Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts

By Alyce Wilson

It seems particularly fitting to be writing about a rainy day on a rainy day. On Sunday of our trip to Vermont, it rained all day long, so we spent some quiet time together.

In the morning we took a trip to Big Lots, which my brother and his wife call "Big Butts". They were looking for some storage containers for the baby and toddler clothing they'd been accumulating for the new baby and for my nephew to grow into.

While we were there, I tried to find myself a sweater or something, because I hadn't packed nearly enough items like that. I had checked Weather.com before packing, but I didn't count on the rain making it feel even cooler than the air temperature.

After expressing my frustration to my brother's wife, she suggested that in the afternoon we go to JCPenney's, where I could get a sweater.

In the meantime, it was back home for lunch and naps. I actually took one this time, since the early rising was beginning to catch up with me.

After everyone was refreshed, we piled in the car again and drove to JCPenney. I actually lucked out, because there were having a storewide sale on a lot of items, including Fall items like sweaters.

I browsed the racks for something that would work on me and ended up buying a red fitted polarfleece with a zippered collar and a coral cableknit sweater.

My brother and his wife found some new shoes and slippers for my nephew, who had nearly outgrown his old ones.

Then, since we were in a little mall, we checked out some other stores. There was a new store called Route 22 which had some more trendy clothes. The women's clothes looked more like juniors, but the men's clothes were just casual clothes with some extra flair. My brother found himself a cool hoodie with a subtle pattern on it.

While we were waiting for my brother to look at clothes, my nephew got a little fussy, so I picked him up and started dancing around to the music. He loved it, and it kept him occupied until he insisted on getting down. Then both I and my brother's wife kept an eye on him, to make sure he didn't pull down any displays or run off.

He loved the next store, though, K-bee Toys, where my brother and his wife let my nephew run around and explore. His eye was caught by anything colorful and fun looking at his eye level.

Unlike many other children his age, he readily agreed to leave the store when it was time. The only difficult thing was convincing him to leave behind the plastic car he'd been riding around on. But after he was picked up and placed down on his feet, just a little encouragement convinced him to walk away on his own.

We returned home, where my brother's wife fixed a chicken dinner. After my nephew was put to bed, we finished watching Canadian Bacon. Then we all relaxed and talked for awhile, mostly about their expected second child.

My brother's wife explained that marsupials have it easy, because they give birth to tiny little joeys who then crawl into an external pouch to develop to full-term. That sounds like a much better way to do it than humans do!

While my brother and his wife were getting ready for bed, I was in a very silly mood. I was acting like a silent film comedian trying to woo The Gryphon, first with flowers and by reading poetry, and then, at the first hint of interest, pouncing on him and wrapping my arms and legs around him.

The whole goal was to be entertaining without making a lot of noise. He told me that it was very funny. I'll have to remember that!

More from our trip to Vermont:

August 30, 2006 - Along the Tracks

August 31, 2006 - By in a Blur

September 1, 2006 - Food and Family

September 6, 2006 - Rock of Ages

September 7, 2006 - Bye!

Copyright 2006 by Alyce Wilson

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