I am Switzerland. In shorts.

How evil are you?

And for the show and tell...
It's Friday guys and dressing messy on Fridays is part of my plan. I have on...Patriot's Hat (purchased at the game), red long sleeved shirt (Target) and tan shorts old tan shorts whose retail home is unknown. Very cutting edge, I know.








Survivor. Excellent TeeVee, again. How could you stand still during a challenge and not expect to go home? Rafe made up for last weeks failure to climb up a ladder mishap, but my favorite team still lost. My favorite team being any team Stephanie is on.

Already I'm running into a hiccup in the television marathon that is was supposed to be my weekend. Numerous hiccups actually. The first being that I'll be missing most of tonight's Sox game while we chatter on about books. Good company and all, but Red Sox baseball doesn't get any more important than these next three games.

And, under the heading of holy shit...there are major problems in the company my husband works for. And by major I mean federal indictments major. That, my friends, is a shitty way to start my weekend.

The daughter seems to be doing just fine. The spots are not lasting even a day, they're just fading away and sometimes a few new ones appear. Very ho-hum. The red spot on her ankle? Gone.
I rather enjoy ho-hum when it comes to medical stuff.

I've been working during the day, every day this week and I've had meetings every night. I thought I'd be catching a break tomorrow but one of the selectman just called me in to prepare for some court case or other. And we're supposed to be having a guest for dinner tomorrow. Yum. I love roast guest.

My kids have been all crabby with each other lately. I find it exhausting. Today, as a reward for arguing over feeding the dog, I made them each write three things they like about the other and then read them aloud. They both really liked what the other had to say but will this slow down the crabbies? I'm not holding out much hope. Any ideas?

Tomorrow is Survivor. Yesterday was Amazing Race, tonight Lost. And I've got Crash and Curb Your Enthusiasm Season 4 and Little House on the Prairie disc # 7,582 in from Netflix. And the Sox are playing the Yankees this weekend and the Patriots are playing Sunday. WTF. How can one person watch this much TV? Is it even possible? With two soccer games, a hockey practice, a hockey game, a book club get together and an out of state birthday party? I will try it and let you know.

Oh and this....this was the find of the century at the yard sale.









A Barbie Power Wheels Jeep...shown here with the girlie and her best friend.

I am wondering if A History of Violence will be good. Looks kind of promising.

I was all set to hate, hate, hate my book club choice, Atonement. And while I don't love it totally, it's much better than I expected and now I'm in a rush to finish it so the ending isn't all spoiled on Friday.

Samwise Gamgee is on Prison Break now. Just not the same.

My son will be goalie in the first hockey game of the season. I'm a little bit sick with worry.

The girlie has a rash. A semi-permanent rash apparently. I forget the name, some very medical term, but it's harmless and only lasts 10 to 12 weeks. So it should be gone by January. Unless it's something else, the doctor wasn't a hundred percent sure on the diagnosis. The best part...this red area we noticed on her ankle that's different from all the rest of the spots? He warned me to watch it like a hawk as he's deeply concerned about Lyme Disease. Super.

Well, off to iron the outfit for school pictures and watch my IQ spiral downward while watching Laguna Beach. G'nite.

Wasn't it supposed to be Show and Tell Sunday???

So I'm a little bit late with the whole show and tell Friday...

My favorite artwork...





This is a tiny picture in my daughter's room...I love the colors.













This hangs in the living room. I wanted a picture of birch trees with reds and after a long LONG search I found the perfect match. It's very big and not so red in real life.











This weekend was a blur of soccer and hockey, birthday parties and a giant neighborhood yard sale. Not my neighborhood but a yearly outing to a neighborhood where 75 families or so have a big sale on the same day. There is much junk and many treasures ($2 skis for my husbands ice fishing box? got em. a container with a gazillion beads and lacing stuff for a quarter? got them too.) and generally, it's just a nice morning walk with a good friend.

Oh and the puking and hives. Courtesy of the girlie. It's just a viral thing going around but still. uck. I taped Lost last week thinking I'd have a chance to watch it right away. Yeah, like five days later right away. Alright, the husband wants to sleep and the typing is bugging him...so I'm off...

A Word or Twenty about the Music

You too can have your own video player. That plays the same three songs overandoverandoverandover. But do we Sox fans EVER get tired of listening to the Dropkick Murphys? hell yeah Never.

1. Tessie. A song for the ages. These ages. Or last year's ages, when the Sox were clawing their way out of a three game deficeit to beat the Yanks and then mopping the floor with the Cardinals. This season's ages? Time will tell. But I get goosebumps every time they play that song and show Ortiz at the plate ready to belt in another walk off homerun.

2. Breathe by Anna Nalik. Okay, so my guilty pleasure is Laguna Beach...The Real O.C. I can't believe I just admitted to that but there it is...gone with the swipe of a mouse but I'm leaving it up there for you all to snicker. S'okay. And they happened to play that song when L.C. finds out that Stephen went to see Kristen the same day came to visit her...riveting innit? And while I don't get all emotionally involved I did like the song and was ohsopleased to find it already playing during my theivery.

3. Somebody Told Me by The Killers. I love The Killers. My kids love The Killers. And this line: "somebody told me that you had a boyfriend that looked like a girlfriend" makes them laugh like crazy.

Stop Thief!

Okay, I was clicking around and happened upon this site which had this nifty little video player in it. And guys, I really wanted a video player. So I copied it. Songs and all.

I'm hoping I get around to switching out the music but I happen to like that Anna Nalik song. And the Dido song too. And Lost is on tonight. So maybe not tonight. But tomorrow, I swear tomorrow it'll be updated.

Ohhhhh, you mean I have to post?

And not just look at my pretty site? Ahhh. Well, if that's the case....

then I guess I will start with this...

I harbor a crazy crush on this man.

My kids and I are addicted to these.

I am putting the kids to bed early tonight so that we can watch the premiere of this show.

and tomorrow night so that I can watch this.

I am busy making invitations for the girlie's birthday. She wants an Indian party. No, not curry and sarees but feathers and tipis. This all stems from the Little House on the Prairie obsession and sounded like fun to me. What's not to love about war paint and feathered headbands? I have, of late, entered the dubious world of rubber stamping. I kind of suck at it, as I'm not crafty by nature but I'm going to give her invites a shot and see how I do. We're only inviting a few friends so if they laugh at me it'll be to my face and I can give them hell.

How do ya like my look? *spins around*

I LOVE it. And the best part? A gift from a friend.

Thanks Jennifer.

Well. Soccer has been cancelled. Outdoor recess too. All thanks to mosquitos carrying this fine little virus that were found in my fair town. They will be spraying this week but apparently the danger remains until the first frost. Thatsa long time from now. Especially up here where outdoor playtime is at a premium while the weather remains nice enough to enjoy it. It's a nasty sickness and I know it's pretty rare to actually get it, but the girlie must have the sweetest blood around...they come for miles to feast.

Now I've got to go and do the Sunday Evening Scramble. Getting the lunchboxes, setting out the school clothes, double checking backpacks and then falling into bed.

Survivor Spoiler Alert - If your real name or fake name is blackbird - click on the X

Stephenie, Stephanie, Stefanie. Howeverthehell she spells it I spell it A-W-E-S-O-M-E.

The boys, all passing out and cramping up and puking. Very nice. And the girls, all working and nursing and holding it together. Even nicer. Bobby Jon with the eyerolling freakiness? Freaky.

I love Margaret The Nurse. At least for now. My fellow Masshole, Amy (that's a term of love coined by outofstaters for our superior driving skills) ? No opinion yet. But she was kind of lagging behind with the fishmonger chick so I'm curious to see how she fares.

I thought, after snooping at the CBS website, that the blue team would be way tougher and easier to like. Mainly because of the fishmonger and the generally whimpy look of yellow. And then came my girl Steph. I've jumped right up on the yellow bandwagon and may only get down if Stef goes home and Margaret stays in the game.

It's early yet, the true assholeness of people hasn't had a chance to shine in most cases. With the exception of Jim - who was voted out - his vote was for Margaret the Nurse who kept the boys from falling to pieces the day before, nice exit move Jim. Have a good flight home.

My blogging life has meaning again...the Friday show and tell has returned.

But I'm lazy. Actually, I've been on the go all day and even though we were given ample time to prepare, I'm using pictures I took after I finished painting the bathroom. Last December.











































I'm kind of amazed, well not amazed but surprised at how different the purple looks in natural light (the top two) and lightbulb lighting. Since then I've hung a few pictures and refilled the toilet paper roll.

What you don't see:

1. In front of the sink is another green rug. Underneath the rug? My daughter painted the floor with purple glittery nail polish.

2. A hole in the floor next to the toilet. My husband was doing the installation and had just started cutting. I happen to walk in the room to ask him something or other. He stops sawing, thank god. He had the toilet facing the wrong way. Not totally backwards but so your knees would be facing the cabinet. oops.

3. Both bolt covers on the base of the toilet. Missing. Courtesy of Baxter the Lab. Every time we replace them he takes them off.

This bathroom was originally two rooms when we bought the house, a bathroom and a VERY small bedroom. The bathroom had eighties plastic walls, brown shag carpeting and masking tape instead of caulking. Imagine my surprise when I tried to bleach it and instead of white caulking I got old soggy tape. ew. I used to keep slippers outside the door because I wouldn't let my feet hit the carpet. I prayed for a bathroom re-do prior to the arrival of the son.

I was 6 months pregnant and didn't hold out much hope. I got the heebie jeebies when I thought I'd be kneeling on the bathroom rug to give the new baby a bath. And then *surprise* the well, the well that provided the water for our little home, it went dry and pumped silt through the plumbing and each and every fixture was jammed up. Careful what you wish for.

That was the beginning of the end of the ick. Walls came down. Pipes went in and presto chango....a new and improved bathroom.

The husband has been working nights this week. A heavy equipment operator getting a combined total of about 12 hours of sleep since he woke up on Sunday. Now THAT'S safe. Wimping out is not an option. Neither is skipping hockey practice. Or smiling. He is no longer able to muster up enough energy to smile.

I came home from work tonight and my kids are sleeping together in my son's bed. Like Laura and Mary Ingalls. Except they will be kicking each other and grouching around 2 a.m. The real Ma wouldn't tolerate that crap.

I'm getting alot of hits from people looking for Wolf Blitzer's quote about the people in New Orleans being "so poor and so black". People, he said it. Really. On September 1st. Sometimes people just say the wrong damn thing.

Oh Laura Ingalls Wilder, what have you done to my family?

It started off so simply, listening to an old favorite, Little House on the Prairie, while driving to Vermont. I thought much of it when right over the head of my darling girl. I should have known better.

They loved the story. Indians and wolves...all the good stuff. I mentioned that they had, back in the day, made a TV show based on the book and would you kids be interested in seeing it. They were excited. I moved it to the top of the queue.

I am now Ma. I do not have the infinite patience or hard working ethic of Ma, but I am Ma nonetheless. My girlie switches between Baby Carrie and Laura depending on her mood. At this point I'd like to take a moment to thank Mr. Edwards for teaching Laura how to spit - it's a glorious habit for my four year old girl.

She tells everyone she meets about Pa falling out of a tree and breaking his ribs. I'm waiting for someone to ask me how my husband is doing after his accident.

We've been watching an episode every night before bed. My son gets mad (although he'd rather die than admit it) if we think about watching one without him. He gets even madder when my girl tries calling him Jack. That would be the Ingall's dog.

As the husband left for work tonight she hollered out 'G'nite Pa' and made me lift her up so he could pretend his ribs were broken. We indulged her. Am powerless to resist the dimples I tell ya.

How NOT to spend your Sunday evening

Now, this...this new color/border/boxes... what a pain in the ass.

Post Game Reporting

First off, if you ever have the chance to see the Opening night game of your favorite football team after they've won the Superbowl...do it. And the tailgating. You must do that too.

It was a feast although not the kind you see on the news with the giant buffet tables and beer bellied men with chili pots. Our chili pot had no beer bellied man. Many good eats were eaten. Faces were painted and jerseys were donned.

Here's what I saw....


Nothing. See this tall ass guy. Yeah, me too. All damn night. He had to be at least 6' 4". I had to cash in the kids college fund to afford this damn ticket and I got to look at the back of a Northface vest all damn night. Not really, he was more of a sitter. Until the play came down to our end, then I had to leeeeaaaan around him. Kidding about the college fund. How can I afford to start one? Bruins tickets go on sale today ba-by.









The pregame show. We're big Green Day fans in this house and the kids cried when I told them that I'd get to see Green Day and th-ey could-n't nah nah neh nah nah. Babies. Really though, With the exception of Green Day, even though they played the single MOST overplayed but not overtly political song they could (The NFL told the Rolling Stones that they could NOT play one of their songs, some new tune that apparently has some negative political overtone or something - so they must've nixed alot of the more rockin' Green Day tunes - that's just my guess but guys, I'm wicked smaht so I just know I must be right - how else to explain...I walk a lonely road the only road that I have ever known...) kind of ho-hum. But the helmet. IT OPENED. And there was Ozzy, smiling like a fool. Or high as a kite. No one knew anything but the chorus and now it's stuck like a nightmare in my head. I'm goin' off the rails on a Crazy Train.






Ho hum. Next time stay home. Or give the ticket to April.













Before.













After. I wish I had the soundtrack. We were hollerin' like fools.










I don't know what they showed on the teevee but at halftime they had some currently serving National Guard troops march out onto the field and then they swore in about two hundred new recruits. Their oath was very solemn and I cried. Needless to say, in light of all the National Guard has been called onto to do I am very thankful for their service.

And on with the show...




The view from the ninth row? In case you were wondering it's pretty damn good. Sorry I didn't crop the picture to get rid of the hair of the friend of tall northface vest guy.









Some family we went with sat up there. Second section in, sixteen rows from the top. When I said that you should see your favorite team on opening night and all of that...I meant if you have good seats. I would be scared out of my wits up there. Upon joining us in the fourth quarter they, looking all windblown and tired from the walk, told us 'It's awfully windy up there in heaven.'








The crown royal bag. When I was a kid I used to think I had the fanciest Lite Brite peg holder in town. Many years later I find out you get them for FREE. They are readily available. I do not drink Crown Royal as I'm rather partial to my esophagus but I love those velvety purple bags.









It was a late night, the game got over at godknowswhattime and then the traffic. GAH! The traffic. We tried to wait it out with more tailgating. Sausages and peppers and onions anyone? But even after 2:00 a.m. there was still tons of cars and RVs. I crawled into bed around four a.m. and woke up around 6:45 knowing if I hit snooze and successfully snoozed...I'd never get up. I should be in fine shape around dinner this evening.







The End.

Are you ready for some football?

Ack!

I have no time to post, because I'm off to the Patriot's Game and need ample tailgating time.

I will have photos AND time to post them tomorrow. Because it's Friday and the kids, both kids, are in school. TGIF just got much, much sweeter.

It's on tonight, ABC. Pregame at 8, Kickoff around 9. We're in the NINTH row. NINTH! I'm entusiastic CAN YOU TELL?!?!?!? We are sitting at the goal line on the vistor's side. My jersey? Number 55.

Till Tomorrow....

Happy First Day of School, Son

Now this. This is a boy who is excited for his first day of third grade. Next year remind me to make Labor Day Weekend just that. A weekend of Labor. Lawn mowing and dishwashing. Laundry and dusting. He'll be chomping at the bit to escape from me next year. Mwahahaha.

Body Slamming the seal who, by the look on his face, has no idea what is about to hit him.

A flip by a very pretty man. 

I'm at a loss for words.

First girlfriends???? gack.

Crazy ass diving competition? pictures to follow.

First day of school? check.

Patriots game on the horizon....woo-hoo.

Be back tomorrow. With details. I'm sure you're just breathless with anticipation.

Tuesday it begins...the waking up and functioning. The lunches. Clothes that match.

All things this weekend will have absolutely NOTHING to do with school. Precisely how it should be. We hit a rough patch last week, with me wanting school to begin and NOW, but I'm back to my senses. I'm very, very happy we begin after labor day and not before.

Due to the upcoming video game/TV time limits that must be imposed I allowed the boy to play Gameboy yesterday. For hours and hours. And even took him to EB Games so that he could spend his money foolishly and feed his addiction.

We watched Escape to Witch Mountain last night. It was a HUGE hit. My son did comment however that the movie must have been made at least seven years ago though because the cars were really different and the graphics were kind of funky. Oh, those jaded CGI kids.

Today we're heading to New Hampshire to visit our long lost friends. I'm more excited to see them then I thought I'd be. Must miss them. Alot.

Tomorrow is a giant pool party. With a trampoline. And a huge swingset thing. And grownups that make us laugh.

And Monday we will relax at home. Maybe canoe around the pond and cookout. Or maybe visit the inlaws and cookout. You get the idea.

I'm sorry that I've been a crappy blogger lately. I sit down to post and I try to think and (some of you won't be surprised at this) NOTHING. No coherent thought comes to mind. Certainly nothing worth posting. I'm using two toothpastes now, because somedays I feel like extra scope is where it's at. See, you almost fell asleep there. Or clicked the X. Did you click the X? I wouldn't blame you....it's kind of boring here lately, but that's good too. Regularly scheduled posting will return soon.

Wolf Blitzer on CNN, earlier today he said....

"They're SO poor and they're SO black".

I mean, WTF dude.

What can you say

when people are starving, dirty, sick and trapped.

when the dead lay amoung the living without a second glance.

when you are told you can never go home.


The insurance commercials bombarding the weather channel. Classy.

The fact that some ass in Boston spoke with someone in New Orleans yesterday and felt that it was the perfect time to find out how soon New Orleans would be capable to hold some conventions that have been scheduled. And hey, if you can't handle it, send them to Boston.

Seriously, that was a news story last night. The anchor prefaced it with something about how the Hurricane might have given the City of Boston some unexpected financial gain. Are you fucking kidding me? We're trying to reschedule conventions? It stuns me.

Let this be a warning to you

Like I've said, I don't scrapbook but I definitely do the photo album thing. Except when I don't. I haven't ordered digital pictures for almost a year. So when I finished uploading and ordering all 478 of them I breathed a sigh of relief because the uploading, even with cable or broadband or dsl or whatever the hell comcast dishes out, it took a loooong time. But no worries, right? Because I was ordering through here I was saving money and LOTS of it.

I'll let you in on a little secret. Once you get the really good service it's hard to go back. Even if it costs you well more than you should spend. Comcast, I'll forever be your slave in exchange for overpriced but wicked fast internet service. Dial up....hahahaha, I'd let my kids starve before I ever return to your evil ways. And Verizon Broadband whateverthefuckitis, still half the speed of comcast. Do I need twice the speed as verizon? I maintain that the answer to that question is and will always be yes.

Anyways. Do not order pictures from Snapfish. Holy christalmighty. After the upload of all one gazillion pictures I'm clicking away, filling my little shopping cart. As I finish up the order I realize that there was no one asking me what to type on the back of the pictures. Shutterfly does it, you type "Girlie Showing off her Touching Her Nose with her Tongue skills" and as it already prints the date you took the picture back there you just move on and type in the next caption. Snapfish does no such thing.

I figure they would print the date. Wrong. I figure they would send the pictures, all 478 of them in the order I ordered them. Wrong. I figured an entire envelope wouldn't be filled with pictures that were stuck together because they must've been still wet or something from their cheap ass machine. Wrong again.

So not only did I have to write the date and event on the back of every picture but I had to put them all in some sort of order and in the case of one group...unstick them. And the cropping. They chopped off girlie's head sending me a half sized picture. They cut corners. Literally. The corners of at least four pictures are missing.

Okay, so shutterfly is double the price of snapfish. Double. Next time I'd willingly pay it unless you guys know of something better...in that case, please share.