Thinks By Me

I've resorted to plagiarizing other blogs (with permission, of course) because I can't muster a few creative minutes to come up with something original. School is out, but I worked two days after in the school office. Today was a long-awaited library day and getting ready for our vacation early next week. Tonight is the middle of the All-Stars softball tournament that will take up every waking moment other than church and packing this weekend. So to prove that I'm still here, here's a survey. You can copy if it you want. With this survey, you can only use one word answers 1. Where is your cell phone? Car. 2. Your significant other? Traveling. 3. Your hair? Short. 4. Your mother? Active 5. Your father? Working 6. Your favorite thing? Family 7. Your dream last night? Weird 8. Your favorite drink? Coffee 9. Your dream/goal? Balance 10. The room you’re in? Bedroom 11. Your church? Thriving 12. Your fear? Loss 13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here 14. Where were ...

Brainy Boy started wearing glasses when he was 4 years old, so I have not seen his beautiful blue eyes unencumbered, during waking hours for 8 years. He's 12 now, and responsible enough for contacts. Today was his first day at school with them. Only the excitement of showing off his new look was enough to keep him determined during the 25-minute process to get them in. The thing is, now he looks even more like his dad, if that's possible!

Seen in the local grocery store today (when running in to buy a gallon of milk). "In cooperation with NYSEG (our electric company) we are cutting back on lights and electricity. We are sorry for any inconvenience." I have no idea what in the world they are thinking, but I'm thinking that I won't be buying anything refrigerated or frozen from there. And the lights just may be too dim for me to sign my check ;)

Th' Good - It seems that the problem with my internet service for the past two months boiled down to a conflict between my Norton antivirus firewall and my wireless router firewall. I'm going with that story although we've had two other false-fixes from the lovely Time Warner tech, so time will tell. It's probably a good sign that I did stay up and running even during a thunderstorm today. That makes us all happy because when my internet is down--well, it's not so easy to stay pretty during those times, Ya'll. Th' Bad - I can no longer blame my lack of blogging on lack of internet. I have to come up with yet another creative excuse for why my blog has become more of a task than an outlet for the last month or so. It seems that working nigh to full-time takes a toll on more than my laundry basket. I've been filling in for a sick co-worker so, sadly, you'll have to do with less of my pontificating for a bit longer--till school's out on the lo...

What a great way to spend the last 19 years! Muh Main Man is at a week-long school trip in the Catskills with Brainy Boy as part of the 6th grade Science curriculum. So Little Chic and I are taking the burden of celebrating upon ourselves ;)

Happy Birthday, Sweets!

For me, this is the joy of being alive. Being a mom is something I had no idea I ever wanted. Thank God He knew! Brainy Boy turned 12 on May 2, Little Chic will be 11 in September. This season of my life has been more than I could have ever asked for. What a privilege to have the honor of getting to watch two lives shape into the awesome people they are becoming! The Edible Arrangement was pretty sweet too!

I'm alive, but haven't been able to confirm that this week. Lots of stuff happening, and I'll get a chance to tell you soon... 1) Internet was broken, but thank goodness I'm a doityerselfer who knows nothing about anything. I guess I get lucky. It seems I've fixed it for now. I have no idea what I did to fix it, but it's working for the moment. 2) I turned 39 last week. I know, I know. Hard to believe ;) 3) Brainy Boy turned 12 last week too. Even harder to believe. Because I look so doggone young. 4) Wii gotta Wii. My shoulder is killing me, but I kick butt in ping pong and tennis. You'd think I'd kick butt in boxing, considering that I kickbox three days a week. But apparently pretending to beat somebody to pulp is much harder than doing it for real. Which brings me to the story that Muh Main Man almost got his hind end kicked when he snuck up behind me in Walmart today. He thanks his lucky stars for peripheral vision because I saw him out...

This is what I was trying to post on my Birthday! Compliments to Best Brother who also shares the Special Day.

Little Chic's school did a spin-off of American Idol to celebrate reading. She and a friend wrote a song about the library and performed it in front of the school. They made it through the initial round, and then on to "Hollywood" where they performed in front of the whole school yesterday. They didn't win the contest, but they were the only ones whose picture was printed in the local paper! Also shown in the picture is "Principal" playing Randy Jackson, "Gym Teacher" playing Paula and "Reading Teacher" playing Simon Cowell. It's a nice effect that that Reading Teacher happens to be from England. The accent works.

If I were more technically savvy than I am, I'd figure how to post this video directly to my blog. But I'm not. So I can't. But, if you want to hear about the funniest Birthday Greeting an auntie can get, click on THIS HERE LINK and hear Cameron singing to .... well, he really has no idea. And how clever is it that Dear Brother conveniently leaves out the fact that he shares the experience of growing a year older along with me. It's the two year old who has to remind him.

I regret the sorry volume of posting lately, but thought you might be interested to know that Muh Main Man recovered this unfortunate young man from the river this evening. There. I've posted.

It's not often that I get surprises, but when I do, I love 'em. Especially when they come from Hawaii. Huh-wah-yee, People! The lovely Laura & Michael Perry from Withinhisgrace.com emailed me and told me I could pick out some stuff from their web site and they would mail it to me. Just because they like my blog! How sweet are they?! I. Love. Them. Not wanting to impose, I had Little Chic pick out her two favorite items. I could have picked a dozen, let me tell ya. I love all that kind of stuff. Anyway, I told them that we wanted the Romans cap and the pink Name shirt. I don't think I've ever gotten a package from Hawaii. Well, before now. Yay! It came, and not only was the super-cute shirt and hat in there, they sent more. I love bonuses almost as much as I love surprises. So here's just a teeny-weeny sampling of what they have. Go take a look around. Return the favor to the Perrys. Order some stuff.

She's younger than me, but that's okay. I LUV her! Go wish her a Happy Birthday!

#3 is False. Although I am one to force myself to face my fears i.e., I'll run out to the car to retrieve something I've forgotten without a flashlight, even though I'm afraid of the dark; AND I always ride the roller coasters at amusement parks even though I'm afraid of heights; AND I always squish the spiders myself even though they give me the heebie-jeebies....I have not and have no plans to bungee jump. I' had the opportunity once and passed on it. I thoroughly convinced myself that I do not need to prove that I can. That would be unless the Amazing Race comes calling. Then I'd do it. But that's the only way. Not because I'm afraid. I just don't need to.

Back in my working-full time-outside-the-home days, one of my jobs was as a corporate facilitator and I conducted classes in management and interpersonal skills. At one point, I had to facilitate a class in interpersonal skills to a group of hairdressers for a continuing education seminar they were taking at a local SUNY college. I can honestly say that I hope it is a very long time (as in, never again) before I am surrounded by a group of 75 hairdressers role playing how they'll handle their more "difficult" clients in the future....

When I was about 17, I was on a bike-a-thon with my high school class (probably raising money for our infamous European Senior class trip, or something). But anyway. We rode the length of Jupiter Island and were on our way back -- and as we were crossing a highway, we had to stop in the median to wait for traffic. But traffic did not wait for us. Great-Grandma Moses an her equally ancient companion careened into the median and the car bumper hit me squarely behind the knees and in the lower back, hurling me across not only my bike, but the bikes of several of my riding companions. The look of horror on GGM's face revealed that her family had probably been threatening to revoke her driving privileges at any moment. She wasn't taking any chances and after a slight pause of conscience, she decided to stay in the dark as to whether she was a murderer or simply the cause of a few scrapes and bruises. Fortunately for us all, I suffered no more than some sore muscles and a scrape...

It's not Starbucks, but hey, it just might fit the bill if you are in to the emotional eating thing. To make you feel better if you owe taxes--or to celebrate if you're getting some back. But I won't be partaking as I don't need any excuses to put back on even one of the 20 pounds I've lost.

The story behind it... When I was about 11 years old, in sixth grade, we were living in Greenville, South Carolina. One afternoon during a huge thunderstorm, I was sitting in front of our large picture window waiting for my mom to get home from work. I was sitting backward on our couch with my arms on the back of the couch, head propped on my arms, looking out the window. Suddenly a huge bolt of lightening struck a big tree right outside the window. Somehow a flash of the lightening came through the window and caught the edge of a metal watch I was wearing. I was left with thin red burned streak down the back of my hand. If I remember right, my sister was sitting alongside me, but I'm not sure. I have no scars to show for it, but my mother's word will have to corroborate my claim ;)

In an effort to be intriguing, I decided to bring this popular game to the blogdom. If you wanna play along, you have to guess which three "facts" are true about me and which one is not. It's simple....or not. 1) I've been struck by lightening....with no scars to show for it. 2) I was hit by a car while biking....and the driver looked at me in horror and sped off. 3) I mustered my courage and went bungee jumping...but due to my fear of heights, I vowed I never would again (well-unless I'm required by the Amazing Race WHEN I compete some day). 4) I taught a class at a SUNY college...and I have no college degree. Answers will be revealed under separate post at my next whim ;)