I Take It Back!

Remember all those days over the last 2 months that I said that I was ready for school to be out?

Yeah, I lied.

I need 3 more days, people. Anyone have one or two to spare?

Oh Look! A List!

...because I cannot mentally handle anything more. Bear with me.

• I have the tingtone from my old phone going through my head. Any suggestions on how to get rid of it?
• My husband is still sick. Seriously. Any ideas?
• I know now that summer is going to kill me. Two days of school left, a million things to do, and children that are on summer mode. 
• We have company coming on Wednesday. Suppose I'll get any help from the boys? A girl can dream...
• I go to Vegas in about 10 days and still don't have a hotel room. 
• Nor do I have a way to get there. (I don't trust my car on the road to the desert.)
• I figured out what to get for that teacher...If I don't forget I'll take a picture and post it. I think it's pretty awesome.
• How do you (any of you) not take it personally when the majority of your family hates dinner? I'm getting really tired of 'failing' in this area. *sigh*
• I have watched about 90 minutes total in the last 6 years of LOST, yet I still watched all 3 (4?) hours of it tonight. Have no idea what is going on with the exception of the bones that they threw us in the 'recap' stuff. I promise I won't ask any questions; I'm too lost to even have any.
• Carl's Jr. commercials are disgusting.
• I hesitate to complain about this, but where the hell is spring? We are having a 'winter storm' again. Yes, it actually brought about 6 inches of snow to the local mountains today. I don't love it when it's over 90 but, you know, the 70's might be nice.
• I mysteriously hurt my knee this weekend.

OK, enough random for tonight. Do you have a random thought for the day?

On Marriage: What Others Have to Say

I find it fascinating when a topic swirls in my head for a while and right as it is about to bubble up and out of my finger tips- BAM! There it is on everyone else's blogs. These are some of the best articles on marriage that I have seen in the last week or so:

 

• Craig usually writes about money but on the occasion of his 10th anniversary he wrote 10 Marriage Lessons that he has learned. Straightforward; it's a great check list to gauge where you're marriage is.
• Robin is one of my favorite bloggers, and she is right on the money with her post For Married Women Only. And yes, she talks about sex.
• Mary linked to this last week and it has had a lasting and profound effect on me. You won't be the same after reading it. And hopefully, neither will your marriage.
  
  

  "Jennie put coffee and bacon on the stove, and then, catching up a pail from the porch, went after John. A golden red disk broke the misty blue of the morning above the cow pasture. A sweet, fragrant breath blew from the orchard. But Jennie neither saw nor felt the beauty about her." from When Queens Ride By written by Agnes Slight Turnbull on ThePrudentHomemaker.com 

  Last, but not least, something funny from Karen!
  
  

Enjoy your weekend reading!
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Ten Questions from Kim

Writing for DDS has been a blast. (Really, there are some great posts there. Some by me, but mostly by a bunch of other really talented and funny people. Go see for yourself.) The best part, though, has been finding a new crop of people to stalk on the internetz. ClumberKim, a new-to-me blogger, tagged me for this meme, and thank goodness she did, since I'm so busy that every time I sit down to write I make a mental To Do list instead. I don't think you all want to hear, again!, that I need to do the dishes and vacuum. Ahem. 

The rules: Answer the questions, come up with 10 more, and tag 7 people (I tagged 10 because I'm a rebel that way.) Easy!

1. What’s your favorite color? Green and Purple. Duh.

2. If you were headed to a desert island and could take just one CD, what would it be? The Jimmy Buffet boxed set, Boats, Beaches, Bars, and Ballads.

3. Ginger or Mary Ann? Mary Ann

4. Cake or pie? Why? What kind? (Yeah, I’m calling that one question.) Cake, because I hate pie as a general rule. My fave would be Angel Food with fresh strawberries.

5. What was your favorite book when you were in high school? Um, I'm old. I can't remember, but I do remember reading all the time. Confession: it would have been a Danielle Steele novel because I devoured them in those years. Not brainiac lit, that's for sure.

6. What is your dream car? Probably a Ford Thunderbird Convertible, in turquoise. Not practical for the carpool, though, unless it was acceptable to stuff a few kids in the trunk. I do kinda like this mint green one, too.

7. If you had unlimited resources for a service project anywhere in the world, what would you do and where? This is hard. If it were truly unlimited funds then I would probably do a few things: Open free medical clinics in the poorest areas of the Appalachian mountains, provide mosquito nets in the areas around the world that need them, dig clean-water wells for communities. I would also want to help fund Christian missionaries-at home and abroad.

8. Do you speak a language other than English? None. Once upon a time I knew a little French, but a language test during a job interview cured me of that. And I can order beer in Spanish.

9. What is your musical guilty pleasure? Music defines so much of my life. I even worked for a music distribution company in the mid-90's, so it would be really hard to narrow this down. FWIW, I'll say cheesy 80's music, but it's not as much guilty as it is my walk down memory lane and my sing-at-the-top-of-my-lungs-to-embarrass-my-children music.

10. What did you do on your last vacation? Headless Dad, the boys, and I took a few days and drove up the coast of California during Spring Break. I loved that we were able to just get away with no real schedule, stop when/where we wanted to, skip rocks into the ocean, that kind of thing.

OK, now for my questions: 

1- Which celebrity to you want to tell to "Shut up, already!"?

2- What is your favorite happy hour drink?

3- What is your favorite thing to cook/bake?

4- What is one thing that you wish you had more time for?

5- What is the FIRST thing you would do with a jumbo lottery jackpot?

6- What song/artist do you always turn off when it/they come on the radio?

7- What one household chore is your favorite? (Or at least the least hated?)

8- What is your favorite flower?

9- What food do you like that most would say "Eeeeew!" to?

10- Is there something that you refuse to blog about? Why?

For my readers: Play along! If you're here, choose one question above (either the ones I answered or the ones I'm asking,) and answer it in the comments. My blog, my rules.

Who I'm tagging: 

Steph (because I tag her every time)

Deb (because she's my friend and will probably do it)

Issa (because she needs something light! and happy!)

Stacey (because she never does these things and I think her answers will be interesting)

Karen (because I think she needs a diversion from the bump)

Heather (because I think that her answers will be radically different from what they would have been a year ago)

Auds (because I can)

Loralee (because her answers will make me laugh)

Keetha (because she will be coming off of a blogging break soon) 

Carmen (She of the Sisterhood of Suckitude shall have her say...)

(Hint for those who have been tagged: click back through those that have done it before. I got ideas for questions from going back to others that have done it.)

Ready... Go!

American Idol-Top 3

I think I have to post a little tonight about the Top 3 since I've missed the last couple of weeks. Sorry about that. Baseball got in the way, I'm afraid!

Casey's first song: (Title?) Sleeper. Like him a lot, he'll have some sort of a career, but this is his night to go home, I'm afraid.

(Did the Ford Fiesta commercial freak you out a little, too? Or was that just me?)

Crystal's first song: Come to my Window. Perfect song for her...her style, her genre. My only problem with it is that it is way too rushed.

Lee's first song: (I was doing the dishes during the talking. No title again. Should I know this one?) Good, I guess. He sounded ok but I don't know this song, so I have nothing to compare it to.

Yep, I'll agree with the judges. Round 1 to Lee. Round 2 will be the songs that the judges choose for them.

Casey, Round 2: Daughters by John Mayer. Somehow I'm not familiar with his one either. Sounded better than the first, that's for sure. I stand by my statement that this is Casey's final night.

Crystal, Round 2: Maybe I'm Amazed by Paul McCartney. Great choice, I hope she does well. Yep, I thought it sounded great....except for the man/woman thing that there was just no changing or getting around. She just sounds confused.

Lee, Round 2: Halleluia. Perfect. (Hey, who did this last season that we all loved so much?) I think that Lee may have won the whole thing with that one. Really, it was that good.

OK, Lee won the night and probably the Idol title. Casey is going home. And Crystal will only have to do the summer tour, have record labels fighting over her, and then go on to be a radically cool independent artist without the confines of the Idol contract. Perfect! Do you agree?

Go see BooMama to see what everyone else said!

Nature Center with Second Graders

Have I ever mentioned that I'm not overly fond of field trips? Oh, yes, I believe I have. So where did I go today? I'm a sucker for these blue eyes.

Peek-a-boo on the bus!

Checking out the fauna with Rick as our guide. The kids got to dig for bugs. What second grader wouldn't like that?

But this was mama's favorite part. I never tire of Columbine or photographing flowers. I could have done this the whole day and not been bored!

So, all in all, not too bad, but boy am I exhausted tonight. It wasn't the actual trip that was tiring, it was the sheer noise of two classes of 8 year olds. I can handle my own 2...36 of them? I felt a little twitchy.

Proof that I survived.

Quick! I Need Help! Especially from all you teachers out there....

What would you get for a beloved teacher that is retiring? This is the woman that both of my boys had for 2nd grade. She is the teacher that I credit for my boys "getting" it. I'm willing to spend a decent amount of money. Here's what I know: she doesn't cook, she's not into technology, she's not married, she has one grandchild, she's quite healthy and vibrant, she loves music (plays the harp, piano, accordion, etc.,)

Any and all suggestions welcomed in the comments!

Saturday Shots: Sausalito

Memories of Spring Break, 2010.....

Some Randomy Randomness

• I'm having a crisis of sorts. Carmen wrote earlier in the week about friendship. Why is this relevant? A local pal, (who I love but doesn't read blogs-mine or anyone else's as far as I know,) asked a few of us to come over for happy hour this afternoon. Sounds great right? Well, my kids end up getting the short end of the stick when the kids play, and end up being miserable. What to do? We're going because some kids that they like will be there but sheesh, why can't it be easier? I don't want to knowingly put my kids in a situation where they get 'trampled' on, but I want to see my friends, too. What do you do in this situation?
• I'm getting really tired of listening to LA news. Three reasons: the LA budget crunch (Can you say bankrupt?), 'cutting ties' with Arizona because of the illegal immigration law, and the Lakers. All three piss me off.
• My house is a disaster area. The floors need vacuuming and mopping, the bathrooms need cleaning, my bathroom needs to be painted, I need to hang pictures, and clean out closets and drawers, the shelves above our wet bar are grossly dusty, yaddayaddayadda. Where do I start? 
• I'm starting to feel a little weepy and tired. That doesn't bode well for getting things done, now does it?
• I wrote/compiled a funny story over at DDS. Go read it, for it will make you laugh.
• I lost 2 ounces this week. Weak, I know, but at least the scale isn't reading this anymore. I guess I need to work a little harder, eh? Or, you know, work on it at all?
• I've decided that I want to be Mir when I grow up. I envy her career, in a good way. I'm thrilled for her success, I love her new design, and I would very much like to do what she does. Except without all of the work. Heh.
• I'm doing better at quitting than my better half. That doesn't make me better, just crankier. This might explain the weepy and tired thing, come to think of it.
• Headless Girl moved to campus last weekend. The house feels really empty without her. It's a cool deal for her, though. The kids that work on campus during the summer get to live there for free. There is no meal plan so they have to eat out, but that is a pretty nice trade-off, no? I'm so proud of her-she's got a great job and she's getting great grades and she's just a pretty awesome all around kid. Go, HG!
• Headless Dad is s.l.o.w.l.y getting over bronchitis. And I mean slowly. 6 weeks and counting, and still coughing. 
• Anyone going to be in Vegas the weekend of June 4-6? I'd love to meet you somewhere and have a drink, or ten. I'm going for bowling with Debby of Just Breathe. Leave a comment or email me, k? (headlessfamily5atgmaildotcom)

I suppose that's enough randomness from me for today. What's your random thought of the day?

Wordless Wednesday: Mud

#2 Helping with the yard work. Kinda.

Only You

I believe it was the year that I was 16.... We often went to a teen night club in southwest Denver called After the Fox. Did you go there too?

Somehow I was never carded and we would stop on our way down to buy a 6 pack of White Mountain Coolers. A small buzz to begin the evening? A buzz that would be worked off half way through the night.

The agenda began and ended with dancing. The year was 1984, the music was electronic, and the dancing was all about showing off while looking bored. We hardly stopped; we just kept moving.

One night when they 'slowed it down' they played this song by Yaz. One of my favorites already, after this night it would become one of my favorite memories, too. His name was Kevin and I had been eyeing him for weeks, I think. Tall, lanky, he actually was a great dancer, and he asked me to dance.

How did you dance with a boy (or girl)? Most of us would say: girl's arms around his shoulders/neck, his arms around your waist, sway back and forth. Right? This guy really knew how to dance. He 'led', like in a 'real' slow dance.

And I was hooked.

I think we must have met there at least a half dozen times over the summer. He lived in the north east part of the city. I was in the mountains. In those days we were 'geographically undesirable' to one another. That was quite the drive. But we could meet at the club, and we did.

And we danced.

I think of Kevin every time I hear that song and wonder if he ever thinks of me when he hears it? I know that my memories are probably a lot stronger and more romantically inclined, but I still wonder. Most guys probably wouldn't have remembered that by the next summer, much less that one song, and he would probably be shocked at the impact that it still has on me after all of these years. I still wonder what ever happened to him.

Mother's Day, 2010

Happy Mother's Day to my mom in Colorado. The Mom that I aspire to be.

Happy Mother's Day to my grandmothers: in Tennessee, and in heaven.

Thank you to Headless Girl...you're the one that made me a mother, and I'm lucky that you chose me.

Thank you to the Headless Boys for letting me be your mom from the start.

Thank you to Headless Dad for being my children's father and for fully supporting me while I stay at home to raise our children. Thank you for ignoring my computer habit, even when it makes me drop the ball around the house. Thank you, Honey, for making my only life dream come true. You gave me the gift of Motherhood.

Happy Mother's Day to all of my readers that are mothers. Enjoy your day!

155

Alright.

Body, I hear you, and you better hear me.

Enough of this. The upward climb stops now; today. For tomorrow will bring walking, and salads, and no second helpings. The Coke is once again a once-a-month treat.

Muffin-top, you're on notice. No longer will you get me to lounge on the couch if I haven't first walked/done sit-ups/done something. Water, you're now my constant friend, and coffee? Oh coffee, your morning stint is now limited to 2, yes I said 2, cups.

Apples and oranges, you are now my snacks. We must bid adieu to chips, and my beloved queso. Trash, get ready for the sugar high for tomorrow you will be bloated with candy, left over from holidays past, never again for me to grab "just one" as I pass by, not even wanting you in the first place.

Good bye, 155. You've overstayed your welcome already.

Highs and Lows

Last night was a great family evening. After the boys finished their homework, they got ready for their baseball games and we headed to the park around 4:15. #2 started his game at 5pm. His team is full of experienced players and they do really well each game. My boy got up to bat 4 times and hit all four times. One was quite a dinger to right-center!

Right as #2's game was ending #1's game was beginning. We don't often have back to back games, especially on school nights. This is maybe one of 2 or 3 all season. I hit the snack bar with #2 so we could get some food, (Don't judge. My thighs and belly are already bitching up a storm, thanks,) and headed toward the field. When I got there I checked the line up.....#1 has been practicing pitching and had been told a few weeks ago that he would get in to pitch "at some point." So when I saw the "P" next to his name in the 5the inning I had to catch my breath.

The game progressed like any other game this team has had this season...not great. But not awful either. They were putting together some great plays. Unfortunately the other team was getting a bunch of runs and by the middle of the 5th inning they were up by a lot. Just the perfect place for a brand new pitcher, right? (Although, it may have been the perfect time to put him in-they had absolutely nothing to lose, right?) So he finished out the inning-threw some good pitches, and the team managed to do well fielding. The best part came in the next inning, though. Of the whole game, his was the only inning that there were no runs scored on his team. He threw great, and even better, he got an out at first base! We were flying so high last night.

Then there was today.

A whole bunch of stuff happened...and I spent a bunch of time at the school, but that's not the worst part. Get this: The boys walked in the door screaming and yelling at each other. Finally I figured out that #2 had sat in the front seat (of the neighbor's car,) on the way home. And apparently that is grounds for World War 3? After I got them calmed down a little the doorbell rang. The neighbor that I share driving duties with was there to tell me exactly how bad it was. The boys had actually been fighting in the car-hitting, pulling hair, the whole thing.

Fighting over who gets to sit where on a 3 minute car ride. Really? AAAaaaaaarrrrrggghhhh!

Long story short, I read them the riot act and so did their father after dinner. (Both grounded from all 'screen time' until the weekend is over.) This behavior is not ok with us and hopefully we got through to them.

The lows. Yep. We've got those too. And all in 24 hours! Don't you want to be me?

Easy Rice and Meatballs

 Especially for Ann.....

A while back I received a cookbook, 101 Things to do with Meatballs (affiliate link) as a thank you for a review that I did. I found this recipe...I had been looking for something new to do with the meatballs that I had in my freezer and this sounded quick and easy. I was right! (My modifications will be in parenthesis.) You should try it...and you could buy the book. If your family really likes meatballs...

Easy Rice and Meatballs

26 (1 lb.) frozen fully cooked meatballs (I used a package of Aidell's Chicken Teriyaki Meatballs)
3 cups water
1 envelope dry onion soup mix
1/2 cup chopped white onion
1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper (I used orange.)
1 can (4 oz.) mushroom pieces, drained
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 cups uncooked long grain white rice

In a large sauce pan combine meatballs, water and dry soup mix and bring to a boil. Simmer over medium heat for 8-10 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and return to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Stir. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes (stir occasionally). Let stand for 5 minutes before serving. Serves 6.

I liked the Chicken Teriyaki meatballs in this, but my husband thought they were a little sweet. Next time I'll probably try the homemade meatballs that I made last week. I may leave out the mushrooms next time...I'm personally not fond of them, but they were easy enough to pick out.

My family really, really loved this meal. It's fast-a plus for me on busy days, the ingredients are easy to have on hand. My husband, normally really picky and doesn't love 1-dish dinners dubbed it "perfect comfort food." The kids asked for more...and the teen that doesn't like anything? She ate it too and liked it.

Go forth and make meatballs!

Happy

Because Carmen did it, and I need it, here are the things that have recently made me happy:

• My visiting parents, who don't look at me funny because my house isn't clean. (Thank God. After the month that I've had!)
• My first pedicure in almost 2 years....Thanks Mom!
• Baseball
• Days of our Lives
• Siobhan finally getting voted off AI. (Sorry, but I couldn't handle the scream one.more.night.)
• Sunshine. Even if warmth isn't with it, just yet.
• Less than one month of school left.
• Fluffy cupcakes, white with chocolate frosting and sprinkles.
• A vanilla-lime candle from my dear friend, for Easter.
• Finding just the right pieces for my spring wardrobe.
• Pink

So. What's making you happy this week?