2008-06-23 - 2:26 p.m.
Quick stop on the way to the pot

We're having a good time in Montgomery. Daphne's ready to see Cat and her dad, but is enjoying Grandma and Grandpa's house. And television. Lots and lots of television.

We got here fairly early Wednesday afternoon. Our first stop after the airport was Pete's Famous Hot Dogs. The Special Dog had a meat sauce that was so excellent, I'm seriously considering stopping back by tomorrow. It isn't tomato-based like chili. It's more gravy-like, I guess. Anyway, tasty. Daphne just got a regular hot dog with ketchup. As we were driving away, she said, "Mom, when you told me we were going to a hot dog stand and I said [sarcastically] 'Whoopee,' it's because I thought, 'Um, duh. I've eaten a hot dog. I know what they taste like. What I didn't realize is that it would be the best hot dog I've ever tasted!" I guess if I steamed our buns and didn't buy fat free weenies, she'd probably think mine were the best, too.

Thursday, we'd considered going to the zoo in the afternoon, but when Daphne learned that Grandma still had her dad's Hot Wheels track, she wanted to come back after lunch (at Grandpa's favorite, Ruddles Pub) and play. She enjoyed that, coloring with some neat pencils (which include gold and silver!), and listening to "The Magic Tree House" on CD. We'd brought several CDs to listen to in the car... only to find out that our rental doesn't have a CD player. That's a first. It also has manual locks and windows, but that's cool. The guy asked me, "Did you want something this small?" I said, "I just want something cheap." We've driven around almost a week and are still at about half a tank. That thing can't take more than 6 gallons. It's tiny.

Anyhoo, Friday morning we did go to the zoo. We got there as it was opening, and got to see all of the cats awake and walking around before they plopped down in the shade for their naps. We saw lions, tigers (and, yes, bears, but we're not going there), cheetahs, and a black jaguar. The jaguar had an interesting sign: There is no such thing as a panther species. Apparently black cats are either jaguars or cheetahs with lots of melanin. You heard it here first. Unless you already know that. I didn't.

Somewhere during this time, I did a Sonic shop and a Papa John's. There's a Papa John's near where I did a Zaxby's shop for lunch today and it's paying $32 in addition to the pizza! I'm seriously considering going back out there; it's maybe 7 miles away.

Saturday, we just hung out all day. Well, that's not true. Betty and I got out to run a few errands, but Daphne wasn't keen to go, so she stayed with Grandpa. She played the computer the entire hour we were gone, and neither she nor he could have been happier.

Yesterday, Daphne and I went to church alone... Betty can't sit an hour and a half on a church bench, and John can't get out for that long period. Betty made us shrimp and grits for lunch; it was fabulous!

She's given me a bunch of antique clothes, which I plan to sell on eBay (with her blessing). They're gorgeous, and if you knew what you were doing, you could really clean them up. I might actually go downtown first to see if any of the flea market- ahem, antique dealers want any of them.

Betty also gave Daphne a couple of Beatrix Potter stuffed animals. She took some boxes down to let D pick out "one," but somehow we ended up with a cat and a squirrel. Daphne wanted to take the precious little dress and apron off of the cat immediately, and Betty was horrified. I told Daphne we'd denude the cat at home where it won't offend anyone.

Yesterday afternoon, Daphne played with a little boy across the street and they seemed to get along. They're swimming right now, and that's good for everyone involved. Daphne wasn't 100% when we left, and has gotten better and then not so much better while we've been here. I have to say, though, that she's been incredible. I've never heard so many, "Yes, ma'am"s and "No, thank you"s in my life. She's making us look better than we are. :) I'll take it!

We're leaving early in the morning for Birmingham, via the Blue Bell factory in Sky High Loogie or something like that. I'm sure I'll spell it right when I don't have to go to the restroom so badly and can look it up.
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