Yeah Baby, It’s Spring!

April 19, 2008 at 7:00 PM (Around Our House, Cats and Dog, Family Life, Honey)

 

It has begun !!!  Yesterday was glorious! A warm 78 degrees, sunshine and gentle breezes. Lovely clean smell. No fishy, wormy stink. We loved it!

Keelyody and I did begin our walking. And we both agreed that it felt good to do something. She does go to a fitness center in the winter. She said not regularly, but she did go on occasion. My exercise this winter consisted of hauling laundry, using our stairs, lifting Little Goomba, and thinking about going down the basement to get on the treadmill. Because I like the idea  of fitness. Not necessarily the actual activity of doing it.

I get far more exercise in the summer, as most people do. I like to garden a bit and our yard is always needing attention. Plus, Honey is always roping me into some kind of project. Cause that is what he lives for. PROJECTS!

 Last year, it was painting the outside of our house. And that only took, ummm, FOREVER!  The year before it was a major big one that involved me moving tons of landscaping rocks, cutting, laying and spiking rolls of weed block, and then moving the tons of landscaping rock back. I did have a tiny  bit of help from the kids. But getting them to work outdoors is like trying to herd cats, and I found I was just as successful without them. And if any of them might happen to read this post, that does not mean that you will not help in future projects! I was just extending grace on that one project. Because that one  project  could not be done fast enough for me.

 But truthfully, I am glad that I did it. I no longer have to pull at least  two garbage cans full of weeds out of the rocks several times a summer. Because really,  it had  always  our dream to re-landscape the front yard, that we paid a small fortune to have landscaped by a professional. Yeah, don’t ask us for the name of a good landscaper. We don’t know of one.

I don’t know what Honey’s big project plans  are this summer. I do get a little worried though when he keeps saying, “we have SO much work to do”  And I know that rope is coming.

In celebration of the fine spring day, I recklessly put out some springy decorations.

And to prove that I am not pulling your tail, a picture of green things poking up! I had to stage this carefully. There were a lot of bird dupers on those bricks.

We had the windows and the door wall open. The first to arrive and soak up the sun was Miss Halle Berry.

Soon, she was joined by her Mama Mia.

Last but not least, Lulu. And then the bathing began. Because they like nothing better than to have a bath in front of an open window in the sun. Not my personal preference, but it works well for them.

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Perhaps Spring

April 18, 2008 at 8:01 AM (Friends, Whatever)

It has been warm and sunny here for the last two days. We are hoping it is not a tease. Because if there is one thing we Michiganders dislike, it’s a spring tease. Especially in the middle of April. Just bring on the spring already!

 My friend Rachel and I were having a conversation this afternoon, and we feel we are in dire need of some good  spring.  And I don’t want the cool, rainy, stinky worm smelling spring. I would like warm, sunny, breezy spring. Thank you very much.

I may have mentioned  that we have had a significant amount of winter weather this year in the Mitten State.  And I, for one, am getting tired of all the clothing layering. I feel like the Michelin Man. But it’s hard to know how to dress around here. Like today. When I left this morning to go to BSF (the Bible study), it was 30 degrees. When I left the church around noon, it was 72. It’s a good thing I was feeling frisky and wore my sandals and jean jacket!  And once I start wearing the sandals and no coat and gloves? There is NO turning back.

Tomorrow my walking buddy, Keelyody, and I will have our first walk of 2008. And I am ever so thankful to have her. Cause walking by myself is not near as much fun. It’s actually really boring. Plus, we talk about what is going on in our lives and then we solve all the worlds problems. Stuff like that. 

 We are faithful, three times a week walkers. And we walk around three miles a day. But, we are also  fair-weather walkers. And if it snows tomorrow? Like it did last Sunday? Then you can forget about starting that walking thing.

 

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More Photos From Ab

April 17, 2008 at 7:52 AM (Family Life, Muggins Q. Mouse, The Ab-Cat)

We were at Muggins Q. Mouses’ last swim meet of middle school tonight for hours. I have decided that my bum has about a 2 hour limit for sitting on metal bleachers.

 It was exciting, Her school won the all school meet! And she shaved time off all her events! She was happiest that she did NOT have to swim the 200 yard freestyle. For those who don’t know (and that would have been Honey and I at the start of last season) it is 8 lengths of the pool. That’s a LOT of lengths. Honey and I said we might not make 1. Certainly not 2. And forget about doing it fast! Tonight she swam the 50 and 100 yard freestyle and a relay. She said she should have swam the butterfly. It IS her best event. Ah, the mysteries of coaching.

She is glad the season is over and she can go back to having “no life”. Cause she has been just a wee bit busy. Next week we go to an “extravaganza” at the high school where she can sign up for freshman swimming. And we hear that has an even longer  season. But I also heard that they like more parental involvement to work the concession stand and stuff like that. And I will be jumping  at the chance to help out and get my butt off those bleachers!!!

 Here are some more samples of The Ab-Cat’s photography. 

I especially like this one she took of Mousey. She looks very small against that big old ocean.

I think these colors are very pretty. This was a tree around the pool. She took a lot of pictures there that day.

Leaving New Smyrna beach. She surprised me! Notice the full pants pocket on the left. We were shelling.

Oh, I love our talented Girls!!

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My Future Grandchildren

April 16, 2008 at 8:07 AM (Family Life, Our Boy)

We were having dinner at Ruby Tuesday’s one evening while on vacation. And as usual, our conversation ranged far and wide.

 One topic we were talking about was my Folks’ new Great-Grandson. His parents had decided to carry on their family tradition of using Robert as his middle name. Like his Father, and his Father and his Father and then his Father. It may go further, but I just don’t know. Little Goomba has a similar family tradition going on as well. As do my Guys.

 Honey’s Father was Andrew, and my Men both have that as their middle name. So The Boy announces at dinner that he is going to have his son’s middle name be Andrew as well. So I asked him if he had any idea what the first name might be. He said Mufasa.  Mufasa Andrew. I actually just laughed out loud again remembering this. I think it had something to do with the fact that Halle Berry (the actress, not his cat), his one true love, had just named her daughter Nalah. It would appear he wanted to join her in the “Lion King” theme. He also said his second son would be Schooner. Schooner Andrew. And I can’t tell you the reasoning behind that one.

Then we started to think of names for the girl children, and The Boy insisted that they be names from Star Wars. The only ones I can remember were Bubbles (my choice before I was aware of the theme) Alderaan, Tatooine, Lando and, of course, Leia. I am hoping that his future wife will be strong enough  to veto them all. Except the Andrew part, cause we like a good family tradition.

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Serta, The Perfect Sleeper

April 15, 2008 at 6:48 AM (Cats and Dog, Our Boy)

The Boy got a new mattress this week. It was a necessity,  but it was hard to let it go, cause he LOVED his old one. For most of his 16 years he had a twin bed, but he always said it was too hard. Actually it was firm, cause we are firm mattress people. He always liked the bed in our guest room. Which was an old full bed that my Folks gave us, cause they needed a bed when they slept over. It had a very soft mattress that The Boy adored. It was probably so soft due to age, cause I think it was mine from the time I was 3. I’m 45. It was well  worn. So when my Folks got a new  queen mattress at their house a few years ago, they offered us their old queen mattress, for our guest room. Cause I guess they wanted a bigger bed for themselves at our house. And, so The Boy could have the full he loved so much. He snapped that deal up. And has been happily sleeping in soft, squishy comfort ever since.

Until we came back from vacation. My brother, Beeve, told us that The Boy’s cat, Halle Berry, had gotten herself locked in his room for the better part of a week. Well, you can imagine what happened. Why she chose the bed, I will never know. Cause heaven knows there were other soft places to choose from. Like piles,  and piles, and yet other piles of clothes on the floor. So, it was with great sadness that he said goodbye to The Mattress. But he picked out his new one. And I sat on it last night, and it felt like sinking into pudding to me. Ick. He ought to love it.

***Update***  He has now slept on it for 2 nights. He says he really loves it.

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The Family Picture

April 13, 2008 at 8:29 PM (Family Life, Honey)

Our church announced that they were going to take pictures for a new directorial. They have done this one other time since we have attended there. The last time was not a good experience for us. As a matter of fact, I heard after, that most of the church shared our experience. Lots of groaning, and unhappiness in general. Well, our personal pictures were awful.  I think that is where we coined our “in”, ruin-er. Cause that was all that Honey contributed to the photo shoot. Shot after shot of ruined pictures. Weird smiles, eyes closed, you know, the usual. The photographer also had us in a strange pose. I am aware that seemingly strange poses can result in good pictures. I mean I have had senior pictures taken. Even if it was a long time ago. And I remember thinking, how can that contorted posture have produced a shot this lovely?  But unfortunately, this strange posing was just strange posing. And the picture that we were forced to choose was just gruesome. Why we didn’t just say forget it is one of the mysteries of life. Cause who wants people looking them up in the church directory and thinking. Oh.MY.WORD. 

I went down the basement to see if I could find the ”free” 8X10 they gave us for participating in their hellish little book. And I have no idea where it might be. And I loved it so much. And I guess another great mystery of life is why I kept it anyway. I guess I thought it might provide some comic relief at a later date. Which it would have, right here! At least we kept the funny coined word. So the experience was not a total loss.

So on Friday night, we had an appointment to see the new photographer. He had really been talked up by our friends, who were helping him with the scheduling. So I had GREAT hopes of finally getting a family picture that I could be proud of.

You have NO IDEA what it takes to get my family “photo ready” I started talking about it weeks beforehand. About how much it meant to me. How it would be my birthday, Christmas and Mother’s Day present all rolled into one. How they had to run their clothes selection past me. Some I just TOLD what to wear. How I had complete control over all hair. How sometimes we have to do things we don’t want to for the ones we love. Ect., ect., ect.

  I was pleased, no more than pleased, I was happy with the way we all looked! And the photographer was a very nice man. The first thing I told him was not to be freaked out by the wheelchair. Cause the other guy was freaked out by the wheelchair and that may have contributed to the strange posing. I told him that she and the wheelchair were not one, and she could come out of it. And she could pose anyway he wanted, except  standing or kneeling. So he posed us attractively. He even had us smiling for the most part. And a lot of the pictures were good of people. But, you know , it’s hard to get 5 people all in synch at the same time.

When it came time to actually choose “the One”,  there was really only one option. We were all smiling nicely, our hair looked good and we were posed very well. And Honey had one eye looking straight on, and the other eye was looking a little somewhere else.  It was doing this weird Marty Feldman eye thing! Now I have been looking at Honey for about 25 years and I have never seen this before. Well, I am laughing as hard right now as I was the other night when we were viewing our poses. I am crying! What really got me going, was when the photographer told Honey to look at him, and suggested that it was Honey’s eyes!  And said The Boy might have the same problem! Oh, the tears, they were a rollin’. And, People, I was there to BUY some pictures. But I just couldn’t buy and display, in my home,  pictures of Honey and his wandering eye.

The photographer did take a few shots of the 3 kids, cause I have not had them taken for many years as well. There was a very cute shot, and we did buy an 8X10 with 6 wallets of that one. Because I was seriously afraid I might never see my children looking that good ever again. For a mere $80.00. Next time I’m taking the whole crew to the Wal-Mart. Cause at least if they don’t get the shot, I’m not out a whole bunch of money. And who knows? Since its all a crap shoot anyway, they may get the shot. And I’m going to warn them ahead of time about Honey’s eye.

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Ab-Cat’s Cool Photography

April 13, 2008 at 6:48 AM (The Ab-Cat)

They were predicting tornado’s and storms yesterday.

It seemed like it just bubbled up.

Billowing clouds that got dark. It was really windy, then it all blew away.

 

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Hola, Fashion Fiesta!

April 13, 2008 at 12:06 AM (Mr. Linky Things, Whatever)

 
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I am aware  that I was whining in my last post. The one about wanting to so desperately  join in the Fashion Fiesta fun? And I appologize.

  I may have also mentioned that I love me some Big Mama. I have no idea at this point if I will ever actually  be able  to hook up with Big Mama for her Fashion Fiesta extravaganza, but I am going to do it anyway. Just because. So, if I can’t do it, I’m going to have to have my own lonely little fiesta. Cause I already took a lot of pictures, and have had the post running through my mind eleven thousand times. So here goes.

When I was having lunch with Mousey at Panera’s yesterday after her orthodontist appointment ( just wondering, when did I ever start that tradition? Who ever said that a during school ortho appt. equals a lunch out? It’s not a bad thing, but there is a sense of entitlement there, and I’m just asking.) and I asked what her answer would be to Big Mama’s question of “what do you wear the most?” She said “something brown”. That does not sound fresh and cheerful. But upon looking at my closet, and I will mercifully NOT show you a picture of that, she would be right.

 I am a brown, black, jean and khaki kind of gal. There is color, but only for the tops of things. Cause I like my hindquarters covered with dark fabrics. It is really the better choice. We live in Michigan and have just come through a particularly long, cold, snowy winter, so the way I dress can be only called one thing: desperate to stay warm.  Plus, Honey had us dial the heat down so low, cause he insists  we are poor, that some days I just wore the down alternative blanket around my shoulders like a shawl. A very big and long shawl. Here are about the only pants I wore on a regular basis in my normal everyday life

There were a pair of black velour sweatpants as well, but I don’t know where they have gotten to. I wore the 2 outside pairs the most. You might think it odd to only have 1 pair of jeans. It was all I could find at the beginning of the season. Not that I didn’t scour every store I walked into. But that was all I could find.  Jeans are the hardest commodity to come by for me. I don’t appear  to have an oddly misshapen body, but I can’t seem to find a pair of jeans that fit to save my life. I am tall and long waisted. So to find a pair that are long enough, don’t show an impressive  amount of panty when I sit down, and have some give to them? I must be asking for too much. Cause really, if they can put a man on the moon, they should be able to provide a pair of comfortable, lengthy and crack-less pair of jeans , right????  Just say NO to crack! So that’s my sad jean tale. By the way, I did find a cute pair on vacation. And I was so looking for a pair with a button flap on the back. Cause I think they make my hind end look better for some reason. Best of all they were $ 12.99! I bought 2 pairs. One a size bigger than the other, cause they looked more trouser-y, and better suited for church. Cause I don’t dress up for church anymore, they are pretty casual there. I only dress up for BSF. And funerals. Cause I HAVE to.  But I will need a little altering help from Capri Deb for the bigger pair.  The waist is ginormous. The brand name is Bogari, which I have never heard of, but I was most impressed that the original price was $89.00, WOW, did I say I got them for $ 12.99 at T.J. Maxx???

Here is where the colors come in, on the top. It is mainly a collection of sweaters and zip up hoodies with shirts underneath. Never just one shirt. We layer  here in the Mitten State. All warm, all comfy. Stacey and Clinton would not be pleased. Comfort rules here.

And when I know without a shadow of a doubt that I do not have to go out of the house again that day? This is what I put on.  My favorite “Life is Good” jammies. Cause for me, it’s all about getting the bra OFF. 

 

And these sad, beloved shoes would be the things that I would not have made it without. This season anyway. Actually, last winter either. And they are too ratty to make it another, and I don’t know what I will do. Such a level of comfort, I have seldom experienced. And they go with everything. Everything in MY wardrobe anyway. A moment of silence for the Skechers please.

Since we went on vacation last month, I had to get some warm weather wear in order already. This will do until I go to Mrs. Schmenkman’s in Virginia on Memorial Day Weekend. Where we will have our own little Fashion Fiesta for a glorious 6 days!!!!!!!

I am all about the capri’s. Since the veins in my legs got so colorful, shorts are dead to me. Have a black pair just like the brown pair. Love them.

I have the usual assortment of tanks and colored T’s. Not a words on the shirt kind of gal. I pair them with these 3/4 sleeved sweaters if the need arises. I also have a black one just like the aqua one. I knew it wouldn’t show up.  Stole Permanently borrowed the Old Navy jean jacket from Ab, who never wore it anyway.

Some new summer tops I got at Kohl’s before our trip. Wore them and loved them.

 

 I have been having a black sandal issue for a couple of years now. Those on the left have been my favorite go to shoe for a few years. They are a “go straight to the amusement park after not wearing them for 7 months” kind of shoe. And NO blisters! I started looking to replace them 2 years ago. It is proving to be harder than I thought. Because comfort like that could be a once in a lifetime thing. I’m hoping it’s not. But it could be. Last year I bought the 3rd on the left. They were so not “the ones”.  In Florida last month I bought the ones on the right. They are Bare Traps and they are showing GREAT potential so far. I do have some flip flops (or as we called them growing up, thongs. Which my girls have told me to NEVER call them again.) that I like. But I can only get away with wearing that kind of shoe for a short amount of time. Cause the back is not so great, and it complains mightily if it doesn’t have some sort of heel. Flats are not my friends.

 And last but not least, the jewelery. I don’t wear much, just the wedding ring, the watch and earrings and a bracelet for those fancy days! I made all of these to match clothes I have . I copied the earring idea from Hula Laurie. One pair of hoops and you just slide the “hula’s” on and off to match the outfit. No necklaces, don’t like things around the neck.  I am fairly modest in my jewelery wearing these days. That was not always the case.

As for what I would like? Well, this is where some of those things I was whining about in the last post would come in handy. The here and here thingys. Cause mine are fake! 

I am really liking all the baby doll, empire waist tops that I have been seeing. They would seem to help out with the crack baring issue as well. Also to find a cute skirt or two. I saw some very  cute ones on the other folk’s sites. So when I head down to Mrs. Schmenkman’s next month, that is what my shopping goal will be. It’s good to have goals.  

Here we go, wish me luck.

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Wanted: Patient, All Knowing, Blogging Friend…

April 12, 2008 at 6:20 PM (Family Life, Help Me Please, Whatever)

Man, do I need to take a computer class. You would think Honey and I were the village idiots. Well, I am, he does alright. Sometimes. I mean, we tried for like 37 hours to get a little 1 minute video of Q. Mouse swimming the breaststroke on the blog. For the LAST 2 DAYS!!  Honey said we should  be able to figure it out. I so badly want to take part in Big Mama’s “Fashion Fiesta”, but I don’t even know how to link you over there so you can find out what its all about. Let alone just hook up to Mr Linky,  as if I would have a clue how to do that. But she did refer us to this way cool site that should help me somewhat. When I get the chance to read it page by page. Several times, I’m sure. But it is some really good information. Of course, you  probably already knew it.

  http://www.bloggingbasics101.com/101/2007/06/what_is_a_perma.html.

Hey I just figured out how to send ya’ll over to my new BFF (as if she knows I’m alive, LOL) http://thebigmamablog.com/  I do love me some Big Mama! Of course all the REAL bloggers just say here and when you click there, it wisks you away. That is clearly  beyond my capabilities. Well, the deadline for the Fiesta is Monday night at midnight. And I may not make it. I will ask Ab, but she has not been especially helpful lately. She thinks anything blog-related is stupid. If she is equally unaware of how to do it, I will have to ask Mousey when she comes home from her sleepover. And she is not usually at her best at that time. She has been known to have major meltdowns directly related to lack of sleep. And with the hectic (there’s that weird word again) week she has had, it certainly could be a reality. Plus, she may not even know. It’s not like she has a blog. She doesn’t even blog on her MySpace. She is a Mouse of few words.

I have been thinking that even if I took a computer class, they might not teach me what I really  want to know. And I could find myself in some supernaturally boring class about things that I neither need nor care to learn. What I really need is a patient, all knowing, blogging friend.  Who can sit in the chair beside me and give me a private lesson, slowly, cause you KNOW, I am going to be writing it all down. 

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Go, Mousey, Go!

April 12, 2008 at 7:50 AM (Muggins Q. Mouse)

Of course we didn’t call her Mousey at the swim meet! That would have embarrassed her to death! It was really all we could do to covertly get pictures. Very covertly.  It was Honey’s job.

I think I have mentioned before that our family does not have one competitive bone in it’s whole body. We don’t do anything. Well, Honey golfs, and he does like to win, but in all honesty, I have never heard him having a fit or anything if he lost.  Too bad you can’t count physical therapy as a sport. Cause we kinda excell  at that! And that’s all the sport I can think of. EVER. Until last year. When Mouse joined the Jr. High swim team. And if I am being honest, (sounds like Simon Cowell) swim meets are R E A L L Y long, really, really long. And things only really come alive when your child is swimming. I would be happy to cheer for her friends, who were also swimming, but I only know 2. And Mousey doesn’t like it when we make noise for her, so I can ony imagine what the friends would think.

It is also very fun to watch another girl on her team as well. The one who is probably going to go to the Olympics someday. That’s what Honey and I say to each other when we watch her.  And we will tell everyone, “Yes, our daughter swam on her team in Jr. High”. You probably think I’m kidding. I’m so not kidding. Help me out here, Farm Dog, tell them I might not be lying!

Honey and I tried endlessly  to get a video posted here. But I guess it is just beyond our capabilities.

Well, Miss Mouse did very well for herself, as usual. And you know what, we don’t even really care if she comes in first, but we like that too! We think she is the cutest, long legged , smoothest stroker out there!

And we just couldn’t be prouder!

 

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