The Continuation

It rained, it poured, and then it snowed, and snowed and snowed. Thursday night. It snowed so much that there was NO way there would be school the next day. I didn’t get to making that igloo because instead, I had to receive 91 boxes of Girl Scout cookies. (That is 91 boxes that hold 12 individual boxes each) They were delivered to the house in the middle of the snow storm, and we carried them to the basement for lack of anywhere else they would all fit. Then, for three hours I sorted through them making piles per girl. All of these piles will have to be brought back upstairs when they are picked up.

These pictures are AFTER the biggest sales person picked hers up!

Remember my ability to say YES? Or rather my lack of ability to say NO? Well this is the result. I had the girls help me until after 10pm while the snow poured down outside, knowing there was no way they would have school the next day. I then shot off an email that they could be picked up after 4pm on Sunday because it’s the only time I will have when I am either home, dressed properly, or not cleaning.

You want to know the funny/sad part to this story? I volunteered to help with cookies last year and did all of the online ordering. This year I didn’t really volunteer but let it happen to me again and was asked to simply house the cookies, divvy them up and pass them out. I thought that was a great deal! I didn’t realize 14 girls vs. 7 last year makes a huge difference and their parents are some serious cookie sales people! (I’m not THAT naïve, people!) Also, my daughter must have missed the meeting when the cookie ordering stuff was passed out. I got some emails about cookies being sold but I thought we were still in pre-cookie sales time and figured we would sell a few boxes during the REAL sales time. So imagine my shame when I am sorting 91 CASES of cookies and WE/I didn’t sell one darn box! In all honesty, I am not a fan of these cookies. They don’t taste good.

I woke up Friday to a winter wonderland and you guessed it, school! They had school because they have run out of FREE days off. This was the 2nd worse weather day we have had and they had school. It was a mixed blessing. Although the kids were tired and unprepared, I had taken a vacation day so I could see my little Betty Ford give her Presidential speech and I can’t afford to take too many vacation days like that.
She did Betty and Gerald, proud and of course sitting in that auditorium made the tears flow because I am weird like that.

I haven’t heard how the Spanish project did, but lucky me, we have moved on to a laundry project!
My son has to do ten loads of laundry. I am pretty sure he has had several weeks to accomplish this but now we have to have it done by Monday.
Ten loads in three days is not THAT out of the question for my family, BUT, it means that I am going to do ten loads of laundry and take pictures of him pretending to help me. I will say he helped me in the way of getting the laundry done. I also will say that I do not do laundry properly. I do laundry like a poor man. Lots of cold water, loads piled high, no fabric softener or fancy stain removers and I mix my colors and textures. You know what is really frustrating? He found a dollar the ONE time he was actually folding a SOCK.

On Friday morning, while the snow poured down we went to see the house I told you about. I don’t think it’s in my future anymore. It has been badly abandoned (lots of cigarette butts, beer and liquor bottles, garbage, water in the basement and a variety of odd furniture scattered in it's small rooms). I can see past that, but even after a flip, there just isn’t enough space for a family of five. It could have been a great opportunity but, not trying to be picky, I couldn’t have fit my couch, the TV and a dining room table in the living space let alone any of the other things I have.

When we walked through the house, as bad as the condition it was left in, I could just feel the house putting its best foot forward. There were some doors in the basement and garage that had a vintage charm that really stood out against the ugliness. With as much garbage and water it didn’t smell horrible and there was no sign of critters AT ALL. (Thank goodness for freezing temps) The sun glistened off the snow covered trees casting beautiful light into all of the windows. I have been in houses with a bad overall feel, but this one had a potential feel. I feel bad saying no, but thankfully the hubby agreed with me. I know the right smaller family will love it. I also feel like this has opened us up to getting ready to move/change, something.

I have never appreciated my log cabin home more today than on Friday after seeing that house and watching the news. I will not complain about cleaning it tomorrow. I will not give the dust bunnies a second thought, and I will enjoy ever darn load of laundry I can do. Because key words: I STILL CAN DO all of it.

To Be Continued

It’s raining Cats and Dogs here with forecasted snow in my near future. (I’ll keep you posted on whether I’m building an Arc or an Igloo)

I just got done helping to complete a Spanish project for one and reading the starting of a book for another. (I’ll let you know what kind of grade I get!)

(I have to share the link to the Spanish project because- well, it’s not like ANY project I EVER did. (My son has a small part in it – my nephew made the video and is the main newscaster.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiZmVhpqAig

The book writer is also my reader and based on what she has written so far, she’ll beat me to my dream goal of writing a book. Her story is about a creature who is the lone survivor of an ancient Indian tribe that is responsible for making the crop circles…… (I’ll let you know where to buy your copy)

On top of all that, a potential new house is in my future. This story will definitely have to be continued but let me just give you the highlights:

We aren’t really looking (I’m ALWAYS ready to move because I love houses and change, but I’ve been pretty satisfied where we are for the first time EVER.)

The house needs work, but might be an investment/opportunity for us to finally own.

I have never been inside it

From the outside, it doesn’t excite me

It doesn’t come close to my dream home (Craftsman Bungalow)

It has been abandoned

The power and water have been shut off

The steep steps to the front door were covered in a thick sheet of ice, making the climb one of the more dangerous things I have done in awhile.

With Flashlights in hand, in the POURING rain, we discovered the door that had been left open earlier was now tightly locked and we had to repel back down the steps with no opportunity to see the inside.

This will be continued I am sure with plenty of more details, but I am trying to put too much energy/thought into it because I am really not sure this is my idea of an adventure….

I’ll keep you posted…….

Random Me

This is what my personal trainer looks like.

I really wished he had given me a head’s up on the 80’s apparel requirement. Here I am wearing snowman pajama pants and a t-shirt and I have to work out with the likes of these people:

I will say that Gilad is not so bad at 4:30am and the view, well it’s dreamy compared to my basement.

Rather than sand, I am surrounded by toys and art projects. Occasionally I get a little paper cut-out person stuck to my butt, and I think the Lego pieces make me step a little higher when I jump on top of one by accident.

As funny as this crowd may seem, I had a hard time carrying my coffee, and a light box into work today –Becase MY ARMS ARE SO SORE! Gilad apparently invited his elderly grandfather to work out with us this morning and sadly, his body is in better shape at 75 than mine is. However, I think I would look better in a high cut leotard than he does….

It’s funny when you get up at 4:30am what commercials you will catch on TV. I had NO idea you could duct tape or hot glue your bra straps to your shirt to keep them from slipping down! If I had only known about this trick….

I have been blessed with boobs and small shoulders. I need an over the shoulder boulder holder that will keep the straps in place. Please and thank you. I am forever hiking the things up when no one is looking. (The STRAPS, people) But NO WAY IN THE PLACE DOWN THERE am I EVER going to buy the suggested solutions and I do not EVER want a UNI-BOOB. I will take slipping straps over any of these.

Finally – Can WOMEN PLEASE STOP GOING TO coach BASKETBALL GAMES RIGHT AFTER THEY DELIVER their child?? I thought we graduated from the SQUAT AND POP in the fields to spending WEEKS IN HOSPITAL after having a baby. Now we are edging dangerously close to dancing with the stars hours after labor. Heck, even the men will agree – there was a time their kind was trying pregnancy out and it was not long LIVED. I personally am done having kids, and I honestly didn’t spend more than 12 hours in the hospital with any of them and I did even do it once without pain meds, but I would really like my girls to have the opportunity to take a break after they have their kids. How else will I ever get my hands on those babies?

Know what I mean Vern?

Bookworm in the Making

I grew up a voracious reader. LITERALLY. ( When I was pregnant I wanted to eat my books – I found out later that  I was iron-deficient ) but I thought it was funny at the time because all my life I loved reading so much that no matter where I was, as long as I had a book to read, all was right with the world.

I escaped into my books from long boring car rides, many family boat trips, shopping trips for carpet, furniture and new boats. I escaped from boat shows, dry dock, early spring weekends spent getting the boat ready for summer, football practices, and Sunday football. (My Dad’s favorite team was The Browns, therefore lots of screaming ensued and I spent most Sunday’s hiding in my room)

I watched my Mom and Grandma read just as passionately. I aggravated the heck out of my Dad with my ability to not hear or see a thing going on around me. I don’t think he quite understood that reading a book was even better than looking out a window on a car trip.

I was reading Mafia novels in the third grade, Stephen King by 5th, and the Classics through middle school. One of my most favorite days of all time (I have several of them locked away in my memory) is a day in late spring. It was unseasonably warm for Ohio, and I was in early pregnancy with my second child. I was so tired and nauseous. The hubby took our son who was a handful away for the entire day and I never left the bed reading two full books. I forgot to eat, didn’t have to get up more than twice and the fresh air blew through our bedroom window while I read. If you know me by now, momentous days can be marked by my memory of knowing exactly what I was wearing. I won’t bore you with the details but I can remember my exact pj’s and I even remember what our sheets and comforter looked like.

I have never had a day exactly like that since then, BUT over the past few weeks I have seen myself, my Mom and my Grandma in my daughter. She is starting to become lost in her books. I love to see it but I know I’m going to miss her while she is away in all the worlds she has yet to explore.

Last night, we were playing cards with the girls and were surprised how fast our youngest picked up the game and became a little card shark. We were also amused that our voracious reader picked up her book and read between hands. The hubby gave me a look and I said, “I completely understand, and I also understand how my Dad must have felt all at the same time.”

She played those cards while also reading her book. Just like I would have.

I know I have lot of years to see myself in her and her sister, but this glimpse was an especially fun one to see – like an old friend.

The Reader and The Cardshark

Unlike when I was yelling something from the bedroom and I heard the girls tell my husband I sounded JUST LIKE my Mom. (sorry Mom –I’ll try to represent you better next time!)

March is Sucking the Creativity Right out of Me

Friday night I was an adult. The hubby and I got to enjoy dinner with friends and no kids! That is VERY rare. We waited almost an hour for a table and then once we were done with dinner sat at the table for at least an hour more having real adult conversation – sweet revenge! I even let the waitress talk me into getting something that I would never normally order and it was good. The hubby worked in the restaurant industry for many many years and he has always said the staff knows what is the best, so always go with that.

She talked me into one of these and it was AMAZING!

Saturday I cleaned the house – no surprise there. While I clean, I make the girls help me. They hate it, but when I was younger I had an Aunt who cleaned her house with me keeping her company and I learned a lot of tips and tricks that way. Plus, hate to break it to you girls but GET USED TO IT. It’s designated woman’s work.

Sometimes I let the girls pick which room is next out of a hat, sometimes they take turns with each room and sometimes I just tell them to talk to me while I work. (That is pretty much the way it usually goes) My youngest daughter always does that same thing when I tell her to talk to me. She starts with. “What’s your favorite color, Mom?”

I don’t know if I have an absolute favorite color. I love browns, and blues mostly, but tend to wear a lot of black. She said her favorite color was green. That’s funny because if you ask most kids that will be the color they choose at some point.
Then she goes to, “What’s your favorite animal?”

Again, hard to say…. I like big dogs but don’t necessarily want one right now. I like looking at tigers and polar bears in the zoo, I love the draft horses and cows at the county fair, and growing up I loved horses and vowed I would have some one day, but I am not dedicated to loving one particular animal. The hubby loves squirrels, my son loves cats, my daughter has a strange passion for flamingo’s and the youngest daughter changes her answer every time we talk. Yesterday’s answer was Polar Bear.

Today we woke up to snow on top of all the rain we had gotten yesterday. I think it’s going to be a pajama/movie/board game day. One of my favorite kind of days – especially when the house is clean, the laundry is done and the weather is crappy.

PS – I also had to figure out a costume for my daughter’s President report speech. She has to dress like the first lady and guess who she is??









BETTY FORD



(I know EXACTLY what you are thinking, I thought it too, but instead I found her some pearls, a handbag and a nice coat to wear)

Inappropriate Gestures During School Functions are Fun to Watch!

We had a school music concert to attend tonight. For some reason every single time we have to attend a school event the hubby and I end up arguing. For my part, I think I am intent on avoiding any and all eye contact with the hubby once in the building, because I know what he is most likely thinking, and it’s not either politically correct or appropriate.  I think he get offended, but I just can't engage - it will only lead to trouble!   Plus, he has no ability to whisper, so if I avoid looking at him he will not make “Did you see THAT one” faces, make me crack up when I shouldn’t or say too loudly "WOW she got big!".


Tonight’s argument started when I couldn’t get my shoes off fast enough in the doorway because I was having a coughing fit. I was ready to get mey shoe off alright and shove it…… (never mind!)

Tonight’s event made it difficult not looking at the hubby. There were a group of boys who clearly did not want to be on the stage singing songs. They all took a stance on not dressing up, and had parent hating haircuts or lack thereof. One boy in particular was making rifle cocking gestures the entire time as well as a unique I’m too cool for my hair swoosh move. You could tell he was the ring leader among the boys and they were intently watching him in awe. As was I.

The fact that he was brave enough to continue to do this on the stage for every parent and teacher to see said something. The principal who is way to uptight as it is, was about to blow a gasket. I would never make it as a teacher because this boy was trouble with a capital T, but he was so much fun to watch. 

I would love to be a fly on the wall in his house tonight. Unfortunately, he most likely he is not getting enough attention at home and this was his way of grabbing some.

Normally school functions give me a lump in my throat. Something about those kids makes me want to shed a tear. But tonight’s event just made me want to laugh. Mostly because of the pure relief that none of those boys were mine.

Backbends, Skunks and Other Stuff

I read your answers from yesterday’s post. FYI,  It’s Q-Pon and Crans in my world. But really, the right answer for Coupons is: “ who uses those things?”


But if you want to side with the hubby, it’s OK. Everyone I know sides with him all the time anyway. He’s so darn amazing…..

Speaking of the hubby, as I left the house the hubby who never fails to MAKE MY DAY, whispered in my ear romantically, “It’s going to rain in Florida today.”

How sweet is that?? YES, we know people currently vacationing in Florida. I mean them NO HARM or bad karma, however, it was 18 degrees as I left the house, the two feet of snow partially melted in the torrential downpours we had yesterday revealed what is left of our poor destroyed by the ice storm trees. The skunks are out and spraying the house, no amount of rain can keep the cinders and salt off my car, and everywhere I go, I am confronted with flu riddled people and I CANNOT get rid of my cough!
I love winter, but MARCH is not winter. March is not spring (my least favorite season) March is like the hellish in-between and it is one long month.

Backbends – This is an important skill to master. It comes in handy when dealing with Close (as in you have now entered my personal space) Talkers.

Why do close talkers either have bad teeth, bad breath, food in their mouth, or an overabundance of spit? WHY??

I start with the slowly backing away method. When that fails, I slowly start to bend backward. My old gymnastics skills come in handy as I can go back pretty darn far.

I’ve had to use these skills lately. I need to get more limber though. The close talker doesn’t seem to mind talking closely to my belly button.

FYI - The whole skunk pet is no longer funny. Not even a little bit.
This morning as I picked up my son’s two friends to take to school when one of them got in the car and claimed he smelled skunk. Both my son and I are recovering from colds so we figured it was them and shrugged it off. About an hour into work I get a phone call. Our son is begging to be picked up from school because he smells like skunk. While on the phone, I decide to smell my shoes because they were in the garage and sure enough, WE’VE BEEN SKUNKED!
Well our garage must have been,because our cars and shoes all smell like skunk.
What’s that you say about Karma?? I’ll tack skunks on to the maddening month of March now too.

Which brings me to a little story about a man, a topless Jeep , his wife and three kids. This man was having a great day, taking his family on a nice open air road trip. He stopped for gas at a secluded Wal-Mart (yes in the STICKS they put them in the middle of nowhere) while the wife and kids went in to hunt for car sickness relief and snacks. His wife and the 50+ other people in the front of the store began to smell a funny odor. As the man exited the restroom with wet and wrinkled clothing the odor became worse. His then very smart and beautiful wife knew what had happened and pointed him in the direction of new shorts, shirt, underwear and t-shirt as he had been unpleasantly sprayed by a gas pump and there was no way in the place down there he was getting back in the car, top or no top smelling like THAT.
This man was not too happy about his Wal-Mart outfit selection but the road trip was already underway and there was no time for turning back. The sales people wouldn’t even allow him to use a changing room to change his clothes in, the smell was so bad. That particular road trip had an air of stony fumy silence about it for several hours.

Finally, today is my niece’s 17th birthday. She is one of those people in Florida at the moment – I hope the rain clouds are nowhere near her pretty little head. This girl is the sweetest darn thing ever in the world and so beautiful. She hangs out with her younger cousins as though they are her best friends. I remember the first time I met her. I lived three hours away and came into town to meet my oldest brother’s newest addition. They were living in a tiny one bedroom apartment in the upstairs of an old farm house. My sister in law brought this pink rosy baby out to the couch on top of a pillow and I was instantly in love. I knew at that moment I wanted one of those. Two and half years later I got my wish. He wasn’t quite as pink and rosy, but just as amazing. My niece gave me that defining moment. I knew right then I wanted to be a Mom and that’s saying something. I was a career driven twenty year old. A tiny one bedroom apartment never looked so good as it did that day.

Now, the question is should I THANK her or….. (just kidding, I’ll take emergency I’ve been skunked phone calls every day of the week….)