Not a "Fall Festival" Girl

In fact - - I sort of declared war on them this year.  I hate them!

Several reasons.

For one - - Halloween has always kind of freaked me out.  Not really Halloween.  But people in costumes where they are disguised.  I don't like it.  At all.  Seriously freaks me out.  (Anyone remember my clown fear?  I think it's all related.)

Secondly - crowds.  I'm not a fan. I don't like bumping into strangers.  It's creepy.  I never did the bar thing in college.  Okay, well I did once.  Long story.  The short version?  I was there for a bachelorette party.  I was a bridesmaid and felt like I needed to go.  The bride didn't want to go either.  But we went.  My dad showed up to retrieve me.  You know, my deacon dad?  Yeah.  I went home.  (Mom sold me out on that one.  She knew I was going.  She ratted on me.  Thanks, Mom! *wink*)  Anyway, it's never been my scene.

With the crowds, at festivals, come long lines.  Long lines to pay the equivalent of $1 or more for some stupid game.  Wait twenty minutes to toss a ring on a coke and risk not even winning it?  Thanks, but no.  I'd rather go to the store and buy a twelve pack and call it good.  Know what I mean?

Now trick-or-treating?  I'm all for it.  We make the walk around our block and it's fun.  Not too much candy.  It's all good.  Trick-or-treaters showing up at my house with a plastic Wal-Mart bag and no costume?  No.  No candy for you.  NEXT!!!

And - - Halloween.  You celebrate it on Halloween.  The big controversy here in Anytown, USA is when to do the trick-or-treating.  On Saturday?  Again.  No.  It's not Halloween.  I know it's a school night on Sunday.  Halloween usually falls on a school night.  Big deal.  Go early, get home early, don't let the kids eat a lot of candy.  Problem solved.  If trick-or-treaters show up at our house on Saturday night, they are just getting an eye roll from me.  If I even bother to answer the door.

I'm not really Halloween's version of Christmas's "The Grinch."  I like costumes.  I like to watch the kids dress up.  I just have my quirks.  I guess we all do.

Whatever you choose to do this weekend.  Have fun.  Be safe.  And eat some chocolate for me.

Wow!!!

Yeah, that was me who posted that last entry.  Could you tell I was a touch "irate?"  I still am.  But I can't let it control me.  I won't let it control me.

Here's the thing - - I really wish there wasn't room for hate like that in my life.  There shouldn't be.  Hate can make you bitter and ugly.  And I don't want that.  I want to be better.  BETTER.  And I will be.

I can handle someone treating me like crap.  But you mess with someone I love and I lose my mind.  Mr. B does deserve better than them.  He is better than them.  He's smart.  He's filled with integrity.  And he will do amazing things with his life.

I am lucky to have him.

He deserves better.

I hate it.  I hate it.  I hate it.

Twenty years.  Twenty freakin' years.

I *so* wish he'd tell them to kiss his ass.  Lucky for me, he has more class than I do.  He takes the high road.  Time and time again.  Someday I'm going to be able to tell you how I really feel.  Believe me - - I'm holding back.  Someday I won't have to anymore.  And watch out.  When I unleash, I'm gonna make Wyatt Earp (ala Kurt Russell from Tombstone) look like a pansy.

"You tell 'em I'm coming and hell's coming with me.  You hear?  Hells. Coming. With. Me."

It's Wednesday...

The boys are out the door.

I'm going to clean some more grout (thanks for the tip, Shawna!)  I've finished the boys' bathroom.  I'm working on the kitchen now.

I volunteer in the library at the kids' school today.  I think that will be fun.  I have a lot to learn about it.

I'm finally out of my loopiness.  Dang.  I HATE having to get those shots for my migraines.  I end up with about four really bad ones a year that require medical intervention.  I get relief within thirty minutes of the shot.  That's the good news.  The bad news is that I lose that day and most of the next day.  It makes me SO sleepy.  I woke up this morning refreshed and ready to go.  Thanks for the headache well-wishes.

Time to jet.  The clock is ticking...

Have a GREAT Wednesday!

Today...

I just got home from an injection.  See you folks sometime tomorrow.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mom's birthday.  She shares a birthday with her younger brother.  My grandmother was a complete nimwit and nearly killed herself and my uncle trying to induce her labor so that they'd share a birthday.  I loved my grandmother, but I always thought that was SO stupid.

Anyway - - Mom, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!  We are looking forward to you guys coming over for lunch tomorrow.  The boys are super excited.

I love you.

The Sweetest Victory!

You guys are the sweet ones!!  Thank you so much for playing.  And for "getting" me.  

I looked down at my watch and saw that it was 4:59.  I had to go find the number generator site again.  I found it.  And the winner is:

Congratulations J. Page!!!

Send me your address and I will send you a package of goodies!  E-mail me or message me on Facebook.

I can't wait to put a package together for you!

Everyone else, thank you for playing.  It was some sweet fun!  Have a GREAT weekend!

Don't forget to comment!

The deadline is 5:00 today!  Read the entry below this one for more details.  Then comment in *that* entry.  I plan on putting together a "sweet" package for the winner!  I'm so excited about this one.

What's been going on in the mean time?  Sickness.  Mucho coughing.  I think it all started out as allergies and it spiraled out of control.  Fast.  Justin had the cough for about three weeks.  Then Mr. B got it.  Now my turn.  I think Cam may not be too far behind me.  Every time I get this crud, I lose my voice.  That part is TERRIBLE.  I can't talk without straining really hard.  And it's exhausting.  Try getting your kids ready for school without using your words.  The same applies to bedtime.  Frustrating.  I even fell asleep during Big Bang last night.  Does that tell you how crappy I've felt?  So glad it's DVR'd.  I need to watch it this morning.

I went on a field trip with the Kindergarten classes yesterday.  We went to the Goodfellow Air Force Base Fire School.  I started to back out, but I opted for "suck it up buttercup" and went.  I'm glad.  It was fun.  And - - I got to ride the bus with Cameron!  It was so fun.  The bus was everything I remembered and then some.  It was loud.  It was smelly.  It was hot.  And - - it was scary beyond all reason.  We had a driver that I'm CERTAIN hated her job.  She was a horrible driver.  She was impatient (give me a break, Kinders, some of which were on their very first bus), she hit the brakes constantly (seemed kind of passive aggressive) and then she'd slam on the brakes at stop lights.  On top of all that - - SHE WAS ON HER CELL PHONE!!!!  Oh, I called and complained about her.  I am so glad my kiddos don't ride the bus every day.  She was scary beyond all reason.  Scary!!!

Here is some eye candy from yesterday:

Cameron took that long awaited first step onto a school bus.

Think he was happy to be there?

Have a fantastic Friday.  I'll post the winner's name a little after 5:00 today.  Go comment on the "Sweetest Day" entry below to qualify for the drawing.

Sweetest Day

Today is "Sweetest Day."  Uh, what the heck is that?

I don't make the rules.  Hallmark does.  I'm guessing.  It's all a gimmick.  But, since I don't make the rules, I'll just play.  I am now opening up the floor for all of my fans to tell me how sweet I am.  What do you find so sweet about me?  Try to narrow it down to a few things.  I know LOTS of ideas come to mind.  Just a few will suffice.  If you forget something, I'll remind you.

Now go on.  Leave a comment.  I'll leave the first one.  Feel free to follow.

Oh!  I just had a brilliant idea.  I will do a give-a-way.  You know - - 'cause I'm sweet.  I will comprise a care package of "sweet things" for the winner.  I will mail it, as long as you are in the U.S.

Pucker up my pretties.  There is no limit to the number of comments you can make.  You have until Friday at 5:00.  We'll call it "The Sweet Life Celebrates the Sweetest Week Ever."

Now - - GO!

Our newest addition!

I first saw the commercials advertising the new Honda Odyssey a couple of weeks ago.  The first thing I noticed was that they changed up the body style.  A lot.  I think they are trying to compete with the crossovers or something.  Anyway, I was impressed.  I never said anything to Mr. B about it.  Then a few days later, he came home asking me if I'd seen them and what did I think.  That was on a Saturday.  He'd already been by the local dealership and talked to a salesman.  On Sunday, he took my by there to see one in person.  I really liked it.

I tried my best to push it to the back of my mind because I didn't want to get my hopes up.  I loved my other van.  But honestly, it didn't have a few of the "perks" that I knew I'd love.  The main one being bluetooth.  This one has it and a few other neat techie things.  They also re-designed the dash.  It is MUCH more user-friendly than my other one.  They must have had a lot of moms in their focus groups.  Any change I would have made was made.  Love it.

Saturday morning, Mr. B had an appointment to go by the dealership and "discuss" a trade-in.

He came home around lunch time and told me to get my stuff out.  He made the deal.

Here she is.  I'd like to introduce you to Penny.  (Named after a character on Big Bang.)  She is "mocha metallic" with beige leather interior.  She is a sweet ride.  I really, really love her.

I am in love!

Yes.  That is a Diet Coke w/Splenda in the console.  In my Starbucks tumbler.

The stereo/NAV stuff isn't touch screen anymore.  Whew.  That was only good for fingerprints.  I hated it.  This is voice activated stuff.  Way cool.  Now - - how do I keep the "new car" smell and avoid the "boys have stinky feet" smell?

Love this sign.

We saw this in Logan's on Saturday.  I loved it!

It's not all about you!!

People that use traumatic life events to garner attention really need therapy.

It's not all about you.

Quit making it all about you.

This just in...

Apparently, I am *the* worst mother in the world.  I won't let my children have licorice thirty minutes before dinner.  And they are STARVING!!!

*gasp*

I know.  Call CPS now.  I suck.

*giggle*

Really?  Candy entitlement?  What is wrong with these kids?

Lunch

I hate it when I'm hungry for lunch at 10:30 in the morning.  Who am I?  Cameron?  Am I on his school lunch schedule now?  He eats at 10:50.

Weird.

I'm so predictable.

I've been to Cork & Pig Tavern four times now.  And I've ordered the same thing each time.  It's so good.  But dang it - - I need to throw caution to the wind and branch out there.  That salad is good.  But those wood fire pizzas sure looked good.

I'm such a conservative.  So safe.  Time to take a chance.  I'm ordering pizza and a soda next time.  I'm going to be a rebel.

Sit back, relax, scrap...

That is my plan today.  I have a friend coming over and we are going to work on a few kits we each bought.  Easy scrappin'. I'm so looking forward to it.  I need a little scrap therapy.

Facebook - off.
Laptop - closed.
Coffee pot - on.
Darius Rucker's new album - playing.
Life - good.
Calm - happy.

Quick shower then I am going to my happy place.

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Now what?

Have you ever not known what to say or how to respond to something?  And you knew that silence wasn't the answer?

I don't know what to say.

I don't know how to respond.

I am at a loss.

I am conflicted.  Very, very conflicted.

I'm afraid that my silence speaks volumes.  I know it does.  I just don't know how to handle this one.

Good Morning My Lovlies!!

How is everyone this fine Monday morning?

It's quiet here.  I like quiet.  Well, until I turn my iPod on and get back to work.  It seems like my two main cleaning days around this house are Mondays and Fridays.  Mondays are to clean up what happened on Saturday and Sunday.  Fridays are to prepare for Saturday and Sunday.

Laundry is already caught up - - so that's good.

Today - - I've scheduled a date with the Pine-Sol and the boys' bathroom floor.  (Gross.)  Why, why, WHY did we go with such huge grout lines in there?  *smacks self*

Other than that, it's just a bunch of getting things back in order around here.  It shouldn't be too difficult.

I hope you have a great Monday.  I plan on it!

Cleaning Challenge

I've messed around this house long enough this morning.  I have a 10:30 hair appointment.  I need to leave here at 10:15.  I'm going to see just how much work I can get done around here for about the next hour and fifteen minutes.  I work so that I can play.  I will report back what all I got accomplished.  iPod on.  GO!

*B works hard for an hour and ten minutes*

The Results:
1.  Cleaned off the counter tops in the kitchen.
2.  Sorted through mail.
3.  Swept and mopped the kitchen.
4.  Picked up "stuff" scattered throughout the living room.
5.  Made all three beds.
6.  Stopped and scratched Moe on the head.  He's so sweet.  I have to reward sweetness.
7.  Cleaned off my desk.
8.  Started two loads of laundry.  (Folding when I get back home.)
9.  Made a birthday card for my hair stylist.  (Happy Birthday, Shona!)
10.  Took a shower AND shaved my legs.

I am a rockstar.

Time to go get my hair trimmed.  Squeeeeeeeeeeee!

Just another day at the office...

I actually don't mind doing this.  You will notice that I keep my cell phone, the house phone and the remote control handy.  Might as well make it a happy time where you don't have to get up unless you have to pee.  Just for the record - - I particularly love washing and folding the loads of whites.  The bleach smell.  The Gain.  It really makes me happy.  I'm smiling now because there's a load about to finish in the dryer.  Whites.

By the way - - I am one of those weird-o's who can fold a fitted sheet.  I've perfected it.  That makes me smile, too.  My grandmother would have been so proud of me.

I don't match Mr. B's socks though.  I just pile 'em up.  He doesn't care.  I did finally start turning his shirts right side out and not folding them inside out.  I figured he could do without that little bit of passive-aggressiveness on my part.  What can I say?  I'm just nice that way.  It was fun for a while.  Now it just makes me seem mean.

Does my life make you sad?

It shouldn't.  I'm tickled.  Tickled white.

Silly Bands

Chances are, if you have children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren or teach - - you've seen these.  At first, I thought they were cute.  I bought the kids five packages of them.  Big mistake.  Huge.  I've learned the following about silly bands.

1.  They aren't particularly that silly.
2.  Apparently they cause "distractions" at school.  I'm surprised that a letter hasn't been sent home yet banning them.
3.  They seem a little snug on Justin's arm.
4.  The more the merrier.  Whatever...
5.  When I made Cameron take ALL of them off prior to getting in the shower tonight, he found an alternate location for one of them.  He proudly marched his nakey self into the living room to show his daddy.  Yeah.  You can imagine.  I can't post a picture of that.

I hope I don't "accidentally" cut all of those things in half tonight.  I might spare one or two, purely out of pity for my youngest.  He's not wearing them to school again.  I didn't know he had so many up there.  Not until he came home with a crap load of them in a baggy in his backpack.  I'm thinking they were taken away from them.  Oops!

Silly bands.  Why didn't I think of that.  Some dork is rich off of shaping a stupid rubber band.  I wish my brain would tell me things the way Cameron's tells him.

Random Pictures and the Stories Behind Them

I have been just a little stressed out lately.  Nothing major.  Well, kind of major.  But, not unmanageable.  I tried to find some comic relief in the little things today.  I have pictures of some.  Others - - just stories.  So sit back, relax and make sure your mouth is free of liquids.  I don't want to be responsible for anyone frying their keyboard.

This was on a Cadillac in the Wal-Mart parking lot the other day.  For real.  "I believe I can fly..."

I went by Mr. B's office yesterday.  That place was a pig sty.  For someone so particular about the cleanliness of the house - - I was SHOCKED to see how disgusting his office was.  Okay, first of all, let me say that he is in a separate office from the rest of his company.  He is a software developer and needs to be left alone to get work done.  If he's surrounded by tech support or sales people, he can't get anything done.  Anyway, his office doesn't have a kitchen in it.  And instead of taking bowls and stuff with leftovers in it to the bathroom to rinse them out, he opts for leaving them with the lid on, sealed up tight, in his office.  For days.  Sometimes weeks.  Sometimes longer.  He told me he cleaned his office today.  About time.  Except - - this is what he brought home.  And this was his solution.

Yeah.  That was mold.  And lots of it.  Lots of stank, too.  I was horrified.  He thought it could soak in the sink.  I thought this would be a better option:

Often referred to as File 13.  Gross.  Disposable bowl filled with mold.  Get that funk out of my kitchen sink.

After school today, the kids wanted to go by Mr. B's work and say, "hi."  So we called and there was no answer.  We were already by there, so the kids saw his truck.  I figured he was out walking.  (He walks nearly every day.  Such discipline.)  I told them that Daddy was probably busy and we'd just see him after work.  Cameron said, "No, I don't think he's busy.  I think that he is with naked girls."

WHAT?

He went on to say, "Yeah, he's with naked girls.  He's probably kissing their boobies and messing with them."

WHAT?

I said, "CAMERON!  Where would you get that idea?"  He said his brain told him that.

His brain told him.  His five year old brain thinks Daddy goes to work every day and plays with boobs.  Nice.

Mr. B thought it was funny.  What won't be funny is when he tells his Sunday School teacher that.  That should be a real "hoot."  (Heh.  Play on words.  Hoot.  Hooter.  Boobs.  I digress.)

Then there was Moe.  I love capturing pictures of him yawning.  He always looks like he's hissing.  This picture is no exception.

When I went out to my car to get my camera, I saw this:

I would have looked for those forever.  I got tired of wearing them while I was waiting for the boys to get out of school.  I'm all about comfort.  The feet and the sisters weren't meant to be caged.  I'm just sayin'.

I think that's plenty for now.  Have a very happy Friday!!

Just - - wrong.

Have you ever had a day just start out wrong?  That was today for me.  I don't like it when my kids leave the house upset or angry with me.  It's just unsettling.

Lots of things in my life have been unsettling lately.

I know what it means.  It's time to make some serious life changes.  I need to re-think a lot of different things right now.  My actions haven't reflected what I know my priorities should be.  Time to make that change.  Shannon always said, "Calm = Happy."  I believe this.  Time to embrace the calm.  Time to make some tough decisions.  Time to - - move on...

Finished The Hunger Game Series

I really, really enjoyed it.

As expected - - now I am sad.  I miss it.  I always hate for books to end.  I want to stay involved with the characters.  I always hate the last page.  I read it slowly.  Then I nearly cry because it's over.  Is that weird?  It's fiction.

I need a new series.

I have several books on my Kindle now that I could easily read.  Several classics I've never read.  The Scarlet Letter, Pride and Prejudice, etc.  I don't know what to read next.

Any suggestions?  Keep in mind - - I like easy, somewhat mindless stuff.  For the most part.  Maybe that's why I  liked the Twilight series.  Easy reading.  Easy story to follow.  Stupid.  But easy.  And why must I have easy?  It's the only thing that manages to keep my attention.  Do you know how shallow and petty I feel just typing that out?  I need young adult/youth fiction to keep my attention.   Nothing heavy.  That's just - - sad.

And do not say Harry Potter.  I don't know why but I'm not even remotely interested in that series.

Anyone read the Patterson number series?  1st to Die.

My only other requirement in reading is that it be nothing of Nicholas Sparks.  His sap is crap.  And repetitive.  And did I mention, crap?

Hmmmmmmmmm.

Decisions, decisions.

Me

Could someone please help me find the sunshine and rainbows?

Enough is enough.