Ah, the Tuesday after a 3-day weekend...I never feel like going back to work. But anyway, I had a pretty busy week/weekend. Our niece Stephanie was visiting all last week while her fiance and his 3 friends hiked in the Ozarks Nat'l Forest; they came back Friday evening. Mom & Dad and Laura arrived for the weekend on Saturday afternoon. All 10 of us went out to dinner at Fred's on Saturday evening and then saw M:I2, which sucked. Stephanie, Beth, and the guys left Sunday morning for Michigan. The rest of us went down to Mountain View AR for some cave exploration (Blanchard Springs) and local culture (Ozark Folk Center). We rented "Being John Malkovich" which was odd. On Sunday we went to Top O' the Ozarks before the folks left. I'm on my own this week, but I got Little Caesar's yesterday so I already have dinner for 4 days.

Biggest news yet...Beth's pregnant! Just found out a week ago but didn't want to post it until we'd told everyone. My sister has had the best reaction yet, which was what can only be described as a prolonged shriek. Mom was practically speechless but I could almost hear her grinning over the phone. Anyway, little Matthew Christopher or Rebecca Joyce will be arriving on or about December 20. And now that we've finally got the house almost just the way we want it...we have to figure out where a baby is going to fit. I see a garage sale in our future. By the way, we finally got our disposal installed last Friday.

Had a pretty good weekend. Beth and I went up to Branson MO on Saturday morning. Her place of business always does something together after tax season; this year it was going to a show. "Legends in Concert" this time. Saw the impersonators of Cher (sounded just like her, didn't look much like her), Nat "King" Cole (dead on), the Blues Brothers (Elwood was perfect, but Joliet Jake looked more like Chris Farley), Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, and the obligatory Elvis. The best part of the show was when Elvis' jumpsuit ripped during his "old" Elvis rendition of Suspicious Minds. It ripped right in front where a fly should go. A roadie ran out with a towel, and Elvis tucked it into his belt for the remainder of his number, but also couldn't stop laughing. We went out to a pub with a band (lead singer looked like Tom Cruise and Dennis Quaid put together) which we hadn't done in years and can't do in Mountain Home Arkansas, that's for sure, and stayed overnight in a resort lodge overlooking Table Rock Lake (nice...big). Sunday was a little more sedate. Mini golf and skee-ball and such. On the home front, we still don't have our garbage disposal and I'm getting really dorked off at the appliance place. Service after the sale doesn't seem their strong suit. And the vinyl siding is half up. Another few days and I'll get some new pictures of the house for the house page.