Happy Birthday To My Wife

• Today is Christines 60th birthday. She joins the rank of other "Mature" folks like:
• Albert Einstien
• Leonardo DaVinci
• Susan B Anthony
• Clara Barton
• Louis Pasteur
• Plato and Socrates
• Obviously, I think very highly of my alleged better half.
• Best of all, she has put up with me for about 45 years......
• Happy Birthday Christine... Bump

Happy Mothers Day

• As I said in my "Facebook" post; Happy Mothers Day to all the mothers out there. And you all know who you are!
• With both of our Mothers gone, G'ma and I rely on our "Little Mothers" to come over and make the holiday whats its supposed to be. Bex and Sar came through as they always do. This year, the fun factor was increased by the fact that significant others also brought their little humans to the house. Aunt Lu and TG brought their kids over to help celebrate with us. No matter what we say, or how we act, we love having the kids over to the house, (as long as the Moms are there)! When I looked out at the boys running around in th front yard, it reminded me of the times I went to my Grandmothers house, all those years ago, (YES I CAN REMEMBER Back that far Girls!).
• Yes, we were 'blessed' with a beautiful day. The weather yesterday was as great as it gets in Michigan. Not too hot, not too cold or windy.
• I know all my Moms like steak. So, I actually was proactive and got with the men in my daughters lives, (actually, I got with the girls), and let them know what I was going to do for dinner and asked that they bring something to add to dinner. I made it a point to make sure that BUYING things, as compared to MAKING things was absolutely acceptable. TG brought potato salad and PS brought strawberry shortcake (with French Vanilla Ice Cream; the ONLY way to make it, BTW). I went to Costco and picked up Filet Mignon and Mushrooms from Ninos. It goes without saying that dinner was a hit with EVERYONE, especially the Moms, since they did not have to do A N Y T H I N G . (I made sure the men took care of thier kids so the moms would not have to).
• Let me tell you all something about Costco. If you dont already know this, you can buy Filet Mignon for a price that some stores charge for ROASTS!. ($10.99 a pound last week). The quality of this meat is unbeatable. As long as I can afford it, I will eat no other steak!
• I wish Lu's parents could have made it. I hear that they are 'good people'. (Hi Sha-Mom. HMD!)
• I was glad to read Sarahs post and hear her say what I thought I saw yesterday.
• I think I did okay for Moms Day this year.
• Well....back to work!

Bump-ster

Almost Time

• It's Tuesday. The second busiest day for me here at work. I should be doing invoicing.
• BUT. Tax season is over, so our friend Mars will be ready soon. Tom will be glad to get his wife back, no matter what he says. When you own several H&R Block offices, I can only imagine how frantic her first quarter is! Tom's been retired a couple of years now, and I think he is enjoying being away from his local school system. At least, HE SHOULD! Just so you know; there are people that have 2236 days left BEFORE I CAN RETIRE!
• BUT. Both of the Nuns are back in Michigan and I am sure they are itching to go. The Nuns. (None in the morning, none in the night!) Barb retired about a year and a half ago and just spent a couple of months in Florida with her 95+ year old Mom. (Bless your heart Mrs. D!). Dr. D is one of my 'partners' when we play cards. She hates to lose ALMOST as much as I do. So; we don't do it often! Gina retires in June. I'm pretty sure she can't wait to get away. You gotta love the nuns. (Yes, they were!) But, Barb, just so you know, there are people that have 2236 days left BEFORE I CAN RETIRE!
• BUT. I know Joe and Mick are ready. They both told me so last week at the Charity Dinner. (Relay for Life. Just do it.) Joe's retired. (Notice a pattern?) Talk about being glad to be away from a career. Imagine working for the Detroit School Board for 32 years or so...... Good for him. Mick is semi-retired. Her health issues tend to get in the way of a full time teaching career. I imagine that as much as she loves teaching, she'll be glad to "retire" soon. And Joe, just so you know, there are people that have 2236 days left BEFORE I CAN RETIRE!
• BUT. I know G'ma and I are ready. G'ma retires from her school district on June 10 after over 27 years of teaching. That is A LOT of years with little humans (aged 3-4)! I am proud of her and happy for HER retirement. And G'ma.....
• G'ma and I are ready. I went to the storage lot and brought the trailer home last Friday. Could not wait to see the trailer behind the new truck. OK, it's not new, (2008), but it's new to us. The 'Pot-Stirrer' blew the engine in his truck, so in an effort to "Take One For The Team", I sold him my Hemi Ram. And since we have wanted a diesel for some time now, I just felt; might as well go big, or go home! So, now we have a Ford F-450 quad cab dually 4x4 in the driveway in front of the trailer. It is a big truck. (You know what they say about men with big trucks.....big gas bills!) We are going to have a great season this year. At least nine trips around this Great State. One trip will be up to the Mackinaw area for a family wedding. I cannot wait for that trip. G'ma will have to learn how to drive the truck before then if history holds true for me and weddings!
• Our first trip of the season is the weekend after Easter. We hear Frankenmuth calling us. Who cares what the weather is when you don't REALLY camp. All of our rigs are like hotels on wheels. Queen size beds. Showers. Surround sound entertainment! Don't get me wrong. We love the outdoors. Some of us even like to excersize outside and everything! I like to get away. Relax. Sit by a fire at night and bullshit. We really do have a great system. Each family usually cooks one meal during the weekend. It's either breakfast or dinner. Some of us like to experiment. Some of us like the good ol' BBQ, but with real good meat! The meals are never boring...
• I want to blog about these experiences. The good, the bad, the ugly. (OK. the seven of them are the Good. I'm the Bad, AND the Ugly). I want to get used to writing about life experiences like this. I hope people will enjoy these little tidbits. We'll see....
• Back to work....Sigh.....

Welcome

Welcome to my page. Most of you are here thanks to my favorite middle child, Sarah.

First of all, I have to thank her for her help in setting up this page, as she is apt to say, "The only taste I have is in my mouth".

My intention with this page is to get used to putting thoughts to word. G'ma and I are planning to travel a lot when I retire in six years, and I will want to keep a blog on our travels. In the time between then and now, I will log on occasionally to rant about camping, Nascar conspiracies, women drivers, crappy weather, rotten kids, how much I miss my boys and other scintilating ideas.

My family will tell you that I am a big dreamer and schemer. True and true. Guilty as charged. Deal with it. G'ma has had to since 1967 when we first met. But many of my dreams have come true, and most of them due to my marriage to G'ma. In future posts, I'll put into words many of those dreams and how they came to pass.

I think Sarah was right. Writing this post may help me a bit. My mind is seldom truly at rest. In todays society, more and more people fear losing their jobs. More and more people take less time off, vacation time or sick time, than ever before. People are truly afraid that if your place of employment thinks you can afford to take time off, that you are not truly commited to them.

Whatever......I need to get back to work...

Hijacking Kicks Ass

Guest Blogger: Sarah, from Complications of a Perfect Life What's the best thing about having my dad's login information for his blog? Being able to hijack it and post on it if I wish. Which I did, so I am. I'm also imagining him sitting at his computer, leaning back in his chair, chuckling to himself and muttering "oh...you little wench...heh heh..." Yup. Oh and also: adding little snippets to his blog like the tiny description just under the title. I'm so fucking proud of myself, it's nearly pathetic. Or starting his blogroll, with only mine in it. Yup. Me: laughing hysterically on the inside because this is the most fun I've had in weeks. By myself, that is. Anyways, welcome to Bump's Dumps, written by my Dad, The Bump. Don't bother changing your password, dad, I won't do this again. Unless asked, of course. I think it looks pretty good, though. If you need any help or suggestions, me and the rest of BlogLand is here, just ask! So? Any good suggestions for my old man? Any writing/blogging tips for a newbie? It's been so long, I can't remember what kept me going and inspired in the beginnnng... Just life, I guess. Good luck, Your Favorite Daughter (...the other one. asshole...)

5 Things I Am Grateful For.......

Bumpa said... 5 Things I am grateful for: 1) A relatively new camper and truck 2) A partner that enjoys going with me on trips. (This will create discussion) 3) Four wonderful grandsons. (Even with my short temper, I cannot wait to see them again) 4)EBAY 5) The opportunity to restore my Dads 46 Willys 5b) Two great guys that are helping me do just that. 6) A wonderful extended family that I am proud to say are friends of mine, as well as my kids. 7)Two great daughters that are doing the best they can to survive this tough world! 8)And my son, though sometimes difficult to handle, he still means a greeat deal to me. I never tell him enough, but he has to understand my feelings fom him. 9) My job. Even though the most stressful and unrewarding ($$$$) job in my life, it beats the alternative! 10) And last but not least, I am grateful that I am old enough to break some silly rule about five things, (blah blah blah) and not get yelled at about it! BUMPA