Mahjong Memorial Day

Memorial Day was the perfect opportunity to try out my new mahjong set!

Allison and Pat came over for mahjong and dinner. Even Andy played. I'm trying to become more familiar with the game so I can go to Allison's mahjong gatherings starting next month at her church. Later in June, we're hoping to host a basic mahjong lesson for my friends who are interested. We played two games and Allison won both.

Deterring the cats

I need to pay more attention when I'm geting puzzles that they will fit on my puzzle board. This one didn't so I had it (I thought) covered up with enough things overnight that the cats would leave it alone. They did not. I woke up to pieces strewn about the living room and dining room and the puzzle edge all torn apart. That's when I grabbed a tablecloth and put over the puzzle. Now, they're laying on the tablecloth.

The next morning I woke up to the tablecloth and half of the puzzle on the floor. Hmmm.

So then I tried covering it with the tablecloth and anchoring it down at at corners. They still sit on it but hopefully won't knock it off the table.

By some miracle, there are only three pieces missing.

Wings, donuts and bargains

Andy and I kicked off the Memorial Day with dinner of wings and a beer at a local happy hour Friday. He had to go to church to set up everything for the Saturday donut-making operation so we didn't have time for a real dinner.

Saturday I arrived at church for the start of my 5:30 a.m. shift coating and bagging donuts (while simultaneously filling the empty, but necessary, runner role). It was opening day of the Farmers Market season. Andy did the first captain shift and was in by 3 a.m. so he went home and slept while I worked my shift.

So many donuts! My shift ended at 8:30 and by then I was hopped up on coffee and sugar so it was time to hit some yard sales with Allison and search for bargains!

Neither of us had much luck. Allison did find some really cute Starbicks cup Christmas ornaments and I found these handmade greeting cards for $1 each. Hopefully next weekend will be better.

My first blue jay

I've had this bird feeder for almost a year and the other day was the first time a blue jay stopped by. Those feathers are beautiful.

And the bird's close-up. I googled to see whether it's a boy or girl but apparently they look exactly the same to the human eye - monomorphic. I learn something new every day.

Jamaican magnet man

The little Jamaican magnet man I won playing Bingo is hanging out on my work computer.

I came back to work Wednesday and the outside walls of the addition were up. Construction is moving along quickly. Exterior brick will be going up soon.

Pokémon at the Field

Andy and I went downtown last night for the Field Museum's opening of the Pokemon Fossil exhibit. It's the first time it's in the United States and will travel around for five years. There was quite a long line to check in.

How cute is this nametag?

And these tickets! I thought they'd let us keep the tickets, but they did not. That's why I take pictures of everything.

Opening remarks. There were so many people there.

We went into the exhibit right after the remarks. The blue is what isn't real, the red is real. This shows a Pokemon, made up, next to a real fossil it resembles.

I'm sure this exhibit would be more meaningful to B. I was a bit lost but did explain how Pokemon evolve to another guest.

The food was Japanese and tasty. I did have to pass on several of the "tar tar" appetizers.

We walked through the gift store but didn't buy anything.

Yay! A picture with Pikachu!

We were driving home and it was still daylight. When did that happen?

Sitting pretty

Piper enjoys having the windows open. She's probably been looking for her friends from next door. Their dining room window is across from our kitchen and sometimes their cats sit there too.

Piper's latest, favorite sleeping spot is Andy's office chair.

Clematis and irises

Our clematis started bloomimg while we were in Jamaica. Allison took this picture for me. Hopefully, I can keep it trimmed enough it will continue to bloom for a while. I had cut it down to about eight inches in March so that seemed to be beneficial.

And the irises in the parkway are blooming. I say every year we need to divide the bulbs, but we never do.

Belated Mom’s Day lunch

Andy and I picked up B yesterday and went to for my belated Mother's Day lunch. I chose a restaurant in his neighborhood by searching online and we ended up at George Street Pub.

It was a beautiful day so we sat on their patio. B had a burger, I had a grilled chicken sandwich and Andy had a ham and Swiss sandwich. We enjoyed it.

Our close-up.

I'm always surprised when we're driving around and - boom - there's Wrigley Field smack dab in a neighborhood.

Oof. These gas prices are crazy. It's always higher in the city proper.

Leaving and random Jamaica

Saturday was our day to leave Jamaica. The bellhop picked up our bags at 7:30 a.m.

We ordered breakfast to the room. Hard to beat this view.

So much bacon! I wasn't expecting that. We had to be in the lobby for the trip to the airport at 8:30 a.m.

This palm branch was blocking our path when we were walking to the lobby to check-out. A sign, perhaps, that we should stay?

We bought time in the MoBay departure lounge (in advance and found out it was sold out day-of) and our flight was delayed at least an hour so that was a good decision. Food, drinks, a place to sit and charge our phones, What more could we want?

Here are a few random pictures and thoughts of the past week. We were on the hunt all week for a good sunset picture. Most days, the sun was hidden behind the clouds.

This was the same sunset a bit later at the martini bar.

Andy enjoying a martini.

These piles of rocks are all around the resort. People buy a rock and put their names on it, adding the years they visit each time. (See the duck?)

Here's an up-close look. We've never bought into the rock souvenir thing but it's neat to see.