Last week on the 18th, the kids and I finally made it to the summer concerts in the park, a city tradition for the last 100 years. We've been coming (some summers more than others) since the girls were toddlers, and last year I don't think we didn't miss a single concert. We won't make every concert this summer, but we'll make at least a few of our favorites.
A simple picnic supper (large hoaggies from the deli - not fancy but very yummy, and cheap - $6 each ... two was more than enough for four adults and four kids; fresh strawberries; Pringles and pink lemonade), followed by homemade ice cream from our favorite ice cream shop, and a relaxing hour of listening to the band and chatting, while the kids play in the field behind us. Summer doesn't get better than this!
Here are pictures from tonights children's concert ... next week, is their patriotic concert, of course, and we'll have cousins in town to share the fun with!
You are now officially invited to join the festivities at Bob and Diane's on the 4th. Email me if you need directions and feel free to bring family and friends.
Per our usual rules.
- Please do not bring your own fireworks or sparklers or anything that requires a lighter - we'll have plenty of that on hand, I promise. Instead, slip GR a five dollar bill and call it good.
- Keep track of your children at all times. The crowd gets bigger and bigger each year and we do not want little ones or big ones to get hurt. Especially during sparkler time and once the big show starts.
- I will continue to provide all the ice cream and root beer. I wonder how many we'll make this year. Last year we did 144 ... You're welcome to offer to bring one or the other, but I will decline the offer. Too many things happen last minute and I don't want to count on your box or 2-liter and have it not show. Instead, if you're really set on wanting to help, bring me a a dollar or two to cover the cost of a box or 2-liter, and we'll call it good.
UPDATE Glitch #4: So the saga with my ZUNE is nearly over ... I hope. Here's where GR and I differ. Two weeks ago he would have mailed off the ZUNE and paid whatever it cost to have it fixed ... I ...
- After calling the credit card company and learning they can only look at our records for the past 60 days, have GR look up the credit card activity for last summer online, determining that he purchased the ZUNE at ToysRUs on 6/25/07! We're in luck it's still under warranty!!
- Called ZUNE to say, the item is under warranty and purchased on 6/25/07, I have a credit card statement showing the date of purchase, store location with a transaction number. Not good enough. Must show purchase information stating that the charge was for a ZUNE device. They suggest calling the credit card company to obtain a proof of purchase stating the above.
- Called the local ToysRUs store to see if they could print a receipt for me ... assistant manager could only access last 90 days, store manager was out of the office for the next few days at another store opening and he MIGHT be able to ... call back in a few days to talk with him.
- Called the credit card company to confirm that there was no way for them to itemize a previous purchase, or confirm proof of purchase of a ZUNE on the ToysRUs transaction. (This amazes me. In the age of technology, where a consumers buying habits are tracked with such detail and accuracy that you get junk mail tailored to your specific interests and buying habits, my own credit card company doesn't know/care what I'm purchasing, just where and how much I'm spending.)
- Called ToysRUs 1-800 customer service to see if they could access the receipt. Filed a claim and obtained a case number ... was told they would see what they could do (but not to get my hopes up) and get back with me in 72 hours. They called back, obtained more information from me about my case. Another customer service rep called this week to say they found the itemized receipt and would mail me a copy. I should have it by Friday!!
I am so excited - $109.95 saved. I'm now reading, at a snails pace, a borrowed print copy of Harry Potter and the Gobblet of Fire. The CD's were checked out of the library when I stopped in on Saturday, and I didn't want to mess with cassette tapes.
Glitch #5: I neglected to mention that Alexander decided to dunk (read fully submerge multiple times) my cellphone in his milk at lunch a few weeks ago. It took a little over a week to remove all the milk and milk fat residue from the buttons, battery and charger connection. But it now seems to be back in working order.
