1048 Sunset Boulevard

Family Fun Day at Shades Mountain

April 14, 2008 | Kid Brag

We had a great time with Bailey again this month. Jacob was unable to be with us this time. He got his first job working at Domino’s Pizza on the phones and had to work that day (he is saving up for a Gibson SG3 guitar which he Badly wants). Poor Lainie can hardly ever get a decent day off of work. She was able to be off at 2:30 on Saturday and we were planning to have a cookout at my house and then spend the evening playing badminton. Unfortunately Grady Gibbons 50th HS Reunion was the same night and he had to leave by 6:30 so it looked as though we might have only had a couple of hours to get together. However, Melissa called to tell me that Ethan’s Elementary school was having their Family Fun day and silent auction that afternoon and we have not missed one since Allie was in kindergarten 11 years ago. I called Lainie and we met at Melissa’s house and went on to the FFD. Farling was home to watch Bailey for the evening so we didn’t have to have Bailey back until 7 or so. We had a blast. Cake walks, inflatable fun rides, cotton Candy and of course the yearly ‘Silent’ auction (All proceeds go to the school) that Melissa uses to get bargains on the summer activities for the kids.

Allie is the MASTER of the Cake Walk. Every year she never has to enter more than 2-3 times before she gets a cake for her Mom and the younger boys.

Melissa, on the other hand,  stays in the auction room for a couple of hours and peruses the items she feels are requisite that the kids will need and systematically watches the rising of the bids until the last 60 seconds, whereupon she releases the folks she has drafted to put in the last bids and secure her items (this year it was only me). There were only 2 MUSTS this year. A Workout boot camp for her and the ‘Camp Cosby’ week for the 2 younger boys. For the boot camp I got the bid in in the last 15 seconds and paid $80 for the $210 item. The Camp Cosby was listed for $1500 (believe me that is realistic as I coughed up the funds for it last year). She got the bid in for $625. Her method is simple, walk over to the item in the last 15 seconds, slowly write down your number and bid and walk away WITH the pen as the clock ticks down 3…2…1! She has infuriated a dozen people over the years but has gotten her main item of interest every time.

Lainie even bid on and WON a watch for $15…. she called me when she got home to let me know that the watch didn’t even work:) I thanked her for donating the $15 to Ethan’s school and reminded her to write it off on her taxes next year.