You CAN Have Too Much Fun

Years ago, when we used to “Do the Puyallup,” one of our favorite bands was The Shop whose trademark song was “You can’t have too much fun.”

I’m here to tell you, you can.  It’s Tuesday.  My body thinks it’s Monday.  As for my brain?  It’s out there on some other day, because we had ourselves quite a weekend.

Last Thursday, several kids and grandkids flew into Vegas.  We drove from Tucson and met them there.  We stayed at the Palazzo.  On Friday two of the granddaughters had Junior Olympics gymnastic meets—one at eight in the morning and the other at six that night.  They both placed 6th over-all.  Watching those girls on the bars and beam is to see a thing of beauty.  When Audrey and Celeste came into our lives through two separate orphanages in China, the idea of watching them do outstanding gymnastics performances wasn’t something that crossed my mind.

IMG_0310On Saturday, our grandson, Colt, had a Junior Bowling League Tournament.  He’s ten and was in competition with kids up to age 21.  He’s a handicap bowler—this has something to do with math and nothing to do with a physical disability.  Please remember I’m a Liberal Arts Major.  The Saturday tournament started at noon.  I figured we’d be out in plenty of time to make it to Chef Ramsey Steak at the Paris Hotel.  That was erroneous thinking on my part because he made it into the semifinals.  Even then, we would have been okay, had the bowling tournament not been at Texas Station in the wilds of North Las Vegas.  Getting a cab from Texas Station is not easy.  The one we got the first day made it to the restaurant but only via a hair-raising!!! ride.  And because we were tardy to the dinner, that made getting to our 7 PM Cirque de Soleil theater performance at Bellagio a real challenge.  A hike!  A sprint!  And we made it.  All those thousands of steps Bill and I have taken in the last eight months served us in very good stead.

Why Chef Ramsey Steak?  Because all the grands are Master Chef Junior fans.  Going there was our family’s way of celebrating the fact that Cold Betrayal hit the NYTimes list—thanks to all you readers out there who made THAT happen!

On Sunday it was back to Texas Station.  This time the tournament started at 10.  A couple of hours and we’re done, right?  Wrong!  Because Colt made it into first the semi-finals and finally the finals.  He finished third.  It was amazing to see him out there, cool as a cucumber, bowling with kids who were eight and nine years older than he is.

Colt had his own cheering section—mom, aunt and uncle, grandparents and cousins as well as a family of cousins from my first marriage—people I hadn’t seen in more than thirty years and people Colt had never met.  Once again, getting back to the Strip from Texas Station proved to be challenging, especially since we needed two cabs and a drunk staggered out of the casino and hijacked the first of the two cabs we ordered. The drunk got in a shoving match with a deputy on the scene and was told to get in the cab and leave or go to jail.  We had to call for another cab.

IMG_0386 That evening we went to see the Blue Man Group.  They were hilarious.  Having purchased 8 tickets must have put me on the top of their list because, during the audience warmup, I was called out by name as “having a headache.”  The grands will be talking about Grandma’s headache cure from now on.  It’ll be right up there with my being dunked during the gondola ride in Venice.  But I’m not complaining.  After all, memories really are made of this.

Yesterday we drove home, stopping off at the new location of my favorite Mexican restaurant in Phoenix, La Piñata.  It’s on 7th Avenue, just north of Missouri.  It used to be at 19th and Osborne—that’s where it was when I first went there, but the deterioration of the neighborhood necessitated a move.  If you’re in Phoenix and haven’t tried it, go and tell Peter Bugarin, the owner, that I sent you.  But remember, you need to approach it from the south in the right hand lane because, as near as I can tell, no one is allowed to turn left across 7th Avenue at any time for any reason.

And now we’re home.  My mother used to refer to herself as an SOG with PIP—a Silly Old Grandma with Pictures in Purse.  What does that make me?  An SOG with PIB—pictures in blog?

Now having had all that fun, we’re back home and it’s time to go to work.  That won’t be easy.

I had no idea having fun could be so much work!

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14 thoughts on “You CAN Have Too Much Fun

  1. When my husband & I headed to AZ a few years ago, La Piñata was the place you recommended & we loved it!

  2. Having that much fun and excitement in four days makes for heartfelt “thank God we’re home!” Sentiments for a few days. Always enjoy seeing family but the constant running and people, even though we love them, isn’t the least bit relaxing or quiet. Did you take the dogs too or leave them to bask in the quiet house with a sitter? Also, I’m jealous as I have always wanted to see the blue man group perform!

  3. Hi, J. A. ~ As always I enjoyed reading your blog this week and especially seeing the photos of the grands. They have sure grown since I last saw pictures of them. Congratulations to each of them on their success. Sounds like a good time was had by all. Please keep finding adventures for Joanna, J. P. and Ali, I cannot tell you how much Ron and I enjoy reading your books.
    Doris

  4. Oh my gosh. Brings back memories for sure only we were celebrating grands’ 21st birthdays. Now with the great grandkids, a weekend is so busy, I have to opt out of some of it. With a new great grandson, time has to be set aside for cuddling too! So glad you survived. Glad the kids did well too!

  5. I think you guys crammed a bunch of kids’ achievement events plus a 10-day vacation into 4 days. My head would be spinning, too.

  6. We were going to La Piñata back in the 1970’s and 80’s. Loved it! You are right the area really went down hill. Will have to check out new location. Love you blogs. Keep writing!

    • Remember, you need to approach it from Camelback and drive NORTH on 7th Avenue. There’s no way to turn left off 7th into the parking lot.

  7. Sounds like you had a great time. Aren’t you glad you were in such good shape and didn’t have trouble keeping up?

  8. your still a PIP pictures in phone, the newer generation of picture in purse. As always, enjoyed your blog.

  9. Your SOG with PIP brought back a memory! My grandmother had a small photo album with that printed on the front with all the grandkids photo in it. I have that album now, with all the old photos in it.

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