Thirteen on Thursday

Thirteen Things about Jenny 1…. 1. Loving the holidays with your family of four is easy. Enjoying it with your inlaws while family issues rear their ugly heads, it's a bit more of a challenge. 2. My son didn't make the soccer travel team. Well, he did but it's the 'we would've had to cut him and we didn't want to so we put him on another team where he'll hardly play' team. You know, I'm not sold on the whole idea...sometimes, kids just don't make the team. And that should be okay too. 3. wicked good slippers from Bean's? Are too comfy to remove. And thanks to outdoor soles...I don't have to. 4. Someone is celebrating a birthday today...and because of that she's taken the day off from the Thirteen on Thursday and has also given me only 12 things to think on. Thanks Running2Ks! 5. I got numbers 1,2,3,4 & 13 from last weeks Thirteen on Thursday as presents. And half of number 10. Half as in cobalt and tangerine. There was no plum to be found. 6. Speaking of fiestaware...the store people warned us about the dark cobalt getting all scratched up...has anyone had any fiestaware experience to share on the subject? 7. I also got this. Which I love. And because as a only child I actually made a library out of my own books for excitement (masking tape labels on the spines) so I smile whenever I see it. Thanks C. 8. The son has caught the Sudoku bug. 9. There are so many plans on the table for New Year's Eve I'm ready to just throw my hands in the air and say forget it. 10. Maybe I'll purchase #6 from last week's list and have a little marathon. 11. Remember yesterday...how the kids were behaving? Yeah, well today? Not so much. 12. So far I've spent my Christmas Eve with hockey folk and New Year's Day we've got ice time too. And on tap for February? A tournament. Scheduled for the weekend of our 10th anniversary. Really, we've made some good friends but that wasn't quite what I had in mind for the big 1-0. 13. I love MommaK's idea for Christmas next year. That's exactly what I mentioned at the dinner table the other night...a vacation, where it's warm and tropicalish. Sounds heavenly. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)


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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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And so it went. I can't believe it's already been three days. Christmas was perfectly enjoyable. Is 4:20 a.m. too early for peeking down the stairs to check on the stockings and milk & cookies? Apparently not, as the children were BOTH awake. They tried and tried to sleep again and only the girlie succeeded. For ten minutes. So up we were, carols playing in the background, welcoming the predawn hours with stockings and smiles.
Matching pajamas....how many more years will I be able to get away with this? Because forever would not be long enough. After the presents and the breakfast we laced up, invited the uncles and headed to the pond.

Christmas dinner was courtesy of my mother in law. Another gift exchange, where I got every gift I asked for...last year. Which made me happy, although not happy enough to leap into the air, unlike some of us....

Here is a boy celebrating the receipt of a gift from his very own Most Wanted List. Now I do not only get to listen to replays of pretend hockey goals from NHL 2006 but now I can also replay phony football games courtesy of Madden 2006. It is beyond me how he can figure these games out. I'm all about the instruction books. Probably why I suck.

Why do I feel like I've been shortchanged, that this school vacations isn't quite long enough? We are thoroughly enjoying our lazy mornings and game playing evenings. I'm not at all anxious to give it up. Until tomorrow, because maybe I'm a pessimist, but they've got to start arguing again sometime, right?

Hey - Only 15 hours till bedtime....

We started our day early. A hockey game and mimosas served rinkside.






See the ribs cooking? No? Huh.
The man ordering the ribs for us, he forgot them. And we are ribless. Unhappiness quelled by mimosas. All is well.




That's it for pictures. I've been busy, busy, busy and who wants photos of a messy kitchen which is pretty much all I saw for the rest of the day. Up until now. When I have time to breathe before the guests arrive. Off to light some candles, set up the beverage area and enjoy.

I hope you all have a joyous holiday. Filled with whatever makes you happiest. Merry Christmas.

Show and Tell - Jacket Edition

Black. Leather. A Hood. Big Pockets that hold mittens and gum and things. A lost zipper pull, which, for whatever reason, really bummed me out. Matches all of my winter scarves. All six of them (and *fingers crossed for number 4 from yesterday's list* maybe seven of them). Is that alot of winter scarves? Nah, I didn't think so either.

Thirteen on Thursday

Thirteen Things Jenny needs wants for Christmas 1. The Sims 2 for Gameboy 2. Wicked Good Slippers 3. A book thong 4. Red Sox Scarf 5. Gift Certificate to the paper store 6. Deadwood Season One on DVD 7. Marley and Me 8. The Year of Magical Thinking 9. The Video Ipod gizmo 10. Fiestaware in plum, tangerine, sunflower and cobalt 11. Red Sox tickets 12. A centerfielder, a left handed pitcher and a short stop. Oh, and for Rodney Harrison to make a complete and total recovery in the next two days. Because 10 points allowed in three games, well that's just too damn much. 13. Spongebob Game of Life Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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Farewell Mr. Damon. I can't say that I blame you. The front office is Theo-less and Lucchino's still there. Mueller, Mirabelli and Edgah are gone, Manny and Wells want to go and Millar isn't long for Yawkey Way either. I never really cared for your media whorish ways, but your batting average, that I could appreciate. Your bald Dunkin' Donuts commercial wasn't all bad either, I guess.

But to the Yankees? Should I be surprised? Of course the Yankees. They take our men, stick them in pinstripes, cut their hair and give them millions. We take it personally when they go to the Yanks. Especially when they play wonderfully there. I wish I could say that I wish him well but really, I'd love to see his bat go cold in the Bronx.

A snippet from the Yankees' website:

Apparently, Damon's goals changed over the past eight months, as he told MLB.com in early May that money would not be the determining factor in his decision.

"There's no way I can go play for the Yankees, but I know they're going to come after me hard," he said on May 3. "It's definitely not the most important thing to go out there for the top dollar, which the Yankees are going to offer me. It's not what I need."

Um, yeah, sure.

Hey, Melissa...my husband would thank you for introducing me to Sudoku but he can't. Because he hasn't spoken a word all night, except for "1,3,6,2.... Wait. That can't go there. Damn." He has stolen my book.

All the presents are wrapped. Except for the Santa gifts. Because if they see them wrapped in the special paper pre-Christmas the jig will be up. And I don't want the jig to be up. Ever.


A closer look at Jenny's Christmas Eve Dinner Guests:

sister in law vs. jenny & husband of - stalemate. no recent discussion.

brother in law #1 vs. husband of jenny - v. new, he says he's mad that my husband laughed at him when he lost the texas hold 'em tournament. I say he's mad because my husband privately called him out on a very insensitive thing that he did, a totally and purposely ignorant thing.

brother in law #2 vs. entire family - is uncomfortable around his family because of his past and ongoing problems, keeps to self, v. sweet man but is haunted.

stepsister vs. stepfather - barely speaking.

father in law vs. jenny & husband of - thinks we totally jumped the gun when we approached my sister in law about the issues between her son and my kids, her son being his hands-down favorite grandchild. yikes, sound a mite bit bitter there...sorry 'bout that.

And they're all coming over for Christmas Eve. And you thought fireworks were only for the fourth of july.

Actually, I'm betting that we will all behave remarkably well, and now that I think about it, I'm just counting on the whole christmas spirit thing to see us through. Naive? I hope not, this is not the usual course for my family, so I'm unsure...but I remain optimistic.

Editors Note: My husband just gasped out loud at the whole Johnny Damon to the Yankees trade...he's a-liive.

things that are pleasing me

1. The fact that my dog eats only food ornaments off the tree. They may be old but at one point they were consumable. And not sentimental cork. Because then I would cry.

2. The hostess of the family christmas party called and told me NOT to dress up - to make sure I wear my Patriots jersey. um, YAAAAY!

3. a completed gingerbread house and christmas card list

4. dominic the donkey

5. the way my daughter squeezed my hand before she sat on santa's lap yesterday.

the Show and Tell

One favorite ornament? Are these girls kidding? That's like asking me to pick my favorite child. Nah, that one's easy...the daughter. I. am. Kidding. But at least SHE doesn't call me names.

A week or so ago I found a piece of yarn on the floor. Near the tree, looking like it was part of something but as I was unable to figure it out...I just threw it out and chalked it up to one of the random mini-messes that seem to pop up endlessly around here. A few days ago I found this
and it all just fell into place. The damn dog has been eating the old dough ornaments off the tree. This little one, with the string and the hook was in the shape of a dog bone and had his name painted on it. It was eight year old dough. With shellac. The other yarn belonged to another old piece of dough in a shape I cannot recall. Neither were favorites but I didn't exactly want them eaten either.

Some ornaments remind me of favorite places and things we've seen while visiting them

Others of my childhood
I actually remember making this when I was a student at the Raggedy Ann & Andy Preschool. This is much less scary than the santa I posted last week, but I love them equally.

And these posted for comparison purposes because they make me laugh everytime I unwrap them:




My macaroni tree
2nd grade
Mrs. Buckley's class








My son's macaroni tree
Kindergarten







I could blame the appearance of my tree on age but sadly that is not the case. It doesn't look much worse, save for a few missing noodles, than it did the day I brought it home. My boy and I always kid each other because he is clearly the master macaroni tree maker.

There are more, more that I didn't photograph because once I started looking - really looking - I found many favorites. The ones I painted the year the son was born, the wedding gift handblown glass (including the pickle), the wooden covered bridge, the puzzle piece snowflake. So many that mean something, that represent part of our lives. Thank you Deb, for making me look a little harder.

Thirteen on Thursday

Thirteen Things about YOUR NAME 1. "I'm going to grow up to be a murderer or in jail you guys are doing such a bad job of raising me." That little tidbit of wisdom from my boy. Who is still angry that he was punished for calling me a b*tch. Four days later. 2. My tree has stopped drinking water but remains green and isn't losing any needles. yet. My trees ALWAYS die 10 days or so before christmas whether we cut them down or buy one precut and shipped from Canada. Each day I check it and beg it to take a little sip. Yes, I talk to the tree. 3. I forgot to buy the teachers christmas presents. I'm thinking coffee gift cards and some homemade cookies. 4. We just got our first bill for the Cobra health insurance payment. Holymotherofgod. *adds Health Insurance to Christmas list* 5. I have not wrapped any gifts and I have only ONE christmas card written out. One. 6. The dog ate 3/4 of a loaf of white bread this morning. Why can I not remember to put the bread out of his reach? 7. I would love a weekend alone in this house to clean, clean, clean. Well, clean. Then a movie. Then clean some more. Then check my blogroll. Then clean a little bit. Order takeout. Then some more cleanup. Watch another movie, maybe? And sleep. And then enjoy my clean house. 8. I'm hosting a christmas eve get together for my parents and my husband's family (well, immediate family). I usually make a few lasagnas (as they are nice to prepare early and then just require baking while the guests are here) but this year I'm doing barbeque. 9. Pulled pork, homemade beans, cornbread, ribs. And a salad. Any other suggestions? Another vegetable maybe? 10. The whole christmas shopping/keeping secrets thing, my girlie is loving it. She's got a twinkle in her eye. 11. I've had something scratchy in my eye for the past three hours. Startin' to bug me. 12. I just started watching the sopranos, I know I'm like six years behind the curve here and this will be news to no one....but it's pretty good. 13. woot! another thursday thirteen complete! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)


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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

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hey, did I mention I went to see the Chronicles of Narnia movie? No? Well. I did. We did, the foulmouthed son and I.

And it was good. Really good. If you have a chance...see it.

Oh, and to those of you who've read the sixth Harry Potter book and didn't discuss the ending out here in internetland...thank you.

Amazing Race review...
This season...it stunk. The finale was not much better. The funniest team won. But being funny didn't really make them likeable. Meh.

Tonight...Christmas Shopping. For one Yankee candle. Mostly just Chrismas walking, talking and laughing with a friend. I have some things to return...apparently Old Navy's idea of clothing sizes has little base in reality when it comes to my kids. Every single pair of pants runs way huge in the waist (those adjustable straps were cinched in to the seventh hole on each side - on the boys size 8 slim pants. Do they sell size 8 Slim-mer? No? Why the hell not?) and it's killing me.

I guess I'll start where I left off on Friday...The Show and Tell...She wants decorations? well, I'll give her decorations...I frighten my kids every Christmas season with this little fella.

This here is Santa. Very old, very handmade Santa made from the finest of egg carton, cotton ball and pipe cleaner. For reasons I cannot fathom, I treasure this little guy. Maybe it's the horrified looks on my kids faces when I gingerly unwrap him or the way they laugh behind my back when I tell them that "Ain't no one puttin' Special Santa on the tree but mumma." I'm embarrassed to admit I may have been seven or eight when I made this 'lil guy. But it gets better, well - if not better...less creepy anyway.

Here's my boxwood christmas tree:
This took like, fifteen minutes to put together. What?? It looks like it took fifteen minutes to put together?! Well. Fine then...
Here's my last entry:
He was two years old and in LOVE with Santa. He dressed as Santa for halloween, made Santa presents, talked about him endlessly. He was fascinated. And at the family Christmas Party, when Santa arrived he watched him quietly from the edge of all the scrambling kids and then finally got the courage to give him a hug. He would've stayed there forever. He looks so serious but he must've been so content.

Saturday...Hockey game (9-1-1 *woo-hoo for another win) and hockey christmas party. The Christmas party starts off with alot of the "Now, which one is your son??" and things like that and ends up with my husband trying my friend's WAY too small oscar the grouch t-shirt on and laughing so hard I literally fell over. The chicken refused to come out and show his hockey buddies tho..*ba-gawk*

Sunday - Christmas Cookies. With red silicone bakeware. And they were fucking perfect people. The silicone baking sheets got the clean bill of health from the chemist, who assured me of their safety with the caveat that he's "no expert on silicone". Dude, your a chemist, that's expert enough for me.

And today apparently I'm a bitch. Just ask my son. Hah. So I said to him "BITCH??? You think I'm a bitch...I'll show you bitch kid!" Not really. I actually just looked at him and told him he "had better NEVER say that again and we'll discuss the matter further when he gets home." And that was it. No raised voice even. He was worried, worried, worried. Heh. Serves him right. I did the whole, no TV no video games this week but am angling for one more thing, some sort of alterna-punishment...(like when I made him write five things he loves about me)...I'll have to think on it.

But wait....last night...Survivor. The beginning montage, dullsville. I hate the pay tribute to your fallen castaways thing too. But anyway. At the beginning of the year I was psyched to see Stephenie and Bobby Jon. Then all the hatin' started on poor Steph. And more often than not, I could see your points and I wasn't lovin' her like last season. But at the end? With Rafe, keeping Danni and not Lydia??? Dammit. Very noble. Very dumb. Would've rather seen Steph vs. Rafe in the jury. But Danni won. And bought lips.

I know I have posting to catch up on, pictures of decorations to post, survivor finales to bemoan. And I'm leaving for work in five minutes but...

My son has just called me an expletive and yet I am both very angry and very calm.

He should be very worried.

Thirteen on Thursday

Thirteen Things about Jenny 1. "Hey, I vacuumed your floors for you." 2. "Is it really so bad having me home?" 3. Supposed to go see Chronicles of Narnia with the son on Friday. 4. Supposed to get a good ole snowstorm on Friday. Effectively canceling our months of planning. Me? Not want snow? You know it must be serious. 5. My dog eats fish food by the can. Once, because we kept forgetting to put it out of reach, I had to buy fish food four days in a row. 6. I love this. Go ahead, give it a shake. 7. So they are now allowing scissors and screwdrivers on airplanes? Funny, when I flew out of Logan Airport almost two years ago now I walked on with a pair of scissors in my jacket pocket and a screwdriver in my purse. Totally absentmindedly as I was just bringing the scissors because the daughter could cut paper for a seriously long stretch of time at that age and the screwdriver in case I had to change the Pixter batteries mid-flight. I've always wondered that, if during those strict security times I boarded the plane with contraband, what were others bringing aboard? 8. My father in law had some concerns about my silicone baking sheets and chemicals leaching into my peanut butter cookies, which is precisely what she was worried about. My friend's husband is a chemist...I've sent him an email, I'm curious to see what he knows. 9. I just watched the Destiny's Child WeboughtallourgiftsatWalmart commercial. Yeah. Right. 10. I'm just getting around to reading the sixth Harry Potter. Very enjoyable. 11. I love sports talk and funny sports talk is even better. 12. I have seen half of two episodes of Sex in the City. I must be missing something...this was supposed to be GOOD tv? 13. I might sound a mite bit bitchy about my husband being home...and sometimes I may actually BE a mite bit bitchy about it all. I know....sometimes??? But for the most part I'm thinking it'll work out alright. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Jennifer's Thirteen 2. MommaK's Thirteen 3. Leanne's Thirteen 4. This Mom's Thirteen 5. Dawn's Thirteen 6. Texas Ivy's Thirteen 7. Colleen's Thirteen 8. Sallwood's Thirteen 9. LilyBleu's Thirteen 10. Squashed Toad's Thirteen 11. Running2K's Thirteen 12. Jen's Thirteen 13. Twisted Cindy's Thirteen 14. Rashbre's Thirteen


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants



That song by Counting Crows...A Long December? Could they add January and February and maybe the first two weeks of March into that somehow?

The husband was laid off this morning.

We live in a tough climate for outdoor workers and his company ususally lays off most of their workforce in November and December. We've been lucky, he's always been kept on through the winters. Maybe not so much lucky, as he's a good, dependable and loyal employee and that probably has more to do with it than luck.

Anyway, first time layoff and by 9:30 a.m. he was pacing. And only asked me 132,145 times what I was doing/going to do/wanting to do.

It's unemployment Thunderdome over here. Two will enter...One will leave. Or something like that.

Anyone need any heavy equipment work done? I know a great operator looking to fill his hours.

So then. There was no hangover to be had, which is always nice. But really I do type pretty poorly and if I don't correct my mistakes this would always look like drunk blogging.

This was our one weekend of leisure this month. And how did we spend it? Whaddya wanna do? Ida know...what do you want to do? Very productive. But somehow still enjoyable.

I made our Thanksgiving Dinner last night, strictly so that we can have turkey sandwiches and soup. Also, in the 'what I made this weekend' category: a wee christmas tree made from boxwood clippings. I was supposed to decorate it with popcorn and cranberries, but we watched Elf and the kids chomped down all of the popcorn. Maybe tonight.

We are on the verge of another confrontation with my sister-in-law about her lovely son. He's eight and because we are diligent parents and my father in law and sister in law think we are just persecuting him unfairly, well, let's just say things get a little awkward. And it's christmas. And nothing says christmas like familial awkwardness. And then, because of all of the uncomfortableness and tiredness from being diligent, I usually leave all the functions early...with the kids in tow, which they don't understand, so they hate. Super fun.

ergh.

But this morning. As I was at the esteemed coffee house I frequent (Dunkin' Donuts - the pink and orange is the only gig in town), which I don't really frequent...but let's not be picky here...anyway, a girl I work with. She was in front of me at the drive thru. And when I pulled up to the window, I found that she had paid for my bagel and hot chocolate. And so, with that, The family suckage faded into the background. Thank you, G.

And now I must go whip some five year old butt. At monopoly junior people. Sheesh.

okay. so it's not drunk blogging but very buszzed blogging.

christmas party tonight. for my work.

we sat on the LAME side of the room at first. Our entire tgable went home by 830 p.m. I tolk my husband compeltely made up styorie sabout everyone he didn't already knwo..

"see that older guy (like 70) dancing with that yourng girl?" I said. Well, then I told him that they were married and how the office was all surprised and amazed when they got hitched. Total lie. But the look on his face whas too funny...so I kept at it.

funny thing...this whole lack of spell check looks just like my typing when I'm sober. so for all you know I'm drunk blogging all the tiem.

I know, show and tell. Dudes the cameras downstaris and Id'have to download and stuff and it's late. Drunk sudoku anyone?

Thirteen on Thursday

Thirteen Things about Jenny 1. When I clicked over to MommaK I was taken aback by the fact that it's already Thursday. 2. I don't make many trips to Borders, mostly using Amazon and the library to support my habit. Last night, on a whim, my boy and I parked outside of Borders and walked through. His first time in as a real reader. His Christmas list grew by a mile. 3. My son's teacher had a baby this morning. My sister-in-law is pregnant and we recently watched an episode of Little House where Ma gets pregnant, has a baby and loses a baby (all in an hour). Hell-low. This is MAKING me discuss the baby thing with the kids. In very general terms of course, but still. 4. Okay Melissa. Thanks, Thanks alot. 5. True confession: I totally suck at this latest little game. But I'm just good enough to let it keep sucking me in. Just good enough being struggling mightily with the Easy puzzles. Struggling mightily with a big eraser. 6. I think I have finished up with the presents and have moved on to Phase II: gift certificates. 7. I have a thing for bags. Purses too, a little, but mostly bags. And this is what I'm ordering next. 8. In Bruins news, even though no one cares except my son, they traded away their team captain Joe Thornton. Wow. Even I don't care. Well, I care that there was a trade, just NOT that it was Thornton. 9. I am SO gearing up to be the Daisy Scout troop leader next year. I'm sure I'll be bitching about the whole responsibility by mid-year, but this year Stinks. Capital S even. Basically, they color. And have snack. What's with the need to serve snack at every kid's activity? It drives me bananas. 10. There are plans to put a Target in my town. Which if we can get the grocery selling one, like they have in Tuvalu, then I might get behind it. But the nearest Target is presently 10-15 minutes away. Is ten minutes too far to drive? Must it now be five minutes? Right now there are no grocery or big shopping stores in town (true value does NOT count) and only two street lights. I like it that way and don't mind hiking those ten minutes to civilization. 11. Speaking of targets I have welts on my legs from playing target goalie for my son this afternoon. 12. The son got his first report card...excellent all around with the exception of 'listening comprehension'. Hmmm. It wasn't a bad grade, just a grade that could be improved. Just like his 'listening comprehension' at home. At least he's consistent. More importantly he got the highest grade possible in Conduct. Phew. 13. I'm right down to the wire with three hours to go before this becomes a Friday Thirteen. And just like that...Done! Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

It seems as if my going Christmas Shopping has become a rain dance of sorts.

Every time I go it rains. And by rain I mean torrential downpours.

If I told my husband my little theory he'd say it was god was crying just thinking about our checking account balance.

On the bright side, in the world of free toys...

The girlie was given a FREE Herbie zipzap car yesterday. Just because the man in the store thought she was cute and since the package was opened...presto. Small presents from men are a way of life for her already...she's been given a dollar from the full serve gas man (actually two different men, two different times), hockey puck at a Bruins game, polished rocks at the gem store and so on. It appears I'm raising a future kept woman. High aspirations I have.

And after all maybe god should be crying. When the Amazon order was delivered today there were three books for me and only one small thing for the kids. oops. But I wanted to choose my book club book early. Has anyone read "The Last Days of Dogtown" by Anita Diamant? Any of the six of you who visit me? Well, maybe eight.

Ever have one of those spells, where you can find the negative in any situation? It's a temporary thing, but for the past month or so it's been plaguing me.

And finally, it has gone.

Monday Morning: Hot mulled cider in the office instead of coffee. *smooch* to the Building Inspector.

Monday Afternoon: Finding a babysitter for this weekend's Christmas Party. And not needing one for next weekend's.

Monday Night: All of a sudden feeling like I've come out of a fog of sorts.

Father...it has been four days since my last post....

I was catholic at one time...that's how the whole confession thing starts if I'm not mistaken...hmmmm...

Anyway,

thank you all for the wine recommendations but the blue laws in Massachusetts forced me into quick action on Wednesday evening and well, I ended up with some vanilla rum and Sam Adams instead.

The weekend in pictures:

We took what can only be called the best shortcut in history to the seaside town where we had the first of two delicious dinners. It's a highway. A closed highway. My husband's jobsite and while it isn't quite, well, open yet it was nearly a straight route and saved us fifteen minutes and we only had to drive around some barrels and sawhorse type things to do it.

There was turkey and liquor and only minimal stuffing (dog ate it) and green beans (sold out) and pie. Multiple pies. And cousins, or sort-of-cousins as they are my stepfather's nephews and for lack of an easier word we call them cousins. And my kids love them. The son, because they are three fun boys and my daughter for sadly, the SAME reason, the little vixen.
And as I am letting my daughter take this and about 95 other pictures with my old $250.00 camera she caught one of the boys taking pictures with his mom's new $800.00 camera. Heh.

And then we were off to the in-laws. For more turkey and sweet potatoes and while they are lovely my son does not get along so well with the cousin at this house. It is a matter of seeing this cousin too many times and there are some, ehem, behavior issues there...enough said. But my husband's brother and his wife are expecting and there were ultrasound pictures and baby name discussions and it was all good family goodness.

And Friday.... the tree farm not yet open. *sigh* But we liberated a some pie and coolwhip from my inlaws. And made coolwhip noses....
And coolwhip chins...

And Saturday... a cheesy but fun hayride where I lost the price list and we wandered about looking at ribbons and trees and trying to guess how much trees cost. An arm? A leg? Or, for the 8 foot perfect fir...both??? But then the ladies custom made my wreath and charged me less than the premades and all was right. Oh, and I saw the cutest boxwood christmas trees and instead of making me buy a cute little tree they sold me the base and the oasis for dirt cheap so that I could make it myself. Hello, Christmas spirit.

And then hockey. (7-1-1 in case you were wondering, which I know you aren't but heh...I'm proud). And then, I was convinced that attending the party at The Worst Offender's house would be a good idea, and so I went. And there were drinks and because he works in chicken sales, lots of chicken snacks. It was better than expected, especially because after a talking to by the coach, the parents are yelling positive things and the rink is fun again so there was no angst.

And today there was tree decorating and house decorating and ice skate purchasing and whispers of gifts to come.

A post AND a question. It's two for one day!

*pin dropping* boy, it sure got quiet around here. Maybe I should try an interesting post, you say? Not sure that's what this is...but it's a post and that should count for something. How about a post and a QUESTION?

And so. We have been invited for drinks at the house of The Worst Offender (crazed hockey dad). I suggested a polite decline as we were going to decorate the tree on Saturday evening. The husband only hears 'drinks' and tells them we'll be there.

I find I am no longer that good at pretending to like people that I do not, in fact, like. Or maybe I'm okay at it but after a few drinks I find I don't really want to be bothered with the whole pretending. Lest you all think I have no manners, I am not rude, only quiet. So quiet that others, who know me well, will call the next day to make sure that I am alright. And these others, the phonecallers, will also be there, so maybe.

Some days I have such a yearning to get my kids home from school. So that they are home. With me. Today was a day like that.

Today's plan: Pecan Fudge from Angie and some sort of cookie. I'm thinking bruschetta too, not very Plimoth First Thanksgivingish, but good. Will some of the bruschetta keep until Saturday? Hmmm.

Packages have started arriving, presents are hidden away, the tree will be cut on Saturday. Time is flying by.

Oh, and now for the question....beer and/or wine recommendations for tomorrow? I'm needing help as I drink neither and walk through the wine section dangerously close to choosing a bottle based on the label design.

Enjoy your day, your family, your friends, your dinner, your football.

Happy Thanksgiving.

VW tagged me with a quick and painless meme...here goes:

1. Do you use an alarm clock to wake up in the morning?

Virtually never. Unless we have 6 a.m. ice time which requires a 4:45 wake up time. Although, my son usually wakes up on his own for those....too excited for the full sheet practices I guess....so I just set it as a backup.

2. What time do you set it for?

Um. 4:45. But that's only occasionally because usually the husband has early morning ice duty.

3. Do you hit the snooze button? If so how many times?

Nope.

4. Have you ever abused an alarm clock?

No, I don't wake up grouchy. Usually.

5. It’s time to spread some “It’s Blogcess” linky love.

Instead of spending my time here on this cute little flat screen Dell reading and typing I've been spending my time here on this cute little flat screen Dell uploading and ordering pictures and calendars and christmas gifts and such.

The girlie has a bonus day of school tomorrow because of some Friday mixup so I'll be free for three and a half hours. FREE. Of course, it may be my one last opportunity to shop daughterless so I'm taking full advantage. Target, 9:00 a.m. Be There.

Slacker: N. One who slacks. Who posts Friday's Show and Tell on Sunday. Who tries to serve cereal for dinner so that she won't have to go to the grocery store. Who hasn't ordered the darn Christmas Card pictures yet.


So, The First Order of Business

Red
A French English teeny tiny dictionary. It was my grandmother's. And while it is kept on my desk I speak not a lick of French. Cripes, I'm barely treading water with English some days. But I love it nonetheless.

Red bows on a favorite dog.
My son wanted a red room. Two red walls was our compromise. Or, wait... sorry - it was all my choice as he had no idea that while he was fishing in New Hampshire I'd be completely redoing his room. This is my favorite of the two red walls.

Sadly, more burgundy than red but hey...cardboard is cardboard.

And that concludes this week's edition of Show and Tell.

In other news, a local Mite hockey team has moved to 6-1-1 on the season and soccer is done until Spring. The hockey parents were politely asked to tone it down a bit. Most everyone was okay there was only one "If I can't cheer for my son than he won't be playing in this league". Well, Goodbye Mr. Worst Offender. You won't be missed.

I spent yesterday purging my children's rooms of all of the unused toys. I LOVE doing this. My room is next. My room is always NEXT. Some other project always seems to jump in the way. Of course, some other project might be Survivor or this blog or something but my definition for project isn't as well thought out as my definition for slacker.

And now it's Sunday. There are three extra children at my house. And somehow it is quieter than when it is just my two.

My in-laws have returned from their vacation/house hunting trip to South Carolina. I'm curious to see what they've found.

Late afternoon sunlight looks perfectly golden from my bedroom window and none of my pictures do it the least bit of justice.

Thirteen on Thursday

Thirteen Things about Jenny 1. Holy doom and gloom. Boy it's been fun over here for the last few days, eh? Well, things are looking up now... 2. I went Christmas shopping last night. My little spreadsheet list is all updated color coded and geeky. 3. Last week, in my Thursday Thirteen I wrote that I had told a real live friend about this site. And not only did I tell her, but I gave her the actual link. I sent it before I could second guess my thinking. She's been nothing but fabulous. Many thanks, C. 4. It is hard to feel Christmasy when it is 65 degrees and sunny out. Of course, that was yesterday's weather. It's supposed to be 17 degrees tomorrow night. 5. I might go to Ikea today but am a little frightened. They had to close the exit ramps on the highway because they were all choked up with traffic last weekend - the grand opening. Seriously, that's crazy. But I am tempted nonetheless. 6. C & I were trapped in the brand spanking new twenty four hour a day walmart last night. Note to readers: Apparently some major cashier mojo goes down around midnight. Beware. 7. Yes, walmart at midnight. New and clean and oh so quiet. Plus the cashiers can laugh at you while you fail miserably at the self checkout. 8. My son got his report card this week and it was spectacular. Hurray! 9. Well then. I've returned from the behemoth IKEA store. There are those airport guys with the flashlites directing traffic everywhere. And the stuff. So much stuff. With names like dkhfajelnk and asdlthoaeirjrk. I have concluded that if nothing else, those Ikea folk have mastered the fine art of packaging. They could make a sofa fit into a tissue box. 10. I am excited to construct my purchases. One of which is red and will come in muy handy for the show and tell tomorrow. Who knew that you'd need a screwdriver and wrench to make a cardboard storage box. 11. I am trying my hand at making chicken pot pie for dinner tonight. Looks easy enough. 12. One more with the sad and gloomy.... 13. My mom had to put her dog Daisy to sleep today. She was 14 and had lymphoma. She was a gentle soul. Love you Daise. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Jennifer's Thirteen 2. Sheri & Suzan's Thirteen 3. Jen's Thirteen 4. Shelli's Thirteen 5. Better Safe Than Sorry's Thirteen 6. Dee Jay's thirteen 7. Mommak's Thirteen 8. Jakapk's Thirteen

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Well, that was a good lesson to learn. When you find yourself in a snit about something and want to fire off an email, make sure they aren't going to be able to access your unedited thoughts along with the email. That being said, I'm curious to see what Sunday's game will be like.

Is it bad to wish your daughter would quit the Daisy Scouts after only three meetings?

I am pleasantly surprised that Christmas is only 44 days away.

Sadly, Laguna Beach's second season ended last night. And by sadly I mean with tears. I totally cried.

Hey guess what....the husband's company, the one that was in a little bit of trouble?

Yeah, well the Federales just "slapped contractor XXXXXXXX Inc. with a civil complaint Wednesday, charging it with defrauding the government on 224 federally-funded road building projects between 1995 and 2003."

My, my, my.

Ways to alienate people you know. Volume one.

I had to delete the hockey post as there was a little mixup when I sent the video link to the coach. The video link that refers them back to this here site. With that there post. Yeah. Great.


** UPDATE**
I changed the video tags and description and made my link invisible and then I checked my little stat counter thing and it doesn't appear that anyone visited my site from the video URL. And no one mentioned it at last night's practice. So, while I can't quite breathe a sigh of relief...at least I can breathe.

Hey, guess what...

My son has a hockey game later and you all are coming with me.

Excellent, my house, two p.m. - don't forget your gloves.

Damn Haloscan. Apparently, when I tried to do the comment moderation thing back during that scary quiz from hell in AUGUST it decided that it would wait until a random day in November to take effect.

Sorry 'bout that.

But *sniff* I was getting all lonely over here for awhile.

For The Show and Tell....

Let me preface this post by stating that I have the beverage maturity of the average 10 year old. I don't like coffee, tea, beer or wine. My experiences with them are as follows:

Coffee, I've had it twice. And a few sips on accident when I thought I'd be sipping hot chocolate. Not impressed, but I'd give it another go if I could find the right flavor. But then again, I might just hate it because I can't even stomach coffee ice cream.

Tea. Instant Iced Only.

Beer. I've had it a few times. Each time it was ice cold and from a keg and there were no other options. And each time I ended up pretty well drunk. So maybe it's not all bad or maybe after a few it goes down smoother. I can't remember.

Wine. I get the splitting headache with even a half of a glass and mostly it's kind of bitter and puckery and why would I drink bitter and puckery? I must be missing something.

Well, now that's out of the way. Here is a picture of my favorite, HAH, who am I kidding? ONLY mug. Actually we have four. They were wedding gifts and are stored up and out of the way because my husband puts his coffee in a travel mug to go. But they're good for cocoa.

And if I'm drinking out of this it means we're probably ice skating on the pond or at the Christmas Parade so this one is good too.

Thirteen on Thursday

Thirteen Things about Jenny 1. I saw a bald eagle on my way to work yesterday. Tough commute, eh? 2. We went to a game dinner at a local restaurant last night. The monopoly dog was sauteed to perfection but the twister mat was a little chewy. hohohohoho, really though it was all the usual suspects: Bambi, Thumper, and that wild boar from Lost....yum. 3. My clean laundry sits on my bed and it mocks me. 4. I am positvely itching to start decorating for Christmas. Too soon? 5. I did something totally off the cuff the other day. Remember how this was a super secret, not even my husband knows this blog exists blog? And then I told my husband? Well, I told another soul. A real life friend. Half of me is freaking out that I did. And the other half? Pretty much doesn't mind. 6. There are actually movies coming out that I'd like to see. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Walk the Line are topping the list. So far. 7. Free Pass: You can skip to Number 10 if sports talk makes you loopy. 8. Any of you who've been visiting here for awhile know that I love my Patriots and Red Sox. And yet, I have hardly posted about them. What can I say about the Red Sox? They let Theo leave. THEO. They are dumber than I thought. I'm caught in the keep Manny, trade Manny quandry. I will miss Bill Muelller. Badly. And Millar, too, but not badly. There are many many others. Sigh. 9. What in godsgreenacres has happened to the Patriots??? I know, I know. Injuries. Here are a few: Kevin Faulk (still out) Corey Dillon (back, but limping) Patrick Pass (still out) Matt Light (still out) Troy Brown (back, seems OK) Richard Seymour (still out) Rodney Harrison (still out) Randall Gay (back, but limping) Guss Scott (still out) Tedy Bruschi (back, but not up to speed yet) Willie McGinest (playing with a broken hand) Tyrone Poole (still out) Ellis Hobbs (back) Chad Scott (still out) But there is something else. The fundamental fire within them. As a team. As underdogs. Failure to capitalize on interceptions and such doesn't help. Neither does the fact that the defense could not stop stinking Peyton Manning. Not even with smiley Tedy coming back. Sigh. 10. My mom doesn't cook anymore. It kind of freaks me out. Unless there's a holiday. And then she serves canned vegetables. Canned Sweet Potatoes, people. It's all very strange. And her Thanksgiving stuffing is so terrible that my sister and I made a box of Stovetop once at the eleventh hour because you cannot have Thanksgiving without edible stuffing. 11. I found three rolls of film to be devloped. I love when I do that, when the pictures are a surprise. 12. I'm doing my second card making class tonight. The only downside? Lack of envelopes. You have to make your own, I guess. 13. My Excel Christmas shopping spread sheet is coming along nicely. I am determined to stick to the list this year. I find that if I finish shopping to early though I end up picking up a few things here and there and blowing the budget. Not. This. Year. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. MommaK's Thirteen 2. Jennifer's Thirteen 3. Janey's Thirteen 4. Texas Ivy's Thirteen 5. Interstellar Lass' Thirteen 6.The Crusty Crone's Thirteen 7.Jen's Thirteen 8.Squashed Toad's Thirteen 9.Colleen's Thirteen 10.Leanne's Thirteen

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Say hello to Gordon

Now, how annoying is that? Now multiply it by forty gagillion to account for the throwing up/resulting headache/trying to nap. But then divide by the amount of times my daughter cracked up lauging because a. he was found sound asleep on the kitchen table; b. he plays tug of war with you and doesn't leave your shoulder dislocated (as does the large dog) and c. would follow her for whatever cockamamey scheme she had planned.

What you are left with is this: Dog sitting for the brother in law is temporary. It ends and because he makes the girlie laugh...he was tolerable.

Tolerable. He whines with virtually every breath. He has a taste for colored pencils. He is a jackapoo, which even sounds ridiculous. He barked. And barked. He has a cute face and a weird shaped body. Did I mention the barking?

Okay, so you can either love Jennifer and Lisa for telling me about system restore. Or not. Because now you've got videos.

I need to see the wizard

Okay, so I've been attempting to post. Trying to think of something...and I thought I had it. And then...a wrench. In the works.

It seems as if when I foolishly/stupidly/i don't need another photosoftware program so why did I bother? downloaded comacast photo show or whatever it's called, well, it decided that that little picture wizard Mr. Gates gave me with Windows XP, it decided it wasn't necessary anymore. It's gone. And with it apparently went my ability to get my little mpeg files off my camera.

I need my wizard.

Besides that, I'm well. And you?

Oof. I was bitten by the stomach virus bug. The son, who was sick Thursday and Friday, was kind enough to share the wealth and, lucky me, I was the recipient. So, after literally RUNNING out of book group on Friday evening and spending yesterday in a cross between "I hope I can keep this popsicle down" and "How many episodes of 'Made' can I possibly watch?" I am feeling only a little better today. Uck.

12 Step Show and Tell

Photos of our addictions.

Hmmm. I've never actually seen caffeine so I was unsure how to photograph it. And the whole nose spray thing. I know, you are addicted even if you are currently not using it...the whole "once an alcoholic always an alcoholic" thing. But the photo of spray did nothing for me.

Instead here they are. In order from least impact on my life but I would be sad without them to ohmyhowwouldievergetonwithoutit.

So, so delicious.
These little red envelopes. They save me from going all loopy when there is nothing on the tee-vee. Their contents keep me busy during the late night bouts of insomnia. Sometimes I don't check up on my queue just so that I can be surprised. *coughGEEKcough* I would experience some sort of withdrawal if this were all to end.

And finally, last but certainly not least considering the way this has impacted my life...
Now, I don't post every day. But that doesn't mean I'm not there, reading the comments, trying to update the design, checking on the blogroll, taking those insane quizzes. Do I really need to know my mafia hit man name? Or what kind of pie I am? YOU CAN BET I DO.

I am hopelessly addicted to it. And it's all YOUR fault. But I really don't mind one bit.

*UPDATE: It seems as if coffee is *surprise* addicting....but what is this venti???

Thirteen on Thursday

Thirteen Things about YOUR NAME 1. We just lost power and my too long post was eaten up. Just when I feel like I have something SO important to share. And do you want to know what it is that was so important? Yes? Well, good. Gives me a reason to move on to Number 2. 2. Ikea. Is. Coming. I've never been and finally, finally there is one that will be closer than a 2 hour drive. A drive that can be measured in minutes. As in 20 minutes. November 9th. 3. I just finished the Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd. Eh. 4. I'm done with Freecycle. Ditched again. Off to goodwill I go. 5. My neighbor's cat has been haunting my yard. A cat is the ONLY thing my dog will go through the electric fence for. This cat comes in the yard and sometimes the dog spots him and gives chase. Once he realizes he's out he trollops around for awhile, goes for a swim in the lake, goes to the park to shag baseballs for the little league, hits up the snack bar and is either A. Picked up by Animal Control (hey, say Hi to Fred while you're there) or B. Comes almost home. He walks around the perimeter of the yard whining. Should I be angry that I've spent ALOT of money on a fence which keeps my dog contained 99% of the time and they let their cats wander freely? Cats that they must consider dispos-a-pets as they live on the main road and they've lost 5 to cars. Well, it doesn't matter if I should be angry or not. I am. Next step, garden hose. 6. Rowr. Holy anger management issues, Jenny. But seriously, if I have to listen to my neighbor's daughters scream "BAXTER, KNOCK IT OFF...BAD DOG" at my dog one more fucking time for barking like a wild cur when their cat comes wandering into my yard I think I'll turn the hose on them. Actually, what I do is call my dog over and scratch him behind the ears and say "Good bubba, bad, bad kitties" in my smooshy talking to dogs and babies voice. And no, I won't really turn the hose on my neighbor's daughter. I do however ask her why it's okay for her cat to chase and kill a bird but not for my dog to give chase to the cat. A cat he could never catch by the way. 7. We have a hockey parents meeting coming up so they can tell us how they deal with rude, disrespectful parents. Parents who might yell at the refs during their fourth grade son's game and, say, flip them off. Or parents who might berate the coaches by yelling "Open your Eyes - Can't you Count???" when the coach accidentally doesn't send a full shift out during a line change. Both happened in the past few weeks in my son's league. I can't say that I'm surprised, hockey is an intense, contact filled sport. But I am disappointed and embarrassed. I mean, christ, it's a GAME people. And they are KIDS. Kids who need to be taught to respect the coaches and the referees. Setting a fine example these parents are. Idiots. 8. Wow, look at me getting all long and ranty. Venting is good for the soul. 9. Whoa. Venting is also a good way to lose track of time....I just about missed the busstop there. 10. I hope I don't have to cook Thanksgiving Dinner for at least 10 years. I can do it. I just don't want to. 11. My brother in law and his wife got airline tickets to meet my inlaws in South Carolina next week for their first anniversary. We got a picture frame, decorated with roses and a hallmarky sentiment next to the opening for the picture. Not looking a gift horse in the mouth and all of that...but really... 12. I don't know why, after 15 years of knowing them, do I hope that my inlaws would treat my husband the same way they treat his brother and sister. Blind optimism, I guess. 13. The recent overplaying of the Ipod commercial with Eminem makes me realize how much I still am crushing on him. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. MommaK's Thirteen 2. Jen's Thirteen 3. Jak's Thirteen 4. Lillyput's Thirteen (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Halloween, naturally, was a big success. They got almost seven pounds of candy between them. That's alotta freakin' candy.

Have you heard of Freecycle? It's like a free local ebayish thing. You post what you've got and maybe someone wants it and will come pick it up.

Sounds simple enough but why, fortheloveofgod, do I always get A.)The ditchers, the ones who will email you with all detailed info about when they'll be coming to get the crap and then NEVER show up. Or B.)The skeeves, the ones who will email you about their interest in one of your things (dirt devil junior vacuum for instance)and then proceed to email you again to ask if you know of anyone who has any 2-3T girls clothes. And then again to say she'll take the other things I posted today. And then again to mention that if I might happen to have more stuff that I want to get rid of she'll be happy to take it off my hands and just give whatever she doesn't use to Hurricane Katrina victims.

Seriously. I just got the Hurricane Katrina victims email a little bit ago and it's left quite a bad taste in my mouth. Just seemed so phony.

Well, I'm off to change into jammies and make some thank you cards. Yes, MAKE thank you cards. Why buy some for $3.49 when you can make them for $10.50? It's ridiculous but so am I.

Yesterday's flurries gradually transformed into a mini snowfall of an inch or two, which mixed with rain and left everything all icy and crisp. And today was 70 and sunny. Hello virus season.

The Bruins game was fun, uneventful - but fun. The kids were on the jumbotron which always makes for big excitement.

I usually spend my Sundays worshiping at the House of Belichick. But this morning I was going to stand on my pulpit (I have a pulpit???) and proselytize about a little something that might be referred to as a MIRACLE. My friends, the miracle of silicone bakeware.

Let me preface this by saying that I cannot bake a cookie. Not a good one anyway. I follow the recipes. The directions for non-stick. I purchase new baking powder and soda. And yet? Flat cookies that always, ALWAYS stick to the cookie sheet. Sometimes they burn othertimes undercooked. Even when they're in the oven for the exact same amount of time. I mean, really, was I doomed to make brownies for every bake sale/family event forever???

And then....

I have been drawn to the red for some time now. The color of the devil you say? HAH. Well then it was the devil that made these cookies slide off these sheets like newly sharpened skates on freshly zambonied ice so grab me a pitchfork, I'm heading to Georgia with my new friend. The cookies were browned to perfection and just about jumped off those pretty red sheets. And the cleanup? What cleanup? A quick wash in warm soapy water (you can dishwasher 'em but they're awfully floppy) and done. Roll them up and stuff them in a corner of the cabinet.

***LALALALALA**not hearing yesterday's warning from Susie Sunshine ***LALALALALA**

But now? Warnings are meant to be heeded. Especially if they might make sense. Solid chemicals + heat + food could be a pretty potent combo. So they will stay rolled up in the cupboard, at least until I can no longer resist their siren song. Which I swear will NOT be tomorrow. I swear. But Christmas cookies....I may be powerless to resist.

*Update: But wait...what is silpat? Sili-something. Maybe there is light at the end of my tunnel.

You guys...thank you. It was a big crappy ass decision to have to make and the support I got from all of you made it that much easier. So thank you.

So you all are fans of the quilt? Or were you just being kind to my wounded spirit? Either way....here are the details.

1. I ordered it from Plow and Hearth. I can't even thread a sewing machine and if I can't use that iron on stitch witchery it ain't happenin'. This is the quilt I almost ordered instead. I still love it, so maybe some day.

2. I make my bed like this every day. I can't sleep in an unmade bed. The sheets feel all weird and somehow different if they haven't spent their day covered up nicely by blankets and the quilt.

3. I do, however, keep my old comforter underneath the quilt and I take the quilt off every night, you know, so sleep germs don't get on it.

Today is being spent in a sports related blur. Hockey (my son's team is 5-0. yee-haw Mites C-2!), soccer (in the snow today people. It was flurrying! yee-haw for the first snow of the season) and a Bruins game tonight (no yee-haw for prohockey but a night out with friends and free tickets for the kids does score it a bonus).

Tomorrow the fall cleanup day in the yard is on the schedule. Snow today and 65 degrees and sunny tomorrow. um. okay. I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank whoever schedules the ice time for the hockey league. There is no where I'd rather be at 5:45 on Christmas Eve morning than at the ice rink.

I'm off to whip up some cookies and try out my new silicone baking mats. I'm still an unbeliever in the whole silicone movement although I did buy some basting brushes based on a recommendation by this lady and I'm enjoying them. We shall see...

For Blackbird, my show and tell. Here's my bed. Not terribly comfortable but will do for now. The quilt though, I love my quilt. Flannel and cordury, with plaid. I love plaid. Anyway, it just reminds me of fall and winter and makes me feel cozy and homey with a passing glance.

I dropped Fred off today. Last night was tough, telling the kids he had to go. Disagree with me if you want but I lied to them. Instead of telling them he was going back to the shelter (which my son knows might mean he may not get adopted as we had many discussions about it after adopting Fred from there last year - although he doesn't know what happens to the dogs that don't get adopted - it never got that far, but this time he just might ask) I told them that a friend of a girl I work with was taking him in. And that she doesn't have children so there will never be any worries that he might bite or get growly at any other little ones. I have created quite a picture in my own mind and can almost convince myself that he might end up in a home like that. Denial is my friend.

Working for the town, and having a lab that's been picked up four or five times I kind of know the Animal Control guy, Dave and told me that he'll make a few phone calls to rescue leagues and other places that he knows as they are more likely to help him out than they were to help me out. I was honest with him about the biting and food issues. He didn't seem too worried but I also told him to never tell me what happened to Fred even if I come in there crying and begging him. Which I wouldn't do. But I wanted to cover all my bases.

I'm totally okay with this, really though. It had to be done. But I'll miss him.

Thirteen on Thursday

Thirteen Things about Jenny 1. Today my daughter has her six month recheck on her eye surgeryed eyes. Just last week, as she looked at me, kind off to the side as I was sitting next to her she told me that I was all blurry. yipes. 2. The geek in me filled in my 2006 calander with color coded entries. Different for each person. GEEK. But check back with me in May to see if I'm keeping up with it or if every single thing is scribbled in pell-mell in whatever color pen I can dig up. 3. We got firewood delivered two days ago and I am loving the wood stove smell on these cold and wet days. 4. The little girl on the Amazing Race sort of scares me. 5. I get those blogger comment words, those spam blocker things, well...I get them wrong enough to give a little cheer every time I get one right. And I KNOW it's just copying but it's copying gibberish and I have enough trouble with actual words. 6. My son cut his over the door basketball net in a fit of anger. It still would be fine with just the rim and backboard but because he did it out of anger I made him pay me the $15.00 it cost me to buy it. Too tough? 7. Blackbird inspired me to clean up the ole blogroll yesterday. I fixed links and used that delete button quite liberally. It was enjoyable. 8. That little hockey picture next to my comment line? That's my son's hockey team from last year (in the black). I'm crazy for Mites Hockey. 9. I already have my Christmas Cards but I still won't have them mailed out before the third week in December. Which is especially foolish because I'm one of those annoying people who always puts a picture of my kids in the card so that I can share their supercuteness with the world. And I already have the picture picked out. My middle name is Procrastinator. 10. I steadfastly refuse to have any formal portrait pictures done of the kids. Especially at those Picture People places in the mall. Or any photo place for that matter, but especially with the goofy props. Plus why take a chance and get a fakey smile/eyes half closed/mad face when I can get those on my own. I find if I let them take a goofy picture or two they fully cooperate with a good smile later on. 11. Except for school pictures. And this year the son's? It's awful. And he won't do the retake. At least I bought the cheapest package possible. 12. I just bought these and I love them. But while trying to find a good link I found that I could personalize my own Sharpies. And now I know what I want for Christmas. Keeping in line with number two...Geek. 13. I went to the card making class last week, totally against my better judgement. And I liked it. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Mommak's Thirteen 2. Jen's Thirteen 3. Better Safe Than Sorry's Thirteen 4. Interstellar Lass' Thirteen 5. Jen's Thirteen 6. Sallwood's Thirteen 7. Jak's Thirteen

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

Last week after an especially LOUD discussion about just how mean I actually am I had my son write five things he liked about me (and I wrote five about him, just to be you know, kind of fair). He got three done in a quick minute and then complained that there were only THREE good things about me as I was just so mean. Well, take a look at the third thing on the list. Yeah. Um, okay guiltmeister. The worst part? At this point he knew nothing of the whole move to turn Freddie over to the shelter/rescue league that we've been working toward. We'd mentioned it in passing right after the whole bite incident but have kept mum since then because I didn't think it was fair to tell the kids and leave it openended with no real resolution.

So that was an unsolicited statement of luuuuve. Super. And the Grand Prize Winner in the category of Mother Who Will Crush Her Son's Heart into Tiny Little Pieces is.....

Maybe I will just take him places and buy him stuff. He seems to like that too.

Here you go Melissa...five random things about me...

My parents kept the newspapers from the day I was born. I've done the same for my two kids.

When I was sixteen my mom dropped me and two friends off outside the Hartford Civic Center with some money, in hopes that we could score U2 tickets from a scalper. No supervision, pockets full of money, business dealings with less than reputable men...good judgement call mom.

I have a good sense of direction.

Since I've had my kids I cannot even ride the teacup ride at the fair without wanting to die and my former favorite: the roller coasters? won't go near them. I've become the mom who holds the stuff.

I cannot reach under my bed headfirst because I start to hyperventilate.

Hey, we're off to Maine for a day or two. I have no medicine cabinet so the show and tell was a no-go for me anyway. Well, I could've shown you my messy drawers in my sink/cabinet thing but oops, sorry ran out of time....

Thirteen on Thursday

Thirteen Things about Jenny 1. My son found his christmas gift, the big gift, in the back of my car. Completely on accident. Damn. 2. The stink bug from the previous post crawled away over the paperwork on my desk as I was finished typing and is now MIA. Damn. 3. Thursdays is the day I make a big breakfast for the kids and today I have no eggs with which to make french toast, pancakes or waffles. Damn. 4. My boss just told me I'd never work twenty hours a week and therefore be eligible for benefits at the job I have now. Damn. 5. My son was offered a spot on the winter dome soccer team and cannot accept because of hockey. Damn. 6. The son learned to play chess last night in like fifteen minutes and is now giving a lesson to his friend. Is it really that easy? Because I STILL don't know how to play. 7. We're heading up to Maine tomorrow for a few days. 8. My keyboard or blogger is very slow to show what I'm typing here and it's making me crazy. 9. I just got my 2005 calendar and can't wait to write all of our stuff in. 10. My parents live nearby and my mom cannot go to work because the entire downtown area of her city has been evacuated due to a potential dam break. Here's a pic of the 173 year old wooden dam. They're pumping water out and rerouting it but we're supposed to get four inches of rain on Sunday. So they might be right back where they started. 11. Ah, crap. I'm supposed to go to a card making class tonight and there is no place I want to be less than a card making class tonight. Good-bye non-refundable deposit. 12. As one of the many benefits of being five my daughter got her library card today. 13. I think I'd like to get this quilt, for no specific reason as I just got a new one last year but it's green and corduroy. And those are reasons enough for me. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1.Interstellar Lass 2. MommaK 3. Jakapk (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

You get by with a little help from your friends

I never even, for one moment, thought when I started this site that it would be anything more than a whim. And to be truthful I'm the queen (or at least a princess) of not lasting too long on the whole hobby thing.

But now?

I've seen your bathrooms, your cars, your kids and your doorknobs and in some cases, the view from your pillow int he morning. I've laughed so hard I've cried, I've been moved to tears and worried over you and yours, sharing your stories with my family.

This internet is an amazing thing. Thank you all so much. For birthday wishes, good thoughts and virtual hugs. For recipes, movie recommendations and survivor recaps. For words of wisdom and html help. You've all had such an unexpected impact on my days...and I don't even know what most of you look like. Which I find even more amazing. Invisible friends...who knew?

I really can't say it enough. Thanks.

And just so you know, I typed this entire post with a huge freakin' stink bug perched not two inches from the 'esc' key on the keyboard without running away. That, my friends, is dedication and shows you how much I really do care.