Good-bye Rex

 First- Goodbye, Rex.

Today we held services in the backyard at the National Hamster Cemetary for Rex. He was a good hamster. He gave us 2 happy years. His brother, Larry,  went on to a better place this past September and a distant cousin, Chuck, was buried in the first plot a few years ago. We are going to shop for Rex's headstone tomorrow.
Stop smiling because I am not kidding. They were all boarders in the Tori's room. I went in to give her a kiss to wake her up this morning and noticed Rex was in his food bowl, but not eating. She took him out and we held him and rubbed him to keep him warm. We laid him back down comfortably after about an hour or so and then we waited, and waited, and waited. And around three o'clock when I checked on him there was no breathing.
So when the Mr came him he went straight to the back yard and began to dig. We went outside and there were a few words spoken and then it was over. It was all very sad and yet another crappy thing that has happened to her on her Christmas break. poor baby!

We tried to pep her up  a bit. We all went to Opryland Hotel and saw the lights. And we drove through Jellystone Park lights and we went to Santa's village and she did the jumpy thing with the bungees. The boys did it too and it was pretty funny! They were WAY up there!
We also tried something new for dinner.

Before I can go any farther, I have to share SOME MORE OF MY CRAZINESS with you. And I am in no way knockin' crazy, because I know I am - it's on paper and they make me take my meds!!!!! Remember the OCD thing???
Well, the CRAZY started kicking in when I was preggers with #2. I began having trouble driving. A real tightness in my chest. It was just a weird feeling at first, but then it manifested into this physical discomfort and eventually- full blown panic attacks! thanks to the meds- I can drive short distances (I live 2.2 miles from my school).
I also got this weird thing about metal. I am not allergic to metal, I can (prefer not to ) touch it. That was 10 years ago and now my silverware is packaged up under a counter. and we use camping ware. It is plastic and hardy and dishwasher safe,
I cannot drink from a can. I cannot touch unfinished metal....chalky stuff also gives me problems. I know it is weird- the Dr has no idea....I am going to head over to the therapy couch one day and see what the heck happened and why I am so screwy when it comes to that!

OK, back to the regularly scheduled post-

So we went to Cock of the Walk near the Hotel. Have you ever been there? I haven't . Don't know why, but we just never did go there! It smelled wonderful and I couldn't wait to be seated and start eating.....until.......I saw the set up. It is family style- which I can handle but,,,

Let's count the metal:

1. Apps are served on metal tray.
2.Cornbread in cast iron skillet. (several on table)
3. greens are in a metal pot.
4. There is a metal bucket with the silver and napkins for the table.
5. The cups are the little tin camping cups.
6. A giant platter of our family style meal
.7. and the silverware to eat with.

Oh, and you can't see it pictured, but there are metal pitchers all up and down the table for you.


I thought I was going to stroke out! the Mr asked our server for a to go cup and to go plastic silverware..






The food was great, but I wasn't able to have a conversation with anyone because my jaws were clenched the whole time! So I looked like a real anti-social B***H! His fam knows about my weirdness.....but the 75 other people who were in the dining room didn't and they were just scraping away on those tin plates with their metal forks and spoons!!!

It was supposed to be an evening to cheer up the girl. which I guess worked because she sat across from me and giggled the whole time, threatening to scrape her fork on her plate!!! "You're welcome, sweetie!"