What will you be doing for this Memorial Day weekend 2013?

Having a barbecue for 12 here tomorrow and getting ready for my trip on Tuesday. Lupper with some women friends and maybe out to see a band after that. Weather is crappy here today.

Hanging out with my sister, bro-in-law, her son and her daughter and her little boys. I am now making my magic black and white bean salad with lime-cilantro dressing that ages well and is disliked by nobody.

The weather is cold, rainy and very inhospitable. I’ll play silly songs for the little boys; we’ll read stories, and make home-made pizzas. The three-year old will throw the ball around for hours at a time…almost like having a friendly dog around but more talkative and not needing walkies.

Then, lucky me, I get to go home when the noise and confusion become too much. My sister does not.

As today is also my wife’s 43rd birthday — anything she wants.

Today that consists of a trip to Haymarket for fruit and veggies and then the North End for arancini (rice balls). Little BBQ with my nephew and his girls later on — in the rain

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law just headed back to Northern New York this morning after a ten day visit. We are headed to Tampa to play at Hard Rock and have dinner.

We are wide open for the rest of the weekend.

I just landed in Martinique a couple of hours ago and will be captaining a 66 foot Chris Craft cabin cruiser for the American owners and their two guests. We will be circumnavigating the island and exploring various anchorages and beaches. My mate, the Québécois Adrienne, is very competent on deck, as a cook and bartender, and we should all have a good time. Last night the seas were lit by a big beautiful full moon and as long as the weather holds, it should be beautiful again tonight.

Went out to breakfast yesterday and then ran errands. Today we are moving furniture around in our house and unpacking some more. Tomorrow we are going on a picnic. Monday we are having a cookout.

We had plans to go out dancing tonight, Saturday, with a new friend and her boyfriend, but I cancelled because I caught a cold. I am feeling better, but I didn’t want to cancel on her the last minute if I wasn’t over it. Maybe we can all still go out Sunday?

Possibly I will see the Star Trek movie. I thought we were going to go several days ago but it didn’t work out.

We need to pick up my husband’s race car this weekend to be checked for his race coming up in VA.

My husband might go kartng on Monday, I’ll probably go with him if he does.

@Espiritus_Corvus: I’m jealous, and the fact that you’re getting paid for it makes me jealous even more!

It does sound dreamy.

Thanks, but trust me, these gigs are hard to get now days. If it wasn’t for Adrienne, who has lived here forever and knows everybody in the yachting business, and the fact that the first skipper had to bail yesterday, I’d still be in Dominica counting me last pieces of eight. It is dreamy, but it is also a risky lifestyle for loners only.

@Espiritus_Corvus Risky in terms of getting the gigs and making money or risky in terms of the clients and/or pirates?

Mostly money-wise, spotty employment. But one must be careful who one deals with as well. You can find yourself in the middle of a drug run if you’re not careful. I try not to get too desperate, and take gigs only from good referrals like Adrienne. If the offer is too sweet, you can end up dead at sea or in a foreign jail. There is a lot of weirdness down here, which is all part of the deal. I take gigs very carefully. but, honestly, I’ve never had a problem, only stories from people who have.

@Espiritus_Corvus Yes, I’ve heard and read stories too.

Yes. I rely on the theory that good people know good people. It works.

Munching on peanuts by the pond.

@Pachyderm_In_The_Room By the pond or by the pound? Or by the pound by the pond?

It seems I am going to spend part of the day at the pool. My husband just announced he is walking over there, sounds good to me.

Memorial Day weekend always involves tending our family gravestones. Tomorrow morning we’ll go to two where we have family buried and tend to the graves and place fresh flowers. We’ll drive my in-laws with us and then we all go out for lunch – our kids, hubby and his parents..maybe also my husband’s uncle & his wife, too.
We also have a few gardening projects on tap..and will grill out at least once.

We aren’t doing anything different. Holiday weekends mean I get to keep my two little grandsons an extra day.

It’s the Mr.‘s birthday tomorrow, so while he’s at work, I’m gonna bake him a cake. Bro and I went in together for a digital camera with all the peripherals for him, which I hope he likes. Then hopefully I can persuade him to choose a place for dinner. He claims to not “do” birthdays and traditionally doesn’t want a fuss made (although he arranges for something special on our days), but I think we’re wearing down his resistance to being appreciated. :D

Pretty much just lounging at home. My youngest does have a birthday party to attend tomorrow, but that’s the only thing actually planned. We’re just playing the rest by ear.

You all need to be outdoors, naked.

That was your assignment.

At least those of you who have not been for the past few years.

We are spending today with family celebrating our son’s 2nd birthday. His actual birthday is Monday.

I am at the first ever family reunion my clan has ever had, other than gatherings at weddings and funerals, and I’m having a lot of fun.

Barbecue for my closest new and old friends today. I’ve been feeling lately like I’m really settled into my single life.

Has it been a year yet, @janbb?

I’m glad you are having fun, @Hawaii_Jake.

@bkcunningham Separated 16 months; started the divorce last week.

Sixteen months. My goodness. Time keeps marching on my penguin friend. I’m glad to hear things are starting to feel “normal” again for you. Divorce isn’t for the weak. Happy Memorial Day, @janbb. To good friends!

@bkcunningham Thanks!

Well…..

I’m waiting.

Did everyone do their homework this weekend and let it all hang out?