Another Frantic Friday - The Royal Edition...

Okay yes, yes I awoke at 3:00 a.m. to begin watching the Royal Wedding "pre-game" shows not wanting to miss a single second of the big day (anyone who knows me even a little bit should not find this surprising).  There is nothing like a beautiful wedding - well actually there is nothing like a beautiful wedding dress.  I love wedding dresses - they are like the dessert of the fashion world.  It might be a little impractical to wear one every day but still, think of the possibilities!  I liked Kate's dress (and yes, I do feel free to call her Kate - we are such close personal friends and all) but it had to grow on me a bit.  It was timeless and classic.  Initially I was a little disappointed - I was expecting something more dramatic but by the time the newlyweds processed out of the church I had decided it was perfect. She was a beautiful, happy bride just as she should have been.

I'm glad I was up to see the bride and the groom and the pageantry.  It was fabulous.  And yes, I realize there are great tragedies happening in the world - tsunamis, earth quakes, tornadoes, etc. but there are also fun, romantic and grand happy events to celebrate as well as tragedies to grieve  So today I'm going to celebrate.  Maybe I'll wear a wedding dress to the grocery store - be the dessert of life.  And seriously,  think about how much fun that would be - "no I don't need my milk in a sack but if you could find a prince to carry me to my car that would be lovely"...

TTFN...

Havin' a jiggy shimmy does not a dancer make...

Oh Kendra baby - just because you know how to shake that BOO-TAY and those BOO-BAYS does not mean you know how to dance.  Seriously...  As Bruno alluded you can take the girl out of the strip-club but you can't take the stripper out of the girl. 

So yes, I will admit it I am not a Kendra fan.  She's a whiner.  She likes to be a victim and she can't dance.  She may know her way round the strip club but without that pole to hold her up she's got nothin'.  I'm hoping she will go home tonight but I am sure there will be no such luck.  Call me jealous if you like but really if she had a graceful, rhythmic move in her body I'd be all over the girl with dancing praise.

That's it.  Just needed to get that out there since she isn't taking my calls.  Sorry Kendra, I'm just trying to help, seriously :-)

TTFN...

Say Cheese...

We spent a nice Easter weekend at my parent's and here are the obligatory pictures of my kids:

Would it be a bad mother thing to say that one or more of my children may be entering that "awkward" stage???  

Yesterday...

It snowed.  It was April 19th. 

I bought cute sleeveless Easter dresses for the girls thinking how nice it would be by the time Easter rolled around. 
Yesterday, it snowed.

Last week I thought about trips to the greenhouse to get hanging baskets and pretty flowers to decorate the outside of the house.
Yesterday, it snowed. 

I am so looking forward to having a non-working summer that I can hardly stand waiting another day. 
Yesterday, it snowed.

And it snowed because of that desire I have to enjoy the summer, spending sun-filled days and warm balmy nights with nothing more to worry about than what color flip-flops I should wear.  If I were still working, stuck in a windowless cube jungle the weather would be beautiful.  The sun would shine and yesterday, it would not have snowed.  Yes, it is all my fault.  The last time I remember having such a crummy spring or summer was when I was the proud owner of a Mustang convertible.  It rained almost every day that summer.  Oh Mother Nature why do you hate me when I love MOST of your seasons so much?

In other news - yesterday the dog ate a pill which fell on the floor.  The pill was not meant for her.  If it had been a tomato or a pill she was supposed to take she would not have touched the darn thing but since it didn't belong to her and she thinks there is nothing better than food of the non-vegetable variety which belongs to her humans she ate the pill.  Dumb Dog!  I took her to the vet and 174 dollars later I found that she was just fine and the pill did not cause any ill-effects. 
Oh and yesterday - it snowed.

TTFN...  hoping for sun!

Just another Frantic Friday...

Recently there have been a number of times when I have thought "hey I should blog about that" and then I decided, "well maybe that isn't blog-worthy" (as if some of my previous posts have really been blog-worthy - HA).  So here I am on another Friday night and it is all kind of frantic - or random at the very least.

The girls have decided they are going to become skateboard Internet sensations.  I'm not sure what a skateboarding Internet sensation is but it seems to require making many, many videos and saying dude a lot. 

Alex and I went to The Wizard of Oz ballet - yes I said ballet.  I wasn't sure what to think but it was very cute and Dorthy had the most fabulous pair of red glitter toe shoes I've ever seen.  I'm not sure where I would wear red glitter toe shoes but they caused me a great deal of shoe lust.  .

Syd loves classic rock.  On the ride home from dance tonight I had a classic rock station on and first they played Me and Julio Down by the School Yard (is that the official title) and then Life in the Fast Lane.  As we pulled in the driveway Syd said "mom, thanks for not changing that great music".  Who knew and just when I thought it was all about Hannah Montana and Justin Bieber - there is hope!!!! 

May and June are going to be crazy months filled with activities so I am enjoying these last few quiet days of April even if it is snowing as I type and is a beautiful day for November! 

I feel like I live in a laundromat.  The washer and dryer seem to be in perpetual use.  The laundry mountain never diminishes.  UGH.  It doesn't help that my dryer takes at least 2 hours to dry a load of towels (and no, mom, I am not overloading it).  One of the local appliance stores has a steam washer and dryer set on sale.  Does anyone know about the steam washer and dryers?  Pros - Cons?  Input is appreciated :-)

My neighbor is still cracking the whip on the walking thing although I got a skip today (I said "here's the deal - I'm crabby and just a general PITA today so we can walk and I can bitch or we can skip".  He opted to skip - good answer :-))

Okay I told you it would be frantic or something like that anyway so it isn't like you didn't know going in today! 

TTFN...

I'm not ready...

Alex at 10 years old

Alex brought home his cap and gown and graduation announcements today.  It made me cry.  I'm not ready for this.  I'm not ready to let one of my babies leave the nest.  I never really imagined what this day would be like for me.  I know he isn't moving out tomorrow but graduation is just another step towards independence - and really what will my kids do without me (okay fine what will I do without my kids?)?  Sure they drive me crazy some days and stress me out and just tonight I thought "I need to get out of this house and away from these kids and the HotY if only for a minute" but you know that's all on my terms and that makes it a totally different story (hey at least I'm honest - selfish - but honest).  What in the world am I going to do when Alex's moving day is actually upon us some day?  I'm going to be a MESS!!

Well I guess I better start facing reality - and party planning.

TTFN...  I'm still trying to find a way to get out of the house for a couple of hours.

I don't know how much more I can take...

So this Sunday's family movie night choice was Black Beauty (Lauren's pick this time).  OMG - could there possibly have been a more depressing movie?  Between people getting sick and having to move and leave their horses behind to Ginger the horsey (literally) girlfriend ending up dead on the back of a wagon to Joe the horse's childhood savior walking by Black Beauty not once BUT twice without realizing it was him raised my anxiety level to an all time high.  Do they make family movies which aren't heart wrenching - holy bananas.

Oh and I didn't have high hopes for this season of DWTS (Dancing with the Stars) but so far I'm impressed.  I mean Wendy Williams doesn't have a chance in h#ll but the rest of them aren't too bad.  And, I have no idea who she is but that Chelsea chick can really move - just think if they paired her with My Mario (well you know in the event I'm not avialable to dance with him of course).  I'm just saying...

TTFN...

Friday Ramblings...

TGIF- although the allure of Friday isn't quite as enticing now that there is no job looming on the horizon of Sunday - still Fridays' have a carefree feel about them so in the theme of the day I've decided not to worry so much about what to write as just to write - you know :-)

Last weekend's trip to the BIG BIG BIG mall was fun.  The girls had their pictures taken at the American Girl store with the cut-out of the newest doll.  

Pictures courtesy of my mom.  I tried to take photos with my phone but I kept taking videos instead - I have no idea how that kept happening.  I'm sure it's the phone - it couldn't possibly have been me!

Lauren rode the upside down roller coaster.  The girl is a thrill seeker - people are always surprised by that fact she hides it well :-) 

The girls also rode the smaller yet longer roller coaster (Syd rode it twice as she wasn't quite brave enough for the upside down coaster).

We lunched and strolled and shopped.  It was a good day.

I've been walking almost every day with my neighbor.  Even in the rain.  I KNOW!  I tried to get out of it.  It's wet, rainy, cold, etc. got me nowhere.  When Bernie says we're walking we walk.  Man I find him annoying :-)  Seriously, as I mentioned last fall - I like walking but sometimes the motivation is missing so it is nice to have a little push (even if it does mean rain hair).  Hopefully I'll be making real progress by late spring and won't even think of skipping a day.

Lauren is fascinated with Husky's (as in dog) and is constantly drawing them.  Her newest creation is a Husky mask. 

It's pretty creative if I say so myself.  Notice the blue buttons for eyes - the girl notices the details. 

That's it.  It really isn't even much of a ramble - maybe next time.

TTFN...

So about that left lane...

today I traveled to a small town about 30 minutes from my biggish city to have lunch with my friends Amy and Heather.  As I was traveling down the highway (or is it an interstate or maybe a freeway - I don't know all I know is it has four lanes) I kept thinking how it has been ingrained in me by my father that the left lane is for passing SLOWER traffic.  It's not for cruising down the highway, driving in tandem with the car in the right hand lane thus backing up traffic and creating considerable amounts of road rage (are you listening to me left-hand drivers - you can get to Walmart just as quickly in the right lane as the left so move it over and quit blocking the flow - Holy Bananas).

Anyway,  I was traveling down the highway and I did indeed pull into the left hand lane to pass SLOWER traffic, but as I moved into the lane I noticed there was a line of 5 cars which I would consider slower traffic - each car had the distance of approximately two car lengths between them.  So what to do?  Do I weave in and out of traffic thus freeing the left lane for any faster cars which may approach (there weren't any at the time in case you were wondering) or do I cruise in the left lane until I have passed the entire line of slower traffic?  I mean really - which way is correct?  I went with the left lane driving - but it made me anxious.  There weren't any cars behind me and I kept an eye on my rear view mirror (fine I may have also been watching for cops)  but still I was anxious until I had passed the entire line of cars and could pull back into the right lane.   Was that the right thing to do?  What would you have done? 

I'm going to be traveling the open highway again tomorrow with my daughters.  We are heading for the BIG BIG BIG Mall in the BIG BIG city.  We are meeting my mom and sister for a girls' day.  It will be fun.  Both my girls have counted the money in their piggy banks and determined the amount they will be taking for their shopping sprees, my cell phone is charging, and the gas tank is full,   It's going to be a good day but if anyone can shed light on the which lane is which when there is an entire string of slower traffic that would be awesome and would do much to minimize by anxiety!  Hey, I don't have a job anymore I have to worry about something.

TTFN...

Daylight Savings Time - how I adore thee...

I know there are actually Daylight Savings Time haters but I'm not one.  Sure I miss that one hour of sleep for that one day but after that it is all gravy.  That sunlight at 7:00 p.m. does this winter hater a world of good.  Hope that Spring really is on the way.  AND bonus this week we are supposed to have at least 2 days of temps in the 50's.  LIFE IS GOOD.

That's it for today.  I know it might not sound like much but it is A LOT - I'm just sharing the love :-)

TTFN...  Go catch some rays...

Happy Birthday...

Barbara Millicent Roberts - better known as Barbie.  It's your day.  Throw a party at the Dream House, drive along the coast in your pink convertible, have Ken over for dinner.  Live it up girl!  I mean really you don't look a day over 25 and you are over 50 after all.

Oh and Lauren would like to know why all fashion dolls are called Barbie Dolls - they can't all have the same name and why are Ken dolls called Barbie dolls because Ken's aren't  Barbies at all - THEY'RE KENS!  It is a very perplexing problem to her.

So anyway, if you're at Target today go see Barbie and be sure to tell her happy birthday - oh and I MAY have mentioned this in the past but it's my b-day too.  If you need me I'll be over at the Dream House having a little birthday cake and chit chat with Babs.  Maybe she'll let me borrow her convertible...

Fluffier...

3months and she is finally getting fluffier. 

Well maybe it's not obvious to you but she is getting fluffier - really she is.

Is there a full moon?

Because really, none of the females in this house are sleeping.  The girls have been in and out of our room several times, the dog is pacing and I can't sleep regardless of the girls or pacing dog.  UGH.  Everyone is restless so I wondered about that moon thing but I wouldn't know for sure since it is cloud covered AGAIN and we are expecting more snow.  This winter will never end, although on the plus side I can't tell you how much I have appreciated NOT having to go out and deal with it or the Walmart drivers.  Who knew those people caused me so much stress - well okay I guess we all knew but still sometimes even the obvious can surprise me.

I'm going to try to sleep now.  The girls seem to have finally settled into deep sleeps -- the dog is still pacing but at least she's quiet about it.

TTFN...

Mister Sun Sun Mister Golden Sun...

please shine down on
please shine down on
please shine down on me!

I don't know about you but I really need some warm summer sunshine to shine down on me.  Did you hear that Mr. Sun?  I need snow melt.  I need warmth.  I need winter to be done.  I need you Mr. Sun - I really need you.  Besides I just purchased the cutest pair of Calvin Klein sunglasses (remember my sunglasses addiction problem - which is also a necessity as I seem to misplace or otherwise break or lose sunglasses frequently).  My friend Roxann was shopping with me when I stated the need for new sunglasses - she asked me if I lost my glasses a lot - I just looked at her like Ummm how long have you known me - YES I misplace my sunglasses a lot.  Holy Bananas pay attention girl!  Anyway, I've got the glasses now bring on the sun!

Oh and is there anyone else who has visions of a large purple dancing dinosaur and his traveling band of precocious children whenever they hear the above mentioned song?  Some things just shouldn't be allowed to continue to occupy memory space!  Go away Barney go away!

All Skate, Everybody Skate, No more shoot the duck!

Can someone please tell me what that means.  A friend of my brother's used to say that and I didn't know what it meant then and I still don't know what it means today - so if you know tell me - I've been waiting for the answer for 20 years. 

We took the kids ice skating yesterday.  Alex went 1/4 around the rink and had his fill.  The girls on the other hand loved it.  There was a lot of falling but they did a pretty good job.  If we get them on the ice more often they will probably be pretty decent skaters.  Me - I don't ice skate - I'm from Iowa we don't skate or play hockey :- )

So what have YOU been doing?

Oh, you wanna know what I have been doing?  Well since you asked, I've been making beds and doing laundry and lunching with friends and watching the dog sleep - you know - the usual.  Oh and there is that "I had a psychic reading thing"  WHAT?  I KNOW!  I'd like to say it is something I had on my bucket list and can now cross it off but I don't have a bucket list (do you have a bucket list?  Really, tell me what it is - this kind of stuff fascinates me) so I have no excuse than I've always been curious.  And no it wasn't like Miss Cleo or something it was a local psychic who was recommended by a friend - so I did it - I was intrigued. 

We had our call on Wednesday and she was very nice but didn't have any big revelations to tell me about myself - I was hoping she might mention my hidden Oprah potential or something.  She did say this is going to be a summer of happiness for me (not in those words exactly - she went through the year month by month and it all seems to be sunshine and happiness once the sun begins to shine and the thermometer rises).  News on my career is that I probably won't have a job until next year but everything will be okay in the meantime.  Well that's a relief - let the shopping begin (okay, fine I'm not  naive enough to throw caution to the wind but sometimes I wish I were).  She talked about other stuff in my life but it is personal information and I'm not inclined to share right now but it was interesting and somewhat exciting.  BUT here is the bottom line - although I do not think this person was a "hoax", I think she really believes in her craft and seems to be a great observer of the "human condition" BUT, as much as I'd like to be otherwise I'm a cynic at heart - although if you see me and I seem to be walking on the clouds and happier than you would normally expect remind me of the psychic thing - I could become a believer.   Oh and by the way, I'd actually endorse a psychic reading with a "reputable" psychic - it's like therapy at half the cost.

So there you go - and WHAT have you been doing???? 

TTFN...

I wish I could sleep...

I haven't been sleeping well lately.  If I fall asleep I wake up in the middle of the night and can't find Mr. Sandman again.  Or else I just can't fall asleep.  I have no idea what the deal is.  My mind keeps working and my body is restless.  I toss and turn and stretch my legs all to no avail so I have resorted to getting up in the middle of the night and doing something.  Tonight (or rather this morning as it is 2:00 a.m.) I am doing this - writing.  I really have nothing to say but it is something to do. 

I guess I could move along and make out my to-do list for tomorrow.  Let's see:

• Prepare Tax Information
• Set up some appointments
• Work on resume
• Return emails
• Go to Target
• Walk the dog
• Read to the 2nd grade class
• Meet a friend for dinner

WOW, with the exception of two or three items that list is lacking in substance.  Maybe I should add something like audition for Jeopardy or memorize the Dictionary.  NO wonder I can't sleep - no stimulation.  I better work on that.

Speaking of stimulation or the lack thereof - Bieber Fever is rampant in the house.  With two seven year old females it was inevitable.  Sunday we were able to "enjoy" the wonder of Never Say Never the Bieber Boy's story.  It wasn't too bad but a little long - although two girls I know were absolutely enthralled.  I mean he is a cute kid but he certainly isn't any Shaun Cassidy. :-) 

Okay I think I might be tired now - or maybe you are just tired of me.  I mean really, it's a possibility.

TTFN...  Sweet Dreams.

Waiting for the thaw...

I am in the doldrums of winter (I can't tell you how many times I had to type out doldrums before I got it right - my fingers have a mind of their own and o before u was not what was on their mind).  I'm sick of looking at dirty, crappy, ugly snow higher than mailboxes.  I'm sick of two lane streets reduced to one lane because there are big piles of snow encroaching into the traffic flow not to mention people who insist on parking in the street because - well I don't why but it is irritating (where is the neighborhood covenant which states no street parking?).  I'm sick of cold temps and dirty snow pants and grimy boots and a foyer which becomes covered with sand on a daily basis from the street and the parking lot and the driveway and the sidewalk and the playground.  I'm sick of winter. Oh shoot I'm whining again.  I hate whining so let's call it complaining or venting or airing my dirty laundry or something other than whining because I don't do whining ;-)

And since I'm "venting" and all - I think I am now used to being at home but not so much that I don't feel guilty about being at home.  Guilty and a little sad.  I know I am smart, I know I am strong, I know I am employable but right now I feel - well one word sums it up - LOSER!!!  But, in my most ambivalent style, I'm not ready for a new job yet.  I know that sounds selfish but I have worked since I was sixteen and I'm tired of working for awhile and the HotY is fine with that - if only I could tell my brain to shut up and let me relax.  UGH.  On a better note my family is enjoying many home-cooked meals and a cleaner house.  That's a good thing - right?  And you lucky people - you get to read all my random thoughts more often - I mean how good is that (said totally tongue in cheek - oh and cheek is one of those words I always have to think about spelling because I might say check instead.  Loose, Choose, Lose, Chose are four more that I actually have to slow down and think about before I put them down - just thought I'd mention it). 

Anyway, winter doldrums - that's where I am at.  We are expecting a "spring" thaw this weekend.  There could hardly be a more anticipated event.

TTFN...

Well it might not be obvious...

but her fur really is growing out - it really is - trust me.  And I don't know what is up with the wonky eye in this picture.  Okay, fine, she is not the most photogenic dog in the world but we'll keep her - most days...

When does the fun begin...

do you remember when you were a kid and you couldn't wait to be an adult because adults had all the fun?  You could get up when you wanted to and go to bed when you wanted to and do whatever you wanted to do whenever you wanted to do it - there were no rules - there were no parents, just 24 hour fun all day every day.  Being an adult - it is a blissful life - to a child.  Any adult over 30 will tell you - this adult stuff - NOT fun.  You might not have parents telling you what to do (and really let's be honest - do parents ever stop giving their "opinion" to their children?) but there are bosses and spouses and doctors and teachers and neighbors and just other adults in general that tell you what to do.  There are bills to pay and conferences to attend and meals to make and houses to clean and children to teach.  Seriously, does that sound like fun to you?  I know, there are moments, moments when it is fun, but some days fun seems like a fleeting dream.  Oh to be a kid again - it was so much fun...  Did I mention today - not so fun.  I was mad at the HotY, the kids were not listening and the house that was so clean only a few short days ago is once again a mess.  I'm hoping tomorrow is not so so so - adultlike because I don't know about you but I really hate to listen to myself whine. 

Oh before I go and while we are talking about perceived reality vs. real life reality let's talk about the oh so understanding Bachelor Brad just a little bit.  I mean really is this guy for real?  If he is really this sensitive and caring and understanding I don't think he should be a husband he should be a priest - well except for that part that likes to "intimately" explore every relationship so he knows which bonds are real.  He seems to be doing a lot of exploring :-)  I have a feeling that any engagement which comes of this little fantasy may be short-lived - I know - call me cynical but we shall see...

I know that was totally random but I didn't want this entire post to be one long whine.  It's all about balance.

TTFN...  look for one month regrowth pictures of the dog later this week.  Her fur is growing back slowly but surely.