It's Monday

Well, my kids and I decided to take part in Earth Hour. 

What a challenge that was. I got a candle I had in my bathroom and lit it, and my daughter brought out one more from her room. Next thing I know the boys go to their room and get the two candles they bought at the store last year and never lit.  The one candle creeps me out. It's one of Jesus hanging on the cross with the nails and blood and just really morbid looking. It reminds me of a scene from the original movie Carrie with Sissy Spacek when she is locked in that closet her mother stuck her in. I didn't want to light that one, but my kids kept saying we needed it.

So I lit the thing.

*shivers*

I don't know why Catholic Churches and those photos creep me out, well I know why sort of, they are kind of creepy. Maybe I've seen too many movies with churches in them and supernatural heebie jeebie kinds of themes to those movies. I don't know....and to be honest of all the things to put at the front of a church, a giant cross with a man hanging from it doesn't seem the most obvious to use. Why can't their be a statue of Mary holding him? Or just a photo or statue of him with his arms outstretched welcoming all his faithful followers to his flock? I find those photos of him with the sheep or even the little children standing beside him rather peaceful looking.

But that cross....nope....don't understand the concept.  

When I was younger I had a dream about Mary floating and chasing me out of the grotto (where you light votive candles and send prayer requests for each votive you lit).  She chased me clear outside the front doors. I'm guessing she didn't realize how much that dream would scar me for life from ever returning to a Catholic Church again. Maybe she knew long before I did, that I wasn't Catholic deep down inside. And yes, I've been in a church since that time....once to be exact. Last summer with my parents and my son. 

I made it through the service....kudos to me. *pats self on back*

Anyway, back to the topic at hand(church creepiness wasn't the topic?? hmm...) my kids and I lit the candles and then we sat on the living room floor and played some Uno. I thought it was going to be Earth Half Hour only because they started getting restless. Then the one candle I had would dim. And we thought it hilarious when my daughter would stand next to that candle it would get brighter. So every time it got lower, we'd make her stand next to it and watch it slowly glow brighter until we could see. 

Next thing I know though, about half an hour into the hour, my kids are all playing with the candle tapping it to see if they could "magically" make the flame bigger. My daughter would tap one side and my youngest twin the other side, with their pointer fingers and see if the flame would grow. I'm telling them to stop, then I threatened to blow them all out and we'd only have Earth Half Hour instead of Earth Hour.

"NOOOO!", they whined and I told them to leave the candles alone. I told them, "Just stare at the flame. That's what I do when I am in the tub and it really is cool and relaxing." So they all finally found spots on the floor and couch to lay and they sat there, while I put on a meditation type song on my phone and we just laid there for the last fifteen minutes of Earth Hour in total peace and quiet.

Yesterday I did laundry. 

As I went to grab my son's shorts out of the dryer the button popped off. 

Lovely.

Now I could have gone and just bought some needle and thread, but instead I just ran with the kids to Wally World and got them all new clothes. He got a new pair of shorts, my boys got two shirts each and my daughter got herself a Hello Kitty Skirt and two HK shirts.

The only one who didn't get new clothes was me.

Isn't that how it goes when you are a parent? You are still walking around in shorts you bought four years ago and your kids are dressed to the nine's. 

I still can't believe I finally bought myself new underwear. That was about two months ago, and if I remember correctly somewhere around here I was so excited about that fact that I actually blogged about it.  The undies I had prior to that shopping event were more like a tiny bit of cotton held together by elastic that wasn't even stretchy anymore.  Holes from being bleached so much that I had "natural air-conditioned panties" for the summertime months.

Wow, it's already 7 a.m.  I have to wake the children and get myself showered and dressed before I do that. They all want to take showers this morning and I want hot water. I may not get new clothing, but I  will get a hot shower this morning.

Have a lovely day today whomever may stop by my page. 

Not many people take the time to read anymore these days, so I am grateful for the spittle of folk that take time to read my blog posts and even more grateful for those who take time to actually comment.

I leave you with a song/video that I love by Michael Jackson. In honor of this previous weekend's Earth Hour, let's enjoy a song/video that has a very wonderful message attached to it. Every time I see this video I get chills.

Relax....

I am listening to a song from a group called Clannad.  It's some type of mellow Celtic Music and it's absolutely beautiful. Kind of a nice way to wind down from my somewhat hectic day I had today.  I don't know if "hectic" is really the word I would use..."busy" is more appropriate I suppose.



I could fall asleep listening to this.  It's so relaxing. I closed my eyes and just released every negative stressful feeling in my body.    Some people may take a bath and light some candles(raises hand), others might take a walk, or pray or sit in a quiet library to release stress.     I personally like to meditate.   I find it just as refreshing as a bath with candles. Sometimes I will light candles when I meditate. Other times I just will sit wherever I am and take deep, cleansing breaths.   I sometimes have to do this at work as well. When I have to use the restroom and the day is very stressful or someone has upset me, I will be washing my hands and close my eyes and just take a breath.   That one breath can make a lot of difference in one's day.   Trust me.   I am trying to remain positive. I had this dark, ugly energy surrounding me earlier, a feeling actually more than an energy, and I think after cleansing my stones and closing my eyes and breathing I am feeling much, much more at ease.  I have some cream cheese on the counter and I am going to do some baking before I head to bed.   Relaxation.   The key to keeping it together even when days aren't challenging is in fact relaxation. It seems to make days better like an ice cream sundae on a hot summer day.   Meditation.   It's like the added cherry on top of an ice cream sundae.  Makes the day even more special. 

   

It's Another Sunday Posting

Well, what did I do with my Sunday afternoon?

I went for a little drive. I was actually looking for the metaphysical shop out here so I could pick up some stones and a small Buddha statue.  I have a nice little decorative set up of flowers, plants and statues/candles on my kitchen bar. There is an Angel candle(those tall candles), a purple flower that was a gift from one of my students, my kids' cactus plants, and my little Buddha statue. 

I got some stones to show the kids at school tomorrow during science. This will be fun. They love stuff like that. I am going to do research on each of the stones and where they come from and share with the students. 

I also got myself a hematite charm to put on a necklace to wear to work. I needed a grounding stone and one that is a protective stone as well. So I have it out in the sun right now and will place it on the chain I bought to wear tomorrow. 

When I was leaving the metaphysical shop, I went to my car and got in and I noticed something on my windshield wiper....a chicken bone.  Yep, that's right...a dry as a bone chicken bone. I picked it up and flipped it on the ground in the parking lot. Seriously folks, let's leave our trash where it belongs...not on my car. It felt like a plastic bone, but it was real I think. Don't ask me where it came from...maybe instead of the sky falling, Chicken Little is falling out of the sky....in pieces.

*shrugs*

Oh well....

Just realized it's almost 5 p.m. here and I haven't had anything to eat but a few Pringle's and some coffee. I am not really hungry, but my tummy is rumbling here so I thought I'd go and make myself a taco pizza...Red Baron...good stuff I tell ya.

So what else is going on around here?

Nothing.

I'm just hanging out with the birds, sea monkeys and fish. I got my living room and dining room area organized and vacuumed. Goodness, underneath the table where the bird cage is there was a good ton of feathers to be found. I scooped up most of them as I didn't want to clog my vacuum. It looked like someone had gone pigeon shooting in my dining room area. 

Then I started the daunting task of what to throw away when I cleaned off the table.  The kids use it as their own personal Lego playground, but I finally had to say enough is enough as they kept putting more and more junk on it and less and less table was showing. There was construction paper, mini Lego men, Sea Monkey food packets, empty Capri Sun containers, straws, wrappers, gum, candy, and other stuff on that table. It's so nice to finally have my table back. Now, I only have to share it with the Maneki Neko and three sea monkey tanks.

I'm really at a loss for a good blog this afternoon. Sorry if it's not as entertaining as it normally is. I'm still stuck on what I'm going to do in this house as far as cleaning and organizing goes.  I really wanted to tackle my room. I have piles of folded clothes all over the place and need to pair up socks before my kids return from their dad's next week.  

I don't know why I'm cleaning all of this. The kids are just going to mess it up anyway when they come back.

I really need a chore chart.   These kids need some responsibility and I need a break from housework period.

I can't believe my Sunday is almost over. Time flew by today. I had to do my taxes and wanted to get a small Buddha today. Those were my goals and I achieved them. I did want to bake, but we'll see how that goes.

Well....my pizza is just about done and I am starving.  Maybe I'll be back with something more entertaining later.

Maybe.

 



 

Another Day, Another Blog Post

Oh My Goodness!!!

I just watched the most amazing movie ever with my boys. They wanted to see Lone Survivor so bad and so did I. I was skeptical because of the "R" Rating, however, I asked various people if there were any nude scenes or sexual scenarios and they said no. What they failed to mention however, was the brief snippet the one soldier shared about who he is at the beginning of the movie. It was about 2 minutes and my boys didn't ask what he was talking about so I assumed they weren't really paying attention anyway, because they seemed like they were getting bored already and we were only about 10 minutes into the movie. 

We cried like babies throughout the movie. It was such a good movie I can't remember the last time I saw a movie that intense and emotionally charged. We were literally on the edge of our seats.  When the movie was over I told my boys, "War is not just a video game, it's real. You get it right?" They nodded their heads and knew what I was implying as they were still wiping tears from their eyes. 

My daughter is at a birthday party/sleepover with her bestie today. So that's why I decided to take the boys to the movie. $21 for admissions and $17 for concessions later and we had our bucket of popcorn and keg o' soda with straws and we headed to the theater to find our seats. 

I tried to tip the guy behind the counter who waited on us. He was really nice. I have never seen a movie theater concession employee as nice as this guy was to my kids. He talked to them, not AT them, he wasn't rushed or rude or anything. I've NEVER had that type of service at a movie theater ever. So I wanted to show my gratitude in the form of a few singles (four to be exact) for his kindness. My youngest twin wanted a soda/Hi-C mix and my other son wanted a mix of all the fountain drinks combined(blech!) Anyway, he refused the tip and when I went to pay for my order I told the cashier "I tried to give him a tip and he wouldn't take it. That was nice of him," with a smile upon my face.  

She didn't say a word to me. Didn't even acknowledge with a smile, smirk, anything about my comment. 

I need to make sure I write to the company and let them know about this guy. I got his name....unfortunately I didn't get the chick's name at the register. 

Lucky for her I suppose.

*********************

So I wrote all of that yesterday. I never did come back and finish this blog. I got tired all of a sudden. It was a long day for us yesterday. I had to drive clear to the other side of town to drop my daughter off, then drive way north to the theater. I had woke up at 7 a.m. to make sure we got to Target to pick up my daughter's friend's gift and get her to the party on time at noon. She got there a little bit earlier than the party started because she wanted to help her set up the activities. Bless this little girl's heart, she was counting down the days until the party and sleepover. 

I hope she had fun. I will be picking her up in a few hours here.

Not much planned for today. A trip to In and Out burgers which is by far the best burger next to Fuddrucker's that I've ever eaten. It's $2.25 for a standard burger. And they load up the lettuce, special sauce and tomatoes for ya. It's a good deal. I never knew until one day when  a friend of mine and I were eating there (many years ago) that there are bible verses on the french fry containers. It's on the bottom corner in teeny weenie print. 

Interesting tidbit of trivia in case you were wondering and are ever out in Vegas. 

They also have a "secret burger" called an animal burger as well as their famous animal fries. The Animal Fries are definitely tasty. Fattening no doubt, and not good for your cholesterol, but like drinking all night and enjoying those margaritas and shots of tequila in your twenties and feeling the effects the morning after, it's worth every calorie and cholesterol point to partake in those animal fries. They load them with cheese, special sauce and grilled onions.

Yum!

It's a meal in itself.

Forget salads. I'll take an animal fry to go please...extra napkins as well.

****************************

What else is going on around here?

I have an apartment that needs serious cleaning and I'm sitting here procrastinating...blogging....which I suppose is still doing something productive just not in the sense of making my home cleaner. 

Meh.

I'll get it eventually. The dirt and toys on the floor aren't going anywhere.

Right?

Right!

Okay now that that's settled, what else can I yammer on about?

I can't believe it, I have nothing to chatter about.

That's scary.

I guess it's my subconscious mind telling me to get off my lazy ass and get some housework done. 

So I guess I'll do that.

Have a lovely Sunday.

I'll be back again soon......

 

Have a Good One!!!!

No Time for Blogging today. However, just wanted to say "HI" and hope you all have a wonderful Thursday!!! I'll be back this weekend......

"NOTES" For You To Ponder

GOOD MORNING!!!!!

I have a question.

Answer honestly.

Why is it that when Daylight Savings time begins, we always say "We lost an hour of sleep."  We didn't lose anything. We actually gained an hour of daylight. This is my glass half full/half empty way of looking at things. We GAINED more sunlight, more time to enjoy the fresh air...We didn't lose the hour, I know where my hour is, actually I know EXACTLY where it is.....it's in November, on the 2nd day to be precise.

Yes I am on my 3rd cup of coffee here already.  Had about five Thin Mints(thank you Girl Scouts in front of the grocery store) and those three cups of coffee I am SO ready to go today!


Not much to do today, however. I have to go and file taxes and maybe get a bite to eat.  Why do we even need to file taxes anyway? Can't they just take what they want out of our checks during the year and then give everyone a little bit back at the end? Why do we have to pay some stranger to go through the hassle of letting us know we get $100 dollars back from Uncle Sam and after we fork over 40 bucks to the tax guy we end up with a spittle of money at the end anyway?

Why do those of us out there who struggle with mathematics and logical reasoning have to hurt our brains so badly with "simplified" online tax programs just to receive a small lump sum of money we gave to Uncle Sam only to have him return it back to us?  It's like putting a rent deposit on your apartment, only to have it returned to you later. If you are going to return it to me anyway, why don't I just keep it to begin with?

Does anyone still file using that book you get at the post office or library and mail in a paper return?

*hears the crickets chirping*

Speaking of that book, raise your hand if you ever read the entire book. Now raise your hand if you've ever understood what you just read.

*listens to hear those crickets still chirping*

They need a book titled "Taxes for Dummies". I'm sure there probably is one of those books out there...somewhere. Or perhaps Cliff Notes. Remember Cliff Notes?? I had Cliff Notes in high school for the Red Badge of Courage. Didn't help much. Our teacher was smarter than Cliff was and asked questions on the test Cliff didn't cover in his book. Of course she didn't share that helpful bit of info until AFTER the test.

Needless to say I did quite poorly on that test that year.

That's probably why I don't see Cliff's Notes around anymore.

Cliff probably got fired.

Then Cliff probably ended up becoming a hermit on a secluded island.

Who is Cliff anyway? Is Cliff his first or last name? Is Cliff even a guy? *shrugs*

Maybe Cliff should just take his name off the book and write a simple book called "Notes".  Some topics he could write about could be.....

1.  Notes for parents:

• Remember to turn off the coffee pot when you walk out the door.
• Remember Susie's Science project is still on the kitchen table.
• Look at your work shoes because little Joseph just dropped his waffles on them.
• There's a puddle in the hallway by the door either Joseph or the dog left it there. Yes, I know it's 8:35 and you will be ten minutes late to work after you drop the kids off at school if you wipe it up.....
• It's THEIR homework, not yours...remember that.
• I don't know why these 2nd grade math equations are so damn hard. How many apples did Jenny  really have at the end? Go get that bag of apples out of the pantry. We'll figure this out together.
• Lisa just dropped her My Little Pony in the toilet....after she used the toilet.....
• You need to buy a larger size of diapers for Little Joseph....his just exploded....bring a hazmat suit and gloves...you'll be needing them.
• Your teenage son's Saturday Sandwich from three weeks ago is fermenting under his bed. Ever see the movie...The Blob?

2.  Notes for Employees: 

• Don't say what you are thinking to your boss in the heat of the moment.
• That cologne you bathe in every morning...don't!  The ladies are not impressed.
• That lipstick color is so 80's; remove it at once!
• Social Networking is a no-no on the company computer; it is however acceptable on your Iphone as you crouch beneath your desk. If caught tell your boss you dropped your pen and smile politely.
• Don't gossip.
• Seriously, don't talk ill of other coworkers. Lose lips sink ships...remember that. 
• Don't be a brown nose....keep a clean nose and moral standards. You may not get a promotion but your self-worth will never be questioned by you or anyone else for that matter.
• NO! You don't give a damn about who Larry in HR slept with...keep walking.

3.  Notes for Children:

• Mom is ALWAYS right.
• Mom is ALWAYS right even when she really is wrong. Just nod and smile and keep eye rolls at bay.
• Check your attitude at the bedroom door.
• Lights out doesn't mean sock your brother into unconsciousness.
• Legos and Army Men are evil and should be removed from the floor immediately after play...or suffer the consequences later after your mother steps on one.
• When you stomp your feet in anger make sure to tell mom there was a bug on the floor.
• Your Science project is on the kitchen table.
• "Use your inside voice" means don't use the voice mom uses inside when she's angry.  Your "Inside Voice" is about 90 decibels lower than mom's "Inside Voice".  Remember that.
• Your parents DO love you.

4. Notes for Teens:

• Your brother has your Iphone and he's texting your girlfriend now.
• He likes you...don't look away....smile back silly girl.
• No, you are NOT fat!
• Don't make that face at your mother, you'll regret it in five seconds
• There is something crawling under your bed. I think it's that sandwich you made three weeks ago.
• That Video game you wanted it's on sale at Walmart for $20, but the newer version just came out online for $100. Go to Walmart, Go to Walmart, Go to Walmart...*sigh*....
• Your parents have undercover spies watching your every move; if you shouldn't be doing it...DON'T! They know the guy at the Quickie Mart, they know the woman who owns that fast food joint you hang out at and that woman knows the guy at the corner liquor store. Do yourself a favor and walk away.
• Don't you post that photo! NO....not that one either! Find some clothes that make you look normal and show less skin...Thank you. Now you may post them.
• Don't get into the car, call your parents for a ride home; you'll thank them when you make it to your 30th birthday alive and well.  
• Your parents DO love you.

5.  Notes for Husbands:

• Your wife is always right. Go ask the kids if you don't believe me.
• Open the car door for her
• Make her breakfast....nothing fancy....coffee and some toast or a bagel. Voila! (see her smiling?)
• Tell her she is beautiful. When she wakes up crying over a grey hair she found, tell her she is beautiful.
• Notice when she is in a "mom shirt" and jogging pants with baby vomit on it and her hair is all in a disarray, tell her she is beautiful and how much you love her. Because you know it's true.
• Change a diaper; do homework with the kids; Don't tell her you worked all day. What do you think she has been doing all day? Playing Candy Crush on level 1,305? She works too.
• She is your equal, not your servant
• She loves you with no conditions; do the same
• There's a reason she cooked you that big dinner  *grins*
• Don't hesitate when she asks, "Do these jeans make me look fat?"
• Listen to her; No, really listen to her. Put that remote down or better yet shut off the TV and listen...to her.  
• Go ahead and ask for directions.  The guy in that small desert town isn't going to remember you tomorrow, and Easter dinner will be getting cold(along with your wife's attitude) at the in-laws.
• It's okay to cry. Real men cry sometimes. Forget the crap supposed "real men" told you in the past.

6. Notes for Wives:

• We are ALWAYS right. (Okay not really, but it's fun to make everyone else believe we think we are)  Sometimes(unfortunately) we have to concede and admit our faults or sadly mistaken views of a situation
• Love your husbands unconditionally
• Cook a really, REALLY,  good dinner....then be sure to offer a way to work it off ...*wink*
• Be sure to work your beauty magic in those "Mom shirts" and jogging pants; You ARE beautiful inside and out.
• Time to shave lady.  You are looking like Big Foot there sister!
• It's okay to cry. You are not weak....you are human and you have a heart and feelings. It will be okay.
• He loves you so much, he just isn't good with "using his words" very well.  He washed the dishes, changed two diapers, and made you coffee this morning. That's his way of saying, "I love you and I know you work hard too."

I should write my own book. I could come up with at least 100 more of each set of "Notes" here.   I had more in my head, but I need to get off of this thing.  I shall compile my own "Notes" For You To Ponder, Part 2 maybe this week or later on today.

Have a lovely Sunday!!! I'll be back again soon.







  .

Saturday Randomness

It's Saturday.

Had your coffee yet?

I did.

I had two cups thus far, and I'm hankering to get my hands on a third cup.  I've been up since 5:30 and let's just say that I'll be dancing with my broom and mop by the time I get to do my kitchen chores here in a few with all java in my body. 

I bought myself some Caramel Macchiato Cold Stone Creamery Creamer. It was on sale for a dollar and some change. I wouldn't have it otherwise in my fridge, if it wasn't so cheap. It's lasted me quite a while too. Makes my coffee that much more enjoyable. I love my coffee.  It's given me quite a jolt to say the least this morning.

I'm going to need that jolt, because it's going to be that kind of day today.

Speaking of jolt, anyone remember that Jolt cola?? Oh my gosh, I believe it was the mid to late 80's when that soda came out. I'm not sure if they still make it, but that was the 80's version of Red Bull. My 80's version of Red Bull, was and always will be, Mountain Dew. I was so excited when they came out with Mountain Dew Red, that's my favorite Dew to Do.  I think it came out in the early 2000's. That's just weird....reading that. Early 2000's?? Can't really say it came out in the 00's now can ya? At least in the 1900's, you could say 50's, 60's, 70's ...etc... What do you do now?

Side note there.

Sorry.

It happens a lot.

I swear I have ADHD.

*points left*

"OH LOOK A SQUIRREL!"

Where was I?

Oh...I left the bold setting on. Ooops.

What the heck? It's back again. I didn't adjust this to bold. It did it on it's own!!  Are we working on patterns in this blog now? Bold, normal font, bold, normal font, bold.....


I shut it off.

There....I think we....

SERIOUSLY!????

My blog page is playing head games with me this morning. I swear I am NOT(<----except here) turning it off and on here. It's doing it on it's own.

Did it again.

What the hell?


So anyway, I have a busy day today.


First I have to clean my apartment. I know it's here somewhere. Just have to find it. I think it's under all the blankets, and the toys and the socks and the papers strewn across the floors and furniture.

Let me share a funny story with you. You'll love this one. I know I did anyway.

So, the other day my kids came back from their dad's house. They lined up all their backpacks, lunch boxes, shoes and what not at the bottom of the steps. My youngest twin shouts up to me..."MOM! Move out of the way so I can throw my shoes up there!"

So I step inside the apartment.

He tosses one shoe and I hear it hit the wall. I walk outside and he says, "Hold on one more mom!," so I slither back into the apartment.

Next thing I know, I don't hear the other shoe hit the wall. But what I do hear next made me laugh.

"OH NO! IT'S ON THE ROOF!," my son yells out.

"What the hell did you do that for!" says his father.

I peer around the door to find his not so happy father yelling at him and telling him that wasn't so bright. Me on the other hand, I'm laughing my ass off.

See, I wasn't the one who spent fifty bucks on those stupid shoes...he was.

I can shop and get two, almost three pairs of shoes for the price he forks over for shoes for the kids. I don't know why he spends so much on shoes for the kids, but I'm a simple Susie, I'll shop smart and get more for my money. I don't care about name brands....ESPECIALLY when it comes to shoes...

....ESPECIALLY when those shoes are on a kid's feet.  Because kids have a tendency to be rough on their shoes...ESPECIALLY BOYS.

So, now we are stuck in a conundrum.

We have one shoe on the porch, on one shoe on the roof.

It's wedged pretty good in the shingles too up there.

So my son is now balling his eyes out, my ex left in a dither from the parking lot, and I'm just standing there absorbing all of this in my tiny little brain.

"We'll just go to Walmart tomorrow and get a new pair. That means we'll have to wake up early so none of us is late."

He's still upset, and I'm trying to finish cooking dinner.

After dinner, my son calls his dad and his dad proceeds to tell him to get a blanket and tie something heavy like a lunch box or another shoe to the end of the blanket and swing it up there.

So, of course, we try this.

I tried it more for shits and giggles, they tried it because they thought it would work.

So there we are, swinging this blanket/shoe line up on top of the roof. We got quite a few "near misses" and about three "direct hits" but that sucker was wedged so tight we'd of needed a dentist's tool to yank it out of there.

My oldest twin son tells me, "Mom, this reminds me of something you'd see the family do on that show The Middle."  

Yep, son, I'm Frankie Heck and this is, no doubt a Sue Heck moment.

We finally conceded to the simple fact that the following morning we'd have to just get a new pair of shoes.

Which meant an early morning for us all.

The following morning we get to Wally World and head to the shoe department.  I knew this would take a while to find him shoes, because he is slow as molasses when it comes to picking out "just the right pair of shoes". Of course, you can't buy one kid a pair and expect the other two to just sit there and not want anything, next thing I know his brother wants a pair too.

Lovely.

So my trip to Wally World for one pair of twenty-dollar shoes has turned into a shoe shopping spree for my boys.

I still saved money compared to what their dad spent.

Two pairs of shoes for the price of the one sitting on the roof of my apartment and I still had ten bucks to spare in relation to the other pair.  My daughter was too tired to care about shoe shopping, so I figured I owe her a pair of shoes later.  Sandal season is just around the corner, we'll go shopping when those sales start.



Yesterday I went to work and we had a pretty busy day.   As we were unpacking the kids lunches my friend opens this one little girl's lunch and says "Oh how cute!" I look up and there in a Ziploc baggie are two Krispie Treats. The mom had written, "Lisa(not her real name) and Miss Barb" on the baggie.

I was touched.

I was so touched because this girl thought of me at a random moment.  It wasn't a holiday, or my birthday, or even teacher appreciation week.

That totally made my day.

I thanked mom after she picked up her daughter and she had told me that when they were making her lunch she told her mom, "Miss Barb wants one too."

So she put one in for me.

Still makes me smile.

These kids always have a way of making us have better days when the days aren't going as well as planned.

I really do love working with the kids. It's the "job" part of it I don't like.

And it's nice when the kids run up to me with so much excitement just to give me a hug. I will hear a little voice from clear down the hallway, "Miss Barrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrb!" and I see little feet running and huge smiles on these kids faces as they are making their way towards me.

I love these kids.

Almost as much as I love my own.

This past Monday I brought in some balls for the kids to use out on the playground. They were two bucks each. Kind of pricey for some rubber balls kids bounce around, but we needed them so I got them.

While we were out on the playground, my friend and I decided to show the kids how to play volleyball and the kids would run back and forth trying to get the ball while it was in the air. It was so funny watching them go back and forth, hands in the air, little feet running every direction.

Anyway, I went to serve the ball with my left hand and as I twisted, I pulled something in my lower back.

That was the end of our volleyball game to say the least.

I barely even twisted. But I had jumped up to serve it and my shoes don't have the greatest support in them and when I came down I think I crunched whatever disc into whatever vertebrae and spinal arrangement goes on in my lower back.

It hurt like hell.

I finally could sit on my couch yesterday and bend my knee to lift my legs to put on my shoes and tie them up.

Sucks getting older.

Notice how I said "getting older" and not "getting OLD".

I am not old.

I am a spring chicken.

I am a 21 year old trapped in the body of a 44 year old.

So there.

The things I will do for a paycheck.

I think, however, I draw the line at possible paralysis...

There will be no more playground Volleyball from Miss Barbie ever again.






Well, I guess I should get going now.

I hear the birds rustling around in their cage and I need to get some chores done around here so I can enjoy the beautiful, warmer, sunny weather outside today.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

I shall try to return this evening with an entertaining blog post for you all.

Have a lovely Saturday.

I  leave you with this lovely little 70's tune from one of my favorite bands.

Enjoy.

 

Scream Cheese

Betcha thought I disappeared.  I was trying to enjoy what little sun we got this weekend.

And then I got sucked into real world life for a while here I suppose. I had a very busy week last week at work and at home. Now I'm just trying to have one day with nothing to do. I have a slight headache which  I am hoping will go away soon. I really need to get myself a real bed. This sleeping on the couch deal isn't very good for my body.

I finally got to talk to my granddaughter. She is so cute. She just kept saying WOW! because of the toys she had to play with at my brother's house.  She was mumbling something and I couldn't really hear her, I could tell some words but not others. Then she wouldn't give my brother his phone back after she was done talking. It was funny listening to her giggle and talk to his daughters. I was cracking up at them all.

Work has been good. I got a raise and a bonus. I'm feeling so blessed right now. True money doesn't fix everything but it sure helps to pay the bills.  I told my friend at work that I wonder if my boss is spying on my home computer, I was joking of course, because I was telling my friend lately that I was looking for another job.

Think I'll stay a while now.

I just didn't feel appreciated. Two years at the same job with no raise, but a greatly appreciated bonus last year. Sure she'd tell me what an excellent employee I am and how good  I am with the children, but compliments don't pay bills.

That's what I was thinking at the time anyway.

So I have a fresh start here, new car, some new clothes in the future for the kids and I as well as the opportunity to look for a new place to live.  This past weekend my poor daughter lost four of her best friends(you know how all your friends are your best friends at that age) to new homes. So now she has no one to play with out in the neighborhood. I'm hoping like hell the new neighbors below us are just as kind as the ones who lived there.   I almost cried when I found out they were leaving. Hard to find good neighbors...especially when you live on the second floor with noisy boys.

She never complained ever about my boys being noisy although I never complained about her sons loud music.  I listen to what he listens to anyway, some of that metal screamo stuff. So it's all good ya know?

At work last week I was opening one of the kids lunches and this little girl had some string cheese in it. I like to be creative not only at art, but at lunchtime as well. My favorite thing to do with the string cheese is to make little palm trees for the kids which makes them eat the cheese. I just pull strings of cheese down all around and voila'! a string cheese tree. Wow that's a tongue twister. Kind of reminds me of my favorite Dr. Seuss book, Fox in Socks, which you need to buy.  Even if you don't have children, it makes for a fun time when one is drinking with friends. Try reading that after a few shots of tequila, and read it quickly.   There is a line in there that says, "Through three cheese trees freezy breeze blew, and freezy breeze made these three cheese trees freeze.." or something like that. I just read it this week to our class.  Fun book. Good times with my oldest (who is now 22) with that book. I had that book memorized and still remember some of the parts when we read it in class.

I loved Dr. Seuss and still do. Happy Belated Birthday Seuss. You were a child's(and ..ahem..adult's) poetic genius.

Oh, so anyway, the little girl says to me, "Miss Barb can you open my scream cheese?"

Scream cheese....okay...withhold the laughter at the expense of the poor kid's self-esteem.  I had to look away. Then I looked at my friend who was at her table with her kids and  I almost lost it.

So I opened her scream cheese and then she tells me, "Can you make me a tree?"

Of course I can. I am the scream cheese tree-making guru.  Look out Van Gogh, I'm gonna put scream cheese art on the map here.

Maybe I can tuck the strings inside toward the cheese and make a flower.

Hmmm....*thinks really hard on how to accomplish this feat*.....I'll have to work on that one.

Forget balloon art for kids, I've got something better. I draw smiley faces on their pizza lunchables, make trees out of cheese, what's next?? ooo...I know....how about I try using their hummus and crackers to build a house???

Nope...too involved.

I can't believe the weekend is over. It rained on us pretty good this weekend. Friday was like Hurricane Vegas out there. The winds were whipping trees and branches all over the place. I think I saw a cow fly by the window on one occasion. My wind chimes were going crazy, as was my patio furniture and the rain was just coming down in great force. By Saturday the sun came out only to disappear yesterday for a good portion of the day. It was dreary out and chilly and I didn't feel like doing much of anything really.

Mother Nature needs a Midol I think.

This non-stop snow out in the Midwest and the Eastern states is crazy. My mom and family back home will be shoveling out snow until June at the rate they are going. Sad thing is, once all that snow melts, you have to worry about flooding. It will be like watching a global warming movie about the ice caps in the arctic tundra in real time. We've got earthquakes in Texas, snow in the Midwest and East, and rain pounding the west coast. Talk about being a melting pot of diversity when it comes to people in America we are also a melting pot of weather events as well.

This song popped into my head as I was writing about these somewhat annoying and semi-catastrophic weather related events:




I couldn't help it. Love this song by the way, love the group even more. Good music from good times in my life.  I'm sure the people stuck back east in all that snow are probably singing this song in their heads many a day the past month or so.  Talk about freezy breezes blowing through trees making your cheese scream, all that snow would make some people(except me of course) want to burst a blood vessel in anger and frustration.

Okay, I need to get ready for work.

I'll be back soon.

I just had nothing really interesting to flap my jaws about lately. Not that this is earth-shattering, controversial type of information, but being this is my "online diary of quirky and sometimes not so quirky posts" I thought I'd share a little tidbit of info about my past week/end so you know I'm still sucking air here.

Have a great day!!!! It's Monday!