a time, and of course it was nothing anyone there actually planned.  But at home here we were laughing about it here because I'm walking around with these huge bumps on my arm, just like instant biceps.  Hear me now and believe me later:  I look pump-tastic!

      The fluid spread through my arm today as I walked about - I had Popeye arms and felt like a fiddler crab.  We went to the library afterwards, and got more books for Madison's reading program.  After today, we've only got fourteen to go and she'll be done with her goal!  

      Speaking of "goals," Ye-Ye, Nana, Aunt Shain, David Austen, Jonathan and Hannah (and the dogs) are somewhere around Tray Mountain today, still hiking on their Appalachian Trail adventure.  They are somewhat behind on their schedule, but still determined to finish the course.  

      Tonight as a celebration of our anniversary yesterday, Madison, Daddy and Mommy went to the Olive Garden, where Madison had a really good time.  In fact, all three of us did.  We had a random gift card from so long ago that we had no idea where it came from - but it was still for $25, and along with a coupon, we had a inexpensive night out eating.  Madison learned a bit about Italy tonight, but soon it was time for eating - did you know that Mommy's favorite dessert is tiramisu?  It was all splendid, and we had a nice time on our "night out on the town" tonight.  Madison doesn't like the salads as we do (those Mommy and Daddy can eat for a main entry!).  But she liked the rolls and the pasta she ordered as well.  It's a funny thing to note here, as if this is reason to go, but she did really like the menu coloring pages!  We were drawing and coloring and learning about Italy and Rome - it was almost a disappointment when the food came.  Okay, not that much of a disappointment!

     The Olive Garden has only recently made an appearance here in Gainesville.  Formerly, we had to go down to Gwinnett County - quite a drive from Cleveland.  That was a big date night there!  Of course, from Cleveland, everything is a big drive.  Now, it's less than twenty minutes, as Gainesville's population has really grown.  We'd still drive down to Capozzi's for a really good New York style pizza (as you can't get anything close to that around here) - but it's neat to have a nice place like that to go, one that's much closer than it used to be.

"I'll meet you any time you want, at our Italian restaurant."

- Billy Joel