I know it’s nothing compared to the 100*F+ temps that are scorching across the US, but holy balls it’s hot in Edmonton right now! Around 32*C actually, 37*C with the humidex (and it’s weird to have any humidity in the middle of the Prairies at all).
The weekend was fantastic. The party at my parents’ house on Saturday night was wicked fun! Lots of friends and family and laughs. The washoos tournament was wicked, and me and my aunt’s husband won. Washoos, by the way, is a game that I’m pretty sure my family invented. There are a few versions out there, but the way we play it I can’t seem to find anywhere.
We have boards with three holes, and then each team has six washers each. Each team has two people, and one person from each team stands on one board and tosses toward the other. The furthest hole is three points, the middle is two, and the last is one. We play to 21 points, and if we’re feeling particularly brutal we have a no-bust rule (as in you have to hit 21 exactly, not roll over). It’s wicked fun, and we usually crack out the boards at family events and functions in the summer. They’ll have them at the lake too, which will add some fun to an otherwise somber event.
There were drinks a-plenty and after all of our guests left, my mom and I went over to the neighbours’ house and crashed their party, which made me laugh. A couple lived next door as long as my parents have been in their house, and now the son has moved out with his wife and the husband passed away a couple years ago. Every once in awhile the son, Tim, comes back to help out his mother.
He had friends over for a little get together and was seriously drunk when we got there at around 11pm. He (and his friends) then started to hit on me! It was a little awkward, because I didn’t know what to say (Tim is nine years older than me and I’ve known him since I was seven) but it was definitely flattering and a total ego boast for me. So YAY! ‘Cause usually I look like this:
The redness in my face is from a lack of makeup and an addition of heatwave. Welcome to tomato-face-city, population me.
Yesterday I came back to the house, got the kitties all settled and comfortable, and lounged around trying to beat the heat. I ended up back at my parents’ house in the evening after meeting friends for drinks and sushi at Thomas’ old restaurant (and on their kickass patio!) because I went to see the doctor this morning about my knees. Good news: I’m not crazy, and it is exactly what I was told ten years ago – my kneecap is grinding down the surrounding cartilage in my knees, which explains the discomfort and the lump I get on my knees when I work hard. I can also help mitigate this by building the muscles around my knees and thighs, which is awesome. It also doesn’t require surgery and so far there’s no real sign of the osteoarthritis that has ravaged my family tree. High fives all around.
I stayed over last night, though, because in order to see this doctor I had to get up obscenely early (considering I’m on fauxcation) and wait in line for an hour. Since my parents’ live closer, I stayed there. Not a lot of sleep was had either, ’cause I ended up watching the Blair Witch Project at midnight and my imagination ran away with me … (haha).
Tomorrow we’re heading to the lake, which means I need to start cooking (we’re bringing food) and doing my laundry (so I don’t show up naked). Hope everyone else had a stellar weekend!
