If... Then...

If I can:

Get Gauge a reservation at the puppy motel
Find somebody to feed our fish
Reschedule my hair cut appointment
Get a replacement teacher for my Bible class
Get an approved day off
And accomplish a few other random chores

Then....

We head down to the beach tomorrow night after Jordan's game.

For two days.

Becasue two days at the beach is better than no days at the beach.

And we could all use a break

From the studying
and the volleyball
and the schedule
and the pace
and the current struggle of helping a teenage girl channel through life
and reality

So, that would be nice.

Me and and the beach and some books and my people.

That's all I need.

Oh, and some coffee.  And a little football.

To do list

Will somebody remind me why I didn't take today off? {HEAD SLAP}

I still have one more gift to pick up. I have to go by ______ and get some ____ _______ for Connie. Then I have still have some wrapping to do. And, as I typed that, I just realized I think I have more wrapping to do than I thought.

Then ... cooking. And more cooking. And some more cooking.

Cooking for five on Friday night, nine on Saturday night, fourteen on Sunday lunch. I'm thinking about making the same thing times a thousand and just putting it out there three times. Nobody would notice would they? Even though it's kind of various combinations of the same people. I was fretting that I won't have enough food for Sunday. But, after a total come apart on the phone with my mom the other night, I feel better. Because nothing says Christmas like a nervous breakdown.

I'm obsessing right now over the big ham and two pork tenderloins that are in the outside little refrigerator in the garage. I had to put it out there because it won't fit in the regular frig what with the 27 containers of sour cream and stuff. I'm afraid I've set the temperature too warm or the frig is going to die or something. I've checked on that meat a jillion times. Including once at 3:30 in the morning. Yes, I have issues. So, I will just continue to go out there and pat my ham.

Oh - guess what? Last night, Jordan and her friend cooked dinner for us - poppyseed chicken, beans, rolls, apple dumplings - YUM. It was delicious. And they cleaned up the kitchen. (Score!) And brought me flowers. Sweet girls. They were so proud of themselves. And gave each other a high five and said "We're gonna' be great moms!" It was really a sweet act of service and a nice treat. I may sign them up for a weekend cooking job.

So, I'm off to work. Then home. HOME. Yes.

Then, it's all just fine. Regardless if my cranberries get cooked or not.

And, my sweet beloved husband just looked over at me and said, "So, whatcha' got goin' today and tomorrow?"

Bless.

Excuse me while I beat him with a wrapping paper tube.

What are y'all doing? What's on your to-do list the next few days?

Sound off.

Pain in the neck

Last night at church, I had a little word with the Captain's chiropractor. You know, the one who has required the Captain to sleep on his back. (see also: snore like a freight train).

I told the good doctor that I would not hesitate to give him a little ringy ding at two in the morning to discuss the Captain's treatment plan.

Another little part of this healing process requires the Captain to lay on the floor with a rolled up towel under his neck. And when I ask him what he's doing he says, "Shhhh - I'm supposed to lay here and totally relax for 10 minutes." And then he lays there with his eyes closed.

Wha???

OK, then.....

Speaking of pain in the neck....

Let's talk holiday shopping. Or let's not.

I'm slowly chipping away at my to-do list. And I'm trying to squash that suffocatingish feeling of "I have so much to do and so little time to do it."

So. Much. To. Do.

And that may or may not have been me in Target last night at 9:30 buying bananas for Jordan's French club lunch....

Which is in no way related to the Christmas shopping.

How do you say banana in French anyway?

Anyway, I bought two gifts yesterday. Hooray for me! But still lots to do. And then that whole wrapping thing.... My grand plans of "wrap as I buy" really have not panned out so well for me.

I think I'm going to go grab a towel and lay in the floor for awhile.

Laughing all the way

Since I really don't want to focus on how much Christmas shopping I still have to do, today I will just watch this video over and over. Because it makes me laugh out loud.

crazy calling

Yeah, I'm knocking on the door of "I HAVE SO MUCH TO DO".

Trying to hold it together.

At least I'm not as bad as the friend I saw at the grocery last night. Who had a buggy full of Thanksgiving meal ingredients. She thought Thanksgiving was THIS Thursday... Bless...

I'm just getting confused with all the stuff and the days and all the things.

I almost sent Cooper to school yesterday dressed like an Indian. Except that is supposed to be today. Awesome.

And this weekend I'm hoping to put my Christmas decorations up. Which totally violates my holiday code. But, because of other stuff going on, it's either this weekend or two days before Christmas. And that's not so cool.

But I think this Saturday is the only day that Cooper and his little friend can practice their talent show.

So now I'm afraid my tree won't get put up at all.

And I went to sleep last night crying to the Captain "... and one day our kids will be telling their therapist 'Well, one year we didn't have a Christmas tree... ' "

Oh yeah, the talent show.

It's next Tuesday.

Wanna' know what we've done for that?

Nothing.

Zip.

Nada.

Other than decide he is doing knock knock jokes.

Knock Knock.

Who's there.

A crazy woman.

And a week from today we are leaving for a five day trip to Texas for Thanksgiving with the Captain's family. More on that little journey later. It's shaping up to be a real adventure.

And for the first time ever in my whole entire life, I won't have my mom's dressing for Thanksgiving. I could bawl my eyes out about that.

But I've purchased AND WRAPPED THANK YOU VERY MUCH some gifts. Cause, yeah, we're doing Christmas next week too. So, it's really more like Thanksmas actually.

And it's all fine. And it will all be fine. Because I feel all suffocatingish like this every year. And then it all gets done. And works out nicely. And Christmas comes. And is lovely. Whether you have a tree or not.

God bless us every one.

14 on the 14th

Today my biggest baby turns 14.

Happy Birthday Jordan!

Time is flying by way too fast.

No likey.

In other news, I took a day off yesterday.

The pace of life was choking me.

I'm so busy at work right now with the hugest of huge projects. And I'm never at home - what with the whole tour of the southeastern US with this volleyball stuff.

And I may or may not have woken up at 2am on Monday night having a panic attack because of all the things I have to do. Or at least feel like I have to do. I almost woke up the Captain to tell him I was rating high on the ol' anxiety meter. But I was already sleeping on the couch - cause the Captain snoreth sometimes - and I didn't want to walk all the way back in there. And I figured he would not be amused with my waving my to-do list in his face at 2am while I hyperventilated. So I just laid on the couch and had my panic attack all by myself. And decided just to take a day off.

Needed a day just to get the sheets changed on all the beds.

Needed a day to just STOP.

Needed a day to just to catch up.

And catch my breath.

Oh - and to get a pedi.

And it was a very good day. And just what I needed.

Back at it today.

Busy at work.

Going to see Third Day and Tenth Avenue North tonight. Woot!

And celebrating Jordan's 14th birthday.

With my shiny red toes.

Have a good day people.

Blink

Warning - this is a deep and sappy kind of post....Come back another day if you don't want to hear my "life is too short" blah blah blah...

So much always going on.

Life. It moves so fast.

The beginning of a new school year makes me all weepy. My kids are another year older. And sometimes it's hard to bear. Seriously. Time has marched on. I have an 8th grader and a 3rd grader. Stop. It.

My heart is all wigged out right now.

My heart still aches for my physician whose 20 year old daughter was killed in a car accident.
The Captain's grandmother was diagnosed with cancer and started chemo this week.
My 96 year old great aunt is dying. Literally. Dying. As I type this. Is in the last days of her life.
Nick B. continues to daily fight his brain tumor and have radiation and chemo.

Life. It's heavy.

And sometimes I get caught up in all the stuff that we are doing. Cooking dinner, driving kids around, buying school stuff, driving kids around, laundry, driving kids around. Did I mention driving kids around? I do a lot of that. Just so much stuff to do. Lots of it. And we're about to factor homework and school routine back into all this.

And I whine. And get all stressed out about it. And I chew on my lip. And get all splotchy. And fret. Cause it's just what I do...

And right now a lot of these things are causing my heart to experience some "inner turmoil".

And I realized -- AGAIN -- {head slap} -- that I am so hung up in the DOING the stuff that I sometimes am not just enjoying the STUFF. I have my to-do list and concentrate and focus on checking things off. But I wonder if I'm missing the THINGS.

Then yesterday - when I was driving Jordan to get her some of her braces put on - I heard this song. And yes, I've heard it before. Many times. But wow - it just smacked me in my Type A head. It's "Blink" by Revive. It's good stuff people.

And it goes something like this....


Teach me to number my days
And count every moment before it slips away
Taking all the colors before they fade to gray
I don't want to miss even just a second more of this

It happens in a blink
It happens in a flash
It happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink

Teach me to number my days
And count every moment before it slips away
Taking all the colors before they fade to gray
I don't want to miss even just a second more of this

It happens in a blink
It happens in a flash
It happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight, but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink

Slow down, slow down
Before today becomes our yesterday
Slow down, slow down
Before you turn around and it's too late

It happens in a blink
it happens in a flash
it happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink

It happens in a blink
it happens in a flash
it happens in the time it takes to look back
I try to hold on tight but there's no stopping time
What is it I've done with my life
It happens in a blink.


Wanna' listen to it? Here ya' go...



Maybe I can't change life. And its pace. And its never ending to-do list. Or the laundry. Or carting kids all over the place. But I can slow MYSELF down. And live with a little more purpose and enjoyment right now. In the NOW. It's hard people. Because my to-do list chokes me at times.

OK, I think I'm done now. For the two of you who stuck with me and are still reading this post, thanks.

I'll be back tomorrow.

Enjoy your day my people.

Say *yawn* cheese!

It's time again at our church to have our pictures made for the directory. Groan.

It's just so...painful.

I HATE HATE HATE to have my picture made. Especially something very "professional" like this. A posed thing. And the photographer makes you say stupid stuff like "fuzzy pickles". Erg. Shut up. That's so stupid. And really doesn't make anybody smile.

The church directory thing is fascinating. Many families try to color coordinate their clothes. Like various shades of green or blue. Black and white combos. Some do the matchy matchy outfit thing. We have usually attempted to at least have some sort of "compatible hue" thing.

Cooper told me last weekend that he wanted to wear his Albert Pujols St. Louis Cardinals jersey for the picture. I'm a Cardinals fan and all, but am thinking no on this one.

The last time we had our picture made, we all wore white. That's easy enough. Well, it wasn't really allll of us. The Captain was in Quantico for six years four months at that fancy policey school. So it was just me and the kids. We should have photo-shopped him in there.

Anyway, as if the clothes color decision thing isn't enough, we have just had trouble finding a time when all four of us were in the same place at the same time. Easier typed than done.

We've had baseball games, volleyball practice, work, hunting trips -- you name it, it's been going on and has prevented us from being able to get our picture scheduled.

After checking all 384 available openings in March, April & early May, it appeared that this Saturday would work! Hooray! Lucky us. It's the last day they are taking pictures. Nothing like sliding in under the wire. So 10 weeks ago, I plugged in our little party of four.

Then last week, the Captain says he is going to be deep-sea fishing in Florida for four days out of town this weekend.

Seriously.

So he starts looking for any open spot this week on the picture taking calendar website thing that would work.

Monday night at 7:00? Nope, Jordan and I were going to the high school graduation.

Tuesday afternoon at 3:15? Ummmm, kids. School.

Tuesday night at 8:45? WHA??? Eight forty-five??? No way.

Yes way.

At that time of night, both kids are in bed. And I'm pretty close. Usually sporting some lovely Curious George pajama pants, glasses, no make up, and a big clippy in my hair.

But that's the only time that's open.

So tonight at 8:45 PM (PM stands for NIGHT in case you were unclear about that little detail) we will be getting our picture made.

OK, we can make that happen. We can stay dressed -- and more importantly -- stay awake and go get our picture made.

Then, I found out last night that I have to attend and present at a board meeting at work tonight.

Great.

So now guess who may not make it for the picture? Or who will be going straight from a 13-hour work day to pose for the portrait? And guess who sometimes gets real red and splotchy on her neck when she has to give a presentation? You guessed it.... moi.

Hopefully I'll get out of the meeting in time to swing home, grab my kids, brush my hair, and head to church meet the Captain. Who will be on duty.

So at this point, we'll be doing good just to be there. Much less color coordinated. I'm sure we'll be the only family in the directory not wearing matching outfits or compatible shades of teal.

We'll be the yawning family who is sporting pajamas, a Pujols jersey, a police uniform, and a case of the hives.

It was only a matter of time

So yesterday morning I had a total come apart. I get like that. It happens. When I feel like I have soooo many things going on. It's just one little thing that will set me to crying. And yesterday was the day. Because I almost burned the cinnamon rolls.

Poor Captain.

He just sat there.

And after all these years didn't know if he needed to hug me or leave me alone.

When he probably was just wishing he had never asked me out on that second date.

And when I try to tell him all the things I have to do, it sounds so ridiculous.

I'm sobbing.

Saying things like,

"Go buy some more coffee."

"Give Jordan $5 for the church dinner."

"Lug that stuff over to the place and set up for that expo tomorrow."

"Pay the phone bill."

It's all stupid stuff like that.

And then he just kind of sits there.

And feels sorry for me.

And no doubt feels sorry for himself.

And continues to wish he had never asked me out on that second date.

And he says something like this,

"Gravy woman. I love you."

And that makes me cry even more.

But there really is a lot going on this week.

And no, I'm not winking at you.

When I am stressed and have stuff going on, my eye twitches.

It's not very becoming.

But I can't help it.

It twitches in direct proportion to my stress level and the length of my to do list.

It's a fascinating little correlation actually.

But quite annoying.

And again, not very flattering. Cause I look like I've got some sort of neurological disorder.

Wonder how many old folks I'll pick up at the expo today because they will think I'm winking at them.

"Hi. Would you like a pen?"

TWITCH TWITCH

*sigh*

Actually I need to find somebody who has a booth with electrical power and twitch at them so they will let me borrow some juice to keep my iPhone charged up so I can play Words with Friends stay on top of my work email.

Come see me at the expo today.

I'm in booth 304.

Or maybe it's 803.

I can't remember.

Just look for the gal who is passing out pens while she cries and twitches.

I'm sure to draw a crowd.

Peace out people.

A look back and a look ahead

How was your weekend my people? We really had a nice one. Long and full. Filled with family and friends and grilled hamburgers and laundry. Other highlights from the weekend go something like this....

Friday night I went on a real live date with the Captain. We had a yummy dinner at a little seafood place where I had the best shrimp and grits. Then we went shopping for socks and books. How romantic.

Jordan had a friend-boy in town for the day on Saturday. And thus it begins....

We played a new board game. You have to do all this random crazy stuff. During her turn, Jordan had to repeat everything twice for about 15 minutes. During her turn, Jordan had to repeat everything twice for about 15 minutes. It was the funniest thing. It was the funniest thing. I laughed so hard. I laughed so hard.

(Did I ever tell you I wet my pants once while we were playing Apples to Apples cause I was laughing so hard? Oh, I didn't? OK then. Forget it. Move along people. Nothing to see here....)

Cooper's turn required him to write a poem about his arm pit. It went something like this:

It has a hair on it.

I put Axe on it.

It stinks.

Yep, that about sums it up.

Did anybody else catch the Cardinals-Mets game? Yes, the one that went to TWENTY INNINGS. Yes, the one that used 19 pitchers including a shortstop and an outfielder. It was nuts.

And Cooper went 0-2 on Saturday at his game. Boo. But he looks so stinking cute wearing all that catcher's gear.

Last week the Captain was in a meeting -- and sat right beside -- a guy I dated for awhile when the Captain and I were on the skits. The Captain knows I dated him. Not sure the guy knows that the Captain is married to me. Hmmm. I think that's all I'm going to say about that.

In other news, I found out last night at 9:30 that we were out of coffee. I scrounged around and managed to find a little packet of instant something or other that is pretending to be coffee. It is doing a very poor job. This is very bad.

Somebody played a 155 point word on me in Words with Friends. That also was very bad. I started crying so hard I don't even remember what the word was.

Today I am really looking forward to setting up for an all day expo tomorrow. By "set up" I mean lug boxes of pens and brochures from my car to the convention hall. In the rain. I can't wait. By "all day expo" I mean sit at my little booth (ALL DAY) and pass out pens and brochures to people who don't have anything else to do but come to the expo looking for free stuff like pens and brochures.

For those keeping score at home, we have three days until Bingmama and I are headed to Nashville to see Bon Jovi. And that, my pretties, will be a most excellent road trip. And I'm beyond certain there will some significant blog fodder come from this little experience.

It's gonna' be a very busy week. Crazy few days at work. And lots to do on the home-front. The Captain is headed out of town this week too. But he's not going to see Jon and Richie like we are. He's going to hang out at some K-9 convention or something. Woof.

And with that, I'm going to find some REAL coffee.

Or, as Jordan would say, Have a good day. Have a good day.

Life. It Rocks. And Rolls.

Yesterday I was at the dentist with Cooper where he was getting a very stubborn baby tooth pulled.

I got a call that a TV station was interested in covering a pitch I had made. Hooray!

They wanted to interview the physician about his upcoming medical mission trip to Haiti. Yippee!

In the next hour. Challenge.

That was about the time Cooper reappeared in the waiting room with his poor little swollen gauze-packed mouth and post-nitrous eyes.

As best I can remember, the convo went something like this....

"Hi Dr. A. ...Yes they want to do a story about your Haiti trip.....Keep the gauze in there please baby....They would send a crew in about an hour....I know it hurts. It will feel better soon....They are interested in how many of your partners are going there and what you'll be doing....Yes the Tooth Fairy will come tonight....I appreciate your doing this on such short notice.....No sweetie, that's not blood, it's just drool...."

Later Cooper tells me his heart was hurting and beating very fast. Great, my kid is having a heart attack from having a tooth pulled. (No worries there though people. I called the dentist back and got an explanation about that.)

Oh and go ahead and factor in some other stuff too...

Like a family situation involving my 96 year old great aunt who was suddenly hospitalized this week. Yes, Monday during the snow storm. Remember that? Where we got 6" of "no accumulations expected"? Yeah, that day. It involved 6 very smart, calm, handsome EMTs who can drive an ambulance through a sleet storm. It also involved my little great aunt who was trying to drink hot tea from her pulse oximeter and was also seeing kittens on the ceiling. That was an emotionally exhausting day. Plus, the ER is an incredibly nasty place. I later took (as Connie put it) a scalding "Silkwood Shower" and burned my clothes.

Jordan needs to dress up like a medieval character, a super hero and a nerdy school kid this week. Cooper is supposed to dress like a detective today.

I've been helping Connie do some brainstorming as she ramps up her own business. Very exciting stuff here people.

Then there's just the other stuff that I can't seem to get away from....Like feeding my family and washing their laundry. They have grown accustomed to food and clean clothes apparently. The nerve.

I just read where Captain Phil from Deadliest Catch died. Hate that.

And I'm totally missing my daddy these days.

But -- guess what?! The Olympics start this weekend and I'm. Totally. Psyched.

It appears the Tooth Fairy did make an appearance.

Both of my kids emptied their piggy banks (their own, unprompted decision) for the school Haiti fundraiser projects. *sniff*

And they are finally going back to school today.

So see....it's all good. It's life. And that's how it rolls. And think how boring this blog would be without all these exciting stories.

Peace out people. Thanks for hitting my blog today!

If it rains, my laundry will get wet. And so will my son's room.

Yeah, so the dryer did bite the dust.

But the Captain tried valiantly to fix it.

He took it all apart. Did you know a dryer can sit in 354,981 pieces in your garage? Yes, it can.

He went to get a new part. And then put it all back together. But it still didn't work.

So I put all our wet clothes outside on the patio furniture to dry in the sun. Just call me Ma Ingalls. Later I churned some butter and took the wagon up to Olson's Mercantile for provisions.

The Captain went to buy a new dryer.

In the middle of all this, we had a small amount of teenage girl drama since we had four teenage girls in the house for a "We don't have school on Monday can everybody in the universe spend the night with me?" party.

While the Captain was going to return the part that didn't work and then pick up the new dryer, I got a call from Jordan who was crying hysterically a little upset because she thought somebody was trying to break in the house.

She had also called Connie who was on her way over. And who actually thought she was being set up for a surprise party. Even though it wasn't her birthday. Or nowhere near her birthday. So why would we have a surprise birthday party for her at 3pm on a Monday 13 weeks away from her birthday. Guess it would really be a surprise.

Anyhoo, it wasn't any sort of home invasion. It was my neighbor checking on Jordan and trying to let us know about this...


Which is also called "Two neighborhood boys playing golf in their backyard using a real golf ball which met Cooper's bedroom window with incredible speed."

FORE!!

And yes, it's a double paned window. And yes, glass goes everywhere when something like that happens. Everywhere.

So I spent my evening cleaning up teeny tiny glass shards out of pirate ships and dump trucks.

And the Captain went to his mother's house to wash & dry school uniforms and police uniforms. Cause she is still in the hospital. Oh I forgot to tell you. Her appendix ruptured two weeks ago. But she didn't go to the hospital until last week. Yeah, you read that right. That's another blog post all together.

My grand plans of cooking a nice Monday night dinner turned into "There's frozen pizza in the oven." and "Please don't walk in Cooper's room barefooted."

But today I should have a working dryer. Hooray!

And soon I'll have a brand new window. But I hope it's real soon since I actually just heard The Weather Guy use the words "There's a rain maker moving in." and "Tomorrow will be a soggy day." *sigh*

So, how was your Monday?

I am tired and my thoughts are disjointed. So is this blog post.

Thanksgiving is next week. Yikes. It's at my house. Must start planning.

Having a second Thanksgiving dinner next week with the Captain's family. We're exchanging Christmas gifts. Whatever. Must start shopping.

And now for today's public service announcement. If you haven't thanked a policeman, EMT or fireman for what they do, I hope you will. Cause their jobs aren't easy. And sometimes they have to deal with things that aren't very pleasant. And to think that my idea of a bad day is jamming the copy machine...The Captain's bad day is a complete 180 from that. So, please give your favorite first responder an extra hug, handshake, or nice little thank you. They will appreciate it. Thanks. {stepping off soap box now}

Tigers take on Kansas tonight. Hope we can give them some what for. Yes, I'm still harboring some pouty sore loser feelings from a year and a half ago. GO TIGERS!!

Seriously Weatherman, today's high is twenty-five degrees colder than Saturday? Seriously?

I have a coworker friend who is moving to Chicago this week. I am sad. There is nothing good in goodbye.

I can't believe it's only Tuesday.

I wish you all a good day. Play nice.

Par-tay

Big party....
Tomorrow night.....
About 350 people....

Let's see.....

Invitations - check
Caterer - check
Florist - check
Music - check
8,213 other details - check, check, check, check, check

Order coat racks - check
Weather forecast shows a sunny day with a high of 74 (Thanks Weatherman!)
Cancel coat racks -check

Have trouble sleeping - check
Have totally weird dreams about the party when I do sleep - check
(Including one last night where I dreamed nobody came. Nobody. No. Body.)

Continue to be so sick of boxes in my office - CHECK
Still to do.....
Finish stuffing 350 favor gift bags (Thank you P. & Bingmama for the help!)
Show up tomorrow 9 hours before the party and start setting up

Things to ignore....
The fact that I feel like I'm getting sick.
The fact that I am already exhausted and the party isn't even here yet.

OK people. That is all. If I live through all this, I'll see you Monday.

Oh - how could I forget - TIGER BASKETBALL OFFICIALLY STARTS TONIGHT!!!!! Go Tigers!!

Helping a girl out

Text from Connie Monday: You ok?

Me: Yes, why?

Connie: Twitterless

Me: Busy working on party

Connie: I will take over.





I wasn't real sure what she meant. Until I started seeing these tweets.....


~ ~ ~


@angie128 is very busy w/work today. The role of @angie128 will be played by me.

I (not really 'I' but @angie128) love Derek Jeter.

I (@angie128) also love post-it notes....

I (@angie128) have a flat out sordid love affair w/index cards...

Dear Coffee: Some people only love you in the morning. I am not fickle that way; I love you all day long. Love, @angie128

Dear @connie423: You are by far the BEST, sweetest, most beautiful, uber talented sister in the whole world, hands down! Love, @angie128

(Previous Tweet was actually ME talking and not @angie128....although it would probably work either way...)

Oh Hot Tamales, how I love thee (@angie128)

Did y'all see that tweet from @angie128 about what a wonderful sister I am...that was such a surprise...totally unexpected...

Dear co-worker who is at work today even though you obviously have the flu: if you come in my office again I will spray you in the face w/Lysol. kthanks...(@angie128)

What do you mean I can't sing "Barracuda" at the top of my lungs at work?? (@angie128)

~ ~ ~

And that, my bloggy friends, is sisterly love.....taking up the Twitter slack.

Crazy? Who's Crazy?

I'm experiencing various levels of freakingoutedness this week.....

I'm nutsy busy at work wrapping up the final details for a big party I'm putting together for my company. We're celebrating our centennial this year and having quite a large shindig this Saturday night. Just a small, intimate gathering of 400 people. No big deal.

AND Cooper came down with some fevery, coughy, stuffy nosey thingy over the weekend which I thought may have hit the road (thank goodness) until he woke up last night at 2:45 crying because his ear hurt (shoot) (And yes, I've been awake ever since....SLEEP?! Who needs it?),

AND I have two non-work related board meetings two nights this week,

AND I have some sort of pinched nerve thing in my shoulder which is making my arm kind of tingly (which I'm thinking can't be a good thing),

AND the Captain is headed out of town (again) for four days,

AND I am wearing a goldish color sweater today with a white blouse and black pants and I have just realized I look like Charlie Brown. Good Grief.

It's all good.

I can handle this.

No problem.

I just need a brown paper bag to breathe in every once in awhile.

Randomville

It is Friday. And that is glorious.

Here's what has been going on with me this week:

During a meteor shower Wednesday morning, I saw five shooting stars. Five. That's neat.

Do you ever wonder why we say, we are going to get "in" the bed but actually we are "on" the bed or "under" the covers? Oh, you don't? This is one of those things that I say out loud and the Captain looks at me with this look that says, "I wish I had never asked you out that second time...."

I am very busy at work right now planning a party to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our company. Just a small, close intimate event. Over 600 invitations went out. Eeeeek. It's huge-y. And it is consuming me.

Remember earlier this week when I mentioned the questionable call during the Arkansas loss to Florida? The SEC later apologized for that and said they made a mistake. Seriously?! And they have suspended the officiating crew. Well that does us a lot of good now doesn't it?! Too bad there.

The Captain's sister got a brand new car this week. Her husband surprised her with a 2010 Camaro. Which is kind of like my car if you mix all the letters up again. Cause I drive a 2001 Camry. See the similarities there? I'm telling you -- there is constant oooh'ing and aaah'ing over my car. It is sport-y!

This weekend features my driving the Mom's Taxi all weekend. Seriously. It's a bit nuts. I'll probably have to fill my tank up twice before Monday. And I've got to squeeze some laundry in there some where. And my family does really like to have clean sheets occasionally. Oh, and food. They like food. So I should try to swing by the grocery store. They really do not think marshmallows, Ritz crackers and Jello are a legitimate dinner.

This is quite the lame blog post. But I am beyond brain-weary today. I have lots of other stuff rolling around up there, but I won't spill it. You're welcome.

Have a good weekend.

Tuesday Randomness

This weather is just gorgeous. Thank you Canada for the pretty, cool weather. The end.

I lost a filling over the weekend. Going to get that taken care of this morning. ARRG! You know how much I hate the d-e-n-t-i-s-t. One of Jordan's friends is my dentist's daughter. I told her to "tell K. that I'm making another deposit in her college fund this week." Guess I'll be making a little visit to Nitrousville. Which we all know is an adventure in itself.

Tonight is Jordan's last volleyball game. I sure have had fun watching them play this season. But I'm ready for our schedules to settle down a little bit. The pace is starting to take its toll.

And yes, there was truth to the rumor that all four of us were home by 6pm and we ate dinner together. Hard to believe. But it really happened.

Cooper caught a soccer ball right in the gut on Saturday during his game. It made a thud noise so loud that I heard it all the way across the field. Knocked all the air out of him. He said later that he wished soccer was like football so he could have laid on the field, have the "care mobile" come out to get him (And he pronounced mobile like "mobeeeeel") and then he would give a 'thumbs up' to the crowd.

I'm taking today off to accomplish some things. The work stuff really gets in the way of my personal to-do list. And even if I show up there, they still expect me to do some work. It can really be style-cramping sometimes.

Have a good day today people. Enjoy the sun. Be happy. Be nice to each other.

Mayday Mayday Mayday

May is busy.

May is graduation events to attend and gifts to purchase.

May is the time when the kids uniforms are too short, too tight, too gaping, too everything. But too close to the end of the school year to do anything about it.

May is bridal showers and wedding presents.

May is the time when the kids start revolting against bed time.

May is end of the year parties and teacher gifts.

May is the time when Cooper asks for new crayons and markers because his have run out. Surely there are two more weeks of color in those things.

May is the time for summer camp registrations and fees.

May is the time when the kids are totally over spelling words and science study guides. And so is their mother.

May is busy.

Headin' to Houston for the Hitchin'

The Captain's sister is getting married this weekend in Houston. We are headed out this afternoon on the first leg of the journey.

Yes, we are driving.

Yes, it is 600 miles one way.

Yes, we are crazy.

Yes, we priced airline tickets.

Yes, it was too much money.

Yes, we are staying in three different hotels. In three different cities. On three different nights.

Yes, we are gypsies.

Yes, I know Houston is just a hop, skip & a jump from Mexico, Home of the Swine Flu.



Let's see.....Do I have everything?


Bridesmaid's dress for Jordan? Check.

Big tux for the Captain? Check.

Little tux for Cooper? Check.

Snacks? Check.

Map of every Starbucks location between here and Houston? Check.

Movies? Check.

More movies? Check.

iPods? Check.

Tom Tom? Check Check.

Chargers for 2 DVD players, 3 iPods, 1 camera, 3 cell phones, and 1 gameboy? Multiple checks.

Face masks to avoid the Swine Flu? Check. Just kidding. Kind of. But I am packing Lysol which should come as no surprise to those that know me well. And, of course, a gallon of hanitizer. Which I always have with me anyway - road trip or not. Go ahead. Make fun.

Anything else? Probably not.


OK kids, hop in the car.

See you people next week. I feel certain there will be much blog fodder collected this weekend.

Ciao!