Kooky Krap

Keel-ing Over

2011-05-29T23:44:00.004-05:00

I have a some-what-most-of-the-time job working at a feedlot North of Raymond.

Let's not get "feedlot" confused with "slaughter house", they are TOTALLY different beasts.

If cattle die at the feedlot, they are inedible. hahahaaa.

No really they are, it's just a really gross happenstance.

And if I don't laugh at about it, it'd make me sick.

My job is "cattle processor".

Which essentially means I ... do it all.

Push,

count, innoculate, implant,

brand, split, run gates,

record,

cauterize

...

I don't check for nuts though,

I have my limits.

Which I get grief to NO end for.

I feel like I'm violating those poor beasts.

Though maybe they should be thanking me!

*another set of amused laughter*

Wert-ing

2011-05-29T23:18:00.007-05:00

I work semi-part time doing respite for a friend of mine.

We've been friends since I was 12; she started hanging out with me to get closer to my brother ... I ended up keeping her. hahaha.

She's been trying to "catch up" on her life since her third-of-four kid was born.

Courtney was born with a respiratory disfunction in which her brain essentially forgets to tell her to breathe. Especially when she's sleeping or sick. It's been a long, hard road for this family to travel. Parts of her life have gone to the way-side while she tries to keep up with the day to day of a family of six. Which is where I come in. I clean, organize, haul, move, toss the unneeded, watch the two youngest while Maria get out of the house for a breather ... Essentially anything that needs to be done.

Oh Dear.

2011-05-29T23:10:00.002-05:00

Will you just LOOK at the time? No! not the actual time. Especially you mom, do NOT notice what time I was up writing this post, I'm old enough to stay up past ten ... well, these days that really doesn't count since I am nodding off before I even put my kids to bed. Physical labor is HARD WORK!!

by time, I meant how long it's been since I blogged last.

Then again, maybe I don't want you looking at that either.

It's been an embarrassingly long time.

The load I've been hauling since coming to Canada has been ... hard and tiring.

Sometimes rewarding.

Some what fulfilling.

At times overwhelming.

I'll write a series of posts to catch you up on the small things that made up the big experience.

Easier to posts pictures to individual posts than a bunch to one.

So says I ;)

2011-01-30T23:09:00.002-06:00

Moving on to new freshness.

If you know me well enough to ask or where to look ... you'll be able to find the new blog easy enough.

That is all.

Krista

Day Ten One confession

2010-10-07T22:33:00.003-05:00

I love Cottenelle Booty Wipes. No word of a lie. Seriously, they make you feel so fresh and ... clean! I was hesitant at first. I mean seriously, what am I a baby? Well! I tell you! If feeling this fresh and airy is what a baby feels like, slap a diaper on me and throw a bott .... never mind. Don't do either of those things. Just trust me. Try it.

Day Nine Two words that describe your life right now

2010-10-03T09:36:00.001-05:00

In Limbo.

Day Eight Three turn ons.

2010-10-01T10:07:00.002-05:00

1. A good/involved dad
2. A great smile
3. Someone who makes me laugh

Day Seven Four turn offs

2010-09-30T10:12:00.004-05:00

1. General bad hygiene.
2. Smoking.
3. Bad Temper.
4. Inability/lack of wanting to communicate.

Day Six Five people who mean a lot to you.

2010-09-29T09:18:00.002-05:00

1. Mom
2. Dawn
3. Michael
4. Jenie
5. My kids (they get grouped into one because I'm only allowed 5...)

Day Five Six things you wish you could change or you wish you’d never done

2010-09-28T12:08:00.003-05:00

1. I wish I'd buckled down and went to college.
2. I wish I'd had a spine and will of my own WAY before now.
3. I'd stop the wind in S. Alberta from blowing so much so hard.
4. I'd take you with me everywhere I go.
5. I would be able to stop analyzing things to death and just DO them.
6. I find my love for reading again.

Day Four Seven things that cross your mind a lot.

2010-09-28T12:04:00.004-05:00

1. Am I REALLY doing this?
2. How can I make that work?
3. Why would they treat him like that? He's NOT a "normal" kid!
4. This is scary, but worth it.
5. I wish scary things didn't make me cry.
6. When did I become such a girl?!?!
7. I wish she had a best friend.

Day Three Eight things you couldn't live without

2010-09-26T14:17:00.009-05:00

(I'm keeping this strictly material)
1. Cleaning products. I'm an addict. It may be a problem. 2. Toothbrush. I kid you not. I am a teeth brushing Nazi.3. The internet.
We have a long, deep rooted relationship that has carried me through some really rough times ;)
4. Measuring cups, I have more than a dozen of them. I'm neurotic... no need for discussion.5. Pictures. I have thousands of them ... and that may be an underestimate.
6. My phone. I have a slight panic attack when I think I have driven anywhere without it.7. Flip Flops.
Or THONGS, as I still prefer to think of them.
There's a reason why I need pedicures so often.8. "Free" long distance to Canada. Cause *sniff sniff* no one will *boo hoo* move to *sob* Texas!

Day Two Nine things about yourself that most people don't know.

2010-09-26T13:48:00.006-05:00

I had Brogans "Friend Party" (which no one came to ...) to take care of. That is all the excuse I need for the lapse in day. So says me.

1. I love pedicures. It's not just a "those are nice" kind of thing. I would have one once a week if I could justify it.2. I think my Maui Jim sunglasses are the cats meow. Seriously, I adore them. They are so light I forget I have them on my face - and for someone who doesn't wear glasses, that's saying something.3. I would rather be with someone I like doing nothing than doing something I like by myself.
4. I would rather be poor than unhappy. Though being poor sucks :)
5. I hold myself to a high standard of friendship, but rarely expect anyone to return the sentiment.6. I love baking, but hate having what I bake hang about after.
7. A friend of mine who owns a health food shoppe and sells the product, talked me into trying out the HcG diet. I haven't regretted it for a minute. It shows the most in my face ...8. I have done more "rebellious" things in my late 20's and early 30's than I ever did in my teens and early 20's.
9. It has taken me a long time to come into my own. Now that I'm here, I really like who I am.

Day One Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.

2010-09-24T11:31:00.003-05:00

C.J.: Since you left, I've hardly had any contact with you because you've become wrapped up in your life. I miss you :(
D.H.: I love having you just a phone call away. I can't imagine what my life would be like without free long distance between Texas/Alberta.
J.C.: My relationship with you has made me a better person. For that, you're forgiven for being such a dork.
B&J: You two make me laugh, mad, at ease, contemplative, feel cared for. I love the dickens out of you.
D.C.: There's too much ground to cover with you; I could dedicate an entry solely to our friendship. The years have been good to us.
T&M: I love you two. You've shown me in too many ways to mention that I matter to you. I appreciate your eternal optimism. And loving endearments :)
M&J: If you'd just move to Texas, life would be SO much better! ... not just for me!
K.J.: I wish our relationship had never changed. I miss you. I understand you had to do what was best for you ... but I still miss you.
T.F.: My heart aches for you. You know where to find me when you are ready to feel it and be heard.
F.E.: I'm good enough, I'm smart enough. And Frick! You should give me a chance!

Ten Days

2010-09-24T11:24:00.002-05:00

... okay, I'll play.
I was scrolling through a mysterious strangers blog recently... Okay, so I don't know if she's actually that mysterious since I've never met her. But that's the point! The mystery is who IS she? What's she REALLY like? Does she like her life? Where does she see herself going?
In any case.
She posted an entry about writing specific things from a list for 10 days. Since I have become a blogging slacker, I thought it'd be an easy way to write something yet still maintain that I have a life.
So, here's the schedule. Over the next 10 days, I'll blog about the items on this list:

Day One: Ten things you want to say to ten different people right now.

Day Two: Nine things about yourself that most people don't know.

Day Three: Eight things you couldn't live without.

Day Four: Seven things that cross your mind a lot.

Day Five: Six things you wish you could change or you wish you’d never done.

Day Six: Five people who mean a lot to you.

Day Seven: Four turn offs.

Day Eight: Three turn ons.

Day Nine: Two words that describe your life right now.

Day Ten: One confession.

Go ahead and join in. If you're in my blog roll. Other wise, forget it.
Ha. Ha.
Kidding.

Red Bull Art

2010-09-13T22:17:00.003-05:00

@ the Galleria. I took the time to go see it, it's amazing how much time I have to waste on my hands now the kids are both in school full time. I need a job ... Not to say the exhibit wasn't awesome. Cause it was well worth the time and effort. But seriously ... I need a job.

I'm American

2010-09-13T22:10:00.003-05:00

Did the test. Said the oath. Got the pretty piece of paper with my name on it. He's thrilled for me ... deep deep down.

Friends

2010-09-13T21:59:00.003-05:00

Labor Day weekend a couple of my girl friends and I jetted off before any of our kids were awake (I think even before the sun knew what was going on) to make a dent in the offerings of Canton. To be clear ... that is 99.98% THEIR damages. Those girls know how to SHOP. I was honestly just along for the ride because I like going anywhere with these girlies. It's always fun and you never know what's going to be said ... or found next ... "I suppose Michael would think it was a nice throne ..."

Where in the World

2010-09-11T20:39:00.013-05:00

I am woefully behind. I feel no shame. I feel elation and joy that my life is so full that I have better things to do than blog about everything that happens in my life.
Didja hear me? Elation and Joy.
That's right.
I said it.
I feel no remorse in leaving you behind. In the dust. Wondering "what in the world happened to Krista?"
Well ... let's catch you up. Now that I've insulted all my readers and alienated the any who may have been interested. Haha.

The purpose of (most) of my family coming down was to be a part of Rhiannon's baptism. In the LDS faith, our kids get baptised at eight. Believing that they should be of an age of accountability before they enter the waters of repentance. It was a great experience for Rhiannon. What kid doesn't like having a whole day (other than her birthday) all about them?
The only sad thing about the day is that it meant the next day was when everyone but my mom headed home. I hate having my family live so far from me. Some days it tears me apart inside because I am so torn on whether I am doing the right thing living in Texas when they ALL live within 20 minutes of each other in Alberta.
The sweetest, most tender moment between the girls happened the Sunday they were packing to leave. The girls had asked about Rhiannon going up to Canada with them and then flying home. I pointed out that we simply did not have the funds to be able to do that and left it as a done topic. However, moments later, Jenie happened upon them all pooling their precious, hard earned/saved monies in order to buy Rhiannon a plane ticket themselves.
"I have $11 .... I have $60 ... I have $27 ... If we add it all together we'd have ..." I got chocked up. It was such a sweet moment. Knowing these babies love each other so much that they are all willing to sacrifice money they have been saving/earning for at least the last year ... it killed me!

The "adults" (yeah, I am still childish enough to giggle when I think of being considered an adult when my parents are around) all went to Joe's Crab Shack one night and I partook of my first crab. I admit it, crab has intimidated me in the past. I have never gone out to eat with anyone that has ordered it so I had no idea how to get into the suckers! Jenie and I sat next together, which ended up being a comedy of errors with all the crab flying. I definitely think she was worse than I was; I ended up with some crab down my shirt. And NOT from me being unable to get it in my mouth.

Before my mom headed home we went over to Mesquite and participated in the weekly (seasonal) rodeo they hold out there. It was a ton of fun to cheer on the athletes, have the kids run in a "Cash Cow" and just generally smell the live stock. I know, I know. A lot of people hate that smell. I don't. I love the horses smell especially.

Took the kids out to watch the Perseid meteor shower ... Rhiannon was asleep way before the first star shot across the sky, Brogan was a trooper and stuck it out with me till the bitter end. And let me tell you, he was bitter. I guess you have to be a little older to understand how incredible the show really was.

I went in the on the 16th of August for my Citizenship Naturalization Test and found it ridiculously easy. Seriously. I studied for how long ... for THAT?!?! Humbug! However, it was cause for celebration and a few good friends and I went out to celebrate my Americanization by eating ... French food @ Cadot in Dallas. An odd choice, maybe ... but darn! Was it ever tasty! The service couldn't have been better; the Chef/owner came by himself twice to check on our meals and indulge in chat about various French dishes. Delightful!

I took the boy back to school shopping and quickly learned that we both have the same patience level for that tomfoolery.
School started way too early ... I could have handled a few more weeks of sleeping in ;) Rhiannon was nervous about who was going to be in her class more than who her actual teacher is and Brogan was unimpressed with the whole idea. They've both settled down into their classes fairly well. Brogan wants to be in another class because that is where his favorite little girl is and Rhiannon has got "warnings" from her teacher pretty much every day since school started ... I guess that means she's doing alright and not cowering in her desk ... So the year is going just dandy so far. Hardy Har Har.

How the West was Won

2010-08-15T01:26:00.007-05:00

Eight swarming kids. One tired Gramma. Three terrorized parents. That's how. Just kidding on the terrorized part. Mostly.

We hit up the Alamo on day three... or four depending on how you keep track of days.
Brogan was acting and feeling rather monsterous that morning. Seriously, does he not look like a serial killer in training? I, however, was having a great day ... (love ya, Michael!) Took some pictures, read some plaques, talked to a couple from Jersey ...
Headed over to the Children's Museum three blocks down from the Alamo and let the kids go (under strict parental supervision) wild. For darn near 5 hours. If not 6. Who was keeping count anyway? I seriously cannot look at this picture of Lily without breaking into laughter. She is such a riot.

Thinking and Being

2010-08-15T00:38:00.008-05:00

The Second day in San Antonio we thought we'd be all smart and get there RIGHT when the gates opened so that we could get the rest of the rides out of the way, watch the shows and then enjoy the water park at the very end before we left. The thought was there. The intention was good. However, we all failed to read on the map the day before that even though the park opens at 10, NOTHING besides the aquarium opens till ELEVEN. Sure, go ahead, get in a line. Sure, go ahead, get there early. It's not like you can DO anything there. Lame-o.
However, once it actually opened for business, we were kinda in good spots to get in early on the rides we wanted to go on. Or THOUGHT we wanted to get on. The roller coaster LOOKED tame enough. (those are the girls standing under the track...) It didn't LOOK like it was going to try to slam your vertebra down through your tail bone. Six story vertical drop with only lap belts, no back support ... and a lot of jerking about. Yaaay ... let's never do that again. Ever. This is what Jenie looks like right after she thinks she's going to die... and what I look like ... It wasn't pretty my friend. Not pretty at all.
We all headed over to watch the Shamu show after that ... and Michael's face expresses just how incredibly powerful the show is. He's not looking all "Holy Crap!" cause he just got SOAKED (haha, that's Lily's face) - he's looking like that because the show is just ... emotional. I have seen the show three times now and I still get choked up.
The water skiing show was to watch also ... it's pretty fun to see what YEARS of doing something athletic can bring about... a career at Sea World ;) Seriously, though. It'd be cool to say your job is water skiing at Sea World.
The rain and lightening had started coming down by this point so we scurried over to the last show we had hoped to watch. They kept delaying the show because of the lightening and high wires and what not involved, which gave the kids a chance to talk to the whale trainer before the cancelled the show entirely.

the rest of the story ...

2010-08-15T00:04:00.012-05:00

I was so tired after I had put together the last two posts I simply couldn't stay awake long enough to WRITE about what we did. I'm well rested and wee bit keyed up right now, though - so here goes!
My mom, kids and I drove down to San Antonio from Austin, checked us in, got us groceries, had supper ... generally wasted time till Michael, Jenie and their kids showed up. THEN the fun REALLY started ... okay, so it started the next day. But it's all relative. I think maybe we went to the pool that night ... but maybe not. It's all kind of blurry ...
The NEXT day - we'll call it the 1st day because I have photographic proof that it happened... We went to Sea World. We touched dolphins, fed sea lions, splashed in the water park, went on some REALLY lame rides, one AWESOME one (those are Michaels, Hannas and my feet dangling on the last set of seats you see) and waited in line for what seemed to be HOURS for an okay one. The kids couldn't have been better. Other than Brogan, who was DONE like ten minutes after we got there, there was no complaining, no whining, no fighting ... just a whole lot of fun been had by all.

San Antonio

2010-08-09T01:18:00.003-05:00

I have lived in Texas for ten years and never taken the time to explore San Antonio. Or Austin... or Houston! Even as I admit it, I feel rather ridiculous. I LIVE here for crying out loud! I need to invest more time into the exploration of Texas and the wonders therein.

Checking In.

2010-08-09T00:11:00.014-05:00

Don't be looking at me like that! Would you rather me have a life or write about a non-life? With a life comes pictures. Yay, pictures! On with the show (in chronological order) ...

I got my letter from the USCIS telling me they had approved my application for citizenship. Which is not to say that I AM a citizen, just that I have an appointment on the 16th of this month. Yay?My momma came down at about mid-July for a month and I've been enjoying having her here to no end. I love having someone around to yak and laugh and play with.
A friend of a friend ... who I think may be on her way to becoming my friend also, offered to let us come to the Dallas Zoo free with her on "Texas Instruments Appreciation" day. We were quick to jump on that offer. I haven't been to the Dallas Zoo since Rhiannon was just a baby, before Brogan happened along (saying that like I have no idea how babies come about). It was sweltering hot ... but it was way fun.

Brogan also lost his first tooth that day, though WHERE the tooth ended up is still a mystery. Brogan! Where's your tooth?!?!?
I don't know, I just lost it.
Lost it where?
I don't KNOW, MOM. I LOST IT!!

Rhiannon returned triumphant from her month long eastern seaboard road trip with her Crabb grandparents, cousins, Aunt and Uncle. Triumphant simply because she had finally swarmed back into my arms. Man, did I miss her constant ever chattering little voice, sweet ever wrapping little arms, silly never making sense jokes!

Too soon after she returned I headed off for a long weekend PTA conference in Austin. Yeah, the classes were interesting, informative and ... whatever else they were suppose to be. But honestly, what it came down to - was it was a GREAT Girl Getaway. We laughed, we swam, we ate, we laughed, we talked, we giggled, we broke a few rules ...

Then, THEN we met up with my brother and his family in San Antonio - which deserves it's own post!

Can We ...

2010-07-06T11:28:00.002-05:00

Hold Senate meetings outside today, Mr. President?
Okay ... so it's not ACTUALLY a senate meeting
or even a meeting of the House
I'm not even sure who all is in the picture
I'm NOT politically motivated at all

But I still love that he's having
formally informal meetings around a picnic table.

She's Sweet

2010-07-06T10:10:00.001-05:00

Even when she's not here.
I found this note hidden in a place I guess she knew I'd look after she left ...

Dear Mom
I love you where ever
I go. I love you very much
and I think you are smart
and Funny. I think you
are the funnest mom
in the world
From your sweet dotter
Rhiannon

awwwww, come on, what eight year old thinks to hide love notes for her mom to find before she leaves on a month long vacation?

Mine.
All mine.

Citizenship

2010-07-05T15:19:00.005-05:00

Yeah, I'm doing it.
I'm breaking down and getting citified (wait, that's actually a word? I thought it was going to be a funny play on countrified .... heck! According to my spell check even THAT is a word. What IS the world coming to?)
Saving me $400/yr on a work visa, not having to deal with funny looks every time I cross a border ...
I've lived here for 1/3 of my life.
At 31, that's not really THAT long.
But considering I plan on staying here.
As in I have NO plans whatsoever of moving back to S. Alberta ...
1/3 is going to slowly become 1/2 then 3/4 ... eventually living in Canada as a "child" will be a fading memory that I'll tell my grandkids of (assuming my kids have kids).
Vacations there won't be "going home for a visit", it'll be "visiting Canada for a few weeks".

Honestly, Texas has become home.
I honestly can't say I feel any strong ties to the United States, other than my children.
But Texas?
I love Texas.

If they changed the pledge to "I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas ..."
Actually Texas DOES have a pledge!
"I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible"

I'll pledge to be indivisible with you anytime ;)

I'll admit, I have struggled internally with giving up my Canadian citizenship.
It's the place of my birth.
It's where my family resides.
It's where I lost my heart for the first time.
I have billions of tiny memories, emotions, friendships all tied up in people and places there.

I didn't flee my country to find a better life in the U.S.
I didn't hope to live the American Dream.

I came because I married an American ... and at the time as far away from my parents and the marital struggles they were experiencing was a blessed relief.

I never thought I'd marry an American, it never crossed my mind, even once.
Even living in the states was a foreign concept.
Other than maybe for school.

But live here?
Permanently?

Give up Canada for America?
No.

Even as I write it, I fight against it.

We're friendly countries, that share the longest common border in the world.

So what's with the hoopla?
Why make is so hard for a friendly neighbor to live a productive life?

Hmmm?

Nothing to Report

2010-07-05T15:12:00.002-05:00

I seem to get harassed more when I don't post something as to when I post nothing.
Wait ... did that make any sense? I got like three hours of sleep last night.
So this whole "conversational writing" thing?
Not to much working for me today.

In any case.

As I stated in the post. Nothing going on here.

Well there is something but as I have strove to keep this blog upbeat and positive, you won't be hearing about that.

Till it concludes.

Then I'll reveal in it and celebrate with you all at a later date.

Well, not physically since the greater majority of my readership lies North of the border.

Canadian border that is.
If it were the Mexican border it'd be all like, "paaaaartaaaay" since you'd be close to me.
But generally speaking - you the reader - are not in any way shape or form physically close to me.

I think I'll write another post about something I just remembered I am in the midst of going!

Can't mix unexciting-none-happening posts with somewhat-exicting-sorta-happening posts!

Letters (post cards) Home

2010-06-29T17:51:00.003-05:00

Kansas:
Dear Mom,
I (heart) you.
I was thinking about you in Kansas all along.
I want you to know that I care about you
and I know you care about me.
From your sweet dotter Rhiannon

St. Louis:
Hi (heart) Mom, dad and Brogan
We miss you and we went to the TOP of the arch.
It was AWESOME!
I touched the Mississippi :)

Philadelphia:
Hi Dad,
I (heart) you
I went to Pennsylvania.
It was cool.
Did you know the (liberty) bell is 3 feet?
It was cool.
From Rhiannon
I (heart) u

New York:
hi mom and dad
I went to new york (city) yesterday it was fun.
We went to a sky ride (Empire State Building) and it was midnight I bot a shirt there.
I had to take a train to go to new york and we got back at 2;00 it was late.
And I went to sleep and I had a good sleep. On the couch I think?
from your sweet doter Rhiannon.
I love you.

New York:
hi Mom
I was thinking about you guys here in New York.
I (heart) you.
I went swimming,
I saw a friend on the same D.S., her name is Jorden.
I (heart) you mom
From your sweet Dotter
Rhiannon

(boo hoo hoo, I miss my baby!)

Off Your Rocker

2010-06-27T13:15:00.003-05:00

Though apparently there is argument over height, weight, width, blah, blah ... I saw, what Texas is claiming to be, The Worlds Largest Rocking Chair ...

The chair stands in front of the Texas Hill Country Furniture and Mercantile just outside of Lipan, built by one of the stores proprietors Larry Dennis.

TRE

2010-06-27T13:11:00.002-05:00

Is there anything more fun than riding on public transportation?
These pictures say "No".

I'm Outta Control

2010-06-27T13:03:00.002-05:00

As of this blog post, I only have 6 more posts till I hit 600 entries.
That's ABSURD right?
I mean, really, who has THAT MUCH to say?
Especially someone who rarely goes any where, does anything, or sees anyone.

I'll console myself with the thought that it's not all been useless, random rambling.

Some posts have been nothing but pictures.

Which reminds me, I need to start hinting to ... someone who will listen that I want a nice camera for Christmas.
My last one is way more than lame.
It's on the road to never being used again.

The shutter (haha, I almost made the mistake of replace the "u" with an "i" ... good thing I caught that!) won't open on it's own.
The picture quality is less than my phone.
It won't take rapid succession action pics.
Useless.
As in of no use to me at all.

A nice camera and a good editing program.
That's all I ask.

That's a lot, I know.

You have to dream big people!

Dublin

2010-06-24T23:43:00.002-05:00

Texas.
Not Ireland.
I won't lead you astray.
I'm still pouting over not going to THAT one while my sister in law and brother did. My sister in law who didn't even know WHERE in the WORLD Ireland was. *sigh*
It's okay, Jenie, I may not understand you, but I sure do love you.

Anyway.
My mom came to Texas to ... do some stuff that I won't write about because it's not my story.
The side pot of her coming to Texas was us getting to go down to Dublin, Texas where Dr. Pepper has been getting bottled since 1891 on a road trip.
I've fostered a love of road trips and factory tours in my kids.
Why not?
I'm their mom, I can do what I want ;)

Sacagewea

2010-06-24T23:33:00.005-05:00

This year was filled with fun "school" projects.
Most of which stretched my "creative" boundaries to their absolute limit.
The last project of the year was the second grade American Hero project.
The kids each picked a hero, wrote a book report on whomever it was, then as a kicker had to make a cut out thing-a-ma-bob. It was graded on a "rubix'. I'm not even going to explain it other than to say it's ridiculous and once again a tester to see how involved the parents are.
I'm not racist, just factual when I say they'd never give this as a project to the kids in the inner cities.
I let her do it all in the order she picked ...
(all while biting my tongue)

Splash Park

2010-06-24T23:29:00.002-05:00

McPherson Park in Colleyville.

Fake it till You make it.

2010-06-24T21:53:00.003-05:00

I'm still not sure how to write about Rhiannon's birthday.
Still not sure how to put a positive spin on it.
Still not sure how to write about something I detested from the get go.

Between she and her father, they decided she should have her birthday at the Great Wolf Lodge with three "best friends".
I thought she should have it at a public pool with ALL of her friends.
What do I know?

It turned out to be a disaster.
Instead of inviting girls she's been friends with all year, she invited three girls who have been best friends with each other ... not so much her. Girls she wanted to be friends with. Not already was.
Within a half hour of arriving at The Lodge and hitting up the water park, she was wandering around by herself.
Ditched.
At her own birthday party.

Birthday dinner ... no one crowding around her to be the one sitting next to the special girl.
All but ignored.

Blowing out her birthday candles ... taking an extraordinary amount of time to make her wish.
Day after the party, she comes to me in tears and declares that her birthday wish didn't come true. The girls kept on excluding her. (Please, tear out my heart now.)

Deciding who was going to share bunks ... Rhiannon sleeping by herself.
Ended up coming out and sleeping on my bed with me, in tears.

All I could do was try to show her how this was a good lesson.
That you have to be good to the people who are good to you.
Maybe your birthday isn't the best time to try to evaluate who your best friends could be. But the ones who are.

*sigh*

This Dress

2010-06-24T21:49:00.002-05:00

... or maybe seeing her in it, choked me up.

The dress is beeeeautiful.

When we went to the American Girl store with her Grandma Crabb to pick out her birthday doll we also found her baptism dress.

I have never found myself emotional about seeing my kids in clothes.

But this dress, how she looks in it ... I was glad I was sitting when she turned around.

She looks so grown up and so much like my baby.
The combination
Killed me.

Geek

2010-06-24T21:38:00.003-05:00

I love finding places near and far that have been high lighted on the Travel Channel and Food Network.
Just to see if what they were talking about it as good as they say.
I don't like taking anyones word for anything.
Unless it's scary.
Or gross.

A McDonald's PlayPlace in Dallas that is designed to look like a Happy Meal was featured on the Travel Channel. The show declared this to be the happiest McDonald's in the world - Darn it if I didn't want to find THAT! For the record ... I don't think it's any happier than the rest.

Surprises

2010-06-24T21:34:00.002-05:00

I've started walking/jogging pretty regularly.
Various routes.
Irregular lengths
Collection of different ladies.
Random times.

Some days it just isn't fun. It's hot.
It's rainy.
It's too far.

My ankles hurt.
I want to sleep longer.

But then I'll see something like this and I keep going a little further.

Kindy Grad

2010-06-24T21:21:00.003-05:00

This event is tough for me to write about.
Not because I am crying over it, or had some heart wrenching "Oh my baby is growing up" moment over it.
No, not at all.
It's hard to write about because of how hard the event was on Brogan.
I don't know if it was the surroundings, the standing, the sitting, the singing ...
But he was checked out of his graduation ceremony before it even started.I'm glad we went though.
I refuse to let him opt out of events simply because they make him uncomfortable.

There were a couple of cute moments during the ceremony that made it worthwhile for me.
They were calling each of the "graduates" out by name and stating what the child had said they wanted to be, when Brogan came up they stated that he wanted to be Indiana Jones when he grows up. Well, everyone can't be fire fighters ...
At the very end they were singing the school song, which ends in the kids doing a coyote howl (a coyote being the school mascot). I watched as Brogan crouched down, perched himself on the edge of the riser and howled like no ones business.

Six Flags

2010-06-24T21:05:00.004-05:00

Someone or other sponsors a reading program every year at our school ... probably at a lot of other schools too. But I'm not AT those other schools, so I can't really tell you about them.
I could speculate.
But I won't.
Cause I have better things to do.
Like ramble on about what we HAVE done and I DO know about!

The deal is, a child must read or be read to a certain amount of minutes (it's not a small amount either. I think it's like a million. That may or may not be an exaggeration.) to "earn" a free ticket to Six Flags.

I'm all for it.

Okay, sure. I wouldn't other wise take my kids to Six Flags.

I'd save myself a day of telling Brogan to stop licking hand rails.

Reassuring Rhiannon I haven't run off and joined the circus when she can't see me every single minute.

And sometimes HOURS of debilitating lines.

But heck, we have a Six Flags 25 minutes from our house and we're not going to take advantage of it when we can? Whatever, loonie.

I talked one of my friends that has older kids into coming with us, that really made a HUGE difference in our day.

The kids were able to go on rides I simply cannot handle (spiny rides make me puke. Like projectile. Seriously, stand back.) or didn't want to go on AGAIN (what is up with kids liking to drive cars they actually have no control over?) with the friends older kids and EVERYONE was happy.

Run the Jailbreak

2010-06-24T20:56:00.004-05:00

A month or so ago a friend posted a link on Facebook talking about an event that is taking place here in the DFW metro in September.
I have been looking at other events like this in places like Austin - so to find one right here in our back yard?

Call me stoked.
Pumped.
Jazzed.

I'm In it, not to Win It ... just not DIE.

Run the Jailbreak is a 3.8 mile race that includes obstacles, mud pits, creeks, hills and promises screaming muscles the next day.

Aweeeesome!

No, seriously I am so excited about this race I hate that it's three months away.

Then again, it SHOULD be cooler in three months ...

What? Who? Me!

2010-06-24T20:34:00.002-05:00

My seeester pointed out to me the other day that I have officially become a blogging failure.
You know, Dawn, 10 years ago that wouldn't even be possible.
So really, you should congratulate me on breaking ground.
Okay, so I haven't even broke ground.
Michael was a blogging failure WAY before me.
Check HIM out - it's been forever since he wrote more than a couple sentences.
How we mourn your writing loss, dear brother.
Nobody can talk like a Jones; and you optimize Jonesness.

As for me and my house ... I'll start blogging tonight. I got too much sleep last night and I'll be up till dawn. Might as well be productive in some sense of the word.

On with the show!

I love that this post will be buried under all those to come, so you don't even have a chance to back out of reading all that is to come till after it's too late.

Hahahahhaha, oh my evilness is truly diabolical!

Or at least a little lurid.

Pesky?

Juvenile.

Love It

2010-05-01T10:47:00.004-05:00

The other day, after I'd slipped on one Bounce sheet too many (there are always the stray ones that I don't catch IN the clothes and end up on the laundry room floor) I decided to be all brave and try out a new product.

The Bounce Dryer Bar.I.
Love.
It.

I have one less step doing the laundry, I never have to worry about them landing on the floor and I'm not wondering if I should use a full, half or 1/3 of a sheet per load (yeah, that really was one of my dilemmas. What can I say? I'm neurotic.)

The More That Happens

2010-04-29T20:54:00.002-05:00

... the less I care to write.

It seems to me that the more I have going on in my life the less likely I am to write about it. Funny, eh? When things that people would actually care to hear about happen ... I fail to write about it because I am too busy living it.

I found that with my cousin Kari too. She was a WONDERFUL blogger. Witty, entertaining, enlightening. Then she got a job. No more blogging.

I didn't get a job, per say. I just finally found a life.

Friends, places, opportunities, activities, invitations, discussions ...

In the eleven years I have lived in Texas things never seem to have come together this well or this smoothly for me. Some how in the last month things have just ... slipped together. Like finally there was a key that was turned. And click.

I hate to tempt fate by talking about it. I've never been overly blessed with good "luck".

But I think there are a couple people out there that may be interested so here goes.

An over view -

I was elected to the PTA board at the kids school. Did you know you don't have to be present to be elected into a seat on a PTA board? Heck, until the last year I didn't even know what the PTA did, let alone how it works.
This unexpected (though not altogether unwanted) seat puts me in contact with people I'd generally not associate with.
No matter how old you get, there are always social classes. Groups. People that you know are simply "not of your class". Not that you don't want to associate with them, you just really don't have much in common. On the surface.
Because of this election I have been put into regular contact with ladies that have intimidated me from the get go. Everything from how they dress (will someone please nominate me for "what not to wear"? Seriously, I need an intervention cause I have no idea what I am doing) to their attitudes to what they drive (ha! I'm a car snob and I love their cars, alright!)
They not only have welcomed me into the fold, they have actively sought out my companionship and opinions.
It's been awesome.

I "kind of" double talked a friend into thinking they'd asked me to walk their dog, when really I had been asking to do it. So they think they are in debt to me. When really ... I've been itching to get a dog. Main reason - to give me a reason to go walking/jogging. But really, we travel so much and I'm getting so involved in the kids school ... and don't forget about the cost of a dog! I couldn't see putting a dog through that. However, when someone else owns the dog - it's the perfect answer!
Through walking the dog/going to dog parks I have also met some people that I'd never have met before. Had conversations with people in the area of business that I have been considering for years to get into and not been too confident about it. Giving me more determination to go ahead and do what I've been itching to do, now that I have definite guidelines and direction.

Took a leap and went with a "newish" friend to play a game I'd never played before with a bunch of other people I didn't know and learned I LOVE it - and the newish friend and I have grown closer.

Gone and watched bands I've never heard of and would have never listened to. Met new people, reconnected with old acquaintances.

I'm in a good place.
I don't think I've been this content, yet revved up to see what's next, in years.

Kindy Performance

2010-04-13T15:34:00.000-05:00

Tonight B-Man's Kindy class is putting on there show "Lemonade". I'll be using a school lap top to stream it live from here:

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/6160547

If you want to watch, it starts at 6:30pm (CST). If you can't/didn't get to it tonight, I'll try to get a copy from another parent who tapes it.

Crack Me Up

2010-04-07T10:35:00.003-05:00

"Ms. R - what are your stuffies doing on the blinds?"
"Hanging out."

HAHA
HAHAHAHAAHA

I Love My Kid, how 'bout YOU?

2010-03-25T23:01:00.004-05:00

Over Spring Break (*cough cough*) while we were in Canada I got an email from B-mans' teachers telling me about a project they were giving to the kids... I mean the "family". Here's the email I received:

Family Project

3-Dimensional Seussical Character

We recently celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday with an extensive author study. Also, in Math, we have introduced 3-dimensional geometric figures (i.e. cone, sphere, cylinder, cube, rectangular prism, triangular prism and pyramid). As an extension of our study of geometry and a connection to our study of Dr. Seuss, scholars will complete a family project at home. Each scholar will design an original Seussical character out of a household item made of a particular 3-dimensional shape (i.e. box, can, paper towel roll). Parents may assist with locating an appropriate 3-dimensional item that can be altered using original thought and creativity. Any art supplies or tools are welcome to decorate the unique Seussical character (i.e. construction paper, paint, pom poms, wiggle eyes, feathers, etc.). It is important to include the distinct features of a Seussical character so attached pictures have been provided on this note as a reference. Scholars will be expected to identify the 3-dimensional shape used to make their character as well as some of the attributes of their shape (i.e. sides, faces, corners).

All Seussical characters are due Friday, March 26, 2010.

Thank you for encouraging creativity and mathematical thinking.

Ooooh K. So you want my KINDERGARTNER to step up and make a 3-D character using geometrical shapes? Riiiiiight.

Bull.

Crap.

You know what this REALLY is, don't you? It's a "How involved are you, as a parent?" test. It's a "How much do you really love your child?' question.

I asked B-man what character he wanted to do. I tried to steer him towards a fish or Thing Two. But no.

This is who he choose. Can you tell who it is?

Get Your Cook On

2010-03-25T22:53:00.002-05:00

I started making up a batch of Apple Crisp the other day (who says skinnier is better?) when Ms. R came wandering into the kitchen.
"Mom!" She exclaimed "I can help you with that!"
"Alright honey, what part do you want to do?"
"The same part I helped grandma Char with" She answered.
"Which part was that?" I asked.
She proceeded to take the bowl I was putting the apple peels in and ... start eating the peels.
I could do nothing but laugh.
"THAT was the 'help' you gave gramma Char?"
Then I asked her if she wanted to do a little bit more, like help me cut up the apples.
She eyed up the BIG knife I was using and asked hesitantly if it'd be safe (first and foremost, she's a safety girl.)
I put my hands over hers and showed her the right technique and told her when she got to the "butt" *snicker snicker on her behalf* to stop so she didn't get too close to her fingers.
Yeah. The slices were three times the thickness I generally cut them.
Yeah. It took me an extra 20 minutes to cook the crisp.
Yeah. She took A LOT of pride in that dish ;)

Disowned

2010-03-25T22:51:00.001-05:00

After seeing this picture ... my mom may disown my daughter ...Yep, she ate everything BUT the middle of the cinnamon bun, mom ;)

Spring Break

2010-03-22T18:22:00.003-05:00

First of all ... when did we all become so stinking politically correct that we can't even have this break AT Easter or call it EASTER break anymore? I mean, seriously. Why do other religions object to Easter as long as they get a break? It's probably just me being politically ignorant and stubborn. But still.

Any who. The kids and I headed back up to Canada with my mom (we decided to fly using air miles, since driving would have cost us well over $1000) for our Spring break and my niece Emma's baptism. Not THEIR EASTER break, but our SPRING break. Which meant the Canadian cousins were in school the whole time we were there.

For me, it was still well worth going. There never seems to be enough time to see/do it all. There are always more people/places that I could/should have seen/went. It's one of the things I love about going up to Canada. I can do absolutely nothing but sit at someones house all day and play games with them ... or I can be running around like a chicken with my head cut off (does anyone else have an actual visual picture of that in their head? No? I do.) trying to get to everyone/everything I want to do while I am there.
Either way, there is always someone around.
I love that.

Ms. R was given the class "Scooby Do" for the trip. So we endeavored to take as many pictures of her in Scooby in various "Canadian" settings. Airplane, Airport, with her grandpa at his store, at the R.C.M.P. station, with the southern Alberta wind turbines, out at her great grandma and grandpa Bowlby's farm ...

B-man had a great time up in Canada. There was the actual flight to Canada, swimming at a pool my sister in law rented out, tons of Wii play time, tromping through the fields at my grandparents place, meeting new "friends", learning the art of "stair sliding" ...

There's never a lack of things to do in Canada. On hand I'm sad we are probably not going up there this summer ... on the other hand I REALLY hope that means that my sister in law is coming down with her kids so we can explore Texas together for a few weeks.

Cruisin'

2010-03-20T19:56:00.003-05:00

Hahaa. That's Soooooo funny.
You know what happened to this post?
The mystical "You Apparently Don't Know How to Use the Internet" fairies.
They are an evil bunch. EVIL I tell you!

I had wrote out an entire entry. Filled with correct spelling, pictures and happiness.
I had however failed to take into account that I had signed out of my email account in the midst's of it ... hence out of blogger.
None of it saved.
None of it but the title.
Darn you blogger and your finicky ways. (That's right, I'm not taking any blame for this one.)

However, fueled with 12 hours of sleep I feel I am more than up to the task to re-writing and possibly even making my last post better.
You'll never know the difference since I didn't post the last entry ... But in all confidence that I can post THIS entry I'll say it's much better than the one that came previously.

On to the adventure!

My mom and I choose to go on a semi-short cruise of a week (not too short - those just seem like a waste of time and money) to test out a number of things. Most importantly how tolerant we were of cruising. As an avid motion sickness person, I was worried. Very worried. That I would spend the voyage curled up in a ball, clutching my head, running to the toilet, miserable beyond belief.
These little puppies, I am sure saved my neck. As it was, I just felt like I was a wee bit drunk without the nasty side effects. I honestly enjoyed the feeling immensely ;) Anything in the name of not getting motion sick!

The first day was all about Seeing the Ship for the First Time getting Mustered and coming back to our first towel animal. (On that note, our room stewart was AWESOME. He remembered our names and greeted us every time we saw him... oh yeah, and he kept our room immaculately clean.)

Our second day was spent at "sea" - well, more the Gulf. But that's just splitting hairs. My mom and I weren't prepared for how little there was to do on our ship during the sea days ... fortunately I had brought a Cribbage Board along (on the off chance we'd have time BEFORE we got on the ship.) So we played cribbage, did some Suduko, DIDN'T lay in the sun (it was darn chilly!), got dressed up for the "elegant night", watched a show ...
This was the day we got some exciting tides too! Our cabin was on the bottom level, which seems to be just above sea level when you're going 16.5 nautical miles per hour (my mom and I spent a lot of time with our tv on the ship locator channel. It told you where we were, how fast we were going, where the winds were coming from, what the sun rise and set times were). Some of those waves seemed to billow up to above our cabin window. It was stinking facinating to watch. Then again, my mom and I decided we are both very easily entertained.

The third day was a port day. Progreso, Yucatan, Mexico. My mom wasn't too hot on the idea of seeing Mayan ruins (which is what the excursions for this port are) so we just hung around the port town. Walked trough the street markets, laid out on the beach, got harrassed by street urchins, ate bad Mexican food, got Henna tattoos, endured two 10 mile bus rides on stinky, hot, crowded buses. Over all ... an interesting experience. Any day on vacation is better than a good day working, right?

The next day was Cozumel, Mexico. We had opted to go on an excursion this port. It was a Zip line/rock climbing/rappelling/rope bridges/snorkeling trip that we were both TOTALLY pumped about. We were initially a little bit disappoointed by the set up of the operation. Instead of being in a jungle or forest setting it was at a resort. The zip line was over an expanse of sand/dirt and the whole area was less than 1/2 an acre in size. We still had a great time, despite failed expectations. The staff at the resort was upbeat, fun, and patient.

The best part though ... was the SNORKELING. I seriously could have done that alone all stinking day long. The fish, the color of the water, the bouyancy ... It was stuff of unrealized dreams. My next vacation is going to simply be about that - snorkeling.

We did a bit of shopping before we got back on the ship ... between my mom and I, I was the only one to spend any money. For two DelSol shirts for my kids. Everything else just seemed so ... tourist-y. Other than the jewelry. And I'm not a jewelry wearing type of gal.

The next day was once again at "sea" (Gulf). We joined in some BINGO games, mom took some dance lessons (from an extremely adorable South African), took part in "The Amzing Esctacy Race" (which we "won" a trophy and medals for ... I think simply because we were able to debate certain technicalities so well), hung out on the "Serenity Deck" (adults only) for some quality sun time, watched the last cruise produced show (not nearly as good as the first one) ... generally just hung out. It was a great last day.

It was a great cruise.
Neither my mom nor I really understood how people could gain 7-10lbs on a cruise. Sure, there is a lot to eat ALL of the time ... but there is always salads, fruits, activities, steps to climb ... I had three deserts a day (the best part of breakfast was the strudel that completed it!) yet, I still actually lost weight. Weird.

Oh! The Drama.

2010-02-10T23:23:00.003-06:00

I've been going to the Dallas "Meet Up" for Cribbage since mid-November.
You may remember I wrote about it here.
I love love love this "club".
I love the game, I love the people, I love (some of) the food they serve at the venue.
Mostly I love the interaction with these people though.
It's mostly a group of (older) gentlemen (one guys 96!), some upper-middle aged and a few younger aged.
There are a few of us ladies that sprinkle in and make it entirely MUCH more fun.

Cribbage, if you didn't know, is actually a game played professionally for a lot of money.
"Points" earned every week at these meet ups count towards a grand total that rank you not only in your group, but nationally.

I think I could confidently say I am well liked in this group.
I play for fun, enjoy the banter exchanged between play, laugh a lot and am kind to one and all.
Even the pissy, grumpier old men.
Who I have won begrudging smiles from with my attitude (and maybe a little lip.)
They just remind me of my grump.
Who, honestly, I adored.

The organizer of the group, Brock Lee (say it together really fast and try not to laugh. He was special forces, he will use those skills against you) has taken me under his wing from the beginning; teaching me how to count properly (no thanks to you, grump!), how to throw "strategically", etc. He often plays beside me as we make our rounds of the tables, watches my hands and discusses with me after I've played how I could have improved upon what I did (if needed, sometimes I play brilliantly.)

I still make mistakes, miss points, don't follow ALL of the rules (mostly because I am unaware of them and whomever I am playing don't really care to inform me of them). But over all, an acceptable player.

With the stage now set ... Let the drama unfold.

This evening was like all the others, I arrived before the actual "tournament", played some "free play" with Tonya (whom I am joining next week at the firing range before we head to Cribbage, bring on the fire power!), talked up a few people, greeted a new guy, blah blah blah.

As most nights, Brock grabbed the seat beside me as "serious" play started.

I didn't play that badly ... the cards were just that bad for the first ... oh ... FOUR games. I lost them all.

To me, it was a whatever, like I said - I go out for fun and because I like the people not because I am all about getting ranked nationally or earning points or whatever. Seriously, it's not like I am going to travel to Reno to make my "fortune" ($10k grand prize) doing this in the "World Wide Tourney" (no, I'm not kidding - it really happens!)

I know there are some people in our group who take this seriously - Brock for instance, and another player Rich. They are or have been ranked nationally. Seriously intimidating.

My fifth game was against Rich. Generally a good guy, but gets extremely pissy when he's losing.

We're playing along. Much to my surprise, my luck is changing and I am keeping a decent lead on him.

Which means he's already glowering at me and being unjustly abrupt.

I get a certain hand, I contemplate how to throw my "crib". Toss two cards. Before Rich has tossed his two cards, I change my mind and alternate the ends I am pulling from.

Rich, an official American Cribbage Congress judge says nothing, though I know he has witnessed the switch.

We do the flip ...

I end up getting a 1o point hand. No bad.

Then I turn over my crib.

Between when I threw, he threw and the turn card - I have a 24 point hand (the highest you can get is 29).

He becomes absolutely infuriated.

We finish the game, I "skunk" him. He needed "points" this week to stay in the top 10 nationally ranked, apparently. Without that win, he dropped in the standings.

Then he tears into Brock infront of a group of other players about cheating and abusing trust ... blah blah blah. I guess he thought Brock had given me some kind of signal like a cough or nudge or something which is why I changed my hand. If Brock actually had done something I was so unaware - I pretty much ignore him while I am playing. Besides, even if he WAS trying to signal me - I have no idea how he'd want me to throw cards. He plays logically. My version is more willy nilly.

He doesn't stop there. The last few games he goes on to tell one and all about what "went down" and how I am a cheater.

If I was a different type of person, as these people (laughingly) approached me with these "accusations", I would have either become infuriated myself or hurt.

It's a really good thing that so many people at the club like me and think I am a good person, because his accusations, as a more "seasoned" member and an ACC judge could be really damning. And hurtful.

I did address the issue, asking him how it was I was a cheater, when he saw what I did at the time and didn't say anything. How if Brock did indeed make some sort of ... gesture or whatever, I don't pay attention to him for heaven sake. Etc, Etc, Etc.

If the turn card had been different, if RICH had thrown into my crib any differently ... it would have been a crap crib.

Him losing his standing in the ACC was simply a bad slip of luck.

No conniving on my part.

Funny as it may seem ... my life is so dull, I actually had a little fun getting so worked up.

I also learned I have friends in this club.

People who without pause took my side.

Knew that isn't the kind of person I am.

It's a good feeling.

"Are You the Tooth Fairy?"

2010-02-07T19:16:00.002-06:00

She asks me.
I freeze. Dread pours through me.
I can distinctly remember being told be a certain someone (we won't name any names will we? You know who you are.) that Santa wasn't real and how devastating that was to me. Was I ready to introduce my daughter to that same pain? Was I willing to put my daughter through that feeling of deceit?
So I continued cautiously.
"Why do you ask, baby?"
"Kimberly told me that her parents are the tooth fairy; she saw them taking her tooth."
"What do you think of that?"
"I don't know what she'd lie. So it's probably okay."
"Would you be okay with me being a tooth fairy too?"
"Yeah, I would like that."
"You would?"
"Yeah, that makes you magical!"
I puzzle over this silently until I notice her eyeing me up.
"What's the most magical part?"
"Where do you keep your wings? How did you know you were a tooth fairy? Do you shrink? Do you really build cities with my teeth?"

While I totally appreciate her acceptance of magic and all things special and sweet ... it kind of concerns me that this was the conclusion she came to.
Not that I have been lying to her.
But that some how I "fairy up".
Bless her soft, sweet heart.

I told her we have to keep this a secret, that no other kid should find out the "truth" about the tooth fairy from her ... And she thinks it's the greatest thing ever.

Moad Crockpot Chicken

2010-02-07T18:15:00.004-06:00

*from "Sally's Smorsels"*

I love finding recipes on Sally's blog I can whip together and make without buying extra ingredients! Everyone in my family (expect the boy who only likes pizza and Ramen) LOVED it. Well done, Sally!

4 chicken breasts
2 Tablespoons butter
1 package Italian dressing mix (the powder)
6 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup water
2 Tablespoons onion, minced
1 can cream of mushroom soup
noodles or rice, cooked

Place the chicken in the crockpot. Cube the butter into tiny pieces and sprinkle over the chicken. Sprinkle with the Italian dressing mix. Cook on high for 3 1/2 hours or low for 6 hours (from frozen!).

Combine the cream cheese, water, onion and soup in a sauce pan. Heat until smooth. Pour over the chicken in the crockpot. Cook for 30 minutes longer. Serve over noodles or rice.

I didn't have any Italian Dressing Mix on hand, so I made up some of my own then added 2 Tablespoons as my "packet". I put the rest in a sealed container for future use.

1 tablespoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon white sugar
2 tablespoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 tablespoon dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon celery salt
2 tablespoons salt

Bye Bye Birdie

2010-01-28T11:10:00.004-06:00

On Monday the librarian from my kids school asked me if I'd like to go to the production of "Bye Bye Birdie" that our high school was putting on. I had no idea what it was about, or how good it'd even be - but I'm always up for a night out.
Always.
So I gleefully agreed.
Of course.

We met up for supper first and giggled and talked and slurped our way through a really great meal.

It's the first time we've spent time with each other outside of the school, so I was a little apprehensive that it'd be awkward and weird.
Uncomfortable.
It wasn't like that at all, thank heaven.

We then headed over to the high school to watch the play.
Oh. My. Gosh.

It was awesome.

All these kids are just in high school, yet it was pulled off pretty much flawlessly.

I will definitely be going back to see their next production!

Flavored Water

2010-01-28T10:58:00.002-06:00

Or for my lovely Canadian counterparts
"Flavoured Water".

I love the stuff. Love it.

For a while I was chugging Propel.
But then it started hurting when I was brushing my teeth.

I brush my teeth for up to five minutes at a time, as a "relaxor" ... that's a long time to put up with pain.

So I stopped drinking that.

And the pain went away.

However, that meant that I pretty much stopped drinking water too.

Not so much of a good idea.

Dude, I HATE the taste of water.

Or the non-taste as it may be.

But recently I decided to try out Glacéau "Vitamin Water".
Ooooh so good.

Especially for someone who loves vitamin C as much as I do.

Cause that's what their "Orange-Orange" flavor tastes like.

Love it.

Obviously Dillusional

2010-01-23T13:03:00.003-06:00

I routinely go through areas of my house and do a "flush". Much like a colon cleanse, really ;)

I throw out dollar store toys the kids have either wrecked or do not play with anymore, filling garbage bags with clothes/toys that are still in working order but are not played with/fit that are taken to the Goodwill.
Sometimes have the kids help me with this.
Often I do not because my girl has the same problem with giving up things that her father does. (He still has flannel shirts he acquired while living in Portland 15 years ago - with the tags still attached. He has some mislead belief that he will want to wear them someday.
Forget the fact that he's gained 30 lbs since then ...)

I have no problem getting rid of most things that have not been used or worn within the last six months.

However, I just can't bring myself to go through my game cupboard and get rid of any of them. Want to know why this is strange? I am the only person in my house that actually likes playing board games. Yet, I have 30+ games I can't make myself part with. I think in the back of my mind I have a hope that someone will come around someday and be willing to play with me.
What, am I keeping them for the once or twice a year my mom comes to visit and I have someone to engage in a lively game of Scrabble/Cribbage/Tri-ominoes?
If I am ... I need a reality check.

Hockey

2010-01-20T11:02:00.003-06:00

A few months ago I introduced the boy to hockey via the television, since then he has been adamant that he wants to get "hockey lessons". I have been a wee bit apprehensive about this idea.

#1 - Hockey is an expensive sport to get in to. It's not like you just have to buy them some cleats and shin guards.
#2 - He is NOT a "team player" type kid. So much so that he will deliberately pick games on the Wii that are only one player games when he KNOWS Ms. R wants to play with him.

In order to solidify his desire one way or the other I decided to take him to a Dallas Stars game.He was enthralled during the opening sequence.
Within 20 minutes though, he was saying to me, "I don't want to watch hockey guys, I want to PLAY a hockey guy."

I had to bribe him with the promise of a slurpee to stay so I could watch the remainder of the game (they were playing the Oilers, for heaven sake - I couldn't leave without knowing the outcome of good vs. evil).

He may have been bored simply watching the "hockey guys" but he's still sure he wants to play.

So soon enough I'll be signing him up for skating lessons.

One step at a time, right?

Hello, Michael

2010-01-20T10:25:00.002-06:00

There are times that B-man reminds me so much of my brother it makes me smile.

Like his preference in books.

No fairy tales for this boy, oh no.Just the facts, ma'am. Just the facts.

Thank You, Baby

2010-01-19T17:46:00.003-06:00

Thank you, baby for realizing I have been feeling a little under appreciated ... and have started offering to help around the house without encouragement.

Thank you, baby for realizing I was getting fed up with all the meals I have made without one, "That was good, thank you." And without prompting have started telling me how great my meals are and how much you love what I make.

Thank you, baby for realizing sometimes I just need to sit and be cuddled for a little while without talking. You're soft heart makes me proud.

Thank you, baby for being sensitive to the fact that I am tired of thinking of stuff for us to do and coming up with things on your own. Some of your ideas are a little off the wall ... but I love you for trying.
You're a gift from Heaven that I will always be thankful for.

I'm NOT Doing This for ME

2010-01-19T17:26:00.002-06:00

One of the charities I have got involved with is a service called "The Clothes Connection". It's a service provided by my kids school district P.T.A. Essentially schools through out the district collect clothes through out the year, either through drives, private donations or kids lost and found (after they have given sufficient notice to the kids to come mull through it and see it any of it is theirs.) The clothes collected are all cleaned again and put up in a store type deal. There's everything there, heavy jackets, skirts, uniforms, shoes, belts, even new undies and socks. This service is provided to any family in the district who also qualify for the free/reduced meals. All they have to do is contact the school nurse or councilor, they verify the need and send us an email stating that these people are indeed in need.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoy doing this. I enjoy receiving all the goods that are donated, sorting and hanging. Helping fill the orders. Interacting with the other ladies that are involved in this project.
However, one of the draw backs is ...
The people who come to get the clothes.
In variably these people act like they are doing ME a favor by letting me help them.
Or they push how much of whatever they are allowed to take.
Or act irritated that we don't have what ever size of such and such.
The "Thank You for Helping Me" to "Give Me What I Deserve" ratio is at best 1 to 10.
It's very disheartening.
I tell myself that these people are possibly just ... sensitive to the fact that they are having to accept charity.
That they are embarrassed because they are having to use this service.

But something inside me has a really hard time listening to that possibility in the face of how these people act and treat the volunteers providing this service.

It's not like I want them to be all crest fallen and subjugated.
All I'm asking for is a little gratitude.
A little respect for all the hard work we are putting into the service we are providing.

OverKill

2010-01-02T19:38:00.004-06:00

As mentioned previously, my Mom invited me to go on a cruise with her this March as my Christmas/Birthday present.
I ain't no fool, I jumped at the chance.
Duuuude, it's a CRUISE
Though I am TOTALLY excited about the trip ... I'm willing to admit the idea of sea sickness has me a little on edge, because well ... I get motion sick when I am driving my car.
But I plan on doing it all.
Those wrist bands, ginger, those patches, not drinking caffeine (good bye, Pepsi)"Over kill" you may say.
I beg to differ my friend. I beg to differ.
I'd rather cover all the basis and feel no ill effects then go in "hoping" I'm okay.
Cause (as my mom would say) "dollars to donuts" I'd be laid low the entire trip if I didn't take the precautions.

Remember Me? ... a Post mostly about my mom.

2010-01-01T10:23:00.011-06:00

When I start posting less than my sister in law I know I have become a blogging slacker.

And I have.

So I am .

Today, I will remedy that!

You may be asking, "What has happened in the MONTH, Krista?"

Let's see...

My MOM came to be with us for the holidays. As usually, she was not here for nearly enough time.
However, we've started formulating a (legal) plan to hopefully get her down here.
Permanently.
Surprisingly, Jerry (the one with whom she has butted heads with regularly in the last 10 years) has been the most helpful in coming up with strategies to get her here.
We'll have to see how it all turns out.
I am getting my hopes semi-up.

While she was here we started planning our CRUISE she so fabulously gave me for Christmas/my upcoming Birthday.
Totally Excited!
No "semi's" about it.

She came down the week before the kids were out of school and was able to help me volunteer in a number of capacities.
Some people were like, "Your mom comes for a visit and you bring here HERE?"
But really - my mom and I have fun pretty much anywhere so go.
So helping people out as we visited was just as good of a thing to do as anything else.

Ms. R absolutely LOVED having her come to the school for lunches and the "Holiday Party". B-Man wasn't too busted up about it himself.I took her out to my Cribbage club and she fell in love with the club and a little bit in lust with the organizer. Can't blame her, the people in the club are fun and the organizer's got charisma and charm to spare.

We went up to Grapevine to participate in some of their holiday activities. While it was WAY chillier than one would have expected for Texas, the kids still had a lot of fun.

We stinking well got SNOW. PILES of it. Weird.

Christmas was spent out at my in laws. Lots of food and games played. Relaxing.
Though the kids had a great time opening presents, it still felt like something was missing.
Other kids.
The joy of sharing some of what you got, getting territorial over others, laughing and playing with cousins.
I think next Christmas I just may give in and leave Texas for Christmas.
From what I hear there is a plan in the works for everyone to meet up in Utah at one of Jerry's brothers place. We have come to call it "the great and spacious building". Hopefully by next Christmas it will be more than a shell and able to accommodate the entire family. Cause my kids need kids.

Sadly, at this point, my mom has gone home (boohoo). So life has gone back to it's every day regular grind.

Last night Jerry and I cracked open our new electronic Monopoly game. While playing the actual game was fun ... not having physical money to exchange was a little bit of a let down. Jerry says it's just cause I'm a tactile person and I miss how the money felt in my hands. He's probably right. The electronic version is pretty cool, though. Less of a mess and all that.

I Didn't Do It ...

2009-12-06T14:51:00.003-06:00

I swear!
Though if I'd thought of it, I probably would have.B-man has been eating out of the cat dish for ... years now.
It's a wee bit disconcerting and I'm sure the cats haven't appreciated the interloper.
Beyond that though, it's just been the way it is.
I haven't really tried to stop him.
It's cat food for heaven sake.
Wheat ... and stuff.
Probably good for him.
Funny thing?
He won't eat pasta's - but he'll eat cat food.
So when I walked into the laundry room and found an extra bowl all I could do was laugh.
Then take a picture of it so I could share the silliness.

To Explain ...

2009-12-02T10:42:00.003-06:00

why this post will have no pictures, you'd have to know me.
Know I am a natural klutz.
Nothing is safe from my wild flinging hands, stumbling feet and knee bumping body.
Nothing.
Including my dear (newly departed) lap top.
Yep, that's right.
My lap top met with a Kristakltuz incident that included a cupboard door, an elbow and a cup full of milk.
No amount of wiping, swiping, shaking or pleading would stop the disaster.
I am no longer a joyful laptop owner. Or a computer owner for that matter.
And there is no way Jerry is letting me near his computers. Have you met me? Can you blame him?
So here I sit - at the community library.
Picture-less.
But not story-less;
So let the good times roll!

Yesterday Ree Drummond (a.k.a. Pioneer Woman) was in Dallas for her book signing.
For those of you not familiar with Ree or this book - I'll let you in on a secret ... this "book" is a recipe book. A recipe book that has gone #1 on the New York Times Best Seller List. I kid you not.
I introduced my sister to P.W. ... I'm not too sure how long ago. I know it was after I'd spent a few days (and nights) reading through her entire site.
All the way to the beginning.
No word of a lie. By the time I was done reading, I felt like I knew her.
She's personable, sweet, funny, and a little kooky. I like her. Or at least the "her" that is presented on her site.
My sister also fell in love with her. So much so that we actually have conversations that revolve solely around what Ree has posted that day. Or objecting harshly to criticism Dawn has found on one site or another about her.
So when Dawn requested a signed copy of her cook book - what could a sister do?
I'm not much into that kind of thing. I feel uncomfortable asking people for things like that. I mean Stephenie Meyers was in town a while back and there was no way I was going to go get the Twilight series signed. It just isn't my thing. And I LOVE Twilight. Love it.
But for Dawn ... well, for Dawn I'd do it.
After seeing the mass craziness associated with her book signings in other cities (hundreds upon hundreds of people) I knew I had to be on the ball in order to not hate this experience entirely.
So after I dropped this kids off at school yesterday morning I headed over to Dallas, fought the morning traffic, got turned a few times by my g.p.s., absolutely didn't take "no" for an answer when the teller said I had to have bought the books there (they were preorder from Amazon) and got myself what turned out to be the first group color wristband.
That evening I waited anxiously and fretfully when Jerry and his older brother Steve were later and later and laaaater.
What was I going to get Dawn if I couldn't get this signed? I am NOT a brilliant gift type person.
They FINALLY got back from pulling parts from a car (who knows? Their guys for heaven sake!) and I frantically raced to my car... only to find myself stuck in traffic inching along at 15mph in the driving rain.
All the way there I worried. Had I gone all the way to Dallas that morning for naught? Was I going to have to wait hours and hours and hooooours to get this done? Not that I wasn't willing - just not my most favorite idea of how to spend an evening.
I got there ... late. But not too late! I was excited to find out that my group was the first group called up - and they were STILL in line! Actually, getting there late was a good thing because I had less time to wait in line. YAY! I'm sure there are other readers out there who hate me for coming in late and not having to wait ... It's all about preparation!
I try no to listen to conversations around me, as I have a hard time not adding my (usually unwanted, uncalled for, unasked for) opinion. My brother says I have a problem with "filters". He's probably right.
However, there was one comment I was unable to drown out with my iPod.
"I am so nervous, I'm shaking!"
I had such a hard time not turning around and asking her "Why?!"
Don't get me wrong, I love P.W.'s site. Enjoy the bit of my day I spend reading various stories, the recipes I have whipped up thanks to her, the pictures that have enriched my life, the homeschooling quizzes that have enlightened me ... But I didn't see why meeting her was such a big deal.
Why was meeting this woman, who I (and more than likely this woman behind me) have never met, will probably never associate with, haven't had regular person contact with ... so nerve wracking to these women?
I'll admit when I got up to have the books signed I had nothing witty to say and I couldn't tell you what she was wearing because I couldn't stop smiling back at her (she's got a very white, very straight smile - her dentist would be proud). But it had nothing to do with being overwhelmed or awed. I just plain had nothing to say. And I have a thing about teeth. I love 'em.
To conclude ... I'd do anything for my sister. I'm just glad it didn't include waiting for hours in line to get her cook book signed.
And Ree Drummond was as gracious as I thought she would be. She was there till 2:30a.m. signing books. Oy!

Wednesday

2009-11-18T09:28:00.003-06:00

... has started being my favorite-est day of the week. Well maybe not the whole day - but certainly from 5pm on.
You see, two years ago I signed up for a "Meet Up" group here in the DFW. This group gets together once a week to play Cribbage. Until a couple of weeks ago me and Jerry's schedules just did not work together to make this something I could do. Mostly his schedule, with meetings and servers and people and whatnot. However, his being out of work has been a blessing of sorts for me on several fronts; one being that three weeks ago today it worked out that I could go out to this "Meet Up" and start playing Cribbage with humans in person.
It has become something I look forward to all week long. Seriously. It probably doesn't hurt that the last two times I have gone I have one "pots". However, I know that even if I don't continue my "winning streak" I'll still want to go.
The people are fun. The game is challenging.
And I get to spend time with people in a social environment for up to FIVE HOURS.

Other benefits of having Jerry out of the job: He has started to "dejunk" the garage. He's helped out with small things around the house (like emptying the dishwasher). He's started helping me assist the kids in getting their homework done (yes, the BOTH have homework EVERY night). He's started thoroughly trimming the bushes and trees around the yard. Oddly, without all the pressure of various work related tasks ... he's easier to be around.

While the Cat's Away

2009-11-18T09:18:00.003-06:00

I use to HATE Sponge Bob Square Pants. Thought he was inappropriate, rude, crude, silly and just plain wrong. My kids WERE NOT to be caught watching it, if it was on Nick - they were to turn the channel as quickly as humanly possible. I was as steadfast in that rule as my mom was about "The Simpsons" while I was growing up.

Then I went on that little trip to Vancouver last February ... and all moms rules went out the window.
"Can we have pop tarts three meals a day, dad?"
"Sure! Sounds good."
"Can we play out front with no adult supervision dad?"
"Sounds like a good plan to me!"
"Can we watch Sponge Bob till our eyes bug out of their sockets, dad?"
"Go ahead, but don't you DARE tell your mother!"

I try to portray a united front to the kids when it comes to "rules" and "exceptions" and what not. I try to encourage involvement on all fronts. So when he lets the kids do something I forcefully object to - I take a step back and breathe deeply. Take a look and see if maybe I was just being a little ... over board.

I still won't let the kids get the toys or watch it when I'm not around. But we've found quite a few moments of laughter together while watching that silly show.

A Million Words

2009-11-10T20:02:00.006-06:00

As I was reading through an article written about President Obama visiting Fort Hood today I got choked up several times while I was reading his speech. A speech prepared by this man...

Jonathan Favreau is a genius with words and at pulling heart strings (of French Canadian decent no less).

I noticed it first, obviously, while Pres. Obama was on the campaign trail.

Seriously, that boy can write.

And again today:

"Here is what you must also know: Your loved ones endure through the life of our nation."

"Every evening that the sun sets on a tranquil town; every dawn that a flag is unfurled; every moment that an American enjoys life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness — that is their legacy,"

"Neither this country -- nor the values upon which we were founded -- could exist without men and women like these 13 Americans."

" Their lives speak to the strength, the dignity, the decency of those who serve, and that's how they will be remembered."

"In an age of selfishness, they embody responsibility. In an era of division, they call upon us to come together. In a time of cynicism, they remind us of who we are as Americans."

"We are a nation that endures because of the courage of those who defend it."

"But as we honor the many generations who have served, all of us -- every single American -- must acknowledge that this generation has more than proved itself the equal of those who've come before. We need not look to the past for greatness, because it is before our very eyes."

"Long after they are laid to rest -- when the fighting has finished, and our nation has endured; when today's servicemen and women are veterans, and their children have grown -- it will be said that this generation believed under the most trying of tests; believed in perseverance -- not just when it was easy, but when it was hard; that they paid the price and bore the burden to secure this nation, and stood up for the values that live in the hearts of all free peoples."

Stuffed Shells

2009-11-10T11:49:00.005-06:00

Oh. My. Goodness. I lifted this recipe from Sallys food blog.
I am a HUGE pasta lover and this, my friends was BEYOND delicious.
Sally says, "it take some time to put together, but is totally worth it."
I SO agree, Sally Sue, I SO agree.

12 ounces (1 box) jumbo pasta shells (I only used about half the box, as I like REALLY stuffed shells.)

For the sauce:
3 - 14 oz cans tomatoes in juice
2 teaspoons olive oil
3/4 cup chopped red onion
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper

For the stuffing:
1 pound bag of baby spinach
1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon salt
2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
2 cups (16oz) part-skim ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons parsley
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/8 teaspoon pepper
pinch of nutmeg

Cook shells according to package directions but for less time. You want the shells to be tender but firm to the bite, about 6 to 7 minutes. Drain the shells and spread out on a cookie sheet so they don't stick together. Let cool.

For the sauce, pour the tomatoes into a food processor and chop quick. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and garlic. Cook, stirring for 1 minute. Cover, reduce heat to low and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes with juice, basil and salt. Bring to a simmer, cover and simmer gently for 5 minutes. Then simmer very gently, partially covered, until thickened (you still want there to be juice), about 20 minutes. Season with pepper.

Meanwhile, add the spinach and the salt in a skillet. Place over medium heat, cover and cook, tossing every now and then with tongs for even cooking, until wilted, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain, let cool and then squeeze out as much liquid as you can. Chop and set aside.

In a skillet, add the zucchini and 1/4 teaspoon salt with some water and cook. Stir every now and then, until tender and lightly browned, about 5 to 7 minutes. (The original recipe tells you to cook it with 2 teaspoons of olive oil, but it's just as yummy cooked in water.)

Add zucchini to the bowl with the spinach. Add the ricotta, 1/2 cup mozzarella, the parsley, pepper and the nutmeg. Stir to combine.

Spoon a thin layer of sauce over the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Fill the cooked shells with the cheese mixture, about 1 Tablespoon per shell. Arrange the shells side by side. Spoon the remaining sauce over the shells, and then sprinkle with the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.

Cover with aluminum foil and bake, at 350 degrees, until the filling is heated through and the cheese is melted, 20 to 25 minutes.

Ohhhh my heck.

Feels ... Dejected.

2009-11-08T11:32:00.006-06:00

Last week on B-mans blog I posted about us getting involved in a Walk Now for Autism that is happening here in the DFW area next Saturday. Next I emailed pretty much everyone I knew that isn't in a particularly financially tight situation. Then I posted it on Facebook.
So far, I have gotten THREE donations. THREE.
As in, less people than I have in my family.
To say that this hurt my pride a little may be an understatement.
I don't ask for help often at all - and then to put out that plea and to get such a dismal response.
Well. It sucked.
Still sucks.
But maybe if I post it here too, I'll get a better response.
Lord knows it can't get much worse.

"This year I decided our family (at least the kids and I) are going to get more involved in the Autism community and awareness.
I've been sitting in the wings for a little too long.
Admiring and advocating the work that is done.
But not putting any real effort in myself.

Our first endeavor is going to be the Walk Now for Autism (<----click here) event being held on November 14th.

I am not one who easily asks for help.

If at all possible, I will get something accomplished by myself simply because ... I guess I hate the humility that comes with admitting that you just can't do it alone.

I also hate the possibility of rejection.

That I think hurts more than getting to the point of being able to ask for help.

For Brogan. For The Cause, I've swallowed my pride and bucked up against the possibility of having no financial support and sent out hundreds of emails.

Hundreds.

If I know you, if I can find your email ...

I've sent you an email asking for your support . (<----click here) 'Cause this is something I believe in.
I don't believe so much that there is a "cure", but I surely believe there is a world of help out there that can be given if enough attention is brought to our cause . (<----click here) So come on, people - let's make some money and make a difference! B-man's counting on you! (haha, just had to throw out the "tugging on the heart strings" line)" For the love of all that's Holy! Don't Turn your back on the boy!

Henry and Mudge

2009-11-08T11:17:00.004-06:00

Have your kids ever read these books? They are so super cute. Rhiannon and I are huge fans - these two characters interact so sweetly together you can't help but love them.

The first book is cute and happy till Mudge decides to go on an adventure on his own ... then pages 28 and 29 Happen:

"Henry thought Mudge
would be with him always.
He thought Mudge
made everything safe.
He thought Mudge
would never go away.

And when Mudge did go away,
when Henry called and called
but Mudge didn't come,
Henry's heart hurt
and he cried for an hour.
But when he was finished crying,
Henry said, "Mudge loves me.
He wouldn't leave.
He must be lost."

Oh my lands.
Rhiannon and I have read this book at least half dozen times and when we get to these pages, we are both in tears.
It is such a sad, sweet lesson.
It speaks to my very soul.

Knowing that you love someone and that someone/something loves you so much that you have that definitive core solid faith that they wouldn't leave you.

Awesome message, Ms. Rylant.

Supper

2009-11-02T18:44:00.005-06:00

Beef and Potato Stew (slow cooker)

2 lbs. stew beef
1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. paprika
4 lg. carrots, chopped
3 lg. potatoes, chopped
1 c. condensed beef broth
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/3 c. soy sauce
1 lg. onion, chopped
1 can tomato sauce (8 oz.)

Layer potatoes, then carrots. Top with meat; sprinkle meat with soy sauce, salt, paprika, pepper & flour. Spread with onion. Combine beef broth & tomato sauce & pour overall. Cover & cook on low 7 - 8 hrs. or high 4 - 5 hrs.

Baking Powder Biscuits
450 degrees for 10-12 minutes

2 c. flour
1 T baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/3 c shortening
3/4 c milk

Sift together flour, baking powder & salt. In a large bowl- add flour mix. Work Crisco into mixture using a pastry cutter. All at once pour milk in, mixing with a fork just until there is no dry stuff left. Place dough on floured board & kneed 10-12 times or till nearly smooth. Roll dough out to about 1/2", cut with a floured circle of some sort - I used a glass. Place on cookie ungreased sheet. Bake till golden.

A Project

2009-11-02T14:56:00.004-06:00

... of mystically large portions!

That's what moving my (very) small deep freeze seemed like.

I just wanted it moved from the laundry room, where it has resided since my in laws bought it for me four or so years ago for Christmas (they always get me very practical gifts: bbq, bread maker, deep freeze ...).

It took up space underneath where I hang the clothes and with growing kids, that meant more and more clothes were brushing the top of my freezer.

Being neurotic, this bothered me.

A lot.

It wasn't so much the moving it - it's small enough that I can maneuver it on my own. However, I wanted it put in (duh duh duh duh!) the garage.

If you're a follower, you understand what this means.

*gulp*

Asking the man to make space amongst his "piles".

Oh. Dear.

However, when I got home from my in laws on Sunday I saw Jerry's head bobbing around in the garage.

"What can this mean?"

I wondered.

"Is he just tinkering with the Citation? or is he doing it?"

To my everlasting glee, he was moving stuff around so I could put my freezer out in the garage. Turns out between the laundry sorter and the freezer he'd has just about enough of being "boxed in" as he trapsed back and forth from the garage.

This, dear readers, is what my beautiful laundry room looks like now.
Look at all that space!

So pretty.

Who DOES that?!!

2009-10-27T19:24:00.004-05:00

As the mother of a child with Autism I find it reassuring to see these magnets on the back of vehicles as I drive around town.

It makes me feel less alone.
Like I am in a miniature army.
I have proudly displayed one on the back of my truck as a sign of support and commiseration.
Till it was stolen off the back of my truck.
At a McDonald's.
Seriously?
Really?
What kind of whack job steals something like that?
It's all the more distressing because you can't just go into a store and buy another one.
You have to buy these suckers off line.
Or at a conference.
I'm out of the support army for now.
Stupid sticky fingers.

State Fair

2009-10-25T10:54:00.003-05:00

Over the years I have, by necessity, becoming excessively frugal (when I have to be).
One of my biggest money savers entertainment wise come fall is going to the Texas State Fair on a Wednesday.
You may say, "The biggest money saver would be not going."
To me, though, that is pretty much sacrilege.
Jerry and I started going to the Texas State Fair the month we got married and have made a point of going to it every year since.A tradition if you will.
A few years back (probably around the time we had Brogan) I discovered "money saver" days to attend the fair.Here is what I found - and they haven't changed the discounts in as many years as I've been using them:

Opening Day: Bring a full 20 oz. Coca-Cola product for donation to the North Texas Food Bank containers at Fair admission gates and enter the State Fair for $4 per donation per person.

Dr Pepper $3 Tuesdays: Every Tuesday, bring an empty Dr Pepper can and enter for $3. Most rides (excluding the Thrillway, Texas Star and selected other attractions) are 5 coupons.

Dr Pepper $5 after 5 pm: Bring an empty Dr Pepper can to any State Fair admission gate after 5 p.m. and enter for $5.

Kroger “Three for $1″ each Wednesday: Admission is $1 for each visitor bringing 3 cans of food for area food banks.

Coke $4 Thursday: Bring an empty 20 oz. bottle of a Coca-Cola product and enter the Fair for $4 admission.

FREE Thursdays for Senior Citizens: HealthSpring and Mature Texan Magazine sponsor of Seniors Day. Senior Citizens 60 years and older get in to the State Fair FREE each Thursday.

FREE Thursday admission with a Cinemark Theater ticket stub.

Any Day—McDonald’s offers $4 off General Admission: with one of their State Fair coupons (available on tray liner or bag stuffer) any day of the Fair. A free child ticket (with purchase of general admission) coupon is also distributed by McDonald’s. Offer may not be combined with any other offer.

This year, being painfully poor, I chose to go on the Wednesday as we always have cans of food hanging about. Usually ones that I have purposely got on sale during the year at places like the dollar store for 3 for 99 cents with the thought of using them for state fair entrance.

Between the State Fair discount and a free student ticket Ms. R recieved at school we were able to enter the fair for $3.

Then as a family we decided the thing we would all enjoy as a treat was cotton candy.

We got really lucky when we were hunting for a parking spot and found one on an adjacent street for free.

Altogether, we were able to enjoy the State Fair for $7 this year.

Yay us!

Yesterday

2009-10-25T10:37:00.004-05:00

Oh Texas, how do I love thee?
Let me count the ways!

I love that I can take my kids to a FREE concert at an OUTDOOR venue and be basking in the sun.
In October.I love that it only takes us 20 minutes to get to venues such as Cowboys Football and Rangers Baseball.I love that we can go and enjoy a park in 73 degree weather the weekend before Halloween.

Sauce

2009-10-23T00:35:00.004-05:00

You know, the kind you put on pastas - not the kind you dip into after a particularly hard day.

I'm going to give you a few hints on how to get sauce that will turn out creamy and smooth.

As I am sure there has to be more than just me that has struggled with how to make a fabulous creamy sauce for years.

Or maybe I am and this post will be useless to everyone but me.

In that case ... move on.

Nothing to see here.

First of all, use a pot. Not a pan. I have the worst time with pans and sauces.
Then again, maybe that's just me.
Melt butter.
Slowly, whisking vigorously as you do so, add equal amount of flour as you did butter.
I let that melt together for about a minute to let the stuff all come to the same temperature.
At least that's the logic I have going on in my brain.
This is where using a pot comes in handy as you have a smaller surface area as you slowly add in ...
SLOWLY.
May I stress slowly?
Bit by slow bit at the beginning. Whisking away as you do.
I only add about a Tablespoon at at time in the beginning as I introduce the WARM milk.
Once again, my theory on having ingredients come together and play in harmony is the main character in my thought process in using warm milk that will frolic happily with my warm butter/flour.
After you have added whatever amount of milk the recipe calls for it's useful to have one of these.That way you can work on the rest of supper and keep her out of your hair all at the same time.
Genius.
I have a firm belief that until the sauce comes to a boil, you need to stir it continually.
No word of a lie.
Probably a lie someone else engendered in me.
I blame them for my hook ups.
All of them.
Every single one.
Therefore, having an extra set of hand with my neurosis as they are, is very helpful.
Yep, by the time it has come to a boil she is really ready to get out from under my feet.
Feels like she's accomplished something.
She also got to wear the apron her Gramma Char made her, which makes the whole experience that much more wonderful.

That's pretty much it.
Pot.
SLOWLY.
Warm.
Small body.

Got it?
Get to work!

I am In Love

2009-10-23T00:32:00.002-05:00

With my hair.
At least now.
Like the last week.
I haven't had one bad hair day.
Seriously.
This is what my hair looks like after a full day of ... you know, my life.

Looooove it.

Cheddar Ham Chowder

2009-10-20T13:39:00.004-05:00

Good Golly, Miss Molly, this is DELICIOUS! My friend Sally has a food blog that I love stealing recipes from. There are usually pretty straight forward and ALWAYS right up my food loving alley. This recipe though, this recipe blew my socks away I was so surprised at how much I loved it.

2 1/2 cups water

2 cups potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 cup sliced carrots

1/2 cup sliced celery

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1/4 cup butter

1/4 flour

2 cups milk

2 cups cheddar cheese

16 oz frozen corn

1 1/2 cups cubed ham

Bring water, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, salt and pepper to boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 10 minutes or until veggies are tender. Set aside; do not drain. In second pan, melt butter; blend in flour. Add milk; cook and stir until thick and bubbly. Add cheese and stir until melted. Put cheesy mixture in with veggies and broth; add corn and ham. Heat thoroughly, stirring occasionally.

Tastes even better the second day!

I'm Starting to Understand

2009-10-20T09:02:00.003-05:00

I've met a lot of mothers of kids with Autism, Aspergers and other special needs in the last few years. Often I have found myself thinking,
"Holy Crap. That woman scares me. She is TOUGH."
I'm starting to understand what has made those women that way.
I bet the majority of them started out as sweet, accommodating, completely delightful women.
Then their kid started getting messed around with and
*snick*
Their claws came out.
The fighting instinct was triggered.Things have been getting
bungled
badly
with B-man at school.

"Badly" as in NOT what I agreed to.
As in NOT what was contractually signed.

I'm on the war path and it's not a pretty site.

New Do

2009-10-18T12:19:00.005-05:00

I have this hair stylist that I absolutely love.

He's the husband of B-man's teacher the last two years.
He always has great stories.
Gives the best head/neck massages.
And after he has done your hair a few times ...
you give him free reign and this happens.
CurlyStraight
He colored it.
Some color?
I'm "color deficient"
so I'm not ENTIRELY sure
what color it is.
But people keep telling me it
looks really good.
He whacked off an
unprecedented amount
and surprisingly
I love it.

Overboard

2009-10-18T12:04:00.003-05:00

Yesterday as I was trying to vacuum up my dining room I noticed that the stinking Cheerios were not getting sucked up.
This set the wheels to spinning.
Why oh why are you not sucking up the Cheerios, vacuum?
Why would you
betray
me like this?
The only answer, according to me, was to tear the thing apart.I found the clogging culprit a few steps into the investigation.

Stinking kids toys.

I sometimes wonder if I am a little
too ambitious
in my cleaning zealousy
(yeah, that's not a word. I know.)

A Goal

2009-10-14T18:11:00.002-05:00

The school campus my kids attend is between a public high school and a private Christian "all grade" school. This gives us the distinct opportunity to have high school kids from both schools involved in our campus in various ways.
I am at my kids school ... 4-6 hours a day on average.
Which means that I have been in many situations that I have been given a chance to interact, listen and observe "kids" from both of these different schools.

I have to tell you - I am really leaning towards starting savings accounts for my kids simply so they can attend the private school when they reach high school.

Just based on conversations I have had the privilege to over hear between the two groups has me leaning greatly towards it.

A sample:

"What's a Doobie?"
Loooong pauses from all 6 kids sitting around the table.
Tentatively, "Is that one of the ways that black guys (their words not mine) like to get their hair cut?"
(No laughter, because no one else knows that the kid is TOTALLY off)
Another, sounding like they were trying to cut the confusion, "It must be. Or Scoobie Doobie Doo..."
Laughter then.

Being the "responsible" adult, I wasn't sure if I should interrupt the conversation, make them aware of my eavesdropping and tell them what it really it. Such dilemmas.

I've been out to lunch where kids from this particular school seem to frequent, casually listened to conversations off and on and never heard one of them say anything harsher than, "Oh my gosh."

The public school kids on the other hand ...
*sigh*
It's an entirely different matter.
Don't get me wrong.
We're in a great school district.
Top ranked.
Impressive focus on education and community involvement.

But let me tell you
those kids certainly know what a
Doobie is.
Let's not even go into the language they utter.

Starting Off Right

2009-10-14T17:54:00.005-05:00

This Weirdoand This Silly Pantsboth landed on the Honor Roll this report card.

I'm not going to down play it, she's doing better than I anticipated.
I expect her to be on the A/B roll.
She has no excuses.
I am always here to help her with her work.
But she is also excelling in areas she was struggling with last year.
Areas I know she has had to put in extra work and thought on her own.

The boy?
Come on.
He's a stinking genius.
He'll be putting me to shame in no time.
If he's not kicking butt
and
taking names ...
I have to ask his teachers
what more we can do to challenge him.

Shepherd's Pie

2009-10-14T17:32:00.004-05:00

Taken from the Food Network, Rachel Ray, infact.
My daughter is in love with her.
So I figured one of her recipes couldn't go wrong.
My only issue with this recipe?
There wasn't nearly enough.
I had a healthy serving ... then between Jerry and the girl the cleaned the dish.
An 8x8 dish.
And then they complained there wasn't more.
No kidding.
Next time I'll double it.

2 lbs Potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 T Sour Cream or softened Cream Cheese
1 lg Egg yolk
1/2 c Cream (I used Chicken Broth - I always have some on hand and it's "lighter")
Salt and Pepper
1 T Olive Oil
1 3/4 lbs Ground Beef or Lamb (Lamb? Really? ...)
1 Carrot, shredded (shredding is optional. I did it so it blended easily with the beef)
1 Onion, chopped
2 t Butter
2 T Flour
1 c Beef Stock or Broth
2 t Worcestershire (or more, depending on how "British" you want it to taste. Haha!)
1/2 c frozen Peas (I omitted these, as I am the only one who eats "green" food around here)
1 t Paprika
Parsley Leaves/Flakes
Shredded Cheese (I don't really consider it optional ... but you can)

Have all of your ingredients measured out before you start. I found once I got it going it all happened pretty quickly and it was easier to simply have it all waiting than have to scramble to measure stuff out.
Boil potatoes in salted water until fork-tender. Drain potatoes and pour them into a bowl. Combine sour cream, egg yolk and cream(broth). Add the cream (broth) mixture into potatoes and mash until potatoes are smooth.
While potatoes boil, preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil to hot pan with beef/lamb. Season meat with salt and pepper. Brown and crumble meat for 3 or 4 minutes. Add carrot and onion to the meat. Cook veggies with meat 5 minutes, stirring frequently. In a second small skillet over medium heat cook butter and flour together for 2 minutes. Whisk in broth and Worcestershire sauce. Thicken gravy 1 minute. Add gravy to meat and veggies. Stir in peas.
Preheat broiler to high. Fill a casserole dish with meat and veggie mixture. Spoon potatoes over meat evenly. Top potatoes with paprika and broil 6-8" from heat until potatoes are evenly browned and slightly crusty. Top casserole with cheese, melt. Sprinkle with parsley. (I forgot that part)

Second Grade, Anyone?

2009-10-08T19:35:00.004-05:00

I don't distinctly remember what I learned in second grade (grade two for all my lovely Canadian followers). I remember my teacher, the school, the name of the boy I thought was cute, walking to my moms work after school, getting bruises on my arms as I swung on the monkey bars at recess ... but ask me what I learned ... nada.
However unsure I am of what I learned, I can say with almost a certainty that my daughters spelling words are a step beyond, above and then skyrockets into absurd what I was spelling in second grade ...

continents
mountains
islands
community
constitution
amendment
religion
weighed
different
announced
capital

These aren't the EXCEL students words - these are a sample of every students spelling words.
I know the reason I object to some of these words is because a small part of me is saying, "But they're just babies, some of them can't even pronounce "amendment" or "constitution"."
Alright, so that may not be entirely true. Ms. R can tell you what what the Constitution is, who the president is and that everyone is free to choose their own religion. Was I even aware their was a leader to my country, or what country I lived in when I was in second grade? I mean ... I hope so. But I'm highly doubtful.

Catch a Clue

2009-10-06T21:04:00.006-05:00

This year my kids school was all about figuring out which "mediums" the kids were "smart" in. I am not too entirely sure why. It's not like they divided up the different types of "smarts" into various classes or changed the way they were teaching. Or really used the information at all, except for an art project ...
I was kind of surprised to discover both my kids learn the best through not only music but art. I would have assumed that for the boy. But the girl? Really? Hmmm. Alright, if you say so psycho babble test.
The piece of "art" Ms. R brought home with this assignment was cute. She'd put a lot of time and effort into it. I could tell - there were hardly any erased lines to been seen. Look the piece over and see if you can tell what her father found

a lot upsetting.

When he first saw it he asked me about the lack of well ... him in the picture and I shrugged. Honestly, it didn't really surprise me. He's kind of a phantom figure in our lives. He lives with us ... but isn't ever really there. My lack of concern over his appearance in the family portrait made him a little madder, it would seem.

Cause next he went to the girl and asked,
"Why aren't I in this picture?"
She hummed and hawwed for waaaay too long and then with a question in her voice replied,
"I forgot? Oh! No! I know. I ran out of time."
Like, oh yeah! That's what happened. I didn't forget I have a dad. All of the sudden, right at the end ... some how I ran out of time. But still had time to put a butterfly and stars in the square with my "dream". Ooookay, baby.

He asked her a couple more times over the next week.

He never got a satisfactory answer.

Poor guy.

Favorites

2009-10-05T16:33:00.009-05:00

On one of my favorite wasting-time-when-I-should-be-doing-something-else blogs she issued a challenge to post our favorite portraits. I didn't really want to join another "group" or post pictures into a random group where people I know don't really frequent.
So I'm taking the "assignment" and going to post my favorite pictures from the last ... several years - here. I had a bunch of my nieces and nephews that I contemplated posting too ... But I'm not sure how my sister or sister in law would feel about that.

Optimism. Fail.

2009-10-02T20:40:00.005-05:00

In general, I'd say I was a "the glass is half full" type of gal.
I like imagining that there is a good side to every situation
and person
and place.
If at all possible.

Today Ms. R came up with a situation I just had no positives for.

She loves having other kids around.

She'd go over to play at someones house or have someone over to out house every day if she could.

However, in a big city it's not like a child can just skip over to a friends house.
Not when they are at least 2 miles away and across busy intersections.
Or in after school care because both their parents work to keep up with the cost of city living.

There are no positives in this situation.

"Gee, but aren't you glad you get to play with your brother and I everyday?" Oh, Yay. Mom.

I looked back on my childhood and thought of how easy it was for the kids in my small home town to just walk/ride on over to friends houses. Even if the friend lived, "All the way on the other side of town" that was still only a 10 block distance.

I wonder what I am depriving my kids of by living in an area such as this.
So far from family with very few "friend" interaction opportunities after school.

Potato Tuna Cassrole

2009-10-02T13:20:00.003-05:00

YES, this one I DID make! (Dawn)
With our food supply widdling down to the bare basics I have been trying to mix things up a bit and using stuff I wouldn't regularly put together at all.

3 T butter
1/2 c onions, cut how ever you like
3 T flour
1 t salt
1 t pepper
2 c milk
10 oz tuna, drained
4 c diced bite size potatoes, skin on
1 garlic clove, minced
Handful or so of cheese
Two or Three slices of crumbled up bacon

Heat butter in saucepan. Saute onions and garlic about 5 minutes. Then blend in the flour and milk with a whisk, add salt, pepper and stir over medium heat until thickened. Stir in drained tuna. Put diced potatoes in greased 2 qt casserole dish and stir in tuna mixture. Cover and bake at 350 for 1 hr. Uncover, sprinkle with cheese and bacon bits (no, trust me!). Return to oven and cook for another 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender.
I'm guesstimating at the times for the oven. I made mine in my NuWave. Because bacon has such a strong flavor, you can't even taste the tuna. I almost convinced the boy he liked it. The girl was on the fence. Jerry and I liked it, though.

Disconnect

2009-10-02T13:03:00.003-05:00

For those of you who read this and aren't a
Facebook member -
My phone's been disconnected.
So don't try to call me.
I'll let you know when/if that status changes.

Chocolate-Stuffed Peanut Butter Brownies

2009-09-27T11:29:00.004-05:00

1 1/3	cups packed brown sugar
1/4	cups butter or margarine, melted
1/2	cup creamy peanut butter
1	teaspoon vanilla
3	eggs
1 1/2	cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
3/4	teaspoon baking powder
1/4	teaspoon baking soda
1/2	teaspoon salt
36	miniature chocolate-covered peanut butter cup candies, unwrapped (from 15.6-oz bag)
1/2	cup milk chocolate chips

Print these coupons...

$0.40 off any flavor Yoplait® products

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About Concordance™

.	Heat oven to 350°F (if using dark or nonstick pan, heat oven to 325°F). Grease bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan with shortening or spray with cooking spray.
.	In large bowl, beat brown sugar, butter, peanut butter, vanilla and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed, or mix with spoon, until well blended. Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut 12 of the candies into fourths (about 3/4 cup). Stir cut-up candies and chocolate chips into batter. Spread in pan.
.	Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately press remaining 24 candies in brownies in 4 even rows of 6 candies each. Cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours. For brownies, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows.

Tickled My Funny Bone

2009-09-26T15:12:00.004-05:00

I found a funny book at the library

Having a son who takes things so literally, this book really spoke to me

Just This Once

2009-09-25T22:15:00.003-05:00

I'll tell a story about how HE was right.
Kind of like a beleted anniversary gift.
Happy Ninth Year!
Don't be looking for another "you were right" story for another nine.
At least.

Remember back before summer when I was complaining about how the man had teased me with the possibility of leasing my newest obsession? Then he decided to buy me a motor home instead.

I was completely miffed.

Not totally because I was being a spoiled little wench. More because he had suggested the idea then was like, "Yah, no." That got my fight up pretty fast.

But because it's easier to be passive aggressive in this relationship I didn't make too much of a fuss.

Because I knew, in the long or short run he was right.

Leasing a vehicle, though I

LOVE

LOVE

LOVE

the idea of trading in my car every two years or so ... it's not entirely wise in our situation.

Companies fail, companies thrive.

Ebb and flow and all that jazz.

Being a business owner and dependent on a fairly loosey goosey structure of pay isn't the best situation to have too many debts that must be paid month to month.

Such as a leased vehicle.

We've always owned ours out right so we never have to worry about making payments.

Repos.

Stress and worry over what is going to paid and what can slide till next month.

Turns out him not letting me have my way was a stroke of genius.
No, I will not repeat that.

Mid-August our "big money maker", you know the kind of money maker that pays all the bills essentially went belly up.

Jerry, our sole "bread winner" was without a job.

Still is.

It was shocking.

And a wee bit terror inducing.

We've kind of been okay financially, I won't be running out and buying the kids new undies or anything ... but okay.

However, if we'd have got that car...

Things would be decidedly

Not Good.

So "props" to Jerry for not letting me live my fantasy and keeping his feet on the ground.

Though I hope the situation changes soon ... I'd sure like to buy the kids some pants for fall.

Friday Nights

2009-09-25T22:07:00.002-05:00

I hate 'em.
I don't mean, "dislike" I really do mean hate.
I hate knowing I'm home alone with four options:
read/write blogs,
read a book,
watch tv or
clean the house.
Yeah.
My life is way more exciting than I ever anticipated it'd be at 30.
Way more.
Like.
Totally.

The part I hate most, obviously, is the whole being alone. I hate it.
It's always the worst part about coming back to Texas after being in Canada for the summer too.
I go from people crowding in around the seams for time ... to ... crickets chirping.
No really.
I can hear crickets chirping right now.
It's THAT quiet.

I love having both the kids in school full time because it gives me an excuse to be at the school all day. With people.
People that talk to me.
I do wonder if from time to time the ladies in the office think I'm kinda pathetic because I have nothing better to do than hang out at the school offering help to one and all.
I'd rather be pathetic than sitting on my tush at home, glaring at the walls.
Or something else just as asinine.

Facebook Laughter

2009-09-25T00:10:00.003-05:00

A friend of my cousin posted this today. I was literally laughing so hard I thought I was going to split a kidney.

-I wish Google Maps had an “Avoid Ghetto” routing option.

-More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can’t wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that’s not only better, but also more directly involves me.

-Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you’re wrong.

-I don’t understand the purpose of the line, “I don’t need to drink to have fun.” Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they’ve invented the lighter?

-Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you’re going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you’re crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.

-That’s enough, Nickelback.

-I totally take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger.

-Is it just me, or are 80% of the people in the “people you may know” feature on Facebook people that I do know, but I deliberately choose not to be friends with?

-Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn’t work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ’s. We just figured it out. Today’s kids are soft.

-There is a great need for sarcasm font.

-Sometimes, I’ll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and suddenly realize I had no idea what the f was going on when I first saw it.

-I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I’ll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone’s laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I’m still the only one who really, really gets it.

-How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

-I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

-I think part of a best friend’s job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

-The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text.

-A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.

-Was learning cursive really necessary?

-Lol has gone from meaning, “laugh out loud” to “I have nothing else to say”.

-I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

-Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely
petrifying.

-My brother’s Municipal League baseball team is named the Stepdads. Seeing as none of the guys on the team are actual stepdads, I inquired about the name. He explained, “Cuz we beat you, and you hate us.” Classy, bro.

-Whenever someone says “I’m not book smart, but I’m street smart”, all I hear is “I’m not real smart, but I’m imaginary smart”.

-How many times is it appropriate to say “What?” before you just nod and smile because you still didn’t hear what they said?

-I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a dick from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!

-Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using ‘as in’ examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss’s last name to an attorney and said “Yes that’s G as in…(10 second lapse)..ummm…Goonies”

-What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?

-While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it…thanks Mario Kart.

-MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

-Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

-I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the water.

-Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

-I would like to officially coin the phrase ‘catching the swine flu’ to be used as a way to make fun of a friend for hooking up with an overweight woman. Example: “Dave caught the swine flu last night.”

-I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t at least kind of tired.

-Bad decisions make good stories

-Whenever I’m Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don’t mind if I do!

-Is it just me or do high school girls get sluttier & sluttier every year?

-If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be
completely invisible.

-Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incredibly nervous? Like I know my name, I know where I’m from, this shouldn’t be a problem….

-You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you’ve made up your mind that you just aren’t doing anything productive for the rest of the day.

-Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don’t want to have to restart my collection.

-There’s no worse feeling than that millisecond you’re sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

-I’m always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

-“Do not machine wash or tumble dry” means I will never wash this ever.

-I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There’s so much pressure. ‘I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren’t watching this. It’s only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?’

-I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Dammit!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What’d you do after I didn’t answer? Drop the phone and run away?

-I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

-When I meet a new girl, I’m terrified of mentioning something she hasn’t already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.

-I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it’s on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.

-Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles…

-As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.

-Sometimes I’ll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

-It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.

-I keep some people’s phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

-Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn’t know what to do with it.

-Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, hitting the G-spot, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I’d bet my ass everyone can find and push the Snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time…

-My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day “Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?” How the hell do I respond to that?

-It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of text.

-I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.

-I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

-I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.

Weirdo

2009-09-18T00:08:00.007-05:00

Today as I was doing some tasks for the kindergarten teachers I had a lot of time for my brain to wander while my hands were busy.
I started contemplating why my first urge while preparing for the day is to pull my hair back into a pony tail. Even on my wedding day - I had it up. Because I didn't want to have to fuss with it. On the day you're supposed to fuss!
While I was growing up, I know why I always pulled it back: Because it was convenient. Because it was always windy where we lived and I hate having my hair in my face. Because it was easy. Because I had no idea how to deal with my unruly/curly/fuzzy hair. Because I didn't want to have to wake up that extra 20 minutes earlier in the morning to deal with it.

All fairly valid excuses. For a kid.

What's my excuse now? Why is my first inclination to grab an elastic as I'm getting ready?

I know I look better with my hair down. I know it will only take me an extra 3 minutes to scrunch in some "product" after my shower. I know there is only a small chance the wind will be blowing hard enough to interfere with the placement.

When it comes down to it, it's not really about my hair.

At least I don't think so.

Most of the time.

It's about control and my essential lack thereof.

There are very few areas in my life that I am "The Boss".

The end all of be all.

The Buck Stops Here gal.

When my hair isn't contained ... I don't feel completely together.

I feel a little off kilter.

A little on the edge.

I have a lot of these little quirks.

Things I know make me an odd ball inside.

Deep Deep down inside.

Odd

2009-09-17T23:58:00.003-05:00

As we were driving through California this summer I noticed an odd discrepancy between how much they loved their state as compared to the drivers in it. So you're telling me if I get caught throwing a wrapper out my window I could get a fine upwards of $25,000 but if my kids are jumping around the back seat you'll slap my wrist with a piddly $80?
"Intellesting. Velly velly intellesting."

Hidden Talent?

2009-09-16T21:24:00.004-05:00

I have gone by the philosophy, "If they don't ask for it... I'll wait to approach it till they do" cause heaven knows kids get way too much crap these days.
Therefore, all previous birthdays the little man has had I've just grabbed a cake from the bakery, or "artfully" iced some cup cakes ... things along those pathetic "please don't make me put effort into it" lines.
This year however, he developed an opinion. On everything. What he wants to get, who he wants to come, what kind of cake he wants, where he wants to have the party ... The list is never ending!

The hardest task to accomplish? Making him the Lightning McQueen cake he asked for. When I told Jerry was I was going to attempt he gave me a funny look and asked if I wasn't sure some "professional" could make it for us.

Even after I'd bought the mold/icing dyes/tips/ect... he was all like, "You sure you want to do this? You want me to do it?"

His faith simply astounds, I know.

So I stubbornly sat down at the table the afternoon and went to work. Piping, smoothing, pulling, cringing ...

TAA DAA!

Jerry's comment after I was done?

"That looks better than some professional cakes I've seen ..."

Well.

Praise be.

The writing along the side ain't so hot, but hey ... The Boy will like it anyway.