I'll bet living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween. ~Author Unknown

Why is it that for 364 days of the year we discourage our kids from talking to strangers? We tell them to "run the other way from the scary person trying to give them candy"?

Yet.

YET!

One day of the year it suddenly becomes not only OK, but us parents strongly encourage our children to go out and gather as much candy as their little bodies can carry FROM STRANGERS?? Not only do we encourage them to gather the candy, but we let them eat it too??
Why?
Does that strike anyone else as odd??

Not that I am complaining. Nooooo! Not at all. I am always the one that takes the kids Trick or Treating. Jefe would just do one side of the street and be done. But not me baby! I hit entire neighborhoods. My kids are crying "Momma. I'm tired. I wanna go home" and I'm pushing them on like a crazed crack head...

Me: No. We need more candy. Just 3 more houses.

Them: You said THAT 3 houses ago Momma. We're tired.

Me: Do you know how lucky you are to have a Mother who is a candy addict? Now go and get me more candy. Umm. whoops. I mean you. YOU more candy!


I watched the sunrise this morning... it wasn't that hard it was 8:00 in the morning.
YES!!
8:00 in the A.M. When the sun started sending pink lights across the sky. EIGHT people. Eight. What the heck?? That is just not right.

Does congress have nothing better to do than mess with the daylight savings time? (why did they change it?? seriously. is there nothing better for them to do??)

Don't forget to vote.


Check THIS out. Is that not the cutest thing you have ever seen?? Or at least one of them?? If I had one ounce of crafting juices left in my body, I would attempt to make that... but I fear my crafting mojo has all run south for the winter.... or for life... I just can't seem to find that crafting mojo. Maybe its with all my decorations that have conveniently gone missing??


I like commas. A lot. Have you noticed? I put them, like everywhere. I, like them. To me they are the dramatic pause, that I hear in my head, as I am, typing my stuff... I like them. I use them. So what?? Jefe told me recently that my comma usage and dash (--) usage boggles his editorial mind. I just shrugged my shoulders, and inserted a dash-- and another comma, or two, or three.

We are headed to Yellowstone this weekend. I am pretty stoked. We've got a cabin on a lake and are vegging all weekend long. Thing 3 has been packed for 3 days now. Do you think she is excited?? I do! (i am too. it will be SO nice to get away!) I am hoping for some sweet shots of animals or geysers or other such things from nature. There will be no phone service and no television. I am excited, but a little worried. I hope the kids don't kill each other...


Our fun neighbors brought us over a can of "bear be gone" spray for our little adventure! Jefe was really excited about this can of bear be gone spray, and it got me to thinking...

I am going to make (whoa. creative?) a can of "mean girl be gone" spray. All you will have to do is when the girl (or woman) is being mean... say "Hey! Can you hold that thought?" Then get out your mean girl be gone spray and spray it in her face... then I would strongly suggest running the other way.

See? Wah-laa... the mean girl is gone.
What do you think? Will I be a millionaire by next Friday with this hair brained scheme?? I could sell it for $9.99 a can. I think all the junior high girls will be buying it by the box... what do you think??


I can't believe that tomorrow is November.
NOVEMBER!! WTH??
Where has all the time gone? Seriously! I think we have entered some weird cosmic time warp... it's sort of freaking me out.


There ya have it, my random thoughts for the week! I put together a little Halloween play list for you to listen to... just another service I provide over here in Crazyland. It's just some random Halloween tune-age that Thing 3 helped me pick out... she danced her little booty off this morning picking out the songs for you to listen too!

Have a great Halloween, getting candy from STRANGERS! Just remember this: We are all entitled to the Mommy Tax when it comes to the Halloween candy. Make sure you collect your fair share!

See ya on the flip side!

Boo- boo- dee- doo! I got booed by 2 people! My Cuz Judi and my darling friend Kaci. How fun for me! I love boo treats! Yum.
Wait. I don't get treats?
What?
Only this slick photo that Merrianne made? Wow! Kewl!

So here is how the Blogging Boo will go.

Go to as many friends as you want and tell them they've been "B00-ed". Have them link back to your blog to pick up their Halloween Treat (picture) and tell them to Boo their friends.
(Then put the pic in your side bar so everyone knows that you've already been "boo-ed and to send the pic to someone else.)

You know how you know when someone is mad at you, only you don't know why they are mad at you?
Yeah.
Those are good times.

Passive/aggressive behavior sucks! Big time!

I have someone in my life that is mad at me. I can honestly say I don't know why. I know she's mad... you can see it... You can feel it. You know what I'm talking about, right? When someone is so mad at you they are seething... only this time, I really have no idea what I have done. I have laid awake more nights than not trying to figure out why they are mad.

Yes. I have tried to talk to them.
No. They don't talk to me.
They don't take my phone calls. I have thought about showing up on their doorstep with flowers, but honestly? I am afraid of what the repercussions will be. She may very well accept the flowers--but then rip me to shreds behind my back. She has done it about other people TO me... and she has said things to me that are very hurtful, but I have shrugged them off. I have really been trying to not let any of it bother me. But it does. A lot.

She has been mad at me before... but laid the blame squarely on me. (when there really was no blame to be placed) It is a little difficult to say the least, and makes church, school and neighborhood functions uncomfortable.

So, here is my question: How many times does a person have to apologize before enough is enough?

Don't ask me who it is, cause I won't tell you.

Sometimes I get promptings to do stuff, only I just blow them off. Mostly because I don't want the people I am getting the promptings about to think I am a weirdo. Those promptings are like someone knocking on the door to my heart... and I have had several of those these past couple of days-- and I am glad that I listened this time.

Promptings are funny. They are still, soft knockings on the walls of our hearts. Sometimes we can hear them quite loudly... and sometimes they are faint. The more we act upon them, the louder, I believe, they will become. If we ignore them, they get softer and softer.

I firmly believe that the doors to peoples lives are like that door up there... there is no way to be let in until they let you in. There is no door handle, no way to enter their lives-- unless they let you in. Sometimes God knows they need you in their life and so He opens the door for them... via a prompting. Or two. Or three.

My ears have been listening ears, and my shoulders have become quite strong as I have helped my friends with their burdens. The thing is this: I would have never known they were struggling and sad if I had not listened to my promptings.

The image they were portraying to us outsiders was that all was well. They did not need anything, and everyone in their lives were just happy little campers. But, that was not the case-- which I think is probably true everywhere else more often than not.

Why?
Why do we do that?
Why do we pretend that all is well in our lives when inside we feel like curling up in a tiny little ball and hiding?
Why do we pretend? Are we all so afraid of the judgment that will come from others that we just may not have it all together that we pretend that we do?

Because you know what? I didn't judge any of my friends that I have listened to this past week. I didn't think less of them for admitting they had problems, and that they were struggling... it made me love them more.

My heart hurt for them as they all told me the various things that were hurting them... their kids that were being stupid; the kids that were making dumb choices; the not having kids, but wanting them desperately; not having any friends; death; the judgmental neighbors that say hurtful things; the spouse that doesn't help out, or the spouse that expects WAY too much; the money problems; the sick kids; the parents who aren't supportive; or the siblings that are mean...

I have heard a lot of struggles from a lot of people over the past week and it made me realize something. I have had a line from a song running through my head "In the quiet heart is hidden sorrows that the eye can't see". We all have those hidden sorrows that the eye can't see, and who are we to judge another?

Our job is to love each other... regardless of whether or not the life choices that are being made are ones that WE ourselves would make. It's not our job to decide who is or isn't good enough for our attention or affection. Christ would not do that, so why should we?

I have tried lately, when I have felt the nasty girl rearing her ugly head, to recite those words "In the quiet heart is hidden sorrows that the eye can't see." I don't know what makes people act the way they do. I don't know what is going on behind those closed doors. I have no idea if those smiles are real or fake... but my job is to not judge.

It's hard not to judge. I will admit that. Sometimes people just bug the crap out of me... but I AM trying, and that is all that matters. I will try to be the listening ear and strong shoulders that people need. I will try to love others the way I know the Lord loves me. Whether I think they deserve it or not... It's not my place to decide.
It is only my place to act, and so I will.

Will you?

I guess my big hair skills have gone by the way side.... because my hair is nowhere near as big as it was when I left my house... Too bad you can't see my killer boots or the microphone I'm carting in my leg holder.

Sweet, eh??

Our rock band buddies told me that my band name The Stinky Pickles was dorky... and that my rocker name "Dill" made me sound like a wanker!

{{See. I totally used that word in a sentence today, Happy place!!}}

Oh. And the name of our band?

Death by Pumpkin.

And my name?

The Oz Chopper.

Last night was our church Halloween party. I went to the party dressed up as a Rocker from Rock Band. I think I looked pretty slick (I wish I would have thought to take a photo of my rockin' self... doh!) Jefe stayed home with Moxie and Thing2.

Thing1, Thing 3 and I had a grand time rockin' the house at the church party. I had the guitar, the drum sticks and the microphone... I really was rockin' it, if I do say so myself! It was great fun to see all the adults do a double take as my black lipped-black eyes-black high-heeled boots-ripped up armbands-black shirt wearing-self strutted down the halls.

Yes.
I did strut.
Rockers totally strut.
Didn't you know?

Anyway. I came home and found out that our rock band pals were waiting for us to come and play. Thing 1 wanted to stay home and watch TV, and Moxie was sleeping happily, so at 9:30 pm we took off to our neighbors to rock out.

We had put all the kids in their bed to watch TV so that we could have "the good TV" to rock out on... I swear there is a time warp whenever we play rock band.
I kid you not.
Either that, or a giant worm-hole opens up when the game is turned on, because the next thing we knew?
Yeah. It was 2:30 in the morning.
I KNOW!! 2:30 in the morning!!

I think they were pumping oxygen into their basement so that we would rock all night long... because seriously?I wasn't even tired!

But this morning?? Yeah. My body was not made for such late nights. At least not any more its not. When I was younger, I was a total night owl. I loved staying up late-- and out late. But now, when I am STOOPID like that? My body punishes me the entire next day. All day. Punishment. My body has been yelling at me about how STOOPID I was to stay out all night-- PLAYING ROCK BAND!

I told Jefe that I felt like I had a hangover. He laughed at me and reminded me that I have never not at anytime in my life had any alcohol-- so how could I possibly know what a hangover felt like?? I assured him, that THIS-- right now, right here! THIS!! -- is how a hangover surely feels. He just laughed at me and said "No dear. They are much much worse."

Whatever.

I DO have a hangover.
A Rock band Hangover.

To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there’s no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other. - Jack Handy, SNL

I wish God were as quick answering my prayers as Google is. I can type a question into Google and in 2.3 seconds I not only have an answer, but I have different answers... sort of a multiple choice deal. An, 'if you do this, this will happen' kind of answer. I like that WAY better than trying to decipher the answers that God sends me. I guess I'm just lazy. But, don't you think that would be WAY easier? Just type in your questions to God and get the answers back in 2.3 seconds?
Man. I do.
{{Yes. I am waiting for the lightening bolts to strike...}}


What is UP with it still being dark at 7:30 in the morning? Seriously, this is just obnoxious! We are all usually pretty early risers around here, but this week?
Umm. Yeah. We have all slept in pretty much everyday --except for me on choir mornings. And then its just gross to be up, going to school IN THE DARK!
Yeah, its DARK at 7:30am!

There are only 60 more shopping days until Christmas. Not that I want to stress you out or anything. Just a public service announcement. Do you have any idea what you are going to get your peeps?

I sent the kids and Jefe off to the Jazz game last night and I enjoyed me some Cafe Rio Barbacoa Pork! Yum. Moxie and I sat down to watch our shows, uninterrupted. It was great. Except for just 1 tiny thing. Commercials. Have you noticed that every single freaking channel runs commercials at the same time?? That is just dang annoying! Why? Drove me nuts! Every channel I would flip to during the commercials would have commercials on too. How are you supposed to surf if they run commercials at the same time? I mean, I have a DVR, I tape the ones that I want to tape, but a girls gotta surf sometimes... and they are not making it easy on me!


My phone is slowly being resurrected. It will ring now. But, you can't see anything on it... and no one can hear me when I answer it. It's sort of a giant bummer, because Jefe and I are in a disagreement on what to do. He wants to change cell phone plans-- I however do not. I like the plan I am on (3 cheers for rollover minutes!) and I just want another phone. I don't need all the extra bells and whistles... so now we are having a standoff. Who do you think will win?


I have mocked people who do face book. There has bee a lot of mocking coming from me over here in Crazyland. I thought it was silly and dumb. I really didn't get the whole point of it... but I have a confession. Please forgive me, for I have sinned: I made myself a face book page.

And.

AND!

{{looks around to make sure no one is listening}}

I sort of like it. I have found friends of mine from not only college but high school that I haven't seen in 20 years. It's fun to see what everyone is doing. I still really don't get the whole writing down everything you are doing... that's dumb. Who cares if you are using the restroom? Not me! I especially don't get the whole texting to your face book page, but whatev. However, I do like finding old friends. That's fun.

1. Keep it loose, Keep it tight - Amos Lee
2. Amsterdam (live) - Coldplay
3. The Little Things - Colbie Calliat
4. When You Say Nothing At All - Alison Krauss
5. Sunday Morning - Maroon 5
6. Best of My Love - Emotions
7. Without You - Ayo
8. Baby's Got Sauce - G love & Special Sauce
9. Wonderwall - Ryan Adams
10. My Wish - Rascal Flatts

Bonus: My Town - Montgomery Gentry

Dear Self,
I know that you love to talk to your friends on your cell phone. It really is just grand fun. I know that you also like to be "productive" while you are talking on the phone to your friends, so you try to clean the bathrooms and do the dishes. I think its awesome that you can multi-task like that. Seriously. Most people just sit and talk on the phone-- but you?
Wow.
You're awesome.
Cleaning the whole house, and the bathrooms, and toilets AND doing the dishes-- all while talking on the phone? Simply amazing!

Just next time? Can you please just put the phone in your pocket? That would be great, because water and cell phones? Yeah. They don't mix.

Thanks,
Motherboard

PS. Yes. I do know about putting the phone in rice NOW.
But I didn't know that LAST NIGHT. That would have been very useful information... Like yesterday. When I dropped it in the sink of water. (Thanks Thing 1 for sharing this information a day late...)

The kids were playing Rock Band last night (shock) and I found myself in the kitchen making dinner, laughing so hard that my sides hurt. It was hilarious to watch them trying to play songs from the 80's-- songs that I know ALL to well.

Thing 3 wants to play, but has a hard time keeping up with the older kids-- and the mere fact that she hasn't figured out the whole reading thing adds to her frustration. However, she TOTALLY rocks the vocals. That girl has some pipes, and I never would have known if we had not gotten this silly game!

Thing 3: (singing her loudest) "I am the Tiger"

Thing 2: (banging wildly on the drums) "No. It's 'EYE of the Tiger"

T3: "Iiiiiii am the Tiger. Rawr."

T2: NO. (pausing the game to prove his point) It's EYE of the Tiger.

T3: That's what I said. I am the Tiger.

T2: No. EYE. It's EYE of the Tiger.

T3: I am saying I. I am the Tiger.

T2: No. Not I. EYE. It's E-Y-E. eye. It's Eye thing 3 it's EYE like eyeball. Eye. You are not the tiger. It's Eye of the Tiger. Not I am the tiger. Eye. Eye. Eye. (he's frustrated can you tell?)

T3: OK. It's Eye. Can we play now?

They continue playing the song and then I hear a shriek.

T2: How can you get 92% accuracy when you are singing the wrong words??

T3: Cause I'm a Pop Star. (walks away singing "I am the tiger... raaawwwwrrrr")

That is when I burst out laughing so hard I thought my eyes were gonna pop out!
Seriously good times around here! And, she is a pop star! She knows all the words to Eye of the tiger. I however, like the I am the tiger better!

Recently my kids and Jefe were watching Planet of the Apes. I abhor despise loath really hate that show. It's just plain creepy. Talking monkeys? Yikes.

I don't mind so much the new movie version with Marky-Mark and the funky bunch. I have seen it several times... and I actually like it. It helps that Marky-Mark is in it... seriously. He's just plain yummy! But the old version? It completely creeps me out.

I have to remove myself from the room every single time someone is taking in the monkeys. I think its PTSD. Really I do. I have PTSD with regards to Planet of the Apes.

Here's why.

One time, when my Mom was off to some sort of church meeting, my Dad was left in charge of my sister and I. He was in the basement (I don't even think it was finished yet) watching Planet of the Apes and my sister & I were upstairs essentially hiding from the Ape monsters that could talk.

I remember that I was standing on our kitchen counter and we had a chair pulled up to that counter. Islandmom was standing on the chair, and we were foraging in the cupboards for something to eat.

There must have been a commercial on, because the next thing I knew I could hear a monkey sounding monster coming up our stairs and I FREAKED out. I screamed bloody murder and tried to not only jump over the chair, but my sister too... but I didn't quite make it. My sister hit her head on something and cut it open really bad and had to get stitches.

As the story is told (which has gotten better over the years) the Doctors didn't believe how she had cut her head open. They made her retell the story over and over again. To different Doctors. Because really, who tries to jump over someone because they hear a monkey sound?

{{raising my hand}}

Umm. Me.

I felt really bad. However, my Dad felt worse. He was just teasing us, but ended up scaring the living be-jeebers out of us, causing Monkey induced PTSD and scarring me for life. I think I need therapy now.

I was eating an apple the other day, and holding Moxie on my lap. This is our regular routine. She likes to "help me blog"-- only its me laughing as she grabs at the keyboard... She has grown into the grabby stage-- grabbing everything she can get her hands on.

She grabbed my apple and started babbling away at the apple and to me... and we played on the floor, she and I, for over an hour. I had a ball watching her discover this new taste... and seeing her joy.

Seeing life through the eyes of a child is a gift from God. Everything is new again. And this time around? I am savoring every last bite!




Mechelle: I use a canon eos 10d. Its rather old (5 years) -compared to all the new ones out, but it takes fantastic pics!! I need to take a class-- any sugestions??

This may have been me last night, rockin' the house with Jefe until 1:00am, and knocking the speakers off the wall and breaking a photo.

Or maybe not.

If it was me... Well it was a DANG good time! So much fun, that we all had to play another round this morning before all the kids went off to school- and Jefe off to work.

Or maybe not.

(No. the kids did not stay up that late-- just til 10-- then the parents took over-- or not...)

I have gotten a bunch of awards from fellow bloggers that I have been quite neglectful getting posted. Here they all are, and you will find them and many others over on my awards page... just click that handy dandy button that Merrianne made me! Isn't she freakin' talented?

I just got photoshop-- so once I figure out how to load my photos onto it, maybe I will be as talented as she is.

Maybe.

Anyway, I am supposed to tell you who I got them all from... and then tag a bunch of people. So, I will tag some folks, but if you are needing a boost, an award or just something to do, then by all means, grab one of these babies.
Or all of them.
That's what friends are for-- to share the love!

But specifically, I wanted to award: Andrea, Sher, Thing 1, Mattie, [Girl Alyx], Tracy, My Happy Place, MO & Judi.

Calico is having one heck of a giveaway, and I want to win it. But, in order to set things straight with "the universe", (see. The Secret is at work over here...) I have to share my knowledge.

I am Jonesing for this stuff BIG TIME. How adorable are not only those bags, but that critter? My goodness. Go enter this giveaway, tell her that I sent you ('cause then I get another entry) and then put a shout out on your blog (so you can get more entries too)

Yes.
I am letting you in on all the secrets to winning. It's just another service I provide over here at Crazyland.

I will be using the powers of The Secret, The Law of Attraction, and The Force to try and win these goodies.

{{envisioning me winning. sending out positive vibes into the universe}}

May The Force be with me... er... I mean you.

Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.
- Ellen Goodman (1941 - )

Just call us the Nerdtons. I think we are the only people on our entire street that didn't go away for this long weekend. The entire street is gone. I did notice that no one asked me to tend their dogs... I wonder why?? Probably smart on their part, since I am not the best dog babysitter around. Remember?

I actually find it quite weird that our state calls this holiday a "teaching day" when in actuality it is planned around the start of the deer hunt. When I was a kid they called it what it was-- Deer Hunt vacation. I am serious. They did. Let's just call a spade a spade. Shall we?

In my quest to take control over my life, I cleaned out the cupboard where I keep all my Tupperware. I have umpteen hundred (Jefe's eye just twitched-- he hates that made up word!) lids, and umpteen hundred containers and neither the twain shall meet. How is this possible? How can I have so many containers and lids that do NOT match? How? How? Is someone coming in to my house, and playing a practical joke on me? Do they think its funny to switch out my lids so that when I am putting leftover dinner away-- I CAN NOT FIND A MATCH?? Seriously. It is driving me insane. Tell me this is not exclusive to my house.


I love it when people have their emails attached to their profiles. I like to email each person back when they comment. It's sort of like carrying on a little mini conversation, and more personal. Some of the comments that are left are funny-- and I want to respond to them. But, I feel weird going to their blogs to carry on the conversations. The people reading their blog comments would not understand the comment that I left that has NOTHING to do with their post. Now, I can hear some of my friends asking, How do I attach my email to my profile so that it then makes it possible for someone to email me back?
Well pull up a chair, I'll tell ya!

You go into Edit profile, then click the box that says Show my email address. Then scroll down to the email address box and enter your email there. I made an email address just for my blog, that way I am able to still maintain some privacy. I also have it set up to email me when I get comments on my blog. I have them sent to my blog email AND my personal email... That way when I want to answer someone back, I can do it from my blog email address. I love emailing you back-- it makes it more personal-- and like we really ARE friends-- and NOT just figments of my imagination! Won't you add your email address too??

I haven't had a Diet Coke in 2 days. I don't know why I have been refraining... but my mood and ginormous headache reflects the fact I have been sans diet coke. I had actually thought for about this long that I would try and give up all soda and candy.
Yeah. I don't think I am ready for that.
Let's call a spade a spade, shall we? I'm addicted. Hardcore addicted to Diet Coke.
Remember that I disclosed that the 7-11 guys know my poison? It's true. I was embarrassed about that, so I was trying get clean. It's just too hard. My kids were begging me this morning to go get a diet coke (not really) so that I wouldn't be Cruela De Ville.


I had put in here some stuff about blogtiquette, but I decided that it was getting too long. So it will have to become a post of its own. Look for that soon. I only want to do that because of an "argument" I got in with someone recently about what is and isn't proper etiquette. She Fancy's herself a super blogger but the stuff she was spouting was ridiculous. So, I will "borrow" from the REAL super bloggers, and give away some link love soon.
Like tomorrow.
Or right after I have my tub o' diet coke.
Which ever comes first. Hopefully the tub o' diet coke.
With some fries.


That's it folks. That's most of the randomness floating around in my brain.
It is a beautiful today. We are going Halloween costume shopping. Moxie is going to be a Cat, Thing 3 wants to be Dorothy, so I decided I would be the Wicked Witch of the West. I tried really hard to convince Thing 2 to be the Wizard, but he thought that was lame-O.
Bummer.
That would have been funny!
What are you going to be for Halloween??

Do you have any new tunes for me to listen to? If you do post your random randomness with some tunes on your own blog, let me know! I want to come visit!

1. Say - John Mayer
2. Rivers of Babylon(live) - Sublime
3. Over the Rainbow - Isreal Kamakawiwo'ole
4. Something Bad - Wicked, original Broadway cast
5. Peace, Love Happiness - G. Love & Special Sauce
6. Play My Music - Jonas Brothers (shut up!)
7. Free Fallin' (Live) - John Mayer
8. This is the Time - Billy Joel
9. Jeremy - Pearl Jam
10. The Day Before You Die - Rascal Flatts

Bonus: Life is a Highway - Tom Cochrane

I have joked over the past few months about my laundry. But, I don't think you really understand the seriousness of my problem. It was out of control. I was never caught up. It seemed like just when the laundry was folded and put away there would be 3 more loads show up on the laundry room floor.

I have joked that there were Gnomes living in my floors. Yeah. I wasn't really joking about that either. That was the only explanation I had for why the laundry was mysteriously showing up. It felt like my life was being run by laundry. The never ending laundry.

When I had my "Here me roar" moment, I remembered my friend in Illinois... I thought I was bad until I went to my friends home and she was lamenting about her laundry. I happily offered to help her. She laughed and said "Oh. I am WAY beyond help."

When we walked into her laundry room I didn't hold back. Not one little bit.
"OH. MY. HELL. How did your laundry get this out of control?"
My friend just shrugged her shoulders and sighed.

We sorted and sorted and sorted and took 9 bags of clothes to the Goodwill. NINE. And, we were only half way done at that point. We went through her kids closets and got another 9 bags of clothes. That is 18 GARBAGE bags of clothes we chucked. My friend cried and said that she couldn't believe how good she felt. She felt good, cleansed, purged and in control.

That is when I decided to do the same thing. I sent the kids off to school and I purged. I purged big time. I wasn't as out of control as my friend, but I did take 4 garbage bags and 3 Wal-mart bags to the local Goodwill. I tossed out 3 more garbage bags of junk and then I finished the laundry. FINISHED IT! All of it!

Yes. It's true. I have taken control of my life again.
And, it feels very, very good.

A couple of weeks ago, I was having a difficult time sleeping. I had a major event at church I was planning (or ignoring); a Sunday lesson to prepare & teach; another church meeting to attend; city council to fight (that's another blog post for another time); a Junior High PTA meeting to attend (I'm on the board there); an Elementary PTA meeting to attend (yup. Board there too); 107 choir children to teach; 2 articles due to my "editor"; about 30 blogs to review and categorize for THIS website; a baby to care for; older children to care for and taxi hither and yon; bathrooms to clean; a playroom to clean--because it looked like something had exploded in there; an office to organize; laundry to fold (oh the laundry); errands to run; a dog to bathe (seriously gross smelling dog now); several books I "had" to read... I felt a little like that guy up there in that box!

That is when it hit me. I was not being honest with myself. I am perfectly willing to be honest with others. But, I had been kidding myself. My life was a chaotic mess. I walked around the house, from room to room and felt so overwhelmed I just wanted to hide in the corner, rock back and forth and suck my thumb.

Since that really isn't an option... I decided it was time I take control again. I pulled myself up by my proverbial boots (after a good cry) and said to my home: "I'm the boss around here. You don't run me! I run you!" I decided I would stop kidding myself and accept the truth that was staring me in the face.

I have always struggled (I hate that word) with Anxiety and Depression. When you throw ADHD into the mix it really is a recipe for disaster. Or self combustion. Which ever happens first, and this time it was disaster that struck -- in the form of my chaotic house and life.

I have been told a lot that I am a "what you see is what you get" type of a girl. That used to bug me. Big time. I mean I wanted to be mysterious and exotic not predictable and ordinary. But, over the years, I have become OK with my "label". I will tell you what I REALLY think... not what you want to hear. Sometimes those things gel... sometimes they don't.

I will not deliberately tell you something that will hurt your feelings. I try to follow the rule: If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all. However, if we are in a meeting or something, and you ask my opinion? I'll tell you. Someone said recently that I say what everyone else is thinking. I guess that's a good thing... right?

If I don't want to do something, I won't and I have no problem telling you that it just won't work for me. Sometimes this has gotten me into trouble with the neighbors. Big, big trouble. I am not willing to do things that I don't want to do-- and it has caused problems. Made people not speak to me. I guess that is their prerogative, if they want to be mad over that. At least I am not doing _________. Right? I feel bad when it makes people mad at me when all I am doing is not only being honest with myself, but honest with them as well. But, in the end, I have to be honest and true to myself first. I am the one that I live with. Not the neighbors, but me. When I am honest with me, then everything else falls into place.

So, here is me being honest: I function better with my medication. I have tried for 18 months to function without it. I will be honest (hee hee)-- I have done pretty dang good with regards to my depression. I keep myself insanely busy so that I have no time to brood. I know what my anxiety attacks feel like-- and I have learned over the years how to manage them.

However, my life is still chaotic. That is because of the ADHD. I can't concentrate. I can't follow through with things, and I just sort of wander around aimlessly like a lost little puppy dog. I am being honest when I say that it is silly of me to try and be super woman and manage all this alone-- when I know that there are things out there to help me.

I got my prescription filled for my anxiety, depression and ADHD medication. Thankfully my Doctor has found the perfect medicine that meets all those needs, so I only have 1 pill to take. I accept this fact, that I take medicine to function. I am OK with that. And, my life is finally mine again. I am in control.

Rawr!

Every marriage has a hot thermostat spouse and a cold thermostat spouse. If you think hard enough, you know yours does too.
Mine does.
I am the warm thermostat spouse, and Jefe is the cold one. We spend the winter months having a constant battle of me turning the heat up, and him turning the heat down. Let the battle begin.

You know its bad when the hot thermostat spouse goes to bed with her big wool socks on, sweatpants, long sleeve shirt AND sweater. Then she piles 2 blankets, her comforter and sometimes even the down sleeping bag she keeps stashed under the bed.

Yes. I. Do.
Winter is upon us here in the mountainous regions, and I am dying. I hate to be cold. Almost as much as I hate to be hot. You know its bad when the only time you get warm is in the hot shower you take in the mornings and driving in your car. Only I haven't figured out how to run my new heater-- so it's still sort of cold in the car too.

(Although i will admit that it has NEVER not once gotten as cold here in my new residence as it did-- every single winter-- when we lived in Chicago. Holy Cold batman! That's some serious coldness in that state! AND we lived in the coldest spot in the state...it was always "state record breaking cold" in my old town!)

If I could live where it was eternally 72 degrees... Well. I would think that I had not only died, but entered the celestial kingdom. Seriously.
Sign! Me! Up!

We went for a drive today during the "snow storm" (read:slush storm) and I would turn the heat on. Jefe would turn the heat off and roll down his window. So, I would turn the heat back on. Round and round we went. It is like this pretty much every year-- all winter long.

He likes to have a giant box fan blowing on him-- even during the winter.
Seriously.
A box fan? In the winter?
I like to cuddle sleep with the hot pad.
Yes I do.
I get a new one every year.

That drives Jefe nuts.
The fan drives me nuts.

Thus the hot thermostat/cold thermostat battle has begun.
I am waiting for him to come turn the heat back down. As I sit here in my winter coat.

I had this dream last night that I was hanging out with the youth from church. I really don't remember what we were doing, but I do remember that the kids all decided that it would be a great idea to eat dirt.

Yes. Eat dirt.

The parents of all the kids were really mad at me because I let them all eat dirt. They kept yelling at me, and I kept telling them that their kids were major stoo-pid if they were going to eat dirt.

The parents were like: "It's your job to keep them from eating dirt." I told them that in fact it was not my job. They were free to choose to eat dirt or not. And, if they did choose to eat dirt they were morons.

Every kid I turned to and asked if they had been eating dirt replied that they had indeed been chomping on some good old fashioned nature. One kid, in my dream, didn't even bother to answer-- he just smiled at me-- and there was the incriminating evidence-- dirt in his teeth.

I remember being really annoyed in my dream and thinking: "What a bunch of dorks!"
I mean really. Teenagers eating dirt?? That's stupid! Don't you think?

Even though I was their captive, the Indians allowed me quite a bit of freedom. I could walk freely, make my own meals, and even hurl large rocks at their heads. It was only later that I discovered that they were not Indians at all but only dirty-clothes hampers.
- Jack Handy, SNL

My little Elementary choir started this week. We all get up and are at the school by 7:30 AM. Yes. In the morning. I have to admit that its really hard to get up and out the door by 7:15... but I am loving it! I love working with all the kids! This year we have 103 kids. Every year it gets bigger and bigger.

I love seeing the kids get so excited with learning the songs! We have some good stuff picked out this year... hard stuff. And, without fail, these kids learn these songs, and NAIL them! We are working hard to get our stuff recorded early so that all of our songs will be featured on the radio.

The last couple of years, only 1-2 songs were featured. Only because we didn't send in more. This year we want to record them all and have them all featured. The kids LOVE this! When they play our stuff on the radio, the principal plays it over the loudspeaker for the entire school to hear... and when its done, you should hear the pandemonium of applause... it is deeply satisfying!

I love seeing the kids at the school-- and having them rush up and give me big hugs. Most of the kids hadn't seen Moxie yet- so that was just a blast!

To say that the choir is a lot of work is an understatement. Yet, it is also one of the most rewarding things I have ever been involved in.


Did you know that SNL is now on Thursday nights too? They are doing a 30 minute weekend update on Thursdays about the election.
Holy funny, Batman! If you haven't watched it, you are missing out on some seriously good stuff.

Just one more reason that Thursday nights are next to Godliness--- So to speak. (let the bolt of lightening strike!)



Here is a little snippet from last night...


Two words: Laundry. GAH!

I try to eat eggs and an avocado every morning for breakfast. It really grosses my family out. But, it is so yummy. It's good for you (they call it the heart healthy breakfast). I was pretty excited when the Doctor told me that Moxie was in the clear to start eating the avocado for breakfast with me (sans the eggs of course). I haven't tried it yet, but plan on it.

I was pretty bummed this morning when I cut open my avocado and it was all nasty brown inside. Scrambled eggs just aren't the same when there's not an avocado involved.

This is the restaurant that those bar stools down there come from... It's actually a diner. A very, very dive looking diner that people who aren't "in-the-know" would pass by because it looks so gross. However, if you did pass it by you would be missing out on the most amazing food on the planet. THE PLANET PEOPLE! That's some seriously good food.

It has been open since 1957 and has been the local hang-out for about that long. If you want to know the scuttlebutt on the local high school football teams-- this is the place! The waitresses know the "regulars" by name, and even know what they like to order. Their scones are out of this world amazing, and bigger than a dinner plate!

I was excited when I went last week to find that they had Old English Style Chips.
No. Not tater-tots, but Chips. Deep fried Old English Style Chips...
Holy Sweet Goodness, Batman. It was like sailing to heaven with each and every bite!

I used to sluff high school and go here and eat( sorry Photography teacher that I can't remember your name now)... and it seems that is still the tradition. Who wouldn't sluff school for a ginormous scone that only costs $1.75? Really. Can you blame the kids for doing that?? I can't. That's some seriously good food for cheap cheap cheap.

I know you totally wish I would tell you were this sweet restaurant is located but I won't. Because I want the scones all to myself.

{{insert evil laugh: Muwah-hahahahahah}}

But not only that, you could be some weird crazy Internet stalker and decide to come follow me around. And who wants that?

{{wait. I do. I want to be famous and have people following me... and asking for my autograph... and giving me clothes to wear... humm. maybe I need to re-think this... }}

But, if you followed me around for even 5 minutes, you would realize how dorky I am.

So nope.

This one is my little secret. Unless you already know where it is... and then maybe we should meet for some scones.
Yeah Baby.

Using the words sewing and Motherboard together is pretty much a gigantic oxymoron! Seriously, its huge huge HUGE.. so huge its laughable.

I have a sewing machine... but do I know how to use the sewing machine?
Umm. No.
Thing 1 has to turn it on and thread it for me. I know, just hold your snickers...

One time, my friend, MamaRn and I got a hair-brained idea that we would sew her some smocks for work. She is a NICU nurse in Chicago, and we decided that surely, SURELY! It would not be that difficult to sew those smocks. Besides, I had just gotten this new fan-dangled fancy sch-mancy sewing machine from Jefe for Christmas. So of course we should try and teach ourselves to sew. It makes perfect sense. Right?

Especially knowing that my Junior High sewing teacher, Mrs. Purdy, pretty much banned me from sewing in class and relegated me to grading papers. I think it may have had something to do with the sewing of the finger, cutting the material wrong and ending up with 4 pieces instead of 2 and then sewing that wrongly cut fabric around... YES AROUND the sewing machine.
All in one week.
I dunno. I could be wrong.

Anyway...

Everywhere we had been looking for new smocks had these terrible tacky ones. And, really. Have you seen some of the adorable fabric out there?? Super cute! We set out to buy the pattern, the fabric and everything one would need to sew some sweet smocks.

The lady at the fabric store assured us that sewing is easy! It just following instructions... like putting together a bike. (Yeah. That should have been our first clue) Anyone can do it if they have half a brain, she told us.

Ummm. Yeah. She lied.
Big time.

After 8 hours...

YES.

Eight hours of sewing...

All we had accomplished was the machine threaded, the pattern laid out and cut. The only sewing done, after 8 hours was the top.
Seriously.
We are smart people, the two of us.
But sewing? Ehh. Not so much.
Together we had half a brain. Maybe.
It was not an easy task... It took us a couple of hours just to figure out how to thread the damn thing.

Sewing is not easy. I suck at it. Big time.

So. Knowing this little story about me, imagine my horror when I had the following conversation with Jefe:

Jefe: MB, you need to sew a bunch of patches on Thing 2's scout uniform.

Me: I did. I used that handy-dandy glue stuff you can get at the scout office.

Jefe: Yeah. The patches are coming off. You need to sew them back on.

Me: You mean with the sewing machine?

Jefe: Or some such thing. Yes. You have to sew them.

Me: Do I have to use a needle? Cause, Jefe. Really. I don't do that.

Jefe: Yes. You need to use a needle and preferably thread too. And, it needs to be done today. Pack meeting is tonight and he's getting a bunch more awards... that you will have to sew on. With a needle and thread. Ummkay??!

We recently got Moxie a highchair. I was insistent that the highchair be one of those strappy- do-hicky-thingers because the other kind of highchairs take up TOO much room.
And they bug me.
As you can see she thinks she is pretty slick sitting there eating her teething biscuits. The Crazy boxer dog is waiting patiently for her to put that cookie down so she can steal it.

I know the dumb dog is thinking "It's alright. You take your time, you weird babbling human thing. I can wait. I have all day."
And wait she did.





See how the dog has her head all cocked to the side?? She is weighing her options... "Do I take the cookie, and risk getting yelled at? Man! I really want that cookie!!"

That dog waited and waited until the cookie was finally dropped onto the side of the chair... and then she snatched that cookie right up. This was, however, Moxies 4th cookie. I couldn't figure out how on earth she was eating the entire cookie-- and SO freakin' fast!!

Then I caught the rascally varmint stealing the cookie right off her tray. So dumb me, I gave her another one... and another one... and another one... Moxie was totally happy to share... And share she did. It was actually quite gross to watch. Lick, slobber, lick, slobber.

{{shudders}}

Crazy Boxer Dogs ears are all covered in goo. Its really quite gross, and I have to go bathe them both now.