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.

Enough with the weepy...Testing a New Blog Toy

Meet the Family.

During the daylight hours I am calm and somewhat rational. Why is it that in the dark of night my imagination runs away with me?

We must get rid of Fred the Beagle. Not only has he made a mockery of being housetrained but he bit me. Hard. Funny, because there's really not an ounce of aggressiveness in him unless you get him near food. He had broken into the trash can (after ripping apart the child safety lock) and was eating the contents when I returned home (from the busstop?). I gave him a push to get him away from the trash so that I could begin cleaning and instead of staying put he charged right back in. Another gentle push and he turned and bit my forearm, breaking the skin (as if that even matters...he isn't rabid or anything). He's been growling at me now when I try to pet him as he eats, something I was always able to do.

I am not worried about him biting me again. I would keep him anyway and work around it because it is only on a rare occasion and he's otherwise very docile. But it's the kids. And the visiting kids that I worry about. But I must MAKE myself worry about it because I will let it slide to the back of my mind so that I can take a sail down the river of denial. If I sound as if I would put my kids in harms way I don't really think I am. You have to know Fred to appreciate him and they respect the whole food issue and we are watchful.

But. The fact remains that he must go. And I know, that by making this call, he will most likely be put down. It is a very hard phone call to make. I spent a long time crying and petting him last night. Every time I closed my eyes to try to sleep I could only picture him in the shelter kennel shaking from the chilly cement and wondering where I was. *fuck* and now I am crying again.

My son, always kind of unsure of the large spazzy lab, loved Fred at first sight. Calm, no jumping or barking. And he'll follow you to the ends of the earth if you pet him and scratch his belly. He feeds and walks Fred mostly without complaint. He sits on the floor with him, absently scratching his ears as he watches TV or talks about school. Fred was the dog the boy needed. And now I must break not only my heart but my son's.

I know, it's for the best and all of that. I DO NOT want a child, visiting or living in my home to be bitten by him. And logic and rationale must win out over love this time. But this is a fucking shitty decision to have to make. And it has been made, the question is when. I keep procrastinating. The rescue leagues don't want him. He's too old, they say...too hard to adopt. Again, fuck. There is more crying to be done. And I must find the perfect time to lie to the kids about where he is to go. Off to a home, with a big yard to walk in and only grownups. (My kids know about the biting and that he must go, but it's been an abstract idea unti this week). Can I just pretend that's where he'll be going? Can I convince myself? Maybe. Until I shut my eyes.

I am recovering, slowly, from the party weekend.

Friday, the real birthday, was spent with two friends at Build a Bear. Meet Nellie.
A dog, not a bear. With many accessories. I figure, why save money for college when you can buy cleats and a backpack for a stuffed animal? But the fun...oh my. The choosing and the stuffing. Picking a heart and a name. And did I mention the accessories? And Nellie has a baby that she can carry around in her mouth. Which is practically a necessity, along with the matching hair bows.

I'd like to thank this opportunity to thank Nellie. Named after Laura Ingalls' nemesis she has been our constant companion since Friday. And now? My daughter does not require us to lay with her until she falls asleep. She's got Nellie. I'd been prepping her for a few weeks about the whole 'we will lay with you for a few minutes and then we'll be tucking you in and leaving the room' thing. She was NOT thrilled by the idea and I only mentioned it in passing after that. And along comes Nellie. I sense the opportunity and POUNCE. "You've got Nellie now" I whispered to her, "She's here to keep you company" (while mommy watches survivor and regains what's left of her sanity).

And she said, "Okay." and asked for her nightlight. She's not too happy about it but she's doing it. And while one part of me is happy that I'm not laying down for a half an hour with her part of me feels like I just lost a tiny bit of my littlest girl.

*sniff*

Okay then. Friday night was the family shin-dig. With dinner and cake and presents. Holy PollyPocket explosion. And Saturday was the party for a few little friends and a mistake I won't be making again...the older brothers of little friends. It was a little too chaotic for my taste, the boys were kind of spazzy and wanted to take over the whole thing. My house is tiny and with a rainstorm raging outside it was claustrophobic. The girlie had a good time with her buddies for the most part and fell into bed exhausted.


The boy scored a hat trick during his game on Sunday. For all of you non-hockey aficionados that is a whopping THREE goals. I was stunned. Who is this kid? The smallest one in his class, who weighs 50 pounds, fully dressed? Whose elbows and shoulder blades are what you see most when he's running away from me on the beach...

I'm not raising a natural born superstar but he's decent at the game and loves, loves, loves it. And parents are coming up to me asking me about him and congratulating us. The best part? My 'too cool for momhugs at the busstop kid' he ran out of the locker room and forgot himself. He jumped into my arms and hugged me tight laughing and whooping it up. That was the best part by far.

Things that annoy me...show and tell

This. The shortcut road to the cheapest and best stocked grocery store. It has been coldpatched to death and is this is how it looks when it's in good shape. In the spring? The holes will swallow one of those little Prius things right up. Why can't they just fix the whole road???? WHY???

And this. Damn Nextel. My neighbors have them, my friends have them. Listen people, I don't want to overhear even one side of a cell phone conversation and now I get to hear the other person too. And that annoying little 'tweep' it makes. ugh.

October 14

Today she is five.

She

prefers salad over cheeseburgers.

plays air guitar to Green Day.

can snap.

loves to play dolls.

will help you with almost anything you ask from stacking firewood to making banana bread.

is boy crazy.

can make herself burp.

thinks peanut butter is the magical hiccup cure.

gift wraps her toys to give away to her friends.

takes care of anyone who is sick with popsicles and backscratches.

has beautiful eyes.

can't pronounce animal or backwards. It's aminal and backwabs.

knows where almost everything is. Lose your keys? She knows where to look.

melts my heart.

Happy Birthday Girlie.

Thirteen on Thursday




Thirteen Things about Jenny WARNING: I AM SCREWING UP MY COMMENTS ON EVERYONE'S THIRTEEN WITH MY FEEBLE ATTEMPT AT LINKING THIS POST. SORRY. 1…. The construction paper I bought is all different. Only 5 colors, no blue or yellow(?!?!?!?) and only the red, black and orange are actual construction paper. The green and pink are like colored copy paper. How's a mom supposed to make feathers for indian headbands with that? 2. Survivor this evening. And work. I'm on the verge of graduating from VCR to DVR. Is it worth it? 3. I purchased some tickets for a Bruins game awhile back for our family and another family. The tickets are mailed in a plain white envelope. They came, I remember opening the envelope. And now? Missing. Damn ticketmaster and their plain white envelopes. 4. Am driving my son to school today because now, with typing these thirteen things, I'm running late. 5. My husband drove to Maine for the day yesterday, to pack up the gas grill and stuff and get some firewood. It was sunny and warm up there. And cold and rainy down here with no break in the forecast apparently. Lucky guy. 6. I have an old copy of The Prince and the Pauper, published in 1909. The binding needs repair. Badly. There must be places that do things like that I would think. The book has a stamp inside that says Mary Immaculate Lending Library, Sts. Peter and Paul Parish. My parents stole must've "borrowed" it from our church at one point. Nice, no wonder they refused to let me get confirmed. 7. This new card making hobby I'm attempting to start? Well, I still kind of suck but I signed up for a class and I'm in love with all of the products, the paper, pens, glues, etc... 8. My neighbor's are finally in their house and are no longer living behind us, hooked up to our water. Phew. I might have mentioned this before, but really...phew. 9. I know most of you would be sort of in agreement with my thinking the lady in yesterday's post was out of her mind. I reread it and it sounds rather holier-than-thou but I was mostly just stunned and typing it out sort of gets it off my mind. 10. I am taking the girlie to Build a Bear tomorrow for a no holds barred, spending way too much money on a stuffed animal adventure. We are very excited. 11. I broke down and bought each of my kids a lunchable this week for lunch. 12. Ususally there are family members who cannot make it over for the girlie's party (hey, for the first time I started to type her name instead of "the girlie") due to work schedules and what-have-you. This year, because it's supposed to pour? Everyone's coming. 13. My kids have had enough of mom typing and are now fighting. *Sigh* I'm done. Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. Jakapk 2. Better Safe Than Sorry 3. Mommak 4. Leanne 5. Sarcasmom 6. Maggie 7. Interstellar Lass 8. UziQ 9. Antisocial Butterfly


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!

Things that annoy me...the photoless edition

If you participate in the Friday Show and Tell that's the theme this week. Things that annoy. If you don't...well, you should.

In the quest for a very cheap suction cup bow and arrow set for the upcoming Indian Birthday Party I found myself at the local mall. I'm not a big fan of the mall in general, especially this one but I was told I could find exactly what I needed at the dollar store there. A dollar for two bows and eight suction cup darts....perfect.

Well, any trip to the mall with the girlie usually starts or finishes with Camp Bucky a climby thing in the middle of the food court for wee-ones. So she's climbing and sliding. I'm looking around. A little girl walks into the area and sort of wanders out...stopping to look around when she does. She is about 3-4 years old with no parent in sight. She hangs out outside of the entrance for a few, waiting for her mom and then walks away. Looping in and out of tables. She turns towards the bathroom, walks a ways and then turns back. She stops to look at the lower level and then walks away. At this point I'm alternately watching her and looking around for the sure-to-be panicking mom. No dice on the mom and now the girl is almost out of eyesight. I tell the cleaning lady that that girl has been looking for her mom, because it's too far for me to run with my own girlie and could she please go get her. Not the best solution but I kept my eye on both of them.

The cleaning lady sets off. And comes back girl in tow. Still no mom. It's been a minimum of five, maybe seven or eight minutes. Well, the lady brings the girl over to the ride-on things next to the climby area and is hanging out there. Here comes mom. Burger King bags in hand and a nice vacant 'hmmm, if she's not here I wonder where she could've gone to look' in her eyes. She puts her food down, parks her empty stroller and wanders over thru the climby area, around some chairs and then finally to where her girl is.

I stew for awhile while my own girl plays. I'm not ususally confrontational. I hate it. But I would've exploded had I let it go. So I walk up, and tell her how lucky she is that it was I that was watching her daughter and not some skeevy pedophile. She explains she "was just..."
I cut her off with a "I know...you were at BURGER KING, but you had NO idea where your daughter was...I watched you look for her. She was gone and returned before you even knew."
She is not at all apologetic, instead she looks at me like, well, what do you expect I was in line - not rude just with out any idea that what she did was asinine... She says..."I know, but I was..." I said, "you don't deserve her. Next time hold her hand."

And I left. I know, kids escape. They run, they hide, you look away and they are gone. It happens. But generally, you panic. You call their name and hug them tight when you get your hands on them. You don't wait in line for your french fries hoping they'll still be there when you're done.

I am just home from work where I consumed an entire 20 ounce diet Mountain Dew. At 10:30 p.m. I am jittery. And SO not tired.

But the husband is and so blogging is done for tonight.

Did I get anything accomplished this weekend? No, no and no. Dammit, how did three days escape from my clutches? I got a few things almost done but have managed to lazy my way through this entire weekend. Read some Vanity Fair, played gameboy with the son and my little pony with the daughter, put up some fall decorations - but not all of them because, eh, didn't feel like it, didn't even START the daughter's birthday party stuff even though I 'm working two nights this week and meh, what's a little pressure?, fell asleep really early and didn't do any of the work I planned on finishing up.

I'm thinking of switching up the girlie's pre-school because this year it's basically morphed into a daycare with lots of love but little to no pre-school structure. School wise, the girlie is set...she can write all the letters and can spell our names and knows her colors, shapes, address, birthday, etc...all that stuff. I'm wondering if the lack of Pre-K will hurt her at all next year. She's pretty bored at this place and switching her out will require MAJOR rescheduling next year when she's in Kindergarten.

we have a half day K, which will either be morning or afternoon - no way to tell as I live on the 1/2 way point in town and my street isn't decided until the bus company finalizes their route in August. And then if I do get, say, mornings? It switches to Afternoons in January. Why? Well, because apparently they THINK that everyone wants mornings and it's not fair for some people to get mornings all year...so to fuck with all of us who have to work they switch it up. Thanks, because that just makes everyone's life easier. NOTE to all parents who think things should go their way ALL OF THE TIME: Suck it the hell up. You get afternoons? Deal with it. All year even.

The preschool dilemma remains. Switch her out and pay more money for undoubtedly a better program but one that will NOT meet any of my needs next year and may require her to return to her original place or leave her where she is and hope for the best.

Am I being an overacheiving freak? Is preschool THAT important? As I type this I'm thinking not, but when I rifle through her stuff and notice that once again she hasn't done anything at school today I feel kind of negligent.

Okay, so this post has turned into a ranty type thing, and I should so be working. And now it's late.

Wow, you guys...there was so much love for my kitchen items. I would gladly cook each and every one of you a big 'ole banana bread. If you were here. And you're not. Plus I'm out of bananas.

Update: My mistake, the orange bowl is NOT Tupperware. It's Rubbermaid. It's was around before I met my husband which makes it a minimum of 15 years old. There are newer models out there, see thru versions of the same thing, made by OXO I think, but I'll be sticking with rusty orange.

It's only supposed to be grey and rainy for the next six days. Fun.

My daughter picked out her Halloween costume. She's going for the standard black garbed Grim Leaper. A sad frog? No. She just thought it was Leaper and not Reaper and I refuse to correct her. Somethings are too cute to be messed with.

I would most certainly die without these.

The great honor of Show and Tell Chooser was bestowed upon me this week. Actually, last week but someone, and she knows who she is, was just a teensy impatient. Or A LOT impatient but that is neither here nor there. And really, I've been a blogging slacker lately, asleep behind the blog...so to say, and I wouldn't wait around for me either.

And now...

Kitchen Item(s) I cannot live without. And yes, I'm posting two.

First is my cast iron skillet. It's about ten years old and almost seasoned to perfection. It cooks everything from quesadillas to bacon to the best pork roast in the world. Wait, in the world? I meant in the UNIVERSE.


Pro: Doubles as handy weapon.

Con: Stored in the oven, have preheated oven 3 million times with pan still inside.





This beauty? It was a staple in my mother in law's kitchen for many years. I coveted this rust orange tupperware bowl. Heavy duty, handle AND pouring spout...many years before they were standard features on lesser brands. It was her gift to me at my bridal shower. I treasure it.








What we made today using my lovely orange bowl. Banana bread anyone?

What's going on...

So. It is apparently still summer. But the pond is fuh-reez-ing. So not really.

Barbie Jeep Bonus: Your lawn will get all matted down and mowing can be postponed.

There has been mention, by my husband, of heading south for the big rebuild. There is alot of money to be made by working long hours far away from home. I'm not sure if this comes because of the recent troubles at his company or because he sees it as a genuine financial opportunity. I'm thinking ther will be much discussion on this. As far as the recent troubles at his company go...there is very little information disseminating down from the top. My husband plans (or planned, I'm not sure quite what he's thinking) on working there unless it is no longer an option so I guess it's okay for now. Federal trials take some time to get going don't they? I get nauseous if I think about it for too long.

The son as goalie? A star. I'm not sure what came over him but he was saving shots like a pro. It was amazing. My heart was racing every time the puck even went near him and he just blew me away.

I think I'm taking those videos off because I'm sick of the songs (and have been since, like, two days after I put them up) and I keep my speakers off now. But Tessie, how can I get rid of Tessie NOW? The Sox are in the Playoffs so just bear with me awhile longer, 'kay? I checked and they didn't even have Sweet Caroline...heretics.

Update: I changed the songs. But Tessie remains. Sing along...you know you want to...

"Tessie"

Tessie is the Royal Rooters rally cry
Tessie is the tune they always sung
Tessie echoed April through October nights
After serenading Stahl, Dinneen and Young
Tessie is a maiden with a sparkling eye
Tessie is a maiden with a love
She doesn't know the meaning of her sight
She's got a comment full of love
And sometimes when the game is on the line
Tessie always carried them away
Up the road from "Third Base" to Huntington
The boys will always sing and sway

Two! Three! Four!

Tessie, "Nuf Ced" McGreevey shouted
We're not here to mess around
Boston, you know we love you madly
Hear the crowd roar to your sound
Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Tessie, you are the only only only

The Rooters showed up at the grounds one day
They found their seats had all been sold
McGreevey led the charge into the park
Stormed the gates and put the game on hold
The Rooters gave the other team a dreadful fright
Boston's tenth man could not be wrong
Up from "Third Base" to Huntington
They'd sing another victory song

Two! Three! Four!

Tessie, "Nuf Ced" McGreevey shouted
We're not here to mess around
Boston, you know we love you madly
Hear the crowd roar to your sound
Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Tessie, you are the only only only

The Rooters gave the other team a dreadful fright
Boston's tenth man could not be wrong
Up from "Third Base" to Huntington
They'd sing another victory song

Two! Three! Four!

Tessie, "Nuf Ced" McGreevey shouted
We're not here to mess around
Boston, you know we love you madly
Hear the crowd roar to your sound
Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Tessie, you are the only only only
Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Boston, you are the only only only
Don't blame us if we ever doubt you
You know we couldn't live without you
Red Sox, you are the only only only

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.

Ah, Saturday....already a distant memory.

Hurray for the first hockey practice of the year. Nothing says summer like ice skates and pucks.

I escaped went to Connecticut yesterday to drink and gamble spend some quality time with my stepfather's family (who were visiting from New York).

I had absolutely no intentions of either drinking or gambling but I was powerless to resist. The family met up at my stepfather's parent's house and after some "How are ya"s and "Where are the kids??" we headed here. It's approximately 7 minutes away. I grew up relatively close to this area and have no love for the casinos. Great for jobs but mostly they suck the life out you. I haven't given any money to the Great Cause of the Mohegans or Mashantuckets for many years. They have plenty of cash and I work too hard to give them more. I'd rather have new shoes.

This side of the family used to meet in Saratoga Springs for the Traver's Stakes race. We hung at the track, eating laughing and drinking the day away while wagering on the ponies. The NYRA is kind enough to put TVs in the trees outside so that you can spend your time and your money foolishly while still enjoying the fresh air. Thank you, New York State.

My stepfather's dad is ill. Recently diagnosed with lung cancer. He wanted to spend Traver's Weekend with his family in New York but it was not to be and so the family brought Traver's Weekend to him. Although one of the family is a former bookie, no real wagering took place at the house - we needed betting windows and tickets so off to the Mohegan Sun we caravaned.

We found the racing area and drinks in hand, made our wagers. Oh, we've got some time before the big race? Howsabout that martini bar? One potent watermelon martini later we receive a phone call....can you box that quinella for the Travers? Shit. That's a fifteen minute walk from here and well, bottom's up. We box the quinella and the only winner was a bet placed mistakenly.

My stepsister and I ordered more drinks before the rest of the bunch told us it was time to go. So we stayed. She is young and very, very pretty and there was some male attention. So we stayed. They chatted and I played winggirl and hung out and talked sports with the buddies. They offered drinks, we declined and laughed like fools all the way to the valet parker.

Off to lunch with grammy now, enjoy your Sunday.

nope. Still bored.

yawn. no post now, too boring.

All this and it's only Wednesday

Well, the plans for Boston were scrapped...it involved either commuter trains or subways with minimal parking or parking garages that cost more than whatever activity you've got planned. Too much scheduling for my limited mental capacity this week.

Blackbird talked me out of the mini golf. No, really she didn't but the girlie's attention span starts to fade around the tenth hole and quite frankly I just wasn't up for kidsville today.



We instead drove north of the city.


















North to the Stone Zoo. The kids, they love zoos - me? Not so much. I get what I call Free Willy Syndrome. Remember ole' Willy with his droopy dorsal fin that made him look so pathetically sad? That image has burned itself into my brain leaving me with a whole boatload of guilt for paying money to look at animals in cages. I digress. The main reason we even went this far was the Raptor Show. My boy is a freak for owls, eagles, hawks and such.






After the zoo we went to this art store I found online. My girlie is addicted to paper. Notecards, envelopes, stickers, stamps...you name it. The zoo was relatively close by (only 6.72 miles but 35 long traffic filled minutes) so I mapquested my way over and let the kids pick out some treasures. My son picked out a chinese jumprope and a book about cat's cradle and such. I had to vehemently dissuade him from purchasing scrapbooking supplies. SCRAPBOOKING. Holymotherofgod. I have fought tooth and nail so that I won't be dragged down the slippery slope to scrapbooking. No amount of 'Come on you have to do its' has worked....and there's been alot of those. ALOT. And now my own son wants to take the creative memories plunge. I don't think so, it's a matter of principle now.

Day Two

Like I said today was all about the excitement...



The new library. It was opened today, not the real 'grand opening/dedication ceremony' but open nonetheless. The landscaping hasn't been completed and the computers are still on order but there are books and more books. And the book club choice was on the shelf, saving me ten bucks. Yee-haw.







New library carpeting + powdered munchkins + girlie = mess. oops.

See I told you this was exciting.











And look, new shoes for the girlie. We're on the look out for brown mary janes too. Light brown mary janes if you must know. The boy also has new sneakers but they are kind of dull and this post is a thrill a minute and I don't want to slow the pace down.






I'm debating on a destination for tomorrow...I'm torn between a zoo with a raptor show and a mini-golf money sucking extravaganza. Or maybe Boston. Hmmm.

What I did during Summer Vacation

Day One:
Okay, so I only work two days a week. Still, this week that I took off is shaping up just fine.
We were going to go camping on the Cape for the week but I've said "enough" to the camping and am instead adventuring around with the kids.

Today took us to Newport, Rhode Island. Seriously, I can't get enough of this area. Sadly about one gazillion vacationers feel the same way and they clog the streets. Much like I do, so I guess I'll shut up about that. I've only been to Newport once or twice in the past five years and I didn't know where any of the beaches were so today we went exploring. We stopped at the first beach we saw conveniently known as First Beach.

The kids boogie boarded until they were chafed. And covered in this nasty ass seaweed known as Mermaid's Hair. It's red. And did I mention nasty? The waves weren't very big but my kids are used to beaches with ripples so it was like a ...well, I'd use the word tsunami but I'm not sure if it's okay to use that word lightly anymore, what with this being an annoyingly PC world and all. ehem. It was good fun. Plus now we have alot of empty smelly crab shells for their 'collections'.





After First Beach we drove up Ocean Drive past all of the mansions to this little tiny beach with no name. Maybe it has a name and we missed it but there's only room for like 10 cars and it's FREE (a rare thing indeed here in New England) and it's a sea glass haven at low tide. We picked and poked through the rocks for the glass and then we picked and poked at hermit crabs and periwinkles and such in the tide pools on the rocks. The kids played hide and go seek at Breton Point State Park, right next door and I layed (laid? whatever.) on the grass to watch the kites.



We heard that Second Beach is a much better beach than First so we decided that we'd be remiss not to at least find it for next time. And once we found it? More boogie boarding. And less red, crappy seaweed. We stayed until sunset. In keeping with the Newport theme we stopped here for dinner, which my son deemed "much better than Friendly's". The highest praise from an eight year old. We are sandy and salty and my kids are sleeping with Mermaid's hair mixed in with theirs.




Tomorrow? The Brand Spanking New Library in town opens and we'll be there for the ribbon cutting. You can almost taste the excitement can't you?

My girlie

Self Portraits.

Boulevard of Broken Dreams

I have seen Jude Law naked. Sadly, it's not all I hoped it would be. That and it was through a telephoto lens.

Really people, he's bareassed so be prepared.

The Evening's Entertainment

I'm forgoing all things this evening so that I can watch Battle of the Network Reality Stars.

Comments:

Charla from the Amazing Race is an ass kicker.

Jonathan from the Amazing Race did not learn ONE THING from having his ultra abrasive personality broadcast over national television. Tone it down bone head.

I would be afraid of Coral from the Real World.

Rachel from the Swan looks like a plastic surgery nightmare.

Holy crap: The first challenge: The Obstacle Course is every bit as cheesy as it was twenty years ago. Look at that Tarzan Swing...I love it.

*Update: This show is kind of a freak fest. I don't love it as much as I did fifteen minutes ago.

How badly do I want this? Pretty bad but not enough to give up my ticket to this. Oh, you should all be able to hear my kids crying when they find out that their mom gets to see Green Day that night and they will have to, instead, go to bed.

I've started Christmas shopping. Go ahead and hate. I don't finish up early though it's just a long drawn out process perfect for my procrastinating self. I haven't bought one iota of back to school crap. I promised them both new sneakers - I still have 20 days to make good.

I have a tentatively scheduled 36 hours of solitude approaching. Please, all of you send your psychic wishes for my mom to travel to Maine this weekend so that she might watch my kids for a few hours while my husband runs some equipment up there for my parents. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

My girlie has hit a rough patch behavior wise, leaving me mentally exhausted for the past few weeks. She screamed and cried for an hour on the ride home from Vermont because I wouldn't let her have a pen in the back seat. An hour. She's almost five and in her worst moments these past few weeks she's been acting as if she's two and a half. She doesn't have a ton of these worst moments, but enough to take a toll on me and make me reevaluate my battle plan er, parenting strategy. Again.