Readers beginning to get cranky.......

First of all....I probably need to acknowledge with a great big "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" the fact that yesterday (my family---always a day late and a dollar short) was my sister's birthday.  Don't worry....I remembered to call her.  At 10:15pm.  And, uh....after my wife screams out from the bedroom:

"Did you remember to call your sister for her birthday?"

Part of the reason I keep my wife around is that she's good at reminding me about stuff.

Before I get into the family news......I have to give you a quick "tales of the courthouse" blurb that was on the news tonight.  Only in my hometown of Broward County, Florida.
Check out the headline......

MiamiHerald.com | 06/28/2006 | Man who shot off cat's head shows jury how he did it

Amazing.  Makes me feel all proud and stuff.

So next week the family....the entire family (including ME--but not the dogs, so maybe its not really the ENTIRE family) will be heading to Badstreet, USA....Hotlanta....for the junior Olympics, where Andy & Kellie will be competing in Tae Kwon Do!  The kids are thrilled with the possibilities of facing martial artists from around the country, Kim can't wait to hit all the hot tourist spots around Atlanta...and me?
Its gonna be BBQ nirvana baby.  I'm already planning out which BBQ joints we're going to be hitting in the greater metropolitan area.  One definite?
Dreamland BBQ.  Best ribs in the country....good lord, so much for losing weight before the big family reunion in September, huh?

So when I was speaking to my sister on the phone she tells me that she just got back from spending a weekend in South Carolina visiting my beloved Aunt Ruby.  Now, let me explain something to you.  My aunt lives in town called "Varnville".  It might as well be called "Hooterville" because its like something right out of the old t.v. show "Green Acres".  But every year the small town has something called the "Watermelon Festival" where, you guessed it.....the townspeople pretty much....eat a whole bunch of watermelons.  Oh, and I guess there's a street dance and its pretty much a chance for everyone to see and be seen.  Its essentially the social event of the season, and don't kid yourself---my aunt wouldn't miss it for the world.  So the take my aunt to the festival and then come home and my sister says that she set up to like 3am doing what my family does best---gossiping and talking about the family!  WOOHOO!  Here's what's great about this....their sharing family history and stories, updating each other on the news in the family--the good and the bad....and ya know what?  Its about family!
So sure, you'll probably roll your eyes about this story or that....and you'll think to yourself about what a social outcast this person or that person is to the family....but ya know what?  Ya only got one family ladies and gentlemen!  So while the gossip was shared, and mud may have been flung....in the end, it was about keeping the family legacy and sense of history alive.  My aunt seems to know a lot of the family history, and I've always said that her life.....good lord, her life....would make a guaranteed best seller, because you wouldn't believe some of the stuff that she's gone through in her life.
Its an amazing story and she's an amazing woman.
As a matter of fact....in my next installment (oh quit bitching....I'll try and do it tomorrow)....I'll tell you one of her amazing stories---and don't worry Mom, its not going to be one of those "Oh God please, don't embarrass the family" type of stories.
It'll be one that shows what an amazing person my aunt is.
Because its all about family.


Later,
Jeff