Norah Jones has a new album that came out today... Not Too Late
I am sitting here, happily listening to her work her mojo. She is amazing. She just keeps getting better and better with age. I am LOVING it! Her first album was breath-taking. I heard her the first time driving along East Riverside, in Rockford. I lost myself in my thoughts. I remember my jaw just hitting the floor, and thinking "Oh. My. Goodness. I must have this album." I was lucky at that time, cause I had XM radio, and they would scroll the artist and title of the song across the face plate of your stereo. I promptly went to Borders, and got that CD. It never left my side. I was pregnant with Thing 3... I played that over and over. It was calming to me. Today, when I play that CD, Thing 3 will stop playing and listen intently as if it sounds very familiar to her.
If you need something calming... give Norah Jones a whirl. You can listen to alot of her songs on her website... just click on the link above! She'll work her mojo magic on you too!
Now, I'm off to La-la land... With Norah!
~Sigh~

Thing 3 came to me the other day and said, "It's too bad that we're not a happy family, huh Mom?!" I was sortof shocked and said, "What do you mean? Why aren't we a happy family?" She just sortof sighed, and said, "Well, we're not a happy family. Know why? Cause you only have me, and Thing 2 and Thing 1. We would be a happy family if we had 5 kids. But, we're not a happy family. We're a sad family, cause we don't have 5 kids."
Oh.
I had never thought of it quite like that before.
Maybe she's right. I mean, we ARE a happy family. But, maybe there's something better waiting around the bend for us.

Deep thoughts by Thing 3.

I finished the 4th, and what I hope is the last in the Traveling Pants series. I loved the first 3 books, but this one I was a little disappointed with. She clearly didn't know what to do with the series, or story line. There was a lot of unnecessary sex and the plot, in the end, did not resolve itself. However, I had started this adventure of the pants, so I finished it. If you have read the other 3 books, then you MUST finish the series... and thank the stars above that there will be no more books. Don't get me wrong. It was a quick easy read... but I find it extremely disturbing that this series target age was 12-18 year olds. I found the content of this last book to be very inappropriate for young girls. It was an adult book, with adult themes.
Oh well.
Live and learn.

I'm in the mood for a party.
Not just a get together, but a Par-tay!
I want it to be warm, with no snow, and lots of loud music. I want there to be lots of grilling, lots of screams from happy kids, and loud laughter from all the people hanging out having fun! And music. Lots of it.
I don't think that's too much to ask. Do you? I mean. When you're in the mood for a loud, outdoor party... but the weather isn't cooperating, what do you do?
Well, you plan. And plan. And plan some more.
I'm going to have a party. And, not just a party, but a PAR-TAY!!
I know a girl who knows a guy (I sound like the Sopranos there) that is a DJ. I am fairly certain that I can convice them to do this "gig" for free. Won't that be fun? A neighborhood street party?? I have to go get the permit from the city, and then they will come and block off my street. I'm going to enlist several grills from the neighbors, and have everyone bring a dish to pass and their own meat to grill. What more does the party need then people, food and music? In my backyard, I am going to set up some volleyball nets, and in the front yard there will be croquet. I don't know about you, but I think that sounds like a total blast. I had thought that I would get the fire department to come and let the kids play with their hoses, and have the police dog come and do a demo... then have the little street dance... maybe. My cousin is a cop, and he has the robo-dog cop thing that goes around to schools. I'm fairly certain that I could convince him to bring it... if we just fed him and his buddies. I am totally going to do it this year. I have been wanting to do this ever since I moved here... but have been rather intimidated doing it because I don't have the monstrostrocity of a house, or park like back-yard... but I have come to the conclusion that it really doesn't matter. If people don't come cause I'm one of the have-nots... well. Their loss. Not mine. I'm going to have the party. A loud, raucous, rip-roaring PAR-TAY! Come hell or high water.
Wanna come??

"I've never been in a ladies washroom."
"I have. They have a couch," - Two men selling purses on QVC

It's here again. Random 10 Friday.
Whatcha listenin' to?

1. In Your Eyes (Live) - Jeffrey Gaines
2. Be Here Now - Ray LaMontagne
3. Over My Head - The Fray
4. Dimonds On the Inside(live) - Ben Harper
5. A Complicated Song - Weird Al Yankovic
6. Get Out - Train
7. City Rain, City Streets - Ryan Adams
8. Gravel - Ani DiFranco
9. Hell Yeah - Montgomery Gentry
10. Stay (Live) - Alison Krauss

Bonus: The Shadowlands - Ryan Adams * steller steller steller song!!*

My kids amaze me. Often times, I find myself staring in amazement at them. How did these amazing kids come from me? I mean, I'm no super-hero-amazing strength- drop-dead gorgeous-killer brains-knock em -out -funny- kind of person.
I'm just me.
The Motherboard.
Plain and simple.
High maintenance, according to Jefe, but simple none the less.
So, how is that Jefe and I have such amazing kids? God knew we couldn't handle the pressure... so he just blessed us with these amazing 3 kids.

Thing 1 has scored in the top 2% in our district.
I know.
I gasped too.
I actually found myself saying: "Really? Are you sure?" I knew she was smart, but I didn't know she was THAT smart. Apparently she is, and I was wrong! We found out quite by accident. They (the school district) had wanted her to test for the gifted program that they have out here. We had done that out in Illinois, and Thing 1 really didn't like it. She LOVED the singing and dancing and all that razz-ma-tazz... but the 2hours a night homework was for the birds! She told them NO WAY! I honestly hadn't thought any more about it. Until we got a letter again from the district saying that she needed to attend the "gifted program meeting" that was being held at such and such time at such and such place. She and I sort of looked at each other, and shrugged. Whatever. Thing 1 said: "Just so you know Mom, I am NOT changing schools again. I want to go to MY JR. HIGH with MY friends."
Ok deary. Ok.
I was still curious, so I called and they said, "Well, her grades were so high, that we just found a spot for her. She is in the top 2%."
Uh.
Ok.
I find that a little scary!
She did the 6th grade spelling bee yesterday, and came in 2nd out of all the 6th graders. 2nd place!! I find that astounding. I remember when I would be in spelling bee's at her age, I NEVER made it to even the final 10, let alone the final 2. She said that she KNEW how to spell the word that got her out, but just sortof froze. Her mind went blank. She said once the letters started coming out, she realized she had spelled it wrong. Then she wanted to know what I thought.
Well, I think that is freaking amazing!! She did awesome! Who cares if she didn't get to go on to the district championship. She was the 2nd best speller in all of the 6th grade and thats wonderful!

Thing 3 came to me this morning, and handed me her foot, and started this little sniffling thing.
"Mom . (sniff sniff) My foot hurts. (sniff sniff) It has asthma."
Huh?
"My foot has asthma." she said again, exasperated .
When I asked her to explain, she said, "You know, my foot scratches like Thing 2's did. You should spray the asthma medicine on it."
Oh I see. Asthma. Athletes Foot. I can see how you would confuse the two!

"Here it is, Your moment of Zen." - Jon Stewart, "The Daily Show"

Random 10 Friday is here again!
La-dee-dah, and to-dul-dee-do!

1. Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of - U2
2. Spaceman - 4 Non Blondes
3 Comes A Time - Mutual Admiration Society
4. The Ghost In You - The Psychedelic Furs
5. Bad Day - Daniel Powter
6. The Way You Love Me - Faith Hill
7. Super Freak - Rick James
8. Knocking On Heaven's Door (Live) - The Alarm
9. Hurricane - Bob Dylan
10. Jolene - Ray Lamontagne

Bonus: 2001 - Melissa Etheridge

Thing 2 said the other night, that since Thing 1 has a cell phone, he wanted a car.
Well, that makes PERFECT sense!
I only see one flaw in his plan...
He's eight!

I woke up this morning and it was a nice 5 degrees... with a wind chill of -13.
Uhhh. That is freaking cold. When I left work last night at 10:30, I walked outside, and it was soo cold it literally took my breath away. This is like Illinois-Arctic-Blast cold. It's not supposed to be this cold here!
So, I am still dreaming of warmer places...

It's cold today. Cold and Icy. I can see the sun trying to peek through all the clouds. Its there, faintly. I don't do cold. I spend all winter trying to get warm. When we lived in Illinois, it was much worse. The only time I really was warm was in the shower in the morning, and in my car. I used to bundle the kids up in the car, and go for drives, just so that I could get warm. Now, I just jack the heat up, and turn on the fireplace. Seeing all the gray and just the faint hint of sun makes me long for summer. I want a warm place that I can kick my feet up, relax and just stare into oblivion not thinking about anything in particular... just vegging. Doesn't that sound inviting?
Maybe someplace like this...

Rock and Roll is the hamburger that ate the world. - Peter York

Random 10 Friday again... you know the drill!

1. Long Time Gone - Dixie Chicks
2. Gratitude - Ani Difranco
3. She Will Be Loved (Acoustic) - Maroon 5
4. Where You Lead Me - MercyMe
5. Rain Falls Down - Ryan Shupe & The Rubberband
6. The Hardest Part - Coldplay
7. Cosmic Girl - Jamiroquai
8. Sixty Eight Guns(Live) - The Alarm
9. The General - Dispatch
10. Collide - Howie Day

Bonus: I Don't Trust Myself (Loving You) - John Mayer

The Things missed the bus today. Actually, if we want to be PC... the bus never showed up. All the kids came trudging home saying that the bus never came.
Do you see that snow? This picture really doesn't do the amounts coming down justice. Its blowing and snowing... just like a regular old blizzard. The window in my office is plastered with snow! I'm not going out in THAT!!! We've been watching the people go up and down our road-- slipping and sliding all over, and they have 4 wheel drive. Can you imagine where I would end up? In a ditch somewhere! So, we are having school here today. I have sent each Thing to their respective rooms-- not because they are in trouble, but so that they can read in silence. While they are doing that, I am going to be printing off math worksheets, spelling worksheets, and Geography worksheets. Thing 2 informed me that today is music, so I should teach him some piano for music time. Oh. Ok. Good idea. I actually think this will be fun. Thing 3 was ecstatic... When Thing 2 told her he got to stay home, she started jumping up and down screaming: "Thing 2 is staying home! Thing 2 is staying home! YEAH!!!" She loves her brother!
Anyway... thats our day. Whats on your agenda?

A&E started The Sopranos last night.
I had always been intrigued with that show, but hadn't wanted to watch it when it was on HBO because of the language, sex, violence... yada yada yada. I suppose all the things that made it a good show. Not to mention the fact that I refuse to have HBO on any TV in my home.
Ever.
Period.
Anyway, when it started advertising that it would be on A&E... well we set the Tivo up. It will be another fun show to watch with Jefe. We are starting to get a good little groove. Heroes (which I LOVE!!) Lost. (It starts in 4 weeks!) Now The Sopranos.

NOTE TO SELF:
Not a good idea to watch The Sopranos at Midnight... because then you have mafia dreams ALL NIGHT LONG!!!
It makes for a tiring nights sleep!

I like my job. A lot.
Just how cheesey is it that I like being a checker at Kohls?
Pretty cheesey. But I do like my job. A lot.

"Strange things are afoot at the Circle K." - Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

Here's my random 10 for Random 10 Friday. What are you listening to?

1. Gone - Montgomery Gentry
2. Today - Smashing Pumpkins
3. Studying Stones - Ani DiFranco
4. E-Bay - Weird Al Yankovic
5. Beautiful - Nick Lachey
6. The Nearness Of You - Norah Jones
7. Vultures - John Mayer
8. Seen It All Before - Amos Lee
9. The Drugs Don't Work - Ben Harper
10. I'll Fly Away - Alison Krauss/Gillian Welch: O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Bonus: Alison (Live Version) - Elvis Costello

This is just 2 hours later...
Lots of snow...
Yikes!

Thing 3 says to me, almost daily: "Mom, why don't we trade Zoe in for a little little little tiny doggie? That would be more funner!"
I tell her she would miss Zoe.
No.
She says she won't.
I would like a little little tiny doggie...
But, I think that Zoe might EAT that little little tiny doggie.
Not really.
Sortof.
Anyway.
Thing 3 wants to get a new dog.
Especially when Zoe steals her food.
But, I still think she secretly loves Zoe.
Everyone has a love/hate relationship with the dog. They all say they hate her... but then I always find them secretly lovin' on her.
I like her, but thats cause she minds me.
HA!
I wanted a little little tiny doggie when we first decided to get a dog.
Jefe wanted a boxer.
He won.
Now, I wouldn't want anything else...
Well.
Except maybe one that wouldn't run away every time the front door comes open.
Or could be outside without being on a leash...
But other than that...
I love how they look, and how funny they are!

Finally.
It's finally happened.
Snow.
It's snowing here with such fervor that I think we may just finally be getting our blizzard!
I had been looking outside just yesterday thinking how sad it was that it was January 3rd, and there was NO SNOW...
Well.
Thats not a problem now.
There is snow.
Lots of snow.
Lots and Lots of Snow!
This morning when the Things left for school, there was NOTHING...
Now look at it!



And its supposed to snow all day... up to 5 inches.
Thats not that much, compared to what Denver got last week... but for those of us who are snow deprived, Its enough.
Enough to have to shovel my driveway, and make me go buy snow boots.
If I can find any that aren't hideous!

My cute neighbors that are in high school are all playing hooky and sledding down their driveway. Too fun!
It's finally winter here.

I have found my scrap booking soul mate.
Is that even possible?
Well.
SHE thinks so.
Thing 3 LOVES to create...
Cut, paste, stickers, color.
All of it.

It had gotten really quiet... thats is NEVER a good sign with Thing 3.
I looked around, and there she was happily on the floor cutting paper faster than she could find it. She looked up at me and grinned the biggest grin, and said "This is so fun Mom!"
Well.
That hooked me.
I immediately took her into the office, sat her up to the scrapbook desk, and started unloading all the papers, stickers and old photos that I will never use...
She was in HOG HEAVEN!!!
She sat there for over an hour cutting, pasting and creating works of sheer art!
She wanted to hang them all up on her door to her room.

How nice it is when you find something that you love!
Even better when its something that your 3 year old loves!!