It Was A Twilight Day

The day started out early. Meaning my kidlets, although I do adore them immensely, were up at the ungodly-should-be-illegal-on-a-Saturday hour of six. I am not kidding. These are the same kids that I have to D R A G out of bed on school days with a tow truck and yet, Saturday... up at the bleeding crack of dawn.

There is no justice in the world, I tell you.

So we get up and get going. The Man gives Extreme Teen a ride to the lake so that he can go fishing, and I let the kids get their own breakfast. I make some coffee and pretend for a minute that I can actually enjoy it from start to finish uninterrupted. This illusion is, of course, dispelled rather quickly when someone (who shall remained unnamed) spilled their cereal and made a mess.

SIGH

That gets cleaned up, and I dick mess around on the computer for a bit, until The Man comes home from giving Teen From Hades a ride. He wants to get on the comp; whatev. I think about doing something productive(like the dishes) but decide not to. Really. I chose to NOT do the dishes. I said no. I don't regret it. Much.

I eventually take a shower, dry my weird hair (it was insanely curly today), pin it up, put on my makeup and then The Man and I head out to do some random errands. And stop for a spot of lunch.

Oh, Shanna, the package came. Thank you very much! I want to open it...  I REALLY want to open it.... REALLY REALLY BAD....

But I shall refrain. Somehow. I think The Man is going to take it to work and hide it in his locker until Xmas. I have. No. Willpower.

None!

Anyway, we get home and in a few minutes, Miss Alpha and I are out the door. We pick up her little friend, Miss "M" and we are going to the movies!

We saw Twilight.

Alpha and Miss M declined to sit with me whilst in the theater. They chose to sit off on their own.

SIGH

I know that Alpha loves me, and still likes to be with me, but this was a taste of when that changes. While it was kinda funny, it was kinda... um. Not. I'm going to miss her when she heads into Teen Funk and takes a mental and emotional trip 'round the dark side of the moon. Not really looking forward to it at all.

Anyway, Miss M is a pretty cute kid, but damn, that kid has a TON of energy. She practically vibrates while sitting still. Apparently, though, I'm a "cool" mom because I make jokes with them and I bought them treats and let them sit on their own.

So after the movie, we head for home. The Man and the Other Three Midgets called my spawn offspring are going to and collect the Xmas tree. Wait. Alpha, Cappa, and Delta went. Beta stayed home with me and helped me get the ornaments ready. I totally freaked her out when I dropped one on the tile (plastic) and it bounced. She thought they were made of glass until the thing came back up and landed neatly in my hand. Totally hysterical, the look on her face.

And that more or less set the tone for the rest of the evening. She and I laughed and giggled and made the goofiest jokes... I mean, these things were baaaaad. But we thought we were rather hilarious, and laughed until our stomachs ached.

It was awesome. I don't get near enough one one one time with that kid.

So The Man brings me home a tree, and it's gorgeous. Smells SO GOOD. I looooove the smell of a real tree... don't love the pine needles all over the place, but doood, so worth it.

We set it up, but we don't have enough lights to string (my bad) so we decide that we're going to do it tomorrow after I make a trip to the local Wal*Martian.

We decide that we (we meaning ME) are too lazy to make dinner, so we (we meaning me, The Man and Extreme Teen) head out for pizza. Well, we get the kidlets pizza and The Man and I are having Subway. Good choice, I say.

And that brings me to here. I ate, am full, and am about to indulge in a lovely glass of wine.

Tomorrow I am going to go to the movies, I think. I want to see The Day the Earth Stood Still. The Man isn't really that excited about that one, but he said he would go and see it with me. I'm down.

Think I'm going to go and read a bit for a few. And that is, as they say in some circles, that.

Oh, yeah. I wrote THIS yesterday, and it might be worth checking out. If you feel so inclined. I had fun doing it, you might have fun looking at it.

Alright. Peace.

 

Yowza!

Didn't quite realize that it had been so long since my last blog. Strange. The week got away from me, I guess. I can't really say why... because I have practically no memory of last week. This is not due to a head injury or excessive alcohol intake; rather, it's because I'm a flake.

Or so they say.

So. Playing catch up. Hmm... alright. My daughter turned twelve (!!!!) on the third of December, and that was weird. Cool, but weird. I have a twelve (!!!!) year old, and I still can't quite wrap my head around that. I mean, I know, Stephen is almost twenty and Extreme Teen is sixteen, but I didn't actually give birth to them, so it doesn't have quite the same impact on me, I guess. I mean, they're mine... but not.

Alpha took the day off of school, and we went out to breakfast and then on The Shop-O-Rama. Which is to say, I gave her license to spend a hundred smackers, and boy howdy, did she like that! She bought:

• books
• clothes
• jewelry
• art supplies
• and a new binder

To say she was thrilled would be an understatement. We had a good time.

For dinner she requested one of her favorite dishes, and for dessert, brownies. All in all, a fantastic day.

I didn't take Beta to the kidz in media thing... after careful consideration, and discussing it with The Man, we determined that she just wasn't quite ready for that kind of thing. Beta is a brilliant kid, but she's very moody, and extremely sensitive, and I doubt she'd handle rejection that well. She needs a bit of a thicker skin, I think.

Hmmm... here's a little something for you to add to the Xmas list... or maybe get it for that ONE PERSON that's impossible to shop for. You know who I'm talking about... (and if there are children in the room, commence with the eye shielding before you click the link, lest they go blind). Here ya go :)

Wasn't that just somethin'?

Oh, and who's excited for the following feature films? A show of hands would be fantastic... or just comment in the comment box. You know how this works.

The Day the Earth Stood Still with that guy known in some circles as Mr. Keanu Reeves Sexy Pants (this is actually his name on his birth certificate. Don't bother Googling it, just trust me). I am looking forward to this one for many a reason, and none of them have (much) to do with Sexy Pants hisself. Ok, I lied. I love me some Keanu.

Moving on...

Terminator Salvation. With none other than.... Christian Bale! I am huge major fan of the Terminator flicks. Love them from way back, when Arnold was bad, then naked, then Claire Dane's bitch. I wish he was in this one, but I suppose the Governator is somewhat slightly busy these days doing, you know... governor things. Anyway, May cannot come fast enough. For reals.

And last, oh but not least, is (drumroll please) STAR TREK! It was this show that made me the geek I am today. Well, that and reading Ender's Game... but I have been a fan fan fannity fan of Star Trek in all of its many manifestations for years. I cannot wait for this one... May is very far away, indeed. Very. Far. Away.

And I think that's all I gots for now! I have to go and bake some cornbread for dinner anyway.

Later and PEACE!

Just Like A Movie!

Alright. So. Today I was at the local Wal*Nut, doing some shopping. I had kid number two with me, Miss Beta, and we decided to head over to the toy section to look at potential Xmas gifts. The final gift I had planned on getting her I decided not to after all, and needed some new ideas. What better way than to ask the recipient of said potential gifts what it is, exactly, that they want? See, I smart like dat.

Anyway, whilst she was ogling the Littlest Pet Shops and the Bratz dollz, a woman approached me. Is this your daughter, she asked me. I said, indeed she is *grin*. The woman introduced herself as a representative of kidz in media, and told me that Beta was cute and that she was the kind of kid they might be looking for. She gave me a card, and invited me to bring Beta downtown tomorrow for an audition. She gave me a rundown of what to expect, told me to bring a picture, and said that she really hoped to see us there.

So I get home, and the first thing I did was look up their website. And hmmm... you know, I might do it. I might take her down there tomorrow. Beta seems pretty interested... she said she wanted to give it a go.

I guess we'll see. But kinda cool, right? I mean, I thought that stuff only happened in the movies... people approaching you in a crowded store, yelling "You! You're just the look I'm looking for! Yes, YOU!" ok she really didn't do that, it wasn't QUITE that dramatic... but still....

And that is, as they say in some circles... that.

Oh, and here is a little somethin' somethin' that has absolutely NOTHING to do with anything I just wrote about. I just like it.

At The Moment...

I am sitting here, sipping wine, and thinking thoughts.

Today is supposed to be a day of thanks and gratitude, and while I don't normally like to conform... eh. I'll make an exception today. It IS Tday, after all.

So, from the mundane to the all important, here's a random list of many things that Jenna has to be grateful for. Not in, you understand, in any particular order.

1. Naturally, to head this list, I have to say that my family is number one. That they're mine, their good health, their love, their foibles and flaws... all of it. I am a better woman because of them, and ever am I grateful for my husband and children.

2. What can you say after that? Something like... oh! My health. I'm chunkier than I'd like to be, but I'm pretty healthy. This bod has served me well, and I am grateful for it.

3. My friends. In particular, Shanna. Lisa. Becky. My Ninjas.

4. That I quit smoking. I would love to pick that habit up again... but it's SO bad for me. I'm glad I quit.

5. Diet Pepsi and books. My two favorite things.

6. My computer. I love my computer, despite it's many... issues :) I love the internet.

7. Spellcheck. WOW. Yeah, that, totally. Thank the gods that someone was smart enough to come up with that!

8. Toilet paper. 'Nuff said.

9. My stretch marks. Yes, I love them. Every. Single. One. They mark me as a woman who carried a body inside her body, gave it life. I love to run my fingers over them. My babies gave me those marks, and I am grateful for them.

10. Good tuneage. I lalalove music!

11. COFFEE and CREAMER.

12. ...my cool mug that Shanna gave me for my bday.

13. Good wine. Like this lovely chianti that I am currently drinking.

14. The beach.

15. Cable. Many good shows it brings me, yes.

16. Yoda rocks.

17. Warm, fuzzy socks.

18. Cafemom.

19. That my husband is gainfully employed, in these uncertain times. I am SO grateful for that.

20. That I get to be a stay-at-home-mom.

21. That my mom and I made good on reconciliation before she passed away. I love her, miss her, and am grateful to her.

22. For the many, many, MANY art pictures my children see fit to bestow upon me.

23. Cleaning products and paper towels.

24. Contact lenses.

25. Debit cards! I remember life before them...

26. That I know how to crochet... maybe not WELL, but still... I know how.

27. That I can cook. Some people can't; I'm glad I can.

28. Lotion. Oh.... lotion. I love lotion.

29. TOOTHPASTE!

30. That I have so very many things to be grateful for.

I have much more, of course, but I think I will stop at thirty. Otherwise I might be here all day, and I still have some cooking to do.

You know, I am pretty lucky. Some might say blessed. Whatever, all I know is that I'm grateful for all of it!

Peace, all. And Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Someone Needs To Draw A Line! End This Insanity Now!

I have, over the years, noticed a rather disturbing trend in today's society. It is at once both disturbing and, yes, obnoxious. It defies explanation. Those who do it cannot give a good reason as to their atrocious bad choice, and those that stand by and let their loved ones do it are just as much to blame.

I am, of course, talking about the Trend of the Saggy Pants.

It started innocently enough: I remember the first time I saw a grown male in saggy pants. I'm certain he didn't mean to start such a godsawful thing, but I cannot think of where else to lay the blame. I will show you here where I believe, according to all fifteen minutes of my research, this madness began. In the video below, I will show you PROOF of this trend's origins. Be cautioned; it is NOT for the faint of heart.

See? See? I think it is safe to say, he started it. Little did he know when he filmed this cinematic classic, he was corrupting the little hearts of America's youth. Or, at least, their fashion sense.

Perhaps it would have died with him, but no. The corruption was going to spread. Initially, it was isolated incidents. A sordid few would wear their pants low-slung on their hips, and the rest of us would give them the hairy eye, but still, those individuals were few and far between. Perhaps we could have killed this trend before it started, but alas, it was not to be. THIS blockbuster hit the theaters, and that was the end. Or rather, the beginning... America would spiral down into a sad state of fashionably challenged, all because of a single scene in a movie that not only glorified the saggy pants, but made it socially acceptable.

 

The above is a screen shot from the movie Clueless. This socially conscious movie made considerable headway into our culture, changing the fashion of America as we knew it.

At first, it seemed that although the boys were bent on wearing their pants around their hips, it wasn't that bad. Certainly it was a sight better than the traditional plumber crack, something that the majority of us were unfortunately familiar with:

 

But then it got worse.

The pants start getting lower and lower... and lower still. Soon a new trend would rise, that of wearing pants UNDER your pants. Strange, but true. Observe:

The madness spread.

Innocents everywhere started doing it. Friends were telling friends, condoning the trend, and encouraging it. Children are doing it younger and younger every year, and I fear that there is no hope. You might think that the below is an isolated incident, but no. My research has uncovered many such disturbing images, and this is but a sample of them:

It's spread so far and wide, it seems that there is no way clear of it. Sights like these-

-are all too common anymore. Grown men with their pants down below their buttocks, held precariously in place with a strip of leather commonly referred to as a belt, are sweeping across the nation. It's something of an epidemic.

And it's not just the men. Women-

-are doing it, too.

Although, to be fair, most women are sensible enough to NOT accept this trend. Usually you only see sights like the above when alcohol is involved. Still, though, as the more intelligent sex, you would think that we would lead by example. Just sayin'....

And so, in conclusion, I say, stop the madness. If you are a man and you are wearing sagging pants, keep these few points in mind:
1. You do not look cool. You look like a dork.
2. You have to walk around holding your pants up with one hand, lest they fall down. These leaves you with only one hand free to carry important things, like beer. Beer is usually heavy. You could drop it. Then you will be mad.
3. If the zombie uprising occurs whilst you are wearing your saggy pants, you cannot run from them, no matter how fleet of foot. You will be amongst the first to have your brains eaten and turn into the walking dead.
4. Penguins are cute. You are not.
5. Let me reiterate my first point: you look like a DORK!

Alright, I have said my peace. Join me in this fight against the Trend of the Saggy Pants. Save your loved ones from this fashion disaster! Do whatever you must, but

STOP THE MADNESS!

And next week, I will address the sad, sad state of-

-THIS unfortunate trend. Until then....

PEACE!

 

Do You Have A Life?

Apparently, I do not. It has come to my attention that I have been spending waaaaaaay too much time on the computer these days... so what do I do? I blog about it :)

I went over my list of books that I've got lined up to read, and dude. I am way behind. I read purely for pleasure, so for me to say "OMG I'm, like,  so far behind on my reading!" (imagine I said that in full-on Valley Girl, it's funnier that way) means that things have come to a pretty pass indeed.

I have several books on my top shelf (where I keep my to-read books) that I bought several months ago, and haven't touched. I've gone from reading two or three books in a week to maybe that many in a month! I mean, yeah. I've got a few to catch up on.

And I still purchase them like I'm reading at the same pace. But just so you know, I don't buy two or three books a week, because I re-read a lot of the ones that I have. Like, I usually read an entire series, like The Wheel of Time, at least once a year. This year I have yet to do that. Or read any of the others that I love to re-read.

Spendin' too much time on the comp, I'm tellin' ya.

Here's a LINK to the list of books that I have yet to read. To be fair, about four of them I haven't purchased yet. The rest, however, are ready and waiting for me.

How did this happen? I mean, I have kids, and they take up time, but they're in school all day. I have stuff to do around here, yeah, and some days I'm so busy I don't sit from the time my feet hit the floor til I go to bed at nite, but still. I have plenty of free time to read. I should be taking advantage of that. Instead, I dilly-dally around on the computer, like, all day. It's like I'm addicted.

Is there a computer users anonymous out there? Wait. Don't answer that.

Alright. I gots to go and feed the kidlets. They're doing that I'm STAAAARVING routine again.

More addled and random thoughts from me later, I am sure :)

Peace.

A Headache

I woke this morning with a bitch kitty of a headache. I wish I could say that I had earned it by having a bang-up nite, but alas, not so. A headache for no reason, it was.

Two Excedrin and a glass of water ought to clear that up, I told myself, but it was not to be. I popped the pills and downed the water and an hour later, I was still achy. I drank a cup of coffee. I drank more water. Lay my head down. Drank some milk. I ate. I tried to nap (my Extreme Teen came home and kinda killed it), but still my headache persisted.

I hate that.

I took two more Excedrin, and it has since subsided to a more manageable level.

I wonder what that's about. It smacks of a migraine to me; sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and pain. Sore neck. Right now it isn't so bad, but I can feel it thumping, waiting for the Excedrin to wear off, and then again, it will return.

I really hate that.

I get one bad one at least once a month. Not bad enough to require stronger medication than OTC stuff, yet annoying enough that it puts a damper on my entire day.

At least the children are in school. Somehow, for whatever reason *tongue in cheek* when they're home and I have a headache, it makes it worse. NO idea why.

Well, I guess there are worse things, right?

 

100! 100! 100!

SO TOTALLY stealing this from Diane. One hundred random things about moi. Now you can die happy, right? Right? Right.

1. My name is really Jennifer, but everyone calls me Jenna.
2. I am 32
3. I love Diet Pepsi
4. I also love to read.
5. I would read more but I can't tear myself away from the computer long enough to do it.
6. I think this might be an issue
7. but I'm not sure yet whether or not I care.
8. I like cherry tomatoes
9. I also like dark chocolate mint truffles.
10. But not brussel sprouts.
11. I haven't had my dinner, so I have food on the brain.
12. Sometimes I use periods when I make lists and sometimes I do not.
13. It depends entirely on my mood
14. I refuse to spell "nite" correctly.
15. And "tonite"
16. And I don't care who it bothers.
17. I am scared of big dogs
18. and big spiders
19. and Bigfoot.
20. I am not scared of plants.
21. Or kittens.
22. I am married
23. For the second time
24. And divorced once.
25. I have given birth four times.
26. My mother gave birth four times
27. And her mother gave birth four times.
28. And all of my mother's three siblings have four children, too.
29. I have two step sons that I refer to as my Bonus Sons.
30. My sixteen year old Bonus Son makes me crazy.
31. My favorite authors are Robert Jordan and Stephen King.
32. And I like to listen to Enigma.
33. I like white wine
34. I do not like shiraz.
35. I am addicted to CafeMom
36. I love the rain best
37. And dislike the snow a lot
38. Although, I bet that if I were in a desert, I would dislike sand storms.
39. My favorite animal is the African elephant
40. My second favorite animal is the Asian elephant
41. with giraffes as a close third.
42. I like candles
43. and Shanna the Bean
44. and when my husband rubs my neck
45. or just touches me in general.
46. I am a former Mormon
47. turned Pagan
48. I used to be a Vegetarian
49. but lost the battle to a cheeseburger.
50. I am a geek, through and through
51. and I often ramble
52. as well as spaz out.
53. I like to crochet
54. and bake
55. and take hot showers
56. but I don't like shaving
57. and I have never plucked my eyebrows
58. because it hurts too bad
59. and I am a complete wuss.
60. I would like to read poetry as it sounds like something rather sophisticated to do
61. but I find that it rather bores me.
62. I enjoy Burt's Bees products very much.
63. The beach is my favorite outdoors place to be.
64. And camping is not my favorite outdoors place to be
65. I don't like "roughing it"
66. and besides, Bigfoot might get me.
67. I believe in reincarnation
68. because it appeals to me.
69. And would love to meet one of my past reincarnations.
70. I have too many books
71. I have too many shoes, also
72. and not enough pencils and pens
73. I heart Ripley
74. I have a zombie uprising survival plan
75. I do not enjoy crossword puzzles
76. but quite enjoy this game
77. although I am still stuck on number sixteen.
78. I have a sinking suspicion that my children are all smarter than me.
79. And that it is only a matter or time before they figure this out
80. and then I'm totally screwed.
81. I think that Uggs are waaaay overrated.
82. But I really really really want a pair nonetheless
83. and I wear a size nine shoe...
84. I had a bazillion Barbies
85. that I should have hung onto but didn't
86. not knowing that I would have three daughters who would love Barbies also.
87. I am scared that I am totally screwing up this parenting thing
88. and have to pay four bills for counseling for four adult children someday.
89. I have never left the US.
90. But I would like to.
91. Just for a vacation, though.
92. I would like to make a really delicious cake
93. and then eat it.
94. And NOT SHARE!
95. I used to smoke but quit.
96. I am very glad I did so
97. although I still sometimes really want to smoke again.
98. I am almost done with this list.
99. I can't think of anything else
100. except, I like pickles :)

Duck Speak

So today was a lovely day, right? And the children were out of school early, so I decided to take them on a little adventure. Of course, we made a side-trip home first; bathroom business and what-not. Might as well drop off the backpacks as well.

Aaaand I meant to grab my camera, but figures, I didn't. Left it right there on my desk, so I didn't get any pictures. Sucks, too, because they would have been some good ones. As it stands, the pics I'm posting are just of my son, taken by my husband on a different day. But I wanted to show you where we were...

Anyway, we went to a little fishing lake. The girls had never been there... in fact, I just recently discovered it myself. It's a lovely local spot tucked back away from the road. If you didn't know it was there, you would never know it was there. Ironically, my Bonus Son Bryan has been fishing there for years. We had always assumed that he was going to some little fishing pond, not much to it. To think that for the two years we've lived here, we had no idea that such a delightful place existed.

Goes to show you, look around a bit more, right?

At any rate, today I decided to take the kids down there for a little fresh air. As I mentioned, The Man had taken Cappa there for a little fishing last weekend, so Cappa was familiar with it.

Observe:

*is he not a handsome kid? I think so*

So anyway, you can't see them, but this place is teeming with birds. Ducks, geese, pigeons, grebes, and cormorants. And they're pretty used to sharing space with humans, so they're not that shy. The Park Rangers come around daily and feed them bread and greens, and if you're lucky, they'll let you help.

Today we were lucky. We got to feed them bags and bags of bread. The kids were totally spazzing out. At first, "Delta" was a little nervous, but she didn't try and climb my leg or anything, and right soon enough she was having a grand ole time.

Then we headed on a looooong nature walk, along the many nature trails. The kids were all over the place. I should have worn my tennis shoes, but my bad, forgot to change into them before we left. At least I wasn't wearing flip-flops...

Then we strolled out onto the dock to take a break. We watched the ducks and the grebes swimming about, quacking and making a ruckus, and Delta started quacking right back. She would interpret for us what both she and the ducks were saying, thoroughly convinced that they were communicating. It was pretty cute. On the way home, Delta gave us a recap on her conversations with the ducks, and then announced that she is also "part duck" and that's why they understand each other.

We'll definitely be going back. The kids had a fantastic time, and can't wait to do it again.

And that is, as they say, that.

Peace.

 

 

 

Spirits

For me to properly tell this story, I must first go back into time.

Not literally, of course, although that would be a neat trick.

Ok, so. In my younger days, I developed a liking for alcohol. Or rather, I developed a liking for the effects of alcohol. I don't think I'm that different from other youngsters in this regard; I am, however, different in that I didn't really start drinking until after I was done having children.

That sounds wrong. Let me clarify.

I had my first child when I was 20, and my last child when I was 24. Four lovely babies in four and a half years. Yes, I am unhinged. Yes, I know what birth control is. No, I was not on welfare and no, I did not really plan to  have that many in quick succession, but I did, and they're here, and I'm happy.

My point is, during that time, I did not drink. Ever. At all. Not even a little. Not in between, and certainly not while I was pregnant. Before I embarked on that thing called Parenthood, I drank a little, but not much. Being underage made it hard to get my hands on it, and I didn't know enough to know what I liked, so everything tasted pretty gross to me.

That being said, a year after my "baby" was born, my best friend Shanna the Bean and I decided that we were going to Start Drinking Alcohol. Neither one of us had a clue as to what was good and what wasn't; we weren't drinkers, really, and I wasn't going to call my mom and ask her advice (although, in retrospect, that would have been a good idea. My mom and I had similar tastes, as it turned out). So we got the great idea to try wine.

Yeah. Wine. See, the thing is, in Utah, the selection of fine wine is, shall we say... lacking. The best we could do was Blackberry Merlot by Arbor Mist. In truth, not too bad, but... well, when you're not a wine drinker, you don't really know what's good and what isn't. I chilled my merlot, and drank it over ice. How bizarre. But I didn't know any better.

Then we decided to try something a little "harder". Shanna had experienced vodka and something else, rum, I think, mixed, and it had gotten her smashed but it was also a little much. Hangover City and all. So we decided that we needed to try something not as potent as vodka mixed with rum, and thus began Our Great Experiment With Alcohol.

First, we tried mixed drinks. We were fans of Red Robin, and quite enjoyed their drink menu, thus we at first tried to imitate that. Which was actually pretty good, but I don't think we had the measurements right, because it took a bunch of drinks just to get a buzz. Instead of just adding more alcohol (DUH), we nixed the mixed drinks and just went straight to... shots.

Yeah. Shots.

We, in our infinite wisdom and vast experience (that right there is what they call sarcasm in some circles), decided that shooting tequila and/or vodka was just "too much". Maybe the singular smart thing we did in this, the Great Experiment, was to forgo the tequila and vodka in the shot glasses. And since we weren't going to be shooting the hard stuff, we decided to go with something tastier and, in our minds, not as hard.

Which led to.... Schnapps *shudder*.

Ugh. Even thinking about it makes my tummy turn a little...

And so, it began. First it was, I believe, peppermint schnapps. Um. Yum. Then we moved onto vanilla schnapps. Oh, yeah. Then it was cinnamon, then apple, then grape. We were certain we had struck gold. We would start the nite off with a glass of that fine Blackberry Merlot, then move right into pouring and shooting schnapps. The buzz came fast and hard, and because we were convinced that if we didn't maintain the level of alcohol in our systems, our drunken buzz would wear off, so we kept shooting. And shooting. And shooting.

Good gods, it was ugly. We also tried making chocolate cake shots, and the thing is, they were pretty good... well, after we'd had a few drinks, they were pretty good. But then again, we were drinking peppermint schnapps and chasing it with SunnyD, so our taste could theoretically be called into question. Really.

So one would think that after the first hellacious, monstrous hangover, we would have learned that maybe this wasn't something we wanted to continue... right? One would assume. A smart one. One who HAD AN IOTA OF SENSE.

However, that was not the Bean and me.

To say we were hard learners would be an understatement.

It took awhile. As in, a whole summer, and then some, before we wised up. It was a slow dawning, but dawn it did upon us that SCHNAPPS IS GROSS. And HANGOVERS ARE BAD.

I can't say that I have any regrets, though, in retrospect. I wish I had done a little more research before embarking on that Great Alcohol Experiment, maybe saving myself and Bean some pain. I do wish that I had understood my limitations a tad better, trusting my head more when it started telling me that "enough, now... enough, now" instead of "I might come down! I better drink MORE!". I know that I could have saved myself some serious grief.

However, that was also one of the most fun summers I had in my life. Not because of the alcohol, but because that marked such a huge turning point in my life. Me and Shanna had some really, really good times that summer. We lived in the same complex (she was just upstairs from me), we were more or less in the same boat financially (mostly broke all the time) and we were young moms with young kids. It was a summer of experimentation, a summer of exploring limits, a summer of realizing that we weren't just wives and moms.

I'm glad that I had the Bean to go through my experimental phase with alcohol with me. We did get some ridiculous hangovers (how could we NOT) but damn, we had a rocking good time doing it!!

Hey, Shanna... wanna do a schnapps shot, for old times sake?

*ducks and runs away, laughing maniacally*

Write Much?

Yeah, not lately. Life has been... well, busy. However, I haven't been into the blogging here all that much and there isn't a good reason why. I blog a lot more frequently at my other site, though. I have been seriously considering just bagging this one but somehow, can't quite make myself do it.

I just need to commit. Make a point to blog here at least a few times a week. It's not that hard. I'm just lazy about it.

So, there have been some interesting developments around these here parts... haha ok, not really. I just like saying that.

Lemme back up some...

Yesterday was my fifth anniversary of marriage to The Man. We had a lovely day. He took the day off of work and we spent it together being romantic. We held hands and everything. We went to some of our favorite places and had a good time. I can't believe it's been five years... it seems like it went so fast! I wonder what's in store for us in the next five years? I can't wait to see :)

We did the whole Halloween Trick-or-Treat thing on... you guessed it, Halloween. The children had a ball. They dressed up as mad scientists, and had a wonderful time. Here's a few pictures. Observe:

*evil scientists bent on taking over the world*

*the suspected ring leader. see her slick dance moves*

*the second in command. someone needs to get in command of that hair*

*the boy power of the gang. his finger has more brains in it than most people... have, um, brains in their... um... heads.... yeah. that.*

*we don't know much about her other than she is really cute and likes parrots*

And here's one more for you... the truly frightening one....

Yup. That would be my Extreme Teen in the flesh... and um, in his makeup! I did the makeup for him, actually. He went as Violent J from ICP. Google it, yo.

So... moving on. Right-O.

I am participating in NaNoWriMo this year... although I have yet to actually make a DENT in my writing. Thus far, most attempts at it have been aborted. Lemme gimme you a run down...

On November the first, it was a Saturday. One of the BUSIEST days that I have had in a long time. I was so crazy busy, it was... crazy. I was barely home all day. And I knew that Sunday was not going to be any better. Sunday was just as bad.

No biggie, I thought, that's why I send yonder childrens to school so I can have some alone time. Well, that and the whole education thing... but whose keeping track, right?

Anyway, I figured I would have PUH-LENTY of time to get busy on the whole writing thing come Monday. So I didn't sweat it.

Yeah. You know what they say about the best laid plans, right?

My youngest, "Delta", got sick. With the flu. And when she gets sick, she gets really clingy. Follows me around, wants me to sit with her, that kind of thing. She's been like that since her baby days. Which is FINE, of course... it just makes getting anything done pretty much impossible. Good thing I had already gone grocery shopping, otherwise we'd have been eating nothing but dry cereal and tap water. Not so good. But since I'd done the majority of the shopping, we didn't have to resort to such depths.

Alright, my point is (and yeah, I do have one, believe me, I'm getting to it, just hang in there, I may ramble but eventually I get to the heart of the matter, just have to be patient, I'm almost there *wink*) is that I didn't get any writing done Monday.

She was home still on Tuesday, and was worse off than she had been on Monday. So you can probably gather that I didn't get any writing done on Tuesday, either.

She was home on Wednesday. Yada yada.

And Thursday.

Friday she went back. But Friday also marked the fifth year of marital bliss, and the day was pretty much, you know, used up.

Today is Saturday. I have managed to get SOME writing done, but not a whole lot, and nowhere near where I should be. It's kinda hard to write when everyone is home... so I'm wait for Monday... again. We'll see how it goes. Whatev, I'm woefully behind, but hey... that's life!

Alright, well, that's all for now. I shall be back! When is anyone's guess!

LISA!

It's been about six years since I saw her last, and tomorrow, we're going to get to meet! I am so freaking excited. She's coming into town for a few brief hours, and I will be there to spend them with her. I can't wait!

WOOHOO!!

Operation No Ice Cream

So a friend of mine is giving up ice cream. She feels that she needs to live a healthier lifestyle, and giving up the ice cream habit is beginning to that.

Because I can't help but love her determination, I too have decided to brave the world sans ice cream. In a show of solidarity, I too am now saying NO to ice cream.

The truth is that until recently, I was never that into ice cream. And then, this year, a flip switched, and I found myself buying it and eating it at least once a week. Ice cream goes so good with so many things, were you aware? And Ben and Jerry's... oh my. Only my absolute favorite brand of ice cream in all the world. How can I go through life without B&J's Magic Brownies?

Seems an impossible task.

However, I am going to make a go of it nonetheless. Ice cream, for all of its creamy deliciousness, has a rather negative side effect; it's called the wiggle in my jiggle. I have plenty of wiggle and jiggle, and really, I could lose some of it and not be worse for the wear.

So that's it. A Dawn of a New Era and all. The day that Operation No Ice Cream officially came into effect. Rejoice for us, people.

Hang onto your hat, Joye, it's gonna be a bumpy ride!

Get It Together

So I've been considering just taking down my Blogspot here.

I like to blog; I've just been really lazy about it. I have another blog, and I tend to write there more, but I really like Blogspot.

I suppose it is something to consider.

Life has been alright of late. Some interesting things are afoot, but still in the infancy stages of planning, so I there really isn't anything to write about.

There's something living under my house. Or in my walls. I'm not sure what it is; I can hear it scratching. I thought a mouse, at first, but it sounds larger than that. And it scritches and scratches and it's a tad creepy.

Finally my husband heard it as well the other day... so he knows that there really IS something and not just something in my head. Not that he would think it was just in my head... but a part of me likes knowing that he's heard it, too.

Which brings me to another thought... random'ness abound.

What if there was a noise that only you could hear, even in the presence of others? Would that make it a noise, or would you be crazy? Does it exist? What if that was the only "symptom" you had? Are you wacky-bo-bo or could there really be something that not everyone can hear?

No, I'm not hearing noises that no one else can hear. The voices in my head are too loud.

Haha

Alright. I'm out... for now.

Flea Spray

Alright, we used to have a mosquito problem. For whatever reason, the mosquitos in our area had decided that we, as a family, were going to become their main source of sustenance. So to prevent ourselves from being sucked into bloodless husks, we combated them with OFF! Insect Repellent. Good plan. Solid. Workable.

Then our Extreme Teen came home from a friend's house and guess what he brought with him? Fleas!! Not an invasion, but a few, and the fleas joined the mosquitos in their quest to make me insane.

Thank the gods for OFF! Insect Repellent. Only now it's since been dubbed "the flea spray".

And honestly, the fleas have more or less died off and/or moved on, and the mosquitos are doing the same (or they've discovered another family to invade and... eat). However, my youngest daughter is CON-VINCED that she is being devoured by fleas on a regular basis.

"I have fleas," she tells me, daily.

"I have fleas," she tells the checker at the grocery store.

"My mom sprays me with flea spray," she tells her teacher at school.

"Mom, do you think that the fleas are biting me right now?" she yells at me while we're in Target. In front of about ten thousand people, who all glance at me askance and then start sidling away.

"It's because I'm part dog, part cat," she explains to anyone who will listen.

She sees that commercial, the one with the dogs who wear the flea collars, and she says that we should get her one of those, since she, you know, has fleas. "Those flea collars are just what I need!" she tells me at Albertson's while we're shopping for zucchini. "And maybe you could get me some of that dog food that I like, too?" she adds, hopefully. The nice looking grandma lady at the end of aisle is now giving me dirty looks. She gets out her cell phone. I wonder if she is calling social services...? Maybe I should beat a hasty retreat and hope she didn't get my license plate numbers...

(for the record, I have never given my children dog food. I have given them cereal and told them it was dog food when they were PRETENDING to be dogs, but for whatever reason, she has it stuck in her head that it was actual dog food)

Every time she has an itch, she announces, loudly, that it's "those fleas again!"

Usually when we're out in public.

Or at school.

In the crowded bathroom at Wal*Mart where she's all by herself in one of the stalls and I'm in another stall and she wants to make sure I heard her... "Mom, did you hear me? My fleas are itching me again! Mom! MOM! THE FLEAS ARE MAKING ME ITCH LIKE CRAZY! Did you bring the flea spray? Can we get some more?"

Just now she came out and asked me if I would "spray her down".

*SIGH*

Of course I have tried to tell her that NO, she doesn't have fleas. I have refused to spray her with the OFF! Insect Repellent but then she scratches and scratches and scratches. All it takes is a little shot, on her leg, her arm, and she's good. I realize that I am fostering this behavior. However, this, like all of her other "phases", shall pass. Eventually. Hopefully before someone calls social services on me because of my flea-ridden child that I put collars on a feed dog-food.

Yup. Just another day in the life of....

 

Took A Little Break

I haven't been blogging. Once again, neglecting my blog. I love to blog. Yet, I've been doing "other" things. But I'm back again, for the time being.

I had a birthday, turned 32.

I bought more RAM for my computer, and a new mouse.

I became a SPORE and have become addicted to that.

My husband bought me season 2.5 of BSG (for my bday).

Shanna bought me Serenity and RAZOR (for my bday).

And I've been reading a lot.

Oh! And I had the flu. That was gross. No more need be said about THAT.

So, I've been busy and distracted, in between my regular life stuff, what with the parenting and being a wife and all that goes with it.

That is pretty much that, in a nutshell,

I am really tired. I haven't been getting a ton of sleep (long story). Unfortunately, my lack of sleep isn't because I'm getting ravished nightly, but for more mundane, very uninteresting reasons. It would bore you to sleep... and you'd be one up on me, fo' sho', yo.

Oooo I found a good picture of one of my all time favorite villains... check it out!

I actually saw this painting whilst at Comic Con this last July, and so would have loved to purchase it, but it was *cough* hella expensive. Kind of a toss up between eating AND paying rent or this painting.

I went with food and shelter.

Had it just been me, I might have just sucked it up.

But then that would have made me a fanatic geek in the extreme, and while I might be willing to forego a few meals in pursuit of killer geeky art, I am not, however, willing to make my whole family do the same. Or rather, they're not willing.

WhatEVer. Wimps.

Ok, totally kidding about that last part.

BTW, I totally am borrowing (stealing) the whole teeny font thing from Shanna. She does it on her blogs and I love it so I'm doing it, too. I hope that she doth not protest. Then I would have to put the beat down on her.

I would have to challenge her to dance fight, like these bad asses did in Beat It. I get to wear the cool sunglasses, though.

Word.

Alright. I think my work here is done.

Later, all.

 

What I Should Be Doing vs. What I AM Doing

What I Should Be Doing Right Now (but am not)

• sweeping and mopping
• dishes
• wiping down the counters
• baking cookies
• folding the laundry
• sorting the socks

What I Am Doing In Lieu of Above Mentioned Chores

• blogging and reading random blogs
• looking up weird medical ailments online
• (will be) reading Peony In Love
• eating chocolate (chips... the ones I should use for the cookies I'm currently not baking)
• sorting my queue on Netflix
• browsing books on B&N
• thinking about things that I could list on this blog

Thus, I am wasting colossal amounts of time not doing what I should be doing and instead doing what I want to be doing.

I would be sorry about it but... I'm just not. Today is just one of those days.

 

 

 

Meh...

Today was a pretty good day, but I'm tired, and have no energy for blogging.

Mayhaps tomorrow.

Later, all.

Introspective

I suppose because it's creeping up on the anniversary of my mother's passing, I've been feeling sad some, introspective, and feeling really close to my children.

Not that I don't feel close to my children normally... I just feel closer to them, more so than usual.

My youngest has been making me gifts and wrapping them in things like tin foil and paper towels and tying them up with yarn. She puts them all over the house, and tells me not to look for them, so although they're sitting right there, I pretend that I don't see them. It's part of a "surprise" for my upcoming birthday.

Today I found her under the computer desk, her head and torso completely out of view, with only her butt and feet poking out, and I felt my heart lurch a little. Constrict some. It ached, even, as love for this little person overwhelmed me. I can't imagine my world without her in it.

More so, I don't want to.

As she pulled herself out and upright, she caught sight of me behind her and a smile lit up her face. She brushed a hand across her face, sweeping her disheveled hair back, and her blue eyes crinkled in the corners because she was smiling so hugely. It really struck me that right now, in her world, I'm her favorite person. I know that as she hits the tumultuous teen years, this is subject to change, but right now, I'm still the coolest person she knows.

She was under the computer desk "hiding" another gift for me. As I type this, I can feel it against my foot. But I pretend that I have no idea that it's there, of course.

I am really really really lucky to have these people in my lives. Never mind that it was my body that brought them here, my blood and flesh that nurtured them as they formed. Never mind that for the first part of their existence, they lived beneath my heart and the tempo of their lives was set to its beat. Never mind that they were my choice first, my decision... in spite of that, or because of that, the fact remains that I am blessed, lucky, fortunate, grateful to have these four wonderful little people in my life.

I think my mom might have felt the same way, sometimes, about us, her own children. I hope she did. I hope so, not so much because I'm her daughter and I want her to have felt so strongly about me, but rather because there is something singularly joyful about being in love with your own children. There is nothing like it in the whole world.

And there you have it.

 

Little Big

So the other day I picked yonder kiddies up from the bus stop, like I do everyday they have school. The girls came charging over to the car, chattering and eager to tell me all about their day, but Cappa, that sweet boy of mine, was walking slowly, head down. I met him halfway, put my arm around him, and thinking that something was wrong, asked him just that, "What's wrong, keed?"

He hugs me back, smiles at me, and says "Nothing, Mom."

"Are you alright?" I ask.

"Yeah, Mom. I'm alright," comes the answer.

"You sure?" I can't help but ask. My Mom-dar isn't exactly pinging, but this is not the norm for my little guy.

"Yeah, I'm sure," he tells me.

Alright, I'm thinking, as we get into the car. Alright, then. That's when I announce that we're going to the mall. We're going to get some ice cream, and then head over to Barnes and Noble so I can search high and low for a particular book. The girls let out a cheer, but Cappa... he just smiles a little, and turns his attention out the window.

Odd, I think... very odd indeed.

On the way over I ask the kids about their days, and the girls enthusiastically, and loudly, dissect their day for me. Cappa... he tells me it was a good day, but little beyond that. If he had had a bad day, he would have told me about it. He did say that he played on the field at recess with some kids, and said he had fun, but nothing more is forthcoming. I ask again, are you alright, son? And he responds, again, that yes, he is fine. Great, actually.

Still....

So we get to the mall, I park, and we make our cheerful and loud way into Wal*Mart, where they have a little Mickey D's, where I like to buy their cones at. I decide that we should finish our cones before going to the book store, thinking... yeah, kids, ice cream, books... um no. Let's do some browsing, yeah?

The girls are, as usual, chattering and buzzing about, but Cappa, not so much. He walks behind us, quietly licking his cone, answering questions when asked but contributing very little. Because he is the only boy with this trio of sisters, he usually doesn't get to say a lot, since as anyone with girls know that girls talk A LOT, but he's become quite adept and interrupting when he needs to get something in there. But on this day, it seemed that silence is the word of the day. Or rather, the mood of the day.

I still keep asking him, though, if he's alright, because I'm his mom and that's what I do. He keeps telling me that all is well in his little world, and smiling at me to show that really, all is well in his world. I am not getting that feeling that something is amiss, just... this is different.

So after the cones have been eaten, we head over to B&N. And on the way there, my son says to me; "Mom, I'm growing up."

I nod, "I know." I tell him.

"That's why I've been acting that way today, Mom. Quiet. I'm just growing up, and this is the way I am now,"

"This is the way you are now, huh?" I ask, trying to keep the smile from creeping onto my lips and into my voice.

"Yeah. I'm growing up. And this is the way I am. Different," he reiterates.

I nod again, taking his hand. "Alright, that's cool," I tell him. "But you still have to hold my hand when I want to, ok?"

He sighs a long suffering sigh at me but nods. He slips his hand into mine and we make our way to the large double doors, where his three sisters are already holding them open, chattering and nattering away, as usual.

I give my little big guy's hand a squeeze, and let him off to go with his sisters to the kids' section. He glances back at me, and I can't help but think as I follow along behind, that I really don't want him to grow up TOO fast.

Bittersweet. That's the nature of it, isn't it? They grow up whether we will it or no.

 

No Title

It is not lost on me that yesterday was the seventh anniversary of the act of terrorism that brought the Twin Towers down,  crashed another plane into the Pentagon, and the plane that crashed into a field in Pennsylvania. I sat down, several times, to blog about it, but each time... words failed me. I felt overwhelmed with the enormity of the whole thing. I felt overwhelmed with the emotions that swirled around my heart for all of those lives lost, and lives ruined, on that fateful, terrible day.

I thought that maybe today might be different, and that I might I have something to say.

However, words still fail me. I still don't know how to say it. Perhaps I'm not a talented enough writer... maybe I don't know enough words. All I know is that a day and seven years later, my heart still breaks for those people and their families, and everyone who lost a friend or loved one in those terrible moments. It has nothing to do with politics or war or vengeance. Quite simply, my heart is a well of sorrow, and I feel it in every part of me, and if I could somehow make it better for someone else, I would.

It is my opinion that sometimes, there are really no words for something, and that maybe, this is one of those times.

It's Killing Me!

And it's all Shanna's fault!

No, really.

You know what she did? She sent me two birthday gifts! TEN DAYS BEFORE MY BIRTHDAY!! As in, I have to WAIT that long to open them!

O.M.G.

OMGOMGOMG!!!

I am only the WORST person when it comes to gifts. I have zero patience. I can't stand not knowing. Yes, I love me a good surprise... like, ten seconds before the surprise! And not telling someone what I got them? Yeah. Total torture. I can't stand it. Seriously. Can't take it.

Which is why I shop so late in the year for Xmas gifts and stuff. I have gotten better, though, in reference to my children. When they were babies, I used to just tell them what I bought them because, you know, they didn't speak English (which is, in case you missed it, what I speak) yet. As they got older I had to quit doing that, because as their brains developed, so did their smarts, so instead, I would tell everyone ELSE so that I could at least be telling SOMEONE. Staved off the violent urges to blurt out just what, it was, exactly, I had purchased that I KNEW they would LOVE LOVE LOVE.

But it's worse when I know that someone has gotten ME a gift. It's exquisite agony, I tell you.  I beg, I plead, I whine, I cajole... just tell me!!

I wanna KNOOO-OOOOW!!!

Last year, my husband and best friend and oldest child conspired together to get me only the greatest gift, EVER, and they were infuriatingly close lipped about it. Shanna, who was totally in on it, pretended that she had no idea what it could be. More so, she pretended that she and The Man weren't in cahoots, hadn't planned and plotted for weeks on end, to get me the Greatest Gift Ever. I knew that he was planning something big, but he, being the tight-lipped man that he is, wouldn't, under any circumstances, cave to my wiles and tell me what it was.

(For the record, he flew my besty out for the week; Shanna, of course, which is why she was in on it)

Alright, so, back to today. I think that I may have to have The Man take them to work with him until the Day of Days comes... because it's torture, I tell you. TOR-TURE.

See, I'll show you...

I mean, check it out. Instruments of torture never looked so innocent, right? Don't be fooled. The cheerful wrapping paper, the card... yeah, the whole thing is designed to totally torture ME!

Alright. Here's the deal. I'll let you know what's in 'em when I know what's in 'em, kay?

 

 

And for the record, this whole blog was written in tongue-and-cheek format.

So. Children.

Today, two of my wee ones are home from school. And I am less than thrilled about it.

My second born, Beta, may actually be legit; she did have diarrhea yesterday, and complained of a stomach ache pretty much from late afternoon up until bed time last night. And then she woke this morning, still not feeling well, although she manage to eat breakfast. After breakfast, she said she felt better. But about 40 minutes later, she was flumped out on the couch, holding her stomach, looking a tad froggy. As in, green. She said, Mom, my stomach really hurts again. I thought it was better but it really hurts. I wanna go lay down.

So I let her go lay down, and she's camped out on the bed, eating graham crackers.

Meanwhile, I get the other kids out the door and on their way, and Alpha starts complaining that her head hurts, she feels hot, she feels cold, she feels shaky, her throat hurts... despite this litany of complaints, I sent her on her way with the usual admonishment; If, in an hour, you still feel sick, give me a call.

Usually, they don't call.

Today, almost an hour on the dot, the school nurse called me. Alpha is sick. Not feeling well. She needs to come home.

Fiiiiiiiiine. Siiiiiiggghhhhhh. So I go get her.

Now, this may sound pretty heartless, especially if you don't have school aged children. And even if you do, maybe your kids don't play sick, ever, and that makes you one up on me. However, I am not heartless, I love my kids more than I love to breathe, but this is the second time that I've gone and picked up Alpha for "not feeling well" and school just started LESS THAN A MONTH AGO.

Not off to an auspicious start.

SO I get her in the car, and I kinda light into her. I say kinda because really, I didn't light into her, but I basically told her that sometimes, even though we don't feel all that great, we still have to suck it up and get through the day. I can't tell you how many times I have been sick sick sick and still had to muddle through. Because that is my job. And that's life. And that's being a parent and a spouse. Because that's what happens sometimes.

She nods, looking miserable, and of course I feel wretched and guilty, but it still needed to be said. She is starting to figure out that if she complains enough, I'll let her off the hook, because I trust her. And now I'm starting to think that she may just be a little on the hypochondriac side. Not that I think she has that disorder or anything, not seriously, but I do think she milks it.

I know she milks it!

However, I still felt really guilty as I took in her pallid complexion and dark circles under her eyes. I can tell she isn't feeling well... but I can tell, too, that she could have made it through the day. Probably.

Haha, now watch, she'll get a fever or something.

Not that it'll be funny. Just ironic.

Because sometimes, life is that, too.

Oh, and my productive day just went out the window. I had planned to go run a few errands, but alas, not gonna happen now. Oh darn. Really. Darn.

Later, kiddos.

Just a Quickie

No! Not that kind of quickie! Sheesh. Get your mind out of the gutter, people!

Haha

Actually, just a quick blog before I head off to bed. I have been utterly unproductive today, other than mopping my floors, and doing the dishes, and making breakfast, lunch, then dinner for several people, but beyond that... Utterly. Unproductive.

Tomorrow I shall endeavor to produce more effort on the behalf of being productive.

That was a real fancy way of saying that I plan to actually DO something other than just play around on the computer all day.

Something like that.

And that's all she wrote, kiddos. Catch you on the flip side!

It's Just Another Manic Monday...

Alright, I am totally being melodramatic there... I know, hard to believe, coming from me.

However, it was a busier than usual day, even for a Monday, but in a totally good way. For one, I got to go shopping. And I got the kids' their hair cut. AND I got a new book. Oh! And I had take-out from one of my all time favorite places, ever, for lunch.  Which I can't tell you the name of because I can't remember. But they serve some mighty fine Greek food, and today I had a falafel. Mmmm mmmm mmmm. It was purdy good.

So I have been planning on buying the kids new comforters and bed sheets for when we move next month (keep your fingers crossed, kiddos, that all goes through). I figured I would buy them one or two at a time, and today I made a start of it. I bought one for Alpha, and the coordinating sheets, and then Delta's, which was a bed-in-a-bag. Even better, Delta's was ON SALE. She had picked that particular one a few months ago, and when I went to check it out, I noticed that it was on clearance. At twenty bucks LESS than it had been originally. Um, yeah. No brainer. I snatched that bad boy up, took it the register, and with the mere swipe of my card, a few pokes at the keypad, the bed-in-a-bag became MINE ALL MINE.

Well. It became Delta's, really.

And Alpha's... her's too.

All in all I got a good deal. I love me a good deal!!

So. Then I headed over to B&N to purchase me a new book. Because I am SO book deprived. Like, totally and utterly. As in, I have less than nine on my waiting til I get to 'em list. You should so totally feel sorry for me.

Alright. The book I wound up getting is by Lisa See... and it's called Peony in Love. I've only read one other of her books, Snow Flower and The Secret Fan, and it was simply, beautiful. So I am very much looking forward to reading this one, too. I started it, and so far, so good. But I had to put it down because I'm reading three other books right now, and I really want to get through them! *List at the bottom

Anyway, then I had to go and collect yonder children from school. And I had planned on taking Delta to get her hair cut, but once there, just decided to go ahead and get Beta's hair cut, too. And after I picked The Man up from work, we took Cappa to the Barber to get his done, as well.

The cuts all turned out pretty cute, I'd say...

Observe:

Beta (she's totally making a weird face in this pic... for whatever reason, I decided to take the pics during dinner)

Alright, I don't normally do this, but you know what? I have a VERY handsome son. I mean, he is a total cutie. I know, I know, braggart (see Kim, me too *wink*) am I!

And Delta. I have no clue where that blonde hair comes from. Both her pops and I are brunettes (are men brunettes? Hmmm, something to ponder...). And our families are all dark haired. Go figure, weird, rouge genes, right?

Alpha did NOT get a hair cut today... she just likes to be online (haha). And ignore the messy burrito she is eating. Just totally ignore it. It's to the left of the pic, by her elbow. Yeah, that. Don't look at that.

And lastly, we went and got take out for dinner. I KNOW, healthy and nutritious it is NOT. But I had been go-go-go all day, and Cappa's hair cut took a lot longer than expected, so Taco Bell it was.

Yeah, I had take-out for lunch AND dinner. I would feel totally guilty if... um... well, the truth is, I wouldn't and I don't so neener neener nanny nanny boo boo!!

And so, in conclusion, that is, as they say, THAT.

 

* except for the book list I said I would make here, at the bottom of the page...

~ Books I'm Reading:

Kushiel's Justice, Book Five of Kushiel's Legacy by Jacqueline Carey

The Night Villa by Carol Goodman

The Academy by Bentley Little