When Jan asked me to catch her bucket, I was thrilled. She has been doing these awesome bucket fillers every day that I have thoroughly enjoyed. I have been begging her to tell me where she got the idea, how it was presented and everything that went along with it... I guess this is what I get for being so enthusiastic! (just kidding Jan! You know I'm excited!)

Jan and I have known each other for almost 15 years. We lost touch with each other for quite a long time... but I am so grateful we found each other again-- all because of this blogging gig. Her blog is so peaceful, and refreshing. I like to go visit her often. She is always filling MY bucket... so I hope that this month I can fill hers.

So, without further adieu-- here is the first bucket filler.

Today, treat yourself to a deluxe box of crayons with all the colors or a fabulous set of colored pencils. With this, create a sign that says: “I was made good” and hang it where you will see it often. Repeat it to yourself daily this month.

Every summer, I have a song that will become an anthem of sorts. I suppose it started the first summer I had a job. I was 14, and was working at the local amusement park. I was the person who worked the entrance gate-- I took your ticket, stamped your hand and told you to "have a great day!" Over and over. All summer long.

That was back in the day when live music was appreciated and loved. There were several live bands through out the park and a real live marching band. Next to where I worked, was one of the main bandstands. That first summer of my employment, that band would play 4 times a day... 5 on Saturdays.

I worked a lot that summer, so I became very familiar with their routine. I knew the order of the songs that they played, and even learned the silly routine they would ramble between songs. Each time had a different "set" and the afternoon set that played this song was my favorite "set".

They had a wicked drummer. He knew how to hammer those drums like you could not believe! Later in the summer, my friend would sub on occasion and it would make day to go watch him and have him spin his sticks, and nod my way...

I got to where I had the drum part memorized on this particular song. I would pound it out on my desk and think I was pretty cool. Once I moved into the office, I realized that everyone would watch me jam out on my drum solo.
I was rather embarrassed.
Oh well.

To this day, I have a hard time not spazzing out when I hear this song... I would totally ROCK on Rock band if you let me play the drums!

(which btw I want desperately! Thing2 has been campaigning for me to Jefe... but still no rock band!)

I still am pretty wicked with my air drumming.

Don't you wish you could see it?

The Professor, my father-in-law, died 6 years ago yesterday. I found myself for most of the day with my thoughts on him. I would remember the funny things he said and funny things he did. He was a quirky man, but I respected him and loved him.

My love affair with the Midwest started when I sat under a tree in his backyard and was freaking out by the sound the cicadas make, and him laughing at my reaction. I was completely freaked out by the bugs, even more so after he explained what they looked like. Then he started in on a description of the characteristics of The Midwest-- Illinois in particular-- and he had my rapt attention. He was a word smith. His carefully crafted description of the opossums, spider webbed trees, knotty old-hollowed out trees, fireflies and cicadas... the pumpkin patch and apple barns, the corn, harvest time and even the birds... He had me hooked.

He told me I would fall in love with The Midwest and never want to leave... just like he did. He was right. I did fall in love with it out there... and I never wanted to leave.

He was killed in a motorcycle accident in a K-mart parking lot. Just like that. In the blink of an eye, your world can change. It was the most heart wrenching experience I have been through thus far in my life.

When my bro in law called me that day... I will be honest. I thought he was calling because he was in jail. He was being much too chatty with me (he usually only wanted to chat with Jefe) and then he said he needed me to speak with someone. I figured then he was in jail and needed Jefe to come bail him out. (sorry L!)

When the woman got on the phone, she told me her name and official title-- which just flew over my head as I was waiting for the bail amount. She told me The Professor had been in an accident and had been transported to the hospital.

I kept asking her what hospital? I will be there in no less than 2 hours.

(I remember every little detail from that moment on...It was like time stopped. The kitchen sink was filling up with water... The meat on the stove that I was cooking for dinner was popping... The TV was blaring and the kids were swimming in the pool.)

She kept repeating the same things over and over again. I remember getting rather irritated that she wasn't telling me WHERE The Professor was. Then she got a little forceful and said "Motherboard. He is dead. You can not go get him. He has been claimed. He did not survive. He died. "

At that moment, my heart broke.

I had to figure out a way to tell Jefe. It was the most agonizing time I had. What did I do? How did I tell him?

The next few days were a blur. But, Jefe was amazing. He pulled his family together. He comforted his siblings in ways that only the oldest child can. We got Soldier brother here from Germany and together they planned the funeral. Those children buried their father... together.

I didn't get to say goodbye to The Professor. The viewing was more than my 2 young children could handle. The cathedral we held the funeral in was beautiful, but seeing their Grandpa there, was more than they could handle. I took them home, and we played games in Grandpas house. Everyone came back to the condo and we sat around telling Professor stories and laughed ourselves silly. We ordered food from his favorite restaurant-- no one could make up their mind-- so we really did order one of everything.
And, we had a party in his honor.

I learned more about The Professor after he died by driving his cars. His cars were "groupie" cars-- he belonged to a sort of "secret society". The Jeep people would all wave at each other, and the Corvette people would all nod, and the Harley folks would give the "low handed wave". He was a sentimental man, who loved good literature, good music and good wine. He introduced me to not only the beauty of the Midwest but also Steak n Shake. You have never had a milkshake until you've had Steak n Shakes!

This man, The Professor, was brilliant. He was an English Professor at the local University. He was an academic at heart and so his name will live on with a scholarship we set up in his name.

Jefe's family is very different from the family I grew up in. Marrying into a family with different religious views is interesting at best. They keep me off my high horse and remind me to "be normal Motherboard". I love this family. Jefe's brothers have become the brothers I never had. His sister is my dear friend, whom I trust with my deepest thoughts. His Mother is a jewel. And, even The Professors girlfriends became a fun memory, with good stories!
I love this family.... My family.

I grew to love this man, The Professor and today I miss him.

I don't own a cell phone or a pager. I just hang around everyone I know, all the time. If someone wants to get a hold of me, they just say 'Mitch,' and I say 'what?' and turn my head slightly.
- Mitch Hedberg

Have you ever seen Mitch Hedberg? He is one of the few comedians that make me snort. Right out loud. See? Right there... I snorted right out loud on his donut bit...His routine is basically just one liners, and I find them hilarious! They are brilliant, and I find myself thinking "why didn't I think of that..."
It was a sad day when he died.

There is new music up over there in the side bar. You will have to click on it, since I refuse to have music randomly start playing on my blog. It scares the crap out of me when it starts on others blogs.
Don't worry.
I know how to shut off my speakers.

It's the greatest hits from Random 10 Friday. Click on the pop out if you don't want to blog park... Just know that I am at home listening and be-bopping around my house cleaning away... Singing at the top of my lungs and dancing!
You would be very afraid if you could see me dancing.
I dance like Elaine on Seinfeld.

Not really.
But my kids think so.

Anyway, enjoy!

Remember how I told you I wanted to get Nie Nie's balloons launched on Saturday, but didn't cause my life took over?

I finally did it.

We did it last night for our Family Home Evening. The kids loved it! I had them watch the Nie Nie video last week, so they knew what we were doing. I was excited... and I was excited about how excited the kids were about doing this!

Ever since we watched that video, Thing 3 in almost all her prayers, asks Heavenly Father to bless "that Mommy and Daddy in the hospital, and help them go home to their babies."

Does that make you wanna bawl buckets?? She got the whole idea of this balloon launch. And her excitement has rubbed off on the other kids.

We all went together (sans Jefe) and picked up all 30 balloons.
Yes.
Thirty.
30 bright, colorful balloons!
The kids loved walking through Wal-mart with all the balloons... we looked like the circus had come to town. It was actually quite tricky getting them into our car. I am proud to report we only had 2 casualties!

When we got home we "prepared" the balloons. I loved what Jan did-- sending up wishes and prayers for friends... So we totally copied her! There was Nie Nie's and Mr. Nielson's; a man in our neighborhood with Colon Cancer; Frumpy and Tumey and Jan's Dad... My second Dad while I was on my mission.



For family night we talked about a "change of heart". We sang "I am a child of God" and then I read them these scriptures:

And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved.
And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?

We talked about changes... and all the changes that we would be doing this year. I had them each think of 3 goals that they wanted to accomplish and write them down on 1 side of the paper. On the other side I had them write down 3 changes they were going to make to be better people... 3 changes that would help them receive His image in their countenance.

(Jefe totally cheated. He wrote down that he wanted learn Klingon. Wha? Klingon? Are you kidding me?? I will totally pay him $500 if he actually does that!)

(actually he will pay himself $500 since he is the bread winner. But whatever.)

Each goal and change was tied to one of the balloons. The kids loved this. It was so fun to write down our hopes, wishes and prayers of how we wanted to change and be better... in all aspects of our lives. Thing 3 even made sure we did some for Moxie.

This was a wonderful thing to do with my family... and I think I am going to adopt this as our new tradition for the start of each new school year! What a great way to write down the things you want to change about yourself... and then give them a grand send off!

Thank you NieNie for the new tradition.

Danger Will Robinson... This is a long post!

Remember THIS post?
I was all gun ho about sending the balloons off to heaven (as Thing 3 calls it) I had it all planned. I was going to get a bouquet for Nie Nie and Mr. Nielson. Then I was going to get a bouquet for my kids and I to write our wishes and prayers on.
It was going to be brilliant.
We would laugh, and cry and hug and all would be well with the world.

Well. This is how I spent Friday.
And Saturday.
And Yes.
Even Sunday.

That doesn't count the office that I de-junked (2 garbage bags worth. Thank you very much!)
Or the 2 garbage bags of clothes & junk from Thing1's bedroom.
Or cleaning the entire house (Except for the kids rooms. Thanks Jefe)
Or grocery shopping.

Tired yet?
Yeah. Me too.

So.
I didn't get Nie Nie done on Saturday.

Dear Qwest,

Your service has been lacking lately.

I'm sick of the internet crashing.

You suck and I hate you.

Get it together, ummkay?

Thanks,

The Motherboard

I watched this video in its entirety last night. I had to choke back the tears. I promise, you should watch it and see if you don't catch the spirit of these two people that the world is falling in love with.

Don't forget to include them in your prayers, and remember to do your balloon launch tonight!! At the end of the video is an email address that you can email your photos that you are going to take of you launching your balloons.

This has been going around the blog-o-sphere all week but I am just a slow poke. I didn't want to trivialize what has happened by being a copy-cat, so I had yet to jump on the train. You can read about them here , here and here.

I have been reading Cjane pretty much from the beginning of my blogging life. She is delightful, funny and insightful. I started reading Nie Nie when I would see blogs with her button on them. I was curious as to who would be so cool that they would have their own buttons. I do not KNOW either of them, however, I feel like I know them. I would settle in with my morning cup of joe (read:diet coke) and take a peek into their lives.

I have enjoyed peeking into their lives and seeing different ways to live... sometimes even better ways.

I have been blogging for 3 years now... but feel like my birth happened when my Prophet died, and I started commenting on others blogs. Before this event, I was a lurker. I read lots of blogs, but I didn't comment. I was hesitant to invite people into my life. To let people see the good bad and not so pretty (lets not call it ugly, ummkay?!).

I realize now, after seeing how this blogging world has reached out to Nie and her sister, that I had been selfish. That blogging truth, your life in all its varying degrees -- the who you are and being proud of it-- is a blessing. Nie Nie has blessed so many peoples lives through her blog.

I want to help. You can donate money for their recovery on either of their blogs. It will be extensive, costly and long. They have 4 young children. I worry about them; wonder about them and pray for them.

There is going to be a balloon launch this Saturday. I plan on writing my wishes and prayers on the balloons and launching them at the designated time (5pm/6pm/7pm/8pm). Originally it was red balloons, however, now they are saying that green is Nie Nie's favorite color, and orange is her husband, Christians, favorite color. I will do all three.

I am taking my children to do this as well. I want them to participate and feel the connection to something bigger... something other than themselves. I am just going to do it from my backyard... but I would encourage you to do the launch... wherever you may be.

I have been intrigued with the locations of people that are participating in this event. All across the Continental US and throughout Europe as well. This blogging thing is a beautiful thing. It brings so many people together. It creates a community and friendship. For me, it has helped me to realize that I am not alone in the struggles that are mine. And in that there is comfort.

Recently someone was chastising me about the amount of time I spend doing this little blogging gig (which in reality is not any longer than those who like to exercise) and I had been feeling a little bad about it. However, this blogging gig? It has been a wonderful thing. My imaginary friends are real to me. Their lives are important. Blogging has helped me to remember that the world does not revolve around ME, and there are bigger things out there for me to experience.

Please take the time to look into the lives of Stephanie aka Nie Nie and her sister. Read the posts on Cjanes blog about her sister. Then, I challenge you to commit to living your life better. Just one area. Be better. Then write it on a balloon and send it up for them.

Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms.
- You've Got Mail

My dumb dog will not eat her food unless it has been sitting out, in her bowl for a couple of hours. Its as if she is waiting for it to "age". Does dog food age? Does it taste better if it has been airing out? She can be starving, but if it hasn't been sitting there, aging, then she will continue to starve until the food has reached the proper "aging level".
I know.
I have a freaky deeky dog!

School starts on Monday.
I feel a little verklempt. It is a strange feeling, this melancholy I feel. The kids are irritating each other, and are ready to be back on our normal school schedules. However, I am feeling a little sad. I will miss them, and everything that goes along with them being home.

I love the fall. It is my favorite time of the year. The temperature is perfect. Cool evenings, warm days, brisk mornings. Its perfect. Football games. I love the sound of football games and the memories that they invoke.

I love the changing colors of the leaves, and the smell of the harvesting. I miss the harvest. It was such an exciting time when you would see the combines out in the fields bringing in their crops. The pumpkin patches would open, and Orchards would let you come and pick... I miss that. I want someday to own an Apple farm/pumpkin farm. With all the varying things that accompany it. The crafters barn, all the vintage stuff, the hay rides, the pumpkin donuts and apple cider; the REAL BBQ (not just burgers) and fudge. And all the various tacky local entertainment I can find.
Doesn't that sound divine?
(yes. pun intended)

I want the play yard for the kids with the petting zoo. I want to let people go pick their own pumpkins and spend an afternoon at my home for the annual fall harvest party.

Would you come to my annual party?

(if you live in the Chicago area, I am betting you can guess what I am describing!)

When I have my own world, I will have it be fall eternally.
Just cause I can.
I love it that much!

I will be doing a post later about THIS, but just wanted you to think about getting some balloons and writing your wishes and prayers on them and setting them free tomorrow evening. I am thinking about making this an annual tradition.
Wouldn't that be grand?
Seeing all the balloons from all of us bloggers flying through the sky?

It's Random 10 Friday folks. Are you playing? Do you have any good tunes for me?

1. I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters *i love this song! these guys are wicked awesome and make me think of my youth! I dare you to listen to this and NOT dance! Can you name who they sound like?*
2. Baby's Got Sauce - G. Love & Special Sauce
3. Casimir Pulaski Day - Sufjan Stevens
4. Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe - Barry White
5. Grapevine Fires - Death Cab for Cutie
6. Mr Curiosity - Jason Mraz
7. Truth - Amos Lee
8. Without You - Ayo
9. Vive la Vida - Coldplay
10. How to Save a Life - The Fray

Dear self:
Your pasty white skin does not a suntan make. Next time please wear sunscreen. Or at least sun tan lotion. This whole burned shoulders and wearing a bra thing? Yeah. They really don't mix well.

I'm just sayin'.

Thanks for listening,

The Motherboard

THIS article on CNN tells me one of three things is happening...

1. The world is quickly coming to an end.

2. The world is being taken over by crazy people.

3. CNN is having an extremely slow news week.

As a last hurrah! before school starts, I took Thing 1 to eat at The Cheesecake Factory. I hadn't eaten there since living in Chicago. I used to make the pilgrimage downtown to partake of the sweet goodness that is The Cheesecake Factory (insert deep, echoing man voice here) quite regularly. I have been known to drag my children down there to eat... Just the 3 of us when Jefe was working.

I have a thing for eating out. I think its quite interesting actually. When I was younger, I used to starve myself. Now, I stuff myself. I have an unhealthy relationship with food. Its true.

Everything always tastes better when someone else makes it. When you are the Mom (read:cook, waitress and busboy) the only way to get that "good meal" is to go out.

Anyway.

I like to eat out.
A lot.
And I do.
A lot.

I find myself really agonizing over my meal selection when I go to a nice restaurant. What if this were it? My last meal? What would I want it to be? The chicken, steak or specialty salad? I have a very difficult time choosing, and find myself irritated when people out order me!

I know. I am sick and in need of therapy.

But, I do believe that today's eating adventure satisfied the Crazy lady in me.
For the price of what it would cost me to fill my van up with gas (read:$86.00)...

(Gasp! I know. I freaked out too. Big time! Jefe was all Good Grief! Was it gold plated food??!)

That there meal of mine?

It was oh. so. good.

Embarrassment. It's pretty much synonymous with Motherboard! I have so many embarrassing moments that it is actually quite difficult for me to pick my favorites.

I could tell you about the time I fell off my chair in the middle of my sisters performance and yelled out "Holy Sh@$!... But changed my mind half-way through my scream to Shoot...During the scene change (read: deathly quiet).
Yeah.
That was scha-weet.

I could tell you about the time I was taking a shower in our new house. I was happily showering, while looking out the window watching the worker men in the neighbors yard and I found myself thinking: "Man. This is great! I can shower and look at nature while I am communing with nature."
Awesome.

It was on the rinse and repeat cycle when it dawned on me.

Actually, it was the worker man in my neighbors yard stopping and doing a double take that made me have my come to Jesus moment.
If I could see him... That meant...

Oh my hell.

Could he see me?

He could see me!

Yeah. Awesome!

Or how about the time I was nursing Moxie... at the county fair? I had my sweet "hooter hider" on and had settled down to listen to the crazy old man sing the same song over and over again... while saying "check, check". (Yes. The Tom Hanks skit from SNL totally ran through my brain too.)

What is important to note is that just as I got Moxie all situated and I was covered, and the sound man was "checking" away... A rather large gust of wind came through the tent that I was sitting in. My awesome hooter hider ended up around my neck and the entire tent plus 2 more tents got a flash from The Motherboard.
Yes.
A flash.
Actually more like a giant woot-woo!
That lasted really really long. Like an eternity. With my girl hanging out there in the wind...
I wanted to curl up and DIE!

The sound check guys were pretty stoked. My poor friend got an eyeful, and it took our friendship to a whole new level. (Sorry Harm!)

I am saving the best for last. And for another post on another day when I feel the urge to have all of internet-dom laughing at me. Until then, just realize that if you have something embarrassing happen to you... I am right there with you.

And usually, mine are colossal.

We went to the County Fair this weekend and the kids had blast! We were the ones enjoying the Magician, and the funnel cake.

We also really liked the chicken with no feathers.

Did you see us?
We were the ones being cat-called by the Milk Man trying to get us to sign up for his service...

**crickets chirping**

Yes.
Cat call.
Didn't he learn in sales 101 that cat calling the mommies on the midway is a sure fire way to not get a sale?

I'm just sayin'.

Thing 2 is still alive, and still playing football. We are, however, going to win the bad parent of the year award. Wanna know why? Well. He was having a hard time wanting to tackle the other boys. It seemed like he was being mean. I mean, he would usually get in trouble for doing stuff like this, and now we want him to "go for the jugular?"

Talk about mixed messages.
So, we have started paying him money for every tackle he makes. He gets an extra bonus if he causes a fumble.
Can I just say, he is a new rabid football player?
Money.
Apparently, it really does make the world go round.

"Now from what I hear, you're using your paper not for writin' but for rolling doobies! You're gonna be doing a lot of doobie rollin' when you're living in a van down by the river!" Matt Foley , motivational speaker.

I had that as a ring tone for a long time. But, when my pre-schooler started yelling it word for word in the middle of Target -- and once at church... Well. I decided it probably wasn't the best ring tone. Even though it's freakin' funny.

At the old church we went to, we had a guy that would get up to the pulpit during testimony meeting and punctuate his sentences with Elvis Presley impersonations and Woody Woodpecker sound effects. Sacrament time was a blast, because you never knew what you were going to get! We even had people get up and accidentally swear over the pulpit... Now? Nothing. There is no need for those seat belts people, because it's predictable. Almost, dare I say it? Boring. (did you hear the whoosh of unsubscribe being hit?)

I get bored in Sacrament meeting now. I know. I am bad. Jefe and I use Moxie as an excuse to leave particularly boring meetings, or ones where people are sharing just a little TOO much information.
You know the ones right?
So, even if Moxie is being good as gold (which is usually what it is), we take her out because we are bored.

Save the lectures. I know that I should be sitting there, following along in my scriptures. Praying. But, in reality I am trying to keep world war 3 from breaking out back there in the back. Most Moms will sit there, with rapt attention, ignoring the increasing noise level... when my kids are being naughty?
I take Moxie out.
Thing1 says I pretend I don't know them.

1. Violet Hill - Coldplay
2. 3R's - Jack Johnson
3. Nothingtown - The Offspring
4. Steady As We Go - Dave Matthews Band
5. Voices Carry - Til Tuesday
6. You Get What You Give - New Radicals
7. Bless This Broken Road - Rascal Flatts
8. Within You - Ray LaMontagne
9. Relative -Gavin Degraw
10. Yes - Coldplay

Bonus: Kid - Amos Lee

I have always wanted to be bi-lingual, or at least marry someone who was bi-lingual.
Oh wait.
I did.
Jefe is bi-lingual. He speaks beautiful Castillian Spanish... from living in Spain.
But in my head, when I was growing up, he would be all tres chic, with a heavy accent and French music would be playing in the background.

It's so not like that.

My foreign language abilities consisted, prior to my mission, of being able to ask where the bathrooms were, and tell you about my horse that fell off the bridge (don't ask) in Spanish and being able to order some red wine in French.

Never mind the fact that I don't drink, nor do I have a horse.

How are my bi-lingual abilities now? Well. Now, I can shoot the breeze with the smartest 3 year olds around. That is, until my sisters come to town. Then we revert back to our own second language.

My parents used to talk it to keep "big ears" from listening. At least thats what they used to tell me. It took us each a while before we were able to figure out what they were saying... but then we would each start joining in the conversations once we figured it out. Usually when we were in our pre-teen years we would finally catch on.

Jefe and I speak it too. But, I have to talk really slow with him. Thats no fun. When my sisters come to town, we start talking it SO fast that its just a whirl-wind of chaos.
And it is Oh. So. Fun.

You're dying to know what my "real" second language is, aren't you?

Pig latin.

An-cay Oo-yay Eak-spay Ig-pay Atin-lay?
I-yay An-cay.
Eally-ray Ast-fay. And-yay I-yay ean-may EALLY-RAY ast-fay.

It-yay is-yay eally-ray un-fay oo-tay ee-say eople-pays aces-fay en-way oo-yay eak-bray out-yay in-yay ig-pay atin-lay. unce-way ere-they as-way a-yay issionary-may at-thay oke-spay ig-pay atin-lay in-yay anish-pay. i-may ead-hay urt-hay en-way e-hay ould-way oo-day at-thay!