4/18/07--big moments in our family...relatively speaking

Well tonite and as I walked through the door, I hear Kellie saying to Kim:

"Are you going to tell him or should I?"

I mean, I'm not even through the door yet...and I'm thinking to myself...'oh crap, what now?'  I mean, am I wrong for that?  Anyway, Kim quickly informs me that this evening Kellie will be preparing dinner.  First time ever.  The delicious cuisine she is preparing?

Taco Pie.

So, ya know that's gonna be a low-cal item, right?  Anyway, it was actually pretty good, which is what I was thinking as I noticed my arteries hardening.

This past weekend, we were taking Andy on his next series of college tours.  Kim left with him on Friday to drive to Daytona to visit Embry Riddle University.....Kellie & I were going to fly up and the four of us were going to meet in Orlando at my parents house--visit a college, visit my parents--the plan had its merits.  So Kellie and I get on the plane for the quick flight to Orlando--total flight time:  like 35 minutes.  We somehow were able to snag the front seats on the plane (festival seating folks) and were planning to hog all three seats.  Just before the final passenger boarded, a comely lass of around 30 asked if she could have the middle seat.  Well now, you know me....the original Mr. Accommodating....and she sits right down.  I asked Kellie for her carry-on bag so I could put it in the overhead bin.  The young woman told me that she hadn't meant to sit between a family and would switch if we wanted.  I told her, quite honestly, that I had never seen Kellie before and was traveling alone.

Okay, that part is a joke.

The stewardess comes to bring us a drink and some peanuts, which I try to juggle with my book and an IPOD (keep in mind that in the front row you do not get a tray).
Naturally, since I'm trying to be Mr. Suave here, I manage to spill my drink on my lap and on my book.  She quickly calls for extra napkins to help me clean up my dignity.
Kellie, as always helpful, is laughing hysterically.  The woman seems to have a slight smirk, which I truthfully don't really notice because she's given me a total cleavage shot the entire trip.  The flight ends and Kellie and I are making our way towards the exit, where her Mom is going to pick us up and drive us to my parents.  I stop Kellie and go face to face with her.

"Okay, before your Mom picks us up, I just want you to know something."
"What?"
"I just want you to know, if you hadn't been here...if you hadn't been sitting next to me..."
"Yeah..."
"I would've TOTALLY snagged a phone number from that woman...guaranteed."
"You spilled a drink all over yourself."
"On purpose!"
"Yeah right."

But seriously...I woulda got that number.  My wife...she is sooooo lucky I'm faithful.

So the next day Kim, Andy & I drove to Melbourne, Florida to visit the Florida Institute of Technology.  Its like I tell people--when your child is visiting a college that includes the word "institute" in its name, that's never a bad thing.  I have to admit, they put on a good show on 'open house' day.  Very organized.  Andy seemed impressed with their labs and the fact that they are going to be the owners of the largest telescope in the state within the next few weeks.  Hey, he's not going there on a football scholarship ya know.  I found all the professors and teachers to be very helpful and willing to go out of their way to explain the advantages of the school and their particular programs--even if I didn't understand half the things they were talking about.  Luckily, I'm great at bluffing.  Just the occasional knowing nod-of-the-head and the guy is under the mistaken opinion that I'm fascinated with his thoughts on quantam physics.
Andy appears to be down to two schools....the afore-mentioned Florida Institue of Technology (F.I.T.--to you and me) and Stevens Institute, which we visited while we were in New York.  A decision may be forthcoming.  Stay tuned, I know you're on the edge of your seats.

Later,
Jeff