Things are looking up...

I received a call from the life insurance "benefits analyst" (whatever that is), to tell me that he was submitting my claim and that it should get approval next week. Also that the AD&D policy would take a bit longer as they are waiting for the toxicolgy report from the coroner. I was so frustrated earlier this week and my dear friend Mary stepped in. She made a call to the insurance commission and I filed an inquiry into the claim. I have no idea if this prompted the insurance to respond but my guess is yes. Dang I guess it is true, the squeeky wheel does get the grease...

Wednesday wedding...

I attended a wedding yesterday afternoon at Beckenridge Vineyards in Dallas. It was a very pretty setting and very nice reception. As in a few weddings there was a brief altercation between families. Thank goodness most of the guests had left. The grandmother of the bride and the new mother-in-law got into over a floral table arrangement. It ended with the mother-in-law stomping off out of the building. Why do grownups choose settings like this to act like little children? I am proud to say that this didn't happen at Lisa's wedding and I hope it doesn't at Sarah's but the potential is there unfortunately. The kids have made some changes that may prompt some discussion from some of Nate's family. I told them to lay any of the blame on me, and that in my grieving state I made some requests that they can't say no to. It totally lets them off the hook and hopefully no one will be tacky enough to approach me about it.

I hate insurance companies...

Okay, maybe that is a bit of a generalization but it speaks of my state of mind right now. I had to put Steve's estate into probate because I was not listed as an owner on his plane. Because of that small detail the insurance company would not proceed to pay off the loan on the plane or pay out on the small amount designated for the funeral. So paperwork has been started so that I can be named Steve's personal representative. What a royal pain in the back side. Though the insurance company is paying for the attorney it is still a nuisance. They have to post in the paper and send a contact letter to both Sarah and Pam Lusardi's husband Rob. They won't pay him unless he files for it. Don't even get me started on the life insurance people!! I have called and left messages and no one has responded to me. My bank account is getting pretty low and I see no early resolution. Damn...

Dead battery...

I would have had pictures of last nights festivies but my camera battery was dead. Darn it! I noticed it was needing to be charged at my last camera class but I totally forgot about it. It was food, fun and fireworks. The fun part was the water fight my nephews, some of their friends and my brother-in-law Craig took part in as the smarter people just watched. The fireworks display was a good one as ususal and the weather was perfect. The only reason I put my sweater on was to keep myself shielded from the mosquitos but I still had five bites when I got home, the damn things.

His favorite holiday...

He was in his own little heaven every 4th of July. From the home made "howitzer" that shot tennis balls through appliances to flares taped to propane tanks he was just a "little boy" at heart. He loved the fourth of July with purchased or homemade fireworks. He loved putting smiles on little children and watching their reactions to the evenings events, but mostly he just loved "blowing" things up for the load noises. The only time I remember him having an equal smile on his face was when he and Lisa danced their "father-daughter" dance at her wedding. All these memories bring me laughter and joy which we will share with Cash. Because some of these events we actually have video of just in case he doesn't believe the stories we will tell him of his grandpa Steve...
ETA: These photos were taken in 2006, and these were just a very small portion of the fireworks that we had that evening.

Summer is here ...

Summer is officially here. It hit 92 degrees and looks to stay in that temperature range through the weekend. The cool down will happen next Tuesday, so the weatherman says. An impromptu gathering occurred at Raymond's for his sweetie Annette last night. We had loads of fun and yummy cake thanks to Raymond. It was such a delight to see Cash and Stuart sitting on the ground getting acquainted. My family has been invited to their place for their 4th of July activities. It obviously won't be the same without Steve. There will be no tennis ball cannon, nor the 'howitzer' (what I called it), and no small explosives in the grain tank. Yep won't be the same. It was his favorite holiday...

Another sleepless night...

So here I am once again wide awake. How I hate this.