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!