2Chicklets

Twinsight

2012-01-14T11:17:00.001-05:00

While in the car the other day, I overheard the chix talking. It was oddly enlightening.

"it's not like you're my twin."

"yeah, I know"

"it's like you're my best friend. Who makes me really mad. And just won't go away."

I'm not sure if I should be concerned, but it did make me laugh.

I am pregnant...hear me whimper

2011-12-01T05:30:00.001-05:00

Oh good Lord, NO! I am NOT pregnant.

But I was at the time.

I was home on maternity leave - bed rest - restricted activity - whatever you want to call it. This was thirteen years ago and my chicklets were still a twinkle in my eye and a large lump in my abdomen.

I needed to get out of the house. The doctor had advised I go to the Y and swim. After trying it just once, I was hooked. These little boogers put so much strain on my bod, the effect of being pseudo-weightless even while completely and mortifyingly LARGE in the torso? Hea. Ven. Ly. Heavenly. Absolutely pure, inexplicable heaven.

Who cared that I got to know all of the lifeguards by name (due to the number of contractions I'd have while halfway through the deep end of the pool). Who cared that I'd swim the slooooooowest laps in the world (because of course, this was only allowed during lap swim, and I wasn't allowed to float, I had to SWIM)! Who cared that I'd stay in the water until the last possible second and then HEAVE myself out of the water to blunder to the bathroom to relieve my increasingly stressed bladder. Not me.

The Y saved my sanity.

Except...this one time...

I grabbed my gear. Grabbed my purse. Grabbed my swimsuit. Grabbed my towel. Grabbed everything!

Except the keys.

8.5 months pregnant with twins. And I'm locked out of my house.

Of course, this is pre-commonly-accessible-mobile-phone days, so I didn't have a phone. Or a key. I couldn't leave the house, because I didn't have a car key. But I couldn't get in the house, either.

So I scanned the house. I knew the gates were locked. The little crappers in the neighborhood opened the gates and let our dogs loose if we left the the gates unlocked. But I checked anyway. And I was right. They were locked. Safe and snug were my doggies - behind the gates - inside the house - locked up tight. Yep, I was thorough. Thoroughly stuck. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't get over the ding-dang fence.

So...went to the guest room window (we lived in a ranch-style-house at the time). Locked.

Went to the chix soon-to-be-bedroom window. Locked.

Went to the living room window. Locked.

Like I could heave myself up into an open window? Even if the window was open, the lower ledge was boob-height. This monstrous belly sticking out in front of me? Leaving me with less than one-inch of lap? How freaking ridiculous was I?!?

Apparently not ridiculous enough.

After being outside - in a coat because it's April after all - in Indiana - where snow is still a possibility in May - for roughly TWO HOURS and seeing no neighbors I know (or want to know?) I decided to hoof it down to a house where I see activity. Oh yeah, I got to tell my sob story to someone I don't even know.
This was NOT the lovely water I had imagined, remembered, longed for. Definitely not.

Turns out, after explaining my freakingly fantastic story to the person who answered the door, they don't live there. They're "watching" the house for their friend while their friend's windows are being installed. And then I got to explain the whole goofball story AGAIN to this random neighbor, whom I've never met, over the phone. And they graciously (grudgingly?) gave me permission to use their phone.

So I called my two neighbors who lived on either side of me. Only one had a key to my house. But neither was home (which I already knew). And of course, since I didn't carry a planner (hello, maternity leave? bed rest? 1998? thanks, glad you're still with me!), I didn't know how else to contact them.

I called my husband on HIS mobile phone. But he was working "in the field" so didn't know or even hear that I called.

Poop. Back to waiting on my front steps for Ironman to hopefully show up...sometime before dark?

Wait wait wait. Bored bored bored.

Except, about 30 minutes later, one of the workers from the pseudo-neighbor's house came down. I felt a little weird. Here's me and my monstro-pregnant belly, hanging out on my front steps because I have nowhere else to go, and here's this strange guy walking down the street.

::gulp::

He said he'd heard my whole situation and wanted to see if he could help me.

::gulp:: Oh screw it.

Cue Hallelujah Chorus!

errrrrr, well, maybe.

I explained the window thing - yep, I was paranoid enough to have locked ALL of my windows in my house. And the gates. And yes, the front door. But...there was a chance I'd forgotten to lock the back door. The one that leads out into the padlocked back yard. Where I couldn't get my pregnant belly. Because I couldn't climb the fence. Because I was uber-pregnant. With twins.

So random pseudo-stranger offered to check.

And then he hopped the fence. Easy as pie. (and yes, I could do it now - because I'm no longer monstro-the-whale)

Pseudo Stranger: "Um, ma'am?"

Me: "Yes?"

PS: "Um, your windows are locked back here. Do you want me to check your door?"

Me: "Yes, PLEASE!" (because at this point, though I had used the bathroom at pseudo-neighbor's house, I was desperate, people! I reallllllly needed to use it AGAIN)

PS: "Um, ma'am?"

Me: wriggling nervously, trying not to wet my pants "Yes?"

PS: walks around the corner of the house to the gate and says, "Um, ma'am, the back door is unlocked. What do you want me to do?"

Me: "oh my gosh, just walk in. Just walk in. When you walk in, you'll be in the laundry room. Turn left and the front door will be straight ahead of you!"

PS: "Are you sure?"

Me: attempting to hold onto my dignity "Yes, whatever you need to do, just please, thank you, please go straight through."

And he did.

And THAT is how I didn't escape to the Y. Because after all of that, the chicklets and I needed a bathroom. And a nap.

you have to imagine this being said by a friend who has a lilting Bengali accent

2011-11-29T00:08:00.000-05:00

Me:

I have a headache.

Co-worker:

Aren't you glad?

Me, completely confused:

Wha...?

Co-worker:

You should be glad you have a headache. It makes you aware you have a head!

Good grief, this woman can make me laugh.

So my life is pretty calm right now

2011-08-24T21:45:00.002-04:00

looking back on the past few weeks i have realized that my life has pretty much calmed down. well that is compared to summer break which was totally over the top so my life is still pretty crazy. i have a dog who itches her ear like crazy. a friend who just transferred to my school. and i just started taking art club and creative writing!!! for creative writing class i have made a few good pieces. one about words and how stuffy some of them are and another on hair. and i just discovered something about myself. i am a terrible story-teller. i truly am, i can never remember what is specifically said or what my friend said and then it always gets all jumbled up with what seems like 6 different endings and by the time i'm at the last sentence my mind is totally fried. so here i am wondering why i signed up for creative writing and how i got myself into this mess and so know i'm open to suggestions. any suggestions you might have i'm open to them. so come on. give me a reply or something to let me know that i'm not the only one out here in the world. so please. give me an answer. any answer. i don't really care.

goodbye for now,
signed,
the writer in distress

Posion Ivy

2011-08-07T15:15:00.003-04:00

I have learned quite a few things over the past few days. First of all, don't ever rub your face on a dog. You'll just end up getting poison ivy like me. Second of all, definetly don't rub your face on a dog if your extremely allergic like me. Third of all, when your mom says that you should go to the doctor, you should go to the doctor! Otherwise you'll probably end up like me. With a swollen face and and an itchy neck. You might be wondering what i did wrong.

Well what i did first was rub my face on the dog, then i progressed to refuse medical aide because i believe that it was no big deal. That turned out to be a big mistake.
Then this morning when i woke up i found out that most of the area around my eye was swollen and evidently i looked like a freak. Two hours later i was leaving the emergency medical place with steriods in my system. They had had to give me a shot in the butt. What fun!
P.S. that last sentence was sarcasm

Summertime!!

2011-06-06T12:17:00.003-04:00

Well, now that summer has arrived, I have made a list of things that I would love to do in the wide expanse of warm days that follow!

Go to ________ Girl Scout Camp for two weeks to train to be a totally terrific aide, and then, in one week, I will be putting my aide practicing to the test!
Visit my relatives in Ohio for a fun-filled week of Camp Kake :)
Enjoy the sunny beaches of Camp G________ as I swim my way through the week :D
Earn my Gold and Silver Award through a series of fun and interesting activities for Girl Scouts 8p
Spend time with my friends and family and have numerous sleepovers and such!! 0__0
Go on several camping trips with my family<3

Whether I am talking, swimming, texting, reading, sunbathing, or camping, I plan on making this summer a fun one! ;D

Mommy, my stomach hurts...

2011-05-14T21:19:00.000-04:00

Thus began my morning.

Well, technically it began a few hours earlier. The chicklets had a track meet this morning, so I had awakened them at 5 (a.m.) so they could swallow some breakfast. They each had a banana and promptly went back to sleep.

When awakened at 7:15, Yell came into my room whining about her stomach. I was washing my face and questioning her about her symptoms at the same time.

"what do you mean it hurts? Like heartburn? Like you need to go to the bathroom? Like you..."

Yell, "buuuurp"

Stunned silence.

Yell, "Oh, that feels much better. Never mind."

I think she gets her manners from Homer Simpson.

Stuff

2011-05-11T12:02:00.000-04:00

I received a letter indicating the tuition rate at my kids' school will go up by approximately $50/month next year. Coincidentally it was the same day as our mandatory parents’ meeting. I’ve been trying to compose this letter since then.

Dear School Principal,

To say I’m disgusted by what is expected of next year is an understatement.
I respect that you intend for the students to perform service hours to ‘earn’ their class t-shirt. I respect that they will need to earn the right to wear them on Fridays. My kids are probably not the norm. They will each have completed ten hours of service within the first two days of their summer vacation. What I do not understand, comprehend, condone, or encourage is the acquiring of ‘things’ for our students.

I’m likely in the minority. I’ve always been frugal so we can afford our children’s wants as well as their needs. This will likely shock you, but I’ll tell you anyway. For all of my children’s back-to-school supplies (including shoes & clothing), the cost for July 2010 was $99. It was done very carefully, watching sales, using coupons, buying “pre-worn” items, and with several gifts from current 8th graders.

But that doesn’t resolve my feelings about what is expected for our soon-to-be eight graders.

A class shirt. Estimated cost $25 each. As is typical for our family, we purchase 5 shirts (one per day) each year for each child. Because these are unique to this class, the cost to my household is $125 for one child.
A sweatshirt. Estimated cost $30. $155. For two children (yes, there are two families with two kids in the class) the total is now $310.

A yard sign. Estimated cost $10. $165. For two, $330. For use one day of the year. To announce what the rest of the school already knows – these kids are graduating. Yes, the children are given the option to take the sign home and display it in their yard. As a safety issue, this concerns me. Do I really want everyone on the street to know my now-graduated-from-8th-grade-child has gifts, money, spare time, and will likely be home alone?

A DVD. Estimated cost $10. $175. For two, $350. With pictures of my child on it that I supply. I’m supposed to pay to buy a DVD of photos I already know I have?

And the big class trip. Estimated at $150 per child. $325. For two, $650. And we haven’t purchased shoes, pants/shorts, socks, jackets, gym uniform, dodge ball, or the various track/cross country/volleyball/football/basketball/kickball/soccer/sports t-shirts and equipment. I know I can scratch off the class sweatshirt, the DVD, and the sign, but that saves a $50 from the total. Not a significant savings.

I know (and understand why) my 8th grader will ‘want’ everything the other kids have. I realize there is an opportunity for them to participate in, not one, not two, but THIRTEEN or FOURTEEN fundraisers. What is that teaching my child? Yes, hard work = earning your trip. But also, “your trip can be better than the one the class had last year" if you earn the money to pay for it. I’m also teaching them to sell “stuff” to people in our neighborhood who are already facing reduced incomes due to high gas prices, higher costs at the grocery store, higher taxes, more responsibilities, bigger burdens. And can you imagine what it does to the families with two children? Oh yippy skippy! TWENTY-SIX to TWENTY-EIGHT fundraisers! I assure you, those parents are not thrilled.

Yes, graduating from eighth grade is a ‘bigger deal’ from a parochial school than it is from middle school. Perhaps only because most of these children have been in the same class for the past 9 years. Perhaps because they’re all looking forward to attending high school with the same set of kids. Perhaps they should consider scaling back on their final year of school. Perhaps consider inviting the kids from a "less fortunate" school to participate in their class trip to a park for a picnic – perhaps our privileged youth should share their blessings?

People don’t need more STUFF in their lives.

I’m ready to wash my hands of the whole year and move the kid to public school.

Ready to Read

2011-05-08T21:27:00.003-04:00

Hello!!!!!!!!!!! I am saying this because my mom won't let me have my own blog. I want my blog to feature the fact that starting on my birthday i will try to read 100 books in a year. And I was going to name it Sensational Anne : the girl who reads it all. Isn't that an awesome name?!?!

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

2011-05-05T00:42:00.001-04:00

I'm posting this as part of Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop. Though I may have to write the dream prompt as well. I have a doozy that inspires me to no end of activity.

My oh-so-thoughtful sis coerced us into collaborating on a Mother's Day present for my mom. It's perfect. It doesn't require dusting. It doesn't require watering or maintenance. It won't cause her to gain weight. It won't be thrown away or cause unnecessary pollution. But it might make her cry.

On Mom and Sewing

2010

I remember coming downstairs to find mom hunched over the kitchen counter, the light above her work turned on. She was working on some flannel. It was white, with little purple flowers. She painstakingly inserted pieces of metal through the fabric and then grabbed a hammer. She pounded on the fabric, trying to get the snaps to adhere. When she cried because her wrist hurt, I felt bad and went back to bed. I hoped Dad would help her. Those jammies were that much more special to me, because despite her fatigue, Mom made me jammies. –Suz

Pajamas. Love. –T

Mom bringing out the big white board with blue dots on it and laying it across the dining room table. The sound of scissors running across that board as they were cutting fabric for Mom's next project. Learning how to read a pattern and cut the right size. Making shorts for myself. Learning to use Aunt Alma's sewing machine alongside Mom: "Does your sewing machine have a zigzag stitch?" –Kake

The white glass egg for fixing socks and her focused on that sock-wrapped egg with needle in hand and tongue sticking out. –Nacho

The Chicklets - wearing 2 of
Grammy's creations

Mom is sewing my socks. Why is mom sewing my socks? –B

My memories with Grammy:

Sewing skirts for my dolls
Teaching me to crochet
Using the sewing machine with her
Dressing the dolls with the clothes we made –Crab

I remember that one time Grammy was helping us make clothes for our dolls and I remember that after we were done I was playing with my doll, I sat down then yelled "OUCH!!!!!", I had sat down on a needle. I also remember the time that she helped me make a hanky for my mom for a special occasion. And the last thing that I remember is the time she helped me make a cape for my Roggy and I put half of the buttons on the wrong side!! I still have that cape and my Roggy is still wearing it. –Yell

Blessed are the children

2011-05-02T10:36:00.000-04:00

When leaving church yesterday, the chix and I headed for the baptismal font to get holy water prior to leaving.

We spotted a little one. Toddler. Tiny little girl who was obviously experimenting with freedom, but also trying to keep her mommy in her line of sight. She couldn't have been older than 14 months.

She had on a tiny little dress. And sandals with tights. And cutesy little pigtails high up on her little head. She toddled closer and closer to the baptismal font.

I was watching to make sure she didn't make a break for freedom.

But someone else was watching too.

A little guy. Couldn't have been older than four or five.

He came up to the font and got some holy water. He blessed himself.

Then he turned, bent, and blessed the forehead of the little girl.

And when he turned back, beaming, I realized he had Downs syndrome.

Without intending it, he blessed me, too.
--

life simplified

2011-05-01T22:26:00.000-04:00

Today was another track meet.

I was incredibly proud of Crab. She's been practicing for track for a little over 2 months & has gained confidence. She started playing around on the hurdles DURING the last track meet & had her coach put her into competition today. She came in THIRD!!!

Yell was disgusted with herself. Apparently she wasn't pacing herself properly and came in ONE SECOND behind her previous one mile time.

Ahem.

One second.

I realize that's a lot of time when you're looking at racing times. I realize it's significant when you're looking at her total time.

But people - one second. It's not a MONSTER FREAKING DEAL.

But apparently it was. And is. To her. She was meaner than all get out for the rest of the day.

Rawr. With teeth. And claws. And sharp fingernails.

So our comedic moment came while I was dealing with entering the kids' times. I was nominated by my husband to do data entry. I have a weird habit of typing things in the most efficient way possible. So while 'bored' at work, I taught myself to enter 10-key.

Yup. I'm an idiot.

Our spreadsheet had some errors in it. I don't know how it happened. Since I know 10-key, I kind of watch myself as I enter the info. So I just glanced at the screen and saw that a 4th grade girl had just run in a 7/8 grade event.

Um, what?

Checked the list of participants, called the kid to the score table, verified their info, gave them a new number, continued down the list of entries.

And it happened again. Called kid to the score table, verified their info, gave them a new number, continued down the list.

And then it happened AGAIN. But as I was looking down the list of runners, I noticed that I wasn't getting everyone who had run during the past three meets.

Call in "Mr. Baker". Scott is the guy who created our spreadsheet. But "Mr. Baker" is the guy who is a techno-geek who I know is nearby. Scott is at yonder pit with kids hurling large metal balls into the air while competing for distance. I'm staying away from that guy.

I yelled, "Hey, Yell, Crab, whoever you are (I know, it's weird, sometimes I can't tell my non-identical twins apart), go get Mr. Baker!"

The kid turns around (it was Yell), and says, "WHO?!?"

"Mr. Baker - he's out by the scoring stuff. I need him right away."

"WHO?"

"Mr. Baker....that kid's dad!" and pointed to a little guy who was wearing a fireman's jacket/raincoat.

"Oh. You mean Cooper's dad?"

---------------------

Later, a mom came up to the table and asked if anyone has seen Yellybird.

I said, "yes, but she's asleep in her car."

The mom says, 'Oh, well has anyone seen her dad?'

I said, "Well, yes, but he left for a business trip."

The mom then said, "Oh, you're Yelly's mom?"

"That's me."

"Oh. Hi Yelly's mom. I have her earrings!"

---------------------

So there you have it.

Life has been simplified. We are our children's parents. That is all.

Oh, heck, just pull out a tissue!

2011-04-24T23:30:00.000-04:00

Afterthe day we've had, I was feeling like an utter failure as a mother.

We were very nearly late for church. And I was singing with the choir! We showed up a my mom's house where she was clearly not expecting us. Well, she was hoping, but hadnt received the voicemail confirmation I'd left her.

The chix' science reports were still being compiled, scored, graded, printed, etc at nearly 11pm and they have istep testing in the morning!

But then I found this.

::sniff:: I need a tissue.

Spring Break!!

2011-04-03T21:44:00.004-04:00

Last week I had spring break, what I thought was going to be nothing because my mom had to work, turned into a fun-filled week with the cousins, fried pickles, and one huge dark cave.

this is getting good

2011-03-03T23:29:00.000-05:00

Two weekends ago, I was lucky enough to have my niece and nephew for the weekend. My sister and her husband are preparing for a new arrival (yay, another little cuddler!) as well as trying to move into a new/old house! Tra la tra la, Nieceling has the sniffles. Not a big deal. The last THREE TIMES she's spent the night at my house, Nieceling has had a cold/cough/germs-in-general.

Or so we thought.

Sunday night, after returning Nieceling & Scooby to their loving mother's van, I felt bad. I went to bed early, but attributed it to having had less-than-adequate sleep. What? You're used to a toddler sleeping until 7am? I'm not! I enjoy sleeping 'late' on weekends when I have the opportunity!

Anyway. What was I thinking...? Oh. Crab felt tired, too, so she laid down with me. On Monday she went to school & I went to work. Yell went to school. Ironman went to work. Crab went to her volleyball practice. Yell went to her swim practice. But by the end of the evening, Crab & I were both under the weather.

To make this long story short, we found out seven days later (Sunday afternoon) (four days ago) that we each had a sinus infection.

Oh. And my sister's daughter? She had a sinus infection.

What's this? You wonder about the rest of her family? Scooby had a fever for one day. But Helmet, dad of the two little darlings, felt bad last Tuesday night, felt worse the next morning, went to the doctor...and tested positive for H1N1!

No kidding - H1N1 a year after the big old swine flu scare. Way to buck a trend, Helmie!

Worse news? My sis has a raging cold the following Tuesday.

Worst news ever? She tested positive for H1N1 yesterday.

Not kidding. My nine-month-pregnant sister, due any minute (actually, due Sunday), has the swine flu. If she delivers before Tuesday, she won't be able to hold her own baby!?!!

This isn't sounding comical at all. Hang on. It gets funny.

While at the after-hours clinic with Crab, at the checkout area, Crab noticed a sign about 'labs, blood draws, pap smears' etc not being billed with the doctor visit.

She asked,

What's a pap smear?

me,

Uh, not something you want me to explain right now.

Crab,

Mom, come on, just tell me! What's a pap smear?

me,

Uh, well, it involves a woman laying on a table...

Crab,

Mom, that's enough, I don't need to hear anymore, Mom, STOP!!!

End of discussion.

Or so I thought.

Today, while attempting to cheer up my sister, I tell her that I was sincerely looking forward to coming to take care of her in the morning. I was planning to make two soups, put them in the fridge for warmup later, do some laundry, coddle & pamper her as much as I could.

Except she's nine months pregnant. And she'll need to get out of bed every 20 minutes to go to the bathroom. We started laughing & I said it could only get better if I had a bed pan to offer.

Kake says,

Oh, wait, a catheter would be awesome!

Believe me, when you're nine months pregnant they start to sound good. Especially if any movement you make causes you to start coughing. Which could potentially start a leak. Are you getting the idea?

Anyway, Crab was listening.

What's a catheter?

me,

Crab, not now, honey, I'll explain it later.

Kake & I continue our chatting. All of the sudden we hear,

OH MY GOSH! That's GROSS!

Kake and I are both laughing & find out that she's googled the meaning of catheter. Then Crab stifles a small scream and yells that she's also looked up pap smear!

Ahhhh, the wonders of the Internet age. I know I knew zero about pap smears until I went to my first OB/GYN visit!

Anyway, Crab was stalling about going to bed, I was stalling about doing dishes, and Kake was trying to say goodbye so she could go to bed and get some rest for herself and the wriggler. I told Crab to say goodbye. Kake said:

Hey Crab.

Crab,

what?

Kake,

pap smear

And Crab was...

gone.

This parenting thing is getting good.

Once upon a dance

2011-02-28T17:48:00.000-05:00

Yellybird may not be a bird after all (she could be a fish!)

2011-02-18T20:21:00.000-05:00

It's not a divisional or state qualifying time, but she improves EVERY meet. I'm so proud!!!

Suz H.
Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/shines21

http://2chicklets4me.blogspot.com/

The Best Shoes Ever!!!!!

2011-02-14T18:57:00.006-05:00

These shoes are soooooo cool!!! I just love
them soooooooo much!!! Don't you?! They have the charlie brown comic and it is on a pair of Chuck Taylors!!! I love Chucks and they are just so comfortable! I think that everybody should have a pair of these awesome shoes, sure you can't run in them really well but they are still really awesome!

This Girl Knows How To Dress-

2011-02-12T20:18:00.010-05:00

This is a perfect example of how much I can never, ever grow up!!!! This performance was put on this summer when my mom came home from work. I got this dress like what 7 years ago. I loved it then but it is now really, really itchy! My sister Kat is behind me in a pink version of what I am wearing. This is really fun and I suggest that everybody be happy and that and play around like your a kid once in a while, it will do you some good.

Running My Way Through Junior High

2011-02-12T19:27:00.002-05:00

I am a runner, thats all there is to it. I love it sooooooo much. That feeling that you get when you take off down the first stretch of the race.
I ran a 5 mile for a charity this summer and I was chewing gum during it. So halfway through the race I breathe in really deep and I start choking!!!!! I had breathed in my gum!!!!! My running partner C ( a different C than the my first blog) stopped and started screaming at me asking over, and over again if I was okay! I finally coughed it up and started running again. I finished in 50 minutes and I loved it!!!!!

Reading Your Heart Out

2011-02-12T19:14:00.002-05:00

When I read the world goes away, I can't hear anything and I just can't stop. To me everybody should be able to feel this. I mean come on its like............. never tasting pizza its just impossible to deal with if you can't! If you don't like reading you are really missing out on a lot of stuff. I mean there are hundreds of books out there with all sorts of topics if you don't read you never learn or enjoy the process of figuring something out before the character! If you don't read this I don't blame you I mean come on I am an adolescent girl with some a case of book fever, who would listen to me without thinking that I am insane sometimes!

P.S. I am insane only sometimes, not all of the time!

How to get your mom to give you your own blog 101:

2011-02-12T16:27:00.003-05:00

So I started reading this book and it is soooooooo good I could not put it down, and there is this character in the book who starts her own blog called Fashionista Jane I got the idea to start my own blog and my friend C and I were talking about it during swim practice and we got really into it she thought that my idea was brilliant.

But later that night I asked my mom about it and she said NO!!!!!! I mean how unfair is that I am setting a reasonable goal for my self and I just want to tell people about it!

I just hate it

2011-01-26T18:40:00.000-05:00

when a website is spread all over the place and you have to scroll everywhere to see the sides of the page. It's just clear to me that they don't know how to format."

Yellybird, age 12

Suz H
Sent from my iPhone

Follow me on twitter
Twitter.com/shines21

Wish I could send this to the personnel serving overseas!

2010-12-23T19:05:00.000-05:00

I've had it!

2010-12-02T12:54:00.000-05:00

Or I should say, I think my phone has had it.

Stupid phone.

I had a clamshell-type for more than 3 years and put up with its battery cover falling off on a regular basis. It worked fine. I could text with one hand, had speed dials set up for easy-to-remember numbers, had certain ring tones for specific people, different ring tones for people I didn't necessarily want to interrupt a good read to talk to, an excellent ring tone for my family, and probably the best feature - ring + vibrate together!!!

I sacrificed it all for a Blackberry.

The initial purchase was simple, it arrived by mail, I activated it, and got a blue screen of death. For 2 days, roughly 6 phone calls.

I could answer & talk for a few seconds & then zippo. Zilch. Nada.

And it was promptly replaced (with another refurb) by my ever so helpful carrier. Whew! Or at least a temporary reprieve.

That was nearly 18 months ago and all is not well in the Blackberry department. The phone 'hangs' when the phone rings. I'll answer it, and can hear nothing, but the caller can hear me, yet the screen never indicates its been answered! Or I'll go to a website to read someone's blog and have it 'hang' while reading a script on the page. Or it 'hangs' when I open an email. Or read a tweet. Or delete a phone record. And when I say it 'hangs', I mean it gets the nice little rotating hourglass...for seconds, minutes, it could be HOURS at a time! But if I'm not LOOKING at the phone, or it's gone to its 'inactive' screen I have no idea that it's hanging on the hourglass...draining my battery...nixing my ability to receive any email...any phone calls from my precious Chicklets...any texts from my oh-so-romantic Ironman...

And did I mention that I've gone from one 'hard reset' per day, to 3 per day, to 3 before noon!

I've been counting down the months since...um...June? I need this phone to last until Dec 8. Then I can upgrade without commitment.

Help me, people!

I need recommendations on AT&T compatible mobile devices. iPhone, droid, blackberry, tell me what you like. What you hate. Give me the latest & greatest perks & peeves.

I need email access...and text...and phone...and I might perish without Twitter & Facebook, so take those into consideration too, kay? And did I mention I have a budget? The cheaper the better.

Thanks.

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Hi darlin, there's nothing wrong, but I need to know...

2010-12-01T12:57:00.047-05:00

where do we keep the vacuum cleaner?

How did I know not to believe him?

The day started out cold and snowy. I was lucky that Ironman was at home with the girls. Twins being hyperactive at home on a snowy day is one thing. Twins being hyperactive at home with Daddy is a totally different animal.

So Ironman calls me at work and asks me where we keep the vacuum cleaner. Yes, everyone, I did roll my eyes. He couldn't see me!

me: It's in the hall closet.

Sapper: Which one?

me: Not the front hall closet, not the glass pantry, the back hall closet. By the garage door. Across from the laundry room. (And no, our house isn't that big, we just have a plethora of doors in the hallway on the first floor. Eight doorways, but only five doors. And one of those doors is to the bathroom. Anyway, I digress.)

Ironman: OK, thanks.

me: Wait, why do you need the vacuum cleaner?

Ironman: No reason, thanks! ::click::

Hmmm, made me wonder.

You really want to know what happened, don't you?

Well, first of all, I should start out by saying that the reason Ironman stayed home was to work on our non-functioning toilet. It seems that minutes before we were to leave for a Superbowl Party, I got up from the potty to see that there was water on the floor in front of the base. Yes, I can be a little rushed in my pre-party prepping, but I didn't miss the toilet completely I promise! I reached back behind the commode and turned off the valve and called to Ironman about the issue. He checked to see that I had done the right thing (I had) and said to ignore it 'til we got home.

So we did.

Several days later, thanks to my ultra-savvy husband, we suspected that the flange was being held down by only ONE BOLT. And that the flange had absolutely ZERO connection with any studs under the toilet.

Yep, yet another mystery found under our house.

Fast forward to the snowy day at hand. Ironman stayed home and made eggs for the Chicklets for their breakfast. Apparently he thought Dixie-the-wonder-pup (DTWP), would enjoy licking out the eggshells. She did! And then she crushed them in her jaws leaving eggshells all over the floor. So he attempted to vacuum up the shards of shell using the handheld vacuum (which was of course clogged with debris) and the shards scattered throughout the dining area of our not-so-large home!

No reason to panic, just call to find out where we keep the vacuum before wifey-pooh gets home, right?

Yeah. That worked. We've lived in this house three years, but he doesn't know where we keep the vacuum cleaner...

Anyway, after he finished that interesting little project, he donned his 'going to work under the house' gear and smashed himself down into the crawlspace, together with a twin and DTWP. He found that he was correct in his assessment of the plumbing problem. The flange is attached by only one bolt, and there are no studs located near the commode. Huh. The toilet never should have been installed where it was installed. ::insert eyeroll:: Thank you oh-so-excellent-builders!

As he was coming back up out of the crawlspace, he realized he had the opportunity to get the flashlight he left under the house about six months previous. Wahoo - another valid reason to be under the house! He returned to the scene of that plumbing experience, found his errant flashlight, and started to come back up to daylight. At this point, he realized he didn't have DTWP. He called to her, but she didn't come back from hunting critters. He called again and heard nothing. He had Yell call to her and Yell got a whimper.

Hmmm.

He sent Yell in the direction of DTWP's voice and she was found. Over the sill of our house, down in a cistern! Yell got her hands behind the dog's front legs, gave a little heave, and DTWP bounded up, over Yell's back on her way to freedom. Hooray for the scrawny twin! Bet you think the story ends here.

Nope.

At this point in the day this is what I know personally: Ironman has been at home with the girls. He's asked the whereabouts of the vacuum cleaner. But that's all the information I have. It gets better. I came home to find a relatively cleared driveway.

Doesn't it look nice? Snow had been pushed out of the way, nice soft white, fluffy snow...

Yep, Sapper did a great...job...with the basketball net?

Huh. Looks like the snowblower and the basketball net had a little fight.

And apparently...the snowblower won.

This is what happens when you tell your kids you have a road trip in the morning

2010-11-10T13:51:00.000-05:00

You come downstairs to find a treat bag on the stove next to your purse.

And not just any old treat bag.

A treat put in a 'special' bag from a certain store that a certain chicklet LOVES.

When you recover from your shock, you look a little closer at the tag on the treat bag.

And then you flip it over to find...

Awwwwwwww.

Isn't she sweet?

The kid has some spelling issues. But she's assured herself of 1st place in your head (and in your heart) for the day.

At least, that's what happened at my house.

Public Television (or what not to watch when you may have phobias)

2010-11-09T10:41:00.002-05:00

I should preface this little confession by admitting I have a few fears. I'm not sure when they developed.

I remember being in a swimming pool at a lesson when I was a kid. We were doing our normal routine, heading toward the deep end, doing breast stroke, when all of the sudden I remember inhaling water and feeling like I was being sucked toward the drain. I was close to the edge, grabbed the side of the pool, pulled myself over, coughed out half a lung of water, thought to myself that I was completely *nuts* and continued the lesson.

Sometime after Ironman and I got married, we went camping in Kentucky. We were roughing it. We packed our stuff in, packed our stuff out. Went hiking all over the valley. It was gorgeous. But we went over part of a 'natural bridge' and I could feel myself being pulled toward both sides of the bridge. A realllllly incredibly high natural bridge. I couldn't stop the sensation of being pulled toward the edge and I was terrified of falling off. I sat down. Ironman thought I was being ridiculous, but it was this unearthly sensation of my body toppling toward the edge, the side of this really high bridge, and I was absolutely going to fall off no matter how hard I tried to stand up straight.

Fast forward to being at the mall in the past three years. The mall downtown has 3 (or more?) levels, with walkways along the sides, the 'inside' of the walkways being open to the floors below. I'm really not sure how many levels there are or what there is to see, because the walkways have railings with clear glass. If I get too close to the railing I have the sensation of being 'pulled' over the edge of the rail. If my kids get too close to the rail, I feel almost desperate to get them away from the rail, but I can't get to them to keep them away because I'll be pulled over myself! It's one of the worst feelings in the world. I want to 'save' my kids, but I can't get close enough to them to keep them safe. I feel - just - completely paralyzed. It's awful.

The same thing happened when we were out on a boat dock while we were camping. The girls would get close to the edge, trying to look for frogs, and I couldn't grab them to keep them away from the sides. I really wanted to keep them from the edge, and apparently we were only over water about 4 or 5 feet deep, but I couldn't get close enough to the chix to keep them from being pulled into the water! Nothing happened to them, and they were never in danger, but geez, I. couldn't. help. them.

Anyway, ahem, back to watching the wrong tv show(s).

Trapped in an Elevator aired on November 2nd. It was very interesting. It contained information about the invention of the elevator and how it's affected the economy, commerce, etc. It makes me proud to know that someone from Indiana invented it! Did you realize that the least expensive offices/apartments were on the upper floors because people had to use the stairs? I guess I had assumed the most expensive were always on the top floors. Something to ponder.

Anyway, this guy got stuck in an elevator for 41 hours. Forty-one. Yeeks. Failure on the part of security not to notice the guy urinating down the shaft to get their attention. Failure of building maintenance. Failure of elevator inspection. Failures galore.

And since I saw that show? I've had not one, not two, but THREE notable elevator incidents. And today is the ninth. THREE elevator incidents in a week's time.

#1 - got in the elevator with my cart-o-crap to go up to the floor of the parking garage where I'd left my car. Elevator stops at floor #2. I need floor #3. I wait, the door closes, we start to go up again, and then WHAM! the elevator drops (not glides) down to floor #1. The doors open, my knees are shaking, I pull my cart-o-crap out the doors and shakily walk up to the third floor, get in the car, and try to stop trembling. Jeez-o-Pete, freaking SCARY! I was so freaked out I couldn't tell if the parking garage itself was shaking, if it was my car, if it was my legs, or what. Yeeks!

#2 - pressed the elevator button to go down to the basement. I work on the 6th floor. The door next to me opens without a sound, no light indicating up or down, but I assumed it was going down to the basement so I got in. Huh. It seems I was wrong. The door closed, the elevator went up, up, up to 11...and started dropping again...never stopping...until it got to the basement. Very smooth ride. But not how I was expecting to get to my destination!

#3 - this one, at least, is laughable. It's directly related to something that happened yesterday at home, but I'll leave that story for later. Maybe. It's pretty gross. Anyway, today I got to work, and booked it through the parking garage gerbil tubes to the basement elevators. I stopped to wait with the hordes to go up to 6. And this woman waiting/chatting with an assumed co-worker walked toward the elevator when the door opened. Something was hanging from her shoe. Oh. my. gosh. Something was hanging from her shoe. No kidding. I checked, rechecked, did a triple-take. A feminine hygiene product, stuck, apparently to the bottom of her foot, hanging out of her clog.

Ewwwwwwwwww

So...I'm now taking suggestions on alternative routes to and from the 6th floor.

Projects

2010-10-29T21:24:00.003-04:00

I cannot believe it. I have a project due on Monday, and I only have a little left to do, thank goodness, but I am sooo stuck! grrrr. I should probably get back to work...

Church Shoes

2010-09-29T00:41:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, when you're young, you feel like dressing up for church.

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Quiet, Normal, Nice

2010-09-02T22:32:00.001-04:00

Outside my window...it’s hot, and dark, and sticky. Hope it rains soon.

The time is..10:20pm and way past my bedtime.

Today I feel...exhausted. Was up til 2:30am working on paperwork for the Chix swim club. Ugh.

I am thinking...about how much this vicodin is NOT working on my back pain. And about a swimmer's family -- a little girl's father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that's metastasized in his liver. Such shocking, painful news.

At the moment, I am thankful...Yell didn't throw up on my feet after her cross country meet tonight (and for my reasonably good health, a LOT of people have it a whole lot worse than me, I need to remember that).

I am going...to bed...in about 3 minutes. And we're going to the lake house on Saturday!!!!!

I am wearing...black shorts, red t-shirt, glasses!

I wish...I had enough money to get out of debt forever! :(

I am reading...something. I can't remember what. But it's been missing since we went camping last weekend & I just checked and it definitely is NOT in the camper :*(

I am working on...getting all of the swimmers' birth certificates collected so I can submit them to Indiana Swimming!

I am hoping...to sleep in on Saturday!

I am hearing...crickets. Nothing but crickets. And my laptop fan churning away...

I bet you didn't know...I transcribed 50 minutes of National Traffic Safety Board hearings today for a total of 7,608 words! Whew!

One of my favorite...things to do is chat with my niece and nephew before I get to work. Their little doses of cuteness make my morning shiny :) "Shoon! Car in driveway!" Some random person parked their car across my sister's driveway overnight, so my BIL couldn't get out to go to work! Scooby had to ride his bike to Kindergarten?!

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So my pants are ballooning around my thighs...

2010-08-31T23:12:00.000-04:00

and I say to Crab, 'I think I have a pants problem.'

Scrawny-but-sweet 12-yr-old says, 'No you don't, they look okay.'

Hmm.

'I do, actually, they're threatening to fall off my waist. I think they've stretched out. A lot '

Replying, my skinny little Crabbycat says, 'Its ok, Mom. You can borrow one of my belts.'

Hello? Is anyone there? Or have you fallen on the floor laughing with tears in your eyes?

It was quite possibly the most generous compliment anyone has ever given me.

You may resume laughing now.

Thankful it's Thursday

2010-08-26T06:45:00.000-04:00

'cause I need a break.

Outside my window...it is still very dark. Poo. I don't like being up before the sunshine. But it's sooooo much cooler than it has been. Fall is definitely on the way!

The time is...6:30 am

Today I feel...tired (leftover vicodin hangover?) but looking forward to the day. I hurt my back while at work last Thursday and have been taking muscle relaxants & Vicodin every night since. It makes for an early bedtime -- and then a hangover in the morning.

I am thinking...about the conference I need to plan. umm, hello, conference guy? I need a budget before I can plan for food for 120 people!

At the moment, I am thankful...that Crab is out of the shower already! Coffee is almost done, and then it's my turn in the shower.

I am going...to pay some bills today. Boring, but necessary.

I am wearing...my Mother's Day pajama pants, glasses, and a Life is Good t-shirt

I wish...I could get a better paying job. I'm being moved to a new position - lateral move - same job description, same pay - blah.

I am reading...an overdue library book!

I am working on...FTSC registration materials. The swim season is about to start and we *only* have 31 swimmers registered. It's been 3 nights of non-stop work & I'm nearly done. I get to start all over again Monday night with the last-minute registrations! Yay me!!!

I am hoping...we get 30 more swimmers, 30 more swimmers, 30 more swimmers....

I am hearing...cars going around the corner, pump turning on, and the coffee maker is done!

I bet you didn't know...I have the prettiest pedicure. Wish I could show it off at work :( With my back issues, I'm safer in my closed-toe Danskos.

One of my favorite...things to see is a positive balance in the checkbook!

My weekend plans include...a Hokum Karum for Yellybird, and possibly camping! Our goal is to stay at every state park in our state. We've only visited one park twice so far :)

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It's Just Thursday (with a bonus)

2010-08-19T11:30:00.001-04:00

Linking up with Murdock's Mama for Just Today -- she's hosting a giveaway this week -- the more followers the higher the prize (gift card = the # of linkups)(and you get to choose where the gift card works!)(WOOT!!!)(link up people, would ya?!)

Outside my window...there isn't one...but it was Africa Hot at 8am!!

The time is.. 11:00 am

Today I feel...excited...I have a chance to win a gift card from Murdock's Mama!

I am thinking...about the FTSC registrations on Monday. I hope we get enough swimmers to make the whole effort worthwhile.

At the moment, I am thankful...the standards have been moved to their new 'permanent' location. These THREE monstrously heavy files had to be moved one aisle over so we could make room for 9 employees moving in (along with their 17 file cabinets).

I am going...to enjoy my time with family this weekend.

I am wearing...jeans, white t-shirt, little clunky owl pendant (given to me by my Crab for Mother's Day 2 years ago), and my black Danskos.

I wish...I felt a whole heck of a lot happier.

I am reading...the Girl Scout Girl & Adult Program & Learning Guide. Gotta get some activities planned for these girls!

I am working on...hmmm, oh yeah, planning a certificate for a valued member of IFMOTC and getting our accounts back into the black for FT Swimming. If you feel the need to buy flowers, would you do me a favor & support our fundraiser? 50% goes to our Swim Club. Or you can just donate to FTSC (and yes, it's 501(c)(3) and you'll get a receipt indicating you made a tax deductible donation). Leave a comment & I'll email you details.

I am hoping...to find a better paying, more satisfying job.

I am hearing...a certain co-worker with poor manners, and a whole bunch of other people discussing structures.

I bet you didn't know...I. hate. my. car. I'm glad I have a working vehicle, and it does the job it should (pulling our camper), but the amount of gas it sucks down truly hurts my budget. Honestly. Chrysler, would you please come take this thing away?

One of my favorite...things to do with my family is to go camping. We need to go again soon. I love playing board games, biking, hiking, just hanging out without the distractions of everyday responsibilities.

My weekend plans include...Thurs cross country practice/SSPOM meeting, Fri NOTHING, Sat cross country time trials, cross country team picnic, and overnight with Scooby & Niece-ling at our house! If anything can lift my heart, it's hugs & giggles from Scoob & N :)

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Just Thursday

2010-08-12T11:06:00.000-04:00

Linking up with Murdock's Mama for Just Today

Outside my window...no window, but while walking outside a few minutes ago (very very slowly) it was too humid to breathe. I hate the feeling of walking through tomato soup. Blagh.

The time is...10:38am.

Today I feel...really really freaking tired. I woke up at 3am and didn't get back to sleep until after 4:30.

I am thinking...about the Chix' first day back to school and hoping they're doing alright. I mean, I know they're doing alright. They're back with their friends in a familiar school. But 7th grade can be freaky scary - especially in a parochial school where regardless of uniform, it's still painfully obvious who the haves are (vs the have nots). And about so many things that I'd like to put into words, but have been keeping internalized, but that really need an outlet.

At the moment, I am thankful...Ironman got paid today.

I am going...to have leftover pizza for lunch.

I am wearing...brown danskos, khaki pants, rose colored v-neck top -- and *surprise* no sunglasses as headband!

I wish...a lot.

I am reading...the most recent Mary Ann Andrews (something to do with being pregnant with twins). I gave up on The Memory Keeper's Daughter. When the wife started being attracted to another man I had to put it down.

I am working on...getting the final budget report finished from the FTSC summer season. And updating the SSPOM website to reflect accurate info for the next community clothing sale (Sep 18, be there!).

I am hoping...the Chicklets don't have a ton of homework tonight. Especially math. Yike.

I am hearing...a new guy in the cube diagonal to me. You can't help but hear him. Apparently he's hard of hearing AND uses a cell phone exclusively AND doesn't understand that you can't hear yourself when speaking on a cell phone so he hollers even LOUDER. Yeah. And the hawking loogie guy has been gone all week. I traded bad for equally bad.

Around the house...is a very large and very heavy table scrounged from a friend's garage. Who scrounged it from a dumpster. I can't believe someone was trying to pitch it. The sucker is indestructible!

I bet you didn't know...I've undergrown a shirt I bought over the winter. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. 'Cause I really liked the shirt. But now it looks a bit like a tent on me. Nuts.

One of my favorite...ways to fall asleep is rubbing Ironman's haircut.

My weekend plans include...holy cow...NOTHING! It's a flipping miracle!!! Maybe it'll cool off enough that we can attempt to scrape/refinish the deck some more?! Keep your fingers crossed for me?

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There are things that make sense. And then there’s my life.

2010-08-11T14:08:00.000-04:00

This morning I opened my drawer and discovered I had three pairs of underwear. All of which I hated. Hmm. What to do. Wear a hated pair? Recycle a pair? Or have a helpful Ironman volunteer to go down and check the dryer?

Thank you, Ironman!

He came back with a nice clean pair fresh from the dryer (don’t get me started, I was editing web pages for more than 5 hours last night)(I was tired)(and I don’t really care if my underwear has wrinkles, the only person who sees it is me)!

Anyway, after that little dilemma was solved, I recycled the pants I wore last night to the Chicklets’ Back to School night. (I only wore them for 2 hours, came home, changed into my pajamas, and got back to editing.) Grabbed a clean shirt, took care of lunch, heated up breakfast, poured my go-cup of coffee, and walked out the door.

It was a fairly smooth morning – catch me tomorrow when it’s the Chix' first day back to school and I’ll likely have a different story for you.

I got to work, parked the car, grabbed my cellphone/car keys/coffee/water bottle/lunch box (does anyone else have a mantra they chant as they go out the door in the morning? As they exit their car? Or is it only me?), and headed for the stairs. Figuring that the only exercise I’d get today is up and down the stairs of the parking garage, I went at ‘em. From 4 down to the basement and the cooler air conditioned gerbil tubes…until I felt the little tie-thing on the side of my pants…it was flipping oddly.

These are the most comfy cargo-type pants. They roll up at the sides if I want to wear them that way (which I am), or they can be rolled down (in the event of an arctic chill?)

I slowed down to look at the tie-things. They didn’t seem to be loose. What on earth? Checked the outer leg, nope, it was tied, too.
And then it happened.

My underwear (from yesterday) fell out of the back of my pants and onto the stairs.

Quicker than you can say “holy cow, did I really see that happen?” I scooped those suckers up and crammed them into….

So, ~~she asked while quickly changing the subject,~~ what’s in your lunchbox today?

Surprise!

2010-08-09T22:57:00.000-04:00

Last weekend Ironman and I went to his high school reunion. The Chicklets went to their cousins' house for a sleepover. Dixie had her own sleepover at my parents' house.

When we went to get Dixie-the-wonder-pup, we found a surprise in the back yard.

Can you believe it?

Reunion

2010-08-06T14:54:00.000-04:00

I grew up in a small town. And I live in a small town.

Just kidding. Kind of. Thanks John Mellencamp :)

I grew up in the same city where I currently live. But it was a lot different 'back then'.

Way back when...I lived in a big 'ol farmhouse in a neighborhood on the north side. My parents bought the house for a song (because it lacked some basics -- electricity, plumbing, kitchen) and we grew up in the fixer upper.

Random memories...

leaning against the screens to watch the rain puddle under the downspouts
swinging on the front porch swing during thunderstorms - and when the wind blew really hard we'd cuddle under a blanket while we felt safe swinging next to Dad
'helping' Mom paint the fence in the backyard (by dropping our paintbrushes into the dirt)
Dad climbing up to the attic via a very tall step ladder and then his head, shoulders, waist, legs...disappearing into the nothingness of my bedroom ceiling
having to wear slippers in the summertime because the wooden floors gave us splinters if we didn't
Dad cutting off the legs of a table to make us one we could play at in the playroom
dinner on the blue willow plates
how patient Mom was when we begged for a sheet/rag so we could make a 'tent' in the corner of the fenced-in-yard
Dad building us a sandbox that was half the length of our barn

But a lot has changed since then. I got married and moved south. I had kids. My siblings moved out. My parents sold the house and moved further north. And the neighborhood where my house was has become renter's central. It's still a hubbub of activity, but it's for a younger generation. Gone are the people I knew and loved: the older neighbors who watched out for the little ones riding bikes down the sidewalks; the helpful ones who corrected you for a transgression; the young families; the babysitters; the parents and children; all have made way for the hip, the young, the transient.

It's sad that my neighborhood has changed in such a major way. I look back at that house, that neighborhood, those families, with such fondness. It's going to be an interesting reunion. I'm sure there's a funny factor to be found.

Somewhere.

Today is just today. And I'm ok with that.

2010-08-05T09:03:00.000-04:00

Linking up with Murdock's Mama for Just Today

Outside my window...no window, but last time I was outside it was getting sunny & already incredibly humid. Nothing like the midwest in August & taking a walk through hot soup at 7am!

The time is...8:39am

Today I feel...tired

I am thinking...I'm really glad I remembered to grab my lunch today, because I totally forgot my purse. Doh!

At the moment, I am thankful...for seatbelts. Idiot driver pulled out in of a gas station without looking and nearly smashed into me. Instead I locked up my brakes, hit the horn, and locked up my seatbelt. I have a bruise from the seatbelt, but my airbag didn't deploy and we didn't collide.

Stupid.

Idiot.

Driver.

Should have just hit her.

Yes, I'm still irritated.

I am going...to try to figure out a running partner for Yell to run with at Anna's Celebration of Life this weekend.

I am wearing...black dockers, red button down short-sleeve shirt, black Danskos, earplugs, sunglasses as headband, and *horrors* no makeup! Yep, it's in my purse.

I wish...I could afford a new laptop

I am reading...Excel 2007 for Dummies (and The Memory Keeper's Daughter)(still) and I'm really enjoying another audibook by Rebecca Stead. The Chicklets & I listened to First Light and it was truly a GREAT book. I reviewed it on Goodreads.com if you want details.

I am working on...getting my living room dusted (found cobwebs on a lamp last night, ewwww) & figuring out some more shortcuts for Excel. I'd really like to be a lot more proficient at this program.

I am hoping...for cooler weather soon! Seriously, people, 110°F heat index at 2pm is just too freaking hot for comfort!

I am hearing...lots of work conversations.

Around the house...are lots of cicadas. One even flew into the house this morning!

I bet you didn't know...my twins are now certified Super Sitters! No more guilt over leaving them alone for a couple of hours - WAHOO!!!

One of my favorite...pens is a Staples OptiFlow gel pen. Smooth writing. No scratchiness. And it starts to write the instant I take off the cap. Glad work supplies them for my desk!

My weekend plans include...my grade school reunion (went to the same school 1st-8th grade) on Friday, race/fun run on Saturday for Yell, picking up back-to-school packets for the Chicklets, and a board meeting for FTSC. No rest for the wicked, right?

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8 Things...

2010-08-02T23:16:00.001-04:00

I found this on the Cobia Family blog and decided to borrow - why not? it's cute!

8 Things I'm looking forward to...

1. going to bed

2.chicklets going to their Safe Sitter course

3.Crab's kickball tryouts

4.getting the fundraising check from Chick-Fil-A for FTSC

5. getting Ironman a treadmill for his birthday

6.fall leaves starting to change

7. going to the lake house with the M family again!

8. possibly having Niece-ling & Scooby overnight this month :)

8 Things I did yesterday...

1. went to church

2. had lunch with high school friend's of Ironman's

3. got to visit with my in-laws

4. made fun of my nephew's Facebook profile pic (it's truly horrible)

5. picked up Dixie-the-wonder-pup from my parents' house

6. got to visit with L & A (a welcome surprise)

7. made a video of a cicada walking up a tree

8.watched a balloon touch down in my parents' back yard!

8 Things I wish I could do...

1. run

2. kneel (stupid knees)

3. find a better paying job

4. understand powerpoint

5. understand sharepoint

6. learn Excel (got this one, though, just got a book from the library tonight!)

7. have more patience with my kids

8. get my house clean & KEEP IT THAT WAY!

8 Things I enjoy...

1. ice cream

2. reading to the chix before bed

3. playing with computer software

4. libraries

5. cuddling with Ironman

6. sleeping on my stomach (which hurts my back, so I can't do it)

7. a reallllly good lasagna

8. reading - blogs, books, newspapers...just about anything that'll sit still!

Girls?

2010-08-01T06:45:00.000-04:00

Apparently my twins are quite the popular young ladies ::snort:: They've been mother's helpers again this summer for a set of twin boys (27 mos) and their now 7-month-old brother. Too funny that the big boys are requesting their presence (and too sweet). I'm glad they all get along.

From: JKG

Date: Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:00:51 -0400

To: Suz

Subject: Girls?

I love your kids but if I hear Abby? Kelly? Abby? Kelly? one more time, I think I am going to scream!

From the mouth of...

2010-07-31T09:20:00.000-04:00

my little Niece-ling!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kake
Date: Wed, Jul 21, 2010 at 8:52 PM
Subject: Niece-ling's latest
To: Suz

We were on a walk today and passed by a porch where a couple of grandparents were sitting outside with 2 kids, one a baby.

N: "They hab a baby."

me: "They did? You like babies, don't you?"

Natalie: "Yeah. Sometimes." [pause] "You buy one?" "A real one?"

============
Kake
Writer, Editor, Proofreader

Read my latest story for Ohio Magazine, Get Out and Play, about summer events in the Dayton area.

look at those happy faces

2010-07-30T08:19:00.001-04:00

Crab, Ironman, Yell
July 1999

These little Chicklets were 14 months old & trying to escape from Ironman when I snapped this photo. Yell insisted that she is "the one on the right 'cuz I don't have a big head". She's right!

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

watch what you wish for!

2010-07-29T11:42:00.000-04:00

Watch what you wish for? You betcha! I've been overwhelmed this week!!!

Outside my window...don't have one - but last time I passed one it was overcast, very very overcast - yuk

The time is...1113 am

Today I feel...overwhelmed

I am thinking...how am I ever going to finish my to-do list

At the moment, I am thankful...for earphones, 'cuz my cube neighbor is preaching the virtues of his religion to another co-worker AGAIN. Not that I have a problem with other religions, but jeez, it gets really OLD to hear it EVERY FREAKING DAY!

I am going...to go shopping for "beach wear" for Ironman's high school reunion this weekend.

I am wearing...brown chinos, brown patterned short-sleeve shirt, brown sweater (it's FREEZING in here), and yes, brown Danskos

I wish...I had gotten a better night's sleep last night

I am reading...The Memory Keeper's Daughter...still

I am working on...updating the work website, asbestos licensing renewals, replacing editable documents, paying bills, and praying for peace within my own head

I am hoping...the thunderstorms stay away tonight 'cuz the Chicklets are camping in tents with Girl Scouts!

I am hearing...Bill Cosby Himself (thank you earphones!!!), and it's making me giggle..."So I went back downstairs and my wife said, 'Did you kill him?' and I said, 'no' and she said, 'Well, why not?!?' and I said, 'I don't know???'"

Around the house...I found the floor of the closet room...so it no longer looks like this

um, thanks Chicklets?

I bet you didn't know...I found out my knee is "weird"

One of my favorite...snacks is chips - and I'm avoiding them like the plague!

My weekend plans include...picking up Chicklets at my mom's on Saturday (after they babysit their cousins on Friday/Saturday), going to Ironman's hometown for his high school reunion, watching Chicklets swim in the hotel pool, and hightailing it back home on Sunday so we can be greeters at church ::whew::

Join the fun!
Copy, paste, & fill it out on your blog!
*Make sure to link up!

Some Things I've Been Wondering

2010-07-27T11:58:00.000-04:00

Link up (if ya like it)!

My Monday

2010-07-26T22:12:00.000-04:00

Satisfying, that was my day.

I awoke to hear a Chicklet in the bathroom. Not surprising, as it was the first day of Girl Scout camp. Surprising as it was only 6am! Not that I pry them out of bed on a regular basis - when they awake at 5:15 two days a week it's to go to their 'job' and they usually run around like crazy loons because they can't wait to get to 'their boys'. In case you didn't know, they are mother's helpers for a friend with 28-month-old twin boys and their 7-month-old little brother.

Anyway, the Chicklets were way too excited - way too ready - and WAHOO! on time for the bus.

I got to work at my anticipated time - one hour *after* my scheduled start time - using one hour of vacation (every day this week). I can handle it, no biggie, I'm very glad to be able to send the Chicklets to Girl Scout camp despite the goofy hours offered and having to take 1.25 hours of very precious vacation time to get them to/from the bus stop four days a week.

And the instant I walked through the door, I was nothing but business - busy ness - busybusybusy.

Updated a web page. Created a memo, proofed, converted to Adobe, and then posted to the web. Delivered mail. Answered a bazillion emails about a conference. Made and answered phone calls regarding the conference. Made and answered phone calls regarding inspection activities. Created some fun profiles for inspectors that make it oh-so-much-easier to handle their hotel reservations. Dealt with varying hotels all over the place so I could get the lowest price for the rooms I needed to reserve. Made an evaluation for conference attendees.

And then I flew out of work like a bat out of h-e-double hockey sticks so I could get the Chicklets from their camp bus.

After I got the Chicklets from their bus I high-tailed it back to work (with the Chicklets in tow) to finish compiling all of the powerpoint presentations for the conference in the morning. I ended up being at work until 1800. (6pm) 8.25 hours

I guess I don't need to take vacation time after all.

Just color me a happy lil' camper :) I can't wait for tomorrow!

tired and content

2010-07-22T00:38:00.000-04:00

Outside my window...it's black as pitch, hot, HUMID, and there's a baby bird cheeping away for some food from his mommy!

The time is...1236 am

Today I feel...tired, but sooooooo happy my chicklets were so kind to me tonight

I am thinking...I should really be in bed

At the moment, I am thankful...Ironman wasn't seriously injured when his humvee was rear ended by a semi on Monday. Thank you, God, for your many blessings!

I am going...to bed very very very shortly!

I am wearing...quick-dry shorts, a muppets t-shirt, glasses

I wish...I could just relax

I am reading...The Memory Keeper's Daughter, and Twenties Girl (which is due to Murdock's Mama)(and so far is completely weird)

I am working on...getting the rest of the bills/papers on my kitchen counter filed/sorted/GONE!

I am hoping...the repair bill for Ironman's car is less than $2,000 (please, God, hear this prayer....)

I am hearing...two Chicklets who really should NOT be awake & arguing at this hour!

Around the house...is shockingly straightened up (except for the random coloring pages a certain daughter [ahem...Yell...] left strewn about the living room)

I bet you didn't know...that when I got home from work Wed, two Chicklets had: made dinner, washed four loads of laundry, cleaned up the playroom, and made chocolate chip cookie dough! Oh the things they'll do for me when they want to go shopping for school supplies :)

One of my favorite...sounds is the giggles of my twins...just not at 1222a.m.

My weekend plans include...possibly going to the Brickyard 400...possibly sleeping late on Saturday morning...DEFINITELY seeing Ironman again!

Join the Fun! Copy & Paste and fill it out on your blog!

*Make sure to LINK UP

Drama Mama!

2010-07-20T11:32:00.000-04:00

The previously thought of light-hearted Post-It-Note Tuesday has been rescheduled due to a bit of drama at ShinesSite yesterday.

Receiving an email from Ironman threw me for a loop. It seems while at AT (annual training) for the National Guard, his humvee was rear ended by a semi. Um, what?!

1:10pm What on earth was I supposed to think? OK, so I called the hospital where he was supposed to be. (Uh, hello, hospital? you might want to pay for a higher page ranking. Google search found your site on PAGE 4 of the rankings!)

Um, hello, it's 2:30...no news....

Oh, no, I'm not a little tense. Not at all. Nope. Not me. It's nearly 3:30pm and I've heard NOTHING else. *PING* Hear that? The sound of my nerves at the slightest disturbance!

Find some Jimmy Buffett. Or call your sister. Something. Anything.

a little FYI - I finally talked semi-coherently with Ironman at 0136 this morning.

His vehicle was in the left hand lane, with turn signal on, at a complete stop. Ironman saw the semi approaching in his mirror and was able to brace himself. Ironman said he immediately felt 'severe pain' but got out of his vehicle and ran around the humvee to check on his driver. His driver wasn't so lucky and was seriously affected by the impact. She was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. She has a worse case of whiplash than Ironman, who was diagnosed and released after about four hours.

The thing that saved them both was that the semi's bumper didn't align with the humvee's bumper. Apparently it had a logging-type bumper that crushed the bed portion of Ironman's humvee and a large portion of the back seat. If the bumpers had aligned...I wouldn't be posting right now.

The semi has been impounded.

Hmmm, I don't think the federal government likes the idea of you taking out one of the people they've trained to keep peace Semi Driver. You're going to have a small bill/lawsuit/investigation on your hands.

We're very lucky he's alive. Thank you, God, for keeping him safe!

Star Wars Trivia

2010-07-17T06:18:00.001-04:00

From: Nacho
Date: Sat, Jul 3, 2010 at 4:29 PM
Subject: Star wars
To: Kake, Suz, T, UB

JJ's star wars characters knowledge. Guess that character...

Dark mold
Open one kenoby
Luke Sty rocker

From: Kake

Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2010at 10:39AM

To: Nacho; Suz; T; UB

Subject: Re: Star wars

Who's Dark Mold??!

From: UB

Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:47:58 -0400

To: Kake

Cc: Nacho; Suz; T

Subject: Re: Star wars

So...I'm assuming that Dark Mold's sith master is Dark Vader? And futhermore, is there a Closed One Kenoby?

From: Suz

Date: Jul 6, 2010, 1:59 PM

To: Kake, T, UB, Nacho

Actually I assumed there was an Open Two Kenobi. And Kake, you need some lessons in Star Wars personalities :\

From: UB

Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2010 14:02:02 -0400

To: Kake

Cc: Nacho; Suz; T

Subject: Re: Star wars

Yeah Kake...does Scooby even know who Dark Mold is?

From: Kake

Date: Tue, 06 Jul 2010 3:12 PM

To: Nacho; Suz; T; UB

Subject: Re: Star wars

Alas, he does not. And for now, I am OK with that. Those dumba** Transformers are taking up enough space in our house right now.

The Hunky Husband Survey

2010-07-16T06:00:00.001-04:00

This was so fun (found it here) I had to do my own!

What is his name? Ironman (a.k.a. Steve)

How long have you been married? Holy cow. 18 years next month!

How long did you date? Hmm, before he asked me to marry him? 13 months. Before we got married? 22 months

How old is he? 43 (and still smokin')

Who eats more?   I respectfully refuse to answer that question on the grounds that if I answer it honestly I might not get another Christmas present ever!

Who said I love you first?   Teebs

Who is taller?   Ironman - by almost a foot

Who sings better?   for real singing? probably me. I think he'd be a great bass though. For fun singing, definitely Ironman (love to hear him warble out power ballads)!

Who is smarter? geez, when it comes to math-type-logic stuff, Ironman hands down. When it comes to literary crapola, that would be my ballgame.

Whose temper is worse? It depends on the day, usually his. Although today I would be an excellent match.

Who does the laundry? me ::sigh::

Who does the dishes? me ::bigger sigh::

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? me

Who pays the bills? he makes the money, I pay the bills

Who mows the lawn? if he's in town? Ironman. If he's not, me.

Who cooks dinner? me (but give him a grill/campsite and it's hands-off-Suz!)

Who drives when you are together? depends on the task & the car
church = usually me, but if in Ironman's car=Ironman
grocery store = usually me
going camping = Ironman
road trip somewhere else = Ironman (usually)

Who is more stubborn? We are both VERY stubborn. Probably me though...

Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Neither of us, we are always right. But on special occasions we will both admit we are wrong.

Whose parents do you see the most? Mostly mine (thanks for the loaner car, Pop!), Ironman's mom lives about 90 minutes away

Who has more friends? Oi. Ironman=lotsandlotsandlots of Army guys, me=lotsandlotsandlots of moms of multiples (if you count by kids, I'd probably win)

Who has more siblings?   I have 4 (little bro, little sis, little bro, way-taller-than-me-baby bro) - but thanks to Ironman's sister, I have a salutatorian high school graduate for a first-born nephew!

Was it love at first sight?   I don't know about love...but there was definitely a VERY strong attraction! Whew. Gotta go take a walk!

Today is Weird

2010-07-15T11:18:00.000-04:00

Linking up for Just Thursday...

Outside my window...doh! no window!

The time is...10:55am

Today I feel...very teary, on the verge of crying, and I don't know why.

I am thinking...that I hope all of the invoices I sent out yesterday get paid promptly, that I don't have to hound people for meet fees, and that a TON of people come to the Chick Fil-A fundraiser next week

At the moment, I am thankful...ADP will be taking over payroll for the swim club

I am going...to call Autobahn to see when/if/how much/about Ironman's car repairs. Ugh!

I am wearing...black Danskos, black pants, SSPOM golf shirt, sunglasses as headband

I wish...people would send me some funny toddler-type stories. Why do I feel so blue?

I am reading...Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal - it's making me laugh (a good thing)

I am working on...tax statements for the 2nd quarter for the swim club, gaming application for 50/50 raffles for IFMOTC, and FINDING THE FLOOR OF THE CLOSET ROOM!!! (ahem...Yell, take note)

I am hoping...the critter that was under our house last night is G-O-N-E

I am hearing...quiet work chatter

Around the house...I really need to work on laundry...maybe I'll get the chance while Crab is at volleyball camp....

I bet you didn't know...I signed my twins up for their Safe Sitter course!

One of my favorite...pairs of shoes is on my feet. How I love my Danskos....

My weekend plans include...dvd with the Chicklets, maybe some pizza, sleeping late on Saturday a.m., possibly going to see Despicable Me, DEFINITELY 12:00 mass on Sunday so we can sing with Patty!

Join the Fun! Copy & Paste and fill it out on your blog!

*Make sure to LINK UP

Just Thursday

2010-07-15T10:54:00.000-04:00

Have no idea why this didn't post last week -- but I just found it in my drafts -- so I'm submitting it now, but will be submitting another shortly. ::insert eyeroll::

Linking up with Murdock's Mama, Abby, for Just Thursday...because that's exactly what it is today...Just Thursday.

Outside my window...it's gone from completely too hot to sodden & rainy in the span of just 8 minutes!

The time is...5:40pm

Today I feel...good (doc was happy with me for losing weight...woot!)

I am thinking...it's going to be a loooooong 2 weeks without Ironman

At the moment, I am thankful...my parents let me borrow their car while Ironman's is being fixed

I am going...to be realllllly upset to hear the estimate on the car repairs

I am wearing...a long-sleeve t-shirt, shorts, river shoes

I wish...we had a more fuel-efficient vehicle (or two)

I am reading...websites, comparing hosting packages (wasn't I doing that last week, too?)

I am working on...moving the sspom.org site to a cheaper alternative

I am hoping...the next two weeks aren't too stressful

I am hearing...children babbling, people typing, doors opening & closing, air conditioning running

Around the house...there is a cowering dog who is terrified of the rain

I bet you didn't know...I'm at the library!

One of my favorite...activities is to watch my kids when they're practicing sports - 'cause the grin on their faces when they accomplish a goal is just about the best thing ever

Join the Fun! Copy & Paste and fill it out on your blog!

*Make sure to LINK UP

Have a great Thursday everyone!

We don't celebrate the 4th of July

2010-07-07T06:00:00.027-04:00

My sister called me a few weeks ago. She was at our parents' house visiting with her kids. Apparently, in Ohio, you're not allowed to purchase fireworks.

Shazam.

I had no idea such a thing existed!

My pyro-technic-pyromaniac brother (who shall remain nameless, but let us recall that he set fire to a tree stump in our neighbor's back yard when he was younger than seven?) would have certainly heart failure if he had to live there (or arrange for a convenient vacation in Kentucky around a certain national holiday)!

Aunt Kake was galled, appalled, astounded, and just plain stunned. She said to my twins, before they were planning to leave that they would, "do some smoke bombs and snakes".

Snakes were so cool. You used a match to light this little black button, and then all of the sudden the button exploded into a long tube of charred ash, hissing all the way.

My kids' response to her statement, "What are snakes and smokebombs?"

Um, oops?

I'm apparently lacking in their childhood fireworks education.

It's not that we don't 'celebrate' the independence of our country. We do. Our household is patriotism personified. For Pete's sake, my husband is a soldier! We have red, white, & blue basket liners, bows, candles, flags. We even had a military wedding! Every other day of the year, we celebrate our independence, we appreciate the sacrifices made by others for our freedoms. I even took the girls to vote with me when they were littler and stressed how important it was that we recognize the women who fought for our right to vote. We just don't 'celebrate' the 4th of July.

I don't know how to change what we do, or even if we should, but for more years than I can remember, we've gone camping. We avoid the whole fireworks insanity that goes on around cities.

My father-in-law, whom I never met, died on July 4, 1989. I never got to meet him. He was a military guy, just like Ironman, and lived in Colorado. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed camping, fishing, and hunting. From pictures I've seen, Ironman looks just like him. Even though I never met him, and our children never knew him, it still pains me that my husband doesn't have his father with him anymore.

Sorry if this seems like it's preachy or self-absorbed; and I'm not trying to make Ironman's father into something more than he was. It's about how our family works, how we cope, how we get along, and how we *don't* grieve.

In the interest of preserving a little bit of respect for the date (rather than the holiday), we go camping. We spend family time together. We cook outside (er, Ironman cooks, I decorate a chair), we hike, we go swimming, we play full-contact B.S., we laugh, we ride bikes, we play Monkey-in-the-Middle (which is wickedly funny when you surprise the 'monkey' by rebounding the ball off of her forehead). We enjoy enormously rewarding family time together.

And while our children aren't learning about the finer points of pyrotechnics or the smell of burning explosives, they appreciate that their dad works hard for our country, they know he sacrifices to be away from us, and they enjoy our time together. And if it keeps them 'close' to us a little longer, so be it.

For us, it's the perfect way to celebrate our nation's independence.

A Note to Yell

2010-07-06T08:45:00.002-04:00

I'm linking up again this week, because it's something simple, and my brain is beyond toast.

...it's just Thursday

2010-07-01T22:48:00.002-04:00

Outside my window...it is dark, cool, zero humidity, and perfect sleeping weather!

The time is...10:33pm

Today I feel...busy

I am thinking...I should really stop eating these Girl Scout Thin Mints

At the moment, I am thankful...I found the freaking Thin Mints!

I am going...to hell in a handbasket

I am wearing...khaki pants, brown patterned button down, no shoes, no socks - perfect attire for driving a kid to cross country practice - not so perfect attire for cutting the grass (which I just finished)

I wish...the toad hadn't committed suicide while I was watching ::pouty lip::

I am reading...websites comparing hosting packages

I am working on...stripping the deck

I am hoping...the deck decides to strip itself!

I am hearing...two chicklets (who should be unconscious) chattering away despite the fact that they need to get up at 5:30am for work tomorrow

Around the house...is a giant mess - that's what happens when you go out of town for three days & then dh asks you to accompany him to a conference for three days immediately thereafter!

I bet you didn't know...I've submitted press releases across the state of Indiana this week, and submitted writing samples to two different online zines (yeek!)

One of my favorite...treats in the world is a white mocha from Starbucks & I'd LOVE to have one in the morning

Join the Fun! Copy & Paste and fill it out on your blog!

*Make sure to LINK UP

Post-It Note Tuesday...Stick 'em Up!

2010-06-29T07:06:00.009-04:00

I'm trying post-it note Tuesday, just because it seems like something fun to do & I want to make sure I stay out of any sort of rut. Link up if you like it :)

So sad...

2010-06-25T05:00:00.004-04:00

I went to the eye doctor back in January. It had been more than a year since my last visit. The doc was great, figured out that my eyes are indeed oddballs, and took care of my prescription. Yay for new contacts!

Ahem.

To clarify, oddballs = differently shaped.

To further clarify, differently shaped = two different shapes.

To clarify to the fullest? two differently shaped eyeballs means two different BRANDS of contact lens. And two different prescriptions. (Yes, I'm legally blind, but that's another entirely long and rather boring story.)

My new doc was kind enough to mail my prescription to me - wahoo! - no 40+ mile drive to his office just to pick up two boxes of contact lenses.

Did I mention I'm legally blind?

I did?

Ok, no big deal, just making sure you're paying attention.

Anyway, the doc mailed my scrip to me and I was oh-so-excited to receive them. I eagerly opened the box and found two different brands (as expected), but no note within indicating which brand/lens was for which eye. I puzzled about it, pondered, examined the boxes, flipped them all around, scoured these silly packages and found nothing.

That was in February.

So I kept reminding myself EVERY DAY to call the doc's office to see which contact lens I should switch to when my lenses wore out, and which one was for which eye.

And I kept forgetting. And forgetting.

Have I ever mentioned that I have twin daughters who participate in multiple sports & I'm sucker enough to volunteer for board positions because I enjoy being able to make a difference where my kids and/or twins and/or multiples are involved?

Ok, maybe I didn't mention that part.

Anyway, I get sidetracked working on other stuff and frequently forget things like...phone calls to doctor's offices. Like the one I made for my annual exam that was due May 21...and is now scheduled for July 8.

So, back to the contact lenses.

I had searched these boxes and was unable to figure out which lens was for which eye. And one night, after working on the deck project (another story to follow sometime in the future), I got some solvent in my eye, my lens promptly dried out and nearly fell out of my eye.

Since I'd been wearing the same lenses the doc gave me (back in January)(have you noticed the date? in case you haven't, it's JUNE) I thought I'd better pull them out and toss them and give one last shot at the box to maybe be able to figure out which lens was which and how on earth to put the right prescription into the proper eye (yes, I've done it wrong before)(and it resulted in a migraine).

And guess what?

I'm old.

Happy birthday to me!

Just Thursday

2010-06-24T08:25:00.002-04:00

Outside my window... um, yeah, don't have one.

But inside my cube there's a new photo flower (thanks, Mom)!

The time is... 7:50am.

Today I feel...tired.

I am thinking... it's going to be fun at the church festival tonight!

At the moment, I am thankful...my cube neighbor isn't talking.

I am going.. to be hungry today. I forgot my lunch at home.

I am wearing.. olive green shirt, khaki pants, ultra-comfy Keens.

I wish...I could have slept a teeny bit longer this morning.

I am reading...Microsoft guides to Sharepoint. Excitement galore.

I am working on...learning Sharepoint so I don't wander aimlessly around the site when I'm asked to work on something!

I am hoping...the IFMOTC convention goes well this weekend.

I am hearing...typing typing typing.

Around the house...are 3 ladders, 3 scrapers, a heat gun,
a sander, and a bunch of deck boards (in a pear tree).

I bet you didn't know...I get incredible motion sickness.

One of my favorite...coffee cups is permanently broken :(

What are you doing, thinking, wearing, and hoping for this Thursday? Click on over to Murdock's Mama and join in.

oops

2010-06-23T23:40:00.002-04:00

I am terribly sorry for the miscalculations of my name it is really and truly Yell, sorry for the inconvenience.

Absent

2010-06-23T23:33:00.003-04:00

hellllllllloooooooooooooo, people of earth!!!! It is me Jelly Belly speaking and I have never posted before. It has been too long since I have been here!!!!! I hope that you all welcome me!!!!

weird -- and completely freaking SCARY start to the day

2010-06-23T06:45:00.002-04:00

It was 6am and I was in the living room, looking for my cell phone. Crab had just gone out to the garage to get something for me. Yell was already in the car.

I heard this explosion that reverberated -- like thunder almost -- but really sounded like something crashing down twice - or like the noise a little boy makes when he's pretending to explode tanks & army men.

I ran to the garage to see what had happened. Thinking the garage door had fallen down, the hanging racks had fallen, picturing the girls standing there in a cloud of dusty drywall. I opened the door & nothing seemed wrong. I asked, "Are you okay? What happened?"

Both girls looked at me with blank looks and responded, "What, Mommy?"

I said, "Is everything okay? Didn't you hear that noise?"

"What noise?"

"Oh my God, the ceiling fan must have fallen down in your room!"

I had heard the girls' ceiling fan squeaking like crazy before I went downstairs this a.m. & had 'adjusted' it so it quit squeaking. I remember thinking it odd as it hadn't been squeaking 30 minutes earlier.

My heart was pounding, I could hear popping & squeaking upstairs as I got to the foot of the stairs. Yelly was close behind me. She tried to go upstairs in front of me, but I said, "Get the phone. Call 911 if I call to you."

All the time I was wishing Ironman was home -- how on earth would I handle someone having broken into our house? What did they want? Why did they crash through the walls of our house?

While trying to calm my nerves, I heard the squeaking of the girls ceiling fan. How on earth did the motor keep going if the blade & unit had fallen down? Did it shred the girls' bedding? What would their room look like? Had plaster fallen? What the...

Random thoughts were flying through my head while I was ascending the eleven steps to our upstairs.

I could hear the squeaking...and a weird popping sound. But the popping was ahead to my left. The squeaking was ahead to my right. I glanced in the girls' bedroom and it was as messy as usual - with the ceiling fan intact.

I turned around, where the popping was really a LOT louder, thinking "Oh my gosh, someone is in the bathroom..." and saw glass.

All over the floor.

"OH MY GOSH!"

Yelly was up the stairs like a shot.

I turned on the light and surveyed her bathroom.

The shower door had shattered.

The girls hadn't used the shower since Wednesday night. It's Tuesday morning. What?!?

I checked to make sure no one was in the shower - and left the glass literally popping in the air like popcorn kernels on the bathroom & shower floors. I wanted to make a video because the glass was popping around all over. It was truly weird.

I'll clean it up after I take pictures later.

So...no prowler, no injuries, just a random shattered shower door. Why do these oddities occur only when Ironman is gone?!

Just to reassure you all, I originally wrote this way back on June 23, 2009. No, we still haven't replaced the shower door (but we did put up a shower curtain so the girls can use the shower). And yes, I can still remember that exploding crashing sound like it was yesterday. Freaky freaky stuff...

From the mouth of...Aunt Kake

2010-06-22T09:11:00.000-04:00

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

From: Kate H

Date: Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:40:17 -0700 (PDT)

To: Susan H

Subject: I miss the girls!!!

That's all.

============
Kate H
Writer, Editor, Proofreader
www.kateharold.com
Read my latest story for Ohio Magazine, Get Out and Play, about summer events in the Dayton area.

Camp Suz fun!

2010-06-20T14:54:00.003-04:00

Whether it's painting bucket hats or soaking up the sun while sliding on our slip n slide, our brief Camp Suz fun has been a blast! Preparation did take a while, including 2-3 days of cleaning and tons of posters being made,but in the end, it was all worth it! Activities that were enjoyed included slippin and slidin, going for walks, painting bucket hats, swinging, napping, and just playing with good ol' toys all weekend long. Unfortunately, the cousins' stay was all too short, and, as of today, Camp Suz has come to an end. :( =D

From the mouth of...Scooby

2010-06-20T14:47:00.000-04:00

"Aunt Suz, when you're finished making your coffee, can I have the grounds for my composter?"

From the mouth of...Crab

2010-06-20T13:15:00.006-04:00

While at church today, Crab leaned over and said,

"Hey, Mom, that guy looks like Jimmy Buffett..."

(she was right)

Thus Our Last Fun Day Ceases...

2010-06-16T22:04:00.003-04:00

In the events of the day, we have been doing everything fun left on our list, proving an insanely hysterical close to Camp Kake! Visiting our favorite ice cream parlor today, we enjoyed licking and slurping up all of our fabulous ice cream. We were also fortunate enough to be joined by our good friends T_____, and her dogs, Huey and Gypsy, who also got a good lick of my cone while I wasn't looking! (was the mint ice cream good, Huey? Hope so!) We also thoroughly enjoyed taking our last swim in the pool and had a superbly fun shaving cream battle! (and yes, my hands do indeed still smell like Barbasol!) Making gifts for relatives and friends was also a fantastic passtime, after all, who doesn't love hand making painted magnets? (It really was fun!) Little cousin N_______ was enjoying her new nickname "Sea Biscuit" for about 20 minutes. 'N____ would you like to have dinner?' 'I not N____, I See Bithcut!'
To wrap it up for our Camp Kake fun, I would just like to say thank you _______ so much for letting us stay and enjoy such greatly awesome activities, I cannot wait until next summer! =D

Guest Post: How not to tow an RV

2010-06-16T11:43:00.000-04:00

Sent via BlackBerry

June 10 was my dad's birthday. It's fairly common knowledge that he enjoys 'tinkering' with machinery, tools, wood, cars, etc. It's also fairly common knowledge that he will invariably 'find' a project when left to his own devices. Below is his tale of yet another 'project' that fell into his lap. Thanks for sharing, Pop!

From: Dick Harrold

Date: Thu, 10 Jun 2010 15:07:46 -0400

To: Kids5

Subject: How not to tow an RV

Guys -

Uncle B___ and Aunt M___ arrived last night in their petite four door diesel duely (from Suz: sp? dually? duelly? dual-ie? dual-y? help people!) 350 Ford truck pulling a block long fifth-wheel RV! Of course the first order of business was to get the "rig" backed into our driveway and next to the shop during 5 o'clock traffic. We had traffic backed up for a quarter mile in each direction while Benny fought the truck's steering wheel, I gave directions standing out in the middle of the street, Mary ran from side to side to see what he would hit next and mom worried about the grass and flowers.

To say that it looked a lot like a three ring circus gone bad is an understatement. I finally took the wheel of the truck and managed to get it all stuffed into the drive and spotted next to the shop. You ever drive one of those things? Interesting. Especially with a massive semi trailer on the back. And it backs differently than that of a normal trailer on the rear of a pickup.

Anyway, we finally ate supper and settled in front of the TV to drift off now and then while attempting to get caught up on the family news. The three dogs collapsed after a couple hours of playing and found soft spots to nestle down in.

We all felt much better this morning after a good night's sleep. Breakfast was one of mom's best and filled us to the brim.

For the past two weeks we have been expecting some guys to arrive and seal coat our driveway. You guessed it. They arrived today!

The first order of business was to get any vehicles we might want to drive in the next two days parked on the grass out front and off the driveway. Since Uncle B____'s truck was on the drive, we'd have to disconnect it from the fifth-wheel RV and move it to safer ground.

I watched as B___ prepared the rig to be supported by the two on-board jacks -- allowing the tow vehicle to be removed and parked elsewhere. He disconnected the heavy electric cord that goes between the two vehicles that operates the running lights, brakes, etc.

Next he got in the truck and eased it forward and out from under the RV. Everything went well. Once the truck was clear, he accelerated slightly. The electric cord stretched out, flipped around and hung up on the rear bumper of the truck. Despite the electric cord being maybe an inch in diameter, it wasn't up to pulling the RV! The stress on it pulled off the plug and ripped the cord out of the camper! Needless to say, the RV didn't move one inch.

We spent the next two hours making repairs.

So, how did you spend your last birthday?

I bought my first car, a Model T Ford Coupe, 57 years ago. We've owned a Tudor for 49 years.

Dick H

N, IN USA

The Third Day Comes to an End...

2010-06-15T20:55:00.005-04:00

Today contained several more exciting events including more swimming, a board meeting, a water balloon fight, shopping, tennis lessons, and buckets more!!!!

As learned today, tolerance of shopping with two little ones proves difficult. We visited the mall today and only managed to fit in two stores before the whine-fest began. Hunger, sleepiness, and boredom was indeed too much to handle, so we had to go home.

The water balloon fight was spectacular as we splashed our way through war and tossing the balloons. All of the activities for today were discussed with our board members, Aunt Kake as our president, Scooby as our VP, Yell as our secretary, and me as our coordinator and recorder!

As usual, swimming was a blast and full to bursting with fun as we splashed and soaked up the sun. Scooby did excellently at his tennis lesson! (bravo!!) In all, our day was just as much fun as the last few days and I hope that we can have lots more before our fantastic trip comes to an end!!! Stay tuned! =D

And Camp Kake Begins!

2010-06-14T22:26:00.003-04:00

So far, we (Crab n Yell) have done many things here in Cincinnati, including riding electric scooters, throwing tantrums, babysitting, playing with play doh, tie dying, and trampoline jumping! The kids (Scooby & Niece-ling) were so enthusiastic that they made a list of things that they would like to do such as kayaking, fishing, painting the sidewalk, and more. As you can obviously tell, many of these things are not possible. We did however, enjoy making tie dye tee shirts, swimming, and visiting with friends! As for the exciting events of tomorrow, stay tuned to learn more about our splendiforous days at the relatives house!

and the Race Day I can't remember

2010-06-01T06:45:00.011-04:00

Race Day 2010 dawned bright and clear. Wahoo! I woke up at 6am, 6:20am, 6:40am...every time I opened my eyes it was with a little bit more excitement - it's RACE DAY!!

Ironman and I got showers, got the car packed...chairs, grill, coolers, cheese, buns, condiments, grilling tools, water, soft drinks, beer...stopped for ice...repacked the coolers...and made it to our parking area by 8:45am.

Should I mention at this point that it was hot outside?

Patti had brought her sun shelter -- we've grown in wisdom over the years -- and we used the 'quote sheet' as a curtain. Thank GOD for that sun shelter! Before we even left for the parade laps, traditional songs, and general joy of the stands, I had consumed one traditional Race Day mimosa and 3 ten ounce bottles of water. And I relieved my brother of a sixteen ounce bottle before we crossed 30th Street.

I broke down and drank a beer on the hike in to our seats with the National Guard. Then I relieved Ironman of a bottle of water between the gate and our seat. That's about the point where everything starts to get fuzzy.

I got really cold when we walked under the stands. I kept shivering when I felt a breeze. My foot kept feeling like it was on fire. So I put more sunscreen on so I wouldn't have a burn on my foot. I felt sick to my stomach. Jim Nabors sang and the race started; I felt uncomfortably hot.

Ironman told me to go relax on the golf course (for those unfamiliar with the track, there's a pro-level golf course inside & around parts of the course, perfect for relaxing when you've had a little too much to drink, when you'd like to get away from the noise of the engines, or escape from the 'interesting' strangers who happen to be seated next to you). And the next thing I know, I'm sitting against a fence under the bleachers, there's a guy in a yellow shirt identifying himself as Carl, and he's offering to get me a wet paper towel.

Hmm. Lost a little bit of time there.

And then there's this-woman-whose-name-I-can't-remember who is an EMS person who used to be in the National Guard unit Ironman was in who tells me I need to go to the infield hospital because she thinks my skin is too hot. And Carl took my can of Cherry Coke, but I don't remember drinking Cherry Coke, but I must have gotten it from Ironman at some point because I know I had at least two in our cooler.

And then I'm in the ambulance praying not to get sick because it feels like we're driving 400 miles an hour and I'm facing backward which isn't a good thing in the past few years. And then I see RG (guy from high school)(which totally shocks the heck out of me, what the heck is HE doing here? what's more, I have a can coozie hanging from my neck, I look like such a drunk!) in the hospital and they want to give me an i.v. but instead I suck down five glasses of water and they let me go and somehow Ironman is waiting for me outside.

What I can remember of the day is stretched thin and very surreal.

Poo.

I missed the whole dang race. Suckage supreme.

Oh, but I did see Elvis. In full 70s regalia. Surely that wasn't a hallucination? Wasn't it a scavenger hunt item??? Anyone???

An Ode to my Race Fans

2010-05-31T21:54:00.001-04:00

The day before Memorial Day (in my family) is Race Day. It is for most of Indianapolis. But Race Day, for us, is an awesome day of laughing, racing, hanging out with family and friends, and enjoying the spectacle that is the Indy 500.

I grew up in a family of Race Fans. I knew the standard names. Foyt, Andretti, Unser, Mears, Rahal. My 'uncle' John would come in town the day before Race Day, in his little MG convertible (I love that car)(I sigh just thinking about it), and we'd cook out in the back yard. I don't remember where Uncle John slept, but he must have spent the night. They'd pack a lunch the night before and would outfit themselves with hats, sunglasses, a newspaper, binoculars, and a thermos of iced tea. They would leave before we woke up. We wouldn't see Dad and Uncle John until later in the afternoon, but we'd get to hear 'the race' on the radio in the garage. I don't remember how or why the radio was turned on, but we would 'hang out' in the back yard on Race Day, just so we could hear the cars, Tom Carnegie, and the patter about the drivers.

At some point Dad and Uncle John stopped going to the race. Maybe it was about the time the Snake Pit got out of control? Or when the infield was redesigned? But the year Ironman and I got married, my siblings and I purchased tickets together for the first time.

We've spent many memorable years at the track since then. There was the year Andre professed his love for Little Debbie, "The only woman who's never let me down." And the year a 'rookie' Race Fan was stunned to find out that plumber's crack was indeed a reality. The year Patti explained rationale by way of "I wore velcro shoes as a child." And the year a Race Fan professed that The Race is "The Greatest Spectacle in Life!" The year the evil "blue poncho" (an anti-race-fan who expressed her distaste for our race excitement) was spotted in the Indianapolis airport (post-race) and we got the absurd idea she was stalking our cousin. There's the ever-present and completely adored Cousin Tommy who treks annually from the southwest just to spend the night on my parents' or brother's floor and then hikes with us to our seats to bake in the sun and listen to the roar of the engines. The year Helmet showed up 14 hours after a wedding -- on a bicycle -- after having driven his car as close to the track as he could get and then riding his bike to get to our parking area. The year my sister-in-law wore a goofy picture of her husband (yes, my brother) on her pregnant belly.

We've added race fans, temporarily lost them to childbirth (welcome to the world, Niece-ling) and weddings (Shannoan's brother in Hawaii of all places?!), exulted in poor footwear choices (high heels to walk from 30th street to the track, hello?! welcome to idiocy?!!), spotted what we suspected were aliens (from another planet, not the Arizona-type), and convinced ourselves of the technological worth of grapes vs gummibears as projectiles.

I LOVE the memories we've made at the track.

Sleeping Beauties

2010-05-29T06:01:00.003-04:00

My beautiful little girl (I still think of her as a little girl, even though she's only about 4 inches shorter than me) has a job as a mother's helper this summer.

She loves her job.

The chix went to the zoo this morning with 'their boys'. ('Their boys' are 26-month-old twins and their 5-month-old singleton brother.) Apparently it was a bit exhausting. The big boys did nap on the way home from the zoo, but they didn't nap for the rest of the day.

And the result? Crab grabbed a little nap with Ironman when we all got home. Sleeping beauties.

Fw: Scooby bit Niece-ling this morning...

2010-05-28T09:34:00.000-04:00

From: Aunt Kake

Date: Thu, 27 May 2010 07:58:14 -0700 (PDT)

To: Schoon

Subject: Scooby bit Niece-ling this morning...

...so hard that now she has two lip-shaped bruises on her cheek. Just another fun day in the land of parenthood...

============
Aunt Kake

I miss blogging

2010-05-27T22:23:00.000-04:00

Truly.

But between work, volunteer stuff for IFMOTC, volunteer stuff for SSPOM, volunteer stuff for FTSC, the girls' swim practices/kickball practices/kickball games/and my everyday mom duties, I'm freaking exhausted.

Having no Internet for the past week was less than ideal, too.

On that note, though I've lots to say, it's time for bed. Another workday tomorrow - and the chix are requesting their nightly book!

They Say It's Your Birthday!

2010-05-26T06:29:00.004-04:00

Introducing Niece-ling.

This little girl was born with a ton-o-hair. Can you tell?

In these pictures, she's only a few weeks old. I think it was 4 or 5. But see that look on her little face? She was telling me, "Hey, you're *not* my mom." She's very opinionated.

And oh, my gosh, how sweet is it that her hair CURLED when it was washed oh so long ago?

Little love bug, cute little nakey baby, it was all I could do not to eat her up!

Today, this cute little bugger is 3 years old. I'm in awe. She has such a sweet nature, and reminds me of my sister in all the nicest ways (though she also has her stubbornness)(and dislike of waking up)(I'll stop with the similarities now). I love that she willingly spends the night at my house without her mommy. I love that she has her own name for me -- Schoon -- melt! I love that she adores her 'big' cousins, but still prefers to cuddle on my lap during church. I love that she's entering her 'girly' phase and prefers dresses and 'clip-clop' shoes to shorts and t-shirts. I love her enthusiasm for anything crafty and how much she *adores* books. Best of all, I love that she pretends to call "Schoon" on her toy cell phone when driving in the car!

Being an aunt is the absolute BEST!

Happy birthday, Niece-ling! Come for a sleep over soon, 'kay?

Proud Mommy Moment

2010-04-19T21:26:00.002-04:00

After a very late night visiting with my friend M Saturday night (she called while I was making a late-night stealth cardboard recycling dropoff at a nearby McDonald's and suggested we go out for a drink - instead we chatted and drank at my house for FREE!)(until nearly 2a.m.!), I awoke to a beautiful, but cool Sunday morning.

We did our Sunday usual. I made breakfast, twins and Sapper inhaled it, and we all scrambled to get out the door for church. We also, though, found ourselves rushing to get to Yellybird's track meet afterward.

Unlike our other meets this season, all of which are being hosted at a very local school, this one was hosted close to my parents' house. It was totally worth the trip.

Sapper helps coach the hurdles and the high jump. It was fun to see his excitement when one of 'his kids' did well or exceeded his expectations. But it was even more fun to hear his suggestions to Yell on the way to the meet. He broke down her goal time for her run, her time cuts, and then wrote them on her arm with my handy dandy Sharpie (those retractable suckers are fantastic for any mom to keep in her purse).

Crab and I sat in the bleachers and watched. And waited. (Mostly, we waited.) When it came time for Yell to compete with the others in her event. I didn't expect her to completely blow the others away. I know better than that. I just wanted her to have fun, to prove to herself that she can finish a race, to feel good about the training she's been doing.

See those two kids in front of her? On her first lap, she passed the kid in front of her. On the second lap, the kid in red passed the kid in blue. On her last lap, she pulled out an energy burst and passed yet another kid at the last second. Woot! I got my wish!

She pr'd (got a personal record) in her event.

(I'm so proud!)

From the mouth of...

2010-04-19T00:07:00.002-04:00

Scooby (at home with Aunt Kake and Uncle Helmet)

Last week Helmet was talking to me at dinner about Obama's economic stimulus package.

Scooby, ever the listener, piped in saying, "Nu-rock Obama?" (for that is what he thinks his name is).

"He got a package?"

reason #210 to hate aftercare

2010-04-11T12:21:00.000-04:00

My twins' school has an aftercare program. To say I'm grateful is saying a lot.

As I work full time outside the home, and our school has no bus service, my children have to stay after school at a program where, for a nominal fee, they receive a snack and supervision.

~~That's about all they receive.~~

~~They receive~~

~~They~~

Blah!

This is the deal. On Thursday we had a busy evening. Chicklets (I though) had choir practice. Crab had a kickball game. Yell had track practice. Sapper is a track hurdles coach. And Sapper had a meeting following track practice.

I had it planned out. Crab had her kickball clothes in the car. I would stop for fast food after work & pick up Chicklets from school. Crab & Yell would eat their fast food dinner. Crab would change her clothes in the car. Sapper would meet Yell and I at the kickball game. He had Yell's track clothes. He and Yell would go to track practice. After the kickball game, Crab and I would wait for Yell's practice to be finished, then the three of us would head home. Sapper would proceed to his meeting. We would all collapse upon arrival at home. The end.

Did the plan work? Nope.

I left work, picked up the fast food, went to get Chix at choir practice. There was no choir practice. No biggie, proceeded to aftercare to sign Chix out. The instant I walked in the door, I noticed Yell was seated with her head down on her arms. Crab came running up to me, "Yelly's feeling really sick."

I called to her. Three times. Yell had gotten up from the table and was moving as fast as she could out to the car. She finally turned toward me and gasped, "I. Don't. Feel good!"

Uh oh.

I collected Crab's various crap and made it out to the car where I was barraged with, "Where were you? Why were you late?" I explained that I thought they had choir, but I was obviously wrong, and then felt Yell's forehead. She was warm and clammy. And crying.

Uh oh.

She proceeded to tell me she couldn't see out of her right eye, her head hurt, and she felt sick to her stomach.

Uh oh.

Warm and clammy could be because she had her head down on a table while crying. Or because her head hurt and she was uncomfortable. Or something else?

Eye hurt. Blurry vision. Sick to her stomach could be because her blurry vision was making her queasy? Eye hurt because of injury? Agh!

I grab a dose of Motrin (usually kept in the car for post-orthodontist visits) and Yell swallows it down without question. She ignores her food. She never ignores food. The child has two hollow legs. She never ignores food. My mind is spinning with possibilities: migraine, allergy headache, floaters in her eye, detaching retina....terrible thoughts needing reassurance in the worst way.

I call Sapper to tell him about the abrupt change in plans. I would need to take Yell home instead of going to track practice. I would meet him at the school so he could accompany Crab to her game. Hang up the phone and call my mom to let her know Yell is sick and potential plans for Friday are very very potential at this point. Hang up the phone and call the eye doctor (who is no longer in his office). Hang up the phone and call the pediatrician (who is no longer in her office). Answering service assures me her ped is on call and will return my call within twenty minutes. An eternity. Hang up and answer Sapper's call -- he asks me to pull Crab to the side and ask her about any head injury to Yell. Ask if she'd heard anything had happened during the school day. Usher Crab over to her kickball team warmups. Go back to the car to check on the now-sleeping-Yell.

Ped calls. She and I agree that if Yell doesn't feel significantly better in the next two hours (it's now 6pm) that I should take her to the ER. Sapper arrives. He checks Yell and proceeds over to the kickball warmups. I search the field for familiar parents and manage to arrange a ride home for Crab; depart for home with the sickly one.

Fast forward. After sleeping two hours, it indeed turned out that Yell had been suffering from a migraine.

My issue is with aftercare. Why on earth didn't the adult in charge CALL ME to let me know of Yell's health concern? If she had a contagious illness, would they honestly want her to be exposing others to her germs? Do they not care about her health? Did they not consider her well-being? Did they even pay attention to the small girl with her head down on a table for more than an hour?

To say I'm irritated is putting it mildly. I would never want to be treated the way aftercare treated my child. She is exactly that -- a child. I pay for them to ensure her health, her well-being, her safety. But I felt that she didn't receive very good care on Thursday.

But do I dare write a note criticizing the care? Probably not. Because then my kids would be ostracized. Or ignored.

Instead I'll blog about it and hope that I get commiseration from the anonymous masses.

This sucks.

Does this strike you as unprofessional?

2010-04-10T21:00:00.001-04:00

______ _______ will be off work for the next couple of months beginning on Monday, April 12th. While she is out, we will be instituting some new front desk procedures.

No one will be sitting at the front desk. The phone will be placed on the counter top along with the phone list and there will be a sign instructing visitors to sign in and call the person they are here to see. Visitors are not to go back by themselves to your office or conference room. All visitors must be escorted so please help out by making sure that you are at your desk at the time you're expecting visitors and come up and get them when they call you.

If you see someone walking through the area that is unfamiliar, please help out by asking them who they are here to see then escorting them to that person.

Thanks in advance for your help.

My take on the subject? There are +/- 250 employees on my floor. I'm the newsletter editor, so I have to take pictures of all of the employees (for birthdays, employment anniversaries, etc). There isn't a week that goes by that I see someone 'new' on our floor. How on earth are we supposed to know that someone is a visitor?

What's more? As a public agency, there are more than FIVE THOUSAND employees in the two buildings where I work. I'm wondering how this will be handled when 'the big guy' comes down for a meeting and sees the receptionist's desk is unstaffed.

Could be very interesting.

From the mouth of...

2010-04-09T23:49:00.004-04:00

JJ (in church)

JJ: “Dad, can I have a snack?”

Dad: “We forgot the diaper bag. Sorry, no snacks.”

JJ looked down and after a long pause whispered quietly, “Doh.”

A Note About Booster Seats Past Age 4

2010-04-08T23:40:00.002-04:00

Note: I originally wrote this on 01/21/09. It's still as important today as it was then, so I'm sharing it here as well.

I know our law is age 8 and/or 80#. Many people disregard using them past the age of 4. Crab and Yell aren't exactly tiny, but they're not in the 50th percentile for their age either.

Today we were in an accident. A guy ran a red light and I plowed into his drivers' side rear door. The guy on the other side of the light plowed into his passenger side rear quarter panel.

At age 10 1/2, usually to their chagrin, Crab and Yell were in booster seats -- they are 4' 1/2", 63# and 4'4", 61#. Neither one is close enough to 80# to be out of a booster.

Do they hate them? Yes.
Were they kept from injury by the elevation provided? Yes.
Were they thankful they didn't get a cut on their neck (like a classmate of theirs did) from the seatbelt? Yes.
Were they very happy they were in boosters AFTER the wreck? Yes.

My arms and back ache and my bumper is a mess, but we're all okay.

Please, keep your kids in boosters as long as possible.

Edited to add a comment I fully appreciate:

Ohio passed a booster seat law last year, and now (one year later) a fine goes into effect if a child who should be in a booster is not in one. They had a news story on TV about it the other day. A mom whose son has been out of a car seat since age 4 was quoted as saying something along the lines of, "It's so inconvenient." Hmmmm. So would having to go to the hospital every day to visit your brain damaged child if he were in a really bad accident.

Twin Stroller Survey

2010-04-06T11:24:00.001-04:00

I'm doing a completely unscientific survey.

My co-worker hit & split and is now expecting identical twin girls in June/July.

In retrospect (looking way back when on those sleep-deprived days of twinfancy), knowing what you know now (as a seasoned and oh-so-experienced parent of twins or more), would you have preferred to have received/purchased:

A) a traditional dual inline stroller (does NOT accept car seats)

B) a traditional dual side-by-side stroller (does NOT accept car seats)

C) a snap-in car seat dual inline (accepts car seats, but can be used without)(example doesn't show car seats)

D) a snap-in car seat dual side-by-side (accepts car seats, but can be used without)

OR

E) a snap-in car seat inline AND a simpler side-by-side (for use once twinfants outgrow car seats)?

A baby shower gift hinges on your wisdom - thanks for your insight!

not for the faint of heart

2010-04-01T06:00:00.004-04:00

Our spring break was relatively calm. Aside from a whirlwind camping trip with the M family, we did a lot of nothing. Sounds boring you say? Whatever!

our epic list of things accomplished Mar 19-Mar 28, 2010

emptied car
hiked in Brown County
outdoor laser tag
water gun fights
overturned a kayak
served at church
played video games and air hockey at Jillian's
enjoyed walking in downtown Indy on a pleasant spring evening
cleaned out Chix' closet
emptied Chix' dressers
found Chix' bedroom floor (anyone sensing a trend?)
volunteered at SSPOM sale
worked on Chix' new beds
washed, dried, and folded roughly 12 loads of laundry
went to the library
swept garage
played basketball in driveway
practiced volleyball against the garage door
found gardening gloves
had lots of playtime with Dixie-the-Wonder-Pup
cleared yard of winter debris
burned winter debris
made s'mores
roasted hot dogs
planned garden
went to Rascal's Fun Zone and drove go-carts

At Rascal's? Both Chicklets are too short to drive on the outdoor track, but were thrilled to have Sapper at the wheel. Crab was ecstatic to have him wreck into another dual cart (the driver had turned perpendicular to the wall while going uphill). We did find that Yell has no concept of how to steer a vehicle. She'd wait until the middle of a turn before yanking the wheel sharply to the left or right. I wasn't too surprised when both girls complained of muscle aches the next morning. On the indoor track, both Chix could drive the 'junior carts' but Crab had to be accompanied by Yell or Sapper on the larger carts. Somewhat disappointing, but still an incredibly cheap way to spend a cold spring afternoon together.

Of course, after that outing Crab waved her little pinkie in Sapper's direction and got to go to Coldstone for a consolation treat. She's such a punk.

In addition, I went to work every day after watching movies with the fam until 11:00 or so? Myassasdragon indeed.

SSPOM Babies & Kids Sale recap

2010-03-30T23:03:00.001-04:00

I. am. exhausted.

The past few weeks have been non-stop busy for our family. The Chix have had swim team, volleyball team, and track team practices. We've had choir rehearsals and choir performances. Sapper has been out of town frequently. I knew the Southside Parents of Multiples' sale was happening at the end of March, and I knew the girls had items we could likely purge from their closets, but I also knew I didn't have the time or energy to clear, hang, tag, and sort their things. I was right! I didn't have the time or energy until late Friday night. And then, of course, we found out the Chicklets have been growing like weeds!

Sapper elected to have the girls perform a fashion show of sorts. The Chicklets would pick out items they have spurned, thrown to the bottom of their closet, buried in their dressers, etc, and try them on for us to evaluate fit and fashion. We started out with this much 'to sell' at the Fall Sale.

I had the girls try on oodles of stuff that turned out to be a teensy bit too small. Or a tiny bit out of fashion. Or that they just plain didn't like. We ended up, Friday night, with this much MORE to sell at the Fall Sale.

And then on Sunday I found that Crab had been stashing some tiny-bit-too-small stuff in her dresser. Capris (that fit her 2 years ago too small). Skirts. Shirts. Tights. So we'll add that to THIS pile.

Anyone in the market for girls' size 7-8, 9-10 clothing?

How silly of me to think we didn't have 'enough' to sell.

Anyway, the sale was a HUGE success. The Chicklets and I showed up at the sale at 7:15 'to help' where we could. I sat down to help cashier after 15 minutes of 'shopping' and din't get a breather until 10:30.

Non-stop shoppers for 3.25 hours. The LOWEST sale I checked out was $18. The highest was a little over $200.

Comical story: a lady marveled at the number of twins and triplets she had seen at the sale. Another member and I informed her that 'the club' was hosting the event, and that we all had 'at least' twins. Hearing three or four other women gasp "ohhhhhhhh" was pretty funny.

True story: One woman came from Wisconsin to shop at the SSPOM sale. I thanked her. That's a long trip to go second-hand shopping.

I'm very thankful I was able to help at this colossal fundraiser. But wow, I wish I'd cleaned out my closets just a little sooner.

Best (non-English) Email Ever

2010-03-25T08:35:00.000-04:00

The Chicklets went to my mom's yesterday after a brief visit to the Indiana Historical Society. I haven't heard what they were doing -- probably made jello & learned some more sewing skills -- and as luck would have it, I received this right before I went to bed. ::sigh::

From: Crab

Date: Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:30:03 +0000 (UTC)

To: Suz

Subject: Goodnight!

Just wanted to say goodnight, mommers!

God bless you I love you! Fe te bolev shettem o plumrsee (those are the French words that I can't spell) I love you mommy goodnight! I'm now blowing you a kiss! Mwa whooo! :)

XOXOXOXOXOXO

LOVE, CRAB ^.^

I absolutely LOVE her attempt at writing in French. Though it makes me think I may need to read some picture books to her (again) as she obviously has NO IDEA what the language looks like anymore!

Spring Break (on a budget)

2010-03-24T12:34:00.002-04:00

Geez, you'd think we never feed these kids.

Turtles!

Sapper

YellyBird

Crabbycat

We had a very peaceful (if short) spring break, courtesy of friends from church.

Fave memories include:

trying on hats at a toy store in Nashville, Indiana
eating a Lenten Friday dinner at Harvest Moon Pizza
listening to and watching birds on Cordry Lake
reading books in the marvelously pleasant weather
hiking in Brown County State Park
drying off Yell after she overturned her kayak and fell in the lake
watching kids chase each other with water guns
just being with friends

Thanks M family!

Saving Money & Winning Stuff

2010-03-12T10:52:00.003-05:00

This week I've been reallllllly concentrating on saving money on the stuff we need and use on a regular basis. Cutting coupons, checking ads, checking what BargainBriana has to say, and...not eating.

Because I've had this stomach bug since last Friday. It was painful, had Sapper worried about me (while he was out of town), and has resolved itself into leftover diarrhea (blah) and a nasty head cold. But yesterday I couldn't bring myself to eat the banana I had brought for breakfast. The thought of it made me feel all gaggy. Blech. I have enough sinus drainage filling me, so I skipped breakfast. Then lunchtime came & went. I couldn't bring myself to eat yogurt - thinking dairy could upset my stomach AGAIN - so I skipped it. Then dinner was a major rush because the chicklets went to a friend's house to practice for a music presentation & I was all

lets rush to get an eBay auction sent
lets get the Kroger list/coupons ready
lets put away all the stuff we just got at CVS (where I saved $11.26 using coupons AND got $16 extra care bucks, woot!)
lets give the girls leftovers because Lord knows there are enough of them in the fridge to feed half of Kenya
lets get out the door quickly because these grumpy kids need their sleep so I'll have to pick them up in about an hour
bye love you, see you in an hour
Kroger Kroger Kroger Kroger (where I saved $27 using coupons/Cellfire/Shortcut$)
come on, we've got to go, Mattie needs to go to bed, stop singing, I heard you from downstairs, get your shoes on, lets go!
unload the car, put away the groceries, put the bags back in the car
Whew!

so in case you were wondering, I never had dinner.

Maybe that's why I had such an atrocious dream about one of my cousins last night? Or why I totally forgot about my chiropractor's appointment this morning? I have no idea. But I did eat my banana this morning. And I found a second one in my purse courtesy of my little Yellybird. I may eat the yogurt for lunch, but I may have the banana instead. My stomach still feels queasy, but the diarrhea hasn't come back so far today. So maybe the day off from food did the trick?

Who knows.

Also this week, I won a giveaway from TwinHappy where I participated in the weekly TwinTuesday by blogging about our choice of names for the twins. Go me!

Last, but definitely not least, today I found out I won a What's In The Bible giveaway from Mami and the Multiples. I'm thinking I may have a really cool video to share with Scooby and Niece-ling on their next visit. Shazam!

Though I still have a nagging cough and my eyes look like I've been punched in the face, I'm feeling better about life in general. Not too shabby a week (if you exclude the part where I've been working on our taxes...oi...lets just skip that conversation).

What do you think? Is the week looking better or what?

Crab and Yell, the reason behind the rhyme

2010-03-09T20:34:00.003-05:00

Way back when...a million or so sleepwalks ago...we found out we were pregnant with twins. Twins run in my family. Rampantly. My great uncle & his brother were twins. My aunt & uncle are fraternal twins. My cousins are fraternal twins. And when my doctor told me we were having twins, I assumed fraternal.

We found out the gender of Baby A. She was very accommodating.

Her twin was not. She carefully hid her 'parts' for the duration.

So while we were able to settle on a name for A, B was rather nameless. She was an idea, a thought, a kick in the gallbladder, but nameless.

Since the babies were conceived on the date of Princess Diana's funeral, and Mother Teresa's death, I thought briefly about Teresa Diane for Baby B. A name she spurns. ::sigh::

But Baby A's name means, "Father's Joy." And that she is. No matter how grumpy she is in the morning, how obstinate, how hateful, she can wave her little finger at her daddy and be in his good graces. We chose Crab's name because we liked it, but it suits her perfectly.

Baby B, at two days old, was given the name of my sorority sister. A sorority sister who had to have a complete hysterectomy before age 25. My Chi Omega sister is unable to bear her own children, but her caring, fun, giving, generous nature lives on in my daughter. My daughter whose name means "Fierce Warrior." My strong little baby who could stand at six weeks old. My fierce little Yellybird who fights to protect her sister.

I never imagined their names could be so wisely chosen, or so special.

We Catholics Believe in Sharing

2010-03-09T09:28:00.001-05:00

My uncle shared this story with me. I wish 'Our Lady of Hospitality' would have gotten video.

Believe it or not? 'Our Lady of Hospitality' came home from work today and while standing at the counter in the kitchen heard a noise out back on the deck. So she went to check it out and noticed an opossum. I had seen one in the yard the day befor but didn't make much of it because they are plentiful around here but had never been seen on the deck.

The funny part ... the varmint had found a bottle of chardonay cooling out there, chewed the seal off, got the cork out somehow or other and proceeded to have an afternoon libation. 'Our Lady of Hospitality' stood there watching the critter drain the bottle, licking it up as fast as he could. He had tipped the bottle over on its side, and when it stopped flowing out he put his paw on the neck of the bottle and continued slurping it up until no more would come out. Then he climbed off the deck and went over and laid down on the grass next to the house. Guess he was a little under the influence.

There went a good bottle of wine, but he was probably a happy camper the rest of the day. He had wandered off by the time I came home, but 'Our Lady of Hospitality' was well entertained for a while.

So much for a short story?

Pop/T J/Uncle Popeye

Thanks for sharing, Uncle Popeye! And Our Lady of Hospitality, thanks for sharing your wine -- I'll bring a bottle next time I'm in town & we can commiserate over your loss ;)

Hi!

2010-03-05T17:54:00.005-05:00

Wow, it's been so long since it's been above 20 degrees! It felt like summer when I first came out of school today! Yeah, thank you God for sending us warmth!

Aaaaaagh! (yes, I'm a teensy bit FRUSTRATED!)

2010-03-03T15:18:00.001-05:00

I just repeated myself 3 times.

To the same person.

And the listener insisted, "I still don't understand."

What part of: "He would like a copy of the memo you released to the public on such-and-such-a-date" is so impossible to understand?!?

GAH!

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Junior Stole My Heart

2010-03-01T21:38:00.004-05:00

Junior
Originally uploaded by crabnyell

Oh my gosh, look at THOSE EYES! This little guy came to visit us a little over 2 months ago. He's small, silly, sweet, and loves cars. And he loves Cars. He personally asked Santa for "Fwo an Doc an Wamone" not just once, but twice.

He lives far away from us -- with his parents as it should be -- but having him here overnight was the best Christmas present I could have had.

Yell drew his name in our 'cousins gift exchange'. She knew he 'loved Cars.' She also knew that she had to stick to the $ limit. I think God smiled on her the day we went to the store. She found not just Doc, but also Wamone and Fwo for just UNDER the limit.

And as soon as he opened his Cars, he was the happiest little boy in the whole world. Fwo an Doc an Wamone didn't leave his sight the entire 24 hours he stayed at our house.

At the tender age of 3, he hadn't spent the night at anyone's house without his parents. God smiled on me that night. His younger cousin, Nallie, had a wretched cough that kept me from sleeping much. Junior snuggled down into his Lightning McQueen sleeping bag (thanks Uncle Ralph!), between his two 'big cousins,' and was asleep before 9:30. Yes, I know that's a really late night for such a little guy, but geez, he doesn't see his cousins that often, he lives all the way across the country, and I was trying to soothe the cough of a 2-yr-old who was crying for her mommy, so just give me a small break!

In the morning I managed to get all six kids (yes, I tripled the number of kids I normally get out the door for church on Sunday) to church BEFORE mass started -- GO ME!!! Two 11-yr-olds, two 5-yr-olds, a 3-yr-old, and a 2-yr-old. Whew.

The one thing he requested was if we could go to Grammy's so he could "play with my Papa."

::sniff::

My little nephew loves his Papa. Hearing him say that was quite a gift.

But having my little Junior for his first overnight was quite possibly the best gift I could have. Thanks for trusting me Nacho & Carnie. I miss you all -- but especially the beautiful eyes on this little man of yours.

(I call do-overs!)

Laundry Lessons

2010-02-24T21:07:00.002-05:00

Apparently I've been washing too much laundry.

Or too little laundry?

Any way you look at it, I haven't been to the bottom of the laundry pile in quite a while.

I was folding some, straight out of the nice, warm, toasty dryer when I picked up a pair of little pink underpants. I shook them out, laid them on top of the chix' pile, and thought,

"Wow, how on earth does Yell get those on her little fanny?"

I picked them up again and thought,

"Geez, these suckers wouldn't even fit on my leg!"

And then I opened the waistband.

Ah.

Nope, these wouldn't fit on my leg, nor would they fit on Yell's fanny. Apparently I should investigate the bottom of the laundry pile a little more frequently.

The little pink panties belong to my niece.

Who was last at my house on December 26. Doh!

::banging my head on my washer::

Beautiful Blogger Award!

2010-02-16T23:14:00.002-05:00

I am amazed & touched to be presented with the Beautiful Blogger Award! I received this award from Joscelyn, an inspiring bi-lingual military mom of twins. Visit her blog here Mami & The Multiples I wish I could have kept up my efforts to be tri-lingual with the Chicklets, however, Sapper not understanding a word of the non-English languages proved to be tres difficile!

To pass on the love, I nominate the following as I find them to be "Beautiful Bloggers" (or just plain funny):

http://coxquads.blogspot.com/ The Cox Quads
http://kristinsfourkids.blogspot.com/ Kristin's Four Kids
http://ourspriggsfamily.blogspot.com/ Spriggs Family
http://trippin-lifewithtriplets.blogspot.com/ Trippin' - Life with Triplets
http://bonggamom.blogspot.com/ Finding BonggaMom
http://manicmommy.blogspot.com/ MaNiC MoMMy
~~http://owenplusthree.blogspot.com/ Owen + 3~~ apparently I'm not allowed to follow this one anymore!
http://andtwinsmake5.blogspot.com/ And Twins Make 5!
http://mama4real.blogspot.com/ I'm a REAL LIFE mom.
http://iamthatmommy.wordpress.com/ Yes, I'm THAT mommy.
http://www.mommyneedscoffee.com/ Mommy Needs Coffee
http://www.elizabethlyons.com/blog Little Humans Being
http://murraycrew.blogspot.com/ 4tunate
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/cripe Cripe's Sake yes, I know it's not a blog per se, but I check on Danielle's family & pray for them frequently
http://www.twomakesfour.com/ Two Makes Four

Congratulations on your nomination and please follow these instructions to nominate someone else:

1. Thank the person who nominated you for this award and insert a link to their blog.
2. Pass on the award to about 15 other bloggers who you recently discovered and think are great!
3. Contact the other bloggers and let them know they have been chosen for this award.
4. Say 7 things about yourself.

7 Things About Me-Myself-and I

1. Every generation in my family has multiples. I have a fantastic picture of 4 sets of our fraternal twins taken at my brother's wedding.

2. I'm the oldest of five kids. Yep, you heard me. I'm bossy like that. (And though my sister & I fought like cats & dogs when we were younger, she's my closest friend now that we're 'grown up'.)

3. I wanted to have two kids before I turned 30. I didn't realize I would get BOTH the month before my 30th birthday.

4. Since having the chicklets, I have become afraid of heights & deep water.

5. The year my husband was deployed was the toughest of my life. Yell sleep-walked her way through the year -- resulting in my not sleeping soundly for most of the year. Fun times.

6. The Muppets/Peanuts - awesome

7. I love Italian food, but the texture of cooked onions can 'do me in'. Thanks, chicklets, for that oh-so-pleasant pregnancy leftover!

Got Girl Scout Cookies? We do!

2010-02-11T21:20:00.002-05:00

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HELLO

2010-02-06T21:25:00.004-05:00

Hellllloooooo people of earth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thus the Awful Cold Begins

2010-02-06T13:14:00.004-05:00

Bleck. I feel so sick. I have an awful cold. That's why I am using this yuckish puky green. I feel like puke that's yuckish, and green. Bleck. Does anyone have suggestions for me to get better?

By the way, boy oh boy is is snowy! About 7 inches they say...so far!!! Maybe today we can build some snowmen! If I feel better soon that is. Also, we have Monday off from school because the Archbishop declared a day off due to the Colts at the Super Bowl! Go Blue!

I have this full-time job

2010-01-20T23:30:00.001-05:00

As a taxi driver.

Seriously.

In order, today I have visited:
School
School newspaper bin
Cardboard recycling
McDonald's (had to get breakfast somewhere!)
Glass/metal recycling
Credit union (which wasn't open, so I cleaned out my car...and found these...

Starbucks gift card!!!
sharpie
lid to my lip gloss
bottle of motrin
zillions of pennies - all in the first 5 minutes (& under drivers seat)!
Crab's lip gloss
Yell's church nametag
sunglasses
chopsticks
Niece-ling's juice cup
tictacs
bookmarks
1 swim fin
gloves
frisbee
Christmas church bulletin
sidewalk chalk
index cards
blue clip-on hair streaks
1st communion necklace
socks
magnet
batteries
Empty shoe box
drawings
backpack
& I admit to spilling the pennies

Bank (for volunteer stuff of course)
School
Library
Orthopedist
Home (forgot the checkbook)(and the phone charger)
Mcdonalds (chicklet needed lunch)
School
Credit union (found part of more than $28 in change in my car!)
Credit union (forgot to ask some research questions)
Chick-Fil-A (cuz I *needed* a peppermint chocolate chip milkshake)
Bank (research)
Bank (more research)
Physical therapy
Tire place
Post office
School
Orthodontist
Sam's Club
*HOME* for a full 90 minutes!

And yet on the agenda were:
Pool
Chhhhhooooiiirrr-la la la la! (the one thing I truly love about Wednesdays, going to choir practice)
And home again, home again, jiggety jig.

Is it any wonder I took the day off from work? Where on earth would I have crammed it into this ridiculous schedule?

I'm wondering, in all seriousness, what it would take to get a chauffeur's license. I'm sure it would pay better than being the designated TaxiMom.

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Way back when...a million or so coupons ago...

2010-01-19T16:01:00.003-05:00

I used to be a coupon queen. I'd cut out, sort, plot, plan, and execute my attack. I'd coordinate all of this frenzy during the girls' gymnastics practice(s). I had a binder where I'd sort my coupons (by aisle of my fave store). I'd even have contests with Miss Magina to see who could save the most money. I roll my eyes in remembrance of such organization.

Since then, my twins are in middle-school activities, I've returned to full-time work, my coupons have largely been tucked into ziploc bags and thrown on a closet shelf, and the economy has dumped a port-a-potty in my checkbook. Time for a change!

Recently, I've been following BargainBriana (because bargains don't find themselves) and she's given me a chance to share the glories of saving $ again. I'm talking about her Frugal Map.

Her Frugal Map displays a list of $avvy Blogger$ who enjoy $aving their $ and $haring their experience$ with other$. Notice the $$$? Yep, they're adding up! The frugal map links you to your own state (or whatever state you select), and lists the bloggers' site(s) in your area. It's a pretty nifty way to use technology to your advantage. Maybe couponing/savings that can help pay for your high-speed internet or wireless mobile device?

Hmm, maybe I should make my computer habits pay for themselves (as they did in the past). Definitely a point to ponder.

Since we spend a number of hours at the pool each week, I'm thinking I may be able to squeeze the couponing into the otherwise wasted time (who am I kidding, that's when I catch up on Twitter!). I'll keep you posted on how it works on our next shopping trip.

Playing with Food

2010-01-19T12:36:00.001-05:00

is not optional.

When it's string cheese.

It's required.

Which is why I like it.