I've made up my mind...no more tickets to JAMBO!!

So much for a treat for Christmas presents...there will be no more JAMBO tickets purchased by me for anyone in the future. Amazing, I attended Jamboree in The Hills for 27 of the 32 years and never pissed anyone off or had anyone pissed at me. The atmosphere has changed incredibly. The competition now is to see how much one can drink...and then act like an ass! Of course, no one knows their own limit or that mixing beer and whiskey can be all you need for "trouble."

I had to travel out to the Jambo site at 1 am this morning to bring thedaughter home, after she had a confrontation with her sister. Without going into details, because some very hurtful things were said, drink and the mixing of beverages was the catalyst for said confrontation. Thedaughter was not drunk when I picked her up and her friend, of several years, offered her version of events at the time. I am not going to take sides in this matter. Enough said to state that I am so disappointed in the entire situation. I will not meddle into what is going on in one daughters life at present, suffice it to say, I am deeply disappointed in certain choices being made. Too many people are destined to be hurt under the present situation (in her life) and my heart is breaking.

ETW blogged about her connection with her biological mother this past weekend, and I flash back 15 years to when I met my biological daughter - my heart was so full, yet with time, there is no difference between those I have raised and the daughter who was raised by another. We all have our shortcomings and flaws...this is only human. A selfishness exists, which can only hurt those loved the most, and for this I feel awful. I do not and have not interfered in my children's lives (other than the rare -?- suggestion or two), and as a rule, let them make their own decisions, right, wrong or otherwise. But how many times must one make the same horrible decision - over and over, without being called on it? I would rather eat nails than deal with this dilemma.

Thedaughter is out $70, drivers license, camera and souvenirs - as someone cannot remember being handed these objects (in a fanny pack), for a period of 3-4 minutes. My declaration to the daughter was "it is a workable." Drivers license can be replaced, pictures are lost, money is lost, and souvenirs are just more "stuff." It is all unfortunate, but the circumstances, involving alcohol, just enhanced the situation.

Being awakened at 1 am to go 20 miles and collect thedaughter, was rather hard on me. I started having chest pains, more because of the stress, but I was alarmed. Having had 8 heart attacks and triple bypass...I don't need the drama.

Hopefully this week will be better, thedaughters (both) have to go back to work and the "normalcy" of their lives - so what they make of it is entirely up to them. Dwelling on this will not help matters, so my suggestion is to a) COOL OFF b) after time consider an "apology" get-together c) try to make the necessary changes in their lives to ensure happiness.

Usually I am sad that the 4 day country concert is over...this year - I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER!!

Stay well all and TTFN.

I finally got it...wearing my brain out!!

After much figuring and frustration, I was able to download the pics taken by theson's friend at Jamboree In The Hills (from years ago)!


As you can see from the second photo, there is a "sea of people" in attendance for JITH. Fun and drunken fun is the "order of the day!" For all the years I attended, I often bragged that I was the only sober person in attendance (out of 200,000+). After the first few years, the numbers for attendance were no longer published, but it has to be one of the largest venues around.

Sunday is always the day of interest for me, as the show begins at 11 am (ending around 6:30 - 7 pm), and the atmosphere is much quieter - because EVERYONE is HANGING!! Always being the sober one - I loved to play with people's minds - too much fun for me!

Thedaughter2 and friend, took the camper out yesterday (actually Saturday night), because there is a looooong line waiting to get into the campgrounds and get a good spot. The site seeking began around 6 am I believe. Now all both daughters have to take out is their beer and bedding. All the boys sleep in a tent, while the girls are fortunate enough to get the camper. And me...my comfortable bed and TV to watch the event.

Enough for now, I'm going to start drafting what I call the hypothetical - which is actually true, but the outcome becomes the hypothetical I guess.

Have a good one and stay well. TTFN

...the LADIES had a wonderful time

My daughters and I finally have a recent picture to post. I have pictures with each daughter separately but it has been tough getting us together. This was taken at our cookout for the 4th of July. We had a great time, watching my son-in-law set off fireworks with thegrandson. There was a quickie shower in early evening, but I put up a canopy on the deck which made it all quite bearable.

My oldest daughter and her husband left to watch the local fireworks from the comfort of their front porch (in WV) and thedaughter, thegrandson and I went to watch the Wheeling fireworks from a location in the north end of our town. Now, thedaughter said this was a GREAT place to see the display. It was an excellent site, albeit directly in front of the sewerage treatment plant. YUCK!!! Thank heavens the shower reduced the humidity or the stench would have overpowered us! Thegrandson didn't have a care in the world.

We came back home and set off fireworks with the neighbors across the street and stayed and chatted till almost 12:30 am. I could not sleep at all and stayed up till almost 4 am. This is getting to be a real pain. Thegrandson was sooo tired he slept in till 11:40 am - while I was up and about at 8:30 am. Just shoot me now!

It is going on 11 pm now and think I will try to catch some sleep if possible. Theson returned home this afternoon and may be having "the B-Town Boyz" over tomorrow night for a small gathering. They used to spend the 4th on my deck in years past and always had a great time. Hope this works out also.

All in all it was a great holiday time - with friends that stopped and dinner as a family - what more can a person ask? **Plans changed and I did not have to drive friends to a funeral, thus the impromtu picnic!

Everyone stay well and I will return later. TTFN. Great seeing the visitors to this site from ariound the world - very interesting.