Look out Sandpoint; the Cuz'ns are coming

I plan to laugh a lot this weekend cuz these two cuz'ns are coming to Sandpoint. I've already done some healthy laughing this week, thanks to Linda Aavedal. She came to the Lovestead yesterday with a lovely loaf of fresh whole wheat bread made from flour she'd ground herself. It was her first trip to the Lovestead, and she's bringin' her hubby Bob cuz he's got to see the place.

Anyway, during our visit, Linda put me on the floor once (literally) from making me laugh so hard. I told Linda this morning I don't think I've laughed quite so hysterically since the day the late Pat Gass (famous troll and sister to Pat McManus) told me the story of her childhood when her mom would proudly announce to the family that they were having fried baloney slices for dinner. Almost got kicked out of Connie's over that gigglefest.

There are no rules against laughing too long or too loud at the Lovestead, so I could sit there on the floor as long as I wanted to yesterday. Linda has managed to tickle my funny bone many a time during our long friendship. My favorite Linda tale involves a gas station in North Dakota where a person, having used the pot, lamented out loud the discovery of no toilet paper. Suddenly, this same person heard a noise, looked down and saw a hand coming through a hole in the cement wall. In the hand was a wad of TP.

Anyway, with that restroom situation solved, on to the cuz'ns showing up tomorrow. They haven't been to Sandpoint in more than 30 years. And, Bill has never seen the three of us in action together in one setting, ever in our marriage. Oh, he saw them and a lot more Brown family relatives last year at the reunion, but, to put it lightly, he's got quite a weekend ahead. I remember once back in the early '80s while I was in Seattle for a journalism convention, Patti and Sue came to my hotel. It got noisy. I still remember my stomach hurting from laughing so hard.

These gals know how to have a good time. They're WSU Cougs. Patti works in Bellevue for a youth organization and Sue pushes drugs all over Seattle (well, she sells pharmaceuticals to doctors offices). I got together with Sue in March for the St. Paddy's Day run/walk. The talking never stopped. Patti was ill then, so I'm sure this weekend she'll be making up for lost time.

I talked to Sue Saturday night on the phone, just as she was paying the bill at a Las Vegas restaurant and headed to Circus Ole. I learned later that they sure had a good time but didn't win a lot at the slot machines. Sandpoint may be a bit tamer than Las Vegas, but I think they're going to have a good time seeing the dramatic changes that have occurred here since they last came, maybe as far back as the '70s.

We're taking them to the Landing, formerly known as Swan's Landing and reportedly very good under its new ownership. I'm definitely planning for them to experience a breakfast at the Hoot Owl, and Bill will have the duties of picking out great outdoor venues where they can snap photos, do some hiking and maybe even get acquainted with geocaching.

Can you tell I'm excited? This should be a fun weekend, and I should shut up and go mow my yard. After all, I'm sure their stop at the Lovestead will be the highlight of their stay, and we've even promised them indoor beds rather than two nights in the new-old motorhome. Doesn't get any swankier than that!