3.31.2010
6.28.2009
What in the Heck is Going On????
Billy Mays has died!!!!
This week has seriously been CRAZY!
I can not tell you how many times I have heard "Mom, come quick, you've got to see this" Then when I get there, I see on the TV, Billy Mays big face and Austin ABSOLUTLY ready to shill out for any product he is pitching.
(thank goodness that kid doesn't have a credit card!)
R.I.P. Billy Mays
This week has seriously been CRAZY!
I can not tell you how many times I have heard "Mom, come quick, you've got to see this" Then when I get there, I see on the TV, Billy Mays big face and Austin ABSOLUTLY ready to shill out for any product he is pitching.
(thank goodness that kid doesn't have a credit card!)
R.I.P. Billy Mays
5.31.2009
5.21.2009
5.20.2009
Graduation
Last night was Dominic's High School Graduation.
Wow.
He is such an awesome kid and I am so proud of him! I can't believe he will be going off to college, its crazy to think how fast it has all gone by.
Last week was the Awards Ceremony. He received the following:
* Top 10% of the Class of 2009
* Beloit College Eaton Scholarship
* American University Dean's Scholarship
* Northern Arizona University President's Scholarship
* Arizona Board of Regents High Honors Tuition Scholarship
* New York University Global Liberal Studies Program Scholarship
That's right, the boy can now be referred to as, Mr. Smarty Pants!
Here he is with his dad and Julie
I will be forever grateful for the amazing job that has gone into parenting him.
Thank You.
Austin was my "date" for the awards ceremony, as Bill was out of town.
He was rewarded with a cookie.
****
SO MUCH has been going on the last few weeks.
It has been CRAZY BUSY.
I will do a "run-down" post soon, hopefully.
***
This was a poem that was read last night at the graduation.
I thought it was awesome and I needed to hear it.
So I'll leave you with this:
DO GOOD ANYWAY...
"In the Final Analysis"
by Mother Teresa
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered...
forgive them anyway
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives...
be kind anyway
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies...
succeed anyway
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you...
be honest and frank anyway
What you may spend years building, someone may destroy overnight...
build anyway
If you find serenity and happiness, people may be jealous...
be happy anyway
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow...
do good anyway
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough...
give the world the best you have anyway
You see, in the final analysis, it's all between you and God...
it was never between you and them anyway
Wow.
He is such an awesome kid and I am so proud of him! I can't believe he will be going off to college, its crazy to think how fast it has all gone by.
Last week was the Awards Ceremony. He received the following:
* Top 10% of the Class of 2009
* Beloit College Eaton Scholarship
* American University Dean's Scholarship
* Northern Arizona University President's Scholarship
* Arizona Board of Regents High Honors Tuition Scholarship
* New York University Global Liberal Studies Program Scholarship
That's right, the boy can now be referred to as, Mr. Smarty Pants!
Here he is with his dad and Julie
I will be forever grateful for the amazing job that has gone into parenting him.
Thank You.
Austin was my "date" for the awards ceremony, as Bill was out of town.
He was rewarded with a cookie.
****
SO MUCH has been going on the last few weeks.
It has been CRAZY BUSY.
I will do a "run-down" post soon, hopefully.
***
This was a poem that was read last night at the graduation.
I thought it was awesome and I needed to hear it.
So I'll leave you with this:
DO GOOD ANYWAY...
"In the Final Analysis"
by Mother Teresa
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered...
forgive them anyway
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives...
be kind anyway
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies...
succeed anyway
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you...
be honest and frank anyway
What you may spend years building, someone may destroy overnight...
build anyway
If you find serenity and happiness, people may be jealous...
be happy anyway
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow...
do good anyway
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough...
give the world the best you have anyway
You see, in the final analysis, it's all between you and God...
it was never between you and them anyway
4.29.2009
Swine. Flu.
If I hear these words one more time in the next 15 minutes, I WILL scream!!!!
I'm sure its serious, but OMG the media latches on to something and does not let go.
I'm sure its serious, but OMG the media latches on to something and does not let go.
4.27.2009
Since I have no memory, and this IS my blog, I like to use it to remember things I would otherwise forget within moments of it happening.
Like conversations I have with my kids.
OMG.
Some of them are hillarious.
Like the time I overheard Dominic & Doug talking about school cafeteria food (specifically, meatloaf). I had to go write it down verbatim so I wouldn't forget the details. To this day, that conversation ranks at the top of my "Best Conversations of ALL TIME" lists. Too. Funny.
Anyways...I digress.
Sunday morning I met up with Dominic for breakfast.
He recently went and had a "Prospective Student" visit with the college he is interested in attending.
He was telling me all about it and the things he did while he was there.
But a few of the "Bullet Points" for that conversation are these:
- EVERYONE in college is "bi".
- Because of the above, he thinks while attending college, you should be given a colored wristband so that you know who you can safely "flirt with" so as not to get yourself into a "awkward" situation, or offend someone.
- EVERYONE has facial hair. So he was contemplating how he would work this. He doesn't like sideburns, and he's not really feeling the "billy goat goatee". One of the guys that had one, was eating soup, and apparantly not all the soup ended up in his mouth. The goatee worked as kind of a catch all for his meals. So he's still trying to figure out how to work this in. Any ideas?
- EVERYONE is a protester.
All in all, it sounds like he had a good time. He is looking VERY forward to starting this next chapter of his life.
It should make for some VERY good conversations.
Like conversations I have with my kids.
OMG.
Some of them are hillarious.
Like the time I overheard Dominic & Doug talking about school cafeteria food (specifically, meatloaf). I had to go write it down verbatim so I wouldn't forget the details. To this day, that conversation ranks at the top of my "Best Conversations of ALL TIME" lists. Too. Funny.
Anyways...I digress.
Sunday morning I met up with Dominic for breakfast.
He recently went and had a "Prospective Student" visit with the college he is interested in attending.
He was telling me all about it and the things he did while he was there.
But a few of the "Bullet Points" for that conversation are these:
- EVERYONE in college is "bi".
- Because of the above, he thinks while attending college, you should be given a colored wristband so that you know who you can safely "flirt with" so as not to get yourself into a "awkward" situation, or offend someone.
- EVERYONE has facial hair. So he was contemplating how he would work this. He doesn't like sideburns, and he's not really feeling the "billy goat goatee". One of the guys that had one, was eating soup, and apparantly not all the soup ended up in his mouth. The goatee worked as kind of a catch all for his meals. So he's still trying to figure out how to work this in. Any ideas?
- EVERYONE is a protester.
All in all, it sounds like he had a good time. He is looking VERY forward to starting this next chapter of his life.
It should make for some VERY good conversations.
4.26.2009
Hiking
I have lived in Arizona for going on 40 years (yikes!!!!) and this weekend was the FIRST TIME that I have ever been to the Superstition Mountains.
Isn't that crazy?
Especially since we live 10 minutes away and we have driven by them hundreds of times going to the lake. Anyways....
It was a memorial hike for brothers that went to Emmy's school that were killed by a drunk driver recently. The family was coming home from the boys Little League game, two teenagers in another car were drunk and ran a stop sign. The whole situation is very sad.
Back to the hike -
I thought I was in pretty good shape...
Well, I would be WRONG.
It was about 5 miles, and it kicked my butt, or maybe it was the HORRIBLE allergies I had all weekend. But between the two, I was pretty much out of commission by Saturday night.
The hike was fun, and the view was pretty. We could see downtown Phoenix from the top, and it's at least 40 miles away. I thought that was cool.
Isn't that crazy?
Especially since we live 10 minutes away and we have driven by them hundreds of times going to the lake. Anyways....
It was a memorial hike for brothers that went to Emmy's school that were killed by a drunk driver recently. The family was coming home from the boys Little League game, two teenagers in another car were drunk and ran a stop sign. The whole situation is very sad.
Back to the hike -
I thought I was in pretty good shape...
Well, I would be WRONG.
It was about 5 miles, and it kicked my butt, or maybe it was the HORRIBLE allergies I had all weekend. But between the two, I was pretty much out of commission by Saturday night.
The hike was fun, and the view was pretty. We could see downtown Phoenix from the top, and it's at least 40 miles away. I thought that was cool.
4.22.2009
Dog & Beth
Yeah, we are on a first name basis around here.
Let me back up a bit-
A few weeks ago, we were out somewhere (can't remember where) and we came across a lady who looked IDENTICAL to Beth (she was even scarfing/slurping up NACHOS), she's Dog the Bounty Hunter's wife.
I made this observation out loud to the girls, who gave me a completely blank look.
"Who's Beth?" they asked.
So me OBVIOUSLY having dropped my mothering/mentoring somewhere along the way, took the opportunity to school them in all things Dog.
They were STILL not impressed or intrigued to find out more.
UNTIL....
a few days later, I was looking for something to watch on a late Saturday afternoon, and its like the TV Universe had heard my pleas for help.
There was a Dog the Bounty Hunter MARATHON!!!!!!!
Holy. Crappola.
I called to the girls to "come quick" so I could show them who I had been talking about.
They could not look away.
Bill was gone for the weekend, so we all parked ourselves on the couch and watched the whole thing.
Hours and hours of Dog and his clan.
Awesomeness.
So when I hopped on over to AZCentral this morning, and saw this, I had to stop and have a moment of silence for him.
Please Dog...be safe.
Let me back up a bit-
A few weeks ago, we were out somewhere (can't remember where) and we came across a lady who looked IDENTICAL to Beth (she was even scarfing/slurping up NACHOS), she's Dog the Bounty Hunter's wife.
I made this observation out loud to the girls, who gave me a completely blank look.
"Who's Beth?" they asked.
So me OBVIOUSLY having dropped my mothering/mentoring somewhere along the way, took the opportunity to school them in all things Dog.
They were STILL not impressed or intrigued to find out more.
UNTIL....
a few days later, I was looking for something to watch on a late Saturday afternoon, and its like the TV Universe had heard my pleas for help.
There was a Dog the Bounty Hunter MARATHON!!!!!!!
Holy. Crappola.
I called to the girls to "come quick" so I could show them who I had been talking about.
They could not look away.
Bill was gone for the weekend, so we all parked ourselves on the couch and watched the whole thing.
Hours and hours of Dog and his clan.
Awesomeness.
So when I hopped on over to AZCentral this morning, and saw this, I had to stop and have a moment of silence for him.
Please Dog...be safe.
4.20.2009
Sunday Stealing: The 40 meme
1. My uncle once: Turned his head to the side to talk to someone across the room, I was sitting next to him and his ears had SO MUCH oozing wax in them I was completely grossed/freaked out! Then every year when I would see them, that was the first thing I would check, ALWAYS the same. GROSS. So now, as keeper of my own ears, I am OBSESSED with Q-tips. They are your friend....use them!
2. Never in my life: have I met a cockroach worth not killing!
3. When I was seventeen: DO NOT EVEN WANT TO GO THERE!!!!!
4. High School was : the absolute worst. Hated it.
5. I will never forget : my mom lying in the back yard sunbathing and catching the garbage men peeking over the fence at her. HILLARIOUS!
6. I once met : you have to leave the house to meet people....
7. There’s this girl I know who :
8. Once, at a bar : Not a drinker.
9. By noon, I’m usually : ready for another Monster!
10. Last night : I watched the Amazing Race. I know this is not PC, but I am SERIOUSLY sick of/annoyed with the deaf guy and his momma. Last night was complete BS with the whole shoving incident and him trying to make it all Keisha & Jen's fault.
11. If only I had : more patience.
12. Next time I go to church : I REALLY hope we get there early enough to not have to sit in the back. We've been getting there 20-30 min early and STILL end up back there and I can't hear a thing. Yes, I am one of those crotchety old ladies that give dirty looks to the kids that run around playing when they should be sitting.
13. Susan Boyle : When I saw that clip my first thought was...Susan Boyle??? That's the name of that girl I worked with at Eegee's that my boyfriend at the time, Merrit, was COMPLETELY infatuated with, but always denied it. Drove me insane! She also drove the car that I had dreamed of my entire life. A white rag top convertible VW.
14. What worries me most : don't EVEN get me started.....
15. When I turn my head left, I see : can't turn my head, the whole cervical spinal fusion thing...
16. When I turn my head right, I see : see #15.
17. You know I’m lying when : listen, I have the memory of a lemon, it does me NO GOOD to try and lie. it's the truth or nothin'...
18. What I miss most about the eighties : there is not a thing I miss about the 80's.
19. If I was a character in Shakespeare, I’d be : Juliet
20. By this time next year :
21. A better name for me would be :
22. I have a hard time understanding : why math is required in school. And since it is, why can't it come with personal tutors so I can stop looking like a complete idiot when my kids ask for help.
23. If I ever go back to school, I’ll : SCREAM!!!! I've thought about it a few times, but with my ADD there is NO WAY I could sit in that chair listening longer than 15 minutes. No. Way.
24. You know I like you if : I talk to you
25. If I ever won an award, the first person I’d thank would be : depends on what the award is for.
26. When I compare 80’s rock to 90’s rock : love them both
27. Take my advice, never : buy a car new, over rated.
28. My ideal breakfast is : 2 Monster's and 1/2 an "Everything" bagel
29. A song I love, but do not own is : oh this is a good ?. Heard a song yesterday on the way home from Vegas and thought "i need to download that when we get home, but.....forgot what it was. See #17
30. If you visit my hometown, I suggest : don't come in the summer. You will die.
31. My favorite Beatle is : John Lennon. I was 11, I can remember going to Wool Co. with my family, and I was up in the front of the store near the comic books and magazines and all the magazines had John on the cover. He had just been shot. It completely fascinated me. That same year in school we had to write a research report on someone famous and i chose him. LOVE him. Yoko...not so much.
32. Why won’t people : lighten up?
33. If you spend the night at my house : I will make you Hoot Nanny pancakes. For sleepovers that is what I do.
34. I’d stop my wedding for : calling my parents to let them know I was just minutes away from driving to Vegas, so if they wanted to be there, they should probably get on it.
35. The world could do without : stupid people
36. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than : Speak in front of a crowded room.
37. My favorite blonde is : Emmy
38: Paper clips are more useful than : string
39. If I do anything well, it’s : over think.
40. And by the way : I can't believe I've done another one of these things!
2. Never in my life: have I met a cockroach worth not killing!
3. When I was seventeen: DO NOT EVEN WANT TO GO THERE!!!!!
4. High School was : the absolute worst. Hated it.
5. I will never forget : my mom lying in the back yard sunbathing and catching the garbage men peeking over the fence at her. HILLARIOUS!
6. I once met : you have to leave the house to meet people....
7. There’s this girl I know who :
8. Once, at a bar : Not a drinker.
9. By noon, I’m usually : ready for another Monster!
10. Last night : I watched the Amazing Race. I know this is not PC, but I am SERIOUSLY sick of/annoyed with the deaf guy and his momma. Last night was complete BS with the whole shoving incident and him trying to make it all Keisha & Jen's fault.
11. If only I had : more patience.
12. Next time I go to church : I REALLY hope we get there early enough to not have to sit in the back. We've been getting there 20-30 min early and STILL end up back there and I can't hear a thing. Yes, I am one of those crotchety old ladies that give dirty looks to the kids that run around playing when they should be sitting.
13. Susan Boyle : When I saw that clip my first thought was...Susan Boyle??? That's the name of that girl I worked with at Eegee's that my boyfriend at the time, Merrit, was COMPLETELY infatuated with, but always denied it. Drove me insane! She also drove the car that I had dreamed of my entire life. A white rag top convertible VW.
14. What worries me most : don't EVEN get me started.....
15. When I turn my head left, I see : can't turn my head, the whole cervical spinal fusion thing...
16. When I turn my head right, I see : see #15.
17. You know I’m lying when : listen, I have the memory of a lemon, it does me NO GOOD to try and lie. it's the truth or nothin'...
18. What I miss most about the eighties : there is not a thing I miss about the 80's.
19. If I was a character in Shakespeare, I’d be : Juliet
20. By this time next year :
21. A better name for me would be :
22. I have a hard time understanding : why math is required in school. And since it is, why can't it come with personal tutors so I can stop looking like a complete idiot when my kids ask for help.
23. If I ever go back to school, I’ll : SCREAM!!!! I've thought about it a few times, but with my ADD there is NO WAY I could sit in that chair listening longer than 15 minutes. No. Way.
24. You know I like you if : I talk to you
25. If I ever won an award, the first person I’d thank would be : depends on what the award is for.
26. When I compare 80’s rock to 90’s rock : love them both
27. Take my advice, never : buy a car new, over rated.
28. My ideal breakfast is : 2 Monster's and 1/2 an "Everything" bagel
29. A song I love, but do not own is : oh this is a good ?. Heard a song yesterday on the way home from Vegas and thought "i need to download that when we get home, but.....forgot what it was. See #17
30. If you visit my hometown, I suggest : don't come in the summer. You will die.
31. My favorite Beatle is : John Lennon. I was 11, I can remember going to Wool Co. with my family, and I was up in the front of the store near the comic books and magazines and all the magazines had John on the cover. He had just been shot. It completely fascinated me. That same year in school we had to write a research report on someone famous and i chose him. LOVE him. Yoko...not so much.
32. Why won’t people : lighten up?
33. If you spend the night at my house : I will make you Hoot Nanny pancakes. For sleepovers that is what I do.
34. I’d stop my wedding for : calling my parents to let them know I was just minutes away from driving to Vegas, so if they wanted to be there, they should probably get on it.
35. The world could do without : stupid people
36. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than : Speak in front of a crowded room.
37. My favorite blonde is : Emmy
38: Paper clips are more useful than : string
39. If I do anything well, it’s : over think.
40. And by the way : I can't believe I've done another one of these things!
4.13.2009
Holy Smokes!
Who knew Hannah Montana could make me bawl like a little baby?
Is this a little...
Shocking?
Disturbing?
Pathetic?
Probably a combo of all of thee above.
But first I should probably back up to Friday, because that is when this whole cry-fest of a weekend started.
I hung out with Dominic, who is less than 2 months away from moving over 1,600 miles away. That was the first major crack in my already fragile emotional armour.
THEN, when I walked in the door from being with him, I was greeted with a BEAUTIFUL, SPARKLING, CLEAN house. When I had left it earlier it was nice & clean but when I came home it was IMMACULATE. You see, I have been blessed with a daughter who thrives on cleaning.
She had done the whole. entire. house.
I know...impressive.
BUT - I soon found out it came with strings attached.
She wanted to have friends over. I just wasn't in the mood.
I know, I know...MEAN MOM!!!!
She was crushed, then she was mad. I felt bad, but not bad enough to change my mind.
The rest of the day was meh.
Finally I had had enough of that day.
I was cranky and annoyed so I headed up to my room.
There was NOTHING on.
I came across Friday Night Lights it was about mid-way through the episode. I had never seen it before. It was good. VERY GOOD. SO good that Saturday I had it on my to-do list to go out and get. Which I did. Bill and I spent Saturday afternoon watching a few episodes while the kids were all out. I kept finding myself wiping puddles of tears from my face.
I AM NOT AN EMOTIONAL PERSON!!!!!
What in the H is going on with me???
pregnant?
menopause?
NEITHER are a GOOD diagnosis.
It must be the toll of the last several months and worrying about what our future holds. All I know is at some point during this weekend, I found myself sitting in a movie theater, with both my daughters and my husband, watching a girl I was SURE we'd be over by now, and I was BAWLING!!!!!
LOVE this song. LOVE the message.
For the record: I LIKE this girl, I like her music. I even listen to it if there are no kids around. I think she is VERY talented. And I CERTAINLY wouldn't want to be 16 years old with the eyes of the world watching my every move WAITING for me to make a wrong one. In my house, we make sure our kids know that the things and people to be admired are ones that work hard, learn from their mistakes and treat people well. Money, fame, glitz & glamour are fleating.
Also: I was distracted by her teeth through most of the movie, am I being shallow and nit-picky?
And: Billy Ray's chest is getting "old-man" looking.
Just sayin'....
*****
Sunday night was spent consolling Emmy about Easter.
It was SO sad.
This year we did NOTHING for Easter.
No Easter pageant.
No egg hunt.
No family get together.
She was really upset about it.
Next year I will have to remember that age is just a number and family traditions should stay intact. Sometimes I think that the kids are/should be past something and CLEARLY they are not.
Hope everyone had a Hoppy Easter. (ha ha haaa... )
Who knew Hannah Montana could make me bawl like a little baby?
Is this a little...
Shocking?
Disturbing?
Pathetic?
Probably a combo of all of thee above.
But first I should probably back up to Friday, because that is when this whole cry-fest of a weekend started.
I hung out with Dominic, who is less than 2 months away from moving over 1,600 miles away. That was the first major crack in my already fragile emotional armour.
THEN, when I walked in the door from being with him, I was greeted with a BEAUTIFUL, SPARKLING, CLEAN house. When I had left it earlier it was nice & clean but when I came home it was IMMACULATE. You see, I have been blessed with a daughter who thrives on cleaning.
She had done the whole. entire. house.
I know...impressive.
BUT - I soon found out it came with strings attached.
She wanted to have friends over. I just wasn't in the mood.
I know, I know...MEAN MOM!!!!
She was crushed, then she was mad. I felt bad, but not bad enough to change my mind.
The rest of the day was meh.
Finally I had had enough of that day.
I was cranky and annoyed so I headed up to my room.
There was NOTHING on.
I came across Friday Night Lights it was about mid-way through the episode. I had never seen it before. It was good. VERY GOOD. SO good that Saturday I had it on my to-do list to go out and get. Which I did. Bill and I spent Saturday afternoon watching a few episodes while the kids were all out. I kept finding myself wiping puddles of tears from my face.
I AM NOT AN EMOTIONAL PERSON!!!!!
What in the H is going on with me???
pregnant?
menopause?
NEITHER are a GOOD diagnosis.
It must be the toll of the last several months and worrying about what our future holds. All I know is at some point during this weekend, I found myself sitting in a movie theater, with both my daughters and my husband, watching a girl I was SURE we'd be over by now, and I was BAWLING!!!!!
LOVE this song. LOVE the message.
For the record: I LIKE this girl, I like her music. I even listen to it if there are no kids around. I think she is VERY talented. And I CERTAINLY wouldn't want to be 16 years old with the eyes of the world watching my every move WAITING for me to make a wrong one. In my house, we make sure our kids know that the things and people to be admired are ones that work hard, learn from their mistakes and treat people well. Money, fame, glitz & glamour are fleating.
Also: I was distracted by her teeth through most of the movie, am I being shallow and nit-picky?
And: Billy Ray's chest is getting "old-man" looking.
Just sayin'....
*****
Sunday night was spent consolling Emmy about Easter.
It was SO sad.
This year we did NOTHING for Easter.
No Easter pageant.
No egg hunt.
No family get together.
She was really upset about it.
Next year I will have to remember that age is just a number and family traditions should stay intact. Sometimes I think that the kids are/should be past something and CLEARLY they are not.
Hope everyone had a Hoppy Easter. (ha ha haaa... )
4.09.2009
Hey Ya'll!
Slowly coming out of hibernation.
Its been a LONG, DARK winter.
***
So...how's everyone doing?
hanging' in there?
***
Just a little nugget from Tuesday night that made me oh so happy.
Yes, that's right -
There is a BRAND SPANKIN' NEW batch of Real Housewives and these ones are from NEW JERSEY!!!!
I'm Super. Excited.
NOTE: UGGG!!! Just tried to add a YouTube clip for you, but there is NONE.
How can this be?
Its been a LONG, DARK winter.
***
So...how's everyone doing?
hanging' in there?
***
Just a little nugget from Tuesday night that made me oh so happy.
Yes, that's right -
There is a BRAND SPANKIN' NEW batch of Real Housewives and these ones are from NEW JERSEY!!!!
I'm Super. Excited.
NOTE: UGGG!!! Just tried to add a YouTube clip for you, but there is NONE.
How can this be?
4.07.2009
Long time coming.
10.22.2008
Too Cool!
I signed up to receive a free 'Obama' pin to add to my pin collection. as a result, I've received A LOT of propaganda. This particular thing I found to be hillarious. I've watched it about 30 times.
8.22.2008
The Trunk
How do you know when it's okay to let go of something?
So for now it sits in a trailor awaiting its fate.
1995: The Apartment
2001 Halloween: The Rental House
2007 Dominic: SE Valley House
(lower RH corner you can see the edge)
You know what?
IT'S STAYING!!!!
Who knew doing this post was going to be such an emotional rollercoaster for me?
..
Once again, I win!
(not that I'm keeping score or anything.)
Off Topic: Last night I made this Peanut Butter Pie. OMG!!! SOOOO good! I added shaved chocolate on top...to die for. You people need to stop already with the good recipes-this "Troll-Body" can't afford to gain anymore weight!
If someone takes the time or makes an effort to give me something, I will find some way to use it, and will probably never get rid of it. I also have this same problem in regards to things that remind me of certain situations, time periods or my children.
If they draw me a picture or write me a note, you KNOW I will be keeping it.
The trouble comes in trying to find space to KEEP all this stuff. I mean, its not to the point yet where I have stacks of stuff lining the hallways and emergency personnel will have a difficult time getting the gurney in should I need help. But I feel its getting close.
I have been trying to clean things out and widdle down to things I ABSOLUTELY love. I'm tired of "stuff" I just want nice, clean, spaces.
But we've come across a....I don't know what word I'm looking for here. But I have a trunk, I want to keep it, Bill wants Goodwill to get it.
So for now it sits in a trailor awaiting its fate.
He sees HIDEOUS.
I see:
A new beginning.
- We were just coming out of a VERY ROUGH few years. We had both gotten to the point where we were done with living the way things were, and if we were going to make our marriage and our family work, LOTS of things had to change.
And they did.
- I had just lost custody of my oldest son, and it nearly sent me to the brink of despair. But had to then come to the realization that I had to snap out of it for all involved, my self pity wasn't going to do him or me or anyone any good. It was what it was and I had to make the best of it.
- I was pregnant with Awesome Austin.
I saw the trunk at a yard sale down the street from the apartment in Little Mexico. They were asking $20.00 for it. I wanted it DESPERATELY. It was a Friday morning. I did not have .20 cents let alone $20.00. It stayed there.
The next day, when we went out for our walk again, I noticed it was still there. I stopped to look at it again, and the person having the yard sale said, "you can have it for $5.00." I said I'd have to come back, as I didn't have money with me (or at home or anywhere else for that matter). I spent the next few hours so nervous someone would come along and buy it. Bill FINALLY got home from work and I told him about it and how much it was, he told me I should go buy it, and gave me 5 bucks from the paycheck he had just cashed.
Bill stayed with the kids while I FLEW down to that house. It was still there. I gave her the money and dragged the trunk home. I set it up as an end table by the couch. I placed some magazines on it that my mother had given me, and put a little plant on it. I felt like I had just made the literal transformation to
Suzy Homemaker.
Suzy Homemaker.
Every time we have moved, it has made the move with us, and most of the time it has been spent being a coffee table.
1995: The Apartment
2001 Halloween: The Rental House
2007 Dominic: SE Valley House
(lower RH corner you can see the edge)
You know what?
IT'S STAYING!!!!
Who knew doing this post was going to be such an emotional rollercoaster for me?
..
Once again, I win!
(not that I'm keeping score or anything.)
Off Topic: Last night I made this Peanut Butter Pie. OMG!!! SOOOO good! I added shaved chocolate on top...to die for. You people need to stop already with the good recipes-this "Troll-Body" can't afford to gain anymore weight!
8.20.2008
Shrimp
So, about six months ago, the girls start begging for a new pet. I tell them "NO. I think 93 dogs is enough."
They keep pleading and bugging over the next few weeks. I finally give in and say they can get another fish. So one day, I dropped them off at PetSmart while I went to Wal-Mart so they could pick out their new fish. When I pick them up, they come out and they are both just GRINNING from ear to ear, "We got Shrimp!" Now if you knew my daughter Holly, at this point you would think, Shrimp, of course, it makes PERFECT sense.
There was four shrimp, and they set up their home on the bathroom counter, as the bathroom is common domain.
Well, I thought they'd live a couple of weeks, and then we'd be done.
OH NO. Those suckers live forever.
Or so I thought.
I had held off on relocating them, hoping they would die, so I could just wash out the tank and be done with it. (again, another nomination for Mother of the Year!)
So Emmy is with me last week, I was downstairs and she was upstairs.
I finished what I had been doing, and went up to help her. I see her in the bathroom leaning over the tank with the Shrimp food shaker.
I yell, "WHAT IN THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"
Emmy: "I'm feeding the shrimp. Oh mom, you should have seen them, I got here in JUST the nick of time. They were almost dead."
I was THIS close to being free of having that tank on the counter. ARGGHH!
So I breathe a heavy sigh and come to the realization that the shrimp and their habitat will be relocating as well. So yesterday I put them in the car and when I got here I brought them in and put them on my bathroom counter for the time being.
This morning I was giving Muffin a haircut and Emmy came in and saw the tank.
E: OHHH...Yay. I didn't know they were here.
Me: Yeah, I brought them yesterday. See, I'm a nice mom after all.
Emmy peers into the tank, then she lets out a shreek-
THEY'RE ALL CUT IN HALF!!!!
WHAT DID YOU DOOOOOO?
YOUR A SHRIMP KILLERRRRR!!!!!!!
and she runs to her room, furious with me.
Add Murderous Shrimp Killer to my LONG list of names.
FOR THE RECORD: I guess the rocks on the bottom of their tank, shifted back and forth in the car and they must have got caught up in them. I did not cut them in half.
8.18.2008
The Olympics
So, Emmy has had to follow the Olympics, specifically Wrestling, for school. So we DVR, than watch when we can. Cause really, who has an extra 17 hours a day to watch them?
I'm REALLY embarrassed to say this, but I am TOTALLY confused.
I thought they were for amateur athletes.
I'm not trying to be sarcastic here, but really, isn't that what they used to be?
I really enjoy watching them, but then when I read the news or listen to recaps on the radio, I get lost.
Like this morning when I ran Em to school.
On the radio they were talking about them, "Michael Phelps...gazillion gold medals...girls gymnastics...blahhh...Venus & Serena Williams....
WAIT.
HOLD UP.
TOTALLY confused.
Aren't Venus & Serena tennis Pros?
I'm not into sports too much, but I read enough to know their names.
Why are they in the Olympics?
And how does Michael Phelps earn 5 million dollars last year and is still considered an amateur?
I'm going to go "Bone Up" on my Olympic knowledge, because this is really bugging me not knowing the criteria.
Um.....apparently I'm NOT soooooo busy.
UPDATE:
Holy Schneitters!!!!
Who knew this was such a SENSITIVE subject.
This was the first response I found when I googled:
I'm REALLY embarrassed to say this, but I am TOTALLY confused.
I thought they were for amateur athletes.
I'm not trying to be sarcastic here, but really, isn't that what they used to be?
I really enjoy watching them, but then when I read the news or listen to recaps on the radio, I get lost.
Like this morning when I ran Em to school.
On the radio they were talking about them, "Michael Phelps...gazillion gold medals...girls gymnastics...blahhh...Venus & Serena Williams....
WAIT.
HOLD UP.
TOTALLY confused.
Aren't Venus & Serena tennis Pros?
I'm not into sports too much, but I read enough to know their names.
Why are they in the Olympics?
And how does Michael Phelps earn 5 million dollars last year and is still considered an amateur?
I'm going to go "Bone Up" on my Olympic knowledge, because this is really bugging me not knowing the criteria.
Um.....apparently I'm NOT soooooo busy.
UPDATE:
Holy Schneitters!!!!
Who knew this was such a SENSITIVE subject.
This was the first response I found when I googled:
Question: "Are the Olympics for Amateurs or Professionals"
Answer: The Olympics hasn't been about Amateurs since 1988. Look it up, moron.
Answer: The Olympics hasn't been about Amateurs since 1988. Look it up, moron.
So,
they're for both amateurs and professionals and I'm a moron.
Case closed.
Amy
As I've stated on this blog about oh, I don't know, maybe a thousand times (sorry) I am a HUGE music fan, I LOVE it. And a favorite at my house is one Amy Winehouse. In fact, if you were to go on a Road Trip with me and my fam, there would be 3 things you could be guaranteed of: Amy, Garth and Kid Rock. oh...AND lots of Bathroom Breaks. Anywhoo, where was I.....
Ah yes, Amy, or as a site I go to, calls her, The Crackie of Camden. Anyways, EVERY TIME i see a picture of her or a headline with her name, I'm sure that its going to say she's dead. It's such a shame she can't get a hold of her life, she is SO talented. I love her!
Yes, this was kind of a random post, but hey, I'm busy. Cut me some slack okay.
Ah yes, Amy, or as a site I go to, calls her, The Crackie of Camden. Anyways, EVERY TIME i see a picture of her or a headline with her name, I'm sure that its going to say she's dead. It's such a shame she can't get a hold of her life, she is SO talented. I love her!
Yes, this was kind of a random post, but hey, I'm busy. Cut me some slack okay.
8.17.2008
Mandy
It's Sunday Morning, I've been up for a couple of hours now, and everyone else is still asleep. Not sure why, but I just got to reflecting about things, and my thoughts turned to Mandy, our little yorkie we lost about this same time last summer. And since this is the closest thing I've ever had to a journal I wanted to write about it here. For those of you that know the story or are heartless non-animal lovers here is your exit opportunity.
My birthday is July 6th. Every year our vacation usually falls around this time. Last summer was a little "vacation crazy", we had sent Dominic, one of our older boys, to Europe for a month, Holly had girls camp, and Bill had wanted to do a cruise. Since we had already been to the Carribbean a few times, and a European cruise in the summer did not interest me at all with all the tourist and the heat, so, we decided, we would go on an Alaskan Cruise. Everyone was excited but me & Dominic, who decided he did not want to go, and would just stay here and recoperate from his trip. Now, I AM NOT an outdoors-y kind of girl. I mean, I always end up having a good time, because that's how I choose to be, but nature is not my first choice. So to kind of balance things, Bill took me to NYC for a few days. We had a girl from our church come stay with the kids, and her family lives just down the road from us. She's stayed with them several times when we've gone away, the kids LOVE her and so everyone was SUPER excited. As usual, we told them they could e-mail us as much as they wanted but to limit cell calls to an emergency only basis. (to be honest, the first "I miss youuuuu call is kind of sweet, but every hour gets a lee-tle bit old. I know, I'm mean & heartless)
So, Bill & I are in NYC having a GREAT time. We get the nightly e-mails from the kids, and all is well. Until Sunday. We were going to see Mama Mia for the 2:00 matinee, so that morning we got up and decided we would go do some shopping for the kids beforehand. We went and got the girls some things from American Girl Place, then went to Nintendo World for Aus and was just having a really nice time. We stopped back by the hotel to drop off our bags before the performance and as soon as we open the door to the room we see the red light flashing on the phone. Bill goes to check it and I pick up my phone to see if there are any missed calls. There was 20. (We had BOTH forgot our phones in the room.) I look at Bills, and he also has 17 missed calls.
My heart was racing and I was in complete panic mode.
We called home, and Emmy answered the phone and the first words she said was "Mandy's dead"
She cried, I cried, we couldn't be there to comfort them, it was very hard. She handed the phone over to the babysitter's mom who had come to the house. The mom proceeded to tell me what happened.
On Saturday night one of the kids decided to take a bath, when they were done they forgot to drain it. On Sunday morning every one was up and getting ready for church, Emmy went to take a shower and when she opened the door, she saw Mandy, dead and floating in the water. Mandy was Emmy's dog.
It was one of the saddest experiences of my life thus far.
NOTE: Since this IS my blog, I can't leave on such a serious note. I try to find humor in any & all situations that happen in my life. That is THE ONLY way I can cope. In this situation the humor came from an unlikely source, my great-niece Savannah (Shanell's daughter) On that Sunday, since we were not able to come home, the "greatest sister EVER" came and got my kids and took them to her house for Sunday dinner and to get their minds off of things. While they were there, they kind of had a "tribute party" in rememberance of Mandy. They wrote notes and drew pictures, I tried to find Savannah's picture, but it is packed up so I'll just have to describe.
8.5x11 piece of white cardstock.
Black marker to draw shape of bathtub.
Brown marker to draw dog in bathtub.
RED marker to draw "splotches" around dog.
Caption coming from dog that says "HELP ME!"
She was 5, and it came from her heart and it was the sweetest thing.
My birthday is July 6th. Every year our vacation usually falls around this time. Last summer was a little "vacation crazy", we had sent Dominic, one of our older boys, to Europe for a month, Holly had girls camp, and Bill had wanted to do a cruise. Since we had already been to the Carribbean a few times, and a European cruise in the summer did not interest me at all with all the tourist and the heat, so, we decided, we would go on an Alaskan Cruise. Everyone was excited but me & Dominic, who decided he did not want to go, and would just stay here and recoperate from his trip. Now, I AM NOT an outdoors-y kind of girl. I mean, I always end up having a good time, because that's how I choose to be, but nature is not my first choice. So to kind of balance things, Bill took me to NYC for a few days. We had a girl from our church come stay with the kids, and her family lives just down the road from us. She's stayed with them several times when we've gone away, the kids LOVE her and so everyone was SUPER excited. As usual, we told them they could e-mail us as much as they wanted but to limit cell calls to an emergency only basis. (to be honest, the first "I miss youuuuu call is kind of sweet, but every hour gets a lee-tle bit old. I know, I'm mean & heartless)
So, Bill & I are in NYC having a GREAT time. We get the nightly e-mails from the kids, and all is well. Until Sunday. We were going to see Mama Mia for the 2:00 matinee, so that morning we got up and decided we would go do some shopping for the kids beforehand. We went and got the girls some things from American Girl Place, then went to Nintendo World for Aus and was just having a really nice time. We stopped back by the hotel to drop off our bags before the performance and as soon as we open the door to the room we see the red light flashing on the phone. Bill goes to check it and I pick up my phone to see if there are any missed calls. There was 20. (We had BOTH forgot our phones in the room.) I look at Bills, and he also has 17 missed calls.
My heart was racing and I was in complete panic mode.
We called home, and Emmy answered the phone and the first words she said was "Mandy's dead"
She cried, I cried, we couldn't be there to comfort them, it was very hard. She handed the phone over to the babysitter's mom who had come to the house. The mom proceeded to tell me what happened.
On Saturday night one of the kids decided to take a bath, when they were done they forgot to drain it. On Sunday morning every one was up and getting ready for church, Emmy went to take a shower and when she opened the door, she saw Mandy, dead and floating in the water. Mandy was Emmy's dog.
It was one of the saddest experiences of my life thus far.
NOTE: Since this IS my blog, I can't leave on such a serious note. I try to find humor in any & all situations that happen in my life. That is THE ONLY way I can cope. In this situation the humor came from an unlikely source, my great-niece Savannah (Shanell's daughter) On that Sunday, since we were not able to come home, the "greatest sister EVER" came and got my kids and took them to her house for Sunday dinner and to get their minds off of things. While they were there, they kind of had a "tribute party" in rememberance of Mandy. They wrote notes and drew pictures, I tried to find Savannah's picture, but it is packed up so I'll just have to describe.
8.5x11 piece of white cardstock.
Black marker to draw shape of bathtub.
Brown marker to draw dog in bathtub.
RED marker to draw "splotches" around dog.
Caption coming from dog that says "HELP ME!"
She was 5, and it came from her heart and it was the sweetest thing.
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