Usually I'm pretty organized. Usually I don't forget EVERYTHING. But not this week, not today. Let me start by shamelessly plugging and thanking the good folks at SMHEA for a really nice curriculum fair this year in Knoxville.

We were tired to start with today. Dad has been staying with me through the week since his cancer surgery.  We were told by a nurse to go to the ER last night. It was a wasted trip. The ER doctor told us so. He said when he spoke with the nurse who referred us to come that she misunderstood Dad's problem and we needed to go home and continue as we had been. He's fine now.

Then of course we've had other family issues to deal with that I won't go into, but suffice it to say that we have enough, um--how to put this diplomatically?---activities going on in our family to start our own TV show. Ahh, never a dull moment.....:-)

My clock didn't go off this morning, which I'm officially blaming on a possible power surge.  My plan was to accomplish errands early  in order to meet hubby for lunch.  ALL I had to do was get tag renewals, mail some bills, handle a couple of calls and meet hubby for lunch before going to the fair.

It took longer to handle the calls and fill out the bills than I expected. The baby started teething again today with all the usual symptoms. By the time we left the house it was too late to meet hubby for lunch. When I arrived at the county clerk's office, I realized I didn't have the checkbook. They only take cash or checks. I asked where the nearest ATM was, and was informed, "It's just across the square."

Someone had their directions wrong. The particular ATM in reference wasn't there anymore. We'd already walked that far so we continued on foot to the next one.  We hiked three blocks to the nearest ATM without a baby stroller. It was in the back of handsome hubby's truck. He met me at the hospital to take the kids so I could go on in with my Dad and we just didn't move the stroller back. Did I mention that I have a heel spur?

It had to be comical to watch.  Here I am, strolling the streets with two kids behind me, a baby on my hip, and a limp in my leg.  The girls and I wear skirts most of the time and today was no exception. We must have looked like some sort of traveling religion, to borrow Andy Griffith's phrase. We sure covered a lot of ground today. At least Loudon is pretty and beside the Tennessee River. In true homeschool Mom fashion, we hiked by all the historical road markers so we could "count" today.  The kids learned that Loudon County was once part of Blount County. Okay, we covered geography, history, and  [huff, huff, ouch my foot!]  physical education....

As we were walking, my son's shoes started to fall apart. So we had to make another stop to buy shoes after leaving the county clerk.  But thank the Lord, we just happened to find a store that carries wide width shoes at reasonable prices. Now we know where to shoe shop for him from now on! Can I count that as economics? :-)

Before leaving Loudon, we tried to find the post office.As youv'e guessed by now, I'm not familiar with that town.  Directions [why do I even ask?] said that it was a few blocks down the main street. After going the wrong way down a one way street, making two wrong turns, we get to this post office and see that the back road to the post office is only a block from the county clerk's office.  (Cheryl, we saw Halburt in town too, but since we were running behind didn't stop to say hello. If he saw us, please explain and offer my apologies!)

Next stop Knoxville and hubby's office. He had the checkbook in his truck, as well as the stroller. But I forgot and left it after getting the stroller loaded. But we did manage to fax off an insurance claim for Dad for a bill that topped $108,000. No, that's not a misprint.

When we got to the Fair, finally, I didn't have enough cash to purchase my membership for the SMHEA, just the general admission.  Do I try to find another atm or go on in and browse? Go back to hubby's office or browse? We browsed.  I assumed that the larger retailers would take a card. Well, they did, but some of the vendors only accepted cash or checks. The baby was getting fussy again, not crying, just not happy.  I decided to drive over to hubby's office, get the checkbook, and give her a chance to fall asleep.

We get the checkbook, the baby still isn't asleep, but we proceed BACK to the fair to buy our books. Once we get there, I took my  little girl in my arms and rocked her to sleep. All she needed was Mama Love!  She slept all cuddled in a blanket in the stroller  while we paid for our SMHEA membership, bought our books, and finally were done.  But by the time I returned to the fair some of the books I needed were sold out. 

Oh, well, we laughed all day, believe it or not and couldn't help but get tickled at my misadventures. The good part is that we have stayed UNDER our budget [good considering all the extra gas mileage and shoe leather spent today], and finally bought a Jonathon Park cd album . I am hooked already!   And I met Charlene Notgrass today and she was so helpful!  I can't wait to go back and purchase the Record of the Learning Lifestyle. 

After today, though, perhaps I'd better shop online from the comfort--and safety--of my recliner!!