On The Night stand

Author Adrienne Martini, a former editor for Knoxville, Tennessee's Metro Pulse, is now an award-winning freelance writer and college teacher. I guess this story came about from a piece she had written for the Metro Pulse, I also have read through some of the reviews, and all living around Knoxville, says she does capture the essense of the city.

The story itself, is about an entire families struggle with post partum depression, including her own...

Hopefully I can get through it this weekend, and let you know what I think.

Dishpan hands, the ultimate aphrodesiac....

The appliance gremlins must be up to something.....

VW's garage door is "broke"

GRITS, had her Water Heater leak or explode.

There is Tammi, and the car...

Oh, and now there is me standing in the kitchen at 9:40pm, handwashing dishes. The guy doing the drying is really hot. Something about a guy helping with the housework....it gets me weak in the knees every time.

In fact out of all of the problems I have listed, I would choose this one.

I think the pump is out.

I took as much apart as I could, but I am nooooo mechanic.

DH, is currently taking screws out, and checking things out. It could be a fuse. My guess is, it is the damn pump.

I wonder if I can get someone out here on a Friday? It is doubtful.

Just when I thought I had nothing better to do than paint my toes.

Fortune Telling Whorz

Ok, So Bratz, my favorite toy manufacture, has come out with a Fortune Teller....

Her name is Katie and she is a Magic Fortune Teller a Bratz Genie in fact, when you ask her a question she will move as she speaks to you and gives you 25 different personal fortunes as she does this her crystal ball will light up

You can also create a great look as there is make up included in the Bratz Genie Magic Fortune Teller

Ideal for the years of 4 and up

First off, does anyone else think this Katie looks like a whore? Second, is it such a great idea for a 4 year old to consult a whorish looking doll about her future?

*no offense to Ms. Barbara Eden....intended

Of Dirt and Monkey toes.....

*My foot*

Morton's Toe is a common forefoot disorder where the second toe is longer than the Big Toe (the Hallux).

Great.

Yep, that is my foot, dirty yes, heck I was raking up leaves, and pine needles. I think most of you will be able tell by looking a the ground, it is certainly dry here. 100 degree temps for almost 2 months can do that. Ick.

The project is getting done slowly.

However, I will note here, I am in need of a pedicure. So, after "The Collective" go down to dream tonight, looks like I have an evening ahead of me.

Morton's Toe?

I just though I had monkey toes....

UPDATE: Someone else toe-blogging, perhaps a coat of polish is in order. However, I am glad to know I am not the only one with Morton's toe...

Meditation....

I have been unable to go to yoga, which means my meditation has sufferred. So I have not been in my head, in my hammock, swinging so slightly, no sound but waves.

Today, I think I am going to pretend to meditate, which more than likely will not work. However, some place in my head I am...

Phone...

There are some days I am embarrassed to be part of the medical community. When you frustrate your own, and they know how the system works? That is really an accomplishment.

So thank you for reminding me why patients get pissed off, and for reminding me WHAT they want.

For crying out loud.....it sucks to be on the recieiving end of medical care.

I will say this, I imagine if I did not pay people until this little thing gets resolved. SOMEONE WOULD CALL ME.

Misty Watercolored Memories...Almost exactly a year later.

Ok, not watercolored, rather magna doodle memories.

Dash has taken to drawing recently. Something he has never felt confident doing. He writes words, letters, does math, plays tic tac toe, draws mazes. However, he has taken to drawing.

Of course as his Mother I am going to say, the pictures are not half bad. I need to get some pictures of his art work.

The other day he wrote 1 + 1 = and then he drew a zebra. The great thing is I knew it was a zebra. Why the math equation I have no idea, but he thought it was funny, and at the age of 4 1/2 I suppose it was. However I knew it was a zebra.

Saturday, he was watching Tom and Jerry cartoons, and used the magna doodle to draw a big cat complete with stick arms, round paws and stick claws, 3 to be exact shooting out of each paw. The cat had an idea bubble above his head, with an x in it. Next to the Cat was a smallish mouse, with detail, that I could not quite make out. Hey, A cat. So I said to Dear Husband, look at that he drew a cat, and it looks like a cat. Dear Husband said,"yeah, it does, and imagine it was the first time he has ever drawn a cat."

I was thrilled by his rendering of a cat, because I cannot draw. (Surprise) And his rendition of a cat was better than I could do.

Tonight Dear Husband and I note the magna doodle lying next to the couch covered in circles and squares and shapes of all sorts, I almsot dismissed the drawing. I then ask DH to ask Dash what it is, while I am washing dishes. So Dear Husband asks.

DH: "What did you draw?"

Dash: "Grandmas, grave, and me and Bulgy"

(Important to note here Bulgy is a wooden toy railway friend, that goes with his Thomas stuff)

Me: "What is Bulgy doing there?"

Dash: "well I was playing with him by Grandmas grave, and he fell into the hole, so I fell in after him."

Me: "What are all of these rectangle things?"

Dash: "They are stones."

Me: :"What is on the stones?"

Dash: "Flowers."

He had drawn a schematic of the cemetary from like a birdseye veiw. Complete with Grandma's grave area, headstones, people attending Grandmas service.

This did answer my Dear Husband and my question. How in the heck did he fall in her grave. I guess he was playing with his wooden railway friend, and it fell in.....

The stranges thing, well he drew the schematic, almost exactly a year to the day Grandma was buried....

Funny, how he could recall such detial a year later, and now we know how he fell in the grave. He was after his railway friend.....

A year later, we know why he fell in....

Who would have thought...

While going through our bar, looking for a bottle of wine proper enough to serve with ribeyes last Friday I noted the strangest thing.

First off, we have a lot of liquor for people that do not drink much.

Second, there are more than a couple of jars in there. Home brews. There is a jar of mead wine, and even a jar full of clear liquid...*cough*....that is pretty smooth stuff, yowza.

There are a couple of jars of cherries, that have soaking in bacardi 151, since 1997?

Our bar is full of curiosities, there are chocolate cups you can fill with some sort of German liquors. I forgot about the starbucks liquor, that is so good over ice cream, and the Chambord. Heck, lets just say there were some surprises in there. Bottles of wine given to DH, from all over the world, all lying on their sides, waiting for just the right moment to be opened.

Oh, and the freezer, well that is another story all together.

It got me to thinking about my Family...

And Dandelion Wine


15 qts. water
Dandelion blossoms

Boil water, add blossoms and turn off. Allow to stand overnight. Next day, simmer for 1 hour, then strain and retain only the liquid. Add: 8 lemons 8 oranges 2 lbs. raisins
Place in large crock or plastic container. Ferment for 9 days. Stir twice a day. Place in bottles or jars until fermentation is complete. Do not seal the jars at this point. After the fermentation has stopped (the time interval depends on the temperature of fermentation), remove sediments by siphoning off liquid into clean bottles.

Again, allow the bottle cap to remain loose until no further fermentation takes place. Seal the bottles, store away, and prepare for some good medication!

PLEASE NOTE: If fermentation does not start within 1 or 2 days, add a cake of bakers' yeast, dissolved in 1 cup of lukewarm water. The bakers' yeast will replace natural yeasts that may have been destroyed by hot water in Step 1.

If you think you are sick and tired of my Uterus?

You ought to be me. Lets just say this, the laproscopy, and small procedure, should have helped things for a bit...HA. Jokes on me.

I guess my uterus, is simply an overachiever. My Dearest uterus, is back to its usual. Nice.

I am awaiting a second opinion from an expert on such things...thanks to a friend.

I am also spending some time questioning those around me, that have had similar procedures.

Hopefully, all will be well and healthy soon. This place has suddenly become unfriendly to those who are frankly tired of my bad uterine poetry, talk of the vagina whisperer, and the like.

Time To Go To Bed

We read at least 3 books nightly here at Casa De Dust. All of you may know, that your children do like to hear the same story over and over and over again. Currently Dash is enjoying his Thomas the Tank books, anything about trains, anything. Pink Ninja is enjoying Dr. Seuss anything. Both children are allowed to take books to bed. I do not care if it 100 books. That is the one thing we learned makes bed time so much more pleasent. Dash reads himself to sleep, and Pink Ninja peruses the pages, she has memorized.

I am currently in love with the writings of Kevin Henkes.

The Collective were given a couple of his books by Aunt Leggy, who is a children's book fanatic. They love them. I love reading them to the children.

Last night the book was Owen, a great story about a little boy mouse, growing pains, and intuition, transition, and care...

A sweet story for certain. I do hope the library has the rest of Mr. Henkes books. I am also sad I have to return Owen.

A sweet story for bed time for sure.

Alfredo Recipe

1 pint heavy cream
1/2 cup butter
1 box cream cheese
3/4 cup parmesan cheese shredded
minced garlic to taste
salt to taste
pepper to taste

As usual I have no real recipe, because I rarely use one when I cook. This is the recipe loose, that should give you a good sauce though.

I do not measure when I cook...damn

Melt butter in pan, sautee garlic. I think I used 3 tsp minced froma jar. Dear Husband, could have stood a lot more.

add cream, in small amounts

add cream cheese at room temp in small cubes

add parmesean cheese

add salt and pepper to your taste.

There you go....

easy breezy!!

Time Flies...

The weekend went swimmingly.

We took "the collective" to the dollar theater to see "Garfield a Tale of Two Kitties". A hit with Dash. He loves Garfield.

Pink Ninja, is on day 3 in big girl underpants!! NO ACCIDENTS. She is picking out her clothing, and dressing herself.

Dash has been held up in his corner office in the livingroom, working steadfast on several workbooks his Grandmother sent. WOW...he is 4 1/2, and completing these tasks, well above his age. The best part is, he is enjoying himslef, and finding them challenging and fun.

On another note, I made it through Pink Ninjas dresser, trying to organize it for fall, taking inventory, making a list of needs....wow, she out grew almost everything.

I will go through Dash's things this week, with his help.

It is still Hotter than Hades out of doors. BAD.

I have no idea what we are going to do this week.

I made a delicious grilled chicken alfredo tonight...with REAL Alfredo sauce!! Oh and we had bruchetta!!!

Plenty of leftovers for tommorow nights dinner!!!! It was delicious.......

Growing Pains....

*Photo of Dash pushing Pink Ninja 1 year ago!!



As a Mother, you have days where poof.

You realize time has been fleeting.

The things that made me realize this week that my babies are growing.

Shoes. The shoes that fit 1 week ago are suddenly 2 sizes too small. For BOTH!!

Clothing size. Pink Ninja wore a size 4T (she is 2 1/2) outfit, which I thought might drown her. However, it fit pretty good, a little big, but not bad.

Dash wanted to be weighed while I was at the Dr. the other day, he was 42 inches tall, and weighed 42 pounds.

Walking around with my little boy, who picks out his own clothes and dresses himself.

Pink Ninja wearing underpants for 2 days, no accidents. Washing her hands after going to the toilet, using the toilet on her own valition.

Dash reading more and more, building himself an office in the living room. Writing letters to people in which some of the words are spelled correctly, others phonetically.

Dash writing his phone number on the outside of an envelope to his Grandmother.

Dash getting his haircut, with clippers, and he sat through it, smiling and giggling.

Pink Ninja having enough hair for a bob.

Looking at photos from not very long ago, and crying....

Seeing a brand new baby at the grocery store, and remembering how it feels to hold my babies, and smell the tops of the heads.....and forgetting they screamed through the entire store.


These are the moments it is hard to be a Mother to me. The moments I have prepared them for, and the wings are spreading and they are flying....and.....well, that small part of me want them tiny FOREVER.

On Cousin Curl Turning 2

Today is a day, we hate being soooo far away from our family.

They would have had a load of fun today, the three of them giggling, eating cake, and singing Happy Birthday.

Cousin Curl turns 2 today. Where does the time go? She has ideas now, things to do, she knows who visits, and who is away.


I wish you plenty of noodles to eat, sweet ice cream, and home made icing to play in, presents to unwrap, candles to blow out, may you get some snacks to take to the neighbor puppy you love, hugs from Grandma and Grandpas, lots of pretty ribbons to play with, some special toys.

I also hope someone will take a lot of pictures, we want to see your party dress, and pretend we were there with you.

Happy Birthday, we do love and miss you........

Attached

*more horrible uterine poetry...

Attached

I remember waiting to meet you.
Not because I knew what you would mean.
Because I wanted in on the secret.

You arrived one day while I was in school, and I was terrified to meet you.
When I got home from school, I called my Mom.
She was mad.

I was 15.
You didn't show up again until I was 16, and then you arrived every monthly.
Most of the time causing a scene.

Making me hurt, or naseaus, causing pain from my knees on up.
You know, I just wanted to meet you.
I couldn't wait for your arrival.

After we met, it seemed like we just could not get along.
Maybe you got the wrong girl?
Is that possible?

Some of my friends, would meet theirs and barely notice.
While some of us, would double over in pain.
Lying in bed with heating pads, going to the Dr. only to hear they were crazy.

I will say this, you managed to house and protect my babies beautifully.
There were those months we got a long just keenly.
Even if I puked through some of it.

You showed up on the days I wanted to wear white pants.
My wedding day.
When I traveled.

You were bold.
So, it seems to go without saying I will miss you, just a bit.
I thank you for allowing me in on the secret.

You did your job.
Thanks for your help.
I will miss you.

Rest In Peace

My hometown Newspaper
By TRISHA SCHULTZ

PENDER — Flags lined the street in front of St. Mark's Lutheran Church here.

Patriotic music rang out among the crowd filing into the church sanctuary.

It was a fitting tribute to 20-year-old Sgt. Joshua Ford of Pender, who gave his life fighting for his country.

Ford died July 31 while serving in Iraq when an improvised explosive device hit the vehicle he was riding in.

He was laid to rest here Thursday morning. Ford was the first casualty from the Nebraska National Guard’s 189th Transportation Co., based in Wayne and Norfolk. They deployed last October for Iraq.

About 100 members of the Patriot Guard Riders were here for the funeral. They rode into town, American flags billowing on the back of their motorcycles.

Sweet dreams are made of this

Or the stuff of nightmares....

Last night I was plagued by strange dreams. It seems as if I was getting some sort of liberal arts degree at some college. In order to get said degree I had to sing with a orchestra for a crowd of 500. First off I am a terrible singer. Second, to perform in a crowd, was making me very anxious. I spent most of my dream time in distress.

I was going to sing Cowboy Junkies version of Sweet Jane. What a weird song choice to make, and then when I was practicing I kept singing Walking after Midnight. I was so terrified of performing, that I spent most of my dream hours being lectured by some liberal professor that looked like William Hurt.

I woke this morning, tired, but oddly enough I am prepared to sing for a group of 500 or more.

On a different note, we are already out of doors this morning. It is overcast and cool. Dash is designing a railroad system, Pink Ninja is practicing t-ball. I am being a lazy sod and sipping coffee.

I will not be doing any housework out of doors today. Frankly there is enough inside to keep my busy.

I hope your dreams were sweet, and left you prepared for the day.

Uterine Haiku

I guess we are done
This Adenomyosis
Has made us both tired

Notes From Pink Ninja Training Camp # 860

Great another picture of Dash "working, and sweating while I sit here with an ice cream. Nice touch Mom.

Things at Pink Ninja Training Camp are going well. Summer is great, it means, ice cream, push ups, popsicles, smoothies, watermelons, blueberries. It also means water fights, going barefoot, sprinklers.

It also means Mom drags us out of doors at Gawd-awful hours, and tries to make raking, washing cars, pulling weeds, and tending to flowers "look fun". She is transparent.

Dash keeps helping, but look who has the ice cream.

Love, Pink Ninja

P.S. Enough with the pig-tails Mom. Would you like it if I named your hair do a pig mess?

My Helper

This is Dash, showing sweat, and dirt

Sweat Lodge

Well, it has been about 2 weeks since my outpatient laproscopic procedure. The below the belt incision, is almost non existent. The incision in my navel, well it is a we bit irritated. Not bad, it is in such a bad location. Waistbands, of shorts, and jeans have rubbed, ow. All in all looks good though. I should have broke down and bought a mumu and stayed commando for a couple of weeks. However, I think all is well.

So I return to the Vagina whisperer today to hear the results of the pathology report, and hear about the inside of my uterus.

There a couple of things to consider and think about.

The D&C,procedure. Is probably going to provide only temporary relief for me and my poor uterus.

So there are some decisions to make. I am done with my uterus, it has served me well. But I would love to see if this can be regulated with the least invasive measures as possible.

There is also the question of the 2:30am sweat sessions. The sleep from 2:30-4:30, usually not a restful one, only to wake at 4:30 freezing. What in the heck is that? I am 36 for Gawds sake. Please tell me this is not perimenapause. Oh, and the 2 cycles a month thing, along with the pain that accompanies "it", not much fun either.

So. There is a lot to consider.

"The Collective" will be along my side. Wooo Hooooo!!

Treat Me Right

*Stacy: "That girl lools just like Pat Benatar."
Linda: "Several girls at Ridgemont have cultivated the Pat Benatar look."
~Fast Times at Ridgemont High~

Ok, Maybe I am about to start my period or something, but I think since this entire 80's trend is back full force.

Maybe it is time for me to buy a Trans-Am and get a hair cut?

I still remember the first couple of steps to the "Love is a Battlefield" video...

Ohhh My Gawd, like gag me...

*Look closely*

Yes, that is right, those are stirrup pants. For Gawds sake. What in the hell is going on in the fashion World. (Although, the red swing coat is to die for)

I will admit I owned 1 pair in 1989? I had been working at Vanity, and bought the damn things in a moment of weakness. They looked ok when I was 57 1/2 and 105 pounds or so. I am afraid I would feel like a sausage stuffed into a casing.

ICK....

Donny Deutschbag

His voice sends chills down my spine, his faux eyeglasses and the way he chews on them, and uses them as a talking point accessory makes me want to beat his ass.

If I Were Emma Peel.....

I could do "coy" and get away with it.

Crack o thirty

The Germanic farming genetics have been passed down to "The collective". Yesterday, the day began for the collective at 5:10am. I heard DH up with them, so I laid in bed thinking about how insane this was.

Dear Husband went on a run, a shower, I got a smooch and then I heard the bike start up. So I rolled my unhappy ass out of my bed.

By 6:00am we were out of doors. Not bad, it was 80 degrees. SO I watched squirrels. All 180 of them. (Slight exaggeration) I watched a woodpecker. I drank some coffee. Then the rake started calling my name. I think I filled 4 or 5 bags with pine needles, and leaves and then I ran out of bags.

At 10:30am, (it is 90 degrees) The Collective's stomachs were rumbling. They started making requests for eggs, ham, pancakes. However, they were filthy so they had a shower, and hair washed.

11:00am, brunch is served, and eaten. I had my morning chores ahead of me, beds to make, dishwasher to unload, laundry to wash, dry and fold.

I swear by noon I was wiped out, and I just wanted to sit and take a little cat-nap.

No such thing yesterday. No nap. I did manage to make cupcakes. Pink Ninja was so tired, she fell asleep at the dinner table.

However I did forget how 80 degrees feels for an hour at a time! Can I tell you, it was lovely.


Oh, and the good thing about this morning, there is not one single bag to fill.

Darn!

Lucky

Today is My Mother In Law's birthday, and she works the night shift. So upon waking this morning at crack o thirty with the collective, I knew we had to call and serenade her. I do a fantastic operetic version, it is requested yearly.

So upon waking, I thought of my first time meeting her.

I think it was June 1989? Correct me if I am worng DH, or MIL. You know I am am terrible with dates. It was a summer vacation to The Black Hills, with DH and his Grandparents. It was a hot summer. I recall reading all of the Wall-Drug signs, eating my first buffulo burger, seeing the black hills rise out of the great plains and proclaiming them as very pretty mountains. Seeing the look on DH's face that meant "we need to get you out, every once in a while".

I digress, back to MIL.

She was in the cage at BB'Cody's Saloon in Deadwood South Dakota, watching the money counts. My first impression was . "Wow, she is really pretty, and well put together." I recall she had on black heels, a white blouse, and black pants. I also recall thinking, "she is super young".

So that night back at the house, we were doing dishes ( I do not recall the meal). I knew I loved her, and I knew why DH picked me. His Mother and I were washing dishes, chattering, chattering, and chattering. We laughed and talked, and it felt very natural. (Hint: we are both talkers!!) I then note DH's Step Dad, is watching boxing and hasn't said a word in the last 5 hours. So I said to her. (I would not recommend this move, to any 19 year old girl meeting her boyfriend's Mother)

AWTM: "Can I ask you something?"

MIL: "Go ahead"

AWTM: "How can you stand living with him?"

MIL: Staring at me...

I think we went out and had a smoke.

I cannot recall the conversation specifically. I recall the spirit of the conversation. It was a good one. There have been many spirited conversations since that one.

MIL, also divorced "The Silent One" I think about a year or so after that.

I miss her, I have not seen her in a year. The last time I saw her, my DH was hugging her in my kitchen as we had gotten not so good news about her Mother. So, off she flew to watch her Mother die, 3 1/2 years after I watched my Mother die. I then saw her a few days at the funeral. (Yes, the funeral were Dash fell in the grave.)
I then caught about 15 minutes of her prior to one of my trips to Washington D.C.
We have not had much quality time.

We were supposed to get out and see her this summer, but due to the nature of work, and the price of gas, and just plain old distance/time/money factor. It looks like that visit is scratched. We were hoping to get to the ocean for about 3-4 days. Somewhere on the shores of North Carolina. So we could listen to the water hit the shore, and smell the sea air. Go for a walk for miles. Let the collective meet the ocean for the first time. We need to have a bottle of wine and catch up. So much has happened in the last 16-17 years.

The babies miss her sooo much. She is the only Grammy they have, and they love her. Oh, and they miss her.

I thank you for the gift of your Son, and so many of the things you have done for us. The late night shopping trips while we were all working wacky shifts while in college. The Sunday dinners, for the times you have done my laundry, and cleaned my apartments, pantrys. For CELEBRATIONS of little things, for teaching me to always have a reason to toast, and a reason to celebrate. For having the pleasure to work with you and ENJOY it. I do miss that. For your presence while in the very excruciating labor of Dash. Your helping me make it through the sleep walking and surreal years of my Mother's illness and death. For the casseroles, and cakes, and care. For allowing me to break down again and again, when I hated it... For your genuine care and concern you have for others, when you do not get the same.....

So hold on Grammy, maybe next summer. I will will bring the wine. I will even make you a raspberry chocolate cheesecake. Take care of yourself, you are the only Mom and Grammy we have left, and I am grateful. We have a lot to celebrate!

Just like you taught me.

Oh, and if you live within driving distance of your Mom today, go buy her a flower or two and give her a hug....she deserves it.

Must LISTEN of the Week

I am a little late putting this up, but DO go listen to this speech. It is IMPORTANT.

My Favorite.....

DON'T LET THE PESSIMISTIC TELEVISION TALKING HEADS, HIGH BROWED NEWSPAPER WRITERS, HOLLYWOOD IDIOTS, OR ANY OTHER FACTION OF THE “BLAME AMERICA FIRST” CROWD GET YOU DOWN! …. I'M SPEAKING OF THE “LATTE BISCOTTI CROWD”. THEY ARE SIMPLE BACKGROUND CHATTER MEN....AND WILL ALWAYS EXISTS ON THE PERIPHERY OF ANY ENDEAVOR THAT REQUIRES SELFLESS SERVICE OR LOYALTY. THEY ARE NOT WORTHY OF YOUR CONCERN AND TRUTH BE TOLD – IN THE PIT OF THEIR COWARDLY HEARTS – THEY WISH THEY COULD BE LIKE YOU.

Now get over, and give it a listen.

MY second favorite day of the year...

*cute jacket!!

My First favorite being "the day you get to set the clock back an hour".

The Arrival of the Fall Spiegal Catalog!!
It arrived on my doorstep today!!

However, the darn thing appears to have shrunk?

I guess I will have to spend hours perusing and pretending I have somewhere to go!

I am having a margerita tonight, while I look through it!!

Thick as real southern sweetened tea.

Ooo-weee sha sha kucku yeah
~Prince

The tomatoes, and cucumbers I had bought at the road side stand are already gone. "The Collective", LOVE fresh vegetables and fruit, and every time my DH and I sat down to the table, we would find "all" of the tomatoes GONE, off of the community plate, and we would find both children covered in bits of tomato juice and seeds. Thieves, I tell you.

So I found myself back at my favorite roadside stand again today. It is a piece down the road, I think he breeds dogs too. Oh and get this, they have one of those refriderated mobile units to keep the produce in (also probably to encourage visits from tenderfoot like myself) , all the while they sit out under the shade of an old oak tree, in this God forsaken 100 degree balminess. The Gentleman, is always friendly, always has a big wad of red man tucked into his cheek.

I am Midwestern, by birth as is Dear Husband. However there are some things we have come to understand, and even enjoy. I can eat catfish now. Something I NEVER thought I would do. I also like sweet potato pie, good bbq, fried green maters. I also understand "sides", and I can eat sides for a meal. I enjoy the "pace" of things down here most of the time. WE LOVE sweet tea, although I only make it for company. We do not need the extra sugar. But REAL SWEET tea, we love.

However today while in the coolness of the refrigerated mobile unit, a little Gentleman wearing striped key overalls, with a sweet smile and bad cateracts, tried to start a conversation with me. He had to have been at least 90. Folks, I just smiled sweetly and nodded my head smiling. I did not understand a word he said. I did catch something about Pecans. That was it. The words came out thick as sweet tea, and I was lost staring into his clouded by cataract iris.

I have heard this accent before. I was at Sun Records in Memphis with my Sister on a tour. They played the first "radio show" Elvis was ever on. The announcer I was warned "might be a little hard to understand, he is what we call country".

I guess I live out in the "country", because I was lost. I do wish someone would have interpretted for me, because I bet he does know the best place to get pecans.

Lists

What kind of toddler friendly house am I trying to run? It seems as though over the weekend I kept finding empty this and that.

So Monday is for errands.

-bank
-post office

Store
-pickles
-bread
-peanut butter
-jelly
-clothes detergent
-milk for the collective

Working for the weekend....

Everyone's watchin' to see what you will do
Everyone's lookin' at you
Everyone's wonderin' will you come out tonight
Everyone's tryin' to get it right, get it right
~Loverboy

Dear Husband had drill this weekend. I think this is the 3rd or fourth weekend in a row, he has been needed.

So upon waking yesturday I thought I would catch up some yard work. The dreadful hot temperatures, and no rain has led to a lot of the trees around here losing leaves. My guess is, fall will not be gorgeous, unless we get some precipitation in these parts. So I headed out yesterday early, with a rake, leaf barrel. The bad news is I got a blister, because I had inadvertently left my work gloves on the patio in the rain. The good news is, we got half of the back yard raked. Yes, I said we. Dash is MY WORKER. I didn't even have to ask. He just pitches in, and for a 4 year old, the kid works hard. Seeing him sweat, and full of dirt made me feel guilty. SO I offered him allowance money. He was a huge help. He picked up all of the leaves. I only had to rake! Pink Ninja is 2 1/2, so after she put on her princess dress she wandered through the yard, and sat in her swing. She would swing all day. Dash warned her several times, that "dilly Dallying would not be tolerated". I reminded him that she is only a baby.

This morning, we headed out again. Dash played trucks in the dirt, Pink Ninja sat in her swing. I got three lawn and leaf bags full, out of one corner. ICK. It went much slower without Dash helping me. Plus, I was less than enthusiastic this morning.

Eventually the humidity and heat got to me, and the three of us came in for lunch. It is my goal to get the last corner done this week. I will feel better.

I also need to get up front and weed my flower beds, pull a dead azalea from its misery. Trim my Mums down for fall, and rake a bit there as well. The heat has been so paralyzing to me, that I have let a lot slide. (It looks like that all over down here too, so I do not feel so bad) I need to give all things a little sip of miracle grow while I am at it. So, here is hoping the mornings are cool, and the collective will stay in the yard.

Laundry is almost done. I have one final load!

There are pictures, but I am having a problem with my cable, darn it anyway!!

Maybe tomorrow.

The Collective, were a piece of cake this entire weekend. Lots of kisses, no time outs, and hardly any Mom raising her voice.


We are celebrating tonight, with my famous fried chicken, mashed taters, chicken gravey, corn, and fresh sliced tomatoes. Yummy!!

Hope your weekend was a productive one!

Gabba Gabba Hey!

~Gabba Gabba Hey
The Ramones


I just recieved this in an e-mail, forwarded from a friend.

Gabrriella Reece gives advice, on how to be hot.

1) Eat Real Food

2) Drink Water

3) Keep Stress to a Minimum

4) Do Resistance Training

5) Stretch or Do Yoga

6) Find Some Happiness, Laugh and Smile Regularly

AND The Finale

7) CRAP.

: This is a big deal. A lot of people have issues with this. A good diet and water will help you keep things moving. Going to the bathroom is especially good for flattening the lower ab area. Not to mention (I'm committing the ultimate sacrifice here) it will lower the number on the scale. It's been said that we walk around with 8 to 10 pounds of crap (literally) in our system. Move it on out.

Thanks.

The Rising cost of living...

I am always amazed I do not read more about "money" on the blogosphere. Not much is said about it. I will say this as a stay at home mom, and with DH as a Federal Employee, some months are rough stuff.

I also will add here, that I never thought I would say stuff like...."I remember when gas was $1.25 a gallon yada yada ad naseum."

I also remember a time when a $100 bill in the wallet would last a week easily. It seems to me that this was not long ago.

I will say this, when DH bought the motorcycle, I was not a grand supporter of the idea. It really just meant another payment to me. However, I will say this, due to his commute, the money we are saving on the gas, is making the bike payment.

How I spent Friday:

gassed up the gas guzzling beast. $59.40
took Pink Ninja to ENT-co-pay $15.00
gallon of 2% milk for kids $ 3.79
bought razor blades $23.00

100 dollars gone. I will add here, that I do not run nilly willy all over town with this truwk. I try and conserve fuel, by combining trips etc.

I will say this, seeing the end of $100 is sad to me.

How long will $100.00 last at your house, give me an example, I would like to know!!

Now here is the skinny....

on the trend celebrities have been "rocking" for about 8 months now...

The "Skinny" jean is back. I think the operative term here being skinny. These jeans are for skinny people, people with a cocaine problem (Paris Hilton), heroin users (Nicole Richie), oh and meth heads, oh and of of course any nu-bile 17 year old with the metabolism of a hummingbird (I loathe you, unless you can babysit). On a good note, I will not be owning a pair of these. I also think these horrid things are not much better than the "low rise flared" jeans. Both of these jeans are for 118 poung 5'9 and taller flat bellied types.

So I "the average Amercian woman" have been left out of the trend again. I am not thin, I am curvey, I have a "*mom pouch".

Also "in". Leggings under dresses, and long torso shirts. Which I think is flattering if you are young and thin.

I think Gauchos are "out", or at least I hope so.



So, it looks like another 10 years for me in my Levi 501's. I swear by them. I also think I may just just start wearing skirts more often. Because skirts alsways look nice. Legs, have been forgotten. My pregnancies did not ruin the lower 50% of my legs, so I think I will put them on display.




*That I will willingly have surgery on, if there is any sort of philanthropist that does not think World Hunger is a greater issue than my ego.

More one mans trash.......

The main ingredients of Opal are gum Arabic, menthol, liquorice eucalyptus oil.
60 g packs.
You know I was just thinking about how these Opal candies are popular in Iceland, and how they really taste like crappy cough drops.

One mans treasure...indeed.

One Mans trash is another mans treasure

Pink Ninja had another check up at the ENT, today. It went well considering her last experience at the "ear Doc". Her resilient, independent,and happy spirit is amazing to me. They called her name and she got up and followed the nurse. No prodding from Mom, nothing. She walked behind the nurse, like she has done it 100 times. I almost felt dispensable. She also sat in the chair and let the Dr. check, and clean both ears without wincing. She did it all with her deliciously sweet grin.

On the other hand Dash, doesn't care for the "Ear Doc". She is very high energy, and talks a lot, she explains everything in detail to patient and parent.

Dash, must have shhh'd her at least 7 times, telling her "calm down already", "you need to calm down and take a deep breath". He had his hands over his ears for a lot of the visit. His auditory switchboard was sooo overloaded.

The entire time Pink Ninja smiled and was an angel.

How different these children are. How hard it is for me to see one child so HAPPY, while the other is wincing in pain from hearing a voice. Half of me is so elated at PinkNinja and her carefee spirit, and the other part of my brain is spinning. I am trying to figure out, what is bothersome to Dash? Why is his threshold so on the other end of the continuim? Is it my fault? Of course it isn't? Don't be a martyr. It is better than it used to be. But will it be better for school?

We walk outside, and the wind is blowing, and the skies are gray. Each kid has a sucker and a sticker, and while we walk to the truck, my head stops spinning, and it doesn't matter anymore.

We can sit in the car and sing Victor Vito for the 100th time this week, and his hands are not covering his ears.

It is raining

and I am smiling. The temperature has went from 96 to 73. Ahhhhh.....my flowers and ferns are as greatful as I.

Happy Birthday

I was on the phone, with VW this morning!! Oh, and although we almost talk daily, even if it is 30 seconds...she had not informed me TODAY IS HER BIRTHDAY. I wish her a quiet day. We are in about the same situations. We are both stay at home Mom's with 2 toddlers, so I KNOW what she would like today. Darlin' if I lived closer, I would take the kids today and insist you NAP!!

It is VW bug's Birthday, over at One Happy Dog Speaks.


A quiet and empty place to sleep, no interruptions.



A fantastic babysitter.




A delicious chocolate cake, made by someone else.

sleep

When you have insomnia, you're never really asleep, and you're never really awake.
~Chuck Palahniuk~ author of Fight Club

Who said you can't teach a middle aged dog a new trick?

I learned a few lessons today.

1) Always have bacon at the house.


I bought some beautiful arkansas tomatoes this afternoon from the man down the road. I then thought about BLT's all day. I came home to find 0 bacon. That is just wrong.

(Instead we are having sliced tomotoes, bbq pork sandwiches, coleslaw, and creamed cucumbers)

2) I can repair a noisy toilet!!

Yeah, not a big deal. But I did it. I also must tell all of my female readers who shy away from fix-it projects, this is easy!! Please try it, use the money you saved on calling a plumber to treat yourself!!

3) When it is 104 degrees out McPetrieDishofilthplayland will be packed.

I will not go into details, but they should have passed out xanax to some of the Moms, and Dads at the door.

4) Puffy princess stickers will keep Pink Ninja busy for 30 minutes.

She is creating a card for her cousins second birthday. She is doing a fantastic job!!

Weekdays

Good Morning. For those of you concerned, my insomnia is back. Despite the tension tamer teas, with honey and lemon. Despite drinking nothing caffinated after 10am. Despite taking melatonin. So I am done with my affair, and I will no longer be obsessing about sleep, or talking lovingly about how I loved sleeping. It is gone. It is interesting to know that a surgical procedure, with its anesthesia is the only way for this lady to get some sleep.


It is going to be another balmy day. I am sitting here trying to come up with some sort of project for us all. It is seriously HOT, out, and has been for 3 weeks now. Very little relief in sight. On a realted note. Our current electirc company, has started buying from another source, which has left those in my district paying DOUBLE for our electric. This has been a major daily source of anger with me. (Just another reason for me to move to Wyoming, or Montana and live off grid, like some crazy person with DH)

I do have to run to the bank today, and if I am out and about I just might break down and take the kids to the McPetrieDishOfFilthPlayArea. Perhaps $1 ice creams are in order, after 2 hours of climbing and playing.


Oh and we need to get Cousin Curl a birthday gift, and cards. Darn, we will be missing another birthday. We miss her.

Hero in Need

I was over at Andi's place yesturday and read this.

Army Specialist Ethan Biggers, by all accounts, should not have survived after being shot in the head by a sniper in Iraq...
Biggers did survive, even after having a significant portion of his skull removed. He was eventually flown to Walter Reed, where his prognosis remained grave. While Ethan fought for his life, his pregnant wife Britni was preparing to give birth to their first child, a son who would be named after Ethan's favorite Lieutenant. Day after day, Ethan, known as BIGG E, clung to life, and day after day BIGG E defied the odds. Ethan's father, Rand Biggers, spoke of miracles.

Unfortunately, this family was dealt another blow last week when Rand Biggers was killed in a car accident.....

Rand Biggers, a Wright-Patterson physicist who spent much of last year helping a son recover from a severe head injury suffered in Iraq, was one of two people killed in Thursday's car accident in Beavercreek.

Andi also included this

This family has had an unimaginable nightmare laid at their feet, not once, but twice. They need our help and our support. First, I would advise adding the Biggers family to your prayer list. Second, you can imagine the financial challenges that naturally occur with a tragedy of this magnitude. Please consider making a donation to The Biggers Fund:

Make checks payable to "The Biggers Fund"

Peace Lutheran Church, 3530 Dayton-Senia Road, Beavercreek, Ohio 45432

Also, if you have skymiles or phone cards you could donate to the family, Ethan's mother and wife could use both. Contact me (andi - at - andisworld - dot - com), and I'll put you in touch with the people who can handle your donation.

Lastly, here is the link to Ethan's CaringBridge site. You can use the guestbook to leave a message of support for Ethan and his family.

Soldiers' Angels and Sew Much Comfort have been supporting the Biggers family for some time now and they are doing great work, but let's all chip in and help this family as they support Ethan during his long and difficult recovery.

For the entire story go to Andi's, it is a MUST read. I also think, this is one of those cases where do what you can , fits the bill. If it means sending this story out to those on your e-mail list....than do so.

On The Night Stand

For many of us, the expression "wild woman" conjures late 19th- and early 20th-century images of early American West rebellious daughters, dance-hall girls, cowgirls, and female outlaws. The fourth volume in Fulcrum's popular Notable Westerners series, Wild Women of the Old West presents the sensational lives and exploits of 9 notorious women from the days of boisterous frontier saloons and high-noon showdowns. With essays on such intriguing characters as Baby Doe Tabor, Emily D. West (Morgan), Sadie Orchard, and Calamity Jane, Wild Women of the Old West explores both the myths and realities of these women's iconoclastic lives.

I am only 2 Chapters into this book, but am loving it.

Normalcy

normalcy - being within certain limits that define the range of normal functioning
normality
condition, status - a state at a particular time; "a condition (or state) of disrepair"; "the current status of the arms negotiations"
averageness - the state of being that is average; indicates normality but with connotations of mediocrity
commonness, expectedness - the state of being that is commonly observed
typicality - the state of being that is typical

It seems as though things are normal once again.

The first indication of this, was last night mission. I crawled into my bed, at around 9pm, freshly bathed, conditioned, exfoliated, and moisturized, the works. I was ready for this new wondrous affair with sleep.

10:00pm: still awake, and reading in bed.

11:00pm: still awake, but waiting for my newly found love to kiss my eyelids.

12:00am: really wanting to sleep.

1:00am: I realized in the morning I would feel better. The sad thing, my love affair was so short lived. Damn.


6:00am. Awake with Dash the Farmer, only to argue about the basket of trains and track in my possesion.

By 9:00am we were at the city park, digging buckets of recycled tire, throwing rocks in the lake, scaring little minnows, watching turtles, sweating in the balmy 100 degree temperatures, and walking through the trails deep in the Forrest.

I am feeling better, for now anyway.

However, I have brewed a pitcher of Tension Tamer Tea, on advice of Tammi. I am gonna have 2 large glasses iced after dinner.

This love affair with sleep, cannot be over.

End of the road

The day is done in my book; dishes done, baths given, bellies full, books read, teeth brushed, kitchen floor swept, kids in bed.

I am beat. The Collective pulled one stunt after another, today. Pink Ninja, has started screeching in order to communicate. Dash, well lets just say, he was defiant most of the morning, and well into the afternoon. I have a basket full of trains, and track in my possession to prove it.

I have a headache, and feel as though I ran a marathon. So I am headed to the tub, I am going to soak and read. I hear my luxurious bed calling my name. I seriously can hear it.

I am hoping to be in bed by 9pm. That gives me at least 8-9 hours of sleep. Ya-freaking-hoo!!

Learning to Love Sleep

I am not a sleeper. I have never been a fan of sleep. Oh, certainly I function better with it, and require sleep. I can always just think of a million things I would rather do. Sleep, has always been the ugly step sister, the bronze, the second piece of cake.

However, with the recent turn of events, I am having a love affair~ with SLEEP.

Sleep, what a wondrous thing. I am amazed at the power of it, the quiet of it, the coolness of sheets, and the gentle wrrrr of the ceiling fan.

I wonder why I thought sleep was so ugly all of this time, because I assure you it is no longer.

I am amazed at how much better I feel with it, and how I long for it, how I feel so much better with it.

The idea of the "afternoon seductress of nap", enticing me into bed.

Now, if I can convince "the collective", we have a winner.

Shhh....be vewy qwiet

I am out of books. Out. I think I read 3 in the last two weeks. SO it is off to the pubic library. With the collective.

I feel like a wounded gazelle, with a couple of jackels at my heels. Dash is usually great at the library, Pink Ninja tends to like the sound of her own out of doors voice, and the sound her shoes make while running.

I remain a bit wounded, so I am unable to chase, or carry. This could be bad.

If they are good, there will be no discussion about this outing. If they misbehave, you will read about it.

Voodoo Child

Well, I stand up next to a mountain
And I chop it down with the edge of my hand
Well, I pick up all the pieces and make an island
Might even raise a little sand
~Jimi Hendrix

Just when I think Pink Ninja cannot become MORE autonmous, she suprises me. She is my thin, wiry, tough, no fear child. She thinks she runs the show. I am surprised she can walk, because she has her Father wrapped around her finger. Sometimes the laws of physics, can be altered if you are cute enough.

Two days ago I note she has acquired a new way of avoiding the word no.

I am lying on the couch recuperating, and she is doing something she shouldn't be doing. So I read her the riot act. In turn, she scowls at me, lowering eyebrows, and makes "go away", and "push" actions for minutes at a time. It is a dance with her, elaborate gesturing. It is mesmerizing, all of these hand gestures and body movements.

Now I must find the voodoo doll with the marsupial pouch, pins in the belly, and the bum knee.

As Good as Used...

I would like to tell all yawl I am as good as new. I am not. I am about 80%. The other 20% is just tired, an a little foggy yet.

The procedure went fine. My incisions are small, one of them appears healed already. The other incision is around my navel, and I cannot thank the Dr. Enough for doing a bit of "reconstructive surgery" to my poor navel....I will wait with the thank you until I am healed.


I woke up rolling down the hall from surgery. They turned a corner,and wham I was awake. Oh, and in typical fashion I found a person next to me that was equally as chatty. The nurses were in awe, that the two of us were yammering away. I suppose I understand this. Usually people are slow to come out, not groggy, kinda grouchy. I do recall working in recovery, and saying "wake up, wake up" about a million times. Only to have people wake up and puke all over the place.

I was relieved to hear all looked well. Some excess tissue in my uterus. The samples are at a pathology lab, but looked fine. I was also informed that there is little room for error in the abdomen. There just isn't room for extra anything. That excess tissue, could have been causing the "female issues". The cyst probably was the culprit causing the pain. Anyway, that is good to know. Because we were worried, very worried, due to family history. So I felt pretty good Friday. Yesterday, Saturday was rough. I am unsure if it was the narcotics, or the anesthesia, the CO2 they pumped into me, but I spent yesterday with ice on my head, and a bucket by the bed. I had a terrible headache and nausea. The kind of headache, where if you move your eyes, you feel like you will die. I even took 2 imitrix, they did not touch the thing. ick.....I felt better last night.

I have been resting. It seems like the afternoons and evenings were better for me. The sleep I have been getting ahhhhhh. Can I tell you, I had created an island in our bedroom. I had put movies in, and brought a book. I was ready to relax. Heck I couldn't stay awake for the life of me. I would read a page, and would doze off into neverland. I would wake up and start watching a movie, and poof wake up 2 hours later, only to see something entirely different on TV. Crazy crazy. I do not think I have slept so much in my lifetime.

Oh, and I was up and about. I unloaded the wash machine, did a couple loads of wash, I even cooked a bit of dinner. DH did a great job of keeping the kids away from me. They like to hang and paw on me. DH knew I was not in the mood. DH also emptied my puke buckets, brought ice packs, phone, and orange push ups to me. He missed a couple of days work, which we had not figured on. Usually I am hard core. However between the infection, and 2 procedures, and the dehydrating effects of the laxatives, he knew I was not full speed. I owe him one.

So I am feeling better, I am hoping this does the trick for a while. I miss feeling energetic, and running with the collective, I miss yoga...

So for all of the prayers, advice, and well wishes I thank you!!

DH, for all of your help...Thank you-thank you-thank you. I love you.

Home

I am home.

All went better than everyone anticipated. My uterine waalls were cleaned up.

Tissue looks healthy and pink. My ovaries look good as well. The ovaries have healed. The ovarian cyst rupture, looks like just that.

I have never had anesthesia, NEVER. So between the fog of the anesthesia, the fatigue of surgery, and the drugs, I am good.

So excuse me while I go back to bed and listen to the ompah band that is marching around in my head.

*BTW, If I Were A Carpenter performed by Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash, was a lovely way to fall asleep prior to the surgery.

I'm off....

Ok, I am dressed, nail polish is removed, no jewelry, no make up. Once again I have had to take laxatives last night, and have nothing to eat or drink since midnight last night.

Deep breath. IPOD check, book check.

Family good.

News item of the day....NOT

The Associated Press

Lance Bass, band member of 'N Sync, says he's gay and in a "very stable" relationship with a reality show star. Bass, who formed 'N Sync with Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Joey Fatone and Chris Kirkpatrick, tells People magazine that he didn't earlier disclose his sexuality because he didn't want to affect the group's popularity.

Is this "news? It certainly wasn't a surprise.

Laparoscopy haiku

There is pain waiting
tiny holes punched in my flesh
Will act as windows

A birdie told me....

*Although Tammi doesn't have a "thing" for Beckham, heck I am posting this photo anyway, because any holiday is a good time to put up a photo of Beckham*

Someone is having a birthday July 28th.

My Blog Momma Tammi is celebrating FRIDAY!!!

So in typical Blogger-nerd fashion, I am going to meme her.

Birthday Meme

1. What is your favorite birthday cake?

2. What has been the best gift you have ever received?

3. How did you spend your favorite birthday?

4. Do you make birthday wishes?

5. Has a wish ever come true?

Happy Birthday Tammi. Now go over there and wish her well. That means you!!!

Absorbed

So I have made no secret that I have felt under the weather. There were female issues, some pain issues, blah blah ad naseum.

Colonoscopy clear, breath in.......and out.

I must take a moment here to thank whomever developed the "pills" to take instead of the old drink a gallon or two of horrid tasting crap. The pills, (although they are as big as a cell phone) were easy.

Also, the inventor of television. I am not a huge fan of the television, but it has done a great job of entertaining me, and the children. Particulary with the 100 plus degree temperatures, and me on medicine in which I cannot be in the sun.

IPOD......it was so nice drifting off to Love and Rockets, and waking to David Bowie after the procedure today.

Only one more Drs. visit this week, and then I should have enough diagnostics to prove I am certifiable, or there is a female issue....so I will remain absorbed in well myself. Selfish, worried and preoccupied.

The other take lemons and make lemonade news. "scars with the laperoscopy". I made it this far through my life with one visible scar on my face, and now there will be scars on my marsupial pouch. It will provide a great understandable excuse for never wearing a bikini again.

Oh and to those of you who have had the procedure, and for your insight and warnings, I thank you.

Oh and the prayer thing, keep them coming.....I am sure it is nothing.

Drum Roll Please......

Colonoscopy clear. Done.

Normal.

Colonoscopy Haiku

Swallowing big pills
For the colonospopy
I am left empty

Reno 911

New Season starts tonight.....

In Preparation.....

Monday I will spend the day "preparing" for a colonoscopy. Oh, and if that is not fun enough, I get to spend part of the afternoon, at the Vagina whisperer's office, trying to schedule more lab, and a laproscopy.

So, say double prayers, or whatever it is you feel could spin some good Karma, positive energy, healing resonance, whatever it is I am in the need of.

Notes

Greg, gets a week or two off of chemo. Send him a note. He might like something to read and some words of encouragement.

Greg
P.O. Box 883,
Horn Lake, MS 38637

I'm gonna get you sucka.....

Move over Mega Blocks...

The charm has worn off..bring on the legos. Yes LEGOS, tiny tiny pieces of lego all over my house.

Dash has mastered almsot every building medium we currently have at the house. We are ready for the LEGOS.

On The Nightstand

From Simon and Schuster
After losing her teaching position at the local university, Mariah Moon will do anything to keep her gifted twelve-year-old daughter, Lindsay, in a prestigious private school -- which means moving in with her mother and grandmother in an apartment above The Owl & Moon Café.

When her mother, Allegra, is diagnosed with leukemia, Mariah rises to the challenge of running the café: mastering her mother's famous fudge and chatting up customers -- including a man who might just reawaken her heart. Meanwhile, Lindsay's controversial entry in a major national science contest creates a minor maelstrom in the cosseted Monterey Bay community. And Allegra, with one last great love affair in her, will revisit a man she loved so many years ago, and disclose the biggest secret of the Moon family: the identity of Mariah's father.

Will the Moon women recognize this as the moment to do away with their family history of dubiously fathered children, and learn to forgive others and themselves in order to move forward? In her poignant new novel, bestselling author Jo-Ann Mapson explores the complexities of love and family with the keen eye and stylistic grace that have made her books perennial favorites.


Product Details
Simon & Schuster, July 2006
Trade Paperback, 368 pages
ISBN-10: 0-7432-6641-2
ISBN-13: 978-0-7432-6641-3

Good Things

The sound of thunder. I am telling you my lawn was about to burn up.

This phonecall

*static*

Caller: *static* I have won the $1,000 *static*

Me: *static* hello?

Caller: *static* wooohoooo *click*

(It took a moment, but I determined the call was from Aunt Leggy)


2 of my labs came back as normal.

Orange Sherbet is delicious on a 100 degree plus day.

Sometimes it is ok to be...

Lessons of the week.

Sometimes, it is better to wait instead of anticipate. Sometimes it is better to read a book, than to think of the worst case scenario. Sometimes it is better to wait for answers.

There have been a lot of great life lessons this week.

When I have my one sided conversations with God, I usually let him know if his lessons for the week were easy or hard. This week, well they have been tough.

I always think it is funny, when he re-tests though. There have been a couple of re-tests.

Happy Birthday Dame Diana Rigg AKA Emma Peel

May you have a cheeky birthday luv....

If I were you, I would enjoy myself.

AWTM

If I Were Emma Peel.....

I would send my evil twin to the Gastroenterologist this afternoon.

Never a size 5 again

...And that is ok.

Army of Mom , put this link up the other day called "Shape of A Mother".

The lady in charge of the site calls herself "zebrabelly".

I thought some of you Mothers, would benefit from perusing the site. Because most of us do not look like Heidi Klum after having babies.

Danke schoen

The news is bad, it is hotter than Georgia asphault, but you MUST READ THIS!! NOW, go read it!!

Oh, and can I say, there isn't a more deserving couple. All I can say is WOW, and I LOVE Wayne Newton.

Too Darn Hot

*thermometer located in the back yard, in the partial shade created by the crepe myrtle, photo taken a 3:00pm*

I'd like to fool with my baby tonight
break ev'ry rule with my baby tonight
I'd like to fool with my baby tonight
break ev'ry rule with my baby tonight
but pillow you'll be my baby tonight
cause it's too darn hot
it's too darn hot
~TOO DARN HOT
From the show "Kiss Me Kate" (1948)
(Cole Porter)

I imagine, Cole Porter wrote Too Darn Hot on a day like today. Because honestly, it is too darn hot.

*excerpt from personal diary* "100 plus temperatures, do not mix well with a toddler who consumed a box of jello. The house feels uber small"

Seeing Red Or the mystery of the red tounge solved.

*Photo* Dash at the kitchen table this morning, playing with a garlic press and play doh.

I woke this morning to find my four year old Dash's tounge red. A good Mother would have had a normal proces like illness, etc. Not me, I immediately started looking for what he could have consumed that would turn his tounge red. I then note his finger tips are also red.

It seems as though Child Protective Services ought to come investigate me. Because Dash was so starved, he had eaten a box of dry strawberry jello. Damn. Ick.

Now it was while Pink Ninja and I were still sleeping. Also gone...the rest of "my" double chocolate milano cookies my Mother in law had sent me in my birthday spa package.

So I am sitting here this morning, wondering if I should start a coffee IV on myself. I am sure the red dye and sugar will cause some sort of olympic track speed records.


Looks like I better put on my tennis shoes folks.



*note* I fed my family a well rounded and nutritious meal last evening.

*also note* my niece in Nebraska, did this same thing just last week.

The Worlds Fastest Indian

Ok, so we didn't watch Fargo, or Dr. Zhivago. Thanks to air conditioning we watched.... The Worlds Fastest Indian.

A movie based on the life of Burt Munro, and his dream of setting the land speed record for streamlined motorcycles under 1000cc.


WOW. A must see.


I would reccomend this as a family movie. There are a couple of sexual references, one brief drug reference. Oh and there is a transvestite, but honestly a family movie.

Inspirational.

The old locked in the "walk- in freezer " sitcom plot....

Does anyone recall sitcom episodes where someone is locked in a walk in freezer overnight?

I seem to recall it happening in Happy Days, or Brady Bunch. Or was it Three's Company. Maybe, Laverne and Shirley.

For some reason I cannot make a disconnect from one show to another. Did they all have stuck in the walk in freezer episodes?

or perhaps...

Fargo?

Ice... Ice..... Baby

Tonight I propose "Dr. Zhivago"....

A new low

Just when I thought cat blogging was bad, it is in the 100's here for the 4th day in a row.

"Today's high, is expected to reach 103 degrees, with the heat index, it will feel like 106"

We are in the house, and we are not leaving. I have all blinds closed. The wind is 4 mph, which is slower than I walk, so it offers no relief. Balmy. The kind of heat and humidty, that makes it hard for even mosquitos to fly freely. It makes all creatures slow moving. Mostly me. The poor air conditioner running non stop. It is, beginning to sound like a cash register. Every time I heard it kick on through the night, I swear I heard money jumping into envelopes.

These are the days, that lead me to think, we were nuts to move here. Nuts. These are the days I seriously consider Dear Husbands proposal that we retire off grid in the mountains somewhere in Wyoming, or Montana. Snow....cold. Ahhhhh.....

Then I could piss and moan about scooping snow, and being trapped indoors for months at a time with toddlers, heating bills.

In all honesty I think sweaters, and nights by the fire are much more romantic, then sweaty, stinky, grouchy, overheated people.


Then again ask me in December...

If you are HOT watch this

I rented this 2 nights ago. We had never heard of the movie. However, can I tell you. It is a funny movie, and with the 100 degree temperatures, ahhh. Holly Hunter is hilarious.

The War Tapes

I was over at Soldier's Angels New York this morning, and found this great list of where the War Tapes will be showing.

ARLINGTON, MA (Capitol Theatre)
ARLINGTON, VA (AMC Loews Shirlington 7)
BERKLEY, CA (Landmark Shattuck Cinemas
CAMBRIDGE, MA (Kendall Square Cinema)
CHICAGO, IL (The Music Box Theatre)
CONCORD, NH (Regal (Hoyts) Concord 10)
HUNTINGTON, NY (Cinema Arts Centre)
KEENE, NH (Colonial Theatre)
MANCHESTER, NH (Regal Cinemas 9)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (The Castro Theatre)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Balboa Theater)
SAN JOSE, CA (Camera 12)
SAN RAFAEL, CA (Rafael Film Center)
WASHINGTON, DC (E Street Cinema)
WILKES-BARRE, PA (R/C Wilkes-Barre Movies 14)
WILTON, NH (Town Hall Cinema)
WEST NEWTON, MA (West Newton Cinema)

COMING SOON

07/21 – NORTHAMPTON, MA (Academy of Music Theatre)
07/28 – BALTIMORE, MD (The Charles Theatre)
07/28 – KILLEEN, TX (Killeen Hollywood Stadium 14)
07/28 – PITTSFIELD, MA (Little Cinema at The Berkshire Museum)
07/28 – SACRAMENTO, CA (The Crest Theatre)
07/28 – SANTA ROSA, CA (Rialto Cinemas Lakeside)
08/03 – LAKE WORTH, FL (Stage West)
08/04 – BUFFALO, NY (Market Arcade Film & Arts Centre)
08/04 – FT. LAUDERDALE, FL (Cinema Paradiso)
08/04 – LINCOLN, NE (Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center)
08/04 – NASHVILLE, TN (Belcourt Theatre)
08/04 – WILMINGTON, DE (Theatre N at Nemours)
08/07 – ALBUQUERQUE, NM (Guild Cinema)
08/11 – BURLINGTON, VT (The Roxy)
08/11 – CLEVLAND, OH (Cedar Lee Theatre)
08/11 – COLUMBUS, OH (The Drexel Gateway Theater)
08/11 – PITTSBURGH, PA (Regent Square Theater)
08/11 – STAMFORD, CT (Avon Theatre)
08/11 – TUCSON, AZ (The Loft Cinema)
08/18 – COLUMBUS, GA (Carmike 15)
08/18 – DALLAS, TX (Landmark Magnolia)
08/18 – FAYETTEVILLE, NC (Carmike Market Fair 15)
08/18 – FT. BENNING, GA (Carmike Wynnsong 10)
08/18 – HARTFORD, CT (Real Art Ways)
08/18 – ITHICA, NY (Fall Creek Pictures)
08/18 – JACKSONVILLE, NC (Carmike 16)
08/25 – BETHLEHEM, NH (The Colonial Theatre)
08/25 – COLORODO SPRINGS, CO (Carmike 10)
08/25 – LAWTON, OK (Carmike 8)
08/25 – PHILADELPHIA, PA (Ritz Five)
08/25 – VORHEES, NJ (Ritz Sixteen)
08/27 – OJAI, CA (Playhouse Theatre)
08/27 – SAN FRANCISCO, CA (Red Vic Movie House)
09/01 – ATLANTA, GA (Landmark Midtown Art Cinema)
09/01 – DENVER, CO (Starz FilmCenter)
09/01 – MADISON, WI (Orpheum Theatre)
09/01 – PORTLAND, ME (The Movies on Exchange)
09/05 – COLUMBIA, MO (Ragtag Cinema)
09/06 – SPRINGFIELD, MO (The Moxie Cinema)
09/08 – AUSTIN, TX (Landmark Dobie Cinemas)
09/08 – HOUSTON, TX (Landmark River Oaks Theatre)
09/15 – MINNEAPOLIS, MN (Landmark Lagoon Cinemas)
09/15 – ROCHESTER, NY (The Little Theatre)
09/22 – DETROIT, MI (Detroit Institute of Art)
09/22 – FLINT, MI (National Amusements Cinema 10)
09/23 – NOTRE DAME, IN (The Michael Browning Family Cinema)
09/29 – PORTLAND, OR (Hollywood Theatre)
10/13 – W. LOS ANGELES, CA (Landmark Nuart)
10/20 – BRUNSWICK, ME (Eveningstar Cinema)
10/20 – SEATTLE, WA (Landmark Varsity Theatre)
11/20 – SANTA BARBARA, CA (UCSB Campbell Hall)

Damn, I must push a little harder to get this movie here. Everyone that has seen it, has left impressed. Most people I know are right leaning, but do offer that this film is apolitical. They left with a feeling that it is a human story, and not a political one.

I met Deb Scranton at the mil-blogging conference. We talked briefly.

I did get to meet Specialist Moriarty. We had a drink, and he told me a bit about his wife, and her experiance back home. She too got to film her life.

From The War Tapes site, there is this from Mike.

On September 11th 2001 I was a changed man. I packed a bag and took a bus from Concord NH a week later to NYC. I had a pass and witnessed with my own 2 eyes the still burning nightmare and the smell of horror. I felt the 6 inch deep silt with my hands and read all the photo copies littered all over the place and posted on anything that was standing of missing loved ones.

This I will NOT EVER forget. I appreciate my parents. I appreciate my health. I appreciate what I do have.
I appreciate every single soldier who has done what I'm about to do. I hope to relieve a soldier who can go home and enjoy life with his wife and children. Whoever he will be, he is my hero.

I will write again soon,

Mike Moriarty

My t-shirt babe...

Ok, someone called my t-shirt babe a chickenhawk, and a pottymouth.
Thems is "fightin" words round these parts. (We all know who the real potty mouth is.)

Uncle Jimbo's response is classic.

Looks like fight club, and my money is on Jimbo.

Letter from Pink Ninja training Camp #802

*the following is a written account of events explained by Pink Nijna*



Readers of Moms blog,

This is a letter of rebuttal I suppose.

"Barrel of Monkey"? I am insulted.

Look at the photo again.

The photo was taken last weekend here at Casa De Dust. Mom, thought "washing Dads vehicle" sounded like a "great and fun cooling activity". (*Note: I am in the rake leaf barrel*)


Yeah, I am not buying into it. Washing vehicle = Fun. Ha! Who does this woman think she is fooling? Well, she fooled Dash.




He loves "washing vehicles". Look at him, he was loving it.

Ick. Not me, what is sooo fun about that, particularly when no money exchanged hands. (*note to self, must contact department of labor, re: violation of child labor laws*)

Go ahead Mom, take photos, and call me a barrel of monkey, but you and Dash spent 3 hours washing the vehicle....And now I have proof.

Who's laughing now?

Pink Ninja

P.S: I will not contact department of labor, if a doll house, and new clickety shoes exchange hands . You have until August 1st.

Barrel of monkey

Weeeeee!!!

Some Days are just this fun....

*watching Charlie and Lola, is like watching the collective, sans violence*

Ode to the blue dress.....

Yeah, the blue dress, was the dress I had chosen. I thought it would look nice on my summer skin, and it was not clingy. However, the change of command dinner was this evening. Due to Dear Husbands work schedule, we do not have to attend event. (Jumping up and down!!!)

The good news is I do not have to pay $90, for a mediocre peice of chicken, or smile widely all night.

The bad news is, it is a rare occassion I get to look :foxy". Dear Husband is usually treated to blue jeans and a t-shirt, and by the time he sees me at 6pm or so, I have finger prints on me.

The good news is, we will be able to take the baby sitter, and COC dinner money, and hit the town when I am feeling up to it.....and we will not be on parade, we will get to talk to one another across the table!

Now, I gotta figure out what to wear on this date...oh and figure out WHEN we can see one another.

Sticky is as sticky does...

I woke this morning to find my tile floor in the kitchen smattered with orange juice. Dash, hates orange juice. So, I look over at Pink ninja. It seems as though in her 2 1/2 year old brilliance, that there is no way better to celebrate her love of orange juice then to pour it over her own head.

AWTM: "What is all over your head?"

Pink Ninja: "Nubbing"

AWTM: "Why did you pour orange juice all over your head?"

Pink Ninja: *non descript whine*

AWTM: "You are going to need a shower."

Pink Ninja: "NOOOO!!"

AWTM: "A bath?"

Pink Niinja: "NOOOOOOO!"

AWTM: "You can take your pirate ship"

PinkNinja: "o'tay"



*OK, and now here is an incident later in the day, of equal grossness factor*

Pink Ninja: "I love you...put all of these bawaettes in my hawah"

AWTM: "OK, come over here."

Pink Ninja: *SMILING coyly*

AWTM: "these barrettes, are all wet, did you lick them?"

Pink Ninja: "yes."

How I will spend the day

My mopping was done by 9:30am. I have the usual laundy to do. There always seems to be laundry. It is quiet today, and the kids are quiet. Ssshhhh...




However, thanks to a special friend and blogger I can look at this while folding clothes.





I can prop my feet up and read this! So far so funny, a book written by a blogger. Thank you for making me laugh.



Oh, and thanks to another blogger, I have a little shopping to to do!! Exactly what the Dr. ordered!

Well I D-eclair

Now that is funny folks, that is funny.

So Dash had picked "mini chocolate eclairs" for my birthday dessert.

We all made them....Deliciousness. Even if I made the eclairs into cream puffs, because I did not want to use a pastry bag.

They were scrumptious. Recipe to come soon.

My first batch of cream puffs were undercooked, they went to the garbage. However the rest were DIVINE.

*the plate I used, was my Grandmothers milk glass platter. It was nice to have an occasion to use such a platter.

Showered ...

I woke this morning, thankful. I have had a great year. I have made a lot of good friends, and I have family that loves me. Strange how an online diary, has introduced me to such great individuals.

I recieved wonderful gifts, phonecalls, notes, e-mails......

My birthday was very special this year.

Thanks to my Mother-in-Law, I spent the night at the Casa De Dust all inclusive spa....
*no photos of me in the tub*
~new fluffy white bath sheets, a relaxing piano cd, candles, bubble bath, double chocolate milano cookies, a heartfelt note on a card that said "To MY Daughter"....and more goodies. Even things for "the collective" to keep them occupied.

I rarely speak of my Mother in law, but she has one of the biggest hearts I have seen. Despite it being broken a time or two, she has managed to pick up the pieces and put them back together making it bigger than before. (Now darling, of you can figure out how to do that with a 20$ we are in business! )

If I Were Emma Peel



I would be tickled pink, that it was my Birthday.

Like a visit to the gynolcologist is not humiliating enough, or Things you do not want to hear on the day before turning 36.

*The following contains language not suitable for younger readers*

Fade In: 106 degree, balmy day in the midsouth. A Mother and her two small children enter the waiting area of a second floor gynocological center. The children, are running loose, trying to get away with climbing on furniture. The Mom opens her library book.

Pregnant woman to her left: (smiling brightly) "You, look GREAT pregnant."

Mother of Two: (expressionless) "I am not pregnant."

Pregnant woman to her left: "Oh, well, I thought, since you (stammerring and blushing) were uh here, and uh, oh your kids are adorable."

Mother of Two: (In her head) Fuck you bi-och.

Birthday prayer answered...

Ok I am back from the vagina whisperer, and McDonald's Playplace.

The polyps, are simply that...benign polyps EXHALE. They also could have been the culprit of some of the bleeding I was having.

The cyst, was simply a cyst.

Some of the lab is back. All results are in Normal limits. More lab was taken today.

I have a consult with a gastroentrologist on the 21st, and then a colonoscopy.

After that I am having an exploratory laparoscopy done, to rule out endometrial problems, uterine problems and the like.

We have a plan, and it makes sense. I like my Dr.

If I Were Emma Peel.....

I would show up at the vagina whisperer's office "like this" in the morning.

The doorbell rang and left me smiling......

I dread the doorbell after 6pm. It is usually some fresh faced school kid trying to squeeze yet another dime from the Casa De Dust.


Not tonight, it was the UPS guy with this

drum roll.....






Paula Deen & Friends: Living It Up, Southern Style
by Paula Deen with Martha Nesbit
Simon & Schuster, 2005

ISBN: 0-7432-6722-2


Hooray, an early gift, and what a lovely cookbook it is. Dash and I fought over it. I gave in, and let him read it, while I did dinner dishes. I think he looked through it for 30 minutes.

AWTM: "So are you finding any good recipes?"

Dash: "I think I have found dessert, mini chocolate eclairs"

AWTM: (smiling at DH) "Do we have the ingredients?"

Dash: "3 cups whole milk, flour, eggs, and butter...Do we have 3 cups of whole milk?"

AWTM: "I think we do, that will be a great project for tomorrow."

I am thrilled with this gift. Can I tell you, I have been skimming through it all night. I can hear Paula reading each recipe too. I am going to take it to the bath tonight, it is that good.

It is filled with plenty of menu ideas for entertaining. Even food for vacations, and menus for a slumber party! Paula also makes room for short cuts, and insists on getting out of the kitchen ASAP so the cook can enjoy her guests.

So guess what AWTM, is having for her birthday cake?

A mound of mini chocolate eclairs. I think it is exactly what I need. Oh and if they turn out, I think I would love chocolate eclairs every year for my birthday.

I also was thrilled to see Dash looking through this cookbook so intrigued by recipes.

Thank You Uncle Rico, Aunt Leggy, and Cousin Curl, for sending a gift that transported me from being fearful of tomorrow, to planning meals for the next few months.

I have a junk drawer full of paperclips...

and no forsight, or thought. Crap.

I am sure some of you have heard the story of the blogger who has bartered his way to home ownership using a paperclip as the starter.

excerpt from his blog here..

My name is Kyle MacDonald and I traded one red paperclip for a house. I started with one red paperclip on July 12 2005 and 14 trades later, on July 12, 2006 I will trade with the Town of Kipling Saskatchewan for a house located at 503 Main Street. Feel free to give me a shout - all my contact info is here. Click on pictures below to read about each trade.

like I said I have a drawer full of stuff you might want. There are some drawer locks, rubber bands, tacks. envelopes, pens..

Anyone?

anyone?

going once...

going twice....

One of the 6 CD's in the car

Laurie Berkner

What is playing in the truwk....

well the CD anyway. In fact it played almost the entire 10 hour drive to and from Nebraska. Not bad really. Not nearly as irritating as one would think. Plus "The Collective" now take requests.

I need to get the video, looks like quite a workout.....for all of us.

Begin the Benign

And now when I hear people curse the chance that was wasted,
I know but too well what they mean;
So don't let them begin the beguine
~Cole Porter

I turn 36 on Thursday. 36.

I am also enough of a narcissist to think that I should feel better this week. After all it is MY birthday week. I should feel good. However, I do not. The Drs. Are unsure what is going on, I still have lab pending, and more Drs. And specialists to go to. It has been such a mind screw, that I am not sure if I am coming or going.

I am also feeling a bit betrayed by my body, and mind. Because I really have taken excellent care of myself this year. I made my health a priority. I meditate, I exercise, I believe in good nutrition. I was feeling better than I ever have.

So tonight I sit here, not feeling my usual 20-something self. My body feels like someone else's.

There is also Dear Husbands job, is he going away to guard the border, is he staying here, is he going to have additional job duties? Yeah, that too is up in the air, and seems to change minute by minute.


So tonight is the type of night I will lie in my bed, and try and recall the best moments of the day. The moment when Dash told me I was "the prettiest mom in the World", or when Pink Ninja nuzzled to my neck making her sweet little puppy noises.
I will recall that day I walked into my Dear Husbands office, and he stopped everything and smiled perfectly, and I felt beautiful.

I will also have flickers of the illness I have witnessed through the years as a hospice nurse. Memories of family illnesses, and lost hair, and nausea, and the fear that comes with that. My Uncles pancreatic cancer, my Aunts breast cancer, my Mothers colon cancer. The Drs. That diagnosed wrong....

I will recall being in nursing school, and working oncology at Christmas. That Mother who was 35, with 2 children, making plans for the future of her children, because she had received news she might make it to New Years.

These flickers, are not merely my memories snapshots. I recall voices, and phonecalls, Drs. visits, the smell of bleach off of my own uniform, a dehydrated hand holding on to mine, tissues dampened with tears, I can even hear the sound of that Mother singing lullabyes to her grown daughter as she was dying.

I will lie in bed tonight, and count my BLESSINGS. I will say my prayers, and I will think of those I have seen fade away, only to shine brilliantly elsewhere.

I will also rethink writing this post at all, because in a couple of weeks I will hear that all is well, it was simply an ovarian cyst, and the polyps are benign, and all is well. I will then feel embarrassed to have worried so much, and caused worry in others, and I will feel guilty because my faith is not what it used to be.