Thinks By Me

After 13 years of service, my dishwasher (that I've been hating for the last year) has sprung a leak. Hallelujah! I like the way it looks. I even like how it fits all my stuff in nicely. I just don't like residue. I've been experimenting with different detergents and pre-rinsing and good gravy...I've even taken the dad-blame thing apart twice. Myself. With my Tomboy Tools and the directions I found on the Repair Clinic . I got it all back together too-the right way. But it's just not been working right and I've been whining about it. Muh Main Man has valiantly been ignoring my blubbering, but tonight the sorry thing had mercy on me and sprung a leak. It landed on Muh Main Man's head in the basement and wah-lah...he's commissioned me to pick out a new one tomorrow. Weird that just as the thing is heading out the door, I'm starting to like it!

We have a tree on one side of our house that has been...we'll just say struggling...for a while now. Muh Main Man has threatened to chop it down which is fine with me. I'm all for wide open spaces. Less leaves that way, not that I rake or anything. But anyhow, this afternoon Little Chic was out in the rain and decided to jump on the trampoline. Playing in the rain, by the way, is the most favorite pastime of both of my kids. Bar none. It is usually mid-summer before they're allowed to do this, but we had an unusually warm 60-degree day today. And Muh Main Man gets grumpy every time I let them. On account of it being ridiculous, or something (I suspect it's the mud). But I digress. Anywhooo, Little Chic went to jump on the trampoline and found that something else had taken a turn first. Compliments of her are 2 pictures. One is of the detached appendage and the other is where it used to belong. Or so she tells me. I suppose this means Muh Main Man has yet an...

I am not one who is generally clever enough to think up funny April Fool's Jokes that will actually work. However, one year I pulled the best, and I'll be reliving that for your reading pleasure and my own self-satisfaction. Since today I could not think of one. About nine years ago, Muh Main Man had a .... procedure ... to ensure we would not have any more children. He did not, however, go for the recommended follow up to verify that the procedure was successful. If you get my drift. I hounded him and threatened him for months, to no avail. About three years later, a close girlfriend of mine found out she was pregnant. This happened just a couple of months before April 1, so she still had her pregnancy test. Those things show the positive lines for EVER. Just for your future reference, in case you ever need to know. So I borrowed it. I waited for the big day to arrive and sneaked into the bathroom and laid it on Muh Main Man's side of the counter. I can't ev...

I have really been enjoying my two-hour a day job in the school office where I've been working. It's a great mix of bustle and interesting people, but no stress since it's for such a limited number of hours. Although I wouldn't classify myself as a kid person per se (in the sense that teaching kids all day was never a field that interested me)I love seeing the ones that pass in and out of the school office for various reasons. It is a hoot to hear what some of those kids are thinking out loud! This last week, Naughty Boy had committed some indiscretion in his classroom and the consequence was spending the entire following day sitting outside of the Principal's office completing all of his classwork alone. As you can imagine, it was a long day for Naughty Boy, but he really was quite a trooper, although it was clear he was relieved when bus call finally arrived at the end of the day. Principal was having an end-of-the-day discussion with Naughty Boy to determine ...

Like most parents, I indulge in bragging on my kiddos once in a while and I try to return the favor and listen to other people brag on theirs. We keep so busy adoring our own kids though, that we usually don't take the time to admire other people's. I'll make an exception tonight and say that this is probably the sweetest rendition of this song that I've ever seen. Maybe it'll inspire you celebrate the Sabbath with equal enthusiasm.

....Senseo Style! My good friend got a Senseo that she wasn't using. We had bought Muh Main Man one for his office months ago, and I've been harboring jealousy ever since. But I just couldn't justify two Senseos in one family--especially since I already have a coffeepot that I love. Well, Good Friend said I could have hers. I picked it up yesterday and have gone through a fair share of pods already. I need to slow down. If for nothing other than the half 'n half that goes along with it's frothy awesomeness.

You might remember that last year about this time, I embarked on a 13-week trek as the coordinator for a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class at my church. We're currently in Week 3 for the second time through (and not because it didn't take the first time, either). We have a whole new batch of budget converts and we're all wishing that you could come along to visit for a class so you could get out of debt along with the rest of us. If you wanna know more, click on the link and maybe you can find a class at a location near you!

As long as I remember, I've aways loved Easter Sunday. True that as a kidster, I'm sure it had more to do with those satiny white gloves and floppy hat I always wanted to wear. Well, and perhaps the hidden Easter basket filled with cavity-promotion material. But as happens if you know Christ, the real reason for celebrating Easter begins to sink in, become personal and it's just ...well, thrilling! As my pastor, Dr. D said today, Jesus was the ultimate Comeback King. We all love comebacks, don't we? You know, rooting for the underdog, getting an unanticipated, exciting result and all that. Jesus beat unbelievable odds, shocked the cynics and beat the unbeatable - death and sin. And if you have Him in your life, you can make a comeback from your own bleak situation. The most awesome thing to me is that it wasn't an accident. It was planned that way. We just didn't know it at the time. The other thing that I love is that He died for each of us...He even ...

Muh Main Man is luckily the polar opposite of me--he's a morning person. Which I am not. Therefore he is on permanent alarm-clock backup which means if he wakes and my alarm has not gone off, he is under contract to wake me up. It only happens occasionally because I am compulsive about checking my alarm. And rechecking it. And checking it again. Actually, the problem isn't the alarm...it's the snooze button that I push until it stops going off. Which does happen more than occasionally. This morning was the first morning of Easter break. So I did not set my alarm. On purpose. Vacation days, especially Day One, are sacred sleep-in-as-late-as-you-want-with-no -disturbance days. I intended to sleep in until 10am. At least. Unfortunately, the Short People don't like to waste vacation days catching up on their sleep. Of course, they can barely drag out of bed on a regular school day, but snow days and vacation days call for efficient use of extra TV and computer ...

The awesome PTA that I'm part of at the School of the Short People recently nominated me for a Founder's Day award. Founders Day is a reminder of the substantial role that PTA has played locally, regionally, and nationally in supporting parent involvement and working on behalf of all children and families. Each year, people are selected from the individual PTA chapters to honor their contribution to the local school. Anyway, I got nominated this year. And it made me feel special.

But I coulda told you that without the test to prove it. 27

Thanks, Allana! Little Chic loved the skirt we won from your blog giveaway!

These days, with time at a premium, I just sometimes don't have a bloomin' thing worth reporting. I used to have a lot more time to just create a story out of nuthin' but that's not working for me lately. In the interest of keeping you in the loop of bloggy lifedom, though, I suppose I should fill you in on a few things that have, in fact, come to pass as I have put my poor Thinks on the back burner whilst putting out all the fires here and yon. #1-Little Chic had the honor of performing in an All County chorus this past weekend. Although thrilled for her, a little known fact about me is that I sincerely dread going to events where I am watching other people's children perform. Oh, I do love it when they watch mine, but I don't generally enjoy returning the favor (although of course, I do it with a brilliant smile). However, my bias was completely crushed when the concert turned out to be one of the most impressive I've ever attended. In a mere weekend ...

This is Awesome!

Actually, today was just dandy. I was yesterday that I barely survived. I woke up chilly. Not a good sign for a household that keeps the heat/air set to 70-degrees year round. I noticed that the upstairs thermostat was showing 65. I ventured downstairs, realizing that frost was beginning to form on my nose before I made it to the thermostat on the lower level. Okay, it was 60. But still . I turned off the furnace. I turned on the furnace. Nothing. As luck would have it, Muh Main Man was out of town for the entire weekend. A mayday call to his cell phone confirmed that he was out of service in the North Country. I decided not to rise to the occasion and prove myself self-sufficient. I called the furnace guy. Thankfully he was over within the hour and the Lord heard my prayers. We do not need a new furnace. But apparently I do need have my furnace serviced and cleaned at least as often as I do my windows. Fortunately the part only cost $7 plus a weekend service call, but t...

I have to say that I don't believe I have ever met a single person who had a February 29th birthday. What's the chance of that when my brother and I share a birthday (2 years apart) and my sister's is 10 days before ours (2 years later)?! I just couldn't pass up the chance to post something today, since I won't be posting again on this date for another four years. Frankly, it's downright weird to think that I could still be blogging in another four years.

Perhaps in honor of Starbucks closing for some special barista training today, Dunkin' Donuts is practically giving their small lattes away for .99 cents! Or perhaps it's in sympathy for all the northeastern parents who, after triumphing through a week of winter break from school, will more than likely greet their wee ones with an early release from school today due to a winter storm that is fast approaching. It's from 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm today only, which corresponds nicely with the 5:30 p.m. closing of Starbucks for three hours of emergency training on how to spiff up their processes. Or something or other. So find your closest location, haul it over to get any variety of a small latte and sip in oblivion while your kids hoot & holler about an extra hour to track in snow and ice all over your floors! You won't even mind the mess.

On Little Chic's snowmobiling trip with Dad. Even the deer like a little affection.

Brainy Boy is taking part in his first real grown-up act of supporting a mission cause tomorrow night. He, along with his youth group, are taking part in the 30-hour famine . It's a youth event sponsored by World Vision for the cause of world hunger. The idea is that the kids get sponsors to donate money to help feed hungry children across the world, and learn a lesson in compassion at the same time. The kids, in conjunction with a night of fun activities, will be fasting for a whole 30 hours!! Brainy Boy is just barely old enough to take part (you should be 12, and he will be in about 10 weeks) but he seems to really be looking forward to it. I'd like to think he's excited about the prospect of seeing what it's like to truly be hungry, but I suspect that playing paintball again as part of the activities of the night, is generating most of the enthusiasm. If you are inclined to support this event tomorrow night, drop me a line, and I'll tell you how to give a t...

In return for the many nights of sneaking under Little Chic's covers for a warm cuddle, DogSpot decided to pay back the favor and allow Little Chic a prime spot on her doggie cot in front of the fireplace.