Doubting Thomas

Fall

2011-09-20T17:54:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it's fall already and there is a brisk feel in the air. We have been lots of places this year. The Grand Canyon, Phoenix (twice), Boston (twice), and we will be going to Ohio next month.

Our most recent trip was to Boston, was for a Bar Mitzvah.

According to the Webster Dictionary, a Bar Mitzvah is an initiation ceremony marking the 13th birthday of a Jewish boy and signifying the beginning of religious responsibility. And Wikipedia states that a Bar Mitzvah is a Jewish coming of age rituals for boys (Bat Mitzvah for girls). According to Jewish law, when Jewish children reach 13 years of age, they become responsible for their actions.

This seems very simple definitions for what I have seen at the two Bar Mitzvahs I have attended. The boys go through 8 - 10 years of instruction, learn a different language in a character based alphabet instead of a letter based alphabet, expected to give a lesson on the part of Torah they have read and studied, and to top it all off, they then have to deal with their families for several days surrounding the Bar Mitzvah. I have learned a lot from the preparations. From the Kiddish (food after the service) to the dinner and party the night of the service, it was twice as much as I did for my wedding. Although my wedding was 100 years ago and gas was $0.01 a gallon, I still didn't go through near what is needed for what boils down to a party for a 13 year old.

I am extremely proud of both boys. Pierce did a beautiful job this weekend and I couldn't be prouder if he were my own.

Lindsey was comic relief as normal. After the service, she stated that now it is time for Andrew to be Bar Mitzvahed. I tried to explain that it would be a little difficult for that to happen since Andrew hasn't been studying and we aren't Jewish. Also that I don't think the Temple would let a Mormon be Bar Mitzvahed. She was just a little confused and is still convinced that Andrew will be Bar Mitzvahed.

Pierce

Bob and his bevy of beauties.

Happy Independence Day!!

2011-07-02T10:48:00.002-06:00

Remember today what our soldiers fight for, what we celebrate, and what we all should be proud of.

Declaration of Independence

(Adopted by Congress on July 4, 1776)

The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.

He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing taxes on us without our consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

New Hampshire: Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts: John Hancock, Samual Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island: Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery
Connecticut: Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
New York: William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey: Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania: Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware: Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
Maryland: Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia: George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
North Carolina: William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina: Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Georgia: Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Source: The Pennsylvania Packet, July 8, 1776

"The winds that blow through the wide sky in these mounts, the winds that sweep from Canada to Mexico, from the Pacific to the Atlantic - have always blown on free men." - Franklin D. Roosevelt

"We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it." - William Faulkner

"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves." - Abraham Lincoln

"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it." - Thomas Paine

"The American Revolution was a beginning, not a consummation." - Woodrow Wilson

"Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty." -Louis D. Brandeis

Where liberty dwells, there is my country. - Benjamin Franklin

You know you're old when.....

2010-11-12T10:13:00.000-07:00

.... your friends were in 3rd grade the year you graduated High School.
.... you know all the words to Schoolhouse Rock Songs and your friends don't know what Schoolhouse Rock is.
.... your husband and friends worry when you go "skipping" down the steps and are waiting for you to fall and break something.
.... you want to stay at the "Adult Pool" because there is more shade.
.... you are really glad that your cruise wasn't a "Party Cruise".
.... you picked the late seating, but really considered the earlier seating to make sure you had enough sleep.
.... taking a nap on a cruise is something you look forward to.

Facebook, I loath you!!

2010-09-09T08:21:00.003-06:00

I love my blog, I love my blog! I really do.

I can barely keep up with all the farms, pets, treasure hunting, etc., that go along with Facebook and now I have neglected my blog.

Will I stop all my endeavors that have kept me busy since taking the plunge into the world of "spying" on people I haven't seen in years? Will I actually let the farms go to waste, all the pets die, and go with knowing there is one more treasure to be found?

NO!!

How can I go on with life knowing that if I neglect facebook I will be responsible for the death of countless plants and animals. My friends won't get gifts from me, they will hate me because if it. What about my zoo? The animals will be lonely and won't get love or attention.

Should I mention not playing Family Feud with those that challenge me? The countless quizzes that will go unanswered? I will not learn trivial facts about my friends that have plagued me for years. I won't know what super hero I am most like, what Hogwarts teacher I am most like, which Mythical creature I am, or how big my boobs are.

How, oh how, can I not log on everyday? Not try to go "one more level" to get the "new thing" that is available for purchase.

This is the dilemma that plagues me daily.

My promise is to better my life, but I cannot neglect those that depend on me. So though I will be on facebook, I will also not neglect you, my blog. Thank you for being there for me when I need it!!

My promise is to try to do more to enhance my life, not waste it. But I do need to take care of those that depend on me. I am sorry if I neglect you, but I will try to be better!

Nerf guns aplenty

2010-04-13T16:30:00.004-06:00

With a boy of 10 we have Nerf Guns everywhere. Mostly in my darling son's room. At odd times they creep into our lives.

Screaming was coming from upstairs, quickly followed by a crying Lindsey. Her brother had shot her with a Nerf Gun. She was followed by her brother who tried to explain. Thus the following conversation:

M: What happened?
A: She was taunting me and rather than hit her I shot her with my Nerf Gun.

Now, I tried really hard not to laugh, but come on, REALLY???? Who wouldn't find that extremely amusing????

Santas Wonderland 2009

2009-12-25T13:03:00.000-07:00

Santas Wonderland 2009

2009-12-25T13:02:00.000-07:00

Santas Wonderland 2009

Christmas Sentiments

2009-12-06T10:27:00.003-07:00

I may have failed in my attempt at thankfulness, but will not fail for the Christmas season. I am however thankful for everything in my life and cannot express such sentiment in written form.

As for the Christmas Season, I am reminded of several quotes:

#5 - I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. ~Charles Dickens

#4 - Instead of being a time of unusual behavior, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when people can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and, perhaps, foolish. Christmas, in short, is about the only chance a man has to be himself.
~Francis C. Farley

#3 - Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!
~Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836

#2 - Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season, that very special time of year when we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as trying to find a parking space at the mall. We traditionally do this in my family by driving around the parking lot until we see a shopper emerge from the mall, then we follow her, in very much the same spirit as the Three Wise Men, who 2,000 years ago followed a star, week after week, until it led them to a parking space.
~Dave Barry

#1 - In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it 'Christmas' and went to church; the Jews called it 'Hanukkah' and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say 'Merry Christmas!' or 'Happy Hanukkah!' or (to the atheists) 'Look out for the wall!'
~Dave Barry, "Christmas Shopping: A Survivor's Guide"

Three Days of Thankfulness

2009-11-05T19:02:00.004-07:00

Sadly, I've already fallen behind in my thankfulness.

The past three days I've been a little hard pressed but here it goes:

November 3rd
This weekend, I did something to my back (actually my neck with radiating pain down to my hip - but now I'm getting technical). I finally got an appointment with my chiropractor. I really wanted acupuncture (yes, I'm nuts, but it's addictive) but he said no. I had a lot of inflamation and it would have made the adjustments more painful.

Result: I am thankful for a chiropractor who knows how far to push me and my joints.

November 4th
I was invited to a jewerly party tonight. I talked to the hostess several times during the day. Saw her when I picked up my kids and told her I would see her at 7pm. 7pm came and went and I was still at home dealing with an unruly child who was freaking out about homework. At 7:20pm I got a call from the hostess, wondering where I was. I rushed over and had a great time, with me being the butt of many "lateness" jokes. It's okay though, I know my weaknesses.

Result: I am thankful a friend who is my keeper, even though she has her own family to deal with.

November 5th
Same "friend" from above and I decided to get healthy - ha!! We walked, and walked, and walked. After 2.2 miles and 1+ hours, she relented into letting me to take a "shortcut" back to her house. We then sat and talked. A "great" time was had by all.

Result:n I am thankful for being able to walk 2+ miles without actually collapsing!

Added bonus: I am also thankful for the friends I have weather or not they realize it.

A Month of Being Thankful

2009-11-02T21:42:00.004-07:00

Because Miss Marfa issued the challenge, I may as well try a little (since I have neglected my poor little blog recently).

November 1st & 2nd

Today I was met with lovely, happy, cheerful children and wondered when the pod people had taken over my children. The loved on each other this morning, smiled when I told them that they had to get ready for school, talked nicely while walking out the door, and hugged each other after school. They continued down this horrifying path until dinner. At which point, DD threw the fit of all fits about what was served for dinner.

The result: I am thankful for things never changing too drastically in my life and for my children, may they never be replaced by pod people.

Oh, oh Sheila!

2009-11-02T20:13:00.003-07:00

Yeah, yeah, it's been like forever!! And now I am blogging about my husband.

As we all know, when men (because no woman I know would do this) get to a certain age, they go through a mid-life crisis.

A Mid-life Crisis is defined by Wikipedia as "For the approximately 10% of middle aged adults who go through an age-related midlife crisis, the condition is most common ranging from the ages of 30-60 (a large study in the 1990s found that the average age at onset of a self-described midlife crisis was 46). Midlife crises last about 3–10 years in men and 2–5 years in women."

Now I will have to give my DH a little credit. He has not has an affair (that I know of). He has not gone out to purchase a little sports car (and if has, he better share). He has not taken to drinking excessively (no comment needed). He has not started coloring his hair (unless he's coloring it grey).

He did however, get a wild hair about getting a motorcycle. I am fine with a motorcycle as long as he takes the precautions necessary for riding a motorcycle. He took the class and we went shopping for the mistress in question:

My dear friend and fellow motorcycle widow, informed me that we (the family) get to name the new mistress. While DH and the DH of my fellow widow were riding on Saturday, we had a chance to discuss names. Now while she is a Japanese make, I couldn't bring myself to name her a name I can't actually pronounce. So since I agree with my best friend and I think life should come with background music, we named her Sheila, as in Oh Sheila by Ready For The World.

The difference between a frog and a toad.

2009-08-11T21:05:00.005-06:00

Setting: Rural home in the Northeast, United States, having received excess amounts of rainfall.
There is a large puddle at the base of the driveway due to drainage issues. The residents loving refer to this as "Lake (fill in last name)".

Scene: Home Interior

Husband: That's the damnedest thing.
Wife: What?
Husband: That's the damnedest thing.
Wife: Honey, what are you talking about?
Husband: That's the damnedest thing I've ever seen.
Wife: (exasperated) What are you talking about?
Husband: You know "Lake (fill in last name)", there's a frog swimming around in it.
Wife: What do you mean a frog swimming around in it?
Husband: (louder) A frog is swimming in "Lake (fill in last name)"!
Wife: No, you must be confused!

Scene: Home Exterior

Wife: Well I'll be damned, there IS a frog swimming around in "Lake (fill in last name)"
Husband: I know, can you believe it!!!
Wife: But is it a frog or a toad.
Husband: I don't know, it's an amphibian swimming around in "Lake (fill in last name)"

Enter friend-on phone with wife
Wife: How do you tell the difference between a frog and a toad?
Friend: I don't know but I happen to be on the computer, let's google it.
(below is what was found)

My question is: Who is going to open their mouths to find out if they have teeth or not?!?!?

I used to have a life, but Facebook ate it!

2009-08-05T09:36:00.002-06:00

D from Oz said it perfectly. Facebook has consumed everyone's life and I have issues with one thing to do much less two! :)

Updates:
- School is back in session. Can we hear a "Hip, hip, hooray!"
- Hubby is gone again, finally. (Insert another cheer.)
- Plans have been made for two trips this fall. Both to see a wonderful gal.
- DD is more sassy than ever. - Who'da thunk!
- DS wants to sing, dance, and play an instrument this year. I'm just not sure when he's going to have time!
- Still have over 200 pounds of puppies in our home.

That's about all there is and nothing more.

Where have all the flowers gone? ...

2009-07-17T16:58:00.022-06:00

Apparently I am channeling my inner hippie:

Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls have picked them everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone, long time passing?
Where have all the young girls gone, long time ago?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Gone for husbands everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the husbands gone, long time passing?
Where have all the husbands gone, long time ago?
Where have all the husbands gone?
Gone for soldiers everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the soldiers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards, everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone, long time passing?
Where have all the graveyards gone, long time ago?
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Gone to flowers, everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the flowers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the flowers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls have picked them everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Anyway - where has the time gone? It's a rhetorical question since I KNOW where it has gone. It's gone to kids, family, girl scouts, e-mails, cleaning (ha), dishes, laundry,....need I go on? Also, this whole Facebook thing has flummoxed me! So I'm failing miserably at blogging and facebook.

What has happened in the last 2 months, 7 days, and 11 minutes you might ask? Here's a preview!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

A Mother's Day

2009-05-10T08:49:00.005-06:00

As I sit here alone on Mother's Day, I am reminded of several poems I received by e-mail and thought I share them with you. By the way, I am alone because, being a mother, my daughter gave me her 24 hour stomach virus. The rest of my family has gone to a really nice brunch in Colorado Springs.

What is a Mother
It takes a Mother's Love
To make a house a home
A place to be remembered,
No matter where we roam

It takes a Mother's Patience
To bring a child up right,
And her Courage and her Cheerfulness
To make a dark day bright.

It takes a Mother's Thoughtfulness
To mend the heart's deep "hurts,
And her Skill and her Endurance
To mend little socks and shirts.

It takes a Mother's Kindness
To forgive us when we err,
To sympathize in trouble
And bow her head in prayer.

It takes a Mother's Wisdom
To recognize our needs
And to give us reassurance
By her loving words and deeds.

It takes a Mother's Endless Faith,
Her Confidence and Trust
To guide us through the pitfalls
of selfishness and lust.

And that is why in all this world
there could not be another
Who could fulfill God's purpose
as completely as a MOTHER!
-Helen Steiner Rice

Poem to Mom
My son came home from school one day,
With a smirk upon his face.
He decided he was smart enough,
To put me in my place

'Guess what I learned in Civics Two,
that's taught by Mr.. Wright?
It's all about the laws to day,
The 'Children's Bill of Rights.'

It says I need not clean my room,
Don't have to cut my hair
No one can tell me what to think
Or speak, or what to wear.

I have freedom from religion,
And regardless what you say,
I don't have to bow my head,
And I sure don't have to pray

I can wear earrings if I want,
And pierce my tongue and nose.
I can read and watch just what I like,
Get tattoos from head to toe.

And if you ever spank me,
I'll charge you with a crime.
I'll back up all my charges,
With the marks on my behind.

Don't you ever touch me,
My body's only for my use,
Not for your hugs and kisses,
that's just more child abuse..

Don't preach about your morals,
Like your Mama did to you.
That's nothing more than mind control,
And it's illegal too!

Mom, I have these children's rights,
So you can't influence me,
Or I'll call Children's Services Division,
Better known as C.S.D'

Of course my first instinct was
To toss him out the door.
But the chance to teach him a lesson
Made me think a little more.

I mulled it over carefully,
I couldn't let this go.
A smile crept upon my face,
he's messing with a pro.

Next day I took him shopping
At the local Goodwill Store.
I told him, 'Pick out all you want,
there's shirts and pants galore.

I've called and checked with C.S.D.
Who said they didn't care
If I bought you K-Mart shoes
Instead of those Nike Airs.

I've canceled that appointment
To take your driver's test.
The C.S.D. is unconcerned
So I'll decide what's best.'

I said 'No time to stop and eat,
Or pick up stuff to munch.
And tomorrow you can start to learn
To make your own sack lunch.

Just save the raging appetite,
And wait till dinner time.
We're having liver and onions,
A favorite dish of mine.'

He asked 'Can I please rent a movie,
To watch on my DVD?'
'Sorry, but I sold your TV,
For new tires on my car.

I also rented out your room,
You'll take the couch instead.
The C.S.D . Requires
Just a roof over your head.

Your clothing won't be trendy now,
I'll choose what we eat.
That allowance that you used to get,
Will buy me something neat.

I'm selling off your jet ski,
Dirt-bike and roller blades.
Check out the 'Parents Bill of Rights',
It's in effect today!

Hey hot shot, are you crying,
Why are you on your knees?
Are you asking God to help you out,
Instead of C.S.D.?'
-MOM (Mean Old Mother)

Happy Mother's day to all!!

17 Again

2009-04-20T09:11:00.005-06:00

Yes all, "17 Again" premiered on Friday. Of course, we had a large snow storm that started on Thursday so decided to go on Saturday.

Nicole and I braved the elements and went on Saturday!! I thought it was good and he does angst so well!!!

A Gerbil...Maybe???

2009-04-14T15:51:00.001-06:00

Tantalizing Tuesday

2009-04-14T15:32:00.002-06:00

CBS' 'Guiding Light' to end in September

2009-04-02T23:50:00.003-06:00

This is a sad day in my life. I have been watching "Guiding Light" since 1982. I have had times when my viewing has lapsed, but just recently started watching with a renewed interest.

As I was watching "The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (I love him - much better than Letterman), he said that "Guiding Light" was cancelled. So, I looked it up and much to my chagrin, it's all true!!!

I have to go mourn my loss now. :(

2009-03-26T20:43:00.000-06:00

I give up!!!

Apology

2009-03-26T19:44:00.004-06:00

I am sorry if I offended any of my friends with the cougar post. I thought it was funny and thought I'd share what others said in the "Urban Dictionary". I always find the entries amusing and think it's always good for a laugh, but I guess I fell short this time.

In The Motherhood

2009-03-21T20:59:00.004-06:00

I am sitting here, minding my own business and see a commercial for "In The Motherhood" that premiers March 29th. It stars Cheryl Hines (Jane), Jessica St. Clair (Emily), and Megan Mullally (Rosemary).

In the commercial, the following conversations ensue:

Emily: "I feel like I'm a horrible mother."
Jane: "I screw up all the time. I ran out of diapers two days ago and we've been using paper towels and tape."

Jane: "Emily, you are good mother."
Emily: "Thank you Jane and you ... have beautiful hair."

Supposedly, these are from real life stories, and looks to be a hilarious show. So, now I don't feel that bad about some of the things I do!

Me a Cougar???? I think not!!!

2009-03-19T15:24:00.004-06:00

Okay, with the recent flack I've been getting about my obsession, I just want to say that there is nothing wrong with looking, right???

I have been called many things in my life, some of them warranted, however, I have recently been called a cougar by my "friends" and you know who you are!! :)

I looked up cougar online and was met with the definition you would expect from Wikipedia, but once I went on the urban dictionary site (not a site for the faint hearted), I found what I was looking for.

Wikipedia: The cougar (Puma concolor), also puma, mountain lion, or panther, depending on region, is a mammal of the Felidae family, native to the Americas. This large, solitary cat has the greatest range of any wild terrestrial mammal in the Western Hemisphere, extending from Yukon in Canada to the southern Andes of South America. An adaptable, generalist species, the cougar is found in every major American habitat type. It is the second heaviest cat in the American continents after the jaguar, and the fourth heaviest in the world, along with the leopard, after the tiger, lion, and jaguar, although it is most closely related to smaller felines.

Urban Dictionary:

1. An older woman who frequents clubs in order to score with a much younger man. The cougar can be anyone from an overly surgically altered wind tunnel victim, to an absolute sad and bloated old horn-meister, to a real hottie or milf. Cougars are gaining in popularity -- particularly the true hotties -- as young men find not only a sexual high, but many times a chick with her shit together.

2. (see also hunt, prowl, corner, pounce). Noun. A 35+ year old female who is on the "hunt" for a much younger, energetic, willing-to-do-anything male. The cougar can frequently be seen in a padded bra, cleavage exposed, propped up against a swanky bar in San Francisco (or other cities)waiting, watching, calculating; gearing up to sink her claws into an innocent young and strapping buck who happens to cross her path. "Man is cougar's number one prey"
Millions of them. More famously, Demi and Ashton, Naomi Watts and Heath Ledger, Joan Collins and her hubby, Cameron and Justin, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins

3. An attractive woman in her 30's or 40's who is on the hunt once again. She may be found in the usual hunting grounds: nightclubs, bars, beaches, etc. She will not play the usual B.S. games that women in their early twenties participate in. End state, she will be going for the kill, just like you.

Like most friends, I hope mine think highly of me, but I'd like to point out the following facts:

1. I do not, nor ever have "frequented night clubs in order to score with much younger men". The one and (almost) only time, I went to a "club" (funny, we used to call them bars) I was appalled with most of what was going on. Not to mention, I almost asked a row of (and I use the term lightly) gentlemen if they would like to inspect my teeth since they were looking at my friends and me like horse meat.

2. After two kids I would not call myself a "hottie", nor have I been overly surgically altered, but do my friends really consider me "an absolute sad and bloated old horn-meister".

3. I like the second definition much better, even though I would hurt myself and others if I was "seen in a padded bra, cleavage exposed, propped up against a swanky bar in San Francisco". And being compared to Demi is not something I am opposed to.

4. The third definition is my favorite, however, nightclubs and bars are not my scene, and beaches......well, that is the subject for another blog.

So I need to ask again, do my "friends" really think of me as a cougar, or are they just trying to compliment me???????

Tantalizing Tuesday

2009-03-17T18:55:00.001-06:00

WW - Yum!!!

2009-03-11T20:17:00.003-06:00

Is there actually a contest for "Worst Mother of the Year"?

2009-02-24T21:52:00.004-07:00

I know we can all claim the title of "Worst Mother of the Year". Okay, maybe not ALL of us, but I've read your posts!!! However, I think I have this one tied up with a Blue Ribbon.

Every year (so far) the children have chosen what they want to do on their birthday. Normally we go out to eat with my parents and it ends at that. Then on a separate day, we have done parties with friends. Yes, over the years, this may have set us back, but I think that kids need to feel special when it is their birthday. This year DS decided that he wanted to go to Movie Tavern for his birthday with my parents and he had a party at Amazing Jakes.

DD has been so defiant recently that she has lost the party, but had earned back dinner. She also wanted to go to the Movie Tavern, but the only thing playing that would be remotely appropriate for a 7 year old was "Paul Blart: Mall Cop". Although boy humor is right up DD's alley, I really wasn't in the mood for it.

I convinced DD to dinner with my parents and to a regular movie. She chose this option when I told her I would rent "Mall Cop" when it was released on DVD.

The movie we went to see was "Coraline". As I was watching the opening credits, I had the horrifying realization that this was a Tim Burton movie. I was never thrilled with "Nightmare Before Christmas", but to each their own. For a 7 year old, it is, by my standards, inappropriate. Needless to say, DD was frightened for 2/3 of the movie. She will most likely be up for most of the night. And I, convinced her to watch it.

I feel like I have the title all wrapped up. I wonder what I actually get for that!!!

Happy Birthday to my little girl

2009-02-24T21:35:00.002-07:00

To My Sweet Girl

"Do you know how much you mean to me?
As you grow into what you will be.
You came from within, from just beneath my heart.
It's there you'll always be though your own life will now start.
You're growing so fast it sends me awhirl,
With misty eyes I ask, Where's my little girl?
I know sometimes to you I seem harsh and so unfair,
But one day you will see, I taught you well because I care.
The next few years will so quickly fly,
With laughter and joy, mixed with a few tears to cry.
As you begin your growth to womanhood, this fact you must know,
You'll always be my source of pride, no matter where you go.
You must stand up tall and proud, within you feel no fear,
For all you dreams and goals, sit before you very near.
With love in your heart and the world by its tail,
You'll always be my winner, and victory will prevail.
For you this poem was written, with help from above,
To tell you in a rhythm of your Mother's heartfelt Love!"
-Unknown

Do Ladies Wear Polyester?

2009-02-23T20:58:00.002-07:00

So it's been a while since I blogged. With facebook and working, it's hard to keep up with everything.

I had to blog on the funnies from the last week.

We were out to eat with my friend who was visiting. It was just Jenn, DD, DS, and me eating at DS's former favorite place to eat, Chili's. She is mad at them because they have taken away the pasta with marinara sauce. They still have Alfredo sauce, but no red sauce. I digress. With all the estrogen, DS decided that he needed to exert his manliness and was very gassy and crude all week. Anyway, in the middle of the meal, I moved on the seat and DS said "Did you fart?" (Yes, we are sooooo PC with a 9 and 7 year old.) I said "No, it must have been you!" (Because I have decided, if you can't beat them, you may as well join them.) Then DD pipes up and says in the most indignant tone she could muster, "I don't fart, I'm a LADY!" Jenn and I giggled for the rest of the meal and the rest of the week about that! Since most of you know DD, you all know HOW much of a lady she actually is.

So to top the week off, or to start the week, however you look at it, we were sitting here watching "The Bee Movie" tonight. To update those who have not seen this movie, we got to the part where all the bees stop working and all the flowers and trees are grey and lifeless. I asked the kids, "Why do all the trees and flowers look like that?" and with all the conviction in the world, she said, "They're not getting polyester." Giggling and trying not to make her feel bad, I corrected her to "pollination" and she said, "Yeah, whatever!". So of course the first thing I did was get on my blog. What else would a candidate for "Mother of the Year" do?

DIA's Heinous Blue Mustang Has Got To Go

2009-01-31T11:35:00.004-07:00

I have been offended with the "Demon Mustang" since it was erected. I personally think that it is an eyesore and cannot believe that the taxpayers had to pay for it. I was happy to hear, this week, on 7 News that there is a blog site dedicated to getting rid of the horse.

DIA's Heinous Blue Mustang Has Got To Go

"Is anyone else as mortified and offended by DIA's 32 foot fiendish blue "Mustang" statue as I am?

"Does anyone else find it to be the least welcoming public art exhibit imaginable?

"Are you perturbed by the chilling fact that Luis Jimenez, its creator, was killed by a piece of its torso?

"Please join! Ask your friend to join!

"I mean really, it would be nice to feel some sense of pride and dignity when traveling to and from the airport."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On the other hand I am perfectly okay with they Big Blue Bear at the convention center. He is whimsical and cute.

Happy Birthday to you!!!

2009-01-31T10:47:00.003-07:00

Happy 9th Birthday DS!!

What a motley crew!

Patiently waiting to cash in our tickets.

DS wanted to go to Amazing Jakes for his birthday. So we invited some friends and ran amuck. Fun was had by all.

WTF????

2009-01-13T10:27:00.005-07:00

Those of you that have seen both "HSM3" and "Twilight" AND have read the rest of the Twilight series, I would like your opinion on the following article. I don't think she has it in her.

Vanessa Hudgens Auditions for Twilight Sequel

Now here's a role Vanessa Hudgens would like to sink her teeth into. The High School Musical star has auditioned for the part of werewolf Leah Clearwater in the Twilight sequel New Moon, according to Ashley Green, who played Alice in Twilight."I think she'd be great," Greene tells MTV. As Leah, Hudgens, 20, would be a foil to Taylor Lautner, who will reprise his role as werewolf Jacob Black. In the Stephenie Meyer novels, Leah is her pack's lone female werewolf – and a jilted one, at that. Unlike Hudgens's Gabriella in HSM, Leah experiences heartbreak, being ditched by classmate (and fellow werewolf) Sam Uley.

It's Girl Scout Cookie Time!!!

2009-01-06T22:36:00.011-07:00

That wonderful time of year has come again, Girl Scout Cookies!!!

Since I am a Troop Leader, mom of a Girl Scout, and a sucker for a good cookie, I beseech you all to look inside your hearts to keep those little girls of six off the streets by purchasing cookies. Of course, I would love to have you contact me, but it would also be nice to contribute to others with need.

Okay, enough of the groveling! Cookie time really is Friday. My girls will actually be selling AND earning recognitions this year. We will also be doing booth sales, so if you'd like to visit us, I can let you know when and where!!

Because, I do not have the funds or the inclination to follow in Phyllis Nefler's footsteps (see clip from Troop Beverly Hills), I have to limit my selfless postulating to my blog.

So, make yourself, your spouse, and your kids happy and go buy some Girl Scout Cookies!

Down in the Jungle Room (Part 2)

2009-01-05T22:42:00.003-07:00

I feel really feel bad that I didn't pay tribute to 2008, like some of my friends. I just post the previous blog.(Big shrug) Does that say something about me??? I guess I just write my "Christmas Letter" and if ya miss it, too bad!!! I just try live life the best I can and try not to worry about the rest of it.

Happy New Year to you all!!!

Down in the Jungle Room

2009-01-05T20:11:00.009-07:00

With all this talk of people of the male persuasion and all that entails, I am reminded of "Walking in Memphis"

"....Waiting for the King
Down in the Jungle Room

They've got catfish on the table
They've got gospel in the air.... "

Yes, ladies I have come into my own. However, I feel that I do need to defend my character. While Cary Elwes is only 46 (and by the way, I am MUCH younger than that), I do also find several other "older" men attractive such as:
Nicholas Cage who is 44. Now his is not a "classic beauty", but his preformance in "Face Off", well anything really, has to be commended. And he can sport a duster for my anyday!! (I tried to find a clip of him getting out of the car at the airport, but couldn't.)

Keanu Reeves is also 44. Patrick Swayze at 56 is nothing to sneeze at considering what he has been through.

I have been "crushing" on Keanu since "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure". Yes, I AM that old.

The duster I referred to earlier, mmmm baby!!

Val Kilmer who is 49. Since I love comedies, I have to say that some of my other favorite movies are "Real Genius" and "Top Secret". Also, who could forget him in the ever lovable role of Lt. Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky from "Top Gun". He, however, has not aged well. (Picture from 1986)

Yes, I looked almost this good when I graduated, but we've all seen what happened to that!! I could never pull off the Flight Suit motiff, but you get the idea.

And who could leave out........

Sean Connery who at 78 is still hot.

He can even sport a fedora and a goatee and still be hot!!!

Facebook

2008-12-29T14:49:00.005-07:00

As I am new to Facebook, I have been finding all kinds of things out. About others and myself.

I was asked to take the quiz Which 80's movie defines you?. My results were the "Princess Bride", how fitting?

I've always liked Cary Elwes. One of my favorite movies of his is "Robin Hood: Men in Tights" and who could resist him as the intolerable Dr. Jonas Miller in "Twister".

I've never seen "Kiss the Girls", but have heard that it is also good.

At least he is more "my age" right????

Hugh Who???

2008-12-23T23:22:00.004-07:00

As an ode to Dodie's blog, I would like to point out that, yes, Hugh Jackman is VERY nice to look at, I'm not complaining.......

.....but please notice who was also on the cover!!! Granted, it's not a great picture of Zachy, but he's still yummy and I can raise him right!!!

Happy Holidays to You!!

2008-12-23T22:03:00.002-07:00

This holiday season has been like any other:

Trips to see Santa.
Denial when children asked pertinent questions.
Last minute shopping.
House guests.
Baking (well attempts anyway).
Avoiding my blogging obligations.
Taking pictures that need to be put on my blog.
Holiday parties.
Picking out cards for those whom we love and those we don't.
Ordering picture holiday cards and writing a holiday letter. (The picture because there are those who get nasty if pictures of the children are not included. The letter because, why should I keep all this fun to myself?)

Barring all the above "complaints", I really do enjoy this time of year.
I can do without the nasty customers and clerks, the crowded stores, the endless search for THE present that always seems to be what my children want, and the late night wrapping sessions.

I do, however, love all the wonderful stories of the season. I love explaining to my children the joys of giving and not taking credit for it.

I love seeing friends that I don't get to talk to on a regular basis, because our lives get in the way.

I love seeing children's eyes light up when they see Santa and he actually talks to them.

I love being nice to those grouchy people just to see them give me a second look thinking I've lost my mind.

I love going into a store, see a clerk that has had a bad day and seeing the look on their face when I wish them a nice holiday season.

I also love spending time with my family.

I love that my kids are trying to get along so they can actually play with their toys (long story to be explained in a later post) come Christmas morning.

I love having my house decorated in my "Santa threw up in my house" motiff.

The best part of all of this craziness is getting in touch with those friends I haven't talked to since last year.

Happy Holidays to all of you!!!!

A Stroll Down Memory Lane

2008-11-06T11:56:00.010-07:00

For the last several weeks I have been having problems with my computer. Since I live with my technical support, I very rarely get the help I need. (Those of you that have your minds in gutter - get them out!!) So last weekend, we spent ALL day on Saturday shopping for computers. We (okay, he) decided on a laptop to replace my desktop. While transferring my data, we found out that my hard drive was failing. Thank heavens my tech support had the foresight to look for new hardware.

On my new computer, I have an awesome photo viewer. It is so easy to take care of red eye that I decided, since I had nothing else to do, I would go through each photo and take care of the red eye. As I did this, I found lots of photos that I have not scrapbook (because I'm 5 1/2 years behind) and spent a lot of time reminiscing.

This one is DD on Thanksgiving 2004. She was so cute and our sweet little girl.

Until the next February and her 3rd birthday. Looking at this photo, I should have known. However, it did make me laugh, because she still makes this face and I crack up every time!

I still helped her blow out her candles.

Not to be outdone, in 2/02 DS decided to draw a self portrait. I asked what the thing was between his legs and he proceeded to tell me that it was his penis. That's what I get for asking. DH grabbed his camera.

March 2005 - Getting along

December 2005 - Getting along, again.

March 2006 - The Little Ballerina

For those of you who think that my friend Jenn is a figment of my imagination, here is a picture taken and posted completely against her will.

Free-IQTest.net

2008-11-05T21:29:00.003-07:00

You have to sign up for some free stuff, so be prepared.

Free-IQTest.net - Free IQ Test

Halloween

2008-11-02T17:20:00.008-07:00

Halloween in our part of the world was unseasonably warm. The kids normally have to wear coats, mittens, hats, etc., and no one could see their outfits. This year was great, no coats needed!!

DD "had" to decide between three costumes. The first was a wedding dress that DH deemed inappropriate. He thought it was unacceptable to dress as a bride. I tried to explain that every little girl does this, much to his dismay. Her second costume is the one pictured, a princess. It was meant to be a generic princess, but turned out to look a lot like Ariel. Her third was a witch, which she wore to dance, because of course, the others were too long for dance.

She wore the princess costume to school and for trick-or-treating.

DS's costume was also a chore. He started out as a "Clone Trooper" , but when he put it on, it was too small and VERY see through. I looked high and low for white sweatpants. Little did I know that white sweats are impossible to find in October, unless you need Women's larges.

After three days of searching everywhere, I gave up and I convinced him to change his mind. We opted for a Magician that he insisted was a Wizard. I tried to explain the difference, to no avail. So he ended up being a Wizard Magician, whatever that is!!

Both children had parties at school. The kids love this, they get to dress up, parade around the school, and eat.

I was in charge of DD's class and DH was in charge of DS's class, hence only having pictures of DD's class.

HSM3

2008-11-02T14:39:00.005-07:00

Yes, I went to the new "High School Musical 3" movie. It was worth the wait and the hype!!

I, however, did not go it alone. I am so glad that there are more "moms" (as Zac refers to the "older fans") out there.

We of course took kids with us!!

I just couldn't resist this one (sorry Nicole).

Love this clip of the gag reel.

Our Pumpkin Patch Trip/WW

2008-10-29T20:49:00.002-06:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Gretta

2008-10-27T08:46:00.001-06:00

Gretta is getting bigger and bigger. Look how she has grown!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

I'm Dancing with Zac

2008-10-22T21:21:00.001-06:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

When Will I Ever Listen?!?!?!

2008-10-21T19:45:00.003-06:00

My recent disappearance from blogging is mostly because of my friends.

I LOVE books. With our recent "home improvements" I have had to pack everything we own away, including all my books. As I have been unpacking, I have been going through, sorting, and purging all our belongings. Since I'm a little OCD in this area, I have been cataloging all of my books (900+ to date) and have nothing to read. At least nothing I can find.

As I was with Miss Marfa at a local bookstore, she pointed out the "Twilight" series. All she had to say was "vampire" and I was in!! Once I starting reading all of my friends blogs who have read this series, I was hooked.

I love these books!!! I would highly recommend them. But I do have one question, when I bought the books, the guy at the bookstore said something about missing car antennas. I still have no idea what he was referring to and I have read all four books.

Once these were read and put away for safe keeping, I was once again faced with what to read. I happened to be in Target and passed the book section (was that planned, I think not!) and saw a book that was recommended by Dodi in May. I didn't really think anything about the book then, since I was well equipped with books at the time. So now I'm looking for things to read, I figured, what the heck.

I bought the book, entitled "Such A Pretty Fat" by Jen Lancaster and thought I'd start reading it in my spare time. I had plenty of spare time in the car for untold hours so started reading.

All I can say is, I'll never be the same! I laughed until it hurt (really bad - a good bad of course). I am almost finished with it, because every time I pick it up, I can't get through it for the tears.

I so wish I had known so I could have met Jen with Dodi. So next time, Dodi, I'M IN!!! (And, I'll listen to your sage advice!)

Hip, hip, hooray!!!

2008-10-21T19:42:00.002-06:00

I did it! I guess I'm just blog impaired. I now know how to manipulate the blog gods!!

The Summer of Thomas

2008-10-20T11:38:00.003-06:00

Trips made by car this summer: 3

Days away from home: 25

Total meals on the road: 300

Miles driven: 6700

Being home and being able to send the children to their OWN rooms: PRICELESS

On Strike or Captive Somewhere?????

2008-10-19T08:24:00.003-06:00

Yes, I'm out of town and have had limited (or no) access to DH's computer. The only reason I am able to post this is because I have commandeered it for a few minutes.

I have also be obsessed with the "Twilight" series and have been reading like a fiend.

Oh no, the warden is out of the shower, will write more later!!!!

P.S. Still upset about the cute background, will try more when the brats are in school next week!

Am I the only one?????

2008-09-30T21:38:00.003-06:00

So many of you have cute blog pages from "The Cutest Blog on the Block" and I am having lots and lots of problems!!

Can anyone give me a hint. I've already tired what it says on the website.

It's a small world after all, it's a small world after...

2008-09-30T21:04:00.004-06:00

I have been saying since the potential candidates started dropping like flies in April that I wanted to vote for Mickey Mouse for president! I have been seeing the campaign signs in all of my neighbors yards and am dreading the upcoming election. I was looking on the web, googled the fun loving mouse, and found this website.

It's nice to know that there are people out there like me. I've never been real political, and it doesn't look like I will be this year either.

I just think we need to make the US the "Happiest Place On Earth".

Kitty Crazies

2008-09-29T21:35:00.007-06:00

Since I was chastised today about updating my blog, these are the things that happen in the Thomas household while the kids are off track.

The day started out like any other "off-track" day!!!

7:40am - DS (waking me out of a sound sleep) - "My head hurts and every time I take a step, it feels like it's going to fall off."
But somehow, he found his way to my room and my side of the bed. So he climbed in bed with his sister to soon follow. All the while DH is snoring away.

7:42am - DD launches herself onto me and exclaims in her oh so quite voice "Good morning!!!"
Me - "Keep your voice down, your father is asleep."
I might as well as said "Jump off a cliff and take your brother with you. " It was just about as affective.
Much to my chagrin, neither one were the least bit quiet as I was trying to go back to sleep.

7:55am - I finally ship the children off to the first floor with the promise of television and anything they want for breakfast. I did actually rescind the latter, since I didn't end up getting any more sleep.

8:00am - DH's alarm clock goes off. YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!!!

Sit around for a while then head up to the Barney room. DD's room has been in the process of being cleaned for several weeks. Oh, who am I kidding, a couple years.

10:00am - The renovation begins (again). For the next 2 hours we (Ha, ha, ha - I) put everything where it belongs.

12:00pm - I receive a phone call to go to Park View Park and spend time with friends at 1pm. But the problem is that we have not actually eaten. I ask DH if he would like to join us, to which I received a response of "I'll be up in a minute". Whatever!

12:30pm - We leave for lunch.

1:30pm - We arrive at the park and spent a wonderful afternoon with friends. Until, DS had a melt-down. Then DD also had a melt-down. So we left!!

4:30pm - We skip 2 of 3 dance classes, because DS was having anger issues (more to follow).

5:30pm(approx) - DH goes out to return Blockbuster movies we've had for going on 6 months. Luckily, they are the "Netflix" type so no late fees!!

6:30pm - DH & DS return with one quasi children's movie "Speed Racer"; one non-child appropriate DVD "Terminator: The Sara Connor Chronicles"; and one Wii game. They also came bearing pizza. Good thing too, since I was in no mood after dealing with the monsters all day.

Note on "Speed Racer", if you have not seen it, don't bother. I had a really hard time following it. Of course, it could have been because I was playing on the computer. It was okay, but didn't seem to follow the original cartoon.

9:30pm - The movie ends and the credits start to roll, then all H*** breaks loose. DH starts dancing DD around and doing the chicken dance. DS decides that he has flatulence problems and the "small" Great Dane puppy gets the "kitty crazies". Now those of you who don't know what the "Kitty Crazies" are, they are when late at night, cats run around like they've lost their minds.
Watching cats doing that is very amusing, but watching an 80 pound, 6 month old, Great Dane puppy literately fly through my 1600 square foot house is a bit disconcerting.

And so ends another day in the life...

Chelsea

2008-09-06T22:54:00.003-06:00

There are times in your life, or at least in mine, when you contemplate the naming of your children. While writing the previous post I was reminded of this.

When we named DS, we had a girl's name picked out. We didn't know the gender, but figured it would be either a boy or a girl. Great insight, huh? But could not agree on a boy's name. DH didn't want a child named after him and he didn't like any names I suggested. Towards the end of my pregnancy, we were still debating on boy names for our child. While we were watching Tim Allen in "Jungle to Jungle", I was struck with DS's name. One of the boy's name on the show was the perfect name for our little boy. So we had it the day of his birth and have not regretted the name once in his eight years. The only thing is that people want to shorten it, but that's his decision when he moves out!!

With DD, it was a little more complicated. We knew we were having a girl and still debated on names. Several people asked why we didn't just name her Stephaine, which would have been DS's name had he been a girl. My response was, this one isn't a Stephanie. We struggled with this until we (HA, I) were in the delivery room. As I was in labor, DH pressured me for a name. I picked the name that I liked the best and decided that I could change it when I actually filled out the birth certificate the next day when I was relaxed and didn't have the pressure of birth on me. (No pun intended!)

After 6 years and countless callings of said name, I think I was mistaken. Let me explain!

One of DH's favorite comedies is "Carpool" with Tom Arnold and David Paymer. I have to admit I also like this film. It's fun and boy I wish I could drive crazy like that sometimes. I don't think it was ever a box office hit because when asked, most people have not seen this movie. I almost always feel compelled to explain it to them.

In the movie there is a little girl by the name of Chelsea. She moves at a snails pace and when picked up and carried, asks to slow down because the movement is making her sick. One of the best lines in the movie is: Chelsea "Can I just stay in the car. That way I don't have to waste time getting back in?" This is soooooo DD. The movies didn't fail us with DS, why did temp fate and not name DD after a fictional character.

In the clip below, pay attention to the little girl in the black and white. It's DD to a tee.

#1 Song Follow Up

2008-09-06T22:44:00.002-06:00

Since it has been a while I thought I'd follow up with more #1 songs in my life.

Wedding - "Jump" by Kris Kross (I think I like Ganelle's better!!)
DS - "What a Girl Wants" by Christina Aguilera (I guess it's better than "Mrs. Robinson")
DD - "Always on Time" by Ja Rule featuring Ashanti (They just get better and better, because, no she's not.)
Hubby - "Tighten Up" by Archie Bell & the Drells (No need to comment)

Can't you just tell it's a laugh a minute in the Thomas household!!!

Mrs Robinson?

2008-08-27T11:43:00.003-06:00

I received an e-mail asking if I knew the #1 Song on the day I was born. Since I had recently been looking through my baby book I thought I knew this answer. Well, I looked it up anyway...

... "Mrs. Robinson" by Simon & Garfunkel

Is this a forboding message? Or did this just fortell of my obsession with Zac baby?

Take a look to see yours!

The New Do

2008-08-21T16:21:00.004-06:00

See what happens when my fellow bloggers and friends stop reminding me to update my blog. I leave to go to Utah and forget to update my blog.

So, now for the after pictures of he new do, remember this is three weeks growth, but you get the idea.

I also haven't given you all Gretta updates recently. As of 5 weeks ago; being 4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days (I got that from my vet, I'm not actually keeping track), she was 58 pounds and is now taller than Belle, our Bernese Mountain Dog. She's so calm, Ms. Marfa invited her over for a playdate. She was much more behaved than the two-legged children and went to sleep on a bed Ms. Marfa made up for her.

Arachnophobia

2008-08-07T21:28:00.003-06:00

To get a laugh like none other, read this blog by Yarnhog.

Funnies

2008-08-06T10:08:00.004-06:00

As TZ as mentioned, I get TONS of forwards of jokes. I forward the ones I giggle at, but post the ones I roll on the floor laughing about! Even though it's not time for Freaky Friday Forwards, I couldn't resist this one! (And I'm procrastinating!)

AMAZINGLY SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES

Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold the vegetables while you chop.
(For Men Only) Avoid arguments with the females about lifting the toilet seat by using the sink.
For High Blood Pressure sufferers ~ simply cut yourself and bleed for a few minutes, thus reducing the pressure on your veins. REMEMBER TO USE A TIMER
A mouse trap place on top of your alarm clock will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.
If you have a bad cough, take a large dose of laxatives. Then you'll be afraid to cough.
(Also for Men) You only need two tools in life - WD-40 and Duct Tape. If it doesn't move and should, use the WD-40. If it shouldn't move and does, use the duct tape.
If you can't fix it with a hammer, you've got and electrical problem.

DAILY THOUGHT:

Some people are like slinkies - not really good for anything but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.

I thought you'd all like to know...

2008-08-04T20:05:00.005-06:00

According to DD my son now smells good. She said he smells like "clean soap". At least I now know that our soap is okay.

One thing that may have helped is that DS had his hair cut. All of it! He has been trying to get me to get him a "buzz cut".

According to Wikipedia: A buzz cut (sometimes known as a wiffle or crew cut) is the American name for a type of haircut named after the sound of the electric razor, which is used to shear the hair very closely to the scalp.

Now, we all know that people like, Brad Pitt,

Justin Timberlake,

and our Servicemen all look great with buzz cuts, but I wasn't sure how my only son would look.

After months of fighting with DS for either long hair (not quite sure how long) or a buzz cut and DD's statement, I decided that it was probably time to let it go to fate. I surprised him when we went to Lollilocks on Friday. He actually looks pretty good.

He was so excited, and I was very appreciative to the moms at the pool for making over him. He's much cooler and I'm happier without a stinky child.

However, the joking mom in me almost had her do the below to him. :) I'm evil, but not THAT bad!

The Cancan

2008-07-29T22:32:00.002-06:00

Hopefully we're not this hairy!!!

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday)

2008-07-29T20:55:00.001-06:00

Rotten Rice Quandry

2008-07-29T17:44:00.003-06:00

I know that you are all eagerly awaiting updates from our vaca, but I have a question for those of you that actually brave my blog. I don't normally ask for opinions, because I'm worried about the responses I will get, but this one was one I couldn't pass up.

A little background: With the start of school (hip hip hooray!!!), my children are now required to actually take baths every night. (It may not last for long, but we'll give it the old college try.) We are alternating days with who goes first because....... I have two children. If they aren't fighting to go first, they are fighting to go last, go figure.

DS was to go first tonight. I told him to go and was greeted with an "Okay Mom." That should have been my first clue that things are not always as they seem.

Okay, rewind to, oh..., 10 minutes ago and this is the conversation that took place.

DD: (coming down the stairs naked with the bath water running) "Mom, DS and I need to start using different..."
Me: "Yes, get a clean towel." (Very long story - don't ask)
DD: "NO, we need to start using different soap."

Now let me interrupt for a moment. I am a fairly intelligent person, tend to have common sense and don't count myself as completely insane, so I should have let the whole conversation drop, but NOOOOOO.

Me: "Why?"
DD: " Because DS came out of the tub smelling like rotten rice."
Me: "What????"
DD: "He does!"

The moral was that DS is now taking a second bath because, as I was informed by Jenn, boys think that putting soap in their hair constitutes bathing.

HOWEVER----

Inquiring minds would like to know: "Does rice rot and what does it smell like?"

I know that it can go moldy, but does it actually rot and smell?

A Laugh a Minute???

2008-07-19T20:12:00.010-06:00

With driving for 10 hours the first day I didn't feel like taking pictures to document our horrendous, er I mean momentous, trip. But perked up on day two. Most are explained!

What a sight! The luggage, I mean. It looks like we're moving out.

As with almost anything concerning DD, the following pictures have to be explained. She had gotten a toy at McDonald's the first day and decided to call her ducky (she is actually a swan - again, do we see a theme and should I start saving now for therapy?). So everyone, except Daddy, because he was cursing at the luggage, had to take "Ducky Cheese" pictures with the swan (aka ducky). We all had to say "Ducky Cheese" and put the ducky (aka swan) to our cheek. It gets very confusing in our house unless you've lived there for an extended period of time!!

Now, since I was confired in a car with my family for an extended period of time, I did what any caring, loving, concerned mom would do. I pulled out pen and paper and wrote down some of the more funnier one liners from DD. There were lots that I was unable to publish. (Then my blog rating would have gone to PG - gasp!)

Walking to the car 2nd day:

DD: "Hear this 'Texaaaaas'."

Me: Trying to ignore her and get into the car. "Okay."

DD: "Does your voice only work in Coloraaaaado?"

DD writing a breakfast list for DS.

On paper is written "Sosh is wofl fot"
I said what is "Sushi is wofi fot?"

In an exasperated voice she said "IT'S Sausage, waffel, fruit. Can't you read?"

Me: "I guess not"

At breakfast while fighting with her brother:

DD to DS: "You're losing my mind!"

We did nothing but giggle which made her more angry.

Finally, our hotel. The kids are very excited about the pool.

I took this one night and thought it turned out really neat!

Day 1/2

2008-07-13T23:29:00.002-06:00

So after the Baseball Picnic, which was spent with good friends, we headed on our vacation. Driving 1200 miles can be strenuous enough, but spent with a 6 and 8 year old, can also be very challenging. I was prepared for answers to "Are we there yet?" and "How much longer?" (thanks to TZ) but was completely unprepared for DD to ask about 45 minutes into the trip, "How far have we gone?". To which my response was, "About as far as we have driven." Not being happy with that response, she didn't talk to me for another hour or so. I guess I now know the answer to that question as well.

So starts our 2008 vacation. We have never really taken an extended vacation with JUST our immediate family. I am really looking forward to this.

Now having said that, I did try to break DH's fingers today. Literally, not figuratively. And no, not on purpose. He was being a very nice husband and fixing my seat at a rest area. Very long story, so trust me on this. Anyway, I thought he was done and closed my door on his fingers. After a few choice words that made the bikers there blush, he let me look at them. Thankfully they are not broken and we didn't have to start this trip with an Emergency Room run in Kansas (or was it Eastern Colorado - it really doesn't matter, does it?!?!). I guess I'm not as strong as I think - thankfully.

After 10 hours (give or take) in the car, we pull up to the hotel (10:30pm MDT, 11:30pm local time) and DD gives me this cute smile and says "I love Kansas, I want to live here." To which I said, "WHAT?!?!" and so ends the first 1/2 day of our trip. I am so sure that there will be many more great conversations with my children as we refused to bring the Wii. They do have a DVD player and DS has his Nintendo DS, but we have to take baby steps when "unplugging" our children!

Take me out to the ball game....

2008-07-03T21:36:00.005-06:00

DS is playing his third year of baseball. He's not going to win any Home Run Derby but he's having fun. All the boys look great on the field.

Most of the kids are unidentifiable except for their numbers.

Jakob and Andrew (not sure of the child on the left)

Andrew and Jacob confer about something???

Look at that stance

Jakob playing third base.

Not perfect, but improving.

The new way to use a glove!

Okay, this one I couldn't resist!!! Thanks for the picture TZ and Kendra!!

The Dance Recital

2008-07-03T19:58:00.005-06:00

It wasn't as bad as the previous picture depicts. Rehearsal was on Tuesday night (the last day of school) and Recital was on Wednesday evening. Although I thought the kids would be toast, they were really well behaved for everyone else but me (as usual). They had a lot of fun and did very well.

Tap 3

Hip Hop 3

Ballet 2 - "It's Not Easy Being Green"

Where am I supposed to stand?

Tap/Jazz 2

The Older Girls

Wordless Wednesday (on Thursday)

2008-07-03T19:51:00.004-06:00

Dude!

2008-06-20T21:38:00.004-06:00

This blog is a tribute to Vern and her "Dude, I'm stoked" blog seen here.

I was helping out in DS's second grade class, and all I heard from the boys was:
"Dude, you know what he said?"
"Dude?"
"Dude!"

So being the mom I am, I starting harassing them by joining in on their conversation. I didn't need to know what they were actually talking about, I just kept saying "Dude!". It had the opposite effect I wanted, my joining the conversation only spurred them on.

DS has been teaching DD the finer art of conversing with other children. They were actually getting along one day last week and I overheard the following conversation.

DD: That's sweet. (Referring to something DS had)
DS: It's not sweet, it's sweeeeeet.
DD: Oh, that's sweeeeet.
DS: That's better.

When did he become a diction coach?

Now I pronounce thee.....

2008-06-20T09:35:00.006-06:00

Way back in Pre-School (3 years ago) DS met a lovely little girl (her name escapes me - it was three years ago) who was very sweet and very quiet. Her parents spoke very little English but were very nice. One day he came home and announced that he had a date.

DS: I have a date.
Me: What date?
DS: Don't you know what a date is?!?!?
Me: YES, it just don't know what you mean.
DS: (in a very disgusted tone) I have a date to get married.
ME: Really, who would that be?
DS: I'm going to marry ______. (still can't remember her name)

I left it at that since my comment would have been that family reunions would be interesting since her family didn't speak much English.

Before the end of the year we had a very brief discussion on how babies get into mommies tummies. I explained that there were eggs in mommies tummies. That was sufficient for an explanation.

After the school year was over we were discussing the little girl and how she might be going to a different school. DS insisted that they would still be getting married.

As I was driving he said very quietly and under his breath, "I sure hope her eggs are good." I about wrecked the car laughing.

*****

Forward one year - DS met a little girl named Caitlin in Kindergarten. She was, and still is, very sweet and cute. She also has a great mom. Things are looking up I thought! He mother - Colleeno - and I hit it off and I met a lot of other great moms at that time.

Towards the end of the year he announced to me that he would be marrying Caitlin. I can deal with this as I love the family and my grandchildren will be tall. Woo hoo!

(Pictures of Caitlin and Andrew are eluding me - check back for picts.)

*****

They remained betrothed through 1st grade. At the end of the year, Colleeno decided that it would be a lot easier to move the children to a different school. They are still in the same house and area, but Caitlin was now to go to a different school. DS was crushed, but I figured he'd get over it.

There was a little girl that had a crush on him at the end of the year, but I didn't promote that one for a lot of reasons.

At the beginning of the second grade DS met another little girl, Victoria. She also is a great and sweet little girl. She gives me hugs and I can always use hugs in my life. Once again I lucked out because her mom and brother are great and I get along well with them. TZ commented that it would be great if DS ended up with either of these girls because my grandchildren will be tall. Victoria and her family are also tall. Woo hoo!

Little did DS know that Caitlin and Victoria are friends. They were in Kindie enrichment together and have play dates periodically now. Andrew was a little concerned when he found out, but not too much. It was not, however, one of the girls that "spilled the beans", it was his good friend (?) Jake Z.

We went over to Colleeno's house for a girl scout leader discussion (sounds important huh?), and this is what I overheard:

CD: "I have to have a discussion with you NOW!"
DS: (meekly) okay

I was giggling about this and thought "Ooooo, son you are in trouble now." Well, he has to figure out how to deal with girls sometime.

I heard snippets of conversation that included "Victoria", "Jake", "breaking-up", "mad", and the like. After the discussion, DS looked okay, so I didn't think that he was too upset. The last thing I heard was "Don't tell ANYONE!" from CD. Of course I couldn't let that go so when we were alone, I asked DS about the conversation. He was reluctant to tell me but did. He told me that Jake had told Caitlin that he was "girl friend/boy friend" with Victoria. But he told her not to worry, she was still his "girlfriend" too. Again, I see a theme with my children. They are both fickle!! Anyway, I mentioned that Tommy was still Caitlin's "boyfriend" and his comment was "That's it, I'm done!". I didn't mean to end a relationship, but thought my son needed full disclosure.

We will see what happens next year since Victoria is changing schools next year. The saga continues...

Let's catch up on life!!

2008-06-19T21:45:00.004-06:00

At the pool
We finally made it to the pool. Last year we were banned from the pool. NO, not due to something I did! It was because Andrew broke his foot in July last year. The kids had a great time and I was able to vent to the neighborhood mommies!!

To Be Continued.....

Gretta the Small Blue Merle Puppy

2008-06-19T18:35:00.003-06:00

Lindsey loves Clifford books. I am reminded of these books as we raise Gretta. Every morning we wake up and wonder how big she has gotten overnight. This was evident to me this afternoon as I came home from dealing with my life. She looked twice as big as the last time I actually had time to pay attention to her (Monday maybe???). When we went to the vet on Monday, she weighed 31.8 pounds and she is nearly as tall as Belle.

Avoidance

2008-06-10T18:37:00.006-06:00

Someone does not want me to post this blog. I have tried, unsuccessfully, twice to get this out to you all.

Well, I have been avoiding this blog for a while so 4 whole days, but it's time I get it over and done with!!!

My neighbors thought I had a stalker. But no, it was TZ putting a sign on my garage to celebrate my 40th birthday. She was at my house at 5:30am. Now you all know that I would NEVER be up at that time in the morning, however, two of my neighbors caught her!

My children loved the t-shirts and were happy to sport them for my birthday. (I'm not sure who was drinking in the above picture. Me or my children???)

2 Points of Order

2008-05-31T23:58:00.004-06:00

First, as the women in my family have enjoyed reading my blog but rarely comment on it, I have been corrected concerning a couple prior blogs - see "Sloth vs. Bear" & "Sanity is a Distant Memory". I was reminded of the following occurrence concerning DD.

On Christmas Eve several years ago, we were at my parents house opening presents from aunts and uncles. My Aunt Colleen had sent the children several presents and the kids were overly excited about opening anything. This was at a time when my children had to announce, to no one in particular, what they received at the top of their lungs. DD had ripped into her present, pulled out a stuffed animal and the following conversation ensued.

DD - "It's a duck!!!"
Mom and Me (we often talk in unison) - "No, it's a penguin."
DD - "No, it's a duck.
M & M - "No, it's a penguin."

This is the point when we give up, because she was insistent that it was a duck, so.........

We have a lion that is a (stuffed) tiger
a sloth that is a (stuffed) bear,
a horse that is a (real) dog,
and a duck that is a (stuffed) penguin!

Do we see a pattern here?!?!?!?

Second - Gretta update with pictures.

Taken 5/18 - Look how long I am!!

Taken 5/31 - My legs are getting sooooo long.

I love my frog - I'm practicing for the Jack Russells that live behind me!

Who me?????

What is a Gemini?

2008-05-30T20:52:00.003-06:00

As my birthday approaches (TZ - it's nice to share a 40th birthday month with a friend) I decided it would be fun to look up my astrological sign, as I do on occasion. It's nice to see that there may be people out there like me and it might explain, to all, why I do what I do!


Zodiac Symbol	Twins
Birth Dates (Tropical)	May 21 - June 21
Constellation	Gemini
Zodiac Element	Air
Zodiac Quality	Mutable

Gemini is the third astrological sign in the Zodiac, originating from the constellation of Gemini. In astrology, Gemini is considered a "masculine", positive (extrovert) sign. It is also considered an air sign, and is one of four mutable signs. Gemini has been closely associated with the planet Mercury and is considered to be ruled by it.

Air Sign - According to astrological theory, air signs are the dreamers and communicators of the zodiac. Typically they are supposed to be free spirited, philosophical, intellectual and open-minded – able to discuss and debate just about any topic. Air signs are also the masters of social graces. They are often seen as so idealistic that they are unable to be practical and realistic.

Air signs are like gypsies, so changeable that they cannot stand one place for too long before their need for change and adventure takes over. Air signs can be extremely restless so they have trouble with serious concentration on any single job they might be required to carry out. But when need be, they are capable of tapping into a their hidden willpower and put their whole self into what they feel needs to be done.

Air signs are unpredictable like the air and wind, itself. One day, they can be quite obsessive, scattered and radical, and then change in an instant to a carefree, spacey attitude. Air signs' role is seen as providing the ideas that make the future different from the past, whereas fire signs carry out the actions necessary for this. Air signs continually thirst for interaction and view every experience as a potential opportunity for adventure, learning, indivituality, and growth as a person.

In human relationships, air signs are said to be gregarious and extroverted, often attracting friends very willingly and easily with their mysterious charm and open nature. However, air signs are believed to be lacking in certain passion and dedication to form strong, lasting relationships; astrologers believe few air sign people are able to have a single marriage, for they are said to be as apt to try out new people as new ideas. However, they're usually good at compromising time and space, and given enough leeway from their partners, this helps to keep them from feeling 'trapped' in an old relationship. They are also thought to be extremely emotionally aloof because they tend to intellectualize their feelings and generally want to avoid difficult obstacles that might be needed to hold a partnership together.

Air is generally laid back and a lover of life, but can be crafty, underhanded and ingenious when it comes to evil -- though not prone to physical violence. Chief fault is manipulation, when need be, they can become very convincing liars in order to get what they want. At their worst, Air can be fault finding, mean-spiritedness. Air is swift to express opinions and is more opinionated than most. Air can often use their words like daggers, where as physical violence is not their way of expressing their frustrations.

Mutable signs - In astrology, the mutable signs are a subgroup of the zodiac. They are Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces. The mutable signs straddle two temperate zone seasons, encompassing an inherent duality in its symbolism.

In the tropical zodiac, mutable signs coincide with the times of change in the seasons. They are associated with change and versatility. Individuals born under the four mutable quality signs are thought to be adaptable, impressionable, sharp, sympathetic, communicative, resourceful and restless, with a gift for seeing both sides of a situation at the same time and an immense desire for knowledge, variety and new ideas. They supposedly adapt very well to new situations, possess much flexibility, seldom have any particular agenda and are perfectly happy to fill in an assigned role. However, they are also said to be inconsistent, changeable, nervous, indecisive and irresponsible, with a tendency to get wrapped up in tiny particulars. There is also a certain duality associated with all the mutable quality signs.

Characteristics considered positive

Active
Adaptable
Articulate
Communicative
Inquisitive
Intellectual
Charming
Multitasking
Nimble
Entertaining
Upbeat

Whimsical
Witty
Straight-forward
Social
Talkative
Open-minded
Experimental
Joyful
Enthusiastic
Attention-loving
Energetic

Playful
Out-going
Adventurous
Broad-minded
Mind oriented
Spontaneous
Verbal
Risk-taking
Friendly
Dynamic
Youthful

Clever
Imaginative

Characteristics considered negative

dualistic
self-interested
restless
impulsive
over-talkative
over-stimulated
fickle / inconsistent

vain
critical
too playful
playing of mind games
boastful
ego-oriented
devious

tricky
too curious
superficial
temperamental
insensitive
mercurial
indecisive

Ideal Careers - Actor/actress, architect, archaeologist, comedian, teacher, model, playwright, diplomat, public speaker, author, psychologist, poet, journalist, lawyer, movie writer or director, debater/politician.

Likes - Talking, the unusual, teaching, learning, different things in life, having multiple projects all going at once, traveling, making jokes, jet-setting.

Dislikes - Feeling tied down, losing, being wrong, being in a bad situation, mental inaction, being alone, not getting credit for one's successes.

Sooooo.......How many of you really think over-talkative is a negative trait???? Be honest!

What Flower Am I?

2008-05-30T20:38:00.003-06:00

As I was perusing my friends blogs, I found this. I'm not sure if it describes me or not. Today however I was reminded that I tell people "how it is". Is that a good trait or bad, you decide!!

I am a
Canna

What Flower
Are You?

"You stand up for what you believe in, even if it gets in the way of what other people think. You are proud of yourself and your accomplishments and you enjoy letting people know that."

The Laundry Quandary

2008-05-27T22:02:00.006-06:00

As we are trying to co-exist with the new carpet and a new puppy, I have a nagging feeling that there is something just not right with the world. I then realize that there is a mountain of laundry in the basement.

Mountain tends to be an understatement. Bob complains that he doesn't get to the mountains enough, little does he realize that I am going to start charging admission for people to start being able to ski in our basement. That would save the problem of no more spring skiing.

I'm not sure who's laundry I'm doing, but it certainly can't be ours. I look in the closets, drawers, floors, under beds, and things stuffed in toys and I find enough clothing to keep a family of 10 or 12 dressed for a month. So how do I still have a mountain of laundry? Could it be that my husband has found an additional income source? There no articles of clothing that look unfamiliar, maybe they bought identical clothes? Surely there is no other reasonable explanation.

As I ponder this situation, I realize that DD is insistent on picking out her own clothes. While this is a great thing for me, it isn't such a great idea for my laundry quandary. I also realize that while DS isn't the clothes hog DD is, he still has dance three times a week and now plays baseball.

As I am still befuddled by the ever growing pile, I am very glad that I don't have to use one of these!!

This one sort of scares me!!!

Gretta update!
Gretta had her next visit to the vet today. She is 22 1/2 pounds and is growing rapidly!!! For my fellow neighborhood moms, she is already as tall as the sofa. Was there ever any doubt? There was a 6 month old Boxer at the vet's office and Gretta was almost as big as he was. I really need to get the house together so I can have you all over. It's coming along!

Sanity is a Distant Memory

2008-05-09T23:04:00.004-06:00

Last April we lost our dog, Austin, of 13 years. He was a very sweet and lovable companion and friend. We had gotten Belle, our Bernese Mountain Dog, about three weeks before we lost Austin. We had hoped that she would provide some companionship to Austin, but it was not meant to be.

In the last couple months we have traveled and left Belle at Camp Bow Wow and she has loved it. She plays and plays and collapses when she comes home. She also pouts. If you have ever seen a Berner pout, it's almost as bad a watching DD pout!!

I had my mind set on getting Belle a friend. My friend had a litter of German Shepards. They were bred from dogs from Germany so didn't have the traits or look of the American bred German Shepards, which I prefer. DH was set against getting another animal. So we missed the litter and they went to other, well deserving homes.

When we got our new carpet (picts to follow) Belle attended Camp Bow Wow and played non-stop for 3 days. Bob then decided that I might be right in stating that Belle needed a buddy. So we went on our search for a puppy. We looked at the paper and found several that we thought would be a good fit.

Meet Gretta, our Great Dane puppy.......

She is currently 7 weeks old and weighs 15 pounds.

She is very cute and loves her daddy.

These are her parents. Harley, her mom, is on the right and Hogan, her daddy, is on the left. I think the little fuzzball is Gretta.

They are very sweet and seem to be great dogs. We are very excited to add her to our family. DD thinks that Gretta is HER baby and doesn't want anyone else to be around her. DS is overjoyed that he has another playmate. Belle is not sure what to think. She's too small to really play, but she seems like a dog. Mom is happy that she got her way, again.....

So, in addition to the lion that is a tiger and the sloth that is a bear, we now have a horse that is a dog. (See previous blog for explanation!)

Did I mention that we just got new carpet?!?!?!?

Sloth vs. Bear

2008-04-29T23:02:00.004-06:00

Lindsey went on an outing to spend the morning with Martha and was "packing" for her visit. (Keep in mind, she was there 3 hours - what can a six year old pack?) Anyway, she told me she wanted to take her "little lion" and her "cloth".

There are two problems with this request:
1.) Her "little lion" is a tiger. I knew this so it didn't cause too much stress, as she was putting it in her bag.
2.) What on earth was this "cloth" she was talking about?!?!? The following conversation ensued.

DD: I need to take my "cloth".
Me: What cloth?
DD: My "cloth".
Me: Just repeating yourself is not helping. What are you talking about.
DD: (As indignantly as possible) You know! The one with the three toes.
Me: Still not sure what you are talking about.
DD: I'll go get it and show you.
Me: Okay........(I have to wait approximately 30 seconds, apparently, it was in the next room - couldn't she have brought it with her to begin with?)
DD: See it only has three toes.
Me: It's a bear.
DD: No, it's a "cloth".
Me: No, it's a bear and you mean sloth.
DD: That's what I said a sloth.
Me: No, you said cloth not sl-oth.
DD: Whatever!!!
Me: It's still a bear.
DD: A sloth IS a type of bear!!!

At this point, I gave up because apparently we have "little lion" that is a tiger and a "sloth" that is a bear!

Now, having never actually seen a picture of a sloth, I'm a little creeped out with this one! It was the least creepy one of the lot. The only sloth I have been associated with (maybe associated isn't the right word) is the one from Ice Age (his name escapes me!). I'm not sure I would ever actually want to see one up close and personal.

For those of you who are dying to know, sloths are NOT related to bears, they are in the same Order as the Anteater. Thank you Wikipedia!!

Also, apparently lions and sloths don't get along, because I had to watch them for a couple minutes while DD went upstairs, because "they get in trouble when they are left alone". Who knew!?!?

Daughters of the American Revolution

2008-04-28T09:54:00.004-06:00

I think most of you know that I am in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). DAR is defined by Wikipedia as: a lineage-based membership organization of women dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism. DAR chapters are involved in raising funds for local scholarships and educational awards, preserving historical properties and artifacts and promoting patriotism within their communities.

I have been in DAR 19 years and it is a great experience. Most of my experience has been being a Page. It's similar to a Page in Congress. We dress in white, so the ladies can find us easily, and we run errands, carry flags, and the like. We basically run our backsides off. But have fun doing it.

This weekend I was at our State Conference Saturday and Sunday. Here are some horrible pictures my mother took. Now I know why I hate white!

Yeah, that's me on the left.

No, no, that's me on the left here. I'm sorry, that was one of the CAR (Children of the American Revolution) girls. If only!!

Me and Mom

Some members from our chapter.

This is what I have been doing instead of putting our house back together after our new carpet. The procrastination is running rampant in our house, but it's coming together slowly.

The Joys of New Carpet

2008-04-22T10:03:00.002-06:00

We had a brilliant idea of getting carpet during track-off. Little did we know!

We looked and looked and had various problems with installers and the like. We then went with the company that put the carpet in our basement. They are very easy to deal with and we had a great guy help us.

As we were determining what we were going to carpet, my husband had the brilliant idea of doing the entire house. Now, any of you that have seen my house knows how much stuff (and I use the term loosely) we have. Imagine, eleven years in the same house, two cats, two dogs, and two kids later we have accumulated lots and lots of stuff. I cringed every time he said something like, "Since we're doing it, we may as well do the whole thing.". So I relented.

We also decided to get the house painted. We were in dire need and needed some color in our lives.

So with three weeks and much purging we have the house painted and are getting new carpet on Thursday. Of course, I don't have before pictures, but will post new ones when everything is put back in place.

These are the reasons I have been absent from the blogging scene.

Laugh Lines!!

2008-03-30T12:41:00.002-06:00

I am not one to read the newspaper as it just depresses me. I do, on occasion, pick up the "Tidbits" paper of various cities in the area. I found an article from the March issue that stuck my funny bone.

These are excerpts from students' exams....

The future of "I give" is "I take".
The parts of speech are lungs and air.
The inhabitants of Moscow are called Mosquitoes.
A census taker is a man who goes from house to house increasing the population.
Water is composed of two gins. Oxygin and hydrogin. Oxygin is pure gin and Hydrogin is gin and water.
(Define H2O and CO3.) H2O is hot water and CO2 is cold water.
The general direction of the Alps is straight up.
Most of the houses in France are made of plaster of Paris.
The people who followed the Lord were called the 12 opossums.
The spinal column is a long bunch of bones. The head sits on the top and you sit on th bottom.
One of the main causes of dust is janitors.
One by-product of raising cattle is calves.
To prevent head colds, use an agonizer to spray into the nose until it drips into the throat.
The four seasons are salt, pepper, mustard, and vinegar.
Geometry teaches us to bisex angles.
The climate is hottest next to the Creator.
Oliver Cromwell had a large red nose, but under it were deeply religious feelings.
The word trousers is an uncommon noun because it is singular at the top and plural at the bottom.
Syntax is all the money collected at the church from sinners.
The blood circulates through the body by flowing down one leg and up the other.
In spring, the salmon swim upstream to spoon.
Iron was discovered because someone smelt it.
A person should take a bath once in the summer, not so often in the winter.
The process of turning steam back into water again is called conversation.
A magnet is something you find crawling all over a dead cat.
The pistol of a flower is its only protection against insects.
Three kinds of blood vessels are arteries, vanes, and caterpillars.
The dodo is a bird that is almost decent by now.

Wordless Wednesday - Whistler

2008-03-05T08:57:00.001-07:00

Make a photobook - it's easy!

How many Aimee Thomas's?

2008-03-04T19:46:00.000-07:00

HowManyOfMe.com

There are
127
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Oh, Canada!

2008-03-02T14:48:00.007-07:00

As I sit in the airport and are delayed 3 1/2 hours, I can reflect on the rest of my trip. (Pictures still to come - must have left the cable at home!)

I was told, and I told, lots of "Bob" stories. Fun was had by all except the source of the entertainment. It's a good thing that my husband has a sense of humor. -- Although, being married to me, he must. -- We ate, drank and were merry. Does water count as "drink"? Anyway, we tolled the village and were amazed by the prices everywhere. I thought Vale was expensive, but not compared to Whistler.

Point of fact:

The hoary marmot (Marmota caligata) is a species of marmot that inhabits the mountains of northwest North America. The largest populations are in Alaska. In the northern part of that state they may live near sea level. Hoary marmots live near the tree line on slopes with grasses and forbs to eat and rocky areas for cover. It is the largest North American ground squirrel and is often nicknamed "the whistler" for its high-pitched warning issued to alert other members of the colony to possible danger. The animals are sometimes called "whistle pigs." Whistler, British Columbia is said to be named for these animals.[1]

These are the things we learn when there are a bunch of drunk people, and we use them for entertainment, lots of trivial facts.

Overall, it was a great time spent with my husband and people I haven't seen in a year. Hopefully, we will get to go to Bali next year. Of course, that would be somewhere with a beach, my husband couldn't get that lucky.

Wish us luck on getting back today. We may get to stay at the airport until tomorrow. I can hardly wait!!

Danielle This Blog Is For You

2008-02-29T12:25:00.005-07:00

Yesterday I felt like I should have been with Danielle. We had massages and my masseuse was Yvonne from Australia. She was so sweet and we talked for the entire hour. Of course, that is the way we, as women, relax. My husband doesn't understand, but oh well. I almost picked out the accent, but she told me that she had been here for 18 years. The more she talked, the more I knew where she was from.

Our sleigh ride was conducted by yet another Aussie. He could have talked all night for all cared. I love the accent, must be the Aussie in me. I am after all 1/4 Australian. Anyway, it was nice and all I could think about was getting back here to blog. It's pretty bad when you're thinking of what you are going to say in your blog, when you're on a "romantic" sleigh ride.

Tonight's festivities include a banquet. UGH! It will be nice to talk to everyone, but it's a long drawn out affair. I will have to blog later on the festivities from last night.

Whistler or Bust

2008-02-28T11:16:00.004-07:00

Since no one believes that I will blog while up here, I'm going to try to break that assumption.

After an airplane trip of 2 hours and 45 minutes and a bus ride of the same length. We are finally here. Thankfully we didn't have the kids, they would have been chewing our arms off by then.

No pictures so far, well at least any that I want posted (hee hee). Actually I think I forgot my cable to upload pictures, so you may have to wait until I get back.

Last night, we went to a cocktail reception and then just hung out in the room. Today we are off to the spa and for dinner a sleigh ride and fondue. Bob is getting points for doing what I would like rather than doing what his friends are doing. We'll see how long that lasts. However, he may be placating me because now that I am with the people he works with, I am hearing a LOT of stories about what happens when he is on the road!!

(Yeah, spell check is working again, however, it doesn't work if you use the wrong word but spell it correctly!!!)

Happy Birthday Lindsey!!

2008-02-24T21:29:00.002-07:00

Today is my baby's sixth birthday. I'm feeling very sappy today. She felt better this morning than she has in the last two weeks. He had a good day, played nicely with her brother, got lots of girlie stuff, and we had Nana and Gramps over. We went to dinner and she started feeling worse. Poor baby, she put up a good front but ended up going to sleep on her Nana's lap.

She's always done things her own way. It started from the beginning, I was due to be induced with her on February 25, 2002. I had figured my due date as the 25th, and begged my OB/GYN to induce even though she said I had another week. Andrew had been three weeks early, so I was more than ready.

On Saturday, we had decided to go to church the following day. I had been in the hospital two times with "false labor" pains. (I really didn't consider them false.) Early on Sunday, I had pains that I contributed to the "false labor" since I was going to be induced on Monday. She obviously had her own plans. She arrived on Sunday at 2:05pm. I should have known that she would be doing things her way, not mine.

I love to sit with her, she loves to snuggle. She can be caring to others in pain or those upset. She has been known to "mother" other children, that are complete strangers, that have been hurt. Even though she can be difficult, she is a sweet little girl.

Obsession At It's Best

2008-02-20T11:53:00.002-07:00

Meme Time

2008-02-19T17:35:00.004-07:00

Thanks to Danielle, I have something to blog about instead of complaining!!

The rules for this meme are:
(1) Link to the person that tagged you.
(2) List the rules on your blog.
(3) Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
(4) Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
(5) Let each random person know they have been tagged.

Six non-important things/habits/quirks about myself

1) I have a "secret" obsession with office supplies. My favorite store is Office Depot and can hardly wait to visit Staples in Parker. I may never come out.

2) According to close friends, I giggle and babble when I am nervous. Although I know I babble, I don't think that I have ever been known to giggle.

3) Since Spell Check in blogger is sitting under a gum tree with Danielle’s Merlot, I have been writing in Word and then copy and pasting.

4) At the end of the month I am going to a place cold with snow. Wait a minute, I live in a place that is cold with snow. How does that work? I could save several hours on the plane if I just stayed here.

5) I love cheesy musicals. Including, but not limited to, High School Musical and High School Musical 2. A subset of this is that I have a picture of Zac Efron as my cell phone wallpaper. He is legal at 20, so I’m not doing anything wrong.

6) I can’t watch horror flicks, I get scared and can’t go to sleep.

Everyone I know has been tagged so don’t want to put them through this again. So steps 4 and 5 are not being completed by me!!

School Headaches

2008-02-10T19:52:00.001-07:00

I know that I am not the only one to have difficulties with their children in school, but there are some things that frustrate me more than others.

I had a talk with DD’s teacher last week. Not the first time I might add, but not a conversation I wanted to have. Her scores dropped on her DIBELS scoring. She appears to not know her letters.

We had this same problem last year. In Pre-School, I was approached by one of the teachers stating that she had to practice her letters because missed a lot of them. I took her home and quizzed her, she knew the majority of the letters. She missed one or two, but nothing major.

So, being the diligent mom I am, I informally tested her with flash cards again. She got 70 out of 80 right in less than two minutes. I explained this to the teacher, but much to my dismay, DD is in a special reading class. She loves it because she is being singled out and makes her feel special. Oh the woes of having a daughter with no issues with being singled out. Hopefully, the teachers will figure it out and put her back in class.

First Week and a Half of School

2008-02-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

After five weeks of off track, it's been a long two weeks.

Andrew was home the first day back due to asthma issues, but then went to school just fine. He had a hard time getting back into the swing of things. All that time off made us all a little lazy. Lindsey had her second round of croup. I'm really glad it's going to be warmer this week so they can get out of the house and stop infecting the rest of us.

Andrew finally had his birthday party. It's only a month late, but he had it. (I guess that Mom of the year award had eluded my grasp once again this year.) He had wanted laser tag and I was perplexed as to where to have it. I looked and finally found Laser Quest. It's all laser tag all the time. And really loud. The children all had fun, if the chatting afterwards was any indication.

Next is Lindsey's birthday. The dilemma of a five year old deciding what to do is going to send me to an early grave. She is however very funny while discussing it. I'm not even sure that she's actually made up her mind and we only have 2 weeks to go. Hopefully I'll be a little more organized for hers.

That is all that has been happening in the house of Thomas. I'm still here and alive and can't wait for summer so I can take the kids out to run off their energy.

The Lovely Ballerina...and Brother

2008-01-21T18:17:00.000-07:00

Having been out of town last year for individual photos, for dance, I decided to take them myself. I should be able to do as well as a photographer. I have a great camera, lots of things for backdrops, extra lights, and friends that will loan me any of the items above I might need. I, however, did not take into account that I would be taking pictures of MY children. Yes, those children, I have to yell at to be heard. The children to whom I have to repeat EVERYTHING I say a minimum of three times. The children ... you get the picture.

So the result is passable, but we will have the "professional" take them this year.

Who is FlyLady?????

2008-01-19T20:01:00.000-07:00

Okay, maybe I missed a blog somewhere, but as I read my fellow bloggers posts I am still not sure who this mysterious woman is. My imagination abounds. So instead of letting my deprived adult mind wonder, I google her. Well this is what I find.

Are YOU living in CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome) like Franny in the pink sweats? Do you feel overwhelmed, overextended, and overdrawn? Hopeless and you don't know where to start? Don't worry friend, we've been there, too.

Step through the door and follow FlyLady as she weaves her way through housecleaning and organizing tips with homespun humor, daily musings about life and love, the Sidetracked Home Executives (SHE) system, and anything else that is on her mind.

When you join FlyLady, you will receive daily FLYmail. Your FLYing Lessons will guide you through babysteps to help you set up routines, get rid of your clutter, and put your home and life in order. FlyLady's approach has worked for thousands. Join anytime you want (there is no cost involved)! You are not behind - you are just getting started! Read FlyLady's personal testimony in WhyFly? Don't be overwhelmed by all the material on this site - take it a little piece at time - baby steps. To get started, check out the FLYing Lessons - it will tell you how to begin. You can have this peace too, and it won't cost you a dime!

Okay, so now I know why I don't know who FlyLady is. She has never visited my house. Before DH, DS & DD I was sort of organized and my days thought out sometimes. I planned trips, school work, evenings out with my friends, etc. Thanks solely to my dad, who is a Virgo. (Those of you who have ever lived with a Virgo know what I mean!)

Then I got married, and my life fell to an unorganized state. Not that my husband is a slob because he was relatively organized when I met him. The problem is we save (almost) everything. Now I'm not near as bad as some of the people you see on those HGTV shows, but I do scurry around picking up prior to anyone coming over. That is one of the reasons, I don't like drop in visitors. My friends and family know this character flaw, so they are welcome anytime. However, I have been known not to answer the door if someone knocks unannounced.

I am wondering if the FlyLady can turn this:

Into this:

If so, I am signing up. I need to hear some testimonials from my fellow bloggers.

Catching up....?

2008-01-12T11:13:00.000-07:00

Since all of my fellow bloggers have already posted many times in the new year, I feel a little lacking in comparison.

This year started out great, however, Andrew had a recurrence of Strep Throat. He is now on his second round of antibiotics. He is not contagious and is feeling better, but what a way to start the new year.

Two more weeks until the kids track back on at school. I can hardly wait. I so look forward to having them off and at home. The mother in me thinks that we will have hearfelt conversations, snuggle on the sofa and watch movies (that we all love), the children will play together nicely and all will be well with the world. As I listen to them argue over ... (who knows what) ... I think all the way back to last night when they were sleeping and they looked so angelic. I wanted to wake them up and just hold them. It's amazing that a couple hours can seem like a lifetime ago.

While I am an only child, I do not understand the nick picking, the tormenting, the annoyance and the sheer terror of having a sibling. I actually look forward to having one of them to myself, because they are then the children I thought I would have.

Enough of the self pity!! Now that the holidays are behind us and the new year is ahead I have several thoughts for you (12 on the 12th):

~ The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're OK, then it's you." -Rita Mae Brown, writer and activist

~ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst, for they are sticking to their diets.

~ Life is an endless struggle full of frustrations and challenges, but eventually you find a hairstylist you like.

~ Stress reducer; Put a bag on your head. Mark it "closed for remodeling". *Caution - leave air holes.

~ The real art of conversation is not only to say the right thing in the right place, but also to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.

~ God put me on earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now I am so far behind, I will live forever.

~ Insanity is my only means of relaxation.

~ It's frustrating when you know all the answers, but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.

~ Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

~ There cannot be a crisis this week; my schedule is already full.

~ "Cute as a button" Is that supposed to be a compliment? Since when are buttons cute?

~ Why are people so scared of mice, yet we all love Mickey Mouse?

Happy New Year!!

2008-01-05T23:14:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year Everyone!

After a month of illnesses, we are finally all healthy. We have survived colds, bronchitis, and strep throat. We are so happy to have all of that behind us and are ready to start the new year healthy.

The holidays were pretty uneventful. We spent Christmas Eve with my parents and Christmas Day here at home. The kids made out better than we ever did as kids. The big gift this year seems to be Nintendo DS. It looks like a lot of the second graders in my son's class got them and all they can talk about are the games.

It was a musical holiday here. DD got a guitar. Since she's only (almost) 6, it is a 3/4 and I'm not sure she realizes that it is an actual instrument. We are looking into lessons for her. I got a keyboard, I guess that I now have to actually play, like I have been talking about for the last five years. I may need to take more lessons myself.

Balls, balls, and more balls!

2007-12-19T22:27:00.000-07:00

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Ms. Tracey had her annual Ornament exchange party. This is the first year I was able to attend. Fun was had by all. The ornaments were pretty and lots of imaginative ideas. We all had fun with "taking" each others balls (glass ball ornaments).

Of course, when you get a bunch of women, who all know each other, together and add in libations, we were all laughing about lots of things. Mostly the balls that were given. Balls of all different sizes, large, small, dangly, and stinky sticks. Lots of fun men would not understand!!

Fiesta Anyone?

2007-12-19T21:39:00.000-07:00

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

My second grader's class is studing Mexico. Instead of having a holiday party, the teachers decided to to have a Fiesta. The kids did the Mexican Hat Dance, ate an assortment of "Mexican" food and broke a pinata. The past couple weeks, they have also made woven placemats, masks, ponchos and a pinata. The kids loved being involved in the festivities. They had such fun.

The Night Before Christmas for Moms

2007-12-12T13:10:00.000-07:00

The Night before Christmas for Moms

It was the night before Christmas, when all thru the abode

Only one creature was stirring, and she was cleaning the commode.

The children were finally sleeping, all snug in their beds,

While visions of Wii and Barbie, flipped through their heads.

The dad was snoring in front of the TV,

With a half-constructed bicycle on his knee.

So only the mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,

Which made her sigh, "Now what's the matter?"

With toilet bowl brush still clutched in her hand,

She descended the stairs, and saw the old man.

He was covered with ashes and soot, which fell with a shrug.

"Oh great," muttered the mom, "Now I have to clean the rug."

"Ho-ho-ho!" cried Santa, "I'm glad you're awake."

"Your gift was especially difficult to make."

"Thanks, Santa, but all I want is some time alone."

"Exactly!" he chuckled, "I've made you a clone."

"A clone?" she asked, "What good is that?

Run along, Santa, I've no time for chit-chat."

There stood the clone, the mother's twin.

Same hair, same eyes, same double chin.

"She'll cook, she'll dust, She'll mop every mess.

You'll relax, take it easy, Watch The Young & the Restless."

"Fantastic!" the mom cheered. "My dream come true!"

"I'll shop. I'll read. I'll sleep a whole night through! "

From the room above, the youngest began to fret.

"Mommy?! I scared... and I am wet."

"The clone replied, "I'm coming, sweetheart."

"Hey," the mom smiled, "She knows her part."

The clone changed the small one, and hummed a tune,

As she bundled the child, in a blanket cocoon.

"You the best mommy ever. I really love you."

The clone smiled and sighed, "I love you, too."

The mom frowned and said, "Sorry, Santa, no deal."

"That's my child's love, she's trying to steal."

Smiling wisely Santa said, "To me it is clear,"

"Only one loving mother, is needed here."

The mom kissed her child, and tucked her into bed.

"Thank you, Santa, for clearing my head.

I sometimes forget, it won't be very long,

When they'll be too old, for my cradle-song."

The clock on the mantle began to chime.

Santa whispered to the clone, "It works every time."

With the clone by his side Santa said, "Goodnight.

Merry Christmas, Mom, You'll be all right."

Donuts Anyone?

2007-12-12T12:26:00.000-07:00

While driving home from taking DD to school, I was reminded of the song "Slip Sliding Away" by Simon and Garfunkel that goes:

Slip sliding away, slip sliding away
You know the nearer your destination,
the more you slip sliding away.

As the temperature raises to a heat wave of 36°F, the snow pack on the roads is melting and re-freezing. I turned the corner and almost did a donut in the middle of the street and it reminded me of a conversation the family had a couple days ago.

We had decided that the children needed to get out of the house, so we went out to Sam's Club to look for something, anything. On the drive a conversation started between my husband and myself as the children were finally quiet and not arguing.

Me: (Talking to my husband) "Is there a reason we are taking the Jeep and not your car?"

DH: "Well, no reason in particular, unless you wanted to do some donuts."

DD: (From somewhere in the back of the car, and in her Mickey Mouse voice) "I'll take one with chocolate and sprinkles."

DS: "I want sprinkles on mine too."

Me: (While snickering) "Not THOSE kinds of donuts. We are talking about doing donuts in the car."

DD: "Yeah, well, I want mine with sprinkles."

My husband had to finish the explanation as I was laughing too hard to talk. Which he did a wonderful job of, I might add.
Not

As I've said before, all the funny things are said in the car, when I don't have anything to write on.

Elf Name

2007-12-11T20:21:00.000-07:00

Brought to you by Dodie.....

My Elf Name Is...

Trixie Twinkle Wink

What's Your Elf Name?

Twas' the Night Before Christmas

2007-12-11T19:44:00.000-07:00

While doing a little "surfing" I found some very cute renditions on one of my very favorite poems of the Christmas holiday. This first one is dedicated to my hubby and all those "geeks" out there. You know who you are. :) (Okay maybe it's the illness talking, but I didn't actually know what a sysop was and had to look it up. For those getting over the crud like I am, a sysop is a systems operator. Who knew?!?!)

The Sysop's Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a peripheral was stirring, not even a mouse.

The modem was plugged to the phone line with care

In hopes that a download soon would be there.

Our pirates were nestled all snug in their beds

While visions of unprotects danced in their heads.

And Mama in her kerchief, and I in my cap

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap.

When up on the hard drive there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the monitor I flew like a flash,

Sat down at the keyboard, gave the spacebar a mash.

The sight on the screen, all a'flicker with snow,

Gave the luster of power surge to the menu below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But an autoexec.bat that seemed rather queer.

With a little print driver so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment I had seen a new trick.

More rapid than eagles the cursors they came;

My MIDI whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Format, now Rename, now Copy, and Enter!

On Num Lock, on Caps Lock, on Scroll Lock, and Printer!

"To the top of the page, to the top of the doc,

Now tab it and bold it and merge it and block!"

As utilities that build up the CPU speed

Clash with just the programs I need,

So up to the screen top the cursors they flew,

With a RAM full of memory and an expansion board too.

And then, in a twinkling I heard on the speaker,

The grinding of the hard drive growing much weaker.

As I tried to reboot and turn it around,

The attributes changed from blue into brown.

I hit the control, the alt, and delete.

The screen message it gave me, I cannot repeat.

It asked me to Ignore, Retry, or Abort.

It told me the parallel had become the comm port.

Its lights how they twinkled; its pixels how merry,

Its prompts were all scrambled, like a bowl full of cherries.

It sounded just like it wanted to blow;

The screen was suddenly white as the snow.

It scrolled its directory before my eyes

With programs I didn't even recognize.

It wouldn't see D:, it wouldn't see E:;

I couldn't get out of B: into C:.

Norton's tried to read it, finally finding the FAT;

But alas! The disk was faulty, and couldn't reformat.

Away flew the DBase; away flew the DOS-es;

Away flew the WordStar; right out with the Windows.

The spreadsheets were spreading; the footers were headings;

What once had been memory was close to forgetting.

When the grinding was over and the smoke had all cleared,

I looked at the hard drive; it was just as I feared.

The 600 meg wonder had crashed in the night;

I'll never be able to block out that sight!

So tell everyone you know to avoid my plight;

Back up your files! Merry Christmas! Good Night!