Saturday, July 24, 2010

More Common Sense Advice from the Peanut Gallery

If you think its a good idea to drive to the Galleria with your whole family on a Saturday afternoon so you can eat at the Cheesecake Factory, just stick needles under your fingernails and wiggle them around instead.

It is so much fun trying to create diversions for two whining hungry children for an hour while you marvel at your optimism and wonder, "How did we both agree to this madness?"

That'll be our Galleria experience for the next five years.

What was the last thing you can't believe you paid for?

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Just like that, I've been Ousted

My son came home from Vacation Bible School today and informed me that the Angel of the Lord, named Summer, is the most beautiful girl ever.

"Even beautifuler than you, Mom."
"Really? You mean Summer, the girl in your class?"
"No, Mom. I'm talking about Summer, the Angel of the Lord."
"oh..."
"And iCarly. She's beautifuler, too."



***My little Romeo will be five years old [silent scream] in less than a month.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Updates

In case you were wondering, I'm not thinking about selling cars.

My last post was written on a day when we were in the midst of car shopping and I had just had enough of the sleazy run around. I actually felt sorry for car salesman in general at that point thinking about the base tactics those guys have to engage in day in and day out. In the end, MMA handled it beautifully and it all worked out.

My brother and sister-in-law are safe. She's already back in the US and I owe her a good home-cooked meal very, very soon. I also need to know the latest on my brother's plans and when he's coming home.

I'm not a vegetarian and I doubt I ever will be. I just like meat so darn much. Darn it.

The sleep is good.

Baby Brother seems to slowly be weaning himself. In any case, when that first tooth pops out, its over.

Decluttering has stalled out a bit. I need a reason to jump start again. I should throw a party.

More news to come, just not right now.

And, thank you, new comers to my blog. I feel a little guilty for not showing much B-love lately (that's blog love...not what every else you might have been thinking.)

Random thought: when is Young House Love going to pop? I mean, "WOW!" She's all baby! I know the desperation of that "almost there" time. Hang in there all you almost-there-moms-to-be...Heather, that's you!

Monday, April 26, 2010

Ten Things I'd rather do than Sell Cars for a Living

Pick the gunk out from underneath the toe nails of perfect strangers

Work the 4 am bathroom clean up crew at House of Pies

Work at the MAC counter (just making sure you're listening...)

Sell just about anything else

Work the fry side (or the grill side) at Denny's

"Beeeeeer and PEEEE'nuts!"

Survey-taker at the mall

Road kill disposal crew

Carnie

Nose hair groomer

Friday, April 9, 2010

On the Other Side of the World, Right Now...

As many of you know, my brother Lee and his wife Shawn are serving in the Peace Corp in Kyrgyzstan.

Earlier this week there was a violent uprising over government corruption spurred by a 200% increase in the cost of fuel (as I understand the situation.) There was rioting in the streets and many people were injured, some killed.

And just like that, the old government is out and a new regime has taken over.

Lee and Shawn have been evacuated by the PC and are safe but they've been asked not to disclose their location and they currently have no internet access. Our family is praying that they stay safe. But for now, we have no idea what this means for the remaining few months of their two year commitment.

You may never have heard of this little country that borders China and Russian. But I expect we'll all be hearing more about it, because it houses an American military base where our troops and supplies converge en route to Afghanistan.

It goes without saying that taking on a volunteer assignment in that part of the world is inherently risky. Particularly for Americans?

Please say a quick prayer for Lee and Shawn and their colleagues. I know they would also appreciate us thinking, too, about the friends they've made in the Krgyz locals and what this will mean for their future.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Have you Ever...

Had one of those days where you went to the store specifically to buy something, but then your kids turned your trip into a complete circus and you forgot everything that you intended to buy?

Then suddenly its the night before your kid's Easter party at school and you have no candy. So you have to raid your pantry to find something to stuff in the 16 eggs that you must send to school, perfectly sharpied with the classmates' names on the outside. (All the while thankful for a good neighbor who just happened to have extra eggs.)

So at 11 o'clock you're cursing the size of those diminutive standard drugstore eggs and wracking your brain to think, "what will fit?"

So you pull out all the gummies and fruit snacks you can scrounge but you have to prick a tiny hole in each bag and squish the air out to make it work. And you marvel at your own ingenuity under pressure.

Then your son gets home with his 16 eggs and you can't help but peek at the booty you'll soon be getting your hands on. And you feel some sisterly connection to the mom who put silver wrapped gum and spare change in her kid's eggs.

Ever had one of those days?

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Freecycle 2 U, My Funky Junky Sista

MMA is starting to notice all the bare spots where stuff used to live.

But has my spring cleaning gone too far?

I had this old sumpin' or other laying around my house that was a gift that I loved and enjoyed for years. Then it sat in a cabinet collecting dust. I never had the heart to get rid of it. So I loaded it in the car today and dropped it off on my SIL's front porch. When she was suppose to be at work.

Hee Hee.

I figured she'd find it and wonder about the secret benefactor that knows her tastes so well. Warm fuzzies. (Or call me and say, "what the hell?")

In truth, I really thought she would appreciate the little re-gift because the colors compliment her lovely house.

Well, before I could even pull off the street she was pouncing my cell phone to ask "What the drive-by do you think you're doing?"

We had a little laugh before she affirmed what I already know...we're just two junkaholics trying to stay clean and take it one day at a time. The last thing she needs is me offering her my knick knacks, much less dropping them off.

I promised to pick it up on Sunday.

Maybe she'll change her mind.