Keller Fall Festival

She seriously thought she was leaving the house looking like this
All I have to say is "those rich people really know how to put on a festival". The cost to enter into this festival was a can of food per person and even that was on the honor system. There was mask painting, twirly art making, hayrides, demonstrations on how to put out a BBQ fire correctly, karaoke, cookie decorating, eyeing up a guy that was getting a little too close to her creation

bean bag toss, juggling/stilt/unicycle guys, pretending to be the guy on stilts

free stew/cornbread/drinks/popcorn ... it was all located beside a HUGE park.Best part for me? As we're driving away, Ms. R "That was awesome! You're the best mom!"

Salvage & Bulk Food Stores

I'm going to bite the "snooty" bullet in me and try out a discount food store this afternoon. I am not too sure what I'll find. Or if I'll be too creeped out by the idea of the food being "salvaged". Or if I'll be scared because of the part of town I'll be in. Or grossed out by the lighting. However, our food bill is getting out of control. Seriously. I know a lot of it is because I buy organic as much as humanly possible... but it still hurts when I look at the food bill and realize I spend more than Jenie with her family of 7. Probably only a little less than Dawn, who feeds 10 regularly. That is rather ridiculous. Not that Jerry will thank me or anything for spending less. But I'll feel better. Maybe. *Gulp* I'm still working up the nerve to go over to that part of town. Not that I think I'll be shot or anything. Mostly.
I'll pretend that it's because I don't like the thought of driving 15 minutes to go get groceries. Not because I am a snot.
Yeah, that's what I'll pretend.

Follow Up:
T.P. 7.99 reg 11.49
Soy Yogurt $4/16 reg $16
Canned Mandarine Oranges $.39 reg $.92
Canned Tuna $.68 reg $1.67
Refried Beans $.99 reg $1.89
Peanut Butter $3.99 reg $4.44
Kitty litter $4.99 reg $13.78

Those are just a few of the savings I found. You do have to look over the products, some are past the "sell by" date ... but then you have to decide how far past the sell by date you're willing to gamble. Some were just within a week. Others were a good four months out.
There were so many different kinds of food I'd like to just try out. However, I was VERY good and kept to my list (almost exactly).
Ya'll be surprised to hear that I stayed $200 under my usual amount. That may provoke the question, "Just how much do you spend on groceries?" That's for me to know and you to ponder.

I say

"Doll House"
They say
"Monster Truck"
This is a fundamental difference between Jerry's parents and I.
Should I explain?
While we were at Canton, Linda asked me what B-Man wanted for his birthday. I told her he'd love a doll house. She was appalled. Possibly even disgusted. She thought (as I often do) that I was teasing her. She was pretty upset when I reiterated that he really would love a doll house. Not so much the dolls ... but the house FOR SURE.
He loves playing with animals and Little People figurines as he makes up elaborate story lines ... the key figure in his play, however, is either the barn or castle he sets up first. I see nothing wrong with him loving to play with doll houses. Or dolls. I think it's simply embracing his nurturing side. It's when he puts on his sisters dresses that I worry ;)
Jerry's parents showed up out of the blue last night with his birthday present.
A monster truck.
A very loud monster truck.
Thank you, Wayne and Linda.
Thank you very much.
I think that's going to becoming a "play at grandma and grandpa's house" toy.
*wicked laugh*
Seriously, why do grandparents do that to their children?
We couldn't have been THAT BAD when we were kids to deserve those kinds of toys.
I mean ... were we?

Yummy In My Tummy

I went all crazy and decided to try a new Mexican place. I love Mexican food. Seriously, I consider it one of the best reasons to live this close to the border. We generally go to a franchise called On the Border because we know it's good, the have a good kids menu and it's fairly close to our house. However, as we were driving home from the fair the other night the kids and I were starving because we hadn't really ate anything at the fair (Jerry hates buying food there because it's so stinking expensive). As we passed through Irving I saw an "El Chico" sign and mentioned to Jerry I'd never ate there so he pulled off the freeway and we ventured inside.
Holy Wow. Free nachos, salsa and queso, an extensive kids menu, the service was beyond impeccable. Our drinks never got below half, our chips were also replenished before the bowl was empty, she was friendly but not intrusive ... I was beyond impressed. I am not willing to drive a little further for a totally awesome dining experience.

I Don't Care

If this is reality or photo shop. It's frickin' hilarious.

*The Last Summer (of You & Me)*

Oh. My. Heck.
Unless you want to drag through the first 100 pages with sad feelings assailing you ... then dredge through another 200 and some feeling sad and frustrated and angry and ... well, don't read this book. I thought it would be good because it's by the same author who wrote "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" which I enjoyed. But no.
Hint: The title refers to the last summer between two sisters not because they stop spending the summer together at their families beach house ... but because one of the sisters DIES! How much worse can this story get?
Very displeased. Very displeased indeed.
This book makes me glad I've started getting books out at the library and not buying them. I'd be REALLY annoyed to have spent money on that little ditty.

You Like It!

Short tidbit:
Ms. R usually strips down to her skivvies and under shirt after school, like some how the constraints of wearing clothes all day has just killed her.
B-Man, on the other had has taken on the need to wear at least two layers at all times.
This little difference has started a comedy of B-Man running around after Ms. R with clothing items shouting, "Put it on! You like it!" While Ms. R thinking it's a funny game, runs swiftly ahead of them easily eluding his attempts at adding layers.

*Baby Proof*

I am such a girl. I try not to say this with derision but ... I have a hard time with it. I have embraced pedicures, waxing, plucking, wearing make up on occasion, skirts, even flip flops. However, when I describe my daughter I hear myself say with some horror "she's such ... a girl" because really, I have no idea where girlie girls are coming from. I like pedicures, waxing and plucking because I personally like smooth skin not because it's a feminine thing to do, because I'm trying to fit in some group or category. I wear make up on occasion because I want to feel a little more confident. I love how airy skirts and flip flops are. But deep down, I'm a t-shirt, gym shorts and pony tail girl. So when I find myself drawn time and time to "chit lit" it confuses the inner tom boy. There it is though, another piece of chit lit I got emotionally drawn into. I felt so much for the main category, feeling her pain of wanting to live her ideal of life and wondering how much she'd have to sacrifice in order to achieve her goals. I liked this book. It wasn't heart warming or endearing ... but thoughtful and interesting. It would appeal to a certain type of gal.

Ahhh Errr Hmmm

So, today was our primary presentation which in and of itself ... just run of the mill chaos. I however, was blessed by just a hint more of "excitement" or embarrassment depending on which philosophy you subscribe to. To begin with, I had to drag B-Man out of bed which is NEVER a pleasant experience. He is not a morning person to say the very least. So after I'd drug him out of bed with the promise that he got to speak into the mic at church today we headed off to church (after I'd dressed and fed him of course). Because he was as of yet still not quite awake when we got to church he curled up onto my lap once we were seated on the stand. He flipped this way, that way trying, I guess, to get comfortable and stay warm. Eventually he woke up enough to want off my lap, so I scooted him over to the seat beside me and relaxed in my own seat. Only to discover that B-Man had managed to unbutton all my buttons down to my waist. *Gulp* I tried to be casual about it. Tried not to feel my face burning bright enough to light a house on fire. What do you do? Furiously button up your shirt hoping no one noticed? Grab quickly at both sides ... hoping no one noticed? Leisurely rebutton pretending it's no big deal ... hoping no one notices? WHILE THE WHOLE CONGREGATION SITS IN FRONT OF YOU POSSIBLY OGLING YOUR "UNDER GEAR"?!?!?!? I went with the last option... slightly angled inward. Though that option possibly wasn't any better as there is a Brother that teaches in our primary that was directly that way. *gasp* Eh. Flash one guy or a congregation full of people. That shirt no longer exists in my wardrobe. It has been banished to the out regions of Sally Ann. Good riddance.

"Fair"ly Traditional

Macromedia isn't working on my computer at the moment ... so you get them one by one and not in a slide ... sorry!

The Texas Star Ferris wheel (at 212ft it's the largest in N. America) ... B-Man calls it the Wagon Wheel

View of Dallas skyline from top of Texas Star
Cotton Bowl. It was the Red River Shoot Out today. Texas won... Hook 'em Horns!

B-Man feeding a baby giraffe

Seriously, how cute is that mug?

I couldn't hold Ms. R up so she could fee it and get a picture of the camel ... so you get a pic of just the camel. Sorry?

These are "Numerenian Princesses" just ask B-Man ...
Ms. R requested a cob of corn, then realized she had to gum it because ...

She's missing three teeth on top and two on the bottom - right in the middle! I laughed myself silly when I realized what her problem was.

She almost got to the top! I was so proud of her!

She thought sliding down the wall was great
Once he figured out the cable was a bungee, he forgot all about climbing and used it like a Jolly Jumper
Mighty girl ... dadadada! Well ... at least she was able to pick it up ;)
He whacked it hard enough to make the half way marker ... both got a pink pig for their efforts

Watching TV on her dads phone while we waited for supper. Possibly her favorite part of the day.

*Send In The Idiots*

Absolutely spellbinding. I seriously could not put this book down. Written by a man with high functioning Autism, as he gathers stories from a few of his former classmates ... it caught my attention from the introduction. Since I am also using this as a journal I'm going to write down lines I enjoyed from the book, for future reference, by me. I really hope the author doesn't mind.
"Coherentizing Behaviours" include ... walking on toes ... grinding teeth
Autism arrives by a fairly short route, from the Greek autos, meaning "self"
Craig's echolalia focused on the phrase "Send in the idiots".
Gridlock continues between the White House and Congress...
Send in the idiots (hu-stinking-larious!)
Why leave people to guess whether I am Autistic or not? It's hardly a game."
We're doing fine, we could do worse. If we tried, we could to worse.
A face couldn't outright change. A spoken sentence, though could change and still be the same sentence.
A conversation is a performance.
Conversation requires insincerity.
Striking up conversations with strangers is an Autistic person's version of extreme sports.
Conversation flourishes when we entertain each other.
Conversation sometimes requires us to ask questions, the answer to which we are not interest in ourselves, but which we feel the other person might enjoy or appreciate the opportunity to provide.
What did that feel like, to have created a life that was to fundamentally different form their own?
The challenge for Autistic individuals is that they are overwhelmed even by their own minds.
AS managing our own minds was such a challenge, it was unsurprising that we weren't curious about one another. We had enough going on.
They prefer to play on their own because they don't understand that it may be possible to play with another child.
This was as good as it got. Their son was loved.
"mind-blindness"
Autistic children simply don't understand that there are minds other than their own, which might have thoughts different from their own. this is why they display so little interest in others.

Over all the impression I got from this author is that he hopes that parents of Autistic children don't hope too high, too low, blame too much, look too little. Not every autistic child is going to become some sort of brain, or social outcast, or wildly fabulous at something. They are all going to be individuals, just as any other child would be. Possibly with more limitations.
He believes that Autism isn't to be blamed on anything more than genetics. It's easier for parents to look outward, it must be the immunizations, the increase in this that or the other. But to look inward and simply accept that they may have a little of it in them and passed it on in an amplified manner ... unacceptable.
When you read it coming from someone with Autism, somehow it's easier to feel ... not "okay" but more at peace with the fact that my son has individual problems, with deal with scenarios differently ... but he's still mine.

Clarification

The bookshelf on the side indicates I've read those books ... but ACTUALLY it's the list of books I am either reading or had checked out and waiting to be read. However, when you go to the website and place them in those categories it does not show them on your blog. Therefore, do not suppose I have read the displayed books. Assume that I am reading the first book and plan to read the books thereafter in that order ... please.

*Just Breathe*

I utterly fell in love with this book. The main character, Sarah, returns to her (small) hometown after the painful demise of her marriage. She has to over come her own insecurities and prejudices about those who were in the "in crowd" in high school. Come to grips with being an adult and learns to stand on her own two feet.
I know I love this book because it was like peeling aside my "tough" attitude about high school (which covers up a plentifully painful experience) and exposing my feelings. Having to come learn that it's been more than 10 years ... people change. I have, haven't I? I have to learn to forgive and eventually forget the pain and humiliation I experienced and just accept people as they are now.

Awww

As I was getting B-Man ready for school this morning he was stroking my hair (he's a very tactile kid), then he smiled and said to me, "You're cute girl mom."

4th Edge

Describe a favorite childhood Christmas.
My favorite Christmas was the one that we all got tickets to Disney World. I think that we were aware that is what we were getting - but it was still awesome to see the tickets in our hands.What musical instrument do you play or wish you could play?
As per my mothers' orders, I took piano lessons. I can still sort of play it, I can read the notes ... but have no desire to play it really well. Why? Because I sure don't want to be enlisted to play in church!Tell about any pets you had as a child.
We had pet after pet. Max, Bo, Chance, Chip ... I don't know if we were bad pet owners or just had bad luck with animals.

What kind of sports did you play, watch and like? How about now?
I played soccer, basketball, volleyball, badminton and participated in track.
I liked to watch WHL games, gymnastics, college basketball, high school football.
I now do not play any sports. It's very sad.
However, I still enjoy watching hockey basketball baseball and football - especially in person. That rocks!

Did you have a childhood hide-out? Where? Describe it.
I would gather up all of my bedding and huddle up in my closet. I figured it'd be the last place my mom would look since she's claustrophobic.

What are some of your favorite smells? Why?
I love the smell of vanilla. Tide. Chlorine. Sunscreen. Safari by R.L.
Vanilla - it smells delicious
Tide - means it's clean
Chlorine - Summer!
Sunscreen - Ditto
Safari by R.L. - For some reason when I smell this on a man, my knees go weak.

What are your favorites: colors, flowers, food, activities, hobbies?
Colors - Blue, pink, purple
Flowers - Tulips
Food - chicken fajitas, sushi
Activities - Volunteering, traveling, dreaming
Hobbies - Photography, organizing, blogging

Tell about places you have worked.
Stop 'n' Go - Coaldale. I actually really like working here. The boss was super great, the gas jockeys were fun to flirt with and the play was decent.
Hard Rock Cafe -Banff. It was fun while it lasted. Interesting experiences. Worked with a variety of people from all over the UK ... and Canada.
Roots - Edmonton. I thoroughly enjoyed being in management. I however, did not enjoy the fact that being in management meant that I had to work most Sundays.
Subway - Coaldale. Finished saving for the payment on Jerry's wedding ring. I'm not sure if I liked working there or not. I don't really remember it.

Describe a favorite childhood friend and some things you did with him or her.
I'd have to say my favorite, longest standing friend is still "Daniel" Court. We acted like three year olds around each other. I have a hard time pinning down things we did with each other. Most of my memories are just based around feelings. I remember feeling happy, funny, important, amused, content when I was around him. I still do, actually.

Tell about a frustrating experience you've had with a car.
My trucks current AC needs to be replaced. It's highly irritating, you never know if it's going to be working from one day to the next. Not such a fabulous thing in Texas.

What did you do as a child that got you in the most trouble with your parents? What did they do to you?
Well, the worst thing I did (that they knew about) was skip out of doing chores to go over to a guy friends house Saturday morning with a girl friend I had sleeping over. They grounded me for the first time ever, maybe the only time. Can't really remember.

What influenced you most in your choice of a spouse?
Well, h*#$. Honestly? *sigh* At the time, he made me laugh. He had a steady, well paying company. He lived in an "exotic" location.
I'm just trying to be honest here ...

Describe the perfect autumn day. What would you do on that day?
Perfect autumn days are plentiful around here. It's "cooling down" to the 70's (20's), the days are getting shorter and the planned county activities are plentiful. The perfect day includes the kids and I grabbing breakfast, heading off to a local fall festival, playing lost of fun games, going on a hay ride, eating fire roasted marshmallows, then finally heading home with the kids TIRED and ready for bed.

Did you and your father share an interest? Tell about your relationship.
My dad and I both enjoy(ed) cars. We loved washing them, test driving them, talking them ...
I also accompanied him when he would ref basketball in the fall/winter. It was a nice time to enjoy one on one time with him.
Our relationship was easy. I think that is because he wasn't really involved with the ins and outs of what was really going on in my life. He knew about the surface and I didn't trouble him and further.

What would you like to be remembered for?
I would like it to be said that I was a great mother ... a dedicated friend and a decent wife ;)

Were you responsible for any household chores? What were they? Which ones did you most enjoy? Least enjoy?
My mom divided all the household chores into groups. Then divided them amongst the three of us kids. The duties rotated. I can't remember if they rotated every week or day ... but a definite rotation system. I enjoyed ... ahhh ... mowing the lawn, because I got paid for that. I hated cleaning the stairs the most. All those levels and corners *shutters*

Thinking back, was there a teacher(s) or class that had a great influence on you?
For the negative - that would be Mr. Holstein at R.I. Baker. Before him - I loved math. Thought I was pretty decent at it. He was somehow able to completely kill that love in grade 9.
Mrs. Dyck English 10, 20, 30 at Kate Andrews. She was passionate, intense, brutal and fabulous.

Tell about dreams, expectations and hopes you have for each of your children.
Ms. R ... all I can dream for her is to be happy. To know she is worth so much more than she can imagine. I expect her to be a good person. To try to make her life and other peoples lives better. I hope she fosters her gentle spirit and embraces her strengths and builds on her weaknesses till they are also strengths. I hope she knows she's more than the man she winds up with.
B-Man ... I dream so much for him. For him to learn to communicate. To learn how to assimilate into his environments. I no longer expect him to be outgoing and well liked ... I just hope he finds one good friend. I hope he becomes a well learned, capable man who appreciates all he can do. Exceeds expectations and breaks barriers.

What do you remember about yourself as a teen-ager? What was important to you?
It all depends on what part of my teenage years you speak of. When I was in Jr. High I was outgoing, confident, influential. Making the school sports teams, maintaining decent grades and spending time with my friends was all that was really important to you.
High School ... I was down trodden, fearful, painfully out cast. The most important thing to me was trying not to be noticed. Hoping if they didn't notice me ... they'd just leave me alone.

What did your father do for a living? He was a millwright/welder unto he got tendinitis in his elbows. Then he gave that up and opened a Subway Restaurant in Raymond, AB.
How did he get to work? He always drove a car ... well, for a while, he owned a Honda GoldWing. But that was a very short while.
What time did he go and get home? From what I remember, while he was working at Lethbridge Industries he went to work at 8 and got him around 5. Subways hours are more flexible. Since he's the owner and all.
Did he take a lunch? Until Subway, he always took left overs from supper for lunch. I remember mom packing it up for him after supper every night.
Who did he work with? No one he wanted to be friends with.
Did he get special training from anyone or schooling? He went to some kind of ... something or other for the millwright. I can't remember exactly what.
For Subway, he had to go over to CT for training before he was allowed to open his store.

Do you have a special school memory from high school?
I remember eating lunch and waiting to be picked up after school with Mark French. He pretty much saved my sanity at LCI.

Misfit

Need I say more?

She's in my pj bottom's with a scarf intertwined with it ...

Canmerican

A fellow Albertan (happens to be my best friend...) who also married an American posted this word ... and this picture. I'm so in love with the word and the flag.

*Good in Bed*

I'm very ambivalent about this book. While I appreciate the message - embrace yourself, no matter what shape you are overall ... I find her struggle to get to that place not so much fun. I couldn't relate to her on any level other than being over weight. It was well written, I felt like I had to finish the book to see what the resolution was. Would I recommend this book? No.

Southern Vampire Series

Sooo ... a small confession. My sister (darn you, anyway!) has got me hooked on the "supernatural". Most of which, I can pass off as not completely possible. Yeah, I think my problem is that I have a vivid imagination and even very far fetching things, in my mind, are at least a little bit feasible.
After watching the first episode of "True Blood" on HBO a few weeks ago, I was interested in the book series it was based on. So I looked up Charlaine Harris and much to my delight and amazement - she has a series of 8 books that HBO is very loosely basing "True Blood" on. I quickly went to our library's online catalog and requested the entire series. I have read all but 1 in the last few weeks. Good, good books. It's hard not to love and sympathize with Sookie Stackhouse - the "heroine". It's difficult not to wonder what's going to happen next and itch to read the next book. While you're totally fine NOT reading the entire series ... your brain accepts the stories easier if you have read the previous books.

*the curious incident of the dog in the night-time*

... this book is written from the perspective of a 15 year old boy with Autism. It's odd. It feels disjointed. It's almost painful . I don't think I'd advise anyone to read it, honestly.

Gallavanting

This week the kids and I spent A LOT of time on the road between here and East Texas.
On Tuesday Jerry's grandma Erma Helsel celebrated her 85th birthday so the kids and I (Jerry was busy launching www.oneseason.com) headed out to Quitman for a couple hours after school ... doing something I HATE doing - spent less time at destination than in travel time TO destination. However, it was really important to Jerry that our family be "represented" there because well ... how often do people turn 85? Erma was delighted to see us so I suppose it was well worth the trip.
With Jerry's sister in law Wenda here for the week, Wayne and Linda suggested we all go to Canton for the day. Canton, if I haven't mentioned it before, is the largest outdoor flea market in the world. No need to exagerate. It really is. It covers more than 100 acres. ONE HUNDRED acres. Holy crapola! We spent 7 hours there today and maybe got to 1/10th of the place. Ms. R, who usually had no endurance whatsoever, really sucked it up today and didn't start complaining about her feet hurting till about 5. I think it may have been because Erma had come along and kept buying her things. But that's just speculation ;) I got a set of 400 ct Egyptian cotton sheets for my California King size bed for $20. Woohoo! I also found a Christmas present for Rod -a sign that says, "It's not enough to know how to ride; You must also know how to fall." Anyone who's been up on my mom's life this year will know why this is funny ... in a sick, twisted, mean way.